Just Go With It

It seems a mis-truth leaked to one of my classes prior to today, and though I am uncertain of where said rumour began, I do know that the outcome today was well received.

Walking down the stairs to one of my elementary school-aged classes, one of my students ran up and motioned for me to hurry to class. Upon nearing the doorway I saw that the lights were turned off and was expecting a prank that I wasn't so sure I could handle, but in fact, there was nothing malicious about their intentions...instead, I was greeted with a chorus of 'happy birthday', a cake on my desk with candles, presents, and a confetti firecraker! It was amazing, and the kids were SO excited that they had succeeded in surprising me. I didn't want to break their little hearts, and it seemed a shame to do so, so I played along. I celebrated my non-birthday birthday, by eating cake, talking about my birthday plans and playing games all class.

I wish I'd thought of this sooner!

Deck the Halls

The first week of December marked not only my 9th month in Korea, but also the beginning of the holiday season. Being my first Christmas away from home, I wanted to make my apartment as festive and homey as I could. With a scented candle burning and Christmas music playing, I decorated my standing plant with bulbs and lights, surrounded it with the presents my mom had sent from home, set out a bowl of candy canes, hung snowflakes from the ceiling and my stocking above my (makeshift) tree. My apartment felt so good to come home to, and I was prepared to celebrate the holidays alone.

I should have known that nothing is ever as good as it seems, still I wasn't prepared for the surprise I was hit with last week Wednesday… I would be moving. It was a heartbreaking transition, leaving my cozy apartment… home for the past 9 months, and packing up my life. I arrived here in Korea with a suitcase and a backpack to a spacious apartment with only a bed, desk, chair and microwave. However, knowing so many people who left before me, I have accumulated enough to make my place a comfortable haven, and moving a bit of a nightmare. But, now that everything is said and done, the new digs are great, the location is convenient and my Christmas decorations are back up and looking wonderful. Feliz Navidad!

Teacher Evaluations

Some days teaching can be bit of a challenge, some days it can be a lot of fun, and others it can have me laughing my ass off. Perhaps this past Tuesday’s class with my child prodigy embodied all these elements in just one lesson. Let me start by saying that Simon and I have a great relationship.. he’s on my messenger list, he emails me papers to edit and calls me without fail every weekend to ask about his homework. So, I couldn’t take his actions too seriously….

Alright, so it was writing class, and Simon and I were editing and revising the paper he had written me for homework. Upon giving him a grade (80% - and very generous for the quality of the work) he snapped out of wonder child, into normal kid mode, believing the mark that I had given him was unfair for his efforts. In a fit of childhood rage, weighing heavily on the side of temper tantrum, he grabbed his essay, flipped it over, and claimed he was going to evaluate me. He chose the categories and the grades as I sat by shaking my head and laughing in disbelief. The first mark given was for “Style and Creativity” (though I’m unsure for what) where he was generous enough to give me a 5/10. Then came “Intelligence and EQ”, for which I scored a meager 3/10. The Third was for “Student Care”, where I barely made the board, earning an embarassing 1/10. But the last mark was the one that really got me, and made it all worth while.. Evil 10/10.

At least he got something right!

Momma B in the SK

One week off work, treats from home, and time with my mom... what a fabulous break! For 9 days I played tourist and tourguide, exploring the city (and country) with my mom. It was a great way for her to get a glimpse into my life here and the way of a foreigner in Korea. In just her short time here, she learned to read Korean, to say thank you and goodbye, and that when walking in the streets she was a minority and many people who could speak english, often felt inclined to say "hi". My favourite experience happened in Seoul, and here's how it went down:

(mom (M) and lynda (L) are leaving a palace in the city, and are approached by a Korean male in his late twenties on a bike (K))

K: Where are you from?
L: Canada
K: Ohhh, very good. I see you. You have nice sunglasses. You are rich.
L: Uh, thank you.. but I don't think so.
K: Can I guess.. She is mother?
L: Yes she is.
K: You are tall. People in Canada are tall? Not people in Korea.
L: ha ha some people are tall. My mom is even taller than me!
(dude turns his attention to my mom)
K: Mother... you are very lucky. You have intelligent daughter and tall daughter. I have many fantasy.
M: uhhh, thank you.
L: Gotta Go!

buwahahahahaha.... awesome. Guess the secrets out.

