Blessed! Tired! Entertained! Disappointed

Okay, I'm back to the blogging world! Let me just say that these last few days have been a mixture of all of the adjectives in the title above! Let me explain:
Blessed:
We had Open House on Monday night (Aug. 11) and school for the students started on Wednesday (Aug. 13). I have 24 students in my class and 22 of them and 23 of their parents showed up for the big event Monday night. I enjoyed meeting all of them and sharing with them the LORD's answer to my prayers in sending me overseas and hand choosing each of their children to be in my class. They were so encouraging. Many of the parents told me that they had been praying that the LORD would put their child in the 5th grade teacher's class of HIS choosing. So in actuality I had been praying for them and their children at the same time that they were praying for me. God is so wonderful! I have students from Switzerland, USA, Korea, Japan, India, Brazil, Nigeria, and Belgium in my class. How awesome is that? I am so blessed! We had school on the 13th and 14th, and then had Friday off due to Korean Independence DAY. My first 2 days with the students were smooth sailing and fun! God also allowed me to get a full night's rest before both days. Having Friday off was a God-send, as well as a tiring experience!
Tired:
I came to work on Friday from 9:45 am until 8 pm. I did have a lunch break in there. However, I was very tired and a bit overwhelmed after thumbing through curriculum and planning all day. Then, this morning I got to work at 9 am and just finished my first week's plans at 6 pm. It should not be this grueling every week. I have a better handle on things now and feel that it will get easier to plan with time. Can we say tired??
Entertained (or freaked out):
Okay, so I left my house yesterday morning thinking about what I'd share in my next blog. I was going to tell you that Koreans have not been staring at me intently like the S. Africans, Chinese, and Thais did when I was in their respective countries. I haven't felt so out of place. However, I can no longer say that. Yesterday, I decided to practice patience and step out of my comfort zone by taking the busses to school. (I still am not in my element where public transportation is concerned. I usually end up walking miles and sweating like a pig until I make it to my destination just to avoid busses or taxis.) Well, I get on and off my first Bus 03 and make it to my second bus stop to wait for the anticipated Bus 0014. As I am waiting, this seemingly nice looking younger Korean man (looks can be deceiving) comes strolling down the sidewalk staring intently at me. Well, I took 2 steps backward to clear the walkway, so he could get by. He decides to align himself with me by taking 2 steps to his right. He then stands almost shoulder to shoulder with me and proceeds to stare at me. It freaked me out. I took 2 steps to my right and forward, and he follows standing within 6 in. of me still staring at me intently. I proceeded to pray for the "stupid" public transportation to hurry up and get there and took my subway map out and pretended to study it. In the midst of praying and "studying," I again shifted away from the psychotic fellow. This time he stayed put, lit up a cigarette (or cigaLette as the signs here say), my "coach" arrived, and he didn't get on it. Praise the LORD!
Also, as I was walking to lunch with some fellow Americans, several different Koreans stopped and stared at us as we talked. Needless to say, I can no longer report to all of you that these countrymen don't stare at me/Westerners in general.
One of the Korean builders working on our school brought me and my friend April food last night. That story is entertaining too, but I can't write all of it now. I think that it was a peace offering since they had been pounding on my wall all day due to adding on next to my classroom. That was a blessing, b/c it served as my dinner!
Disappointed:
I am disappointed, b/c I had planned to post pictures of my house and classroom. However, my school computer is not allowing me to download my pics. I'm sure I'm just too dense to figure it out. Anyway, I'll have to post those soon.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. I have definitely felt them! God is using you to encourage and uplift me. So far, things have been going much better than I ever anticipated! However, I know that things will not always been easy cheesey! I did experience a hint of being overwhelmed over the past few days. However, God reminded me that easy or difficult I need to depend on HIM.
Please pray that Satan will not be able to use stress and worrying to distract me and get me down. God is bigger than any stress or any overwhelming circumstances. HE alone is sufficient to strengthen me to carry out that which HE's called me to.
Please also pray for me as I prepare to co-lead a 6th grade girls' discipleship group here at school.
GOD is so FAITHFUL, and I have been so BLESSED! I look forward to hearing from you!

