Some pics from weekend....

I advise clicking on pic to enlarge. Expressions are priceless! I was taking a general street/location shot and this fine specimen happened to find himself in my shot! Didn't realise how dodgy this area truely was until I rounded the corner in mission to find english bookshop What the Book? and I found the following.... behind the amusement value of the tacky names though is the sad reality of the enormity of the sex industry here. Every block seems to have the double spinning barber poles that signal that the haircut has a "happy ending".







.....and just a little innocent side st - setting the scene.....



Andrew and I also visited a church Youngnak Presbyterian that Eddy, another English teacher recommended. It has an English service though I am also visiting Andrews church in Bundang to see what it's like also next Sunday.



Youngnak Church

Hopefully I will soon to have more variation of pics and snaps as I'm getting a small, fit in purse digi cam that I will take everywhere! yay!

Work is going heaps better after the chaos of week one, the kids are tiring but so cute!

Take care all!

Ellen

Just a pic of Seoul!

Just quickly a pic I took of Seoul from Techmart a HUGE complex selling every electronic device know to man!
Was still quite sick this weekend so not much to tell really! Trying heaps of interesting foods, some good some not so good! Work is getting heaps better, not so stressful! Keep you posted!


Seoul!

One down 51 to go........

I survived my first week of teaching unscathed.... well almost anyhow. Have had a throat infection and cold which is making me feel quite yuck and giving me hot sweats and fever! Not cool, however a quick trip to the ENT specialist, some interesting tasting throat gas, a nostil gasing (hmm who would have thought???) and 12 tablets each day later for a week and hopefully I'll be well again sooner rather than later!

I've discovered the teaching bit of being a teacher is actually the easy bit, it's all the admin and prep that goes into it which, well, really sucks! I have a new found respect for all teachers and child care people! (many of the exodites! miss you all!)

Hopefully it will get easier and easier as the weeks go by and I get organised and sorted better!

Mwah, Bye for now!

Ellen x

I Made it!

Well I've just experienced my first day in Suwon, South Korea, To sum it up in a word - Freezing! it snowed today! From bikini one day to beanie the next! So cold but I have a heated floor to which I owe much!


Defrosting on the Heated floor!

Things are quite different over here, funny how you come with certain expectations or thoughts as to how you think a place might be like, and then these expectations and thoughts are totally different! (it's late and I'm lacking sleep, apologies for poor grammer, spelling, punctuation etc, hope this makes some sort of sense and not to nonsensical)

I caught up with Andrew, my friend from Newcastle today who has been working here since mid last year. Was cool to be able to catch up as I haven't seen him for well over a year! We got a very ordinary coffee from DunkinDonuts (doh promised I wouldn't go near any donut shops! Sorry! Actually I will be sorry once I have to pay for a gym membership so I still fit my clothes!) did some shopping for stuff for my apartment and we visited my School today for a brief orientation. Seems great, heaps of resources, very organised and the people are lovely! Looking forward to starting on Monday, heaps of stuff to learn along the way it appears!

Andrew and I are going to see some nearby places tomorrow, should be fun! Transport is interesting around here, still have no idea how to get anywhere! There are also some issues with my Korean language abilites - Lonley Planet phrasebooks have an interesting interpretation of the language.... hmmm, well either that or I do.


Andrew and Ellen out and about!


Flashy lights!

Pics from last few days in Oz!

Just a few pics from the last few days I spent in Australia before leaving. I was lucky to be able to be there to meet my relatives from Holland, Ellen and Ineke. Ellens surname just happens to also be Klinkenberg! Probably the only other Ellen Klinkenberg I'll meet! Pretty cool! They are my Dads cousins, what that makes them to me I'm not sure.... any suggestions? Had a fantastic few days getting to know them and bits and pieces about Holland (I'm half Dutch) Definately have to go visit in the near future!


The Two Ellen Klinkenbergs!


Picnic at Rocks Ferry, Wauchope


Mum and I


Gorgeous Sis Hope!


Buffy my cute pup!


...and also cute pup Baz!

Finally, shock horror, I have the number!

Well it's finally happening! I have finally received the little number for my visa from Korea that has been causing so much grief! (but alas more time to pack and have multiple farewell dinners, lunches, breakfasts, desserts etc hehehe)

Now it's only a matter of a few days for visa processing here and I shall be off!

yay! Keep you posted!

Young Adults farewell dinner

My Grace Church young adults group hosted a farewell dinner tonight which was awesome! (It was thought when this was organised my flyout day was this Sat, but alas not to be! Fingers crossed next week!) Anyhow was a night of great food and even greater company! It's so sad to be leaving and will miss this fantastic group of people who've been such an encouragment and heaps of fun and I've grown to love so much! Check out the pics anyhow! x e


Grace Church groovy young adults group!


My "special" friends!


Gabs and Me (and dan)
Nb: Great photographic composition - 10 points bindi!


Bindi Bum!


Carmen and Me!