Team Lady Fury

There have been a number of occasions over the past 7 months where I’ve felt like I’m a competitor in The Amazing Race – bailing on cabs to run up mountain roads, speeding in a taxi through the mountains in a mad rush to catch a train, then jumping on that same train while it began to depart, perhaps even eating dog soup… and all was not in vain, as this past weekend, these trial tasks came in handy as I competed in The Amazing Race Busan. This was a foreigner charity event that saw 50 teams of 2, race around the entire city completing tasks, taking photos, finding specific products and locations while attempting to master the bus and subway systems and out race the other teams to the finish. For 7 hours tension was heated, bodies fatigued and legs in constant motion we did it all: kissed a fish, ate cooked silkworm larvae (almost), and formed a Korean/Waygook pyramid -among many others- before crossing the finish line. The race ended in a bar at Gwanagli beach, where the famous bridge there would become the backdrop to an absolutely phenomenal fireworks display for hundreds and thousands of onlookers. An explosive ending to a long and wonderful day. Go Team!

Guilty Pleasures

Since coming to Korea I’ve become quite involved in the bowling scene. It's such a competitive good time, it promotes teamwork and sportsmanship, and on a Friday night it definitely goes well with a bottle of soju. I know it’s a little geeky, but it’s insane amounts of fun, and I’ve even been able to rock the boys with some high scores and turkeys… Mad Skills… Truth is though, I’m no stranger to the lanes... I grew up in the middle of nowhere, but was just a 25 minute walk from a 10-pin alley, I played in a league every Saturday morning in grade school, and I even competed in tournaments with my parents.

Judge me if you may, but my blog is becoming a sort of confessional of the secrets of my past and present, and the bizarre inner workings of my mind. So, I figured there was no sense in stopping now… Truth: Bowling is Fun, and I love it!

And I challenge all you non-judging competitors to a night at the lanes!

Looking the Part

As the warm summer sun fades, and the cooler fall weather rolls in… I feel that our weekends at the beach may be replaced with hikes in the mountains. This past Saturday we ventured up and spent three hours on beautiful, and at times exhausting, trails that led from my neighbourhood to a temple at the other side of town. I’m convinced that hiking in Korea, (or Busan at least) should be considered a national sport. Every weekend, large numbers of people head to the trails for some mountain trekking. I’m not sure though which aspect is the most important… the hike itself, or the attire that goes along with it. Hiking gear will always include a full ensemble of hiking shoes, jackets and pants..(possibly matching if you’re a couple) and may also adorn any combination of the following: a walking stick, waist pack, visor, gloves, backpack and headband. In the more popular spots, all of these items are available for purchase at the base of the mountain just in case you’re an impulse buyer who forgot your wind breaker when you left the house. It doesn't matter the intensity of the hike, if you’re on a trail in a mountain you must come equipped to conquer based on attire. Goodbye Bikinis, Hello Fanny Packs.

Korean Thanksgiving

It’s called Chusok, it’s a three day holiday, and it’s a time for Koreans to be with their family and exchange gifts sets (think tea, honey, SPAM). What this meant for me was a short vacation, but having not booked a flight or ferry out of the country at least 2 months prior there was zero opportunity to leave Korea, but that in no way interfered with my holiday fun.

We kicked off the extra long weekend with a Friday night gong show of free beer. The following day we boarded a ferry to explore Geoje-do, a beautiful island about an hour off the coast of Busan. For three days we lazed, swam, gamed and drank. The weather wasn’t in our favour, but it didn’t impede at all on our good times. Koreans were more than helpful with calling us cabs, or driving us waygooks around the island in search of food.. then providing us with treats if they were too full to house us for the evening.

The results: Five Restful Days, Amazing Hospitality, Competition to the Max, Good Company, and Plenty of Laughs – all great reasons to give thanks.

