What's Ellen up to?

What the??? 2 weeks left in Korea?

2008-02-16T22:44:00.002+11:00

I officially have 2 weeks left in Yeong-Tong, South Korea, teaching!
I am so amazed at how fast this year has flown by! It only feels like yesterday I was on the plane from Sydney to Korea wondering how on earth I was going to convince these Korean people that I could teach when in fact I had no idea! A year later I still feel like an impostor in the classroom, though trial and error and a few helpful tips from kind fellow teachers along the way have enabled me to master the art of getting 12 or so Kindy kids to stop jumping on their desks and erasing my whiteboard when my back is turned for 3 seconds!

I've definitely had so much fun along the way and met some great people! I'll be sad to leave, but also excited to see what new things await and also to catch up again with my wonderful friends and family in oz for a while!

I've been getting some snowboarding in of late which is awesome, is so much fun! (yet painful at times!!) I've also had a chance to do some more cool stuff around Korea, though I find that -10˚C temperatures a little challenging!

So anyhow random 10 highlights of late!
1) Amy and I getting farted on Lunar New Years Day by a stranger.... so wrong (not sure why this made a highlight - it was kinda funny tho!)
2) Ordering my first home delivered meal!
3) First triple diamond snow plow effort
4) Oliver (student): Ellen teacher! your nose.. it looks like Pinocchio! hmmm thanks Oliver!
5) Reaching 30 paper origami cranes of my intended 1000! Cool only 970 to go!
6) Finding potato twists...deep fried, spiral potato on a stick coated in flavored salt stuff! so so good!
7) discovering that a bizarre sequence of steps can produce everlasting hot showers as opposed to my morning wrecking, 1 minute scalding then suddenly freezing showers I was getting used to! These steps involve a time commitment of around 15 mins, but afford a success rate of well over 80%. What are the steps you ask??? the special sequence??? Let's just say Amy and I call it....Tap dancing...
8) fun nights out at The Now...cards, pineapple soju, twister, Word Dojo, beating Jeff's word Dojo scores and Norrebangs - Obladi Oblada, life goes on......
9)Butterfingers weekly Sunday brunches with the gals.....hmmmmm yummy!
10)Last week my friend Amy and I went to some Hot Springs nearby and bathed outdoors, at night in these -10˚C temperatures! Strangely really warm and relaxing! Only thing is we had to do the Korean nude up thing! hahah

Anyhow some pics of various stuff can be found here (no not the nudie spa bathing!) Countdown Pics
and some more here! Coundown pics 2!

I'm looking forward to meeting Andrew in Japan for a week after I finish work on the 29th Feb. We are visiting Osaka and Kyoto area primarily, we both would have loved to get some boarding (well Andrew some skiing, def not as cool hehehe) in over there but we aren't venturing that far north unfortunately this time!

After that I head to Thailand for some time of defrostation then back to Sunny (or rainy so I hear??) Oz!

Anyhow hope you are all well and enjoying life! Look forward to catching up with many of you soon!

Ellen xxx

Golly Gosh!

2007-12-31T00:51:00.001+11:00

It's been sooooooo so long since I have updated this thing... owing I admit to the ease of use of facebook and it makes photo albums and stuff easy. I don't however get to write much about whats going on on there!

Not sure of when I last wrote exactly (without going back to look - ha so lazy!) but I've been having a great time over here, checking the place out and keeping myself busy!

I've seen many temples/palaces, but I've figured they kind of all look pretty similar and will save you from endless photos of these. I also got home to Oz for a few weeks in October for my brother Johns and Elissa's wedding, which was awesome. (pics can be viewed at (click here!!!)
I lost a few kilos and managed to squeeze into the dress ok, though I did resemble big bertha..hahah not quite, but at least I've lost another few kilos since then! Liss looked absolutely amazing (John did too), my heels hurt beyond pain I've ever experienced before but I danced the afternoon away regardless, barefooted and carefree! Overall my trip back was so much fun, if it wasn't for Andrew still being in Korea it would have been hard to get me back on the plane! The food in oz is too good! Oh and the family and friends are great too! hahah just jokes of course!

I had to say good-bye to Drew at the end of November, which was sad, he is greatly missed! Will be seeing him soon enough though!

I spent Christmas at the Hilton in Seoul with a few friends which was a great getaway. We ate, sauna'd, ate, spa'd, ate, danced, swam and did I mention ate the days away! Definitely would spend more days there! I did miss my usual family day that has been customary for the last 26 years, and even consoling thoughts of perhaps a white Christmas for once this year were squashed with an disgustingly warm day Christmas day!... so rude! haha (view pics)

I also was part of my schools Christmas "Presentation of Angels" where all the kids sung and danced and acted for their parents. It was a great evening with some of the most hilarious costumes I've ever seen! I was unlucky enough to score the part as Maria in the Sound of Music, thus being forced to deafen the poor unsuspecting audience with my singing. ha! So funny! Sadly enough I'm told that is on video..and no this video shall never leave Korea. (see pics!)

