Hours before Midnight - New Years Eve 2007

I just woke up. Overcast weather outside. In the land of the morning calm, Korea is essentially sleeping. I havn't heard a peep today, since it is an official national holiday. Glad to hear from Dr. B. Sullivan and Slim Gene in Windsor. We did enough shopping in Myung Dong yesterday, today I am heading to the Seogwon Hotel. There's a full gym on the 6th floor. $3.00/day So there is little hesitation to go when I have free moments. Another great experience in Korea are visiting the Jinjil Bongs. They are 24 hour sauna/spas, they have huge stone tubs filled with steaming green tea or mineral water. Also, cold tank that resembles a small lap pool. Bring water you can easily dehydrate there; the dry sauna and wet sauna both relieve tension. Jin Jil Bongs are also accessible for overnight guests if you missed the last train from Seoul. These spas allow overnight sleeping in one of their rooms with heated floors, all this for $6.00!

Hours before Midnight - New Years Eve 2007

I just woke up. Overcast weather outside. In the land of the morning calm, Korea is essentially sleeping. I havn't heard a peep today, since it is an official national holiday. Glad to hear from Dr. B. Sullivan and Slim Gene in Windsor. We did enough shopping in Myung Dong yesterday, today I am heading to the Seogwon Hotel. There's a full gym on the 6th floor. $3.00/day So there is little hesitation to go when I have free moments. Another great experience in Korea are visiting the Jinjil Bongs. They are 24 hour sauna/spas, they have huge stone tubs filled with steaming green tea or mineral water. Also, cold tank that resembles a small lap pool. Bring water you can easily dehydrate there; the dry sauna and wet sauna both relieve tension. Jin Jil Bongs are also accessible for overnight guests if you missed the last train from Seoul. These spas allow overnight sleeping in one of their rooms with heated floors, all this for $6.00!

Hours before Midnight - New Years Eve 2007

I just woke up. Overcast weather outside. In the land of the morning calm, Korea is essentially sleeping. I havn't heard a peep today, since it is an official national holiday. Glad to hear from Dr. B. Sullivan and Slim Gene in Windsor. We did enough shopping in Myung Dong yesterday, today I am heading to the Seogwon Hotel. There's a full gym on the 6th floor. $3.00/day So there is little hesitation to go when I have free moments. Another great experience in Korea are visiting the Jinjil Bongs. They are 24 hour sauna/spas, they have huge stone tubs filled with steaming green tea or mineral water. Also, cold tank that resembles a small lap pool. Bring water you can easily dehydrate there; the dry sauna and wet sauna both relieve tension. Jin Jil Bongs are also accessible for overnight guests if you missed the last train from Seoul. These spas allow overnight sleeping in one of their rooms with heated floors, all this for $6.00!

Hours before Midnight - New Years Eve 2007

I just woke up. Overcast weather outside. In the land of the morning calm, Korea is essentially sleeping. I havn't heard a peep today, since it is an official national holiday. Glad to hear from Dr. B. Sullivan and Slim Gene in Windsor. We did enough shopping in Myung Dong yesterday, today I am heading to the Seogwon Hotel. There's a full gym on the 6th floor. $3.00/day So there is little hesitation to go when I have free moments. Another great experience in Korea are visiting the Jinjil Bongs. They are 24 hour sauna/spas, they have huge stone tubs filled with steaming green tea or mineral water. Also, cold tank that resembles a small lap pool. Bring water you can easily dehydrate there; the dry sauna and wet sauna both relieve tension. Jin Jil Bongs are also accessible for overnight guests if you missed the last train from Seoul. These spas allow overnight sleeping in one of their rooms with heated floors, all this for $6.00!

The last Sunday of December, 2006

We had a great worship service at Dongsan Church today. The services are recorded and available to be seen at the following web address:

http://www.d21.org/ I will have to find out the actual link to the worship service.

You can toggle through the weeks to see different worship services. I was playing the bongos on Dec 17th and Dec 25th. This Sunday I played the drums. Patrick led the 17th and 31st services. He is a charismatic guy with a alot of praise talent, hometown in San Francisco, California.

We are off to Seoul today, taking the train to Dongdaemun or Myungdong. These are popular shopping areas with crowds in the 1000's. It'll be a trip, a short journey for the day. Our holidays finish tomorrow night. On Tuesday, we'll begin our intensive English teaching program.

