Weekend Ride to Ansan, Love my friends @ Dongsan Presbyterian Church!

Weekend Ride to Ansan, Love my friends @ Dongsan Presbyterian Church!

Weekend Ride to Ansan, Love my friends @ Dongsan Presbyterian Church!

Weekend Ride to Ansan, Love my friends @ Dongsan Presbyterian Church!

Weekend Ride to Ansan, Love my friends @ Dongsan Presbyterian Church!

Weekend Ride to Ansan, Love my friends @ Dongsan Presbyterian Church!

E-n-g-l-i-s-h a-s a S-e-c-o-n-d L-a-n-g-u-a-g-e ESL

I've found myself teaching ESL for a second consecutive year in Korea. Teaching in Korea is like a "body-building competition", you have 12 months with these English learners which demands all your patience and dedication, but it's worth all of it. The Korean children are everything, they are a challenge and a gift to have in the classroom. There isn't a day that passes where I am not "surprised" by something they say or do. It's particularly exciting to see them reading fluently, answering questions on a dime, and being able to communicate ideas using English. In the beginning, my former students were not efficient in English, though they have studied for several years. I've found success in the results from my lessons and teaching methodologies so far. It's a process of learning how they learn, then assisting them to learn quickly. My new job is great. These students have learned English for years (from 3-4 years) or they have lived abroad for English immersion. It's amazing to discuss lessons from our "Teen Talk" conversation book, they can talk for 1.5 hours! My lessons are complex, layered, and sequenced to consume 90-minute blocks. It's challenging, but rewarding at the same time. If your interested in teaching ESL, send a message, they are always hiring in Korea! ^^++ Warm wishes & Seasons Greetings!

E-n-g-l-i-s-h a-s a S-e-c-o-n-d L-a-n-g-u-a-g-e ESL

I've found myself teaching ESL for a second consecutive year in Korea. Teaching in Korea is like a "body-building competition", you have 12 months with these English learners which demands all your patience and dedication, but it's worth all of it. The Korean children are everything, they are a challenge and a gift to have in the classroom. There isn't a day that passes where I am not "surprised" by something they say or do. It's particularly exciting to see them reading fluently, answering questions on a dime, and being able to communicate ideas using English. In the beginning, my former students were not efficient in English, though they have studied for several years. I've found success in the results from my lessons and teaching methodologies so far. It's a process of learning how they learn, then assisting them to learn quickly. My new job is great. These students have learned English for years (from 3-4 years) or they have lived abroad for English immersion. It's amazing to discuss lessons from our "Teen Talk" conversation book, they can talk for 1.5 hours! My lessons are complex, layered, and sequenced to consume 90-minute blocks. It's challenging, but rewarding at the same time. If your interested in teaching ESL, send a message, they are always hiring in Korea! ^^++ Warm wishes & Seasons Greetings!

E-n-g-l-i-s-h a-s a S-e-c-o-n-d L-a-n-g-u-a-g-e ESL

I've found myself teaching ESL for a second consecutive year in Korea. Teaching in Korea is like a "body-building competition", you have 12 months with these English learners which demands all your patience and dedication, but it's worth all of it. The Korean children are everything, they are a challenge and a gift to have in the classroom. There isn't a day that passes where I am not "surprised" by something they say or do. It's particularly exciting to see them reading fluently, answering questions on a dime, and being able to communicate ideas using English. In the beginning, my former students were not efficient in English, though they have studied for several years. I've found success in the results from my lessons and teaching methodologies so far. It's a process of learning how they learn, then assisting them to learn quickly. My new job is great. These students have learned English for years (from 3-4 years) or they have lived abroad for English immersion. It's amazing to discuss lessons from our "Teen Talk" conversation book, they can talk for 1.5 hours! My lessons are complex, layered, and sequenced to consume 90-minute blocks. It's challenging, but rewarding at the same time. If your interested in teaching ESL, send a message, they are always hiring in Korea! ^^++ Warm wishes & Seasons Greetings!

E-n-g-l-i-s-h a-s a S-e-c-o-n-d L-a-n-g-u-a-g-e ESL

I've found myself teaching ESL for a second consecutive year in Korea. Teaching in Korea is like a "body-building competition", you have 12 months with these English learners which demands all your patience and dedication, but it's worth all of it. The Korean children are everything, they are a challenge and a gift to have in the classroom. There isn't a day that passes where I am not "surprised" by something they say or do. It's particularly exciting to see them reading fluently, answering questions on a dime, and being able to communicate ideas using English. In the beginning, my former students were not efficient in English, though they have studied for several years. I've found success in the results from my lessons and teaching methodologies so far. It's a process of learning how they learn, then assisting them to learn quickly. My new job is great. These students have learned English for years (from 3-4 years) or they have lived abroad for English immersion. It's amazing to discuss lessons from our "Teen Talk" conversation book, they can talk for 1.5 hours! My lessons are complex, layered, and sequenced to consume 90-minute blocks. It's challenging, but rewarding at the same time. If your interested in teaching ESL, send a message, they are always hiring in Korea! ^^++ Warm wishes & Seasons Greetings!

English is a Big Business in South Korea!

I completed a mega-teaching experience over the past 12 months, crossed the finish line, and saved $ for the baby expenses coming soon! We moved immediately following the contract completion. I'm in a Chicago-ish city 1 hour from downtown Seoul. I haven't ventured out yet on my own. I've only taken a cab to work on Thursday (first day at the new job) and rode the bike yesterday. It's only blocks away (1 metro stop) from our Officetel, which is a giant and modern living complex that has studio units with heated wood-floors, and is cozy. With a baby, this one-room bungalow will be really small. Mi Sung is almost 7 months pregnant, we know it's a boy! His name will be Matthew James. Of course, Mi picked his given name, I chose his middle name (middle name chosen to remember my #1 friend from the UK/USA...James P.), and the name combinations are quite unique. We're excited, but we just snug and spend quiet time together now awaiting his birth. Mi quit her teaching job last Wednesday with me, she worked there for 16 months, and I worked there 12 months. Glad to move on...and I never worked so much in my life as I did in the past year. I've started another teaching job at an Empire English Academy, they have 1000+ after-school students at one location, with 5/6 other schools around Seoul! I estimate this academy grosses $350~400,000USD per month at this single location. English education is big business in South Korea. Anyways, Christmas is just 24 days away. I wanted to get this note off early. Hope to hear from all my friends and family. Blessings and hope all is well for everyone back home. Have yourself a warm and cheerful holiday season! ^^++ Brian in Korea.

