KoreanClass101.com Blog

Our first night in Korea, after a day of touring around 여수, my wife had arranged a 한정식 dinner for us with her family. This turned out to be a very large meal. It included her four older brothers and their spouses/girlfriends, a few of their children that could make it, her mother, my parents, our four children and, of course, myself. My mother has a difficult time sitting on the floor. Prior to making restaurant reservations, we had confirmed with her that she could indeed sit “Korean style.” However, when she arrived at the restaurant she made it clear that she could not sit on the floor. My parents had been out all day touring with another family and we were to all meet at the restaurant but my 일숙 and I were running behind. 일숙 began... Show more

I usually go to the orphanage two days a week. Saturday and Monday. On Saturdays several friends from my church go to work with the pre-school aged children. Typically we try to teach them some stories from the Bible. (It is a Christian orphanage, and my church has been working there for the past several years.) Sometimes those regular plans get changed. Living in Korea has challenged me in several ways. But perhaps the most difficult to overcome is how schedules can be changed so suddenly. And many times, decisions aren't made until very late - something that makes Westerners really nervous. As an example, the day I write this is about 5 weeks before the Winter English Camp that I will have to teach. However, no final decisions... Show more

What comes to your mind when you hear the word 'December'? :)

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but I currently live in a rural area near Yosemite National Park. When I was living in the Bay Area I regularly commuted by the Bart train (basically a subway system) and on occasion took Muni within the city. Now, however, I travel strictly via automobile. I can't remember the last time I used public transportation within California, maybe 1992... Any trip overseas must rely on public transportation though, and my recent trip to Korea was no exception. My trip begins at 8:00am Thursday morning with a three hour car trip to SFO (San Francisco International Airport). I am travelling with my parents and my oldest daughter. Our plane leaves at 1:20pm. We are flying United (I think they have the least... Show more

There is a major construction project underway right now. Recently two buildings were torn down to make way for one larger multi-purpose building. All of the girls from elementary-high school moved out of their building and are now cramped into even tighter quarters for the next 8 months or so. The chapel was also torn down. Here is a picture of the current progress. I don't have good information about what is being built, but I sure hope it will be an improvement. The kids tell me that the new building will have a "gym" which really would be awesome. There isn't really any good place nearby for the kids to play. And when it is as cold at it is right now, being inside is really the best option. The new building will also house... Show more