It’s Vacation/Holiday countdown time!

Posted by Nicole in December 16, 2011

I cannot express how excited I am for my upcoming vacation to Australia and Bali. Today has been the coldest day so far.. I think. A high of 37 and biking to school in 26 degrees with 10-20mph wind.. blehh. Glad I didn’t forget to bring my gloves today! I actually started packing a little bit last weekend since none of the clothes I will wear there are what I’m wearing now, except tank tops that I use to layer. However I should probably get organized and figure out all the specific information about my flights, work out roaming charges for my phone, see if it’s worth it at all to use. I will be able to use it as like an itouch with the internet where there is wi fi available and use it as a back up camera. My digi cam pictures that are taken inside haven’t been coming out the greatest.  Next Friday as soon as we are done with school I will head to the bus terminal, then onto Seoul. Stay at my cousin Shane’s house again, then catch a shuttle to the airport for my 940am flight.   I did not end up getting a visa for China because the date the travel agent would have my passport back was just 2 days before I flew out so that made me way too nervous. I have still been hearing from several people that I will be able to leave the airport, so we’ll see what happens when I get there.  Aussie was talking about Christmas dinner that we’ll be having with ham, turkey maybe?,  pumpkin pie, and lots and lots of other things!! woooo.

Last weekend we had the orphanage party on Friday! That was great fun, the kids really had a great time! The organization that sponsored the party came to see what we were doing with the kids and were so impressed and said that if we ever needed funding for anything to never hesitate to ask them! The kids made stocking, decorated cards, played Christmas games, visited with Santa with their stockings filled, and then we had a bunch of food and snacks at the end and they just got to hang out! Afterwards all the teachers from the orphanage went to the foreigner bar together. We exchanged our secret santa gifts and had a great time together.

Saturday slept in, got some lunch at Paris Baguette with Michael & Pips.  Saturday night went downtown to our friend Kerry’s apartment where some of the boys had already started cooking, peeling potatoes, and cooking duck, and chicken that they bought at Jukdo Market. The outdoor famous market in Pohang. I think they said for the duck and the chicken it was 15 bucks.! Crazy, they made their own oven with coals, a cardboard box, and tin foil. No one has an oven big enough to fit either of those items. The dinner took a little longer then expected but was soo delicious. There were sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, and mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli and  carrots, stuffing, and gravy! The guys did a great job with all the food, while all the girls hung out, chatted, painted nails and drank wine! It was a lovely evening. Even met a girl from South Africa who “Peeled a Chicken with her bare hands”.. :0

Sunday adventured across town to Emart. Ahhh wish that place was closer, it was glorious! There was a nice food court, where we ate lunch. Then tons of shopping! I got some spices, a frozen pizza, sweat pants woooo, and a few other random westernized things! Like costco, it was soooo crowded. There was also a nice little dollar store type thing across the street where I got a yoga mat, and a few things for my house.  I don’t think my house will be completley “homey” to me until I move. haha I’m so slow at acquiring things.

I stopped at the ATM at emart, and acidentally withdrew 10 times the amount of money that I wanted which was a ton.. oyee. Guess I’ll won’t need an atm for a few months.

Had my first Korean Pancake yesterday.. it was delicious. Basically a pancake filled with brown sugar or something like that and fried.  It was to die for but, I had been eating so well this week too! oops, can’t help it when your co teacher plops a pancake down on your desk.

Went to the orphanage last night, and they forgot to tell us that the girls had exams the next day so they wouldn’t be at class because they were studying. So there were 5 teachers for 6 students, but we have them some Christmas worksheets to work on and helped them with writing letters to Santa.  Afterwards Michael & I met up with Lisa & Ben for a bit to chat and eat some Curry & Nan bread. Ahh it was soo good, I will definitely be back there!

Received my first Christmas Card!! woooo soo exciting and sweet of my Grandma Ryder to send something along this way!

The weather outside looks like it’s so nice and sunny from sitting in my office. Then you step into the hall way and want to curl back up into blankets and go to bed…. Hence my extreme excitement for taking off for vacation in one week! yahoooo! Off the Gyeongju for the weekend for an ugly sweater pub crawl. I didn’t bring my ugly sweater but will probably decorate a shirt with Christmas decorations!

Lots of Love!
N