English is a Big Business in South Korea!

I completed a mega-teaching experience over the past 12 months, crossed the finish line, and saved $ for the baby expenses coming soon! We moved immediately following the contract completion. I'm in a Chicago-ish city 1 hour from downtown Seoul. I haven't ventured out yet on my own. I've only taken a cab to work on Thursday (first day at the new job) and rode the bike yesterday. It's only blocks away (1 metro stop) from our Officetel, which is a giant and modern living complex that has studio units with heated wood-floors, and is cozy. With a baby, this one-room bungalow will be really small. Mi Sung is almost 7 months pregnant, we know it's a boy! His name will be Matthew James. Of course, Mi picked his given name, I chose his middle name (middle name chosen to remember my #1 friend from the UK/USA...James P.), and the name combinations are quite unique. We're excited, but we just snug and spend quiet time together now awaiting his birth. Mi quit her teaching job last Wednesday with me, she worked there for 16 months, and I worked there 12 months. Glad to move on...and I never worked so much in my life as I did in the past year. I've started another teaching job at an Empire English Academy, they have 1000+ after-school students at one location, with 5/6 other schools around Seoul! I estimate this academy grosses $350~400,000USD per month at this single location. English education is big business in South Korea. Anyways, Christmas is just 24 days away. I wanted to get this note off early. Hope to hear from all my friends and family. Blessings and hope all is well for everyone back home. Have yourself a warm and cheerful holiday season! ^^++ Brian in Korea.

English is a Big Business in South Korea!

I completed a mega-teaching experience over the past 12 months, crossed the finish line, and saved $ for the baby expenses coming soon! We moved immediately following the contract completion. I'm in a Chicago-ish city 1 hour from downtown Seoul. I haven't ventured out yet on my own. I've only taken a cab to work on Thursday (first day at the new job) and rode the bike yesterday. It's only blocks away (1 metro stop) from our Officetel, which is a giant and modern living complex that has studio units with heated wood-floors, and is cozy. With a baby, this one-room bungalow will be really small. Mi Sung is almost 7 months pregnant, we know it's a boy! His name will be Matthew James. Of course, Mi picked his given name, I chose his middle name (middle name chosen to remember my #1 friend from the UK/USA...James P.), and the name combinations are quite unique. We're excited, but we just snug and spend quiet time together now awaiting his birth. Mi quit her teaching job last Wednesday with me, she worked there for 16 months, and I worked there 12 months. Glad to move on...and I never worked so much in my life as I did in the past year. I've started another teaching job at an Empire English Academy, they have 1000+ after-school students at one location, with 5/6 other schools around Seoul! I estimate this academy grosses $350~400,000USD per month at this single location. English education is big business in South Korea. Anyways, Christmas is just 24 days away. I wanted to get this note off early. Hope to hear from all my friends and family. Blessings and hope all is well for everyone back home. Have yourself a warm and cheerful holiday season! ^^++ Brian in Korea.

English is a Big Business in South Korea!

I completed a mega-teaching experience over the past 12 months, crossed the finish line, and saved $ for the baby expenses coming soon! We moved immediately following the contract completion. I'm in a Chicago-ish city 1 hour from downtown Seoul. I haven't ventured out yet on my own. I've only taken a cab to work on Thursday (first day at the new job) and rode the bike yesterday. It's only blocks away (1 metro stop) from our Officetel, which is a giant and modern living complex that has studio units with heated wood-floors, and is cozy. With a baby, this one-room bungalow will be really small. Mi Sung is almost 7 months pregnant, we know it's a boy! His name will be Matthew James. Of course, Mi picked his given name, I chose his middle name (middle name chosen to remember my #1 friend from the UK/USA...James P.), and the name combinations are quite unique. We're excited, but we just snug and spend quiet time together now awaiting his birth. Mi quit her teaching job last Wednesday with me, she worked there for 16 months, and I worked there 12 months. Glad to move on...and I never worked so much in my life as I did in the past year. I've started another teaching job at an Empire English Academy, they have 1000+ after-school students at one location, with 5/6 other schools around Seoul! I estimate this academy grosses $350~400,000USD per month at this single location. English education is big business in South Korea. Anyways, Christmas is just 24 days away. I wanted to get this note off early. Hope to hear from all my friends and family. Blessings and hope all is well for everyone back home. Have yourself a warm and cheerful holiday season! ^^++ Brian in Korea.