Seoul: Part 1

Okay, I admit it has been too long since I’ve posted something on here. A lot has taken place since I left the US. Let me just say that the LORD has been MORE than faithful since my arrival and has allowed me to feel quite at home under the circumstances. To HIM be the glory for HIS goodness and comfort in the midst of unfamiliarity. The first full day here in Seoul was a little overwhelming and somewhat emotional, although I could not let my emotions break forth until late that night. I was touring around with two guides (assistant principal and teacher) and a family who arrived the same day I did and who lives across the street from me, so naturally I kept swallowing the huge lump in my throat each time it threatened to act out. Unfortunately yet thankfully, that lump jumped up and burst forth from my eyes and nose the moment I heard my mother’s voice on the phone my second night in Seoul.=) Momma, bless your little heart for having to deal with that right after saying goodbye to me. I LOVE YOU! Katie Jo and Heather, you 2 had to deal with the “attack of the lump” also. Thanks!
Everyone here in Seoul has been so helpful. I can’t even begin to express the joy that I have experienced being surrounded by fellow co-workers who love the Lord Jesus, who have a heart for the nations, and who have moved far away from the familiar in order to minister to students from many different nations and walks of life. It is such a treat to begin each work day praying, worshipping, and studying God’s word together as a faculty/staff. Jesus has been and is the one thing that has joined a group of diverse individuals together. How amazing HE is!
So much has happened since my arrival, and so much has been discovered. Here are a few things that I’ve learned about Korea(Seoul)/Koreans as I’ve explored this huge city:
1. Koreans are or can be fairly tall! Much to the dismay of many of you girls (you know who you are), I do not tower over all of the menfolk! Nor do I or can I easily throw them over my shoulders!!;) haha
2. Life without a car, air conditioning, Internet access, and a cell phone is possible! I did get a cell phone (Friday, 8/1), and I finally have working air conditioning as of last night (Monday, 8/4). I have Internet access from work for now. As far as a car is concerned, I am thankful that I do not have one in this chaotic city. I have successfully journeyed on foot and by bus, taxi, and subway! All I can say is thank heavens that my foot modeling contract expired before I left the US. My former foot agent would probably drop dead if he saw my feet at this point---swollen with multiple blisters, cuts, calluses, and bites!
3. The US military base here in Seoul is humongous and has more Koreans on campus than US military men/women/families.
4. This is definitely the technology capital of the world. A few examples: Some waitresses take your order on electronic palm pilots. Some cab drivers allow you to pay with electronic subway/bus cards. Security cameras in gas stations/grocery stores are viewed on flat screens. Cell phones work EVERYWHERE---there are no dead spots even underground! On church Sunday, my friend had us get out and then he pulled his car into an elevator type room and got out. The elevator door shut and took his car underground where it was carried by a conveyor belt to a parking space in an underground parking lot across the street. When people ring my doorbell, their faces appear on a screen in my house. I can talk to them and unlock the door from the screen. CRAZY!
5. I am not a skilled mountain/rock climber or hiker. I tried hiking to the top of this mountain. On the way up, I fell forward and skinned my hand as I caught myself on a rock. On the way down, I slipped and almost fell like three times and then I finally did about 50 yards from the bottom of the mountain. I busted hard, and apparently missed hitting my tailbone on this huge root by about 1 inch. I muddied my shorts and camera, cut my hand again, jammed my middle finger, and bruised my pride! haha I have turned into Katie Jo, Jr., if that’s even possible.

Me, Abby, and Beth resting on our hike.

Getting toward the bottom. Right before my crash.

Attempting to show my muddied bottom. The left "cheek" was nice and dingy.

6. There are some strange/hilarious things written in English around town. I'll post some examples later, but here is my favorite! I felt like Snoop Dog was going to appear from around the corner.

Well, this posting is way too long now, so I’ll stop. The next posting will have pictures of my house, my classroom, school, and actual Seoul. I haven't been too good about taking pics. President Bush is staying about a 30 sec. drive from my house, so things are crazy around my neighborhood and in town. I'll have to capture it on my camera. Thanks so much for all the prayers!