way up HIGH

Something I've noticed since I've moved to Korea is how much I like going to the 

very tip top of places. Whether it's a hill, mountain, play structure, or building -- I want 

to know what the view is like from way up HIGH at the very top. 

Since I've started this year long adventure I've been to three noteworthy peaks. 

The first two from our NYE trip to Japan: Tokyo Tower and  The Yebisu Garden Place Tower. 

Tokyo Tower

We loved the view so much, we went at every time of day possible.

Yebisu Garden Place Tower

The 3rd, Taipei 101, in Taiwan. 

Taipei 101

Some on my Bucket list include:

• Burj Khalifa in Dubai (tallest in the world) 
• The Empire State Building
• Tower Palace 
• The 63 Building 

...and on the to-do list for this weekend: 

Namsan Tower!

Photos to come :)

12 weeks in Korea

What happened in 12 weeks? 

3 months, 2 new passport stamps, and 1 hell of a lot of memories:

Week one: 11/27-12/3

Met my students

Gyeongbokhung Palace

Week two:12/4-12/10

Sokcho, Korea

Week three: 12/11-12/17

Songdo, Incheon, Korea

Week four: 12/18-12/24

Suncheon, Korea

Week five: 12/25-12/31

Tokyo, Japan

Week six: 1/1-1/7

Club Ellui

Week seven: 1/8-1/14

Seoul Electronic Music Festival

Week eight: 1/15-1/21

Taipei, Taiwan (snake's blood)

Week nine: 1/22-1/28

Silent Disco, Hongdae

Hello Kitty Cafe

Hwacheon Ice Festival (bare hand fishing)

Week ten: 1/29-2/4

Trick Eye Museum

Olympic Park

Week eleven: 2/5-2/11

First Korean Class 

Week twelve: 2/12-2/18

Volunteering at a school for North Korean refugees

These past 12 weeks flew by, and I cannot wait to see what lies in the 40 ahead.

Sunday Funday

Today Michelle, Kaylee, Jenne, Matti and I decided to volunteer with the English Ministry I take my Korean classes through. Once a month, they spend a day doing activites with the children at Samheung School.We met at the church and smashed into a large van along with 7 or 8 others. We spent the day with 20 or 25 children and the other volunteers at the school. This school is a safe place for North Korean refugee children to live and learn. The children were awesome. On the drive over, we heard some terribly sad stories about what these children had been through. However, we were greeted with big smiles and happy faces. We spent the rest of the afternoon making Valentine's day cards, eating lollipops and oreos, and playing domino's with the kids. Setting up lines and lines of dominos is definitely a test of patience and team work. Just when we almost had our design complete, someones elbow or foot would knock down our rows and we'd have to start again. For not speaking the same language, I think my team did pretty good. I took a bunch of photos but for the safety of the children and their families, we were asked not to post any photos of the children's faces on the internet. 

Just when we'd start to get close to the finish line...

...they'd all fall down.

But we kept building,

And finished :)

Jenne, Michelle, Kaylee, and Pastor Sam's daughter.

It was a great afternoon, with great people, and wonderful children. 

I left with a big smile on my face, and will definitely be back next month. 

Pinteresting

My favorite thing to do on Sunday morning? Have a delicious homemade breakfast and get crafty. Kaylee, Jenne and I made strawberry/banana smoothies and omlettes. We also cooked up some homemade rainbow crayons. Kaylee found the idea on Pinterest (the best website ever), and we put our creativity hats on and got to work.

Find Crayola Crayons (easier said than done in Korea)

Take off the labels.
*Note: not a good idea if you just painted
your nails, lesson learned. 

Break or cut into small bits.

Put little bits into an ice tray.

Cook (in toaster oven --workin' with what we have).

They melted into beautiful little swirls and we
used a paper clip to add some more designs.

Awesome homemade crayons.

Thanks for the idea, Pinterest.

Kaylee is planning to give these to her students this week when they graduate from her class. 

Be Mine

I know I'm a day early on this side of the world, but to all my friends and family back home

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

I made some Valentines for my students. However, they only seem interested in 

receiving chocolates. We'll see how they react to them. I'm sure they will like 

them for the mere fact that they have stickers all over them. Either way, I'm excited to 

celebrate with my twelve little Valentines.

This year I celebrated Valentines Day with my friend Michelle by cooking 

delicious chicken pasta, salad, garlic bread, and cheesy zuccini. 

Add in a glass of champagne, unwrap some chocolate, que up some old episodes 

of Sex in the City -- and you have all the ingredients for a perfect girls 

night in, Valentines Day edition. 

Simply perfect.

And to my other Valentine on the other side of the earth, Uncle Pete: Don't like you -- Love you.

xo.