80s no-rae-bang night!

OK, so some definitions first:
no-rae-bang = literally "singing room", complete with 2 mics, 2 tambourines, neon lights, couches, large books of songs in various languages (with a substantial English section)

One night, while returning to school from a staff dinner on a no-rae-bus (that's what I said), some fellow staff members and I recognized the need to have an all-out, full-on 80s dress-up no-rae-bang night. All 80s music, all blue eye shadow and big hair. Well, here's a bit of the evidence... funny how much we did not stand out - the 80s look has returned full-force here in Korea. Long live Bon Jovi!

Christmas in South America or Bust!

Yep, that´s right, this Christmas I, along with my two fellow TCIS Spanish teachers, Stephanie Liebe and Kirstin Erickson, will begin our 31-hour+ voyage to Argentina and Chile, two of the four Cono Sur (Southern Cone) countries waaaay down south. What are our plans? Hablar muchísimo español, eat lots of red meat a parrilla (grilled), read some Borges and Cortazar in Spanish on some loooong bus rides, dance the tango, ice climb on a gargantuan advancing glacier, trek, go white water rafting, and absorb all that I can of the culture, history, and language that I can so I can return and spew it back to my students (oooh, perhaps “spew” is too graphic… what I mean is, “share”)! WHOOHOOOO!!! Oh, and of course, in true Barrigar fashion, taking a ridiculous number of pictures. 
The itinerary:
Dec. 19-20: 9am depart Daejeon, Korea via airport bus for Incheon Airport > Tokyo Narita Airport > Dallas/Fort Worth Airport > Buenos Aires Airport
Dec. 20-25: Buenos Aires (La Recoleta to see Evita Peron’s burial site among others; tango dancing; colorful neighborhoods; museums; parrilla!)
Dec. 25, 1pm: depart on 19-hour bus ride to San Carlos de Bariloche, in the western Lakes District of Argentina, at the foot of the Andes
Dec. 26-28: Bariloche - white-water rafting (Kirstin was a guide in Colorado!), driving around the picturesque countryside
Dec. 28: depart at 9pm for a 30-hour bus ride south to El Chalten (north of El Calafate)
Dec. 30-Jan. 2: El Chalten – ice climbing and trekking on the Perito Moreno glacier, trekking through the Andes, eating parrilla, ringing in the New Year in the Andes, etc. etc.
Jan. 3: (last) bus ride from El Chalten to Punta Arenas, Chile – see penguins!
Jan. 4: 7am hopefully fly from Punta Arenas to Santiago, Chile
Jan. 4-8: explore Santiago, possibly hit the beach near Valparaiso, or see Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western hemisphere
Jan. 8: depart Santiago > Dallas/Fort Worth > Tokyo Narita > Incheon > bus to Daejeon
Jan. 10, approx. 10pm arrive back in Daejeon, hit the hay, and wake up to teach the next morning!
I have promised my brother that he will see pictures before June 2010, so stay tuned!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

Cross-country 2008

Our motto for cross-country season 2008 was "To be feared." Our opponents are fearing us more and more as our team gets stronger and deeper with every season. Both the boys and the girls teams finished 4th in our KAIAC conference this season. This particular picture was on our first pre-meet Fun Friday practice. In the spirit of fear, we jogged out for practice with our faces painted, chanting "To Be Feared, To Be Feared." I'm not sure it had the desired result - instead, I think they were afraid of their coaches' sanity more than pumped for the next day's opening meet... A valiant and fun effort, at any rate.

Please visit fellow coach Meredith Bird's flickr site for more pictures. I don't have many of my own, since my attempts at photography during meets inhibits my ability to cheer, scream, and jump up and down to my fullest capacity. (thanks, Meredith!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/merraberrabird/2906525944/in/set-72157607587852553/

Spanish field trip!

As one can imagine, the opportunities for authentic Spanish field trips in Korea are few and far between; however, the 20th Century Latinamerican Art Exhibit at the Korean National Museum of Art in Seoul warranted a daytrip up to Seoul on November 7. My Spanish Department parnter-in-crime, Kirstin, and I enjoyed a beautiful fall day with our 10-12th-grade students and artists like Kahlo, Rivera, Botero, Otero, Bracho, and Siquieros, among others. The museum is located inside the walls of one of the three palace grounds in the capital city, so we left the Latinamerican art inside the museum to enjoy the fall colors surrounding traditional Korean architecture. ¡Fenomenal! Our Friday in Seoul culminated with lunch at On the Border in Seoul, where we conversed en español over tortillas y salsa, burritos, tacos, y enchiladas. ¡Riquísimo!

October 20, 2008 - dinner with friends

Mrs. Jung is the amazing high school secretary at our school. Ange and I like to get together with her when possible - which isn't very often, crazy-busy school at which we work! She has such a huge heart and, no matter how hectic it is in the office, she is always willing to help out a teacher or answer a question.

This particular evening we went to a kalbi (Korean pork bbq) restaurant with her daughter and Kirstin, my fellow high school Spanish teacher. A great evening was enjoyed by all!!!