A Slightly Tactless Entry

As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words… so I’ll let these photos do the talking for this one.

Don't judge me too harshly...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

A Goodbye for Mai

I have never prided myself on being a spontaneous person… Acting impulsively is not one of those things that I’m into, known for, or comfortable with. But sometimes it can be a difficult thing to avoid, particularly living in a foreign country, where I find myself forced to succumb and adapt rather quickly.. and so, it was with Mai’s departure weekend. I couldn’t have predicted the outcome, and had I given myself time to think through it all, I would have denied myself the enjoyment that was Saturday night.

Following an intensively competitive few games of bowling, the crew headed to a beach party at the other end of the city. As is customary of our nights (days, and lives) we brought the debauchery, caused a ruckus, and began wrestling… This behaviour landed us, at 4 am, fully clothed, in the ocean. Once we were in there was no turning back, so under a moonlit sky, we frolicked in the warm crashing waves without a care .... trying to remain oblivious to how cold it would be once out, how hard it would be to get a cab, and how far it was to get home.

What followed were 4 grueling hours trying to warm up, and stay awake in order to get Mai to the airport for her 10am departure, and our tearful goodbye. A sad ending to a wonderful evening… but hurrah for the lack of sane logic that led to one of the best nights to date.

A Mid-Way Perspective

Time is a funny thing… sometimes hours can feel like they’re taking far too long to pass, and the weekend seems so far away, yet months can pass you by in the blink of an eye.. and so if feels with the past six months I have been here… and it blows my mind. I’m no longer a “newbie” though in some ways I still feel like I only arrived last month. But, I’m settling in so well, and I’m living this life now, and it’s a strange but wonderful reality. What seemed strange and bizarre at the beginning is now normalized and commonplace.. (which hopefully explains my less-than-frequent blogging). I have a life, a routine, friends, acquaintances, drama, boys.. all the great things that keep me sane…

But my six month mark also held some of the hardest times since being in Korea. In the past 2 weeks, I have said goodbye to two very close friends. Girls that have made a mark in my life and helped define the first half of my time here. But that’s the way things go, especially living in a foreign country… Most of us are here temporarily, so people are constantly in and out of our lives.. but these same individuals are part of the small circle of people that we have here… so with no family around the friendships, though brief, are insanely intense, and wonderful. So, the summers end, my six month mark, and the tearful goodbyes haven’t been easy, but they have encouraged me to remember all the great experiences I’ve had since coming here. And I’m ready to begin anew, and step up to what the next six months will offer… I’m only half way done, so my adventure is far from complete!

For the Kid in You

Generally speaking, I dislike watching movies. I think it has a lot to do with a very short attention span that often times I’m more obsessed with watching the clock than the film (and that’s when I’m not already asleep). And since I know I’m missing out on some good entertainment, culture, learning, thinking etc.., I make an effort to watch them now and again… and I think that Korean theaters may help me with my problem. The other day I tagged along with a group that was going to check out the new Simpson’s movie which was playing in the kids section of the theatre. (yes, it seemed strange to me too) Heading to the late show meant that we were the only ones watching this particular film, and walking inside we were all stunned and excited by what we found.. a theater filled with plushy couches to seat 2 or 3, brightly coloured and uber comfortable, with drawers underneath to store your goods… but that’s not even the best part… The 20 feet or so in front of the screen was just a huge soft pleathery mat. Lying down during the movie, in a theater, was cozy, and the wrestling and tumbling we could do on it afterwards was heaps of fun. Having to overlook the fact that probably a dozen kids pee on these mats weekly was just about the only problem. So perhaps these comfy surroundings won’t help keep my interest in movies, or help me find a new passion for film, but at least they provide I comfortable place to fall asleep!

