Happy Australia Day, Mate!

Okay, okay...so Australia Day was on Friday. One of our fellow teachers, Kirsty, is an Aussie. So she and Helen (her roommate, aka "Hels") had a bunch of teachers over for a party. She made us burgers (which were quite tasty) which we topped with pineapple and sliced beets (an Australian thing). Ara brought bean and bacon pie made from scratch (that he baked in his little red oven; Koreans don't really do ovens or baking--most apartments don't have an oven). It was great to eat non-Korean food for a switch. We also had a round of geography trivia questions, to see who could answer the most questions and win tim-tams (really good Australian chocolate cookies).
Our friend Kelsey is leaving in a week, to spend a month in Oregon with her family. Her teaching contract is up (although she's returning in March to teach at a boys' middle school in Sokcho). The customary thing for the departing teacher is to bring over a box of goodies that they don't want, for the rest of the teachers to fight over (you can see this in the second picture). So Paul and I scored some toilet paper, enchilada mix, a couple Korean guidebooks, 5 boxes of Mac 'n' Cheese, a bottle of honey (very expensive here), a chocolate Santa, corn, and a roll of gold wrapping paper! It's also customary to make a list for someone if they're going home and returning, to bring back coveted and rare items...I think I'll ask Kelsey to bring back oatmeal (and of course, real cheddar cheese!)


Ara's oven.


Paul, Ara, and Kelsey.

















The distinguished Aussie (Kirsty) in her kitchen.














Good on'ya mate!