Another July 4th in Korea

Happy Independence Day fellow Americans! I'm a bit late on the post, but I thought I'd write about what we did to celebrate July 4th this year.

Last week, I finished off the textbook lessons with the second grade students, and I taught a special July 4th lesson to the 3rd graders. I taught them the basic causes of the American Revolution and how we celebrate the day today. It was a lot of talking on my part, but I threw some good videos in as well to keep them entertained. I hope they learned something because I really think it was a great lesson about American culture, which they don't really learn about in school except from me.  It was very vocabulary and history based. So as incentive to listen and understand, I told them that if they finished their July 4th worksheets during class and gave it to me, I would choose 2 winners per class for a special prize (a pack of gummy bears) at the end of the week. I forgot how much I enjoy history. I've missed it since I've been out of school. It was always my favorite subject.

At the end of my July 4th lesson, I told the students that if they want to celebrate Independence Day and see some fireworks, they could go to the area around Camp Walker, the military base in Daegu, last Saturday night. Not sure if any of them did, but Gianni and I definitely went! The military base is one of the three American bases in Daegu, and our friend, Thomas, actually lives right next to it. Like last year, he and Sian planned a roof-top BBQ and party despite the fact that they are South Africans. They kindly allow we Americans to celebrate the holiday just like we would at home. Gianni and I showed up early to help them set up and to take a quick dip in their small blow up pool. It was kind of a gray day with patches on sun here and there. Sian and Thomas and Gianni and I had gone the night before to buy all the necessary supplies for the BBQ at Costco. Once everyone showed up, Thomas started grilling our hamburger patties and hot dogs. Everyone contributed to the

The landlord's adorable kids!

cost of the food, and most people brought an extra dish to share as well. There was watermelon, bacon mac n' cheese, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cheetos, potato salad, and some apple pie for dessert. Everyone was stuffed by the end of it. Throughout the day, we kept getting visited by the landlord's adorable kids who had a great time playing with Thomas's friend's water gun. At around 9pm, the fireworks show began. Thomas's house is so close, the fireworks look like they are right in front of you. It was a really beautiful, if a little short, show. Some people left after that, but the others stuck around to help clean up. We brought everything down to Thomas's apartment and played a few rounds of a really funny and raunchy game called Cards Against Humanity. We've played it a few times with our friends before.

BBQs and fireworks: the only way to celebrate Independence Day. Being surrounded by our nearest and dearest friends in Korea made me think about how different next July 4th will be. Gianni and I will be married, and we'll be home with our families. As much as I'm excited to go home, I will definitely miss living in the same city as all our wonderful friends.