Thanksgiving Weekend

The week was pretty good. Katie and I went to dos tacos together Tuesday night. We decided that once a month we would go and get tacos for dinner together.

Friday was open class. The parents thought that the class was boring. Oh, well. If they wanted a show they should have hired an actor or a monkey. I'm a teacher. I teach, that's what I do. The point was for parents to see what happens here. After open class, I went to lunch with the other teachers. That was nice. After school, I got on a subway and headed to Pastor's. I spent the whole weekend there. Jason was there. We had dinner together. The four of us. Jason had me rolling on the floor laughing. He was telling Amber how mad Gayle and I were because she wasn't there cooking the pumpkin pies. Jason also picked on me. He would take my book and start reading it. A couple of times he went to the end and started reading. I told Pastor I wanted a new brother. Jason, Amber and I decided we are going to Busan for Christmas. I'm very excited because there is a cake buffet there. 15,000 won and I get all the cake I want.

On Saturday, Amber and I got up and started cooking. Jason came over to give us a hand. That's when it started to feel like Thanksgiving. Jason and I walked down to get Hun and Katie. We walked down that huge hill twice and up it twice. We ate and talked. Afterwards we went to the Bungalow and sat around and talked. Amanda is sure that she knows Katie.

On Sunday, I got up and went to church. Pastor Dan is a good preacher. After church, I went back to Pastor Turner's. We had leftovers for lunch. Then we sat around and talked. We messed around with Gayle's facebook. We had a good laugh. The plan was to go to Meong-dong and get glasses, but we were all too happy on turkey to go. We sat around and played cards. After that Amanda and I went to the Express bus termial and I got my niece's Christmas present. It was much cheaper than what I thought I would pay. Amanda and I had dinner. She and I talked for a long time. She also got to see my wonderful talent of how much I can eat.

As for me, I'm doing well. I still get a little homesick, but it's not consuming. I really like Korea, as long as I'm not at work. I hate that they treat this like a business. I was really happy to get here this morning to find, they didn't order enough books for my kinder phonics class. They tried to blame Christine, but it wasn't her fault. Christine really does more than her share and they don't thank her. It's only been three months, and I'll be glad to leave Primas Kids when the time comes. I however think I'll struggle with walking away from Korea. I've made so many friends and love the people in my life.

I go and get new glasses on Tuesday. They are much cheaper here. Jason tells me I shouldn't pay too much. That'll be nice. I looked at things and I'm pretty much booked up untill after new year's. I have play practice, and the play. Then the Christmas party and Christmas. I really can't wait. Lots to keep me busy and my mind off of what I'm missing back home. They say month three and four are the hardest. Month three was November and month four is Christmas, so I think it is twice as hard, but I really want to stay. I love my friends and most of my students.

To my parents

I love you both very much. I also see now how wonderful you have been to me while I was growing up. I know that what you wanted was for things to be better for me than they were for you. All your actions came from love. I'm reading a book right now. It's called Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado. It was talking about family and I read this one part and I thought about you. Here it is.

Quiet heroes dot the landscape of our society. They don't wear ribbons or kiss trophies; they wear spit-up and kiss boo-boos. They don't make the headlines, but they do sew hemlines and check the outlines and stand on the sidelines. You won't find their names on the Nobel Prize short list, but you will find their names on homeroom, carpool and Bibles teacher lists. They are parents, both by blood and deed, name and calendar. Heroes. News Programs don't call them. But that's okay. Because their kids do . . . They call them Mom. They call them Dad. And these moms and dads, more valuable than all the executives and lawmakers west of the Mississippi, quietly hold the world together.

So, that's what I think of you two. I think the world of you two. I love you, Poppy Bear, and Mommy.

Time to be Thankful

It's that time of the year to remember all of the things you are thankful for. So here are all the things I'm thankful for.

First and most important is my father. My father is the greatest man on this earth. He loves unconditionally. I can't begin to list all of the things he has done for me. He has supported me in all the things that I do. When I left my job, he wasn't upset. When I told him, I didn't know if I wanted to teach, he wasn't upset. When I told him I applied to come and teach in Korea, he wasn't upset. When I told him I got the job at DeliEnglish, he was upset. It wasn't the, "I'm mad," kinda upset. It was the, "my daughter is leaving for a year," kind of upset. I've called home and e-mailed my dad way too many times, but he didn't care. He offered many times for me to change my mind before I left, and I knew I could have, but once I got here, he wouldn't let me change my mind. My father is a true hero in my mind.