A Holiday from my Holiday Life

Getting out of the country would have been optimal, but the lack of a travel companion and a body in dire need of rest were driving forces to make me stick around – which came with no regrets. The 5 days I had off were occupied with all the wonderful things that make my time here so wonderful: drinking, beaching, boardgaming, bowling, eating, and countless hours of shopping…

Shopping for me has always been a sort of therapy. Yes, I am a victim of consumerism, but having new “things” always brightens my day. Lucky for me, (unlucky for my bank account) shopping is easy to do here, and I certainly do a lot of it. But, in this country, it comes with a new set of quirks and adjustments for a westerner like myself. (beyond the facts that you can’t try on shirts, most clothes are one generic size small, and shoes for my foot size are a rarity) Take for example the shopping process itself… Upon entering a shop, employees hover around the shopper, often mere inches away, staring, waiting, intimidating. If I take one step forward, they take one step back.. and so we dance throughout my entire time in the store. I’ve left a few stores simply because I couldn’t handle the pressure, and sometimes I feel like it really impedes on my shopping. But that’s just one of those differences I have to accept living here, even if I don’t understand it. And then again it really hasn’t been that harmful given the expansion of my wardrobe over the past 5 months!

English Camp

Better late than never ... as I'm only writing now about my camp experiences of two and a half weeks ago.. but times are busy, so I hope you'll understand.

Well, over the months I've learned a lot about Korean children from my experiences here.. I've learned that they don't sleep a lot, they study like crazy, and they spend more time studying than indulging in carefree childhood fun... So, taking our students to "English Camp" proved to be an experience which they both needed, and enjoyed... and which I was happy to be a part of.

In a resortish type area, on a beautiful island not far from Busan, 40 Korean Kids, 5 Korean Teachers, and 3 Foreigners played in the sun for 3 days, in the name of English. Having been out a little too late the night before departure, my first day was a bit rough. So once the kids were in bed around 1230, I was quick to change into my pjs and rest my weary body.. Much to my dismay, my bosses felt I needed to demonstrate my drinking skills, and literally dragged me out of bed (and by bed I mean mat on the floor) to chug beer with them until 330am. Waking up at 730 had never been more torturous, and acting like an energetic counselor for my children had never been more difficult.. but I did and I lived, so all is not lost. Some key moments of our trip included seeing MC'ing the Mr and Mrs Pagoda Drag contest, Dancing onstage for my students, the lighting of a 6 foot high campfire dosed in gasoline via a shooting fire ball, spending a day in the pool, having my group win the most challenges, and a harmless ash fight that was all fun and games until I poked one of my students in the eye.

Getting away and having fun was a break these kids really needed, and so consequently I was denied one. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat, provided I could avoid the bus ride home.

Rockin' In the Free World

On one of the lesser frequented, but equally vast beaches of Busan, thousands of Koreans and a mix of foreigners gathered to party at Busan’s International Rock Festival. Musicians from around the world took to the stage to perform for a very diverse crowd of all ages. From my previous rock concert experiences, I wouldn’t have expected this one to be what it was: definitely a full family affair. Older women and men got their groove on around blankets *littered with empty soju bottles of course* at the back of the crowd, parents held their babies while rockin’ it out in a sweaty mob of fans, while dads taught their 3 year olds how to shoot roman candles. And though it made for a grueling 9am camp departure with my students the next morning, it was amazingly entertaining to witness it all. This was one I couldn’t miss.

Seeing Is Believing

Some days I think about how strange it will be to go back home one day… true, there’ll be a lot of readjusting and reverse culture shock… but one of the things I’ll miss most is the excitement and randomness of everyday life that I experience here. Take this past weekend for example: two full days in the sand and surf, where Haeundae beach has become a sea of Koreans and umbrellas….and with this sheer density of people, it seems only natural that it would exhibit many of these very quirky things which help make my time here so entertaining. Common findings at the beach are Koreans swimming in full clothing (or too small speedos), women sporting high heels, people buried in the sand, and couple photo shoots. These are just a few behaviours that are odd and wonderful and have come to be expected of a day at the beach… so my weekend hit a new level of wonderful, with an experience that topped them all.... Befriending and photographing with Korean bodybuilders. How can you top that?

