Tom Returns

He's bigger and more sweet than ever! My Tom has returned back to me after three months. I picked him up today in the late morning and he left peacefully. He was living with his brother, Kaiju and I was worried the separation would be hard. When we took him away he seemed to be okay, but mostly had a little hard time in the car.

At first he was nervous but managed to explore the car and then take a nap on our laps. When we brought him home I let him roam around and get use to his new home. He spent a lot of time meandering and meowing here and there. I let him know where his food bowl was and litter box. Since then I played with him and gave him a comfy place to sleep.

Glad to have you back sweety! Hope you don't miss your brother too much~

Surreal

I worked 11 hours yesterday and in the midst of that learned of the earthquake in Japan. When I came home I went to CNN and other sites to see it for myself. I think because of my fatigue I still can't fully grasp what is happening down there. It looks so surreal...especially the tsunami.

I am going to pick up Tom soon but all I am thinking about is Japan and the people down there. I hope they will be okay and can recover.

Grasping Time

Today was better as I somehow managed to feel like I was caught up. Reality is I still have a lot of planning to do and basic stuff to get done. I have been realizing lately what it will take to teach the first grade and that I am going to learn a lot of techniques.

Monday the school is going to do a "walk through" around to each classroom to check on our decorations. So we have been pressured in to making two posters for the blank sections of our room. I managed to finish both of mine today, and will have to stay late tomorrow to mount them. Getting this done was really satisfying.

I am getting the house ready for Tom and making sure he will have enough space to roam and play. Already I have a nice (huge) litter box for him and a piece of cat furniture is on its way.

There have been moments during the past few weeks that I have felt homesick. Mostly I feel a huge appreciation for home. However, slowly I can feel my life in Korea taking it's shape once again.

All right, I am going to go rest with Hulu.

First Day of Classes

2 words:

Stressed

Tired

1 Phrase:

Keep it together.

First Day Tomorrow

Today we finished the level tests and it was again another whirlwind. It was speaking test day and my part was to watch the kids in their classroom while they waited their turn. The morning class did well with the activities I haphazardly put together, but the afternoon class was a complete disaster. Because of this I learned their English skills are pretty high. I don't want to complain about the homeroom teachers, but I would have appreciated more help from the afternoon one. However, if I don't do my part to communicate this than I have my fault areas as well.

Tomorrow starts our first day of full classes, which will be a total of six. Somehow, I managed to organize myself to have a plan in place for the next 3 days of classes. I was going to just use the time for self-introduction, class rules and get-to-know me games but I cut that stuff short to start the book.

Right now I have very little manipulative materials. Such as counting blocks, shape blocks and just anything the kids can put their hands on. I will have to improvise and likely go to the store till our shipment of supplies come in. One thing about working for an elementary school is that they order all the supplies for the first semester at the beginning, so if you need stuff later it's too late. Of course, though we are looking through our books to figure this out.


It's one of those weeks where no matter how much sleep you get it doesn't really count because your brain is fried from the stress.

Anyways...keeping my chin up and hopeful that things will settle down.

My Art on Display

If you haven't noticed already I have a little picture link on the side of my blog for the art group ArtPoli. It is an amazing group, mostly made up of Korean artists but has been slowly incorporating non-Korean ones lately. Somehow, through the magic of networking, I managed to know the right person to get into this group.

I really have been enjoying this group as I get to browse through really great work and also make commentary on it. Another wonderful aspect is that I get to put up my artworks for all to see, which is featured on my own page.

Recently, I got an email from the group but it was all in Korean. Thanks to Google translator I figured out that they are having an exhibition and my works are in it! Wow, my first participation in an exhibition here in Seoul.

Here is the info in Korean:

• 전시기간: 3월 3일 - 3월 31일
• 전시장소: 서울특별시 중구 남대문로5가 827 LG 유플러스 본사 사옥 1층 카페(남산 올라가는 길에 있습니다^)
• 방문가능한시간: 월-금, 오전7시 - 오후8시
   

첫번째 전시의 호응에 이어^^ 두번째로 맞는  디지털 전시 입니다. 지난 2월 한달간 아트폴리에서 활발했던 작가와 인기작품입니다. 축하드립니다:)
음료와 빵도 맛있습니다. 한번 들르셔도 좋을것 같습니다^^
앞으로도 내가 좋아하는 작품이 많은 사람들에게 전시되게끔, 내 작품이 전시될수있게끔 작품에 관심과 활동도 많이 부탁드리겠습니다^^

The Translation: (Using a translator)

• Time of duration: March 3rd - March 31st

• * Time of  place: In Seoul Metropolitan Government Joong Gu South Gate 5 827 LG type positive head office company building 1 storied cafes (Namsan ^ where there is by route which ascends) 

• * Visit time available: Month - the gold, in the morning 7:00 - in the afternoon 8:00 After response of first time time of war is a digital time of war which hits with ^^ second times. 

Last February one months between is an author who is active from the art pulley and a popular work. Congratulation gives:) Also the beverage and the bread are delicious. Once dropping in at and appear ^^ to be being good Will be exhibited in the people where the work which I like in future is many, the within work could be exhibited and in the work making put out interest and activity ^^ where entrusting will give plentifully

For those with actual translation skills please help me out here with figuring out the "where" and "when" so my readers can get over there.

source

My work is the one in the middle there of a tree with the sunset behind it. I think my other works are featured in mini-pics below this one.

I feel like I can't give up on my artwork and that I must keep making more! Can I squeeze it into my goals of exercising and practicing Korean, though? hmmm