BLOG AWARD 3/3 from Everything Nice' MY TOP 10 EMERGING INFLUENTIAL BLOGS FOR 2009

Hi Badet (of Everything Nice)!

Thank you very much for this Award and I'll definitely join this writing project the soonest I could...

So who is Badet? She'a a friend, an officemate, a woman who has a body to die for, has a great husband who has really good sense of humor and she's a wife who likes joining her husband in his great adventures and travels... Ah there's so much to say about her but I'm not good with words so just visit her blog for an update with what's going on back home...

BLOG AWARD 2/3 from Kayni's Corner Cafe

I got an award from Kayni and I'm just so delighted to be receiving such blog awards for this month... The month of my birth...

Thank you very much Kayni.... I'm also passing this award to:

Eden's Happy Dose

Kimchii or Something Like It

What You Want

The Mineral Make Up Blog

Live Life! Love Life!

Si Pi Ey On Board

Meliza's Blog (my sister)

Survivor Apocalypse (university classmate and friend)



The rules for this award:

1. Show the award in your blog.

2. Link back to the blog that tagged you.

3. Pass the award to 8 blogs or more that you love.

4. Inform the bloggers that they have been awarded.

5. Take your time, there's no pressure, but try to check out the other awarded blogs.

BLOG AWARD 1/3: from Confessions of a Soapaholic..

I'm really sorry for posting this just now... It's really long overdue. I found out I got an award again from Kayni and I thought of having these awards posted before the month ends..

Thank you very much Soapaholic for passing these awards to me...

Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I've got to pass these on to 15 other blogs but I think I don't have to follow that rule, hahaha! I want to pass these awards to bloggers or people who can share to us about anything anytime of the day... How I wish I can be bolder and more informative like them...

My Bitter-sweet Korean Life ---I envy how she could describe simple things with her wonderful way with words... ah, since my previous work required us to make our articles plain and simple, I think i'm yielding to deterioration, really, as I always get comments about my grammar, hahaha! I remember reading my highschool and college diaries before coming here and I now really feel so ashamed of myself, haha!

Surviving Korea ---I find it cute how Cher chronicles her daily life and the growth of baby Zach.. sana maayos ng tbs yung picture caption nila...

Brian in Jeollanam-do ---I read his blog for fun and information about things down there or just anything he blogs about Korea and foreign teachers. It's through his blog too that I stumbled upon Arvinsign's photoblog, sorry arvinsign for mentioning it here without your permission, hehe... I've seen Jeollabuk-do ("buk" means north) so it's really interesting to know about the "nam" (south) through his blog...

My Rocking Cradle ---From motherhood to almost everything you want to learn about, or get to learn about, Ate Wendy has it... Her blog is not only informative but very heartwarming as well...

Kayni's Corner Cafe ---I love her travelogue... and the way she describes her day...

Shopping Wish List...

It's CONFIRMED!!! I checked my other email address this morning and I finally received my itinerary or e-ticket from CebuPacific! Again, thank you Anne and Jerald for your great help...

My mind is in a daze... Finally, in less than 2 months, I'll be able to "bear hug" with my family, cousins and friends again, haha! Haven't seen them for more than 9 months now and it will be the longest period we haven't seen one another in person.

I just thought of things to buy before going home.

And of course, things to bring here too...

Surely, among them will be a couple of tapestries from Baguio/Narda's. I like to hang one or two in the house.

I'll be checking bag organizers too...

I've seen homegrown mineral make up brands and they'll surely be in the list..

MIL liked the cashew nuts, hubby too, so I'll buy a lot of it, plus garlic chips, plus dried mangoes for my Korean friends...

Some clothes or sandals I like that I can't find here...

I also thought of buying a bag or two but when I went to the "시장" ("shi-jang" or market) a while ago, I saw a newly opened 2nd-hand shop. I went inside to check their items and one particular bag caught my attention. It's an original slightly used MNG cutesy bag. I put it back on the counter but the saleslady (ayaw pa sabihing "ajumma" hehe) said I can have it for KRW4,000 (US$3.31)... "not bad" I thought and so I bought it (without guilt)...

Here it is:

See how I can stuff them all in...
What's inside? My round Masfere(e?) pouch for my powder, foundation and panstick; wet tissue; another pouch for my lip gloss, eye shadow and mascara; hand sanitizer' TheFaceShop's Aloe Fresh Soothing Mist (you can use this to refresh your whole body, even your tired feet); my umbrella (kunwari Fibrella pa rin); and wallet.

