Magkoli and Tofu Making Day!

Had a culturally explorative time with Krystal learning to make tofu a magkoli. The tofu was warm and delicious! I even have some magkoli to take home with me :)

Seoul Tower

Took in the expansive view from Seoul Tower. Was also able to see the love locks - people solidify their love by placing a lock on the wall/railings/trees. Took the Namsan cable car up the hill rather than walking. In the summer it will be a lovely, long and curvy trek.

Christmas Lights

Spent a chilly evening walking through the Christmas lights display at Shinsegae mall with some co-workers/friends. Felt like Home.

Snowman Family

My fave is the Frenchie!

The Elf on the Shelf

Though I am sure I am breaking TM rights by having used the cover page, I have created my own version of The Elf on the Shelf. I am totally buying one for myself when I get home by the way!

I also think I did quite a good job creating my own elf ;)

Oh Christmas Tree

As our class name is Blue Jay class we made a Toronto Blue Jay Christmas tree.

How cute are they!

Saturday of hell

Tomorrow is our schools big perforce. We have been practicing so much that both my kids and I have loathed performance practice since September. We are now being reward with a 12 hr unpaid work day of which we will be locked in a windowless room to babysit our kids. 

Face palm.

Sudoksa Temple

Last weekend I spent a good solid 24 hrs tucked away from society, nestled in the mountains with monks of all sorts. I even made three Canadian female friends. One even dated a boy from my hometown! I took a trip to a Buddhist monastery with Adventure Korea; yet another cool your company here.

I didn't go in anticipating an epiphany or "aha" moment but more to learn, gain perspective and try some different meditations.

Because there wasn't really a translator, I feel we missed a lot of learning. We did try a variety of meditations though: 108 bows - made my own mala beads! - 330 chanting, listening to drums - connecting to my aboriginal heartbeat - walking meditation, seated meditation, lying meditation - of which I totally fell asleep as it was after the 330 am chanting - and focused meditation - we made lotus flowers and stared at then.

I look forward to furthering my own knowledge through reading and participating in another temple stay elsewhere. It was a good starter temple though. I snuck snacks in and severely layered myself as I thought it was going to be hella strict.

It was so not though! We had more than enough to eat an it was too hot in the rooms. I also caught a monk sneaking off to smoke. Ha! Guess we're all human eh.

Our guide monk was super sweet though. She said others consider her mind not clean as she likes alcohol, meat and girls. Heart warmed.

All in all it was a mental calm am not a physical calm. I was so stuff and sore after the 108 bows.