Next would be my mother. She and I have had our fair share of struggles through the years, but in the end, she loves me. She cares about me. She has been a big support in my coming here. She didn't get upset when I left my job. She did start to nag as the summer started to end and I hadn't found a job, but mothers do that. She was there for me as I got ready to be here. She is a good mother.

Next my church family. RPBC is a wonderful church. I miss them a lot. The college group is a great group of people. I miss meeting with them Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings. Jesse and Laura are sweet people. They have been very supportive. Tapestry is a wonderful group of women. Many of them spent the summer praying that God would use me in a powerful way after leaving my job. These women have been a great example in my life. I hope they can contiue to be a postive influence on me. I'm very thankful for the ladies that teach Sparks now. I haven't seen it, but I know I left a group that was willing to fill the hole I left behind. I was very worried about leaving, but the way these ladies stepped up to help was a blessing to me. I wish that I could see them at work. I'm thankful for the Burns family. I wouldn't be sitting in Korea, if they weren't a part of my life. They played a role as big as my parents in getting me here and keeping me here. I learned how to have faith in an amazing God because of them. I'm thankful for Tammy, Kelly, Hilda, Jodi and Jackie. These women remind me that I can do this. These women are there for me in everyway they can be. I'm thankful for Pastor Lord. He is a wonderful Pastor. I'm thankful for the pleasure he shows in sending me off. He is always very excited to send me on my way. He is a very caring man, and I know that God is the center of his heart.

I'm thankful for the friends I've made here in Korea. I love Amanda. I love that Amanda wants to make everybody happy. I will miss her when she is gone. I love Amber. She is sweet, thoughtful, and helpful. I love Crystal. She is always good for a laugh. I love Jackie. She gets me to think about things. I will miss her when she is gone. I love Brandy. I love looking at the pictures of her students. It's great to have someone around who is in love with Kinders as much as I am. I love Hun. I have so much fun going around Korea with him. I love Suzanne. She brought me to this wonderful group of people. I will miss her when she is gone. I love Jason. He is my Korea best friend. He seems to understand, he also cares. He has said some things that were hard for me to take in, but his heart is in the right place and that is what matters the most.

I'm thankful for Pastor Turner and Gayle. They welcome me into their home. They let me make a mess of their kitchen and cook and bake. They make my heart happy. I feel like I have family and I'm at home when I'm in their home. The number of blessings I have recieved from these two wonderful people are already countless.

I'm thankful for my coworkers. Christine is helpful. I can ask her for advice and she will give it. Mike is canandian, but I won't hold that against him. He has let me know that it's ok to stand for them to walk on me. I can also go to him when I need help with dealing with kids. He is a pretty good guy. I'm thankful that Erik hasn't said anything mean or beat me down. Erik shares an office with me. He has to deal with all the annoying wierd Michelle-ness. He does a pretty good job. He does leave me alone in the office every now and again; I think it is because I have driven him past the point and leaves instead of hitting me or saying mean things to me. I'm thankful for Katie. She has been a good friend. It has been nice to have someone to travel with.

I'm thankful for my friends back home. I'm glad Tiffany and I are friends. It's great how encouraging she can be. I'm glad that I've reconnected with Kelsie. I don't mind that it is only through the internet. I'm thankfu for Jim and how well he takes care of my dog. I'm thankful for Kerry, Hagan, and Ashlee. I don't know that I would have made it through this summer without them.

I'm also thankful for Amor Ministry; the staff and everyone I've met through it. I'm thankful for Jeff and Erin. I'm thankful for Jonathan, Chelsea, Lyndsie, Pamela, Howie, and anyone else on the field team. I'm thankful for Brian, Jim, Jeff and Leona. I will miss you all this year.

I'm thankful for my Aunts. They have been very helpful and loving.

I know that I've missed some people. I am thankful for you. If you are reading this, you are a part of my life and have touched it. I am thankful for every person that has passed through my life. Every person has made an impact on me and made me who am I today.