So now I'm down with one.... one bag I mean.... haha!

The list could go on....

But best of all, I can again bring with me fresh memories of my nieces' screams and singing and dancing and their stories...

Ah, it's a happy birthday month for me...

Summer in Korea

Cher asked me before if where do I find it hotter, here or Pinas? and I said here, and she told Max, "See? I told you so." ㅋㅋㅋ


Anyway, yesterday, I absented from the academy because of a stomach problem. At 7p.m., we went out to eat at a Korean traditional restaurant to eat seollong tang, instead of samgyetang--we always have it at home kase, to boost our energy, as they say, for the rest of the summer.


I learned from my co-teachers (Koreans) that they have 3 special days here in Korea during the summer when they eat samgyetang--start, mid and end days of summer...

I go out of the house at midday to get to the academy. I seldom use umbrella so I just bought myself sun creams when we ran out of the generous samples my sis in law gave us one time.


I never ran out of sunblocks before. I came to Korea leaving all my half empty bottle or containers of my skin care back home. One dermatologist told me that should I get busy or really lazy to apply all those creams she gave me, I should at least slap on sunblock before going out. There really are lots of benefits from applying sunblock alone whether you're going out or just going to cook or face the computer...


When it started to get hot, I immediately checked out the nearest Face Shop here and got their NaturalSuperProtection sun cream with SPF 50+ PA+++.. The saleslady said it will cause me break outs and I said it's for my "nampyeon" (husband) anyway. She still insisted I get myself the more expensive one of the same line, for women daw. I still insisted I still have by saying "issoyo" (there is/I have) while tapping on my chest, hahaha! And since the saleslady told me this would cause me pimples, I just gave it to Alex and am really scared to try, hahahaha!


Then I went to Bupyeong's Skin Food to get their Broccoli-something sunblock. I used samples of it and I really liked it. However, as I went through their sunblocks, this TomatoWrinkleSunCream with SPF 36 PA++ caught my attention. I thought since I was hitting 30, I might as well start using anti-wrinkle skin care products. However, after 3 tries, my face still itched so I ended up using it on my arms instead...


And just last Sunday, I went back to Bupyeong to buy hand sanitizers and "eye shop" (as Alex calls "window shopping"). I bought this OilFreeSunCream SPF 35 PA++ from the Face Shop. As it promised, it leaves skin feeling fresher and matte... Yes, I love it plus it's for troubled skin like mine...

Finally Got a Hand Sanitizer in Korea

Alex' dayoff is every other day so last Sunday was a "ME" day... I went to Bupyeong's underground shopping center just to check MISSHA because I remember seeing at New Core Outlet that they have hand sanitizers... To my delight, they had a "sale" that day so I bought 2 bottles of the hand sanitizer for both of us (just KRW2,400 each), got myself a hair pack (just (KRW2,900) which smells good to me but Alex complains it smells more masculine, haha... and asked for bb cream samples. They still gave me though inspite of the 50% off sale... It would have been nice to buy their bb creams too since they're KRW 5,000 cheaper that day...

With one of my purposes done, I went on to check the shopping centers' footwear... With not much to see since I felt lazy to go outside where they have the Myeongdong-like shopping area, I just turned around and ended up buying more from different shops...

I passed by The Face Shop and got their non-scented deodorant and asked the saleslady for a sunblock for my uber sensitive face. Unlike in the other branches, the lady was kind enough to show me to the sunblocks' counter and pointed that beige tube to me (kind enough I mean for not pointing out to the most expensive one but to the right one for my face). They gave me a sample set of the Eco-Therapy skin care line which is better for men and a masksheet...

Since my sister asked me to check for a good but not expensive mascara, I dropped by the Skin Food to get myself a volumizing one (and it's about time I changed my year old estee lauder one). Tried it for a week and it's good naman... It doesn't smudge and only gets removed with water. And again, the most kuripot branch gave me only one sample... I get more from other branches. In Korea or in this branch maybe, the "opposites attract" law doesn't work.. (haha! I just remembered way back in college, when we needed to study one company, we usually ask our handsome leader to speak to or convince the owner if it's a she to allow us to make a study in their company and ask the prettiest girl in the group to do the same if it's a he... worked well...) Oh, I forgot to tell you that this shop has a male cashier (been here 3x na and he's still the same)...

I tried sampling Etude's eye shadows and I liked them a lot. Plus, they're 500-1000 cheaper than Skin Foods...