Cheonan weekend ride, Gyunggi Province, Korea

Cheonan weekend ride, Gyunggi Province, Korea

Cheonan weekend ride, Gyunggi Province, Korea

Cheonan weekend ride, Gyunggi Province, Korea

105 Diaper-Free Days left, Reflections of Baba

I thought the title would look inventive. Actually, it's true Mi Sung is expecting our baby #1 in February 2008. I'll be 35.1 years old when the baby's born, and I can already imagine the diaperama, and I have been browsing the ailes in the supermarkets to check on prices, about $25-30 CDN a pack in South Korea. Maybe we should use the old towel wrap that my Romanian Baba (grandmother) used on me back in the early 70's when all the diapers ran out? By the way, Baba just celebrated her 98th birthday in Windsor, 82 years since she left a small town in Romania coming to Canada without a single relative. She the "Rock" or "Corner Stone" of my family in Canada, always without fail setting the best example for all of us to follow (if we choose to). Baba is my personal Hero, the one person in my life that took care of me as a baby, always shared her unconditional love, was unbiased, undistracted by her own priorities, and survived a lot of tremendous obstacles including poverty, destitution, and being an endentured servant upon arrival to Canada on a remote farm in Saskatoon. Later in life, she met my grandfather (Stoijon, Stephen in English), he had been born in 1887-1889 in Bosnia. In his early teens, he traveled to Germany and later Italy to find work. He eventually landed in Detroit, and laid brick "cobble stones" when the roads were crossed by horses, and only a few cars. He had many friends living across the Detroit River in Windsor. He crossed the border since he wasn't a citizen of either country, and settled in Windsor. In the 1920's, he worked for the Ford Motor Company, in fact, his employee # is in the hundreds, he worked in the Foundary and later became a supervisor. Ford's required all management at the time to purchase a new car every year. So the last healthy-working year for my grandfather was in 1935. He purchased his last Ford, a 1935 Ford V-8 Deluxe with spoked wheels and straight-8, aluminum block engine, no heater, no air conditioning, two bench seats (first model to have a back seat after the earlier coupes. If the engine didn't start by battery, there's a hand-crank in the front grill, turn it to start the engine. The Great Depression wiped out a lot of my grandfather's legacy in Windsor. After years working in the foundry, he developed many respiratory illnesses (Black Lung Disease in short), and was continually in/out of the hospital while my father was only an elementary school student. My father learned to drive at 12 years of age in order to drive my grandfather to the hospital or run errands for my grandmother. My dad said that many of the streets in Windsor were either dirt, pavement or brick "cobble stone" in some areas. My father drove this 1935 Ford after the Depression into the late 60's (1967 to be exact) when he graduated from St. Clair College as a general accountant. He worked for the Toronto Dominion Bank on the corner of Ouelette Ave and Riverside Drive (Chrysler Building today) and then moved to become an accountant and business manager at the Windsor Star newspaper. He devoted the next 18 years to the Windsor Star and recruited my sisters and I work in the mailing department. Together my family worked for the Windsor Star for 43 years combined, but the Windsor Star downsized my father two-years before he would be eligible for his Retirement Pension. After 18 years of dedicated service, working many Saturdays for free, the newspaper betrayed his loyalty and the memory still haunts me till this day. Back to the past, my father and his sister had tremendous responsibilties to support their family in Windsor. As a result of my grandfather's departure from Fords for his health problems, and the financial liquidation that took place during the Great Depression, they had limited means. Baba left Romania at 16, she had little formal education and left school to work at a young age (perhaps grade 3 education), but her practical knowledge to survive in this world took her around the world without English. In Canada, Baba was always a hard worker because her life depended upon it. To this day, she cannot read/write in English, she never had time to learn and the people she worked for in Canada, used her for cheap labor, which made literacy an impossible task. Today, Baba will still talk-your-ear-off because she learned to speak English so well. She used to live with my family in Windsor, there were 8 of us living together in one small house. She used to cook fresh donuts at home and give me the four/five to tuck under my shirt, before my sisters and cousin came to get theirs. She always treated me with respect, she taught me about life through stories of the sometimes terrible and funny experiences she had been through in her life. I have learned so much from my grandmother, it would not be possible to express it here. She has set the best examples of honesty, integrity, morality, compassion for others, and unconditional love that I seek out everyday in this world. I want to live to be like her, it will take a lot of patience and understanding to succeed as she has in her lifetime. She used to love watching wrestling WWF (Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, etc.) and eat KFC in the paper buckets, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes (sometimes by hand) and hanging everything out back on the clothesline. She loved spending winters in Daytona, Florida in her early 70's and 80's watching the party-animals, the Bikers, the College Partyers tearing down the hotels nearby her. She's my grandmother, and I love her. In total, my family has overcome many difficulties in our history in Canada, it's never been easy... ^^++