Life in The ROK

Life is still going. Things are still happening. I had a pretty much a normal week. On Thursday, I had to explain to Vincent that 5 year olds are like that. Sometimes, they don't want to play with the other students. It doesn't matter how cool we think Ian is sometimes nobody wants to play with him, that day. I then had so explain that I didn't go to a business college, I went to a teaching college, and that I work at school, not a business. When he treats it like a business, I don't care.

Friday we had birthdays. I was really happy. I had three pieces of cake. They were all really good. Two pieces were kinda big. Mike was amazed at how much I could I eat. Katie and I walked to bus stop together. We approached by small children. Lydia and Gabina live in the apartments on the corner we by to get to the bus stop. It turns out that the strawberry bench is a bus stop for school buses. They walked us to the bus stop and they stood at the stop and waved at us. We waved at them. There was this guy standing at the bus stop and I guess he saw us waving at the girls, but he didn't see the girls, so he waved at us. Then he turned and saw the girls and stopped waving at us. He probably felt really stupid at that point in time. Katie and I laughed about half way home.

Saturday, I called my parents. I had to talk them and let them know things are getting busy. By the looks of it I may not be able to call home until next year. I have thanksgiving, play practice, the play itself, the Christmas party, and then Christmas. I know mom will worry a little, but as long as I am blogging, and posting pictures there is nothing to worry about. In fact, dad that is what you should tell mom, when the blogging and the pictures stop then it is time to worry about me. I went to two museum with Hun. We went to the War Memorial Museum. I learned some about the wars that were in Korea. Then we went to the national museum of Korea, which was kinda boring. It only had artifacts in cases. I like to see the artifacts but I also like to see models of stuff also. We went when it was free, so I wasn't too upset. I meet Amanda and Jason for dinner. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe. Then we went to bar and hung out.

Sunday, I went to church. I like listening to Pastor Dan preach. He is very good. After church I meet up with Katie and we went to myeondong. We did some shopping. I got some cute tops. None of them are pink, for those of you who are wondering. I bought a awesome hat. Katie got mustard colored pants. This is great find in her book. After that, Katie needs some DVDs so we went over to Yongsan to the DVD guy. I wanted the last of twilight books, so we went to the bookstore over in yongsan. We had pizza and then called it a day. It was a pretty good weekend.

Korea feels more and more like home. I still get homesick, but I know that I'm being prayed for because it is less of a battle. I'm not going ask to come home early. I like the kids, my friends, and my coworkers. I can deal with the junk that Kelly threw at me through Vincent. Friday is open class. This means that a bunch of parents are going to come to the school and watch me teach. Kelly is a little worried because she sat in on my class today. Alice and Daniel aren't preforming monkeys and then kinda closed up on me. I told her it was her fault. She's worried that they be like that on Friday and it is quite possible. I don't really care. It doesn't bother me. I won't be up to top notch either because I don't like teaching in front of adults.

There will probably be two more blogs this week. One about what I'm thankful for and the other about my students.

If I had favorites

I really love the students I teach. I don't make too obvious that I've got a favorites. My students can a attest to that. I made them all feel special and loved but in my mind they are special and I love them. Normally, I won't admit who my favorite is until after school is out. Last year, I had my friends say Sebastian, Angel, Lorena and Citilia were my favorites. I told them all through the school year, I don't have favorites, but after school got out I admitted. I did say once that if I had favorites, one would be Sebastian. So if I had a favorite, here they are.


This is Alice. I'm sure that if you been looking at my pictures you know how cute she can be. Alice is one of my kinders. Alice might as well live at the school. Most morning she gets there before me and she leaves after. I work from 9:00-5:30 just to give you an idea how much time Alice spends at school. She is the happiest child I have ever seen. Alice is very sweet. She has taken candy out of her mouth and offered it to me and Katie teacher. She is in love Erik teacher. When she cries it breaks my heart. This pictures was taken while I was teaching in the Afternoon. She is laying in the hallway watching my teach. She is just the sweetest little thing I've ever seen. I think the cutest thing she does is sing the Erik teacher song. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_0hGRC9kQ

I aslo teach Katie teacher class for one period. There are two students from her class that I just adore and would probably take home if I could get away with it.