I tried looking for Natural Republic but there was none in sight. I like their nail polishes since they don't turn your nails yellow.

I didn't enter shops with no clients at all since I might end up flanked by the salesladies who would speak non-stop in Korean just to be told "Hankuk-maal molayeo..." (I don't know Korean) in the end...ㅋㅋㅋ

When I got home that day, I looked at my purchases and just laughed at myself... I remembered that when I was still single, I would end up "shopping MUNA," then budget, and save if there's more to save...

But here, I learned about saving first, then budget and spend or enjoy the rest...

I've Got a Baby.... and a New Husband...

I've been checking tbs efm's Sound Off segment's Photo Gallery for the past couple of weeks since our guesting and I was so happy this morning to finally see our picture in it..



Here they are:

But something's amiss..... yes.... look at the picture description: I'm not me, Zach has become my baby and I've got a new husband as well, haha....

Cher, nagkapalit tayo ng pangalan, ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

From Ma With Love....

I asked my mom to send me a package with special requests to include just 1/4 kilo cashew nuts and Paning's dried melon seeds... I didn't know she included 2 packs of dried mangos (to Alex and MIL's delight) and chippy.

(The plate is on the king-sized blanket I requested her to send because it's really cool sleeping on or under it in summerand spring, and warm during winter and autumn...)

Confessions of a Culture Shocked in Korea...

On our way out of the academy building last night, a man almost bumped into Kip and he followed the man with his stare... He just smiled back at me and said he observed that people here wouldn't give you a glance if they bump into you or even if you say sorry, they'd ignore you... I laughed at him and told him I observed and felt the same way the first time I came here. I even experienced being literally shoved out of "their" way without being told "excuse me." I was so frustrated then as to why they didn't even give me a second glance to say sorry or excuse me. Hubby just laughed at me and told me things like that aren't big deal here. I told him that back home, you will definitely find yourself into trouble or called names you wouldn't want to hear all your life if you don't know how to say sorry or excuse me. And until now, I still say "excuse me" when I burp even when I'm just with Alex who just laughs. Saying "I'm sorry" or "excuse me" comes out from me naturally and is one of the natural things a man should do, I always tell him..

I also told Kip he might be surprised to see Koreans getting soup from the same bowl without a serving spoon. Or that he may be talked to by some with their mouths full while eating. He laughed too as he told me his experience the previous night. He was halfway chewing his food when he was asked about something. He felt awkward being watched when he raised his hand to signal them "wait" as he chewed and swallowed down his food.

I told him too of my "awkward" experience going through a reading article in one of my middle school class. The article was entitled "Say Please Excuse Me"... It talked about saying "excuse me" when you sneez in front or into someone's face, when you burp in front of others, when you want someone to let you pass through..etc..etc... It also tackled not talking when your mouth is full.. I found it hard to explain that there are really etiquette, cultural or behavioral differences among countries. As I looked into my students' faces, they were all blushing and kind of had different facial expressions as there were reactions or emotions they were trying to conceal.. I told them that I think whatever they're doing right now are acceptable here but just remember what we've read about that night should they interact with foreigners or go abroad...

We went on talking about our "culture shocks" but still concluded that Koreans have been friendly to us... I told him of my experiences about "Korean elders" who are especially so kind..

How about you? Can you share your culture shock experiences too? Glad to read them here...

Jang Dong Gun For President...

Reading Kayni's article that mentioned While You Were Sleeping rekindled my huge crush on Bill Pullman. By far, he's the most handsome American President actor for me... I think I watched Independence Day more than twice because of him...

Image from While You Were Sleeping
Image from Independence Day
Just another Bill Pullman picture...

But Korea will also have the most handsome President ever (for me ah, ewan ko sa iba), Jang Dong Gun, who will play a President in the upcoming film Good Morning, President. Another eye candy President... I really anticipate JDG's return to either the small or big screen...

We all loved him in All About Eve... I loved him all the more in Tae Guk Gi..

Here are some of the pictures I got from somewhere else this morning...

Do You Love Dokdo?

Since I always read Korean news when I was still in the Philippines, when 2-5 students asked me this question, "Do you love Dokdo?" when I first started teaching, I just answered, "Oh, I know Dokdo. It's a great island, and yes, I love it and I like to visit it one day."

Manchester's replacement arrived last Wednesday. He started teaching last Friday (which was a big question mark for me, I mean why too soon???) and didn't have much time to interact with the students since Fridays are activity days...