I also last weekend went for my first snowboard for the season with Jeff and June. A great day, packed with falls, stacks, involuntary snoweating and snow-in-pants syndrome.. I did complete my final run perfectly and am now enough back in practice to shred.....the beginner runs! hahah not quite but close!

It is New Years Eve tomorrow and I really cannot believe how fast this year has flown by! I only have two months left for my contract here, even less actual working days owing to Lunar New Year hols! yay! So the countdown is on, will be flying into Brisbane to finally meet in person Andrews wonderful family who have already been so welcoming to me! I can't wait! As for my plans after that? hmmm who knows? Stay in Oz or back abroad, jurys out.... have to wait and see which way the wacky winds of life blow...
Take care, Happy New year, hope you all had a fantastic Christmas season 2007!
Love Ellen xx

Return to Oz!

2007-09-21T19:42:00.001+10:00

Yay! Am sooooo excited, the workday countdown is over!! I'm flying back to Australia on Monday for my brother Johns and his fiance, Elissa's wedding! I can't wait, I am a bridesmaid and all to plan hopefully my dress will still fit despite putting on a few (or 6) kilos. Bugger! I have hot shoes though so will be fine!

Things have been going along nicely here...just cruising! I will have to get my act together and compile some pics for the old blog.. just seems to be much of the same really tho - don't want to bore you all too much!

Anyhow have to run, stuff to sort and pack! Hopefully catch some of you in my visit back!

Take care...Ellen xxxxx

5 months! Time flies when you are having fun!

2007-08-16T16:42:00.000+10:00

Hey ya all!

News from South Korea....... hmm not too much going on still, just working, playing, sleeping, having fun where I can!

Work has been good, still really enjoying the Kindies though they can be hard work! There is always something funny going on, the most recent incident quite...hmmmm...how can I put it....interesting? For some reason kids in Korea find it highly amusing to butt hole poke... yep you read correctly. They put their hands together like they are praying (but pointed forward, not up) and at any opportune time attempt to poke you in the butt. The funniest (yet most disturbing) incident of this was on Monday. One little kid Jeff, was on his knees in a ball having a pretend tantrum in class, Jay the little loud trouble maker noticed Jeff cheeks were parted, beckoning a poke... he seized the moment and struck...I have never seen a boy move so fast in my life! The whole class was laughing sooooo hard! As I said disturbing behaviour but strangley amusing! Jay has recently been the subject of curiosity... last week he was wearing a neon yellow slapband as a collar around his neck (think mardi gras style), today he had fire engine red lipstick which he applied to himself (surprisingly well, in fact probably better than I could do myself!) then proceeded to run around kissing all the boys to leave a mark! hehehehe was so funny as the lipstick didn't come off too easily! Before that he used to steal the girls puffy headbands and wear them!

Last weekend Andrew, Tania, Jeff and I joined some other friends on a trip to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone - border of Communist North Korea and Republic South.) The tour was guided by a US Army officer and we all had a great time, despite the heat and rain and learnt a lot of interesting stuff about the history of the North and South.

After a long day we met up with some other friends for dinner and a few drinks to celebrate Erins birthday! Andrew, Jeff, June and I are also going whitewater rafting this Saturday and perhaps bungee jumping if I get past being terrified??? Can't wait to be in water that isn't a pool or my shower!

Anyhow, must post these pics and get to bed!

There was a lookout that allows you to see where North Korea meets South. Not too bad a view really, you can see quite a distance with the binnoculars...however you can only take photos of the view from a 'photo line' from where unfortunately you can see nothing!

This is a photo of propaganda village, North Korea's fake village in the DMZ, where they used to broadcast propaganda constantly. Noone actually lives there apparently and the lights are switched off at the exact time each night.. The flag you can see is huge - over 30 metres long and requires 80 men to raise it.

All decked out in US Army get-up!

This is the door that leads to North Korea..we actually stood on North Korean land.....These soldiers are Black belt kung-fu tae kwon do experts, they looked really scary. Their job is to guard this door at all costs... Jeff was plotting his escape....

This man the poor bugger, sits up at this window and watches...and watches...just in case.

North Korean Military watching us.

Ok, is hard to see but this plaque says:
On July 27, 1953, in the small building approx 1000 meters to the front of this marker, representativesof the United nations Command, the Korean People's Army, and the Chinese Peoples volunteers signed a Military Armistice Agreement that brought the Korean War to a halt. From the initiation of hostilities on June 25, 1950, until the Armistace the war cost the Korean people untold treasure, anguish and the lives of approx 150,000 members of the Republic of Korea armed forces. UN Command forces suffered approx 40,000 casualties in the fight for liberty. Thanks to these sacrifices the Republic of Korea is a free and democratic country.