I will wish everyone a Happy New Years tomorrow since we are 14 hours ahead in Korea.

Peace goes out to Slim Gene in Windsor and Mr. & Mrs. Pignanelli!

The last Sunday of December, 2006

We had a great worship service at Dongsan Church today. The services are recorded and available to be seen at the following web address:

http://www.d21.org/ I will have to find out the actual link to the worship service.

You can toggle through the weeks to see different worship services. I was playing the bongos on Dec 17th and Dec 25th. This Sunday I played the drums. Patrick led the 17th and 31st services. He is a charismatic guy with a alot of praise talent, hometown in San Francisco, California.

We are off to Seoul today, taking the train to Dongdaemun or Myungdong. These are popular shopping areas with crowds in the 1000's. It'll be a trip, a short journey for the day. Our holidays finish tomorrow night. On Tuesday, we'll begin our intensive English teaching program.

I will wish everyone a Happy New Years tomorrow since we are 14 hours ahead in Korea.

Peace goes out to Slim Gene in Windsor and Mr. & Mrs. Pignanelli!

The last Sunday of December, 2006

We had a great worship service at Dongsan Church today. The services are recorded and available to be seen at the following web address:

http://www.d21.org/ I will have to find out the actual link to the worship service.

You can toggle through the weeks to see different worship services. I was playing the bongos on Dec 17th and Dec 25th. This Sunday I played the drums. Patrick led the 17th and 31st services. He is a charismatic guy with a alot of praise talent, hometown in San Francisco, California.

We are off to Seoul today, taking the train to Dongdaemun or Myungdong. These are popular shopping areas with crowds in the 1000's. It'll be a trip, a short journey for the day. Our holidays finish tomorrow night. On Tuesday, we'll begin our intensive English teaching program.

I will wish everyone a Happy New Years tomorrow since we are 14 hours ahead in Korea.

Peace goes out to Slim Gene in Windsor and Mr. & Mrs. Pignanelli!

The last Sunday of December, 2006

We had a great worship service at Dongsan Church today. The services are recorded and available to be seen at the following web address:

http://www.d21.org/ I will have to find out the actual link to the worship service.

You can toggle through the weeks to see different worship services. I was playing the bongos on Dec 17th and Dec 25th. This Sunday I played the drums. Patrick led the 17th and 31st services. He is a charismatic guy with a alot of praise talent, hometown in San Francisco, California.

We are off to Seoul today, taking the train to Dongdaemun or Myungdong. These are popular shopping areas with crowds in the 1000's. It'll be a trip, a short journey for the day. Our holidays finish tomorrow night. On Tuesday, we'll begin our intensive English teaching program.

I will wish everyone a Happy New Years tomorrow since we are 14 hours ahead in Korea.

Peace goes out to Slim Gene in Windsor and Mr. & Mrs. Pignanelli!

Quiet Has Come Over

It's a very quiet morning in usually bustling Ansan, Korea. I heard a noise this morning that sounded like a vacuum cleaner in a neighbours apartment. Actually, I awoke to the noise from the recycle truck and crew. Evidently, their equipment sound like a vacuum from the 13th story. Today we cut and pasted our KB Bank 2007 calender. The pictures look similar to Monet, so we posted them throughout our apartment. Today, the plan is to do little. Visit Mi's family about 15 minute walk from our place. We all live in apartments here, some are more modern and spacious than ours, but they all come with floor heating, which is warm and dry. Holidays in Korea are savory, we don't have many of them, when they come we can relax from the normally demanding teaching regimin. I wonder how everyone is doing back home. We sent our holiday greeting cards to all the family, but wonder if everyone received them from central dispatch. Tomorrow, we'll take the train for an hour into Seoul to do some window shopping and try to find year-end bargains on clothing and jewelery. Hope a joyous New Year awaits us all in 2007!

