So, as you can see it has been quite some time since my last blog. Suffice it to say that the last few months have been a cycle alternating between busy and lazy.
  At work, the only things that have really changed have been the faces. Within the last three weeks, we've said goodbye to three people and hello to three new ones. It was bittersweet to see people go; it was good because now I have more excuses for traveling but at the same time there was a proverbial "sigh" when they weren't there. Dawn, from New Hampshire, used to sit next to me in my office on the 4th floor. She is an organized person that knew how to get things done but was also creative and witty in keeping everyone laughing. Dawn was the unofficial card maker for staff birthdays. She invented the kimchi monster card. As well, she could turn any awkward situation into a laugh with her sharp and timely sarcasm. Jessica, from Minnesota, used to be upstairs on our top floor. She is also a highly organized person that always kept her nose to the office grindstone. She really enjoyed teaching in general and even went a few extra miles to make extra lessons. Now, just last week, we said goodbye to Megan from Wisconsin. Megan is very adept at writing and grammar, and was able to give me ideas for activities whenever I was stuck. She's one of the most motivated people I've met. Her and Jessica both spent a year in China before coming to Korea, and both brought a lot of knowledge about both countries culture and education. I'll miss them all. But, like I said, just three more reasons to go on a road trip when I finish here.
    Outside of work I've been trying to stay active with a little academic and physical exercizing. I'm still chipping away at Korean. I study my textbook from time to time, but not as hard as I could. However, my language exchange partner is patient and willing to help me as I go. Also, just recently, I've taken to helping a couple of Korean acquaintances learn a little Spanish. We've only met a couple of times and have gone over some basics about word gender. We'll see how it goes.
     As for exercize, I bought a bike a couple of weeks back so I could go exploring. I don't have a set routine, but I've gone out a couple of times before work to see where I end up. After two hours of biking I feel tired but good. Another day, I went to a local mountain called Moak. To get to the top took a couple of hours. It was grueling because there were so many disenchanting moments when we thought we reached the top, only to find another plateau to rest on. However, after all the lactic burning and profuse sweating, we made it to the top of the mountain next to Moak. aaaaaaah! Another slight disenchanting moment. I remember I started walking towards the other mountain a couple of kilometers away, but somebody from the group stopped me and told me we had to climb down again. oh well. another time perhaps. As summer progresses, I'm itching to get back to the beach. I've been to a couple of beaches, but the water hasn't been warm enough to go swimming in. We'll see.
   Well, I'm rambling, and I'm late for a movie date. So, until next time. Hopefully a sooner next time.

So, it's the last couple of days before Christmas vacation starts here in Jeonju. Yesterday, when I woke up, my family Skyped me and said "we're gonna open presents!" In my half-sleep stupor it took me a minute to comprehend what was going on. I set up my computer w/webcam in front of my free Christmas tree and got to watch the festivities at home and vice versa for my family. I have to say I made out fairly well for not really wanting or needing anything this year. Santa managed to send me some warm shirts, a pine-scented candle, some food, a pancake griddle (!), and some books in Spanish; Santa did well for not speaking Spanish. It was nice to see my family in their living room all warm, relaxed, and content from the gift-giving; almost as if they were right here. Thanks Skype! After that wonderful morning I had to run to piano lessons - which I've been taking for the last 3-4 weeks, I think. It's tedious and often frustrating process to get myself in to practice and use two hands at once. I'm learning to play simple melodies on my right hand while I play chords on the other! I should be practicing more, but sometimes the morning just gets away on me. At any rate, my piano teacher is patient and very willing to help me. At work I'm in the midst of monthly tests which finish today. I've been grading those tests and I have essays and quizzes besides to grade and record. Tis the season! Oh well. Christmas itself will be nice as I'm hoping to go to a goodwill event put on by a foreign-owned bar in the area. They need volunteers to hand out presents at three different, local orphanages and to spend time with them. Afterwards there will be a Christmas dinner. So, that should make for a nice and fun-filled holiday. The rest of my vacation is still kind of open. I think at some point I will head to Seoul and try shopping around for a keyboard. That way I don't have to drag myself to piano practice and wait for the little, Korean children to gawk at the tall, blonde dude trying to play piano. Well, I'm off to get ready for another day of tests and grading papers (it sounds more glamorous than it really is, but c'est la vie). I wish everyone a happy Christmas and that you all have time to be with the ones you love. And hey, don't forget to share the spirit if you can...it can be just as contagious but more welcome than the flu.

So it's been awhile since my last blog, but there really hasn't been too much new stuff to report. I'm still doing my language exchange with my Korean acquaintance. I practice my pronunciation in a textbook I bought and she helps me figure out what it means. Reciprocally, whenever she has a question about grammar or sayings, I try to explain why and how we use the articles, "a, an, the," with countable and uncountable nouns. I've probably confused her with my explanations but she's still honest about what she does and doesn't understand. I could probably practice more for my language exchange but somedays it's all I can do to stay awake when I get home after 10 pm, and in the morning I've developed the habit of sleeping in until 10am (Mom and Dad are probably tsk tsking right now, lol). Things at work are going fine. I manage to get through the homework, write quizzes, and grade my essays and speeches with the occasional flub ("Quick, I printed off the wrong quiz, can you make me a copy of this one!!!"). But the routine is becoming more and more engrained in my mind. Besides work, my coworkers and I have been discussing what we're going to do for Christmas vacation. A couple of people are going to Cambodia while another handful might go to China. As tempting as that all sounds I think I'm going to stay in Jeonju for Christmas and save money by not buying an air ticket. I can't remember the details, but I think Christmas day will be my first vacation day and then I'll have to be back at work the following Friday (I don't quite understand that, it's just one day in the work week). Who knows what will happen. Speaking of Christmas, I still have to do my shopping. That will probably be my big project today - I'm trying to avoid grading speeches.   Anywho, I hope all is well with you, whoever you are that is reading my blog. Take care and God bless you!