105 Diaper-Free Days left, Reflections of Baba

I thought the title would look inventive. Actually, it's true Mi Sung is expecting our baby #1 in February 2008. I'll be 35.1 years old when the baby's born, and I can already imagine the diaperama, and I have been browsing the ailes in the supermarkets to check on prices, about $25-30 CDN a pack in South Korea. Maybe we should use the old towel wrap that my Romanian Baba (grandmother) used on me back in the early 70's when all the diapers ran out? By the way, Baba just celebrated her 98th birthday in Windsor, 82 years since she left a small town in Romania coming to Canada without a single relative. She the "Rock" or "Corner Stone" of my family in Canada, always without fail setting the best example for all of us to follow (if we choose to). Baba is my personal Hero, the one person in my life that took care of me as a baby, always shared her unconditional love, was unbiased, undistracted by her own priorities, and survived a lot of tremendous obstacles including poverty, destitution, and being an endentured servant upon arrival to Canada on a remote farm in Saskatoon. Later in life, she met my grandfather (Stoijon, Stephen in English), he had been born in 1887-1889 in Bosnia. In his early teens, he traveled to Germany and later Italy to find work. He eventually landed in Detroit, and laid brick "cobble stones" when the roads were crossed by horses, and only a few cars. He had many friends living across the Detroit River in Windsor. He crossed the border since he wasn't a citizen of either country, and settled in Windsor. In the 1920's, he worked for the Ford Motor Company, in fact, his employee # is in the hundreds, he worked in the Foundary and later became a supervisor. Ford's required all management at the time to purchase a new car every year. So the last healthy-working year for my grandfather was in 1935. He purchased his last Ford, a 1935 Ford V-8 Deluxe with spoked wheels and straight-8, aluminum block engine, no heater, no air conditioning, two bench seats (first model to have a back seat after the earlier coupes. If the engine didn't start by battery, there's a hand-crank in the front grill, turn it to start the engine. The Great Depression wiped out a lot of my grandfather's legacy in Windsor. After years working in the foundry, he developed many respiratory illnesses (Black Lung Disease in short), and was continually in/out of the hospital while my father was only an elementary school student. My father learned to drive at 12 years of age in order to drive my grandfather to the hospital or run errands for my grandmother. My dad said that many of the streets in Windsor were either dirt, pavement or brick "cobble stone" in some areas. My father drove this 1935 Ford after the Depression into the late 60's (1967 to be exact) when he graduated from St. Clair College as a general accountant. He worked for the Toronto Dominion Bank on the corner of Ouelette Ave and Riverside Drive (Chrysler Building today) and then moved to become an accountant and business manager at the Windsor Star newspaper. He devoted the next 18 years to the Windsor Star and recruited my sisters and I work in the mailing department. Together my family worked for the Windsor Star for 43 years combined, but the Windsor Star downsized my father two-years before he would be eligible for his Retirement Pension. After 18 years of dedicated service, working many Saturdays for free, the newspaper betrayed his loyalty and the memory still haunts me till this day. Back to the past, my father and his sister had tremendous responsibilties to support their family in Windsor. As a result of my grandfather's departure from Fords for his health problems, and the financial liquidation that took place during the Great Depression, they had limited means. Baba left Romania at 16, she had little formal education and left school to work at a young age (perhaps grade 3 education), but her practical knowledge to survive in this world took her around the world without English. In Canada, Baba was always a hard worker because her life depended upon it. To this day, she cannot read/write in English, she never had time to learn and the people she worked for in Canada, used her for cheap labor, which made literacy an impossible task. Today, Baba will still talk-your-ear-off because she learned to speak English so well. She used to live with my family in Windsor, there were 8 of us living together in one small house. She used to cook fresh donuts at home and give me the four/five to tuck under my shirt, before my sisters and cousin came to get theirs. She always treated me with respect, she taught me about life through stories of the sometimes terrible and funny experiences she had been through in her life. I have learned so much from my grandmother, it would not be possible to express it here. She has set the best examples of honesty, integrity, morality, compassion for others, and unconditional love that I seek out everyday in this world. I want to live to be like her, it will take a lot of patience and understanding to succeed as she has in her lifetime. She used to love watching wrestling WWF (Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, etc.) and eat KFC in the paper buckets, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes (sometimes by hand) and hanging everything out back on the clothesline. She loved spending winters in Daytona, Florida in her early 70's and 80's watching the party-animals, the Bikers, the College Partyers tearing down the hotels nearby her. She's my grandmother, and I love her. In total, my family has overcome many difficulties in our history in Canada, it's never been easy... ^^++

105 Diaper-Free Days left, Reflections of Baba

I thought the title would look inventive. Actually, it's true Mi Sung is expecting our baby #1 in February 2008. I'll be 35.1 years old when the baby's born, and I can already imagine the diaperama, and I have been browsing the ailes in the supermarkets to check on prices, about $25-30 CDN a pack in South Korea. Maybe we should use the old towel wrap that my Romanian Baba (grandmother) used on me back in the early 70's when all the diapers ran out? By the way, Baba just celebrated her 98th birthday in Windsor, 82 years since she left a small town in Romania coming to Canada without a single relative. She the "Rock" or "Corner Stone" of my family in Canada, always without fail setting the best example for all of us to follow (if we choose to). Baba is my personal Hero, the one person in my life that took care of me as a baby, always shared her unconditional love, was unbiased, undistracted by her own priorities, and survived a lot of tremendous obstacles including poverty, destitution, and being an endentured servant upon arrival to Canada on a remote farm in Saskatoon. Later in life, she met my grandfather (Stoijon, Stephen in English), he had been born in 1887-1889 in Bosnia. In his early teens, he traveled to Germany and later Italy to find work. He eventually landed in Detroit, and laid brick "cobble stones" when the roads were crossed by horses, and only a few cars. He had many friends living across the Detroit River in Windsor. He crossed the border since he wasn't a citizen of either country, and settled in Windsor. In the 1920's, he worked for the Ford Motor Company, in fact, his employee # is in the hundreds, he worked in the Foundary and later became a supervisor. Ford's required all management at the time to purchase a new car every year. So the last healthy-working year for my grandfather was in 1935. He purchased his last Ford, a 1935 Ford V-8 Deluxe with spoked wheels and straight-8, aluminum block engine, no heater, no air conditioning, two bench seats (first model to have a back seat after the earlier coupes. If the engine didn't start by battery, there's a hand-crank in the front grill, turn it to start the engine. The Great Depression wiped out a lot of my grandfather's legacy in Windsor. After years working in the foundry, he developed many respiratory illnesses (Black Lung Disease in short), and was continually in/out of the hospital while my father was only an elementary school student. My father learned to drive at 12 years of age in order to drive my grandfather to the hospital or run errands for my grandmother. My dad said that many of the streets in Windsor were either dirt, pavement or brick "cobble stone" in some areas. My father drove this 1935 Ford after the Depression into the late 60's (1967 to be exact) when he graduated from St. Clair College as a general accountant. He worked for the Toronto Dominion Bank on the corner of Ouelette Ave and Riverside Drive (Chrysler Building today) and then moved to become an accountant and business manager at the Windsor Star newspaper. He devoted the next 18 years to the Windsor Star and recruited my sisters and I work in the mailing department. Together my family worked for the Windsor Star for 43 years combined, but the Windsor Star downsized my father two-years before he would be eligible for his Retirement Pension. After 18 years of dedicated service, working many Saturdays for free, the newspaper betrayed his loyalty and the memory still haunts me till this day. Back to the past, my father and his sister had tremendous responsibilties to support their family in Windsor. As a result of my grandfather's departure from Fords for his health problems, and the financial liquidation that took place during the Great Depression, they had limited means. Baba left Romania at 16, she had little formal education and left school to work at a young age (perhaps grade 3 education), but her practical knowledge to survive in this world took her around the world without English. In Canada, Baba was always a hard worker because her life depended upon it. To this day, she cannot read/write in English, she never had time to learn and the people she worked for in Canada, used her for cheap labor, which made literacy an impossible task. Today, Baba will still talk-your-ear-off because she learned to speak English so well. She used to live with my family in Windsor, there were 8 of us living together in one small house. She used to cook fresh donuts at home and give me the four/five to tuck under my shirt, before my sisters and cousin came to get theirs. She always treated me with respect, she taught me about life through stories of the sometimes terrible and funny experiences she had been through in her life. I have learned so much from my grandmother, it would not be possible to express it here. She has set the best examples of honesty, integrity, morality, compassion for others, and unconditional love that I seek out everyday in this world. I want to live to be like her, it will take a lot of patience and understanding to succeed as she has in her lifetime. She used to love watching wrestling WWF (Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, etc.) and eat KFC in the paper buckets, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes (sometimes by hand) and hanging everything out back on the clothesline. She loved spending winters in Daytona, Florida in her early 70's and 80's watching the party-animals, the Bikers, the College Partyers tearing down the hotels nearby her. She's my grandmother, and I love her. In total, my family has overcome many difficulties in our history in Canada, it's never been easy... ^^++