The Bane of my Existence

Dried Squid. They eat it here like potato chips, it’s sold cheap and people love it. I hate it.
Aligned with my repulsion for anything fishy, this snack is close to the worst thing I’ve seen or smelt yet… and it always seems that those people around me love to use it as torture .. in their eating and enjoyment, I am left gagging and uncomfortable.. it’s just not fair really. Then today, I had the worst of my dried squid experiences yet.. Walking into the classroom of my youngest students, one of the kids had been kind enough of to bring in this horrid snack for the class. The room stank something fierce, and all my 9 year old wonder children were chomping on the fishy nastiness. I wanted to heave, but this class is slightly crazy and I knew I’d lose all control if I showed any signs of weakness.. Thankfully I’d already instilled the no food in the classroom rule.. so it wasn’t difficult to stop them from eating, but the bits on the floor continued to emit gaggerific odours into the space I would be occupying for the next 45 minutes… as if the stench of sweaty, dirty children wasn’t already enough to knock you out cold. Sigh.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

In a nicer and quieter part of town sits Sajik stadium. And inside Sajik stadium are the rowdiest group of Koreans I have seen yet. According to Wikipedia, “Busan is known as the capital of baseball and has a reputation for very enthusiastic baseball fans”, so I thought I’d check it out for myself… and let me tell you, I was in no way disappointed.. Even just approaching the stadium, I had a feeling I’d be in for something unique… Fans transported bags or coolers of beer and soju and bought newspapers outside the gates that would assist them in making pompoms to wave during the game. Once the game was in action, there were cheer leaders to keep the crowd entertained, and a white gloved cheer-leader who kept the fans energized and chanting away. It seemed there was a ditty or song for just about everything.. and all the “Gal-mae-ki” (seagulls, as the fans call themselves) knew each one of the words. Lotte was down 8-1, but it didn’t stop the energy in the stands. In the 8^th inning orange bags were passed around for garbage which the crowd then blew up, tied them to their heads, and continued to cheer and watch their team lose. It truly was a sight to behold, and just not your average day at the park.

Show and Tell

As of last week Wednesday, Summer Intensives have begun. What this means for Korean students is that since they are on holiday from their regular school, they now have more time to spend studying English at my academy. What this means for me is that I’m teaching another 2 classes a day, so I work more, start earlier and have longer days. Fridays, I learned last week, will be the toughest.. teaching 6 straight classes, with a short break before my 2 older classes close the day.

So, arriving in my classroom on Friday, it’s was my 6^th of 6^th and I’m pretty worn out… but I’m serious about my job, so I greeted my class with my last efforts of enthusiasm. But what they had waiting for me, left me weak and defeated… Amid taking attendance and saying my hellos, one of my students says to me, very calmly “teacher, look, mouse”. And there it is, about 3 feet away from me, in her small little hands, scurrying around and scampering up her arm. Truth is, I’m squeamish (and pathetic perhaps) but I hate insects and rodents… and without the energy to remain calm, I panicked and lost my mind. Backing myself into a corner, I tried my best to sound firm in my requests for her to put it away,…but encouraged by the rest of the class who laughed at my expense, she just continued to play and ask me why. It seems that cowering in the corner, I was of very little threat to her. When she’d finally decided she’d had enough of teacher torture time, she put the mouse back into his home… a small hard pencil case, not much bigger than a match box. Appallingly I stared…curious, confused… what’s worse, a mouse in my classroom, or a suffocating pet in a child’s pencil case? This is going to be a long month… I can feel it.

D-I-R-T-Y

I’m a Hamilton girl, born and bred... and that alone comes with a certain amount of presuppositions towards my character… but sometimes it’s hard to deny reality. Perhaps it was this upbringing that has left me without any aversions for filth and dirt, to the point where some days showering is just not an option. But this past weekend it was in fact Korea that encouraged me to get “dirty” on a whole new level, as I attended the Boryeong Mud Festival.
After an 8 hour bus ride, (with a painful beginning at 2:30am) and only a few hours of shut eye, I found myself a beach of goodness ready for the messiness that would ensue. From buckets of mud, we painted ourselves muddy, and then the games began. The festival held all the fun of carnival games; wrestling, tug of war, obstacle courses, and all with the added bonus of mud. Wandering around the beach and boardwalk sporting a crusted grey layer was kind of surreal and exciting, while a beautiful sunny day made for cleansing and frolicking in the ocean a delightful break.