You can't get much cuter than Emily. Her English sometimes amazing me. She learns so quickly. She moves slow though. She is last one drinking her milk in the mornings. The other day during class Eric was walking on the tables and Emily said, "Not on the tables." I was surprised. She also has come to Katie teacher and I and said "Daniel go in the bathroom girls'" So it's not perfect, but she's 5 and it's her second language. When we were at the zoo, the kids would get to the animals and say Hello whatever. We got to the elephants and I hear in a very deep manly kinda of voice, "Hello elephants." It had come from Emily. She is very bouncy and happy. She is just adorable.


This is Any. That's right Any. Don't ask me, I'm not the one who picked her English name. I think that maybe it should Annie but the Korean teacher messed it up. She started out as one of our Afternoon students. Erik Teacher and Kristen Teacher had the pleasure of teaching her. Her parents liked the school so much, they moved her into out kinder program. They were going to put her in my class, but for whatever reason, they put her into Katie's class. She is very cute and sweet. She is also very smart. She is another one that is very happy. She likes to sit with me during end circle time. I work with her and sometimes I tell her the answers. I think it's so cute. She'll tell you that she loves you. She is also in love with Erik teacher. She will walk back his room and stare in the window and watch him teach. Whenever she sees him, she'll yell out Erik teacher Erik teacher.


Ian is my favorite that I don't teach. He is in Tinkerbell class. There is just something about Ian that makes you fall in love with him. He has a great personality and enough to spare. He is also Mike's performing monkey. Mike will teach him to do things and he'll do it. Mike taught him to make him point his hands like guns, wink one eye and make this clicking sound. When he does it's so cute. Mike taught him this dance and he doesn't have it quite right, but it is still funny. He has this belt he like to wears. He'll wear with his uniform over his uniform shirt. He is an obsession with belts. He will walk over to me and left up my shirt to see if I'm wear my belt and then he'll "Michelle Teacher belt." His English is pretty good. There are times when he say things that makes it clear it is his second language, but there are times he'll say something and it's amazing. There was one day in end circle, they were learning about using the word not. One of the sentences was She is not nice. Ian came up to me and said, "She is not nice is the sames as she is very mean." Yup, Ian that's right.

Wendy is also pretty cute. She is also in Tinkerbell class. She is the one of the youngest in the school, but her English is probably the best. She gets very jealous though. She likes to have all the attention. She has climbed into my lap and pushed the child that was there right out. She is pulled Christine teacher to the ground because she was kissing another student. However there is something about Wendy that makes you love her. She is very sweet.

This is Sandy. Yes, I'm sure it is Sandy and not Ally. Sandy is at school for most of the day. She attends kinder and then on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, she is in one of my afternoon classes. She is very cute and sweet. She tries very hard. I don't know what draws me to her, but I love her. She is as cute as the come.



This is Lydia. Lydia is in one of my afternoon classes. She hadn't caught my eye until recently. In class she is very quiet and very shy. However, she has opened up to me and become attached to Katie and I. I think it was the day we spent in the hallway. She gets off the bus at the Strawberry bench. She will either wait for Katie and I or she will come running to Katie and I. She greets us and walks with us to our bus stop.



This is Gabina. She has enough personality for three or four people. She has the greats facial expressions. When she reads it is a hoot. She use different voices all the time. She also gets off at the Strawberry bench and she waits with Lydia. She is a very sweet kid. Her English is amazing. This is Gabina reading Cinderella, so you have an idea of how my science goes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gyUjAXkYqI


So these are children, that if I had favorites it would be them. When I have left I will admit that they are my favorite.

Things that will be weird when I come home

I relieze things are different here. Some of those things I'm getting use to and others will take more. Some of these will stick around when I go back to America so I've started a list of things I have to get use to or change when I come home.

1.) When entering any place I will take my shoes off.

2.) I will look for the bathroom light switch outside the bathroom.

3.) I will not understand the purpose of a shower curtain.

4.) Nor will I understand the tub either.

5.) I will look for the remote when I want to adjust a/c.

6.) I will be surprised that I will know what the commercials are about.

7.) I will think I can walk to just about anywhere.

8.) I will want go and get a shrimp burger

9.) I will wonder why I can't have fries on pizza.

10.) I will have to teach and my students will have to learn on Fridays.

11.) I will have to dress professionally when I get back, no more of this jeans everyday.

