Staff Lunch at Vips! (12. April)

April 12 2011 will forever be a historic day. It is the day when the pastor of my institute took the entire staff out to lunch. We went to an all-you-can eat buffet called "Vips". Wow, I ate a lot--but I wasn't the only one, naturally.

Let me show you some of the highlights.

In the van, on our way to Vips.

L to R: Pastor Lee, Thula, and I.

Entering the place of bliss.

Our tables, before (I didn't get a picture of the "after").

Vips wall mural.

The people serving themselves.

Annamarie overly happy about her salad.

Pastor Lee eating in style.

STEAK!

Caroline, Ellie, and I.

Excitement over salad (this is what Korea does to you).

Ah, back to reserve myself.

Salad area.

Hi Ellie!

What's making you happy?

Oh, it's the "mexican" bar. The had tortillas in the basket.

Here I am, at Round 3 (and going strong).

Most, but not all of us.

L to R: Thula, Annamarie, Irene, Caroline, Ellie, yours truly.

Isaac, I really hope that's iced tea or pepsi . . .

A worthy contribution from Thula to my camera's memory card.

I think I'm in a "food high". This is after my Round 5.

By the time we left, I had graduated from Level 6 of "You too can Eat!"

Todai = Another all-you-can-eat buffet just beside Vips.

To make this more interesting, say "Todai" with the British accent. This will explain the look on my face.

This fish apparently understood.

In the elevator, returning to the van and make our way back to the institute after an overly full-filling meal. Based on how much I ate and felt, I should've walked back home (20 min. bus/van ride).

This was beautiful. Can't wait to do it again!

Teachers' Retreat Weekend (8. - 10. April)

On Friday, 8. April, all the SDA Institute Foreign Teachers in Korea gathered at the English Village in Yangpyeong. We all arrived between noon and 13:00 (it took us about 2-2.5 hours to get there).

This was my 1st retreat and I must say: it was an immense blessing. I received more spiritual nourishment this weekend than I have in these past 7 months combined . . . like a feast after a 7-month fast. It was an enormous blessing to listen to the speaker (Pastor Hillary from South Africa/New Zealand). It was also good to participate in the Communion service as well.

Another highlight was spending time with friends from orientation--some I haven't seen since orientation in August.

Too bad I was sick before, during, and after the event. I did not get enough sleep--even had to be at the cafeteria at 6:30 to help with breakfast on Sabbath--but it was well worth it. I'm looking forward to the summer camp in the end of July--when we can bring our adult students with us. ^^

Well, here's some of what I saw:

The view from my window on the 3rd/top floor of a dormitory.

The architecture used in the place is reminiscent of Virginia . . . I actually felt at home almost immediately.

More dormitories/apartments

Football/Soccer (whichever you call it) field.

British phone booths plus a Korean phone booth.

More of the apartments.

The map of the area. It feels big, but it's really not.

An interesting map . . . inaccurate, yet interesting.

Looking through to the light.

There's a Korean drama that was filmed here. On both sides of this bridge, you see large posters of each of the 5 main characters.

Sign and mini golf course

Space Observatory

too bad it was closed.

But did get this view from the top of the stairs.

Yours truly and Annamarie, a teacher who just started in my institute this month.

The Alexandria Pavilion.

The promenade to the village.

The Monticello Global Center from the front (my dorm was behind this building).

Whoa, only 3 years old!

Ok, not in Virginia, but I guess this helps give the American feel (?).

The other side of the promenade.

Still-Action.

Ah, timeless Greek architecture . . .

Of course I had to enjoy this.

Greek architecture, nature, and wind . . . I'm in my "happy place".

even in black and white and animation.

columns!

Stoneways for people and water

Some more of the front.

Most of the mini golf course.

A stream that runs through the promenade.

Same stream, only animated.

hmmmm, peace in the hills/mountains . . .

Playing with architecture and light and shadow.

Same as the 1 before.

How about black and white?

The "Washington Airport" (arrival point).

Ah, the hills . . . much liked.

This was good.