Gold Medal!

Dahin participated in the 2nd annual national bilingual speech competition and was awarded a gold medal! At first, though, Dahin was totally not into doing it. Nerves+Long Wait=not a happy kid.

 She had to deliver the speech first in Korean, then in English--by memory! Voice a little soft, but great theme about acceptance and wonderful stage presentation (I'm biased).

 With one of the judges and the middle schooler who also was awarded a gold prize

 Taking a bow

 Me and my girl.

She was just beaming!  And I, personally, love it when I get to say, "See?  If you just apply yourself and try hard, you can do it!"  We also told her that, even if she had not won a prize, that the most important thing was going through with what she had committed to.  Winning the prize just made it seem really cool.

Snow Doggy

Tashi and I woke up on Friday morning to a fresh layer of snow on the ground.  While most of the snow melted throughout the day as the sun came out and the temps rose, at 6:30 am  in the field near our home we found a snow-loving dog's paradise.  Tashi jumped through, rolled in, and ate the snow.  He was one happy dog.  So cute, I had to take some photos, but only had my cell phone with me, so the quality is not that great. We spent about 40 minutes there so he could have his fill of snow time, probably the last this year and the first time he could run in it leash-free.  The field near the mountain is huge and people-less this early in the morning, so plenty of room to run around safely.  Plus, Tashi comes when he's called, which helps.

First Graders!

Entering first grade is a huge deal in Korea. I had no idea. From the circus that materializes on the SNU campus every 2nd of March, I've learned that the official day marking the entering of freshmen into college is a huge event, but haven't thought of first grade in the same way. Glad I came prepared with my camera. The newly-minted first-graders were welcomed with a 1-hour ceremony and tons of love from family and friends.  Above and below, the kids wearing the party hats they received from the 6th graders

 6th graders, teachers, and family joined in on the school song at the end of the ceremony. The ceremony included performances by the second graders, a 6th grade drumming ensemble, songs, and (thankfully) short speeches.Below, the boys and their classmates listen to their new teacher. Oliver and Ronan were lucky to get Dahin's 2nd-grade-turned-1st grade teacher: the totally awesome Kim Eungyeong. There are eight classes of first graders total. The school is huge.

 With apa. The boys look a little unsure of this first grade thing.

In front of their school. Their book and shoe bags looks so, so big right now.

In the school hallway with one of their little buddies from pre-school. Welcome to elementary school boys!

Spring Snow

It snowed today.  The weather had been mild and sunny every day, so when I had heard the forecast that it was supposed to snow, a lot, today, I thought people, or at least meteorologists, had gone nuts.  But, lo and behold, it did snow.  I took a short video of the snowfall outside my office window.  Six hours later, it's still snowing and we now have some accumulation. 

Road Trip, Winter 2011

Playing a little catch-up here with some shots from over the past month.  While spring is setting in, we're having flashbacks here because today it is snowing.  Another spring snow!  Well, before the start of the spring semester, we loaded the kids and Tashi in the car and headed to the eastern seaboard.  Our first stop, above, was the National Center Observatory in Yanggu, Gangwon-do. Located in the geographic center of Korea, the Observatory is so, so cool. At night, the people who manage the observatory give you a tour of the night sky through a couple of great telescopes (one massive), complete with views of other planets in the solar system and far off galaxies. Best time to visit: January and February since the skies are so clear. Then we headed to a condo in Sokcho and woke up early the next day to catch the sun rising over the sea.

February 24--Sunrise over Naksan Beach, Sokcho, Gangwon-do

Naksan Beach, Sokcho

Oliver on Sokcho Beach (the best and cleanest beach in Sokcho). The weather was spring-like, but still some snow on the ground

Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory--Really, really well done exhibit inside with details of Korea's lighhouses, the history of Sokcho, and info on how the lighthouse works. Plus, very clean (always important). The views were breathtaking.

View of Sokcho with the East Sea to the right and the Seorak Mountains in the distance

Another view of Sokcho--the pavillion, arched bridge, fish markets, and part of the Seorak Mountains

Dahin and I took home a souvenir--food poisoning exacerbated by some sort of virus.  Needless to say, the toilet was our best friend for the next 24 hours or so.  We were absolutely miserable.  I missed winter break camp at school and Dahin missed a performance.  No more fried shrimp (yuck) for me.