So yesterday, I assisted him a lot in his firsts in every class since I didn't want him to have a disastrous day like the one I had the first time I taught in the academy... You see, way back then, I was just given the text books and wasn't given orientation or any information about the students I was going to handle. And I don't know, Kip (pronounced as Kepp), the new English teacher is so softspoken, and looks like an angel that you just want to take care of him, haha! Oopps.. don't get me wrong...

Anyway, he's from Scotland and he brought us Walkers biscuits (which reminded me much of Aunt Florence for always sending my good friend Eileen tins of it every 3 months, who also shared it to us, her boarders, haha..with matching cases of strawberry flavored Ensure so we got so big living in Eileen's house). So sweet...

Before my 3:40 class yesterday, 3 of my female students (ages 10-11) came up to me and asked if Kip would be coming in our class. When I said yes, they told me they had questions for Kip so I told them not to worry coz I'd be helping them anyway.. Since Kip would come in 25 minutes later, I gave the students a few minutes to relax before finally meeting their new native English teacher. Kip was nervous too, immediately taking the book from me, asking where I left off... But I instead said he can do it later and why not introduce himself first to the class, get to know their names personally and answer their questions they prepared for him... So the class went excited and innocently asked questions like "What is your centimeter?" "What is your kilogram,teacher?" "Do you have a brother?" "Are your parents still alive?" "Are you married?" "So do you have a girlfriend in Scotland?" "Do you like Korea?" He enjoyed answering their questions until one student, who couldn't think of any more questions suddenly asked,

"Teacher, do you love Dokdo?"....

One student called her "바보야" for asking that question but the others just laughed... I went on to explain to Kip about Dokdo and he just gave them an honest answer: "I don't know about Dokdo yet but maybe I'll love it too when I get to know about it."

So if you're a foreigner walking around the streets of Korea, don't be surprised when a Korean comes up to you and asks you "Do you love Dokdo?" I think it's one of the most asked questions here in Korea by Koreans to foreigners to pick up a conversation...

Clearing Pimples With Mineral Make Up?

Clearing one's face from break outs or pimples takes a lot of patience... Once stricken, you have nothing to do but go to a dermatologist, do religiously the regimen given and exert a lot of patience.

Two weeks after arriving here in Korea, I started to break out again. I got tired of our trips to a dermatologist here who just gives me a cream I can apply on my pimples because even though Alex and I think my face condition is serious, he still insists it's nothing serious...

So since February (after 3 trips to Dr. Jang), I always evaded Alex' insistence we visit another dermatologist. I told him I'm tired going through it all again like when I was still in the Philippines...

Anyway, if I'm not mistaken, it's the mineral foundation pressed powder by NYC that's helping me a lot today. It's the only new product I used for this week and my pimples on my cheeks gradually shrank. The ones on my T-zone are also showing a lot of improvement. So I ended up ordering from ate Betchay for more...(hehe) Plus it looks so natural that I noticed a different glow on my face too.

I somehow regret not jumping into the mineral makeup bandwagon (more than) a couple of years ago... (it may have existed long ago but I only became aware of it in 2007)..

So now, I only see to it that my makeup is properly removed with a cleansing cream I use with a cleaning sponge (the sponge I'm using now is doing an amazing job, which I bought from Natural Republic). Wash my face with warm water and soap, further rinse with green tea, and apply toner and moisturizer. Alex and I apply green tea pack twice a week.

So far, the results are desirable and I hope di nanaman mabati.. haha!

tbs efm's "Sound Off" Guest...

Ate Betchay texted me last Thursday about guesting at an English broadcasting company here in Korea: tbsefm 101.3-- 7-7:30pm show last Saturday... I asked her to give me some time to contemplate as reading her message made me so nervous already at the thought of FINALLY going "on air".... haha...

I guess one of my greatest regrets is rejecting the offer of my 4th year highschool English and homeroom teacher, Ms. Esther Arbis, to be a "radio artist" because of my voice... She said it was good and that I could still develop it. She's a radio artist herself, engaged then to a broadcasting company boss, and got parts in 2-3 movies... Since I was so naive and young then, I didn't understand or the offer didn't sound good to me at all. She even claimed she sent herself to college just by being a radio artist... A year after our graduation, I returned to my school, then located in Sta. Mesa, Manila but relocated last 2004 I think to Cavite, she wasn't there anymore to my dismay and regret...

