The Oxfam Trailwalker 2011.

Gaz and I have decided to jump straight back into things when we return to New Zealand in February 2011.


We are forming a team to participate in the Oxfam Trailwalker on April 9-10th 2011 in Taupo. The Trailwalker is a 100km team event where you walk/run/hobble your way around the lake to raise funds for disaster relief, education, improving hygiene in villages, health services, housing, farming...and the list goes on. Team's are required to pay a $600 entry fee and chose the amount they will commit to raising- the minimum is $2000! For this, we will be asking for help with fundraising, support, donations, ideas, and any equipment that we will require for that 30 hour march!


We are currently looking for our other 2 team members and hope to have all the team details confirmed in the next week! Time for some serious training in the Korean winter!


For more information check out the Oxfam homepage- http://www.oxfam.org.nz/oxfam_trailwalker/


-Mia & Gaz

Travel Bug.

We've got the travel bug and have spent a few months too long in Korea!

With 3 months to go before we head off for a month's adventure in Bali, Vietnam and Malaysia, before returning to NZ, our classroom time and kimchi sessions are a bit of a drag!

Motivation is at a bit of a low and with 3 assignments and many classes to come i've put a few pictures of our upcoming dream holiday!

Tash arrives tomorrow and we have a few days off work to show her around Busan, Daegu and Seoul before she heads to the UK! Looking very forward to seeing a familiar face!!!

For now...the holiday motivation pictures!

Our Korean Wedding! 사랑합니다.

We went on a temple stay in Gimcheon at Jikjisa Temple last weekend! While we were there we were given a traditional Korean Royal Wedding Ceremony! The organisers wanted our group of teachers to experience what weddings were like, the ceremony, traditions and customs- Gaz and I were chosen because we're actually engaged! It was an awesome experience that is pretty hard to come by. We were dressed in costume- Hanboks, or in Korean 저고리 (the jacket), 치마 (the skirt) and interesting looking headpieces!


I was carried in a decorated wooden box that weighed 80kg by 4 guys in the scorching heat to a band of ajumas (older women) on drums! Garry lead the way, with his master servant carrying a sea bird representative of having only one true love in your life and being as one. When we reached the ceremony area we had a bowing mat on either side of the table, and were supported by our master servants (needed to keep the masses of material from tripping me up!). The bride had to bow twice each time, the groom only once. 


We then were poured soju in a wooden cup, and poured this 3 times on the ground for luck before drinking it! Then it was time to eat the foul tasting acorn jelly with giant sized chopsticks (not ideal for cutting...or gripping!). I absolutely hate the taste and slimy texture of it but was told if I want sons I had to eat it! At the end of the ceremony those in the crowd who knew we were actually a couple, and not just two unfortunate individuals participating in a show, wanted a kiss to seal the deal...slighly out of tradition, but the Ajumas loved it!

Sarang Heyo Gally-San!

In the classroom!

The kids here go crazy for games...or rather the mere mention of the word!
Today we played 'fruitbowl' to learn and memorise the parts of the face...so, instead of being apples, oranges etc they were eyes, ear, nose, mouth, hair and head!


These are my second and third grade classes, with a snap of my co-teacher looking decidedly bored for a Monday!

  

 

  

Children's Day!

South Korea indulges its little people with an entire day to celebrate their being.

More importantly, those of us who pretend to work are entitled to a day off! 

Kids are allowed to take a break from their ridiculous study schedules and enjoy being a child for a day...parents spoil them with presents and lollies and take them to amusement parks and to play outside. 

Up until the mid 1970's, the holiday was called 'Boys Day', and the name change came with it's recognition as a proper holiday...and therefore worthy of a day off. It is hardly matched by parents day, a holiday without a day off!

The holiday is on May 5th, and this year happens to be a scorching 30 degrees...a huge change from last Wednesdays 15 degrees!

While I welcome the holiday with open arms, I am grateful I don't have to share my day off with any little gremlins...other than Gaz and the dogs!