This is the table where the Armistace was signed. The right side of the table is North Korean, the left Soth Korea.

Birthday Girl Erin!

1,2,3 Cheers!

Me, Jeff and Ginny

Stan, Susan and Andy.

I'm sorry Mum, it's been a while!

2007-08-01T00:17:00.000+10:00

Well, I haven't been so regular with my blogs of late, mostly as it is wet season, extremely hot and I've been getting lots of R and R. For the moment I am content not to be running around like a crazy woman seeing lots of stuff! However here is a little summary of what I've been up to!

First, at school we had a kindy PJ party, which was a lot of fun! June and I dressed up for the occaision; me being a Kangaroo, June a Hamster. The kids loved it but it was sooooo hot inside the costume!

Me with little Eddy and Olivia from Turtle Class.

Me, Jeff, June and Eddy.

A few weeks ago I got my hair straightened using a Japanese process called Magic Straight Volume. The humidity here finally took it's toll and being fed up with uncontrollable frizz and looking like I've had my finger in the power socket every morning, I took the plunge! I was so scared! The results??? You be the judge, though my sanity was reward enough for the 6 hours spent in the hairdressers!

Everyone has to have a real dodgy "before" photo..unposed..no makeup, blemishes, bad lighting etc etc.....here's mine.
And......... then came........

Straight with my first bangs (fringe) since I was about 8!!! Big step!

One of the other teachers from ECC, Eddy, completed his contract and has moved on. For his farewell we had a fantastic dinner and also visited a really funky Hookah Lounge. Was pretty cool and chilled out as you see in the pics. There were lots of bongos, guitars etc lying around for you to pic up and play, a few quiet drinks, a DJ who looked like a little weasel, good friends and of course hookah! Overall a top night!

Today Tan and I visited the Korean Folk Village. I've already been there, however Tania hadn't so I didn't get too many photos. Here's a few!

It was sooooo hot today that we invested in little umbrellas to shield our delicate complexions from the harsh rays..Man we felt like Nanas but hey it worked a treat!

Anyhow, things are going great at the moment with everything, there are some changes in my schedule at school which means I will do slightly less hours and get to go home at 2:15 Tuesdays and Thursdays which is cool! In a bid to lose some kilos I have started swimming in the mornings for an hour 3 or more times a week. The old Koreans think I am an olympic swimmer or something as I am so tall and swim laps with reasonable ease and speed (big feet are good for something!) Tan and I had an interesting introduction the the Korean swimming pool experience. Lets just say there was nudity, involuntary blasting with water and red faces!

Better get some zzzzzzzzzz's,

Smile, laugh and dance in front of the mirror in your undies to whatever music makes your hips wiggle!

Miss y'all!

Ellen xxxxxxx

Not much to blog about really!

2007-07-07T23:43:00.000+10:00

Hey all!

I haven't written anything for what seems ages! I guess because nothing too exciting has ben going on. The wet season is starting over here now so I'm told it pretty much rains everyday for a bit over a month! Ahh how depressing! It has been raining a fair bit already and it is sooo hot as well! Very humid and the air is hot and heavy.

As I said nothing too much to report, just been chilling out trying to not get sick anymore (hmm hasn't worked) I have had some health problems which doctors here are trying to get to the bottom of. I have been experiencing quite bad chest pain - kind of a stabbing pain that comes and goes. On getting a checkup at the clinic for this they discovered that my blood pressure was really high at 180/100! ECG was normal however so they have started with blood tests etc to see what they can uncover! I have more tests next Thursday and hopefully at the same time may get some results from my previous tests. Fingers crossed! Would definitely appreciate prayer for this!

Also, does anyone have any tried and true weight loss programs??? (hmm I know...... exercise and burn off more fat than goes into my body.. ) I need to get into a a bridesmaid dress that I purchased before I left Australia when I was around 5-6kgs lighter! oh and by September! I'm so stuffed!

Anyhow, other than this things are going good! Keeping myself amused! Good news also that Andrew is extending his contract for another two or three months! yay, I don't lose my partner in crime so soon after all!

Better run, will write more soon!

Miss you all!
Ellen xxxx

Hat-tastic!

2007-06-19T16:35:00.000+10:00

Just had to post some pics of the groovy hats the kids wore to a class picnic today... sunglasses built into the hat! So cool! hehehe

Too cool for school!

Little Amy from Turtle class.

Today was Junes first lesson on how to ride a bike. She rode unaided for 3 seconds! She da bomb! heheheh
We're aiming for 5 seconds next lesson...

Day out at Everland!

2007-06-18T13:52:00.000+10:00

June, Jeff, Eddy, Andrew and I had a big day out on Saturday at Everland, a theme park over here. It was heaps of fun, went on the rides (ha, still not too old to enjoy them, though the neck after the rollercoaster is still a little stiff!)

