learning to write...

This is when correcting students' work is actually fun. 4 yr old Lindsay was to trace the word giraffe and then write 'gems' and 'gel'. As she is still just learning to write the letters, THIS is what her 'gems' looked like:

diss

The other day Lynn, a grade 4 student (though she's Korean, she goes to an international school and her English is better than her Korean), asked me if D-I-S-S was a bad word. I said no, diss is not a bad word but it is bad to do it to people. Then she replied that she had thought it might be a bad word because it "sounds like a bad word because it is a mix of P-I-S-S and D-I-C-K." (Yes, she was spelling the words out and not saying them because they are bad words).

learn some Korean???

A book made by Koreans to help foreigners learn English.
Hmmmmm...It says, "Me there will be a possibility of carrying that it peels?
Huh?
Apparently the Korean actually means something along the lines of not being able to do something.
Maybe the "Capter I", "Capter II" and "Capter III" found at the top of every page might be a hint that it's not the best book to pick up in order to help you learn Korean.

a wig from the brest bakery?

I bought a lovely red wig at a little street vendor in Myungdong a while back to wear when ever another wig party happens. This is the bag that the guy put my wig in. Reusing bags, I see. Interesting bakery name. "BREST BAKERY"?? The Korean says "Beureiseuteu kwaja jeom" Basically breast snack (kwaja) shop.

Not the typical doctor's office...

This might look like just an ordinary building, unless you notice what one of the signs actually says.I remember seeing this sometime during my second year here in Korea, but didn't take a picture. After that I tried to find it again but for some reason, couldn't. I saw it once again last year, but my camera batteries were dead, so again, no picture. And again I looked for it along that same strip but again couldn't find it. Until today. I was walking to Starbucks and looked up and there it was. This time my camera was handy and fully charged. :) Just in case you can't read the sign, underneath the Korean it says,

"www.ANALSURGERY.co.kr"

Now, don't ask me what kind of doctor's office THAT's supposed to be, or why the heck they'd pick a website address like that. Makes you wonder. Apgujeong is full of plastic surgery clinics and dermatologist clinics. This is something a little different.

bathroom warning

Says the toilet: A sign in a bar bathroom in Itaewon. There are often interesting signs like this.

tshirt

Today on a t-shirt:

DRINK
PEE
REPEAT

turkey trotter

It says, "THIS T SHIRT CONTAIN ONE SLIGHT FANTASTIC TURKEY TROTTER"Teddy Bear. Too cute. :)
[sorry the front one is a bit blurry. It is hard to get kids to stand still and in trying to get him to stand still, I moved a little. This was the best of them.]

"I Like To Move It"

How I love my kids!!!!!! My co-teacher put on some music and on came the song "I Like To Move It". The kids loved it. Three of my kids started dancing. SOOOOOOOOOOOO Funny!!!!! Daniel is in the front doing to robot or what ever it is he is doing. Tony (back left in striped shirt) has quite the moves, and Ryan is back right.

"What's up, my nigga?"

Every now and then I come across very interesting books for teaching English.This one might be part of some sort of series or group of books, as I've seen similar ones with similar names before.Incase you have a hard time reading the script, it says:

What's up, my nigga?
LIVE DIALOG
Gary: What's up my nigga? Long time no see. What have you been up to?
Joey: Nothing much, just been busy working and staying outta trouble.
Gary: Yeah, last time we seen each other we were locked up.
Joey: I remember that. I promised myself that I was gonna be good when I got out.
Gary: I'm glad to hear that you're staying outta trouble, keep doing good aight.
Joey: Yeah. Maybe I could hook you up with a job where I work at.
Gary: Really? If you can get me hooked up, I'd like that. Keep in touch.
Joey: Sure thing. See you around. Take care, man.

When I see things like that, all I can really do is laugh. I can't imagine a scenario when a Korean would actually be able to USE that this. Or anyone, really.

