First time Mom Excitement

Last January 20, my daughter celebrated her 1st birthday. The week before her birthday was a very busy week for me. I had to go to Divi to buy giveaways and party stuff like loot bags and everything, call the clown, send the invitations for the guest, call the caterer, order cakes, planning the menu, everything that is needed for the party itself. And I can say that it is very tiring, to think that I also work 12 hours a day and I have to do it all by myself.

I wanted to have a big party for my daughter, but it’s not a big one. Those are for rich and we’re not rich. (We only look rich but the truth is, we’re not. J) And thank God because the party turned out great. (For me, I don’t know with my husband if he’s satisfied with the result of the party J) The clown magician did the hosting and entertainment for the guest. During the party, it rained maybe it’s a blessing as what the old people would say. J

 

During the party, I can see the excitement in my daughters eyes and with the way she smile. Just her smile paid off all the hard works that I made. And I have come to realize that being a mother you’ll do everything to make your child happy. My husband went home for the party, but he just stayed here for only a week.

And because I am a stage mother, I also send a picture of my baby in Smart Parenting Magazine for January issue for the birthday celebrant’s corner. J

With the success of my daughter’s birthday, I would like to thank all the people who helped us preparing the day before her birthday. Thank you guys. J

“Why?! You Can’t ENGLISHIE?!

Just this afternoon, my 2 co-teachers got bored, so we decided to have a group class instead of one-by-one class that we always have. The students got so excited maybe because they also got tired of this tutorial thing. So, when we get inside the room we can’t think of any activity that we can do. I ask them to tell us a story,  any story. We told student#1 to go first, but he has to introduce himself first. And this is how the story goes….

Student#1: Teacher is no! Teacher is tell a story. (He means that we should be the one who will tell a story)

Teacher: Start. Introduce yourself first.

Student#1: Ok. I name is…

(Student#2 and Student#3 laughing hard.)

Student#2: hahahahah! (pointing to student#1) Why?! You can’t Englishie?! (Yes, you read it right. That’s how they pronounce it.)

(Student#3 laughing and pointing to student#2)

Student#3: You too! You can’t englishie! Oh men!!

Funny, because they we’re all laughing at each other. But seriously, no matter how hard you correct them with their pronounciation. They can’t perfect it and they keep on repeating it.

I’m Back!

It’s been a long time since the last time that I logged here. I’m too lazy to write. I work 12 hours a day, and when I get home I still have to take care of our little angel. Sometimes I feel guilty because I feel like I’m loosing time for my family. Aaaaarrrgggghhhh! Now I know how hard it is to juggle family and work.

A Year Older?!

One of my Korean student visited our house yesterday. Actually, she’s always asking me when she can go in our place. And I told her that she should ask permission first to Mr. Lee. their guardian here in Philippines.  When we got home, I introduced her to my family. My grandmother (from the father side) asked her how old she is. Jessica answered them that she is turning 14 in Korean age. My Granny got confused because she doesn’t know about that thing, so Jessica explained it to them. And they were amazed by how Koreans compute their age. The first time I also heard about it, I also got confused. Because whenever I would ask my students they would always say “My Korean age is…” 

So I did my research about this Korean age thing to fully understand them. And these are what I found…

Going to Korea ages you a year. Really.
The way Koreans count someones age differs from the European/North American system in two ways. Firstly, newborn babies are one year old, not zero. Secondly, everyone gets one year older at the same time, on Lunar New Year (when they eat a special kind of ddeok guk (rice cake soup) that symbolizes getting older), instead of on their birthdays. The first difference is more important, since it means that you must add one to your “Western age” to find your “Korean age,” which is why going to Korea ages you a year.

and sometimes they can also be 2 years older….

Korean Age

 Age plays an integral role in Korean society. Everyone is grouped according to the year they were born. And because everyone is regarded according to the year they were born, Koreans are always asking about age. Also, Koreans count age differently than many other cultures. According to Korean age, sometimes someone can be 2 years older than their actual age.

Confusing, right?!

Today, they’re all a year or two older.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all! May we all have a prosperous 2008.