Sundown brought partiers to the beach to continue the festivities and marvel (between bottles of soju) at a spectacular fireworks display. The next day, covered in battle wounds, mosquito bites and dirt residue I boarded the bus for another long trek home…. leaving behind all forms of acceptable dirty behaviour. *tears*

Maple Leaf Forever

O' Canada,
Our Home
and
Native Land







Long weekends, growing up, almost always involved trips to my family’s cottage on Georgian Bay. As I got older, I appreciated these quiet getaways so much more; a wilderness retreat for ultimate relaxation, escape, and simultaneous fun and out-of-controlness… and as my time here passes, and the summer months are upon us, I miss it more and more. But since luck is on my side these days, I was thrilled to discover I wasn't the only person who desired a cottage getaway... and what better way to to do it then the July 1st weekend. And so, my fellow Canadian friends (along with some others who chose to support the Maple Leaf for the occasion) rented an amazing “cottage” in the mountains not too far outside Busan. It was a great way to celebrate the nation we are all so far away from and the home we often miss so much. A red and white weekend in the wilderness, escaping the concrete jungle we call home, to frolic in the river, bbq, listen to Canadian music, get into some guitar sing songs, go night swimming and celebrate with fire works and the national anthem at midnight…. It was the best alternative to my cottage that I could ask for! Oh, Canada!

Why?

It’s an everyday question these days … Why?…

You know… the differences make me laugh, and I joke about them, but honestly.. I love them! I’m quirky as anything, I think quirky is fun, and this place is too quirky for words!! (As Alex so kindly pointed out, “it’s like you’ve finally gone home to the mother ship”)

That’s not to say that all the differences are ridiculous, some in fact make complete sense and I wonder what Canada's problem is (with technologically mostly). So I’m sure that any Korean in Canada might also have a good list of why questions that they’d write back home about and laugh. So, I think it’s pretty much fair game at this point…Korea is a little off.

Why:

Is he carrying his girlfriend's purse? (or his own?)

Is that dog half shaved and wearing a hat?

Is that couple wearing matching outfits?

Would you wear high heals to the beach?

Are there potatoes and corn on the pizza?

Are they singing karaoke in the subway station?

Is there a whole grocery aisle for Spam?

....and this is only the beginning....

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

And the simplest answer is this : It’s Korea.

Norae-Fest

"Why be alone, when we can be together baby?"






Norae Bangs (singing rooms) are hugely popular in this country. It’s not uncommon to get drunk and sing karaoke in your own private room with friends until the wee hours of morning. This sort of experience is paradise for a lyric monkey like myself – curious though, I’ve yet to go. While I eagerly await my golden opportunity (I’m told planning is not an option) the girls and I have adapted our own singing customs (the norae taxi for example) and this weekend we let our vocal talent (or, talentlessness) shine. Saturday morning, a crew of 30 or so foreigners headed to Andong, which is tucked away in the mountains about 3hrs northwest of Busan. Though the rafting part of our “rafting weekend” didn’t quite measure up (due to a lack of water and rapids) it was a superbly fun time. Mind you however, when day 1 began with a lunch of fish and rice (*heaves*) I’ll admit to being slightly discouraged, but shortly thereafter the discovery of an outdoor norae stage had my spirits lifted. What followed was 2 days of goodness: a stellar performance of Mr. Big, a traditional Korean masked dance and show, river chilling and swimming, a bonfire on the beach complete with drinking, binging and singing, a brief sleep, then games, competition and song with Team Norae while rafting, and a quiet walk through a traditional village before passing out, spent, for the bus ride home. All good things, a great experience, a weekend in Andong – glowy red skin and a scratchy throat to prove it… the rapids wouldn’t have stood a chance against us anyway.

Where's the Beach?

