Homecoming

Ah! I am finally home for vacation and the Christmas holiday with my family and friends! :) 

*

The journey home was a long one; nearly two days of travel and two major flights: 10 hours from Seoul to LA aaaand five more hours to Boston. But it was well worth it! I had a ten hour layover to see a bit of LA, too, which was fun {especially since one of my best friends is living there now!} But, I was so anxious finally getting off the plane at Logan, especially to see Luke. 

* 

Before we left Jeju, Rachel and I relaxed at our favorite cafe, On Cafe, to get some coffee and a manicure. We got our nails done on Jeju Saturday at 11 am, and we later landed in LA the same day at 1:50 pm…even with a ten hour flight!!!!!! So we went back in time !

*

* 

I got a very quick glimpse of LA. And, a little drama at LAX! My itinerary was wrong, and I missed my initial flight to Boston. The customer service was absolutely horrific, and I have an interesting story for my friends {probably wasn't the best side of me to see}….Anyways, I had to catch the next flight out in the morning. Thank goodness for Danielle! 

 {Danielle's place right on Hermosa Beach! She has a beautiful apartment! The weather was gorgeous and we walked around in short sleeves in December, while we browsed the shops and got yummy tacos! It's hard for a New Englander to catch the California Christmas vibe}.

 {Leaving for LAX for the second time! …the next morning. FAIL.}

 {Unique bracelet/ring I found while shopping around Hermosa Beach. The shops were cute, independently-owned boutiques with an eclectic vibe and reminded me of a much sunnier Portsmouth. 

 {Danielle and I..did I mention she is a life saver?}

Peace out LA. View of the Rocky Mountains from my window seat on the plane to Boston. 

*

REUNITED in Boston….My boyfriend is truly the most thoughtful person I know..he surprised me with an adorable poster welcoming me back :) I love him! And it was so great to have my family there to greet me. 

*

{Love my sister's USA headband! Ha!}

*

Spirit of Christmas

I was walking to class this morning {late!}, when I saw the most beautiful sunrise! I stopped rushing around and took a minute to snap a picture and just enjoy it. I realized that it was one of the last I may see here before I fly home to the States for winter break. It's little reminders like this that make me realize how truly lucky I am to be here. Jeju is beautiful, and this experience has been truly beautiful, too. I am so grateful for many things this Christmas: for my new friends,for Rachel, for my students, this teaching experience, and all the opportunities to travel and learn new things. And of course my family and friends at home! <3

*

*

Of course the adorable Christmas gifts from students don't hurt….

{The students commonly call all teachers, "teacher" as a sign of respect, even after you know your own students well!}

 {A hand-made candle in a heart shaped holder from a student. Too cute.}

*

Winter Concert

Here is a glimpse of our winter concert that the middle and senior girls performed last night. {See my fan dance post}. Here is the whole performance: :) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luiKjNCYJFM&feature=youtu.be

Korean Fan Dance 부채춤

As a part of the winter concert at our school, we were treated to a traditional Korean fan dance(부채춤)  at the conclusion of the concert! The concert also included choir, acting, ballet, and symphony pieces from the middle and senior school, to put everyone in the Christmas spirit! The girls here are incredibly talented. :) 

*

*

Traditional Korean fan dancing, or Bucheachum, incorporates folk dance styles with Buddhist and shaman forms. The dance is more about improvisation, and the viewer can feel the freedom in the dancer's movement. The tempo is upbeat and includes a bit of dance, drama {fans}, and group choreography. 

*

From http://www.koreandance.net/folk_dances.html , I learned the different types of Korean dances, and more about the fan dance:

Fan Dance

Bucheachum, or fan dance, is an exuberant and breathtaking display of beautiful large fans forming an assortment of patterns, such as butterflies, a flower in full bloom, and a sea wave. Its origins can be traced back to shaman dance and can be performed in various choreographed forms for different occasions.

Popular folk dances include: the farmers’ dance, kanggang–suwollae, seungmu (monk’s dance), buchaechum (fan dance), salp’uri, changgochum (hour–glass drum dance), and ogomu (five drum dance).

Here is what a Korean fan dance looks like: 

*

Starry Night

To continue on with our art lesson {which is a fun, calming unit before the holidays}, the grade ones started learning the painting techniques of a new artist. Can you guess who? :) We started with sketching the details we saw, and then applied acrylic paints to thick card stock paper. 

*

Voi·là! Our "masterpieces" of van Gogh's Starry Night. Look alike?? I like to think so. :)

*

*

For my teacher friends: I used BrainPop Jr. to introduce Van Gogh in a simplistic way, and a YouTube video to better show students the techniques that Van Gogh used while painting, like the impasto {thickly applied colors} technique: 

Brainpop: http://www.brainpopjr.com/artsandtechnology/art/vincentvangogh/preview.weml

How-to video:

*

The Korean Cinderella

For a unit on fairy tales and Cinderella stories around the world {culture and how it defines us}, Miss Hess {Rachel :) } will be studying The Korean Cinderella as one example. I remember teaching my second graders this story last year during my internship for a unit on new genres- it makes much more sense to me now! 

*

Read the story here: http://park.org/Guests/Tampines/story2.shtml

*

* 

There are several differences in the Korean Cinderella {would make a fun compare/contrast activity for students}, first of which is the protagonist, Pear Blossom, aka Cinderella and the "Prince Charming," which is the magistrate. The book differs too in it's language: it introduces fun new Korean words in a subtle, natural way, like Omoni {mother}, ewha {pear blossom},hai {the sun} and tokgabis {goblins}. In Korean, tokagbis are goblins, sometimes good, sometimes feared, which help/or trouble humans. The rest of the story is wonderfully familiar: two wicked stepsisters and a wicked Omani that make Cinderella miserable.

* 

 {Omani with the newborn Pear Blossom.}

 {Pear Blossom doing the dirty work, as in the traditional Cinderella. Wicked bugs, especially grasshoppers and centipedes, are very accurate to Jeju. Yikes!}

 {Evil Peony being attacked by the tokgabis; which protect Pear Blossom.}

 {The sandal/"slippers," which are later silk in the marriage ceremony, and tokgabi animals.

 {Peony and Omani being wicked to Pear Blossom}.

 {Flutes and tight rope walkers, traditional hand drums, etc. playing for the magistrate's "aka Prince Charming's" grand entrance.}

{the girls taunting Pear Blossom again…familiar theme.} 

*

Love reading different cultures versions of stories!

*