Anyway, I told Alex about it last Thursday night when he came home from work. He got so excited and scolded me a bit when I said I was soooo nervous I might just go blank or dead on air... He said he believes in me and has confidence in me so I must do it.. The following day, ate Betchay followed up about the guesting invitation so I told her that I wanted to go...

So last Saturday morning, I received the format or possible questions for the show (we were going to talk about the multicultural families in Korea) and the instructions/directions in going to tbs' building in Jung-gu, Seoul... Honestly, some of the questions were so hard to answer "honestly"... hahaha... But I just thought that ate Betchay or Cheryl would be there to save the day.... Cheryl and I kept exchanging messages about how nervous we were or how we were both not so confident with our spoken English...

We all met at the station... It was my first time to meet Cheryl... Her hubby, Max, and ever handsome son Zach... We waited a while for the show to start. It was good though as the Sound Off show producer, Ms. Minhee Lee, and the show host, Rich (or Richard), went out to personally meet us first and made us feel comfortable before the show.

I was so nervous when the show started. Being seated near Rich, I thought he'd be going to direct his questions to me first but he did it to ate Betchay, followed by Cher, then me... There were just follow up questions though for my previous answers.. So at least they all came in naturally... and yes, in situations like this, your mind would work faster than you thought that you'd find it hard to organize or construct your sentence well as you want to just blurt out all the answers in your mind...


The "on air" with us lasted for about 25 minutes... There were just about 4-6 questions and I even felt "bitin" because I've practiced a lot answering all of the possible questions sent, haha!

So to have something to brag about with my husband, of course I had to take pictures too...

Husband, see that efm logo? hehehe....

Where all the action happens...

The show host, Richard, introducing his show....

Picture taken after the chitchat...

Pinay bloggers... Radio Stars (wika nga ni Cher, hehehehe....) with her star baby Zach...

Thanks for the opportunity ate Betchay.. Whatever regrets I had back then, something that never happened or may never ever happen to me back in the Philippines happened here in Korea. Although it was just a 20-25 minutes "on air" break, it was still one of the BEST nerve-wracking experiences I've had...

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p.s.

to view the page of Richar's show on tbs efm, click this to get to their homepage, then click "Weekend" on the right top corner of the "Programs" column then look for the "Sound Off" program with the 18:05 timeslot... Sana i-post nila this week yung picture with us, haha!

My Beloved NYC...

I finally met ate Betchay last Saturday and got my NYC (New York Color) products from her, bought straight from the US... I got these 3 items for a total of $8.34 (only---free shipping, ㅋㅋㅋ, and at a discounted price when converted to won).

Thank you very much ate Betchay... sa uulitin... ㅋㅋㅋ

She got me:

*NYC Smooth Mineral Pressed Foundation Powder with SPF12 #692A[natural medium] which comes with a free cute kabuki brush)--just good for my skin tone

*NYC Cover Stick #782G[medium] which comes with a free sponge for easier application--also good for my skin tone

*NYC Cover Stick #783A[natural] --too light for me so I have to give it away....

Since I read and wathced good reviews about this brand, with the claims that you can replace your expensive or luxury brands with it, I thought of giving them a try... I hope they won't fall short of my expectations....

Who is Judith Hill?

While Alex was applying green tea pack on my face last night, I turned on the TV and searched for something nice to watch. MJ's memorial service was being televised by tvn so I got to see the wonderful rendition of "Heal the World" by a really unfamiliar face and voice... She was really cute... So this morning, when my links to the series I was watching were broken, I ended up searching and watching scenes I haven't seen from the memorial service. I couldn't help myself from watching or listening again and again to Judith Hill... I remembered singing this song during a Science fair when I was in high school.. [Yes, I was just a back up of a girl who couldn't even hit the right note. She was just pretty... kkkkk.....]

MJ, you will always be remembered... Thank you for your music....

Taunting Moon

Ahh... as I looked out the bus window on my way home, I couldn't help but notice how the moon was trying to peek through the not so cloudy night sky. Yes, the sky looked like nothing disastrous happened during the day. The moon's colors seem to taunt and remind me of my painful day... I had a rather unforgettable July 9th of this year....

From my students alone, I know how the parents look out from their apartment windows to check their "teachers"... Imagine, the children would know when we go to the mart, restraurant or coffee shop nearby... They'd say, "My mom/dad saw you....."