12.) I will want to use chopstick when I eat.

13.) I will wonder what sub to take to get somewhere.

14.) When I go to a meeting, I'll be surprised to get an agenda

15.) When I get an agenda, I'll be surprised that it isn't in Korean.

16.) I will wonder why I can't take my shoes and socks off and play in the fountains.

17.) I won't have to ask people to write down what I want when I go to the store or bank.

18.) I will have to come up with new inside jokes.

19.) I will tell people to go wash their hair in the sink or be quiet and I will be the only one laughing.

20.) I will want to open yahoo mess anger while I'm at work and talk with Jason.

21.) I will be surprise all the things I will know how to work because I can read.

22.) I will be surprised at all the new music that came it and everyone else will think the song is old.

23.) I will be surprised at how warm the winter is back home.

24.) I will miss my DVD guy.

25.) I will attempt to spend every other Saturday at Pastor Lord's. I will probably insist on cooking lunch for his family.

26.) I will want to write letters and send pictures to Hilda and Tammy.


Here are the photo websites they both have new photos

http://michellespicturesinkorea.shutterfly.com/

http://michellespicturesofdek.shutterfly.com/

I'm going to freeze in this country

I learned that many banks in this country are not very nice. On Thursday, Vincent took Katie and I to the banks. We talked with them and Vincent didn't like what they had to say and one wouldn't give us our card for three months. (If you do the math, in three months, it'll be half over) Not worth the wait. So on Friday we went over to KB and they were much nicer, and much better. Listening to Vincent talk with the bank people, you heard them say wayguk, which is Korean for foreign. The way the bank said it kinda made you think of the way people use stereotypes back home. I've never been on the negative end of a stereotype before. It just seemed rude and unpleasant. But now I have a bank and things are good.

On Friday, we went to the zoo. It didn't rain this time. The kids had a good time they really enjoyed the zoo. It was a nice little zoo. We walked around and say some of the animals. Jenifer Teacher took my camera and took pictures of us. There is a really nice picture of Daniel, Alice and I. It's really sweet. That night I meet up with Jason, Crystal, and Amanda. We had dinner at Dous Tacos. It was really good. It's kinda like the Mexican food, I get back home. After wards we went to Rainbow and sat around and talked. Amanda told us that she has to move and there is no shower in her new place. She was told to wash her hair in the sink. So now we tell each other to go wash your hair in the sink. Crystal and Amanda tried to talk me into getting rid of Martio now. I don't think I can do that. I feel like Martio is one of reasons for going home and if I tell Jim to find a home for her, I might not want to go home. I need to go home. I feel it will help me transition form here to the next call.

On Saturday, I got up and went to Pastor's. I made a taco salad and cookie dough brownies. They enjoyed the both the salad and the brownies. The brownies, so much that Jason kept asking why I wasn't in the kitchen making more. Gayle picked on me a little saying prep time was 10 minutes and cook time was 20 minutes, so what was taking lunch so long. We hung out and talked. Jason told scary stories. We went and got dinner at Hard Rock. We passed my camera around taking self portraits. Then we went back to Pastor's. We played cards. Jason, Amber and I decided to go to Busan for Christmas. Amber and I looked at Hot Springs Spa they have there. I like going over to Pastor's. When I do, I feel like I have family. It makes it easier to be here. I think when I get back, I'm going to tell Pastor Lord, I need to spend Saturday at his house. It'll help with my transition back into American.

On Sunday, I went to church. After church I had lunch with 20 somethings from SIBC. We went to this Indian place and it was pretty good. They were kind of slow. It was good food though. After wards, I went to Yongsan and picked up some more DVD. I got 5 season and 22 movies. I should be set for the more than the next month. That's about it. Everything seems to be going well.

I'm about to freeze here. It is so cold. You really have no idea. I went and bought a heating mat. I couldn't find blankets. The heating mat is a great idea, the heat rises and I got my amor Mexican blanket on top, so that holds in all the warmth. I was very warm and cozy last night. However walking to the bus and work, I think I'm just going to freeze into a big ice cube one day.

Good Song

For those of you who don't know music is a big thing to me. It can invoke thoughts, feelings and completely change my emitions. I had a close friend of mine compare my lack of music to the similar effects of a lack of alchool to someone who was addicted. He is probably right, I would start a horrible withdrawal if I didn't have music. Some have taken note of my status which states i'm having an inner struggle. This is one of the songs that is helping me through it.

