26th birthday celebration

Happy birthday to me! I officially turned 26 (in Korean age) today. I will turn 25 in America tomorrow. This is my first birthday away from home. Here's how I celebrated.

We had a field trip today to the Jinju scarecrow festival. We took pictures and the kids made dragonflies out of wood. It was pretty cool. Check out the pictures.

Pretty flowers

Yikes! BEE!

The field of flowers

7 year olds lining up by the pinwheel

Goldfishes in a man made pond

A tunnel of squashes and pumpkins. I wanted to pick one.

The two Sophias. They are the nice girls. Love them.

Creepy looking squash. Pretty cool

He was my hand holding partner ^^

Scarecrows wearing Hanboks. HEHE

Cute little Sally with her wood dragonfly and flower. I think she also looks like Sulli from F(x)

We went back to school to have lunch and I taught 3 classes in the afternoon. Then the teachers surprised me with cake. It wasn't really a surprise because one of the kids already told me that there was cake for me when we rode the bus this morning. However, I was really grateful and thankful that they celebrated my birthday. I wasn't able to have seaweed soup though. Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthday. (It's tradition) But, it's ok. I had seaweed soup on Monday so that was good enough. Anyways, at first the teachers sang happy birthday in Korean, but then they realized that I'm American and started to sing in English. I was kind of disappointed because I like the Korean version of Happy Birthday better. They also popped confetti which was pretty awesome. The teachers all had to rush back to class after I blew out my candles.

Blueberry yogurt cake

Celebrating in the teacher's room/office

After school, my Korean/English Co-teachers and I went to eat dinner. I originally thought that everyone was going to eat together because my boss said he would treat. Then, I realized that by treating he meant that he would give us his credit card and we can go eat and charge it. HAHA! So my boss' wife handed her credit card to my coworker and we went to eat at VIPS which is American/Brazilian themed. It was pretty cool. There was a decent size salad bar/buffet

Plate #1

New York Rib Eye on a stone plate with a side of mushrooms and garlic

Plate #2

Desert

Later, I took the bus home from dinner all by myself and opened my presents. Although I don't have a lot of friends in Korea and there's a language barrier between my coworkers and I, I am very grateful that they thought of me and bought me gifts that are practical. (I LOVE PRACTICAL GIFTS) I also received a lovely birthday care package the day before from my bestest girlfriends from back home.

Gifts from my cowokers

2 pillows and mirror from Bus Driver Ajusshi who drives me to work and back everyday
Avocado Body Set from my Leader
Skin Food Toner and moisturizer and a pouch from Turkey(the country) from my English/Korean Coworker
Lip Care Cream and Hair serum and Mango Seed samples from my favorite Kinder Korean Teacher which I named her Ashley (English name I gave to her)
Heart Box of vitamin C from other Korean Teachers

IU was on the box of vit. C Cute!

My care package from my besties!! Thank you love!!

The kids will love the crayons and I love the cards!!