At past 1pm today, I was already about 15 meters away from the academy building when the strong wind suddenly changed direction. My long and big umbrella was no match to the raging force that it turned upside... I literally got soaked with the heavy downpour. I fought with the wind, maneuvering my umbrella to somehow salvage it, so I could still cross that narrow distance, but it was to no avail. My hand hurt a lot from the effort. My umbrella's skeleton pointed out in all directions, with no desire at all to give in to my "pleas"... I turned my back against the intersection. Cars were lining up the street. Ah, among those car owners or drivers could be one of the parents. I had no choice but to enter the sheltered NH ATM... I thought the woman withdrawing money would make me go out but one look at me made her shut her mouth... I called the office and told them of my predicament. Jessica was really sweet and kind to brave the strong wind and rain, to get wet too, just to fetch me from my said location.

I spent 30 minutes setting my hair, but one look at the mirror made me wince at how it looked after getting wet. I experimented on how it would look when I tied it. I now really need to get it straightened in a salon... The children were surprised though and said I finally had a new hairstyle, haha!

All throughout the afternoon, until my last class, I still felt uneasy at the thought of the parents watching me from their apartment windows... Like the moon, were they smiling too? I hope not... hahaha....

A Blog Award...

I got a blog award last June from Eden and I'm so shameful for just posting about it only now...

This is overused already but I'd still say it anyway....better late than never...ㅋㅋㅋ

Thank you ulit Eden....

I'm passing this award on to ate Jazz, Badet, Jempress,Tessa, Asian Conqueror, Phoebe, and Nhemskie...

ate Jazz, kelan ka ulit namin makikita?

Badet, thanks sa mga update mo that make me wanna go home and try or buy, haha!

Jempress, nhemskie and phoebe, i really want to meet you too...

Tessa, thank you sa VIP treatment during the Philippine Fiesta in Seoul...

Asian Conqueror andon ka ba last Sunday sa Fiesta?

1. To receive this award your blog must be exceptional in design and content; presenting us with new knowledge, a sense of style, or at times just giving us a smile!

2. Each recipient of the award will acknowledge (through a link) the person who honored them with the award.

They're Happy To See Me Everyday...

After 2 drafts about an incident, I thought this morning that I should finally really post something about it...

Well, last Thursday, July 2nd, our Korean Head Teacher approached me and asked me to try to contact Manchester "the British English teacher" because it was 3 pm already and he hadn't showed up yet. I said I didn't know his new cellphone number... I checked my class schedule and really felt disgusted because on Wednesdays and Thursdays, we are supposed to teach in each class--me first on the first half and he'd teach in the second half of the class hour. I also got irritated simply at the thought of substituting AGAIN for his special classes... He has a record of at least being absent almost every after 2 weeks....

It was after the final class that night that we received a call from the head office that Manchester flew back to England that day.... For whatever reasons, he didn't say anything or even leave messages for the school owner or director. They were able to contact one of his British friends who knew he left that day...

Before going home that Thursday night, my co-teachers tried to talk to me, asking me about Manchester's last conversations with me... I just told them that I always thought he'd do it but it didn't occur to me he'd do it now that he only supposedly had 2 more months to finish before his contract ends. All I know is that he frequently spoke of how he missed his mom, some things he'd like to settle back home, his girlfriend and of course......watching Manchester United live maybe... (so Manchester is not his real name I just called him after his favorite football team)

So last Friday, I was so surprised with the happy and very warm welcome I received from the Korean Teachers and our Wonsaengnim. I admitted the night before that I also always thought of leaving the academy but I somehow grew fond of the students... Before going home that night, they reminded me of our work that Saturday. I said they shouldn't worry about it because I'd be coming in. Ten a.m. Saturday came and I was greeted warmly again.. Warmer than the previous day. After finishing my books and some newspaper questions I do for the reading comprehension skills of the mid-level students, they allowed me to go home by past 1pm.. And yesterday, Monday, I again received a really warm welcome from all of my companions in school.

I somehow feel good and at the same time "bad" that maybe they're thinking I'd be doing the same thing. I have my own grievances, always thought of leaving the academy but should I leave, I'm still reasonable enough to say my goodbyes to the other teachers I've become friends with and of course, to the new considerate Wonsaengnim. I feel less stress and enjoy more my days at the academy ever since she started running it. One thing more, I wouldn't want them to like have a stale taste in their mouths whenever they remember me someday...

And again, should I leave, I still want the academy to hire or consider hiring another Filipina...