105 Diaper-Free Days left, Reflections of Baba

I thought the title would look inventive. Actually, it's true Mi Sung is expecting our baby #1 in February 2008. I'll be 35.1 years old when the baby's born, and I can already imagine the diaperama, and I have been browsing the ailes in the supermarkets to check on prices, about $25-30 CDN a pack in South Korea. Maybe we should use the old towel wrap that my Romanian Baba (grandmother) used on me back in the early 70's when all the diapers ran out? By the way, Baba just celebrated her 98th birthday in Windsor, 82 years since she left a small town in Romania coming to Canada without a single relative. She the "Rock" or "Corner Stone" of my family in Canada, always without fail setting the best example for all of us to follow (if we choose to). Baba is my personal Hero, the one person in my life that took care of me as a baby, always shared her unconditional love, was unbiased, undistracted by her own priorities, and survived a lot of tremendous obstacles including poverty, destitution, and being an endentured servant upon arrival to Canada on a remote farm in Saskatoon. Later in life, she met my grandfather (Stoijon, Stephen in English), he had been born in 1887-1889 in Bosnia. In his early teens, he traveled to Germany and later Italy to find work. He eventually landed in Detroit, and laid brick "cobble stones" when the roads were crossed by horses, and only a few cars. He had many friends living across the Detroit River in Windsor. He crossed the border since he wasn't a citizen of either country, and settled in Windsor. In the 1920's, he worked for the Ford Motor Company, in fact, his employee # is in the hundreds, he worked in the Foundary and later became a supervisor. Ford's required all management at the time to purchase a new car every year. So the last healthy-working year for my grandfather was in 1935. He purchased his last Ford, a 1935 Ford V-8 Deluxe with spoked wheels and straight-8, aluminum block engine, no heater, no air conditioning, two bench seats (first model to have a back seat after the earlier coupes. If the engine didn't start by battery, there's a hand-crank in the front grill, turn it to start the engine. The Great Depression wiped out a lot of my grandfather's legacy in Windsor. After years working in the foundry, he developed many respiratory illnesses (Black Lung Disease in short), and was continually in/out of the hospital while my father was only an elementary school student. My father learned to drive at 12 years of age in order to drive my grandfather to the hospital or run errands for my grandmother. My dad said that many of the streets in Windsor were either dirt, pavement or brick "cobble stone" in some areas. My father drove this 1935 Ford after the Depression into the late 60's (1967 to be exact) when he graduated from St. Clair College as a general accountant. He worked for the Toronto Dominion Bank on the corner of Ouelette Ave and Riverside Drive (Chrysler Building today) and then moved to become an accountant and business manager at the Windsor Star newspaper. He devoted the next 18 years to the Windsor Star and recruited my sisters and I work in the mailing department. Together my family worked for the Windsor Star for 43 years combined, but the Windsor Star downsized my father two-years before he would be eligible for his Retirement Pension. After 18 years of dedicated service, working many Saturdays for free, the newspaper betrayed his loyalty and the memory still haunts me till this day. Back to the past, my father and his sister had tremendous responsibilties to support their family in Windsor. As a result of my grandfather's departure from Fords for his health problems, and the financial liquidation that took place during the Great Depression, they had limited means. Baba left Romania at 16, she had little formal education and left school to work at a young age (perhaps grade 3 education), but her practical knowledge to survive in this world took her around the world without English. In Canada, Baba was always a hard worker because her life depended upon it. To this day, she cannot read/write in English, she never had time to learn and the people she worked for in Canada, used her for cheap labor, which made literacy an impossible task. Today, Baba will still talk-your-ear-off because she learned to speak English so well. She used to live with my family in Windsor, there were 8 of us living together in one small house. She used to cook fresh donuts at home and give me the four/five to tuck under my shirt, before my sisters and cousin came to get theirs. She always treated me with respect, she taught me about life through stories of the sometimes terrible and funny experiences she had been through in her life. I have learned so much from my grandmother, it would not be possible to express it here. She has set the best examples of honesty, integrity, morality, compassion for others, and unconditional love that I seek out everyday in this world. I want to live to be like her, it will take a lot of patience and understanding to succeed as she has in her lifetime. She used to love watching wrestling WWF (Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, etc.) and eat KFC in the paper buckets, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes (sometimes by hand) and hanging everything out back on the clothesline. She loved spending winters in Daytona, Florida in her early 70's and 80's watching the party-animals, the Bikers, the College Partyers tearing down the hotels nearby her. She's my grandmother, and I love her. In total, my family has overcome many difficulties in our history in Canada, it's never been easy... ^^++

It's Saturday & Sunday, I ride on every weekend in Korea

Funky mountain bike ride on Sunday in South Korea.

