Goodbye 2013! Hello 2014!

Happy New Year

New year, new country. 2014 is going to be full of changes, and it is the year I decide which direction I wish my life to take. It's all very scary, yet so exciting!

I will be heading home in just under 8 weeks. Back to sunny Stafford. Well not Stafford it self. My parents live in a tiny village 3 miles outside the town. It has no shops and the church is only open once a week. It's going to be so strange going from a 24 hour city with a convenience store in my own building to .... well .... cows ....

It seriously is like something out of a Jane Austen novel. Pity, there are no handsome heroes there. Only old retired couples.

That's why I will try to move to London after a few months. I want to live in my own capital for a year at least. I know it will be expensive, that's why I have been saving this year. Not just money. I have been saving my clothes. I have only worn my old clothes this year as I will throw them away before I leave Korea.

I am nervous about London. I have only been there a handful of times as a tourist. I have been spending hours doing research on the different areas. I am most nervous about flat sharing. I have been better about sharing my space since moving here. But, I still like quiet. I understand I need more relaxed about noise and space when I move there.

As for work, I want to work as an administration assistant. Then perhaps go back and study in the evenings, but we shall see. The job market is very difficult to break into at the moment I have heard... To be honest, I don't know what the future will bring and it is exciting. All my life I have planned every detail, I am enjoying the uncertainty for the first time.

So, those are my plans for the future. Now for what I did for new years

I spent new years in bed sound asleep. Why? My first week of camp had wore me out and I wanted to have energy for new years day. My friend from Japan was coming to Seoul and the only day we could meet was new years day. We first met in Thailand last year on the CELTA course. She has been living in Japan since then. She brought her friend Lindsey who was really nice

Cool hat club

I met her in the morning and she brought me my matcha from Japan (so much cheaper over there). We then went to Ashleys buffet for lunch. Because it was new years day they had the dinner menu at lunch. Therefore, we could drink wine. Ashley's wine is the best in Korea. Soooo sweet and yummy! Ashley's always change the menu and this month is Southern USA food. The cheesy wedges were the best.... mmm...drool.....

After, we went to Insadong to get some gifts. It was as busy as usual there so we didn't stay too long. WE then tried to find the fish cafe in Myeongdong for ages but after an hour we gave up and went for BBQ pork.

It was great new years day. It was in the middle of low level camp, therefore it broke it up nicely.

This week regular camp starts and I have been sick since day one. Actually, I have been sick since the 22nd December but it seemed to get better then Monday I got worse again. I think it's all the pollution. The sky is dark over here at the moment with pollution. It's quite scary to think what that is doing to our bodies.

Only 50 days left until I go home!

Harry Potter Camp Low Level

Harry Potter Camp

I am in the middle of my last camp. I gave my all to this camp. This is mainly because it will be my last ever camp. I started decorating and preparing at the end of November. My camp was from the beginning of January for two weeks. My low level camp was for a week from the 26th December.

Low Level camp - 26th December - 2nd January.

For my low level camp. I took the Harry Potter theme and based my day around this theme.

My low level students were 4th graders. They can not understand anything in English. Therefore, all the camp was quite simple. It mainly considered of teaching phonics and alphabet in the morning, followed my crafts in the afternoon.

I gave each student a file. This file was kept at school for the week. On the front I stuck brown paper. They decorated the front with their Korean name in English. I don't agree with giving kids English names. I think people should learn how to pronounce their names.

Wanted posters

On the back, I took a picture of them in the Sirius Black wanted sign. They stuck this to the back.Inside the file was a envelope. Here they put their gallons. They got coins for winning games and working hard. On the back on these coins, were letters. I used these for a raffle on the last day. This kept them motivated.

To also keep them motivated. I used the sorting hat to split them into teams. I found this worked the best. Every time they answered a question they got a sticker for their team. All but one tried their up most hardest,

Hogwarts ties

In their files, they put the phonic worksheets they did in the morning. If they were good we then did crafts and games for the last half of the day. I also made a magic ABC book for each student. It was art paper made into a book and covered with felt. They students drew a few letters of the alphabet into their books a day.

On day one, we explained the rules and made old paper.

Day two, we made school ties and took wanted pictures in the photo booth. I also brought in ice-cream. This seemed to motivate them......

Day three, we made wands and did the animal hunt (see regular camp) . This day they wore their new ties. they were sooooooo cute!

Magic wands

Day four, we made book marks. They coloured a picture in and decorated some card. I then laminated the card and folded it in half. We then stapled the picture to the card and attached magnets. We played magic freeze tag using the wands (see regular camp).

