Perks of Teaching in South Korea: Adorable Students

One of the perks of teaching in South Korea is definitely the kids. Markus and I often talk about the extreme cuteness of Korean kids. They are by far the cutest kids in the world. I don't know if I'm bias but I think Asian kids are freaking adorable and nothing can top Korean kids. Most days, I just run around the library gushing over them. Markus and I usually argue about who has the cuter students, but I always think that my kids are the best. Not only are they smaller and talkative, but they also speak English really well. So yea, I win.

My favorite <3

Look at that face, so cute.

My favorite student is in the pre-school class and he's really tiny. I think he's younger than all the other students. When I saw him, I was really worried. We had another young student and he would run around the class, yell at everyone and sit under the desk. He was basically a nightmare. I was worried that this new boy was going to be just like him. 

When I started reading the book, I started pointing to pictures and the only kid that knew the answers was that little boy. He was the only one answering any of my questions. Later, there was an activity that needed scissors. He shouted in Korean, "Teacher, I don't have scissors!" I told him to come to the front and grab some. When he went to get the scissors, he yelled out to his classmates, "Who needs scissors?" It was in that moment that I fell in love with that little boy. Every time I see him, his face lights up with a big smile and I can't help but feel happy. It's definitely students like him that make me love what I do.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia | 3 of 3

Once you get inside the main temple and pass all the tourists, it's really beautiful and peaceful. We ventured deep into the center and there were barely any people. It was a bit surprising, but it was a much needed break. I was amazed at how much they allowed tourists to see. There weren't many barricades and it was easy to climb on ledges and walk into any room. I really felt like I was a real explorer discovering a lost and hidden temple. Even though, I wasn't exactly impressed with the main temple, Angkor Wat, I enjoyed my time there. It definitely is a must see and something that can't be skipped if you visit Siem Reap.

Cooking with Kasim

My chingus

Back in February, Markus and I spent a lot of time with our friends Kasim and Jeff. Unfortunately, Kasim left Busan so that he could continue his education. We tried to see him as much as possible before he left. Most of the time, we would eat at restaurants, but Kasim wanted to cook for us. I am never one to turn down home-cooked meals, so we planned a pot luck dinner.

Lamb curry

Homemade roti

Kasim is an amazing chef. He cooks Indian style food so everything was absolutely delicious. He learned from his mom and made everything from scratch. He even taught us how to make roti. Although, if you asked me to make it again right now, I wouldn't be able to do it.

I also wanted to make authentic Filipino food, so I made chicken adobo. I didn't want Kasim to be the only one making something good. Kasim made roti and lamb curry and Jeff brought yummy donuts. In the end, we stuffed our faces with everything in sight and it was worth it. Honestly, I still have dreams about that lamb curry. It was that good. I miss Kasim's cooking almost as much as I miss him. Although, maybe I miss his cooking a little bit more.

I love these silly boys.

Hogwarts Exterior | Harry Potter Studio Tour 6 of 6

The last part of the Harry Potter Studio Tour was this massive model of Hogwarts. It took up an entire room and was quite beautiful. I think it's the perfect ending to the tour. We spent a lot of time in this last room. I knew it was the end and I wasn't ready to leave yet. I just wanted a little more time in the fictional world. There is something about the world of Harry Potter that sticks with you. It's not just the amazing characters or unforgettable story. It's also the feelings that it invokes and it truly is a magical world.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia | 2 of 3

While at Angkor Wat, I was wandering around taking photos of random things. Markus was busy filming, so I walked away from him for a bit. There was a small walkway that led out to a balcony. For some reason, I was drawn to this balcony and decided to see where it led. When I finally made it outside, I saw another temple across the way, it was in that moment I saw a monk standing in the temple. It was such a beautiful image and I quickly captured it with my camera. The entire structure was empty and gray, except for this bright pop of orange.

I snapped away and then another monk appeared. They probably felt someone watching them and turned and saw me. They moved to the windows and stared directly at me. It was kind of jarring and I quickly went to find Markus. I showed him the photos and then led him over to see. When we walked back, the monks must have been some kind of supernatural beings, because they were suddenly on the balcony I was standing on. I was gone for only two minutes, but they just magically appeared. We walked away quickly and nervously. It was crazy experience and one that I will never forget.