Other than that on Sunday went for walk in some Korean bushland behind my house, and relaxed in the park with a book! Very chilled out day which was great after such a big Saturday!

Here are some pics from Everland!

.......ahhh peeeeeertty two butterflies!

When I invested my coins into this I was sure it'd go fast.....well anything above walking speed would have been good! I'm sure I saw a caterpillar pass us!

The African whitewater raft ride! Fun fun!

It is Summer Splash season at Everland at the moment. There is a water show in which we were supposed to get really wet thus instructed to zip bag seal cameras phones etc and rush to buy a raincoat! June and I purchased one, sweated our butts off in the PVC all to not even get remotely splashed or sprayed.... such a let down heheheh.

These information boxes for kids in the petting zoo were hilarious! Inside the cute exterior of the boxes lay carnage and I'm sure nightmares! Above the boxes was a sign " What do animals give us". Inside the cute bunny rabbit one was an entire limp rabbit skin, the second a pair of kiddy slippers... Inside the piggy picture box was real pig hoofs on a plate, pork steak, bacon etc. There were also cow ans chicken ones along the same lines... etc But the chicken one was AMAZING! I never new a cartoon chicken clock came from a chicken??

You may notice Eddy (Korean/American guy) has his mouth open in every photograph! On Andrew enquiring why this was, he replied "I don't know how to put my mouth in photos so I always open it!" Funny funny, considering he is getting married soon, the wedding photos will be awesome! ; )

Was a very cool bird show with trained eagles, vultures, geese, peacocks, peahens etc. They did tricks and stuff, hard to believe they can train birds so well and so many!

View from the ferris wheel.

So tired.... so hungry.......

African safari ride. We all got on the safari bus, bears, tigers and lions all came right up to the bus! Very groovy! The bears were SO big! We also got to witness two huge lions mating. heheheheh talk about timing, the entire bus cracked up! Eddy most of all, which I think cracked everyone up even more!

I was asked on the weekend by a friend on msn physically what my ideal dream man might look like......... Answer...see above......

Take care, keep in touch!
Smile lots, laugh long time!

Suwon Fortress and a New steed!

2007-06-07T00:29:00.000+10:00

We had a public holiday today in Korea so we decided to go to Suwon Fortress - a big wall with little temple things and a big hill along the way. Just a few pics!

I discovered I have a new party trick! The question is....... Baby bump or too many doughnuts????

The coolest thing I have bought since being over here! My new pink barbie bike! Andrew is concerned my heart is now only for my new trusty steed...... Flossy.

Fun times! Riding 'Flossy' in the park.

Return to the Farm!

2007-06-04T14:20:00.000+10:00

Just a few pics from our return visit on Tues last week to the farm to dig up lettuces planted the visit before!

Hip Hip Hoorrrraaaaaaaay!

2007-06-04T13:21:00.000+10:00

Well this past weekend was probably up there with the best weekends here to date! So much fun was had!
Firstly Friday night after work Eddy, Jeff, Tania and I went to Pho Bay, a vietnamese restaurant for dinner for my birthday which was on Sunday (getting soooooo old! hehhe) Pretty Yum!

After which we went down to have a couple of drinks at one of the most popular drinking spots in Korea... On a plastic table setting outside a Seven Eleven store. Seems to be the thing to do here! Actually it is a pretty good spot! When you get hungry you just pop inside for snacks! All drinks are available inside also which is handy and cheap! Great people watching too!

Two Korean icons - Cass and Soju....

After this, we ventured up to the singing rooms to do a little private karaoke! Sooooo much fun, though I could hardly speak the next day! I think I went a little too hard on You're so Vain and Summer of 69!

As you can see by the pics Jeff and Tania also seemed to enjoy themselves!

Saturday morning Andrew, Tania and I ventured back to Itaewon to get the best pancakes I've ever tasted - Pear, cinnamon and ice cream! so so good! We also did some shopping an visited the Aussie shop - a little shop that sells Australian stuff like pies, lamingtons, works burgers, jaffles, chips with chicken salt etc! Pretty good find for when I feel like a delectible reminder of Australia! Was funny, the hilarious character that runs it is the old drummer out of the Choirboys - Remember the song 'Run to Paradise?????? www.aussieshopkorea.com

Saturday night Andrew took me to Cirque Du Soleil for my birthday, was THE best present! (Thanks so much Andrew!!!) The acts were amazing, so good to finally see it in real life! The best act was 5 girls of I'd guess around 10 or 11 who did amazing tricks and acrobatics using diablos - Still can't believe they never once dropped them!

Quidam show poster...

Some of the best acts!

Sunday morning Andrew and I met up with friends at Jeongia for brunch. Had some lunch and some delicious black forest cake Bunny and Sally brought along.

Then we finished off an awesome weekend with relaxing in my local park, reading, sleeping and shooting some hoops.