It's Saturday & Sunday, I ride on every weekend in Korea

Funky mountain bike ride on Sunday in South Korea.

It's Saturday & Sunday, I ride on every weekend in Korea

Funky mountain bike ride on Sunday in South Korea.

It's Saturday & Sunday, I ride on every weekend in Korea

Funky mountain bike ride on Sunday in South Korea.

It's Saturday & Sunday, I ride on every weekend in Korea

Funky mountain bike ride on Sunday in South Korea.

It's Saturday & Sunday, I ride on every weekend in Korea

Funky mountain bike ride on Sunday in South Korea.

Halloween just wasn't at our hagwon (Academy)

Can you believe the Spirits of the Jack-o-Lantern, inventive costumes, games and fun could be absent in an after-school academy in South Korea. Anything is possible, or impossible here, and Halloween was no exception! ^^++ Boohoo! We did have the grace to hand out some candy to our students which was nice, but one sneaky class told my owner that I threw candy at them, after clarification everything was alright. Hmmmm. I wish we had a pumpkin with a candle burning all night, and here there's no children visiting door-to-door. Well, that's a tradition we shouldn't take for granted in the West, and definitely celebrate to the fullest each year. ^^++ Remember us "Kids" deserve it! The countdown continues...T-minus 14 days

Halloween just wasn't at our hagwon (Academy)

Can you believe the Spirits of the Jack-o-Lantern, inventive costumes, games and fun could be absent in an after-school academy in South Korea. Anything is possible, or impossible here, and Halloween was no exception! ^^++ Boohoo! We did have the grace to hand out some candy to our students which was nice, but one sneaky class told my owner that I threw candy at them, after clarification everything was alright. Hmmmm. I wish we had a pumpkin with a candle burning all night, and here there's no children visiting door-to-door. Well, that's a tradition we shouldn't take for granted in the West, and definitely celebrate to the fullest each year. ^^++ Remember us "Kids" deserve it! The countdown continues...T-minus 14 days

Halloween just wasn't at our hagwon (Academy)

Can you believe the Spirits of the Jack-o-Lantern, inventive costumes, games and fun could be absent in an after-school academy in South Korea. Anything is possible, or impossible here, and Halloween was no exception! ^^++ Boohoo! We did have the grace to hand out some candy to our students which was nice, but one sneaky class told my owner that I threw candy at them, after clarification everything was alright. Hmmmm. I wish we had a pumpkin with a candle burning all night, and here there's no children visiting door-to-door. Well, that's a tradition we shouldn't take for granted in the West, and definitely celebrate to the fullest each year. ^^++ Remember us "Kids" deserve it! The countdown continues...T-minus 14 days

Halloween just wasn't at our hagwon (Academy)

Can you believe the Spirits of the Jack-o-Lantern, inventive costumes, games and fun could be absent in an after-school academy in South Korea. Anything is possible, or impossible here, and Halloween was no exception! ^^++ Boohoo! We did have the grace to hand out some candy to our students which was nice, but one sneaky class told my owner that I threw candy at them, after clarification everything was alright. Hmmmm. I wish we had a pumpkin with a candle burning all night, and here there's no children visiting door-to-door. Well, that's a tradition we shouldn't take for granted in the West, and definitely celebrate to the fullest each year. ^^++ Remember us "Kids" deserve it! The countdown continues...T-minus 14 days

My teaching contract ends November 28th, 2007!

I'm in the final stretch of a 12-month teaching odyssey in South Korea. It's finally been almost one entire year that I've been living/working in Korea. Of course, there is no summer holiday familiar with teaching in Canada. This is a 12-month teaching contract, and you work 12 months of the year. I evaluated 80 students progress this month, and created 80 examinations for all of them. Could there be more work, the answer is clearly NO. I am looking forward to moving into a new teaching position, new students, new environment, new city around Seoul. It's been an incredible year because the challenges are daily, and just routine isn't. Korean elementary and middle school students keep me on my toes almost 7 hours per day, and that is an incredible level of teaching. ^^++ Ready to roll onto the next job, new students, new apartment, new city!

My teaching contract ends November 28th, 2007!

I'm in the final stretch of a 12-month teaching odyssey in South Korea. It's finally been almost one entire year that I've been living/working in Korea. Of course, there is no summer holiday familiar with teaching in Canada. This is a 12-month teaching contract, and you work 12 months of the year. I evaluated 80 students progress this month, and created 80 examinations for all of them. Could there be more work, the answer is clearly NO. I am looking forward to moving into a new teaching position, new students, new environment, new city around Seoul. It's been an incredible year because the challenges are daily, and just routine isn't. Korean elementary and middle school students keep me on my toes almost 7 hours per day, and that is an incredible level of teaching. ^^++ Ready to roll onto the next job, new students, new apartment, new city!

My teaching contract ends November 28th, 2007!

I'm in the final stretch of a 12-month teaching odyssey in South Korea. It's finally been almost one entire year that I've been living/working in Korea. Of course, there is no summer holiday familiar with teaching in Canada. This is a 12-month teaching contract, and you work 12 months of the year. I evaluated 80 students progress this month, and created 80 examinations for all of them. Could there be more work, the answer is clearly NO. I am looking forward to moving into a new teaching position, new students, new environment, new city around Seoul. It's been an incredible year because the challenges are daily, and just routine isn't. Korean elementary and middle school students keep me on my toes almost 7 hours per day, and that is an incredible level of teaching. ^^++ Ready to roll onto the next job, new students, new apartment, new city!

My teaching contract ends November 28th, 2007!

