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Here is a little list of scenarios I have used when people ask what I did to my knee:

• Bear attack
• Shark attack
• Car crash
• Dog attack
• Attempted a triple backflip whilst snowboarding
• I actually have a prosthetic leg (yeah even I felt bad using that one)
• North Koreans attacked and I single handedly fought them off and back across the border, but took some shrapnel in my knee
• Fell down the stairs
• I went cow tipping and a cow fell on my leg
• Freak pool accident
• Alien abduction...but shhh you can't tell anyone.
• But the one that Koreans actually believed more often than not...........I saved a baby from an oncoming bus and smashed my knee diving to save the baby...They were calling me a hero. It was actually quite funny. 

• Oh yeah....I did also mention football

Mediccccccccccc!

It's that time of year again....no not Spring, time for me to end up in hospital. This time it's no stomach problem and all being well and good I won't need a camera shoved up my bum. 

I had a football injury and after MRI's and X-rays, pokes and prods, the doctors have decided that I have some ligament damage, but nothing too serious. He also said I've got some cracks on a bone. After trying to persuade  me to wear a full leg cast the doctor and I agreed on wearing this leg brace. 

I'm gonna be on crutches for about 6 weeks....so this should be rather interesting. I'm already bored of the bloody things. And I live up 4 flights of stairs. grrrrrr

I'm already working on elaborate stories as to how I hurt myself...I guess I'll publish the top three..

toodles 

Camps

One of the perks of teaching in the UK are the holidays. All that time off to fully recover from dealing with little people and their snotty noses, whining, whinging and constant need for attention. So it's bliss....Well Korea has a different attitude. Well for native English teachers anyway.

So roll on holiday...YAY...NO! Whilst the majority of the teachers at my school have about 5-6 weeks off,  I don't....balls. Not only that but I am obliged to fill up this holiday time with English Camps. ...what are they...well,basically, it's more school for these poor kids. Parents would rather stick their kids in these extra school camps than look after them during their holiday. Which means that I have to plan and run extra classes. Now it sounds like i'm whining...it's because I am. I didn't enjoy it. 

Here's how it broke down:

Week 1: Hermes Camp....this is a camp set up by my city's Office of Education that enables families who can't afford to send their kids to private academies or can't get them into their schools English Camps. It's made up of a variety of different schools and there are 6 native English teachers along with a dozen Korean teachers involved in organising the camp. 

My role is simple. Prepare 1 lesson for 6 different classes...3 higher level and 3 lower level classes, so it's really straightforward. I'm given the topic of dreams, but I decided to change my topic to monsters....who doesn't like Monsters. 

The week goes by and it's a real blast...the kids are a lot of fun and because you're like all new like shiny new toy, you kinda feel like a rock star with all the attention. Plus you're done by 1230 so it's all good. 

That was a fun week....started high...the only way was DOWN...and down it went.....

The next 2 weeks are my schools English Camps...week 1 3rd and 4th Grade; Week 2 5th and 6th Grade. All with the same Korean teacher, Josephine, whom I have never worker with.

Everything is all set. 21 students signed up. There are 4 classes per day, I have all my materials, Ice breakers, PPTS. I'm set....ready for my 9am start, 3 hours. Bring It!

0915: 3 students have shown up. HUH???!!! By the end of the day 7 students stumble in over the 3 hours. My entire first day was ruined and I completely winged it. The week follows the same pattern with 12 being the highest number of students I get on any one day and that was on the last day. GRRRRRRRRRRR. 

On the flip side there were some adorable students there who really tried hard and I had some fun moments.

These were from probably the sweetest little girl I have ever met in my entire life....It made a tough week seem a little bit more worthwhile. 

Week 2: Expecting 21 students again.........20 show up. Great! But they're 5th and 6th grade (12 and 13yrs old) so they do not want to be there and they can't put down their phones for love nor money...and there's no one more unpopular than the teacher that bans phones. So it was always an uphill battle from the start and I really lost interest after the first day. A really long week. 

I had the same Korean teacher for the whole camp....I found out that she got the sack shortly before the Camp started, which is why I found her to be a bit useless....I heard she was great to work with...but when she walks out of the room to do something and then I find her and she's on Facebook I really wanted to scream a bit.

Chalk it down as an experience and when the next Camps come along in the Summer at least I'll be a bit more experienced and have either a better plan or a shotgun! Either option would be better than what I went through....

I have to also say that I am in the minority and teachers here in Korea generally like these Camps. I know a lot of people who really look forward to them and have a lot of fun. Think I was just a bit unlucky....and seeing as I have to do them, then I might as well get used to it. 

Laters folks....

My Korean Little Holiday.