Overall a great weekend, better run! take care!

Ellen xxxx

Lanterns, lanterns and more lanterns........

2007-05-21T23:19:00.000+10:00

Anneyo all!

Another jam-packed weekend!
Friday night a few of us went to Indian for dinner in Seohyeon (about 1/2 hr away). The food wasn't too bad. I've found most foreign foods get 'koreanised' - get sweetened sickeningly so. And ALWAYS comes with some sort of Korean side dish, mostly pickle/gherkin looking things. Ah well can't be too fussy over here!

Saturday morning we had a Science fair for the Kindies and their parents. Was a really fun morning! I'll try get some pics that were taken by others on the day. I was in charge of the air basketball and hovercraft station. The kids had to hold an air blower with a beachball floating on top and guide it though a vertical hoop. The hovercraft was a small round board on top of an air cushion that you blow up with an inflator and they kind of move around a little and held on tight!

The plan was to go to Everland (a theme park) after this but it started raining which was a bit disapointing! However never one to sit idle went to visit Andrew in Yatap and check out a Photographic and Digital Imaging Trade show that was on. It was awesome, so many toys to play with and great photos and design to see!

Sunday we trekked to Dongdaemun in Seoul to check out Budhas Birthday celebrations. A huge festival of big and small lanterns. Was quite spectacular and got some cool photos!

THE BIGGEST lens I've ever seen! (see size of camera body...) Seems kinda ridiculous really!

You could get on top of this bus and have a go at all the expensive toys and big lenses. I had a go at sniper paparazzi-ing! Cool fun!

Each major company had models etc set up to test their equipment...however so many people bring along their own equipment and shoot away??? Not sure what the go is with that? Though there was a lot of awesome camera kits getting around!

....And Budhas Birthday celebration pics!

Cruisy weekend at last!

2007-05-15T21:28:00.000+10:00

Hi all!

Hope you are all well and having fun!
I've just had a rough day with my kinders... kids are so up and down. One day they are awesome and little angels the next they are plain awful and naughty! It was Teachers Day today here and some kids bring along gifts which is pretty cool. I got heaps of flowers, body lotions, jewellery, a pen, a funky keyring and business card case in mother of pearl and little cards the kids wrote about how much they like me! (hmmmm well in most cases mum probably wrote they copied hehehehhe) You would think being teachers day they would have cut me some slack and been good!

Still kind of weird to say I am a teacher, I don't feel like a teacher, I feel like a dodgy stand-in imposter, posed as a teacher...if that makes any sense. Oh well only 10 more months these poor kids are subjected to my, what feels like at times, sub-standard educational techniques!

The weekend was pretty good. Had a sleep in on Saturday then took Tania to Technomart to get here a camera and some Aus/Korea power adapters, then relaxed a little as it was rainy and bleak.
Sunday slept in again then went to church and met up with some other friends after to go to Namsan (Seoul) Tower and to get some dinner.

We were going to catch the cable car to the top of this mountain but it was super busy and the line up was almost an hour so we thought we'd try walk up..... too far and not enough time we got half way. Better luck next time! Anyhow just a couple of pics this time...

Bunny, Andrew and Susan stand defeated by Namsan Tower Hill Climb... Only 1/2 the sense of accomplishment...

The tower....... so close but sooooo far..

Check out Andrews muscles! Soooo strong he can lift a car single-handedly!

A weekend at Beachside Busan

2007-05-10T09:41:00.000+10:00

Hidee ho!

Well another groovy weekend! Tania, Andrew and I trekked down to the very south of South Korea to a city called Busan. We caught a bullet train so it only took a little over two hours to get there! (Andrew tried to convince us that it is called the bullet train because it travels as fast as a speeding bullet......quite unsuccessfully I promise! However it travels at around 300 km/hr - pretty quick!)

Anyhow as usual not too much chit chat more pics with little explanations.....enjoy!

Busan Rail station - just a pretty damn cool building really!

Hyandae Beach by night.... we stayed at a motel / brothel about a block from the beach....... Brothel I hear you gasp! Well actually they are called Love Hotels - you can rent them by the hour...so so seedy I know. Looked innocent enough until she led us past the porn shelf to the "three" person room which consisted of one giant bed.... Not just any bed though. A round bed! So so tacky... see for yourself! If that wasn't enough of a giveaway the red light outside the motel we discovered at nighttime really sealed the deal. Oh well good thing it was cheap!

Whilst in Hyandae beach Tania and I also enjoyed a 2hr Thai massage... sooooo good but quite painful - the girls had us bent up like pretzls!

We also visited a temple a little north called Beomeosa Temple. It was very beautiful - spring is such an awesome time of year over here! Everything is so green and pretty!

This is Andrew's cool shot! 10 points!

