Now that we have returned to Jeju from summer break and have become re-enchanted with our lives here, we want to share some highlights of our first year before we get too far along into our second. Besides, seeing that the last time we posted was in April, I think our blog needs proof that our lives consist of more than swimming with whale sharks and kayaking with komodos ;)
Our Work
We are extraordinarily privileged to work at our school and in the roles that we have! Last year Steve enjoyed teaching about Monotheism and Development in his 7th grade Social Studies class as well as running the MUN (Model United Nations) club. His biggest highlight of the year though was his Psychology and Ethics elective, which he developed for 7th-8th graders. The students loved it too, as we’ve found out this year when Steve’s elective class size doubled in size due to the number of students wanting to take it! I’m so proud of how he inspires students to truly love learning for the sake of learning!
We are extraordinarily privileged to work at our school and in the roles that we have! Last year Steve enjoyed teaching about Monotheism and Development in his 7th grade Social Studies class as well as running the MUN (Model United Nations) club. His biggest highlight of the year though was his Psychology and Ethics elective, which he developed for 7th-8th graders. The students loved it too, as we’ve found out this year when Steve’s elective class size doubled in size due to the number of students wanting to take it! I’m so proud of how he inspires students to truly love learning for the sake of learning!
As for me, I absolutely fell in love with teaching Art last year! I’ve been exploring the art world throughout my life, but getting the opportunity to teach in it feels like I have opened up a door to an endless universe of learning that will continually excite and inspire me for as long I as I dare to let it!
Highlights of my year include:
- Pancake Art: Teaching students how to look at the world from a different perspective of their own, they learned how to draw backwards using pancake batter (and of course they enjoyed eating the final products as well)!
Highlights of my year include:
- Pancake Art: Teaching students how to look at the world from a different perspective of their own, they learned how to draw backwards using pancake batter (and of course they enjoyed eating the final products as well)!
- Zentangle Wall Hanging: I think I am most proud of organizing the creation and installment of a collaborative painting for the Middle School library. The project brought students together in a meaningful way, and I am really proud of the work that they did. After a lot of planning and running around town looking for the perfect hooks, wire, and screws, it was amazing to finally hang it in it’s permanent home :)
- Ceramic Tiles: Finally, one of my sweetest highlights was working with my class of five 8th grade boys. They would come to class, pump up their playlist of Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, and Maroon 5, and get to work. Our final project of the year was making a collaborative clay tile. While each student designed and created their own individual tiles, we were able to combine them through the symbol of a musical note to represent the class. <3
Our Island
While work takes up most of our time, thoughts, and energy, I am always amazed at how refreshed we are every moment we decide to play on this island. Each weekend is like a breath of fresh air before we take the plunge again and dive back into the fray. I wish that all of our friends and family could come and visit to drive down the narrow volcanic-rock-lined roads and wave to the friendly farmers in their fields and bongo trucks. The beauty of the island is everywhere, and every new hike or coffee shop holds a different angle to the landscape; providing us with the never ending potential of newfound beauty on this island that we’ve grown to love so much. How could there be so much to explore and appreciate in such a small place!?!
While work takes up most of our time, thoughts, and energy, I am always amazed at how refreshed we are every moment we decide to play on this island. Each weekend is like a breath of fresh air before we take the plunge again and dive back into the fray. I wish that all of our friends and family could come and visit to drive down the narrow volcanic-rock-lined roads and wave to the friendly farmers in their fields and bongo trucks. The beauty of the island is everywhere, and every new hike or coffee shop holds a different angle to the landscape; providing us with the never ending potential of newfound beauty on this island that we’ve grown to love so much. How could there be so much to explore and appreciate in such a small place!?!
One island highlight of ours is the rhythm of the seasons. Living in the middle of farmland has given us an appreciation for the continual rotation of crops and the fleeting but very real beauty of the world changing around us. Nothing can teach you how to enjoy the moment more than the stealth beauty of cherry blossoms that last for only two weeks, or the shockingly bright canola flowers that bloom out of nowhere and then die just as suddenly! And of course on the top of our list are the amazing tangerines and Hallabangs that we got from November to April! We love riding our bikes down to the fruit stand and coming back with bags full of God's natural candy! Mmmmmmmmmm :)
Our favorite way to relax though is on our paddle boards! Being on the water is so peaceful, and we love being able to encounter fishermen and friendly locals and feel like we are truly living in a different culture. And of course there is Fraddleboarding, which is the perfect way to relax on a hot day :)
Our People
In addition to the friends that we’ve made from our international school, we’ve also joined an Ultimate Frisbee team of expats who live in the cities and teach English. On an April weekend, we participated in an ultimate tournament on the island called the Jeju Furey. Our team was the Baker’s Dozen, and we managed to go undefeated on the first day despite the typhoon wind-like conditions we were faced with! The second day was not as successful, but still just as fun and Steve and I are so glad that we can be a part of community on the island that is outside of our school’s bubble :)
In addition to the friends that we’ve made from our international school, we’ve also joined an Ultimate Frisbee team of expats who live in the cities and teach English. On an April weekend, we participated in an ultimate tournament on the island called the Jeju Furey. Our team was the Baker’s Dozen, and we managed to go undefeated on the first day despite the typhoon wind-like conditions we were faced with! The second day was not as successful, but still just as fun and Steve and I are so glad that we can be a part of community on the island that is outside of our school’s bubble :)
At the year's end, we were paid one of the highest compliments a teacher and mentor could ask for. Jess and Jack, our Shanghai KG/SMIC students, came to visit us for their senior trip! We were so honored that they would want to spend their celebratory week with us! While we couldn’t get any time off from work, we did as much as possible in the evenings and weekend, and enjoyed spending quality time playing games, fraddleboarding, going to waterfalls, watching movies projected on the ceiling, and seeing DOLPHINS! It was such a blast and when they left the fun didn't end because we followed them back to Shanghai for their graduation and for another Ultimate tournament with friends! But now that we're back and they're off to college, our apartment somehow feels empty without them. :(
Finally, a big community highlight of our year was organizing Fellowship Night for the believers at our school to worship, celebrate, and give thanks to God for an incredible year. Throughout the year, Steve and I had been hosting a small house church in our apartment, and we felt that it was time to try something bigger. After a lot of prayer and opened doors, we were able to host the celebration in a nearby cafe. The cafe served salad pizza (yeah, that’s a normal/yummy thing here), Steve and Jess led worship, and then we watched a talk from John Ortberg’s series “The Places You’ll Go.” We had about 20 people attend, and it was a meaningful and joyous time to be able to gather together with purpose at the end of the year.
Well, we’ve reached the end of our highlight reel. So far we’re greatly enjoying the beginning of Jeju Year Two, and are excited to see what our 5th+ year of teaching internationally will bring! Stay tuned…;)