I'm in the final stretch of a 12-month teaching odyssey in South Korea. It's finally been almost one entire year that I've been living/working in Korea. Of course, there is no summer holiday familiar with teaching in Canada. This is a 12-month teaching contract, and you work 12 months of the year. I evaluated 80 students progress this month, and created 80 examinations for all of them. Could there be more work, the answer is clearly NO. I am looking forward to moving into a new teaching position, new students, new environment, new city around Seoul. It's been an incredible year because the challenges are daily, and just routine isn't. Korean elementary and middle school students keep me on my toes almost 7 hours per day, and that is an incredible level of teaching. ^^++ Ready to roll onto the next job, new students, new apartment, new city!

Jinny's Wedding in South Korea

I received my first wedding invitation in South Korea, I was so excited to attend Jinny's wedding today! ^^++ She looked fabulous in her long, white wedding dress and her new husband is handsome. Getting ready for the wedding took some work. I decided to give Jinny a photograph on Mt. Tohamsan with the following words written on it, "Blessings on your wedding day, May the road rise to meet you and the winds be at your back, May all your dreams come true and may God bless you together." The wedding went really smooth, it was a beautiful place, and yes...the food was delicious! Jinny gave me a cute invitation card last week...and gave directions written in English across from the Junggang Station, also written in Korean Hangeul. Unfortunately, the subway station has a city built around it, so I started out on the wrong side of the tracks and went to another wedding hall. I was redirected by the BANG BANG shop seller to the other side of the train station. Funny thing, I was in a shirt/tie and dress slacks tucked into my socks, while toting a paper bag with my framed print and wearing a backpack, of course I'm riding my almost famous MTB. ^^++ I pulled up to another wedding hall, went inside and showed my invitation, they directed me down the street to another wedding hall. I realize now how the movie "Wedding Crashers" got it's start, finally at the third wedding hall I found the Noblesse Room and lovely Jinny and her husband-to-be were on the alter getting ready to exchange their vows. The ceremony was wonderful and the music in the reception area was played with a classical flute and two violins, very relaxing!!! I took my wedding photos and by this point, was happy to finally talk to the bride. We never took a photo together, I completely forgot about it when I gave Jinny her gift. ^^++

Jinny's Wedding in South Korea

I received my first wedding invitation in South Korea, I was so excited to attend Jinny's wedding today! ^^++ She looked fabulous in her long, white wedding dress and her new husband is handsome. Getting ready for the wedding took some work. I decided to give Jinny a photograph on Mt. Tohamsan with the following words written on it, "Blessings on your wedding day, May the road rise to meet you and the winds be at your back, May all your dreams come true and may God bless you together." The wedding went really smooth, it was a beautiful place, and yes...the food was delicious! Jinny gave me a cute invitation card last week...and gave directions written in English across from the Junggang Station, also written in Korean Hangeul. Unfortunately, the subway station has a city built around it, so I started out on the wrong side of the tracks and went to another wedding hall. I was redirected by the BANG BANG shop seller to the other side of the train station. Funny thing, I was in a shirt/tie and dress slacks tucked into my socks, while toting a paper bag with my framed print and wearing a backpack, of course I'm riding my almost famous MTB. ^^++ I pulled up to another wedding hall, went inside and showed my invitation, they directed me down the street to another wedding hall. I realize now how the movie "Wedding Crashers" got it's start, finally at the third wedding hall I found the Noblesse Room and lovely Jinny and her husband-to-be were on the alter getting ready to exchange their vows. The ceremony was wonderful and the music in the reception area was played with a classical flute and two violins, very relaxing!!! I took my wedding photos and by this point, was happy to finally talk to the bride. We never took a photo together, I completely forgot about it when I gave Jinny her gift. ^^++

Jinny's Wedding in South Korea

I received my first wedding invitation in South Korea, I was so excited to attend Jinny's wedding today! ^^++ She looked fabulous in her long, white wedding dress and her new husband is handsome. Getting ready for the wedding took some work. I decided to give Jinny a photograph on Mt. Tohamsan with the following words written on it, "Blessings on your wedding day, May the road rise to meet you and the winds be at your back, May all your dreams come true and may God bless you together." The wedding went really smooth, it was a beautiful place, and yes...the food was delicious! Jinny gave me a cute invitation card last week...and gave directions written in English across from the Junggang Station, also written in Korean Hangeul. Unfortunately, the subway station has a city built around it, so I started out on the wrong side of the tracks and went to another wedding hall. I was redirected by the BANG BANG shop seller to the other side of the train station. Funny thing, I was in a shirt/tie and dress slacks tucked into my socks, while toting a paper bag with my framed print and wearing a backpack, of course I'm riding my almost famous MTB. ^^++ I pulled up to another wedding hall, went inside and showed my invitation, they directed me down the street to another wedding hall. I realize now how the movie "Wedding Crashers" got it's start, finally at the third wedding hall I found the Noblesse Room and lovely Jinny and her husband-to-be were on the alter getting ready to exchange their vows. The ceremony was wonderful and the music in the reception area was played with a classical flute and two violins, very relaxing!!! I took my wedding photos and by this point, was happy to finally talk to the bride. We never took a photo together, I completely forgot about it when I gave Jinny her gift. ^^++