Day five, I had no co-teacher so I couldn't do much. We just did a raffle and finished our magic ABC book.

This camp was so hard on the first day. This was because none of the students knew each other and the fourth grade is the worst in my school. They don't want to do anything. They just seem to stare even when they get told in Korean. But, the house point system seemed to motivate them (except Gryffindor). In fact Slytherin was the best team....................

Christmas 2013

Christmas photo booth

December is going so quickly this year. I think it's because I have been so busy. I started off the month with a Thanksgiving party at my friends, and ever since then it's been non-stop with work.

I was looking forward to my holidays starting on the 24th. But, my school had other ideas. They changed it a week before my holidays were due to start. They decided to move the low level camp to the 26th. I was working like crazy trying to prepare in time.

How many decorations?

They also changed the classroom for that week. This is because another company rents a part of our school and they pay electricity for it. Therefore, my vice principal wanted us to use one of those classrooms. So basically, they want us to steal their electricity.

The problem here is I set my classroom up as Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. Therefore, I have to move my materials everyday. But, I can still use it for normal camp. Thank goodness.

Aside from work, I was busy preparing for my Christmas eve party. For a few of us it's our last Christmas in Korea. I really wanted it to be special. I prepared a giant quiz. The first round was Christmas knowledge. The second was British slang. The third was, 'what movie was that song from?'.

I also prepared pin the nose on Rudolf, how many Christmas decorations on the tree? and charades.

Pin the nose on Rudolf.

I made everyone a Christmas bag. I couldn't find cracker snaps to make crackers. Inside the bag were sweets, cookies, a joke and a hat. There was also a card inside the bag which everyone wrote on for each other.

Gift bags

Table before the food arrived.

We also did white elephant. It was our first time doing it. We all got a unisex gift worth around 10,000 won. The first person picks a gift and the second person can steal it or choose a different one. This goes on until everyone has a gift. Things got a bit messy as there was some crappy presents no-one wanted and some really good items. I always get rubbish presents for secret Santa, but for the first time I got a great gift. I ended up with my favourite tea. It's from O'Sulloc tea company and it's really expensive, but worth it.

Dinner was pot luck. I made curry. Taking my inspiration from Bridget Jones and her mum's annual Christmas turkey curry buffet. Though, it was chicken curry as there was no turkey. Other people brought chicken, ice-cream, mash and Chinese food.  Though, we forgot about the ice-cream.......


The party went really well and everyone had so much fun! The best bit was the photo booth I made.

Christmas photo booth

I got the free printable signs from this blog! There are loads of different designs for parties.

http://catchmyparty.com/blog/category/printables-free-christmas

Christmas stocking

Yesterday was Christmas day. I pigged out all day in front of the the TV watching Christmas movies. My mum sent a stocking full of gifts over. It was full of small things like chocolate and Christmas washing up gloves.


I made everyone a scarf this year. I started knitting in September this year and managed to make five scarves by Christmas. My dream is to be Mrs Weasley from Harry Potter.

Sadly, I wrote hand as hade..... I think I've been in Korea too long. I'm losing my English.......

Christmas scarves

Today, I'm back to work. It's low level camp. But, only 1 more day until the weekend.......

Preview of my last ever camp...

I'm getting really excited for my last ever camp in South Korea. I've started decorating my whole classroom as Diagon Alley and Hogwarts. I hope my students enjoy it as I have spent days on it. I'll write about where I got the print outs from etc, after I finish my camp. For now, here's a sneak peak....

Happy American Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving pot luck!

I went to my first American thanksgiving last week. It was at my friend Sarah's house and it was pot luck. The Canadians in the group were joking it was a month late haha.

I have never seen so much food. One girl went to the army base to get a turkey. It was all so delicious and home made. We ended up playing taboo but the boys kept winning because I am rubbish at it.

I ended up sleeping over. We were suppose to watch the first hobbit movie, but I ended up giving up by 2 am.

I am glad I have traveled. Yes, I have seen many countries and eaten so much food. But, I have also enjoyed meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures. I got to have experiences like thanksgiving. I'm glad to have met my friends in Korea and their friends.

In other news, I went shopping at Express Bus Terminal a few weeks ago. It was crazy but worth it. My friends and I spent a good few hours there. It's much cheaper than Gmarket and other places. I stocked up on skirts. Back home skirts and too long on me because I'm short...... I also got my Christmas jumper but I wanted a more tacky one!

Right now I'm preparing for my last ever camp! It's going to be Harry Potter. As it's my last camp I am going all out. I am decorating my classroom as Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. My students are getting exciting! I am super busy though as I have to make everything by hand. I will write a post after I finish in January.