Baby, One More Time

Random Korean version (with the help of a little soju) - this made me laugh so hard I fell off the bench.

Original Korean version by Jewelry (쥬얼리), a popular Korean girls group

Lyrics: (from Korean Song Lyrics blog)

I know I believed in you I think to me
we are over now all the times
we together yeah
let's go

Baby one more time
Let me blow your mind

Only Fantasy 시작하겠어 널위한 Showtime
달콤한 Chocolate 처럼 녹아든 내게 빠져봐

섹시한 눈빛과 뜨거운 몸짓에 좀 더 다가와
이밤을 지새울 한심한 늑대들 나를안아줘

Baby one more time
Let me blow your mind

Baby come to me 견딜 수 없어 널 향한 Toxic
핑크빛 Lipstick 처럼 스며든 내게 취해봐

화장을 고치고 Oh 목을 축이며 추는사람들
때론 Tight 하게 때론 Hot 하게 나를가져봐

Baby one more time
Let me blow your mind

멈출수가 없어 이 곳에서 나를 벗어버려
내 가슴속에 수갑을 채워 줄 미로속으로

(rap)We can take it show anyway you want go
I like this music Don't stop movin
dance in to the night
Hit me boy (boy)
baby don't be shy (shy)
Come by my side (side)
baby hold my tight
I wanna make you mind

Baby one more time
Let me blow your mind
Baby one more time

날 멈추지마
황홀한 이 시간들을 유혹하게
Let me blow your mind
다시 안아줘 끝낼 수 없게
Baby one more time

a journey through the human body

August's school field trip was to the aT Center
to see some sort of body exhibit.
VERY interesting, to say the least.

You enter the exhibit through a giant mouth.The kids got to brush the giant teeth.Then it was over the tongue and down a slide into the throat.We got to see the lungs and the liver.We got to go through the heart (quite dark, actually).In the stomach we got to see all the goodies
that the giant had for breakfast.The kids got to learn all about the urinary tract,
including a demo on how boys go to the bathroom...
INCLUDING HOW THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO MISS!!!
(It is going on the seat and splashing all over his feet!!!)We got to go inside a rather large pregnant woman
and see some very scary looking babies.Then it was down a slide and through the intestines.

Hmmm... can you guess what comes next???
The exit was, well, a tad shocking,
though not surprising being that this is Korea.The kids had some time to climb around
on the mock giant piles and puddles.

Quite the field trip,

wouldn't you say???

condoms etc.

We were going to a bar but went to the wrong floor and found this.
A shop (in Ilsan) called Hot Station.Nice. Condom Wizard, Love Gypsy and Lucy Lube make quite the team!!

funky

How I love signage in Korea.If you don't get what we found interesting enough to stop to take a picture, check out the little people on the sign. Hmmm. Hand placement.

STUPID CHAR'S... EEEK!!!

Would YOU shop at a place called STUPID CHAR'S?????Where they sell "Ordinary Char's Clothes" (men's wear).Or how about EEEK???Both of these shops are in Apgujeong, in the Rodeo area.

Relationships

The Sad Truth About Relationships

The Sad Truth About Relationships

How I love cats!!!

From an email that I received the other day:

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary
6:00 am - At last! I Go Pee!
My favorite thing!
8:00 am - Dog food!
My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride!
My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park!
My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted!
My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch!
My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard!
My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail!
My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones!
My favorite thing!
6:00 pm - They're home!
My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball!
My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people!
My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed!
My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Diary
Day 983 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards!
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.
The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

SO TRUE!!!

If you ever heard my mom describing how our cats always wake her up (well, I think my cat, specifically), THIS is exactly what you would picture in your mind.

[thanks Cairogal!]

The Italian Man Who Went to Malta

Cute.

Mr Pizza

A fire equipment storage box in a subway station in Bundang.Um... Nude pizza? I guess that would be without cheese. Shrimp pizza? yuck (I can't stand seafood). "made for women - Mr.Pizza"
What?????