Just a Little Girl Lyrics:
She's always trying to be This independent girl That is never in need (I'm trying very hard to be this, but I'm not succeed at all.)
Twenty years in this town She still relies on me To find her way around (I've found that I do rely on people to feel secure and most of them are miles away. It also seems that ones I relied on the most I have little to no contact with)

Because she's just a little girl Time isn't holding her down (I do feel like time doesn't matter, and that I'm just a little girl)
Well she's just a little girl She never needed a crown She just wants somebody around Who won't laugh when she laughs too loud (that's right, I don't really want to be special, I want someone who won't laugh at me)
She just wants somebody to see She's just a little girl (I don't think anyone sees how I'm just a little girl)

When I think too much Voices in my head Are silenced by her touch She hates being alone (I do hate being alone)
Baby talks to me When we're on the phone (I miss the hours I use to spend on the phone with someone)

Because she's just a little girl Time isn't holding her down Well she's just a little girl She never needed a crown She just wants somebody around Who won't laugh when she laughs too loud She just wants somebody to see She's just a little girl

In a world that moves too fast She's afraid she'll never last (I really feel this world moves too fast and is too big)
But if she holds the faith of a child She'll be alright She'll be alright (I'm trying very hard to hold to my faith)

Because she's just a little girl Time isn't holding her down Well she's just a little girl She never needed a crown She just wants somebody around Who won't laugh when
she laughs too loud She just wants somebody to see She's just a little girl She's just a little girl She's just a little girl


I know this doesn't show too much insight what I'm struggling with, but some of it needs to released.

I almost forgto to blog

It's Tuesday, normally I blog on Monday. I'm sorry. Things are getting busy and taking up my life. I was busy finishing up some letters and take care of things yesterday. Today is a holiday. It's not the kind of holiday where things closed down, I still had to work. It is Pepero day. A day where you buy pepero and give it to people. Pepero are these cracker sticks, they kinda taste like animals crackers or graham crackers and they are covered in chocolate or they have chocolate in the inside. 11/11 is pepero day. So that's today, but let's go back to what you missed.

I felt this year when it came to the election, I was luck in many ways. I didn't get to see the smear ads that the rest of the world had to watch. I also went to bed at start of the election day. I went to bed about 10 pm here which was about 6 am Tuesday in AZ. I woke and got to work and opened the internet to CNN.com and the polls on the east coast had just started closing. It was very nerve wrecking to watch the polls and see how things go. I had to start teaching and only a few polls had closed, I think it was 16 to 3 McCain at that time. Katie and I took our kids to bathroom at the same time, so she would watch my kids and I would run to the office and hit refresh. By lunch time, we kinda knew that Obama had it, but it wasn't official. He needed about 70 more. After lunch, Katie and I took our kids into the gym. I opened up starfall, so they could practice their letter names and sounds and build their vocab. I opened up another window and went to CNN.com. I would refresh CNN while I waited for Starfall to load. About 1:15, I refreshed and Obama had won. I was a McCain supporter, so this was a little upsetting. I felt that McCain would do a better job of fixing things in our country, but I guess not. God knows what He is doing and there is a reason that he is now in charge of our country.

The rest of the week was good. We had science the kids are great and did well. They like to do science and really enjoy it. I also picked up my alien registration card this week. I can now go get a bank account and won't have to carry home millions of won in my backpack.

On Saturday, I went to another palace. I had my Korean friend Hun meet there. We walked around and talked. He is very nice guy. After the palace, he took me over to the Korean house. The Korean house is where the king lived when he didn't want to be at the palace. They had a neat little festival thingie going on and I didn't really see the Korean house. After the Korean house, we went over to Seoul North Tower. We just walked around the bottom, we didn't ride up the tower. There were a bunch of locks on the railing at the tower. We you love someone, you go to the tower and buy two locks, you each write a message and then lock your locks together and throw the key over the side. My dad made a joke about a bunch of Korean running around with key shaped dents in their heads. Hun and I had dinner, and parted ways.