Quiet Has Come Over

It's a very quiet morning in usually bustling Ansan, Korea. I heard a noise this morning that sounded like a vacuum cleaner in a neighbours apartment. Actually, I awoke to the noise from the recycle truck and crew. Evidently, their equipment sound like a vacuum from the 13th story. Today we cut and pasted our KB Bank 2007 calender. The pictures look similar to Monet, so we posted them throughout our apartment. Today, the plan is to do little. Visit Mi's family about 15 minute walk from our place. We all live in apartments here, some are more modern and spacious than ours, but they all come with floor heating, which is warm and dry. Holidays in Korea are savory, we don't have many of them, when they come we can relax from the normally demanding teaching regimin. I wonder how everyone is doing back home. We sent our holiday greeting cards to all the family, but wonder if everyone received them from central dispatch. Tomorrow, we'll take the train for an hour into Seoul to do some window shopping and try to find year-end bargains on clothing and jewelery. Hope a joyous New Year awaits us all in 2007!

Quiet Has Come Over

It's a very quiet morning in usually bustling Ansan, Korea. I heard a noise this morning that sounded like a vacuum cleaner in a neighbours apartment. Actually, I awoke to the noise from the recycle truck and crew. Evidently, their equipment sound like a vacuum from the 13th story. Today we cut and pasted our KB Bank 2007 calender. The pictures look similar to Monet, so we posted them throughout our apartment. Today, the plan is to do little. Visit Mi's family about 15 minute walk from our place. We all live in apartments here, some are more modern and spacious than ours, but they all come with floor heating, which is warm and dry. Holidays in Korea are savory, we don't have many of them, when they come we can relax from the normally demanding teaching regimin. I wonder how everyone is doing back home. We sent our holiday greeting cards to all the family, but wonder if everyone received them from central dispatch. Tomorrow, we'll take the train for an hour into Seoul to do some window shopping and try to find year-end bargains on clothing and jewelery. Hope a joyous New Year awaits us all in 2007!

Quiet Has Come Over

It's a very quiet morning in usually bustling Ansan, Korea. I heard a noise this morning that sounded like a vacuum cleaner in a neighbours apartment. Actually, I awoke to the noise from the recycle truck and crew. Evidently, their equipment sound like a vacuum from the 13th story. Today we cut and pasted our KB Bank 2007 calender. The pictures look similar to Monet, so we posted them throughout our apartment. Today, the plan is to do little. Visit Mi's family about 15 minute walk from our place. We all live in apartments here, some are more modern and spacious than ours, but they all come with floor heating, which is warm and dry. Holidays in Korea are savory, we don't have many of them, when they come we can relax from the normally demanding teaching regimin. I wonder how everyone is doing back home. We sent our holiday greeting cards to all the family, but wonder if everyone received them from central dispatch. Tomorrow, we'll take the train for an hour into Seoul to do some window shopping and try to find year-end bargains on clothing and jewelery. Hope a joyous New Year awaits us all in 2007!

Pre-New Years 2007

It's Friday, December 29th in Korea or December 28th in the West. A Hakwon holiday has commenced in Korea and all the school children get a few days of rest from their regular 6-day academic week. The Hakwon is an academy where English is taught in after school programs throughout the year. Teaching consists of 1-2 hours of preptime and 8-45 minute sessions, 3 days per week (Mon/Wed/Fri), 7-45 minute sessions, 2 days per week (Tues/Thurs). It's a long exhausting day teaching in Korea. The compensation is usually 2.0-2.5 million KRW/month, plus 20,000 KRW/hour teaching in overtime hours. Overtime is calculated using the conditions signed in the original contract. Therefore, it is important to know teaching contracts thoroughly, before signing the dotted line. Accomodations are normally provided, but the rent is deducted from the monthly salary. Their is contract- completion bonus paid at the end of a 12-month contract. Working in Korea requires an E-2 Visa, provided by the sponsor/owner (Won-Jon-Nim) of the institute.

Since it's holiday time in Korea, as a Foreigner, I can't complain about having "time out" from the rigorous teaching schedule. The 40+ hours spent at my current employer is demanding since an hour of teaching is packed into each 45 minute lesson. Students range from elementary (primary) to middle school (grade 9), so with so many students ranging in ages and curriculum,this isn't an easy job by any means.

