Volunteering in Korea

Back in Texas, I volunteered at my local animal shelter.  I had learned about photography and even took pictures on the side for a bit.  I thought if the dogs at the shelter had good pictures, then maybe more people would adopt.  The shelter loved the idea.

So I went to the training class and started going up to the shelter 1-3 times a week photographing dogs.  My sweet friend, Jimmie, went with me to hold the dogs while I took the picture.  I always had an arsenal of supplies....bandanas, squeaky toys, and treats.  I loved it.  I absolutely loved it.  Here are a couple of pictures that I took at the shelter. 

I miss volunteering at the shelter.  And I desperately miss my dogs.  Oh, how I miss them.  

So I try to volunteer at the dog shelters here in Korea whenever I can.  They are quite different.  Actually very different.  They make me sad.  But the dogs have it better than others.  It is sadly still common to use big dogs as food.  They are raised from puppies only to....or are sold at dog auctions.  It disgusts me.  But I can only do what I can do.  I can volunteer at the shelter.

I met some friends on Sunday, and we went to the dog shelter here in Daejeon.  It is actually not a shelter but someone's home.  This sweet lady runs the shelter out of her own home. 

We each got a dog to walk, and we went walking/hiking in the woods.  Let me tell you.  This was NO walk.  It was a hike.  With a tons of stairs.  

I named my dog, Petunia, and she loved her walk.  

Just some of the stairs.  There were more.  Many more.

Petunia.  Isn't she gorgeous?

At the top

If you would like to know more about my adventures in Korea, please check out my other blog,  The Elephant Hat, where I share pictures (I take a ton of pictures), stories, and experiences.  

I am counting down the days until my winter vacation, which starts on Monday.  I will be traveling in Thailand for 2 weeks.  I CANNOT wait!

Christmas in Korea and January currently

I hope your Christmas was wonderful!  My Christmas in Korea was fantabulous.  I have the biggest apartment out of all my friends here in Korea, so I got the privilege of hosting Christmas at my place.  Everyone brought a dish which thank goodness because there is NO way I could have cooked for 25 people in my little kitchen.  We also did a Dirty Santa gift exchange.  Here are some pictures from that day.  Enjoy!

My little apartment...I am grateful because I actually have a living room.  Most of my friends have a one-room apartment.

Check out the huge pile of coats!

Yummy, yummy food.  This was SO good, and I was so glad that nobody brought Korean food.  Yes, I admit it.  I am not a fan of Korean food.

When in Korea, you take your shoes off and leave them at the door.  That's a lot of shoes!

Our stash of gifts...

In Korea, a big jar of peanut butter is an excellent gift.

That's a lot of foreigners in one little apartment!

And of course you have to do a funny picture!

And now for the January currently...I am linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Listening - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the movie, Pitch Perfect!  If you haven't seen it, you absolutely must.  I am a sucker for a Capella singing.

Loving - Getting a package in Korea is like Christmas.  Seriously.  You don't know what's going to be in it, and opening it makes me feel like a little girl.  I got 2 packages this week!  Woo-hoo!

Thinking - I have this week and next week of Winter Camp, and then I have my 2 weeks of winter vacation.  When teaching English in Korea, you don't get 2 weeks off at Christmas.  You actually only get Christmas day and New Years Day off.  For my winter vacation, I am going to Thailand.  Ready or not, here I come!

Wanting - I am missing my dogs terribly.  I've had dogs for the past 14 years and to not have one right now is really lonely.  Here are pictures of my 2 babies:

Missy is a little 7-pound diva who rules the house.  She is a terrier chihuahua mix and loves to cuddle with me or her brother.

Kobe is a 3-legged dog who is my second foster failure.  He is such a great dog that there was no way I was letting him go.

Needing - Since I leave for Thailand in 12 days, I need to book my hotel rooms.  Agh!

Memory - I will always remember this Christmas as having a big Christmas party of 25 people in my little apartment.  It was a wonderful day.

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what 2014 will bring!

Christmas in Korea

I am linking up with Teaching in the Tongass for a Christmas photo linky party!

This is a picture only, no words linky party.  If you want to know more (and I know you do), please follow my blog because I will be posting more pictures about Christmas very soon!

Merry Christmas!

A great couple of weeks

It has been a great couple of weeks lately.

I introduced new ABC puzzles to my students, which they really enjoyed.  They liked them so much that I made my own using my favorite clip art, the clip art I have used for all my ABC goodies.

Here are the ABC puzzles I created for my students.  Can't wait to use them!

ABC Puzzles

I also introduced Red Fish Blue Fish to Mina and Seora.  Mina absolutely loved it and tried to read along with me.  It was SO cute!

On Sunday, while all my friends and family back in Texas were stuck inside due to the ice storm, I was walking to church on a beautiful day.  Nah...not bragging at all.  Because only yesterday, I had to walk to school in the snow.

That lovely weather didn't last long.  On Monday afternoon, it was cold and rainy.  This weather actually reminds me a lot of Texas, only the variations don't happen as suddenly in Daejeon as they do in Texas.

Last week, I went to Deagu for the weekend and met a friend at the dog shelter there.  We played with the dogs and then took them for a dog walk to a park.  If you know anything about me, you will know that I LOVE dogs and experiencing new things in new places.  So this was by far one of my favorite experiences I've had in Korea.  I loved it!  And yes, I wish I could bring at least a couple of them home with me.

I fell head over heels in love with her.

My two dogs that I took on the dog walk...

In Korea, many people don't know how to interact with or treat dogs.  So it's important to teach them how to interact with them, so that they aren't so fearful.

My dogs made my house a home.  I feel lonely over here in Korea without them.  Sad face.  It's too quiet.  I saw a toy dog at the store yesterday and actually considered buying it.  Sad, huh?

Thanksgiving and Winter Wonderland

mmm

Thanksgiving was certainly different this year!  About 20 English teachers went to a Brazilian buffet restaurant that was absolutely magnificent.  They came to the table and brought rotisserie meat and shaved off pieces for us.  It was THE best food I have had in Korea.  Although it wasn't turkey and dressing, it was a great Thanksgiving.  How was your Thanksgiving?