Only three weeks until winter vacation! I am having a Christmas eve party and my friend from Japan is visiting from Japan around New Years! I hope she doesn't snore..... Only joking Alex...... Kind of...... ;p

Weight issues

Weight has never been a issue with me. I am happy with my weight. Like every woman I sometimes have'fat' days, but I try to eat healthy. I had never been called overweight, chubby or fat. That is, until I came here.

The first time my weight came up wasn't with a Korean but with a crazy Canadian girl that was obsessed with make-up and to be blunt she was vain. She often referred to me as 'skinny fat' and she always told me I was lazy, because I am happy to relax after work at home. I  ignored her as everyone who knew her said she was vain (and slightly crazy).

But, this year I gained weight. It's strange really. I used to eat junk food back in the UK, but over here I eat fruit and vegetables all the time. I don't mind because I was too skinny before.

But, one Korean teacher noticed my weight gain and told her students. Why would anyone do that? Some Korean teachers said it could be culture difference and she probably didn't know it would offend a foreigner. But, most of my Korean friends didn't understand her actions either.

Snow!!!

I think I would not have minded if she had said the comment to me because I am used to everyone talking about weight. But it's the fact she said it to her class so when I had class with them I was put in a very embarrassing situation. And all the other teachers heard.

The bad news is because my co-teacher is pregnant, this teacher will replace her in winter camp in January. Two weeks with her........ Awesome! ㅜㅜ

This made me realise something. The only people who make comments about my weight are other women. What gives one person the right to make comments about someones weight? Do we think putting another woman down will make us thinner? I for one and happy with my weight and that's the most important thing. Not what other people think.

 I just needed to rant about this topic! I feel better already ^^.

In other news, the first snow of the year appeared. Thankfully, it went after a few hours and it didn't stick. I think this winter is going to be colder than last. I treated myself to some more heat-tech clothes.

What to pack if you move to Korea.

I wrote a post before I came here, of what I heard I needed to pack. http://www.wherewillmyfeettakemenext.blogspot.kr/2011/02/packing-list.html
I decided to look back at what was true and what was not.

Before I start, I just want to say things change here daily. I came here 2 and a half years ago and so much as changed. So, what I write now may not be true in a year or so.

This are the items I wrote you needed on my previous post....

• Deodorant- This is false. They have it over here. Though, it is a bit expensive. It is a myth that all Koreans don't sweat. Just most...... I talked to my Korean friends about this and one never gets BO and the other does. 

Yummy Korea!

• Decent chocolate- Okay, this is true and false. They have American chocolate everywhere. I hate the stuff personally.... Yuck! Some of the Korean chocolate is okay. But if you are fussy then bring over your favourite chocolate from home.

• Indoor shoes- Buy them over here much cheaper! Indoor shoes are sold everywhere just go to the bargain store.

• Sun cream! They sell over here at 5 times the price!!! Bring your own if you have room! Plus, it's all 50+ over here.

• Foundation. If you have a darker skin tone then bring your own. I am not sure  about this one.  I am pale, so I could but this over here. Perhaps, the department store sell darker tones.....

• Stickers and stamps - get them at the bargain shop or any stationary shop for a fraction of the cost. Though, my friend from the USA has some cool ones from back home that were from the dollar stores.

• Gifts for principal - I started work day 1 so I was glad I had them ready!

Things I think you need to pack for Korea!

• Bras- 100 per cent pack loads of these bad boys! They are expensive and they only sell up to a B cup here.

• If you have big feet or are bigger than a UK size 8 then clothes and shoes. With clothes you might be able to buy some from western brands in Myeongdong, Seoul. But you will have limited options.

• Salt and vinegar crisp!!!! Sometimes, just sometimes they sell in Itaewon, Seoul. But, not always! 

• Decent gravy! Ahhh bisto! Get from home.

Don't worry about not being able to get your
 favourite food whilst out here!

• Packet mixes for your first week until you get used to shopping and cooking. Those packet soups were a lifesaver my first night.

• If you have a baby then bring all your baby clothes from home. So expensive out here!

• Photos of friends and family.

• English DVDs. It's hard to buy DVDs out here. Everyone illegally downloads them.  If your not into downloading then bring them with you or use Amazon. I bought so many DVDs from Amazon whilst living here.

You can get most stuff out here. Homeplus is owned by Tesco (UK), therefore it sells loads of Western food. Also, Costco and Itaewon sell loads of food and spices that are hard to get elsewhere. You can also get stuff from Gmarket or iherb. 

The only things I miss are parsnips, pies and sausages. There is a guy who sells sausages in Myeongdong, but they are super expensive. I will wait until I go home.