- The three stooges..... My thelma and louise style of photography leaves a lot to be desired! missed most of me! doh!

A lady worshipping in the temple. I'm sure I probably shouldn't be taking such photos as it probably is offfensive...Oh well! I'm glad my God isn't in the form of a gold statue and I'm not required to light a million billion tea light candles!

More temple worship....

We also vistited Mt Geumjeong fortress..... We expected a wall or something... but there was none? We did however stumble across the most hair-raising, scary bus trip I've ever experienced! Picture a narrow, winding mountain road, tight curves, blind corners, pedestrians scattered along the edges walking..... now picture being on a very fast bus, which screeches it's tyres from speed on most corners, picture the game of corners from hell in the back seat of this bus....picture near collisions, a bus driver that honks at cars in front of him that are going probably faster than the speed limit anyhow.... I pictured near death! Scary....but still stangely fun! hehehehe Almost topped the cab driver the previous day doing 130km/hr in a 60 zone, narrowly missing a stationary truck.......

Colourful speciman! Guarding the temple.......

Tan and I in the temple forest.

I know, I know.... I have a fixation with photographing lanterns.. Actually I am on the quest for the perfect lantern shot!

Bad Korean English

2007-04-30T01:15:00.000+10:00

Often I will come across really bad use of English be it on a menu, sign or T-shirt... I was at a local cafe and noticed this interesting one? translation anyone?????

My house!

2007-04-30T00:57:00.000+10:00

Many people have asked me what the place I'm living in is like! Here's a couple of pics. Is a small studio which is cosy but I like it - except the the bathroom. One I have no bath...bummer... Two - the shower has no screen and makes my whole bathroom wet each time I shower... double bummer! I've had so many moments of absent mindedness and wet socks!

Ha, I can almost hear my old photography boss Paul Dawson's opinions of my house photos now....... Why did you have your camera bag in the shot..... why is there rubbish near the door and in the shot... poor lighting, bad angle......hehehehe Please note however taken with my compact and small care factor......

Incheon for Tania to arrive!

2007-04-30T00:07:00.000+10:00

Hey ya all!

Another week has passed and I'm getting closer to my two month mark! Wow how time flies when you're having fun hey! Things have been great. I'm feeling healthy (or healthier...) again, has been a cruisy week at school, will be a short week at school this week and my good buddy Tania from Australia has arrived to start teaching at my school tomorrow for 12 months also! So excited! Whats more is that next Thurs night Tania, Andrew and I are taking the bullet train down to Busan (which is right down in the south-east of South Korea near the beach!) and spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday exploring and relaxing! Yay! Can't wait!

Just a few pics from the weekend. Andrew and I went to Incheon (near international airport) to spend the day before meeting Tania when her flight arrived. Enjoy! Once again some interesting perhaps some not so!

Chinatown - Incheon happy snap!

Funky street lanterns in Chinatown.

Why do hats just NEVER suit me!

We found this awesome wall.... hmmmm only a photogapher would understand it's appeal...even then? Andrew was the only one I had then as my photographic guinea pig...Thanks Andrew you put up with so much! x Pity only only had my compact with me. doh!

Love this shot!

......and Andrews payback time....... I'd rather be behind the camera than in front. Published on here ONLY so that Mum knows that I'm looking after myself.... no facial piercings, radical haircuts (Had a haircut today actually, not too bad result considering the language barrier! I had Bunny right me a hanguel note for the hairdresser...I told her no secretly requesting a peroxide blonde mowhalk with red tips!)

Ahhhh so beautiful! Spring is THE best time of year!

Groovy huge spikey monument or artwork thing - taken from directly underneath and backlit.

Korean man practicing hanguel script. Looks very difficult! I've been learning to read and write it and have quite a bit of trouble getting the strokes right!

South Korea has heaps of parks, most have some sort of outdoor gym! This one had heaps of machines to use! Who needs to pay gym memberships hey! Pity, like my kitchen, they are designed for oompaloompas.....

...ahhhh takes me back to the days when I was an aspiring gymnast.... I was tiny back then.... lucky I didn't place all my eggs in that basket as behold came forth a bohemoth woman of nearly 6 ft....

Exhibit A: The beauty of Gods creation! Check out the amazing colour! Is awesome!

And then....... They day all South Korea has been waiting for.................(check out the size of that suitcase!!!!!!!! whoa! almost as tall as Tania!)

Ahhhh here at last!....Let the fun begin!

It's late here, I should get my buttski off to bed - Big day tomorrow!
Miss you all so much! Take care.

If as the saying goes sunshine is to flowers what smiles are to humanity, let's aim to increase the rate global warming in at least a positive way, smile all day everyday!!

Ellen xxxx

Long Time No blog!

2007-04-24T20:40:00.000+10:00

It's been a while not much real exciting going on! Been sick AGAIN with suspected Bronchitus (still not convinced...)
I'm suspecting there was a little case of "Lost in Translation"...right before I was darted in the bum twice with a savage needle. Evil evil nurse!