On Sunday, I was low on money, and warn out from all the sightseeing that I went to warm bed baptist church and Pastor Pillow had a good message (aka I slept). I called home and talked with my parents and my nephew. I had play practice, so I traveled up to the other church. When going places, it is easiest to find them, if you go out the right exit. I went out exit 2 when I should have gone out exit 4 and then I began to wonder why nothing looked right. So I turned and saw that I came out exit 2, so I crossed street and walked over to exit 4 and found my way. Amazing isn't it.

Monday was pay day, I found out early in the morning that they didn't plan on paying me until I had my bank account. I made it very clear that today was pay day and I was getting paid. Somebody must have been praying back home. Things have gotten easier to deal with the staff since Vincent got here. Kelly doesn't always see or understand things from my side. Vincent seems to understand. Things get taken care of with way less stress when dealing with Vincent. I have feeling that someone was pray I would have less stress whoever it was, thank you. I finished writing my letter Tammy on Monday. She asked if my friends or I need something. I knew something that Katie, Kristen and Erik could all use or liked, but I didn't know about Mike. So I asked him, if there was anything he would like from the states. He is from Canada. He thought of two things he would really like and wrote them down. He was kinda amazed that someone who barely knows me, would want to do something like. He said his friends back home wouldn't do anything like. After I left the office he told Katie, that kinda makes you want to go back to church.

As for me, I'm doing ok. I have things that need prayer, but I'm not sure I can list them all. I told Pastor Lord, and J20, that I'm battling homesickness. It's not like in the beginning. It's different. I won't have a bad day. It'll be a good, normal day and I'll sit down and this want to go home will just wash over. It's hard because it just consumes me. I try hard to push it away but it won't always go away. So pray for that. The best way to explain what it does to me is like this. Last month, I knew in my heart that I should be. I knew that I could be away for a year. I knew it in my heart that I was strong enough to do this, but now this month, I don't know that anymore. I also have other things I'm sorting out that need prayer. But that is it for now.

I love you and miss you.

Some Wisdom

I have three different books I'm reading right now. I read them in my quiet time. I've been doing a pretty good job reading. I'll admit it's not perfect. I have missed some days, one the weekends, and the one morning I woke up at 7:45 and I walk to the bus at 8:20ish. However, I do catch up when I've missed. Streams in the Desert, this is very good book. It is dated and I started reading in August when I got here and that is where I started. Another one is Women in the bible. It picks a woman from the bible and tells about her. It's only has Monday thru Friday, but I read it everyday. The last is The One Year Book of Hope. It has five days per week, but I read it every day. I'm in week 12. This week is on Miracle. I really thought about skipping that part. I kinda feel like Nancy (the author). I've never seen a miracle. I've never experienced on either. I know that my God has done them. The closet I've been to a miracle is Pastor. When I started the singles group Pastor was in hospital. He had some internal bleeding. He is out now. The bleeding stopped. I don't look at this a miracle, I look at more like a healing.
Nancy said something in her book that supported the way I feel about myself and also hints that I might be in the mist of a miracle. I've had told people, I'm not special. I'm pretty plain. Some of looked at me as though it is low self-esteem. I think not. I want very much to be ordinary. Now you may think this is odd or even weird. This is not the world's view on things. The world says you should make yourself special, and feel free to step on some toes along the way. Now, I never I didn't want to be special, but I'm not the one to make special and I'm not going to step on toes in order to do it. This is want Nancy and I agree whole heartedly that she is right. The secret of his power to transform what is ordinary into something extravagantly useful to God. Only Jesus can transform the ordinary water of my days into something brimming with life. So now when I say I want to be ordinary, I don't think it shows low self-esteem. I think it is admitting to what I am. It also shows where I can be taken. Do I think I"m something extravagantly useful to God? Not yet. That's right did you catch, not yet. I've opened myself up to God and allowed Him to start the transformation. I think one day in my life time, I'll do something and will see the miracle of God's secret.
So now I encourage all you to go out there and be ordinary. Yes, that's right, don't follow the world. You can't make yourself extravagant. You don't have the ability. You could go make yourself extravagant in the eyes world, but when the world fades so will your extravagance. If you let God make you extravagant, that fade because God doesn't fade.
Go be ordinary and wait for the miracle of God's secret.

