MR. CHOI !!!!

Well its been a while since i wrote on my blog and I apologize. Also i have to upload all my pictures which should be on by the end of the week! But here in Incheon, I have really been missing home and my family, and I seem to miss them more on the weekends, when most of the students go home to be with their family. However this weekend was full of surprises for me. MR. Choi who works in the international office at The University of Incheon, asked me if i would like to tutor his daughter and friend in English on Saturdays. I was so excited about this because one it would give me something to do on Saturday mornings and two I love sharing my English knowledge with the Koreans. Today was my first day of tutoring and I was so much fun. The two girls and I spent most o the time laughing and talking about which celebrities are the cutest and what we like about school, etc. They shared stories with me and I shred stories with them and it felt as if we we knew each other for years! after the tutoring session, Mr. Choi took all of us out for lunch and we had HAMBURGERS!!! I was so happy to see hamburgers! Not that I'm not enjoying Korean food because i still love Kimchi and rice, but I missed the taste of a juicy hamburger and it was so yummy! I'm so thankful that Mr. Choi thought of me as the tutor for his daughter because I really did enjoy myself today! I think I should go ahead and plan a study lesson for next saturday while I have some free time. But right now I think I'm going to head to the gym and work off that burger! lol TTYL

MERRY CHUSEOK!!!

Well usually this time takes place in late November in America, but here in Korea we have just celebrated Thanksgiving! I remember the first time i heard about this holiday was my first day of class when my teacher was going over the syllabus and talked about how there would be no class because of Chuseok. I thought to myself "just great, thanksgiving is coming up in Korea and i have nowhere to go!" my plan for that holiday weekend was to pack up on some noodles and watch movies. The next day at school, I ran into one of my new Korean friend Yun Joohee. She asked me what I was doing for the holidays and I told her my plans that included movies and noodles. She was like "oh no Nicole, you will come and join my family for Chuseok and I did. When i walked into Yun Johee's  house i was greeted by her father and he then we walked into the kitchen and that is where i saw Johee's grandmother sitting at the kitchen table pullings some type of green veggies in a big bowl of water and her mother was standing over the sink also  with food in her hands. There was so much food on the table and and the stove and it reminded me so much of Thanksgiving back home with my family. Johee's mother said something to her in Korean and the Johee looked at me and said my mother said you will be cooking too today! lol I couldnt help but smile because not only were they nice enough to invite me to their house but she let me be a part of a family tradition. The next day there so many family members that came over and the family broke into groups in sat on the floor. There was the young people group (Johee and I were part of this group), there was the male group and there was a woman's group. Each family group had a plate of Asian peaches and a cup of tea. We talked and laugh and talked and laugh some more and I felt so welcomed! after johee's family left, we all sat on the floor around the table and  ate our Chuseok meal and it was DELICIOUS! every bite of it was so tasty! Johee's family asked me if I miss my family in America and i said "yes, very much" and that's when Johee's mother said something to her in Korean. Johee smiled and looked at me and said my mother said we will be your family. I wanted to cry because the kindness and care that this family showed for me was incredible and I was a total stranger. I really enjoyed my experience at Yun Johee's house. Her family was so amazing! Even though we spoke two totally different languages, we were still able to laugh and have fun and enjoy Chuseok together.

You help me and I'll help you

Well I have finally got to the point where I can go to the cafe and order food all by myself!  lol I think I'm addicted to kimchi however. So many exciting things took place this week and i never had one dull moment. I think the biggest surprise was was being invited to the opening of the new exhibition hall at the university of Incheon. I got to meet the president of the university and then he invited me up to the ribbon of the new building. I was so excited and happy to be standing next to the president of the University during this exciting moment. This week I also started class. At first class was a struggle because I wasn't sure how everything would go with me not speaking Korean and not knowing anyone. However when I met my professors all that changed. All of my classes are taught in English and all my professors have taught school at American Universities, and when I do get lost in class the Korean students help me out a lot! I even had a group of Korean students who were taking an English class ask me if I could help them study for their upcoming test. I was so excited because they help me out so much and now I got to return the favor. I have made some really great friends here and because of them I don't feel like the "weird American" We share stories of how we grew up and what types of movies and music we like. I thought it was funny that even though we didn't know much of the same music and movies, we all agreed that Beyonce and Lady Gaga were AMAZING, and that Jackie Chan will only get better as he ages, lol