Had last week off work so rather than making the sensible choice like everyone else and fly off to some warm country I decided to stay in Korea. On the agenda was to hit up a new snowboarding spot....Yong Pyong. Home to the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a companion for my little winter Wonderland, but this didn't stop me from having an excellent time. Seeing as it was midweek there were no lines, no waiting of any kind and probably snowboarded more in these two days than the last few weeks at Muju.

This was also my first night ski opportunity... The added danger of darkness to flying down the slopes with reckless abandonment. Brilliant.

It's also home to a 5.6km run that needed a gondola to reach the top....it was worth it just from the views at the top...but the run down had me chuckling to myself all the way down. Just loads of fun.

I think the bath at the end of the night was the best thing that has ever happened to me.....I had a great two days and will definitely be heading back at some point.

Next stop was a little Seoul break...nice to get away from Daejeon from a little bit and it was about time to upgrade my wardrobe. Seeing as I'm a little large in Korea, Seoul is really the best place to buy some new clobber. Pushing the boat out for a fancy hotel in Myeong dong, the shopping area of Seoul, I'm best prepared to attack Sales, shops and the general hub ub of shopping.

Didn't take long to remember I hate shopping....but had a great time wandering around Seoul and people watching and drinking coffee and happy to just not be at work.

Next week however......English Camp! 

Hello a new year...

What a year it's been. I'm still in Korea but in a new city, making new friends and new experiences along the way.  I have discovered a love for snowboarding that is slowly getting out of control, and to end the year off have found myself behind the bar instead of in front of it....return to barman status.

Let's start with the bar tending job....I was supping (a disgusting Korean) ale in one of the expat bars and chatting to the manager, commenting on how it would be pretty funny to work in a bar as a foreigner in Korea. It was laughed and forgotten about until a few beers later when I was chatting to the manager again asking to work there.....Boasting of my vast bar experience (Mola Club, The Boat, TBI), it was again laughed off with no real serious inclination to work behind a bar again. Leave that for the young folk.....A skinful later and on my way out of the bar the manager comes up and asks if I was being serious....."of course...sure...it'd be great...i'd love to" was my reply....

skip forward a couple of days and i get a message asking if I was still interested and that if I was to come and meet the manager in a couple of days....OK. What's a conversation with the owner? I mean let's see what the deal is....next thing I know I've met the owner who upon 5 minutes of meeting me sticks me behind the bar and I have a bar job in Korea. Seeing as I am not allowed 2 jobs in Korea, I work for free....drinks.

My first main shift on a Saturday night was brilliant. Chatting rubbish to people, flirting outrageously, bar room banter and the added benefit of free drinks...whilst working...culminated by eventually getting home at about 730am and realising I've had an amazing night out and not spent a penny...Oh what a funny life Korea is making for me!!!

I guess there will be more bar stories to follow!!!!

I still love living in Korea and feel very fortunate in a job that pays me very well that I enjoy. I get the opportunity to meet new people all the time and I'm in one of the friendliest countries I have ever been to. Add to that parties, snowboarding, festivals all the time, great food and terrible K-pop (you've only had Psy...trust me there's a lot more) music then I can say I'm happy. I hope everyone else is too.

If 2013 is as half as good as 2012 then I'm gonna still have a great time. But I've got a feeling this year may prove to be even better...

Moustache buddies

Fun days like today really make me realise how lucky I am.

Snowboarding Season

Armed with some fresh second hand snowboard gear I have hit the slopes of Korea.

The closest resort to me is Muju. I first visited this little wonderland last Christmas for my first snow adventure.
I'm closer to the resort now so a mere hour and a half and I'm there bright and early to hit the morning slopes.

As I write this I am recovering from my third trip in as many weeks to the resort. For a mere 67000 won (about 40 quid) you can get a pass from 0830-1630 and a bus to and from resort. It's a bargain. So I'm devoting time, energy and body parts in the name of progression. 

Today by far has been my best day on the cold, wet, glittering, lovely snow. Never have I felt more at alive than strapped into a board and flying down a hill, narrowly avoiding all manner of obstacles. Carving and turning with poise, precision and dumb luck I make my way from top to bottom with a carefully selected playlist that inspires genius.

Ok there may be a little truth to this but clumsy ol me is suffering from a very sore toosch and possibly a bruised rib or two. These injuries, however, weren't my fault.....honest.

I'm devoting this winter to boarding. I'll even head up to pyeongchang. Which for those of you in the know will tell you, is the home of the 2018 winter Olympics. So for now just a teaser with more to follow.

I took this photo after some girl ran into me and i fell, bum first, onto the edge of her snowboard. Photos of the bruise to follow.....jolly sore!