I don't want to blog

I'm not really in the mood to blog. I'm very contemplative today. I have a lot on my mind, and I don't think that I can share it all. I feel that if I share everything, someone might get upset at me. I just have a lot going on the inside right now and don't really have anywhere to release it. The week well.
I had to give test this week and fill out report cards. I didn't really enjoy that. I had forgotten how to figure percents, but after much struggling with the number I got it. I had to give report cards to kids I've only been teaching for two months, which I think is a little crazy. It was for elementary too, so it was for kids I don't see everyday.
Halloween was Friday. We had a lot of fun with the kids. We bobbed for apples, craved pumpkins, played games and had a parade. We did something similar for the elementary kids too. I wore a fairy custom the school had ordered. Friday night I went out with Jason and Johnny. We went to place in Hongdea, but it wasn't any good, so we went over to Iteawon. On the subway ride, a man told us to be quiet, but we didn't. Jason and Johnny and I danced the night away.
Saturday was singles. I made a pasta salad. It was pretty good. We stayed again this week. Amber made breakfast for dinner. She did a good job. It was very good. Then we played cards. After cards we talked the night. I enjoying going over to Pastor's. I feel like I'm in a family over there. We act a lot like a family does. We encourage each other, we say mean things to each other, we laugh and have a good ole time. The plus side to staying at Pastor's is that it is only a short bus ride to church, so it is easier to get up and go to church.
I went to church. I really like Pastor Dan and SIBC. It's a good church. I had play practice afterwards. So after church, I grabbed a small lunch and headed over to the other church. I practice the play. Afterwards, Amanda, Hun and I went to the movies. Hun is Korean. He was very nice and Amanda and I enjoyed having him along. He tried to teach us some Korean. Amanda did more learning than I did. Hun told us he didn't have any classes, so if we wanted to go see something he would be our guide. I picked a palace and he said he would like to go there, so this weekend we will meet at the subway station.
Part of the things on my mind are how I'm not going to be home for Christmas or Thanksgiving. The past two years, I've started spending Thanksgiving with my friends. Maybe I won't be so upset about missing Thanksgiving. The singles are planning a Thanksgiving dinner the last Saturday in November. That will still be with my friends. I'll have a bigger part in the cooking. I'm having a lot of trouble about not being at home Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year. I love all the fun stuff there is to do at that time of the year. I don't want to miss out on my dad's birthday. I really like picking out a Christmas tree. It is so much fun. The play is on the 13th. I think the only reason, I let Jason talk me into doing it was in hopes, that if I were busy and my thoughts were consumed with something else, I wouldn't think about not buying a tree with my family, or missing my dad's birthday. It's so hard to be away for Christmas. I can't help but think of things I'm missing out on. I'm thinking I'll go to Thailand with Jason and Amber. They have plans on going, so I might join them. It depends on the cost.
I'm also trying to come to terms with the things God has called me to do. I feel that when I'm done in Korea and get to go home, it'll only be for visit and I'll have somewhere else to go. I feel like I have two major things when I get home. One is to find a new home for Martio. That's right Michelle is giving up Martio. It's the one thing in the world, that I love the most, means the most, care the most about, and miss the most. For those of that don't know, that liffle black dog, and I were insepareble. I had lots of trouble leaving her behind. I told one of my friends, that I almost change my mind about going because the person, I wanted to take my dog had said no. I had told her that I prayed that God would change his mind and he would take my dog. God did change his mind and Jim takes great care of my dog. I'm sure Martio is very happy. However when I get home she's going on Craig's list. The other thing, I'm giving up is Project Barnabas. That's another hard to give up. Those that know, it's pretty much the only thing on my mind after the first of the year. I'm get really happy and excited at the end up April. This has been on the greatest things in my life. I feel like Amor is family. It's just as important to me as anything at RPBC. I think fondly of those people. The thought of one last spring breaks my heart, but that is the way it is looking.
I have two things, I've been thinking about doing. Both of them other people have suggest I do. I've had two suggest I get a job teaching on a Base. Kerry didn't have any Base. She said I should just pick any country. My grandfather thinks I should go teach on the one of the Bases in Germany. However his reasons for picking Germany might be a little selfish. I think he wants to travel with his daughter. The other idea that has come up, is going to be with Dinahs for awhile. I was talking with Amanda and she said I should go. I'll think about it.