Symptoms for the docs out there.... Aching body, sore chest, exhaustion and tiredness, fever, blocked sinuses..... I mistook the pain in my back to be from my new bed but alas part of the sickness! I even bought a suction cap pain therapy kit in a vain attempt to ease the pain but only ended up looking freaky and now have giant circle bruises all over my back. Please see photos below! Not many pics I'm afraid - next week my friend Tania arrives and we are going to lantern festival and then Busan way down south the following week! So excited!

Another mission we embarked upon was to go to the Cherry blossom festival - well the remainders of it anyhow. It took 3 subway transfers, bus rides and a kilometre walk to get to the proposed destination, only that we couldn't actually find the Cherry blossoms afterall and had to settle for a overpopulated park with thin grass. I did however discover waffle balls to which I am forever grateful to the trip......

Waiting for the subway I couldn't help but sneakily snap a picture of these two love birds... In Korea if you are boyfriend and girlfriend the boy always carries the girls handbags (and girls here are extremely feminine and usually have very very girly sparkly handbags!! poor boys!) If they are really in love the guy will often succome to the girls suggestion of wearing matching outftits...so sweet.........

Public transport on a Sunday afternoon or night can be quite the experience! Soju generally the reason for many to become messy and quite the spectacle. This poor soul had clearly had about 10 too many. passing out, and everytime the bus lurched, stopped or accelerated his head smashed the back of the chair in front of him... i have video footage however still am unable to figure out how to make it small enough to load on here...Any helpers??????

Finally, Friday night Jeff, Eddy and I ventured to the casino. It's illegal for Koreans to go but foreigners are allowed on presenting your passport. We each "invested" a small amount of spare change only to lose....doh! I discovered roulette isn't too bad, you can bet really small and be amused for hours! And drink ladies carrying wine serve you at your seat all night! Jeff scared the entire Casino when his lucky number 13 came up followed by THE LOUDEST woooooohoooo ! Every face turned to laugh at the guy who won 34 chips. heheheh Funny when most people seemed to be betting over 100 -200 each spin!

Keep in touch, take care, smiles lots!

Ellen x

Where I live!

2007-04-12T19:22:00.000+10:00

Ha! Now I'm sporting a new compact Camera (the very sexy Panasonic Lumix TZ3 - loving it!) comes the array of random photos snapped whilst on the go. Either you'll like looking at them or you'll find them utterly boring...let me know!

South Korea is apartment central! Everyone pretty much lives in one! There is row upon row upon row, each marked with a number or a picture. Addresses here are purely evil, most businesses offer a locality map on the reverse of there business cards just so you have a chance in hell of finding them!

Two blocks from my place, one block from work.

My Building, where I call home at the moment. I live close to a University so accomodation is very "student" like.

The school in which I work is in the left hand building...obviously since the right hand one is still being built.

ECC Farm Trip!

2007-04-10T21:13:00.000+10:00

This morning we took the kids to a farm where they could plant seeds and see tractors etc. They seemed to have a good time! Just a few pics I took during the day! Please refrain from laughing at my ridicuously BAD hair day.....the result of going to bed with wet hair...Not cool.

My "Turtle" class

My "Rabbit" Class

Planting Lettuce

More planting lettuce....

Cheeky Ellie and Sally from Turtle class!

More little spunks!

Play time!

Bunny Teacher surrounded by Munkin butts!

Christina (Korean teacher) and I - she's so beautiful!

Eddy teacher (from California) and me!

Heather from Rabbit class - so cute!

Jeff Teacher (from Seattle) playing with the kiddies!

June and I!

Hanging with the kids.......oh man the hair.....heheheh

The cute Becky! All us Western teachers want to take her home!

Suwon Folk Village - Finally made it!

2007-04-09T01:38:00.000+10:00

Well, after 3 weeks of planning to get to Suwon Folk Village we made it - finally a weekend without rain! yay!
Pretty cool place, got a few good pics. Check them out! missing you all in Oz!
xxxxx ellen

First a photographic message to all my family and friends! Andrew tells me in Korean it is said SaRong He!

In Korea it's the ‘Year of the Pig,’ based on the lunar calendar. But it is not just an ordinary pig, it is a ‘golden pig. Babies born in the ‘year of the golden pig’ are believed to have good fortune and will lead a comfortable and wealthy life. Hmmm don't think I'll get in on that one... oh well too late anyhow!

Andrew's "Mini-me"!

....and all the boys say........"OUCH!"

Slack-lining isn't such a modern activity afterall!

We saw a traditional Korean wedding ceremony... hmm she doesn't look too happy!

Who's this spunky man?????

These pots are used to make Kimchi. An extremely popular food in Korea - Fermented cabbage which is pretty spicy and nasty!

