The Long Road...

...to the weekend. 

It's been a lengthly week, probably the longest and most intensive week yet here in Korea for me. 

Reasons: 

1. The DMZ trip last weekend and the subsequent trip to Daejeon on Sunday made for a very un-relaxing weekend

2. Winter camp was officially upon us. My schedule up until the end of December was teaching three classes a day in the mornings for five days a week. At least then I could relax in the afternoons because I only have to make one lesson plan a week. Then the last two weeks have been spent teaching extra classes to the 11 best English students for three hours in the morning. I have to teach two lessons a day which is nice because it gives me something to do in the afternoons while I freeze upstairs in my office by myself. Finally, on Monday the official winter camp began. 15 students per class, two classes, twice a day. Four classes total. Which is great because that means I was busy....sadly I'm not used to being busy. Then on Tuesday I had the bright idea that I would make cookies with them. NEVER again. Thankfully they all turned out quite well and, besides being appalled by the amount of sugar that went into cookies, the kids were quite pleased with themselves. 

This went on until Thursday when we wrapped everything up with some awesome games. And by Thursday night I was ready sleep for a week. Sadly I had to go back the next day for the regular extra classes. 

3. On Saturday we made our way to Seoul. We met Sang in Myeongdong and proceeded to shop till we dropped. Not actually but it was pretty intense. 

It was also a day of firsts:

First time shopping in Korea

Eating Indian food

Wishing I had a pair of long johns

Going to a Middle Eastern restaurant

Eating Middle Eastern food 

Watching bellydancing

Wanting to sleep in a subway station

All in all, a busy day full of busy things but a good time nonetheless.

Now I just have to look forward to my first holiday since I got to here: Lunar New Year. Three days off plus a weekend. The options are endless....except that I need to save money for my actual vacation in the middle of February so I'll probably just spend it chillin' in Jochiwon. 

Awesome.