6 Months In...

I am six months into my contract. It is going by rather quickly and I feel that these next six months will be an even faster downhill ride. Since my last post not much has happened. It has been a wonderfully fun summer, perhaps too much fun. But these days, I have been trying to cut my body and liver a break and have attempted to take it easy...though, in Korea, this is more than often not possible. The only super exciting thing I have done since Mud Festival has been the rafting trip I took part in last weekend. LET ME TELL YOU, it was wonderful to get some fresh air and escape the toxic Incheon air. Also, there was water and LOTS of it. I love water and I love being in my bikini so it was a beautiful way to spend the day.

Other than my trip, there is not much to report. Life seems to be just that nowadays-life. I go to work. I have some giggles. I feed Sylvester (who is, amazingly, still alive). I do some chores. I drink some wine. I tell a child that I will kill him/her (usually him). I try to stick to my workout routine. I eat. poop. sleep. Just like a baby.

About 6 months ago, I blogged about my goals for Korea...let's see how I've done so far and remember that I still have 6 months to not accomplish them all...

1. "Be named teacher of the week"
Point for me. I have been named teacher of the week three times since I started working here. Done and done.
2. "Get in the best shape of my life"
Another point for me. I remember that a smart ass little girl named Julie initially prompted me to take on this goal. As I recall, she thought teacher to be "fat". Well, little Julie, I have definitely lost a few and tightened up. Also when a Korean friend sincerely and confusedly asks you, "Elise, you drink so much beer, but you're not fat. Why?", you figure that you must be doing something right. I was in the best shape of my life probably when I was 7, so I'm not going to say that I am absolutely on the top of my game. BUT, I feel good, I think that I look ok, and you can SUCK IT, little Julie. Suck it.
3."Speak a decent amount of Korean"
HA!
4. "Read most of the books on my shelf"
When I get home from work, my brain and body are tired and all I want to do is watch South Park. Since I have been here, I have only read three and a half books and I don't foresee the reading rainbow getting brighter anytime soon . Anyway, it's the children who need to be literate and the teachers who should get to watch crude cartoons.
5. "Hike a Korean Mountain"
More points for me. I have hiked a couple of mountains, most notably a really big one in Jeju. I don't remember it's name. Trust me, it was big. Just ask Gail.
6. "Learn to cook a Korean dish or two"
POINT. I have actually become rather famous for my kimchi fried rice around these parts. I am also REALLY good at mixing soju with just about anything.
7. "Make one child cry"
I did make one girl cry the other week. Unfortunately, she was crying because she was going to miss me. Those are not the kind of tears I was going for. Minus point.

Six more months to go.

What I miss most right now are bubble baths and decent beer. So, please, send me Leinenkugel bubble bath. Also, a bathtub.