Hmmmm. Andrew inncently photographed this fine specimen of Korean woodern art....It wasn't until we uploaded the photographs that afternoon did we realise that the animals paw is positioned quite interestingly!

An afternoon Soju session, Korean style! Think they're having a good time! Who wouldn't? Rocket fuel alcohol, available at any 7/11 or soft drink machine for around $1! For me 2 of these kerosene tasting beverages proved lethal!

Anyhow hope we are all well and having fun!
Ellen xxxx

Kindy morning out!

2007-04-05T22:48:00.000+10:00

My beautiful friend and co-worker June emailed me these pics she took while at a kids play centre just upstairs from the school. I'm told we have another excursion to "the farm" next week so I will def take the camera and get some more snaps!

Thanks for the pics June!

The Gorgeous Korean "Liv Tyler" June and I.

Slight success from the kids in dragging "Ellen Teacher" onto the trampoline. Surprisingly 10 kindy kids dragging you can be quite strong! The problem being that my jeans are now too big and half a dozen kids hanging on your leg like a koala bear can produce devasting results!

Pics from Gangnam and Insadong.

2007-04-03T22:24:00.000+10:00

Howdy!

The last few days at school have been so hectic! The start of each new month brings tests, grading, reports, new syllabuses (have no idea how to spell that??? Great English teacher heh!) and pretty much chaos for the newbee who knows little!

Had a great weekend despite the thrid weekend in a row we haven't made it to the Suwon Folk Village due to rain! Perhaps next weekend! Promised not to plan it this time then maybe it will be good weather and we can sneak down!

Andrew and I decided to head up to the local bus stop and hop on a random "mystery bus" to see where we end up for the day. As it turns out we got on a bus headed to a big indoor shopping/centre amusement park called Lottle World in Jamsil, Seoul. Fun afternoon out when you're not sure exactly where you want to go!

Then on Saturday had a night out with lots of the foreign teacher from around this area, and ended up in this karaoke place that looked like a palace! Glass floors with flowers and coloured pebbles underneath which lead to little sunken lounges and plasma screens and microphones - kind of like a private room singstar! There was also dance stages up against the glass 10 stories up. heheheheh very fun, yet weird. You can hear all the Koreans singing, they were so bad and so funny!

On Sunday I headed to Andrews church, SaRang Community Church in Gangnam. ( http://english.sarang.org )
It was great and I would like to go back again next week! Not as far to go and Younkak either which is good! A bit under an hr to get there.

Spent a few hours in Gangnam, took a few random pics...

Mosaic Poles

Just a location shot showing spring is coming and so are the Cherry Blossoms!

My favourite tree! The Cherry Blossom!

We then headed to Insadong to check out a tradition style shopping area.

Andy I've discovered, has a natural knack for getting us lost! His navigational abilities never cease to surprise me and provide hours of amusement and extra travel time......

Andrew even at times gets a little frusterated at himself! ha!

Insadong location shot - didn't know at the time but the President of Austria is in the back of this shot! Ah who would have thought!

Love this guy! I got my "free" hug! We should all hold up one of these signs from time to time! Challenge for the week!

Yum..... some sort of dried octopus legs or something....... I think I'll pass... I'm adventurous, just not THAT adventurous.

We all want one of these for our wall I'm sure!

Anyhow, have to run! About 50 reports to write! I'm sure can be quite challenging when I'm still learning names! hmmm note to oneself.... learn names faster next time...

Take care, miss you all! Tell me about your adventures!

Mwah!

Ellen x

Some pics from weekend....

2007-03-28T22:28:00.002+10:00

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!

2007-03-20T23:49:00.001+11:00

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........

2007-03-16T22:53:00.001+11:00

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!

2007-03-11T00:46:00.000+11:00

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!

2007-03-11T00:34:00.000+11:00

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!

2007-03-02T21:39:00.000+11:00

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

2007-03-01T21:57:00.000+11:00

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!

The hard life....

2007-02-21T22:04:00.000+11:00

I wake up, ponder briefly the state of the weather and contemplate which swimmers I should wear to the beach today - sunbaking bikini or swimming bikini.... One of lifes greatest decisions for a beach bum living in Port Macquarie (that and which reading material best suits my mood for the day... Trashy magazine, Design/Photography Magazine, The Bible, a Jane Austen novel, The newspaper, Self-help book, Advertisment left under my windscreen wipers promoting wieght loss of 40kg in 3 weeks...hmm more than half my body weight???, Suduku Mega fun, Christian non-fiction...... decisions, decisions! )

Then I have the painstaking task of deciding which beach (afterall Port Macquarie has a bucket load of them) Of course this depends on which bikini was selected previously, waves are great - but only with "wave-friendly" attire.

Beaching done, there is only one truly perplexing decision that has to be made.........Which cafe am I going to get a Cappucino from today?