Pre-New Years 2007

It's Friday, December 29th in Korea or December 28th in the West. A Hakwon holiday has commenced in Korea and all the school children get a few days of rest from their regular 6-day academic week. The Hakwon is an academy where English is taught in after school programs throughout the year. Teaching consists of 1-2 hours of preptime and 8-45 minute sessions, 3 days per week (Mon/Wed/Fri), 7-45 minute sessions, 2 days per week (Tues/Thurs). It's a long exhausting day teaching in Korea. The compensation is usually 2.0-2.5 million KRW/month, plus 20,000 KRW/hour teaching in overtime hours. Overtime is calculated using the conditions signed in the original contract. Therefore, it is important to know teaching contracts thoroughly, before signing the dotted line. Accomodations are normally provided, but the rent is deducted from the monthly salary. Their is contract- completion bonus paid at the end of a 12-month contract. Working in Korea requires an E-2 Visa, provided by the sponsor/owner (Won-Jon-Nim) of the institute.

Since it's holiday time in Korea, as a Foreigner, I can't complain about having "time out" from the rigorous teaching schedule. The 40+ hours spent at my current employer is demanding since an hour of teaching is packed into each 45 minute lesson. Students range from elementary (primary) to middle school (grade 9), so with so many students ranging in ages and curriculum,this isn't an easy job by any means.

Pre-New Years 2007

It's Friday, December 29th in Korea or December 28th in the West. A Hakwon holiday has commenced in Korea and all the school children get a few days of rest from their regular 6-day academic week. The Hakwon is an academy where English is taught in after school programs throughout the year. Teaching consists of 1-2 hours of preptime and 8-45 minute sessions, 3 days per week (Mon/Wed/Fri), 7-45 minute sessions, 2 days per week (Tues/Thurs). It's a long exhausting day teaching in Korea. The compensation is usually 2.0-2.5 million KRW/month, plus 20,000 KRW/hour teaching in overtime hours. Overtime is calculated using the conditions signed in the original contract. Therefore, it is important to know teaching contracts thoroughly, before signing the dotted line. Accomodations are normally provided, but the rent is deducted from the monthly salary. Their is contract- completion bonus paid at the end of a 12-month contract. Working in Korea requires an E-2 Visa, provided by the sponsor/owner (Won-Jon-Nim) of the institute.

Since it's holiday time in Korea, as a Foreigner, I can't complain about having "time out" from the rigorous teaching schedule. The 40+ hours spent at my current employer is demanding since an hour of teaching is packed into each 45 minute lesson. Students range from elementary (primary) to middle school (grade 9), so with so many students ranging in ages and curriculum,this isn't an easy job by any means.

Pre-New Years 2007

It's Friday, December 29th in Korea or December 28th in the West. A Hakwon holiday has commenced in Korea and all the school children get a few days of rest from their regular 6-day academic week. The Hakwon is an academy where English is taught in after school programs throughout the year. Teaching consists of 1-2 hours of preptime and 8-45 minute sessions, 3 days per week (Mon/Wed/Fri), 7-45 minute sessions, 2 days per week (Tues/Thurs). It's a long exhausting day teaching in Korea. The compensation is usually 2.0-2.5 million KRW/month, plus 20,000 KRW/hour teaching in overtime hours. Overtime is calculated using the conditions signed in the original contract. Therefore, it is important to know teaching contracts thoroughly, before signing the dotted line. Accomodations are normally provided, but the rent is deducted from the monthly salary. Their is contract- completion bonus paid at the end of a 12-month contract. Working in Korea requires an E-2 Visa, provided by the sponsor/owner (Won-Jon-Nim) of the institute.

Since it's holiday time in Korea, as a Foreigner, I can't complain about having "time out" from the rigorous teaching schedule. The 40+ hours spent at my current employer is demanding since an hour of teaching is packed into each 45 minute lesson. Students range from elementary (primary) to middle school (grade 9), so with so many students ranging in ages and curriculum,this isn't an easy job by any means.

Ansan, South Korea

Information from the Ansan City Government website, mainly visiting attractions in this area.
This link will take you away from my blog, but enjoy the information if you wondered about this area.
Ansan, South Korea Information, click here!

Ansan, South Korea

Information from the Ansan City Government website, mainly visiting attractions in this area.
This link will take you away from my blog, but enjoy the information if you wondered about this area.
Ansan, South Korea Information, click here!

Ansan, South Korea

Information from the Ansan City Government website, mainly visiting attractions in this area.
This link will take you away from my blog, but enjoy the information if you wondered about this area.
Ansan, South Korea Information, click here!

Ansan, South Korea

Information from the Ansan City Government website, mainly visiting attractions in this area.
This link will take you away from my blog, but enjoy the information if you wondered about this area.
Ansan, South Korea Information, click here!