The next assignment was to revamp the character sketch I did yesterday. I hate re-editing, as do most people. But here I go: She is sitting in front of the mirror,currently  filling in her eyebrows for a more dramatic look. She had told me “I only need 15 minutes to get ready” but that was […]

From my Writing Fiction Class: Take a look at these character sketches from George Orwell’s Burmese Days and Zoë Heller’s Notes on a Scandal. Note down how you think the writers are managing to portray character. The first thing that one noticed in Flory was a hideous birthmark stretching in a ragged crescent down his left cheek, from […]

Every morning before work she carefully constructs her appearance: filling in her eyebrows for a more dramatic look, adding eye shadow and extending her lashes with 3 coats of mascara, applying concealer and foundation, finally finishing up with lipstick which is a different shade depending on her outfit for the day which in itself takes […]

Writing Fiction course assignment:  Listen to audio of different writers discussing their motivation for writing and why they write, then answer the questions What were the similarities in their respective journeys towards writing? How much did fact mix with fiction in the way their own life experience and personal circumstance influenced them as writers? What […]

My Writing Fiction Course recommends that if you aren’t already doing so, have a writing journal where you compile notes and observations about people and your surroundings. I have been doing this in a diary form for a long time. My friends could also tell you that I’m always taking a screen-shot of funny things […]

The first class of Writing Fiction is writing about lies and truths (see previous post) We were then supposed to read other people’s paragraphs and answer these questions: Is there anything that distinguishes the fictitious elements? Are there common elements that you and your fellow writers write about as ‘facts’? Do any of these passages […]

I just started participating in an online course from Future learn. It’s a Fiction Writing course and will last 8 weeks. For more info, go here. I haven’t done any online courses (#ds106 4 life), or writing courses since my last year of Uni in 2011. 4 years ago! CRAZY!  Time to kick myself into […]

Koreausa, my art project with Mega_mc has been seriously neglected! Time to start that up again My response to Megan’s Cloud challenge: My challenge to her: Rainbow Cake! Or find something Rainbow Picture taken by my friend Aitak, Modeling by me

I showed my painting I did the other week to some Korean adult students I teach and that’s the first thing one of them said: “Terrible. It looks so childish. I did that when I was 10 years old.” My friend Kate also showed a picture of our painting we did that night to one […]

We all have so called “dumb blonde” moments where you say something really ridiculous and/or dumb and people laugh (either in their head or out loud if they’re jerks.) And some of us have more of these moments then others. An example from the past: Talking with a teacher about where she is from. T: […]

One of my middle schools just had a school festival and during that time a bunch of student art work was on display. There was a whole section of tree art done by 1st graders (7th grade USA) and this one picture particularly stood out for me with it’s vivid contrast of Pink and Green. […]

Hands down, the best thing I’ve ever bought in Korea was this bike I got second hand from an English teacher who was leaving Korea. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve saved biking to and from work and also money from biking to and from downtown instead of taking the  bus or a […]

Wow. Apparently it’s been over a year since I’ve last blogged. Where did the time go? I think I must have been abducted my aliens…. I’ve been busy, sure, but one year without posting is a little ridiculous…. Sorry everyone! Really going to attempt to brush up on my blogging and art projects because it’s been […]

This is Year 2 of teaching my students about Diversity in America. My lesson originated from some Middle School students’ comments “Teacher. Black skin, not good.” In Korea they are all about having porcelain skin. If a student has darker skin they often are teased “You African! You India! Black skin!” Every time I hear […]

A while ago I posted about  Sarah Kay’s Ted Talk on Spoken Poetry. It made me reflect on my own style of talking and how much it has been influenced by various factors probably one of the most important being I was born in California. I spent most of my young life in California before moving […]

Something I encountered back home  in America which I wasn’t expecting to encounter is the fact that people here, my family included, seemed so surprised that I  can read and write Korean.   Maybe it is the fact that they have little knowledge of the Korean language. When I first moved to Korea knowing no […]

Over the weekend I sent Megan Mc a contrite tweet about not posting for our KoreaUsa photo site. I promised to make it up to her by posting one over the weekend….but I didn’t. So Megan probably thinks I am like this:   When I am really more like this:   As Ron would say:

In less than a day I am going home for the first time in almost a year. I am curious as to what kind of culture shock I will experience when I am there. I know that Korea has changed me in many ways, but I am curious how much that will affect my perception […]

This week I asked my student’s to write answers to two questions: 1) What did you do on the school trip? (3 day excursion in which all three grades went to various locations in Korea) 2) What are your plans for summer vacation? What will you do? The funniest/ most interesting answers so far. Question […]

I love Korean food. Love love love love love it. But I do miss American food sometimes. Here’s a list of the food I am craving to eat while I am on my sojourn in the states. **   In no particular order I want: **I am crossing off my list as I eat these […]

This is so spot on to many people’s experience. Props to the person who made it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ31pdj7AjU

Recently I had a writing assignment for my 2nd Grade Middle School Students  (8th grade America) First they took a job quiz with their partner  and then they  had to fill out worksheet that looked like the following:   My partner’s job is _______________________. My name is _________________. I am ________ years old. My best […]

I asked my 3rd grade middle school students (9th grade in America) the question: Should I listen to this song? Then they had to watch  bunch of different Music Videos, give it a score from 0-10 and then answer as follows “Yes, you should because…..” ‘”No, you shouldn’t because….”   Although I got many answers […]

I had to read  almost 40 students’ essays for a writing competition. The highlight of what I read (a combination of really funny and great words of advice): about Baseball: “My favorite sport is baseball. Because I always watch it with a cliffhanger.” “Young Gyu is faster than other members and Sun bin is cute […]

Grooveshark, I love you.

Lately I’ve been thinking about the the fact that I have almost lived in Korea a year. That’s so crazy to me because it seems like it was a month ago I hopped on a plane and jetted off to this country that I had never before set foot in, nor spoke a word of […]