Hanji in da House!

I finally got everything unpacked and put in its place.  I finally had time to do some hanji.  I've missed it so much.  I'm starting with some coasters.  I cut out paper for two and used my hanji glue to apply the paper pieces.  They are drying right now.  I'm going to cut out the design you see on the lower left of this picture which will go in the center of the coasters.

It felt so good but it also was a little sad.  As I sat in my craftroom gluing pieces in place, I missed the chatter of Korean that would go on around me when I took classes in Korea.  I miss the delicious homemade lunches that they would share with me almost every day.  I miss that bowl of rice and the mounds of kimchi which I couldn't seem to stop eating.

Yesterday was a wonderful day.  I went to Noah's Kindergarten class to read a book on Korea.  I also brought some samples of things I had made when I lived there.  I was in the middle of my reading when an alarm went off.  I was thinking it was a fire drill but the teacher told me and the class that it was a "lockdown drill."  The kids crowded into a corner of the room while the teacher locked the door and shut off the lights.  We sat there (me too) quietly for about 5 minutes until the all clear was given.  It just made me sad to think that we really are living in times like this.  When I was their age, the only drills we had were for fires and tornadoes.

I finished the book and answered a few questions.  Noah showed everyone the Korean words that he knew.  His teacher was really impressed.  I've always answered Noah's "yes" and "no" questions in Korean.  I also brought the kids a Korean cellphone charm to take home.  I gave the teacher one of my Korean "Love" pendants.  Then she told me that this had been fascinating to her because her sister was a Korean adoptee.  I just happened to have a second necklace so I gave her that one for her sister.

Noah got to escort me out of the building.  I forgot how many times he hugged me and said he loved me.  I will never get tired of hearing that.  I would like to do craft classes in Noah's classes as I did when his mama was a little girl.  Those were some of the best times of my life.