Two and Two?

How come we say "these" pants but we say "this" T-shirt? Now, I know, you are asking, "Why even ask the question?" The difference between "this" and "these" is that the first is singular and the second is plural. They are pronouns. In my English class this week we were praticing using "this" and these" refering to things close to you. We practiced using "that" and "those" refering to things farther away.

A student made a keen observation. She asked, "Teacher, pants have 2 legs and I use "those" and "these". Like, "those are pants." Or, "these are pants". "But you say I need to use 'this' and 'that' when I talk about 't-shirts'". ( This t-shirt or that t-shirt) She said, "I don't understand, a t-shirt has two arms." I'm thinking, yes it does. She said, "Pants--two legs and t-shirt--two arms." She asked, "Why can't I use "these" and "those" for t-shirt?" Like, "These t-shirt" or "Those t-shirt". GOOD QUESTION.

"Two and Two" she said putting her hands down on her legs and then up to her shoulders as if to show me that we really have two legs and two arms. I looked at her wondering if she was serious or if I could let out my laugh. She was so serious. I could not keep my laugh in. "Good point", I said. I don't know why "pants" are "plural" and "t-shirt" is singular. Sometimes our English language just doesn't make sense. I see that more and more through the eyes of my students.

School Days 3rd Week In

Ah...school is in session. It is good. I really do enjoy students and the interaction with them. Although I think many think I'm off my rocker..of course they would never use that idiom. Today I played a game in class and got the students off their feet speaking English. I find Korean College students don't like to "touch" each other and they do not "mingle" well with those they do not know. They especially don't "mingle" well with the opposite sex. It is like dealing with grade school kids, you know, when they still think the opposite sex is "gross" or "has coodies". That said, in the end, they still had fun and so did I.

Intentional is my personal theme of the semester. I'm being more intentional about "games" in class this semester because the students need to be challenged in a more fun way. I'm also being more intentional about starting class with some kind of devotion. Our theme in English Chapel this semester is "Vision" (the school selected it for us) and we are preaching from John's gospel. (I'd say it is still my favorite gospel). So in my classses I'm using John as well. I don't know how much they are getting out of it...I'm getting something out of it. If nothing else, they will have no question that I'm a Christian and that I love talking about God in class. If that is the least, I'd say that is pretty good.

First Korean Wedding

I went to a friend's sister's wedding. A Korean wedding has similarities and differences from an American wedding. The wedding was at a hall where other couples were being married at the same time and on the same day. There were in different rooms. A buffet lunch was served in a dining hall. The wedding guests from all the weddings were given a ticket to eat food. So imagine going to HomeTown Buffet with 4 or 5 different wedding parties. You could sit with people from a different wedding party. Oh Fun! Although you probably wouldn't. People ate either before or after the actual ceremony. There was a wedding cake but it was only in the ceremony itself and it wasn't for eating. The couple cut the cake together with a sword. And that was the end of the cake; it was wheeled to the side and left for the next wedding. (only the top cake was real the lower layers were cardboard). I asked my friend what the cake was about and she didn't know. Why do something if it has no meaning? Because it is western? It just didn't seem to fit for me, but that is me. The wedding lasted 15 minutes and then it was over. The wedding party took pictures together with the families afterwards. If we were part of the family we would have spent the rest of the day together eating and hanging out at a home. Now, that sounds familiar.

March Snow

Snow, Snow, Go Away!

March Snow

March Snow. Is spring ever going to come to Cheonan? I'm more than ready. This swow lasted two days and then was gone. Thank goodness!!

People Coming Out of the Woodwork

So for a year and a half I have been running, swimming, biking and whatever else all by myself. There has just been no one who is as interested in working out or "training" as me. All of the sudden I'm running with a girl from New Zealand. Soon, we'll be swimming together. There is a new couple who work with us who are avid runners. Then today, I was stopped randomly by a guy, who had to have his mom pull over, stop the car so he could jump out and stop my run. It was an odd situation. It isn't everyday that a Korean man approaches me. My red flag definately went up. He introduced himself with perfect English and explained that he had just finished his own run. That made sense as he was in running gear and sweaty. He said he was looking to run with people since he is training for a race in April. I'm thinking to myself, where have all these people been the last 18 months? I was also thinking, are you for real? What do you really want? Are you stopping me because I'm a girl? Or because I'm a native English speaker? Well, time will tell. Am I an English object? Am I a supposed relational prospect? (Don't get your hopes up guy!) Or am I really someone who could get a group of runners together? Not sure yet. One thing I know, I meet people in the oddest places. I've never been so aware of the serendipitous meetings as I am here in Korea. People are coming out of the woodwork!

Swimming Is Harder Than It Looks

It is Sunday. I'm reminded I live in a different country today. The swimming pool I've used for over a year is closed this month. Why? I'm not too sure. Remodeling perhaps? It seemed fine to me. How can I train for a triathlon if the pool is closed? Find another pool. After a week of searching for another pool, asking Korean friends, and Korean church members, finally I found another pool. It is really far away and the monthy pool charge is exorbitant including what it costs to get to and from the pool. I'd have to be ready to pay 200 dollars for 3 weeks of swimming. Um..Nope! The only day available for "free swim" (meaning you can pay a fee for a one day use) is Sunday. So after going to the pool last Saturday only to find out it is only open for "free swim" on Sunday's I decided to return this Sunday. My co-worker and her daughter and I decided to go right after church. We've been talking about swimming all week. We get there, and yep, you guessed it, the pool is closed. Next Sunday it will be open. WHAT???

So we were on our way home feeling really bummed. My co-worker used to swim in a city about 45 minutes away. We kind of joked about going to that pool. I asked if it they know how to get there. They knew where they pool was but were not sure "how" to get there. What mode of transport could we use? Train? Bus? She remembered it was near a bus station, she thought. It was worth the risk and the time. We told the taxi driver we'd changed our minds and that he should take us to the city bus station. We took a bus to this other city and it was near the pool. However,it too was closed when we got there but reopened after lunch. At last, we got to swim. (three hours later) Hey, now I know where another pool is. It just happens to be about an hour away from home, but it exists and it was open today (after lunch. Swimming is harder than it looks! When the pool I usually use opens up I will feel so grateful. I had no idea how good I had it until it wasn't there.