Part of Busan’s appeal in my “where to call home in Korea” debate was its proximity to the beach. Considering my daily longings for a return to Thailand, I felt that perhaps I could fulfill a small part of these desires in moving here. As no surprise though, the beaches here fail in comparison, but I could get over it… if only I lived a little closer. Truth is, I live no where near the beach at all – but on the complete opposite time of town. So, heading to the beach is a mission, a quest, a day trip, but we make it happen as often as we can ...and since today was a holiday there was no question where we’d be heading. We made strict plans to meet by 11, and even though we were out til 4 the night before, we were quite successful and managed to capitalize on a full day of sunshine. I love, love, love the beach: nothing beats soaking in the sun on a blanket in the warm sand, arranging the grains to fit the very contours of the body….except when you’re also relaxing to some tunes, playing cards and cribbage, swimming in the ocean and body surfing the waves. Come summer, this beach will become a haven of umbrellas for Koreans seeking full shelter from the sun. Right now though, it is MINE!

Fueled by Passion

A passion, by definition, is an object of boundless enthusiasm. Playing ball is one of my passions, but I wouldn’t have thought so until I had to go without it. It’s the only sport I committed to in youth and stuck through (and to the punks who don’t think it’s a real sport, I’ll outplay you anytime suckahs). As luck would have it, through distant contacts, I heard about a slo-pitch tournament happening in Busan and naturally I signed up to play. I haven’t thrown a ball in a year and I didn’t know a single person there….I was forced to overcome my nervousness, social awkwardness, and shyness among strangers… for a chance to play. There were 5 teams, and many foreigners, all of whom seemed to be friends with everyone else, but only about 10 girls, most of whom were there just to fill the necessary quota of 2 per team. (yes yes, good odds, *winks*) The diamond was hilariously Korean, a dirt soccer field with a small backstop, but complete with chalk lines and bases. What resulted was an amazing day of good bats, new friends, and intense competition. Love love love… That night we went for dinner as a team, and since I’d played with them all day, I thought I could drink on par with them all night. A dangerous task I assure you…but countless more hours of fun. All in all, the day in it’s entirety was phenomenal, and winning for once, wasn’t everything.

Seoul Searching

It seemed about time to visit the 6th most populated city in the world, so Lynn and I boarded Korea’s 300 km/h KTX train to Seoul. After some minor setbacks in finding a place to spend our first night, we ultimately found shelter in Motel Blue, and were initiated into the Korean Love Motel experience. After some much needed sleep, we awoke at 9am and began what would be our marathon 21-hour day. So much to do, so much to see, so much to look at and experience… and so many people: An overwhelming amount of English (people, speaking, signs, food) in the foreigner district, a beautiful ancient palace in the middle of the modern city providing an interesting contrast of new and old, some traditional market shopping in Insa-dong and busting a groove til 6am, then making our walk of shame home in daylight while the rest of the city began their day. After just 4 hours of sleep, we re-emerged to continue our exploration of the city and get in some serious shopping before heading back home. A great weekend of wear on my body and overload on my senses, but time and money well spent.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

A Long Way From Home

…Buddha, It’s your Birthday…

It seemed only necessary to celebrate this holiday in full style. Despite waking up at 1pm as a result of soju-drinking pre-party celebrations, we still managed to enjoy a full day of fun. A few hours at the beach (although the clouds dominated by the time we arrived) with some much needed recuperation time and some sweet frizbee toss action, and then it was off to Beomosa Temple. Big birthday celebrations were occurring all day, but the chanting performance and lantern lighting were to occur at dusk. Problem was that ½ of Busan had the same idea, and having only minimal time to spare, we missed most of the chanting and such stuck in a cab on the one-way street up the mountain. We were determined though to not miss out, so we left the cabby a few extra thousand won and trekked the last kilometer or so on foot…amazing race styles…We made it to the Temple in time for the lantern lighting. It looked amazing, lanterns were hanging everywhere, creating a canopy of brightly coloured flickering beauty…thousands upon thousands… We were given candles to help in the lighting process… It was a rather wonderful experience. Sadly, however, the rain that had help up all day finally arrived smothering many of the lanterns, and making the task of relighting them a little too ambitious. So, we headed down the mountain for some warm comfort food and called it a day… and that’s just the beginning of my 4-day weekend!