long over due...

I know, I know. I'm sorry my faithfull readers! We haven't had internet for the past two weeks, so I have been just as lost as you have been without my updates. This will be a little scattered, I'll just try to do a quick update on the major events of the last month.....

I have successfully completed 1 full month of no-drinking. It was an interesting little experiment to sit back and watch other people make fools of themselves, instead of me for once. But I really did enjoy waking up feeling great in the mornings. It felt like the world was my oyester.

The new school year starts in March. I ended up having the same class as I did last year, so it wasn't much of a change for me. But in the afternoon I am now teaching older kids. Its much different cause I'm using real textbooks and learning all about American History. Like, did you know Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals?! Who knew?

Sadly we said goodbye to Kim, one of the teachers at our school, but we got 2 new ones. One lasted less than a week and then dissapeared, what we call "a runner". Apparently the average length of time for teachers to stay here is 4months. I guess thats why its so low. Andre, the other teacher, seems really cool though. He loves the Winnipeg Folk Festival, so obviously he will be fun!

Our fish had babies! But then one mysteriously died yesturday. I'll post pictures in the next post....of both.... is that gross? Allan had fun dissecting it on our kitchen table. I would have helped out but I was too hungover. Instead I watched and realized how much biology I have forgotten. Ah, mom and dad, arn't you happy that 60 000$ was well spent?

If you would like to name one of our fish, we are having a contest. There are about 16 to be named, so submit your answers now! Woo!

It was Chinese New Year on the 19th of Feb. Its now the year of the pig, so '83 babies, I think that means its a good luck year for us. Or its goodluck to have babies this year. Pig years are lucky. According to my Korean teacher it is the year of the red pig. BUT the year of the golden pig is very, very lucky. So apparently all of Korea has gone "golden pig" crazy. Every store and market is trying to sell gold pig piggy banks and other rediculous paraphenalia, but it's all a sham, it's not really the year of the golden pig, so watch out. That or my Korean teacher is a liar- just kidding Pixie! Also, according to some woman on CNN people born in pig years are generous, intelligent, patient and optimistic. Sounds exactly like me!

We went a wig party, which is a hillarious idea for a party.

Some fun Korean facts

- writing someones name in red means you are wishing death upon them

- they think you can die if you have a fan on and all of the windows and doors closed. There were 3 deaths in Korea attributed to this in 2005.

- Comic Books are so popular here that some companies have started incoporating historical facts into them, so parents will buy and them and sneakily make their children learn history

- McDonalds lunch here is half price and they have shrimp burgers

- I eat seaweed more often than I eat potatoes......never would have seen that one coming! Mary used to call me a meat and potatoes girl, but that should be changed to "seaweed and rice" girl

A picture of Allan on a billboard. The school just decided to use his photo that he applied with, without asking him. Pretty Hillarious when we first noticed it.

The next picture is of a hike we did one day. Doesn't it look like the Great Wall?!? It's actually only about a foot high. haha.

Anyways, everyone is great! I will try to get back on the updating train now that we have internet again! Miss you all!

Julie