Entries in December 2009
I'm a total sap. My husband's not gonna be happy.
Written by Bessie on Monday, December 28, 2009 in Philippines
Feelin' sad
Walking home from the beach this afternoon, I was thinking "uh oh, Kyle's not gonna like this." I held in my hand a box with 10 seashells that I bought from kids on the beach.Feelin' sad
The story goes like this. I was sitting on the beach watching boats pass by when 7 local kids sat down in front of me with their baskets of shells. In our 3 days on Malapascua, we'd probably passed these kids 5 times and told them "no thanks". But every other time Kyle was with me, and they didn't surround me with their cute smiles. This time, they sat down with me talking about learning English and playing with my light hair and skin. Then they lanuched into this really cute shell selling presentation and I forgot the word "no" existed.
Everybody was Cock-Fu Fighting
Written by Kyle on Sunday, December 27, 2009 in Philippines
Feelin' amused
As we walked across Malapascua Island, we ran into one of the Philippines passions: cock fighting. Yes, yes, I understand the animal rights issues with cock fighting; I don't condone it per se, but it is pretty much as close to a national past time as the Fiipinos have, so I'm going to watch. When in Rome... Feelin' amused
In any case, they're serious about cock fighting just like England is serious about soccer (or football if you prefer that name better). I've even seen commercials on Filipino TV advertising feed for your rooster that promises your prized feathery friend will get big and strong and will go on to kick the plumage of another red-bearded rival before he can say "cockle-doodle-do". Well, it might not have said that word by word, but I imagine that's probably what the pitch says in Tagalog, the main language of the Philippines.
Working on Christmas Eve
Written by Bessie on Thursday, December 24, 2009 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' excited
Well atleast working on Christmas Eve turned out to be a day of parties for the kids. The kids sang songs and Kyle dressed up like Santa.Feelin' excited
My kiddies singing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"
I gave all my kindergartners candy canes, and they actually said "ick - spicy!" A few of them liked it, but others actually spit it out! That'd never happen back home!Kimchi Galore!
Written by Bessie on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' excited
Well, I said I love kimchi, and kimchi we've got:Feelin' excited
In late fall, people all around Korea spend hours making kimchi for the family for the next 6 months. It involves taking cabbages and covering them generously with spicy red pepper powder, a little anchovie for flavor, and pickling them. It's sort of like canning vegetables because you can refrigerate it, and it lasts a long time.
Living My Expat Dream.
Written by Bessie on Sunday, December 06, 2009 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' happy
It's taken 8 months, but I've realized I'm living my expat dream. Feelin' happy
The biggest reason I decided it was cool for us to take the leap & move to Korea to teach was because I wanted to try setting up life in somewhere totally foreign. Sitting around the table last night with our friends for Kyle's 30th birthday I realized we'd made it.