Jinny's Wedding in South Korea

I received my first wedding invitation in South Korea, I was so excited to attend Jinny's wedding today! ^^++ She looked fabulous in her long, white wedding dress and her new husband is handsome. Getting ready for the wedding took some work. I decided to give Jinny a photograph on Mt. Tohamsan with the following words written on it, "Blessings on your wedding day, May the road rise to meet you and the winds be at your back, May all your dreams come true and may God bless you together." The wedding went really smooth, it was a beautiful place, and yes...the food was delicious! Jinny gave me a cute invitation card last week...and gave directions written in English across from the Junggang Station, also written in Korean Hangeul. Unfortunately, the subway station has a city built around it, so I started out on the wrong side of the tracks and went to another wedding hall. I was redirected by the BANG BANG shop seller to the other side of the train station. Funny thing, I was in a shirt/tie and dress slacks tucked into my socks, while toting a paper bag with my framed print and wearing a backpack, of course I'm riding my almost famous MTB. ^^++ I pulled up to another wedding hall, went inside and showed my invitation, they directed me down the street to another wedding hall. I realize now how the movie "Wedding Crashers" got it's start, finally at the third wedding hall I found the Noblesse Room and lovely Jinny and her husband-to-be were on the alter getting ready to exchange their vows. The ceremony was wonderful and the music in the reception area was played with a classical flute and two violins, very relaxing!!! I took my wedding photos and by this point, was happy to finally talk to the bride. We never took a photo together, I completely forgot about it when I gave Jinny her gift. ^^++

Autumn rules in South Korea!

We're having some of the best weather of the entire year right now! Sunshine. Blue skies. Warm days with cool breezes. Very cool nights. It's exceptional weather. I went to Dongsan Church to see the guest speaker David Wakefield, a Missionary who spent 20 years working in Papua New Guinea in Bible translations. He gave a very detailed sermon about his life's work, and experiences living in native communities. Next Sunday, it's Professor Phil Galley, another gifted speaker who has a wealth of experiences abroad, considering he's lived outside of the US for more than 40 years! Our church is one of the largest in South Korea, take a look, and navigate through the Korean if your browser supports East Asian languages, you'll need an XP cd to see Korean Hangeul. Ansan Dongsan Church After the worship service (very touching, exceptional music too), I joined a few friends for noodles in the express cafeteria serving warm noodles on the first floor to hundreds of devotees. It's a wonderful experience being apart of this Christian organization, ^^++ After worship and the warm noodles, I needed to redesign this blog, eliminating the Slide Shows, they took too much CPU for most of us. So, it's just a simple/positive blog, the way bloggin' should be. ^^++ Late afternoon, I rode through Ansan and crossed paved service roads which pass countless rice fields, some harvested, others being harvested today. The weather was glorious and I rode all the way to Suwon, and took the subway back to Ansan for 1400 Korean Won, $1.50 ^^++ Simple pleasures, especially with the bike... Blessings to my friends and family from South Korea. Happy Birthday Nan & my grandmother Baba, and nephew Rian! Sanna Chukka Ham-Ni-Da! Only five more weeks to go till i start my new job teaching, new city, new students, new experience, looking forward to all of it!

Autumn rules in South Korea!

We're having some of the best weather of the entire year right now! Sunshine. Blue skies. Warm days with cool breezes. Very cool nights. It's exceptional weather. I went to Dongsan Church to see the guest speaker David Wakefield, a Missionary who spent 20 years working in Papua New Guinea in Bible translations. He gave a very detailed sermon about his life's work, and experiences living in native communities. Next Sunday, it's Professor Phil Galley, another gifted speaker who has a wealth of experiences abroad, considering he's lived outside of the US for more than 40 years! Our church is one of the largest in South Korea, take a look, and navigate through the Korean if your browser supports East Asian languages, you'll need an XP cd to see Korean Hangeul. Ansan Dongsan Church After the worship service (very touching, exceptional music too), I joined a few friends for noodles in the express cafeteria serving warm noodles on the first floor to hundreds of devotees. It's a wonderful experience being apart of this Christian organization, ^^++ After worship and the warm noodles, I needed to redesign this blog, eliminating the Slide Shows, they took too much CPU for most of us. So, it's just a simple/positive blog, the way bloggin' should be. ^^++ Late afternoon, I rode through Ansan and crossed paved service roads which pass countless rice fields, some harvested, others being harvested today. The weather was glorious and I rode all the way to Suwon, and took the subway back to Ansan for 1400 Korean Won, $1.50 ^^++ Simple pleasures, especially with the bike... Blessings to my friends and family from South Korea. Happy Birthday Nan & my grandmother Baba, and nephew Rian! Sanna Chukka Ham-Ni-Da! Only five more weeks to go till i start my new job teaching, new city, new students, new experience, looking forward to all of it!

Autumn rules in South Korea!

We're having some of the best weather of the entire year right now! Sunshine. Blue skies. Warm days with cool breezes. Very cool nights. It's exceptional weather. I went to Dongsan Church to see the guest speaker David Wakefield, a Missionary who spent 20 years working in Papua New Guinea in Bible translations. He gave a very detailed sermon about his life's work, and experiences living in native communities. Next Sunday, it's Professor Phil Galley, another gifted speaker who has a wealth of experiences abroad, considering he's lived outside of the US for more than 40 years! Our church is one of the largest in South Korea, take a look, and navigate through the Korean if your browser supports East Asian languages, you'll need an XP cd to see Korean Hangeul. Ansan Dongsan Church After the worship service (very touching, exceptional music too), I joined a few friends for noodles in the express cafeteria serving warm noodles on the first floor to hundreds of devotees. It's a wonderful experience being apart of this Christian organization, ^^++ After worship and the warm noodles, I needed to redesign this blog, eliminating the Slide Shows, they took too much CPU for most of us. So, it's just a simple/positive blog, the way bloggin' should be. ^^++ Late afternoon, I rode through Ansan and crossed paved service roads which pass countless rice fields, some harvested, others being harvested today. The weather was glorious and I rode all the way to Suwon, and took the subway back to Ansan for 1400 Korean Won, $1.50 ^^++ Simple pleasures, especially with the bike... Blessings to my friends and family from South Korea. Happy Birthday Nan & my grandmother Baba, and nephew Rian! Sanna Chukka Ham-Ni-Da! Only five more weeks to go till i start my new job teaching, new city, new students, new experience, looking forward to all of it!