Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Chuseok Holiday

추석

I spent Chuseok holiday in Seoul with my friends Jessica and Lucy.
As soon as we arrived, there was a typhoon.
That was an interesting experience.
Other than that, it was a great time.

Poor Jess, soaking wet from the rain!

This amazing photo was taken by Jess. Cats Living Cafe.
We were escaping from the typhoon.

Mr. Moon, one of the owners of the guest-house we frequent,
made us ddeoguk and we had some homemade kimchi too. 

Hundreds of old men playing baduk at Jongmyo Park.



Jongmyo Shrine, where the royal spirit tablets are housed. 

Playing the "1-2-3 Wee" game. 

Blue skies! Gyeongbuk Palace

If you wore your hanbok, you got in for free.



Saturday, September 25, 2010

10 Things I Love About South Korea

In a month I'm about to reach my one year mark here in Korea so I'd like to blog about the top 10 things I like/appreciate in Korea.

1. Korean food, it's delicious, I can't get enough.
I love the soup/stews here, it's spicy and served boiling hot, literally.
I have 4 soups/stews I eat on a regular basis feel free to give them a try sometime:
-Doenjang jjigae (Sometimes you get crab or little fish instead of clams or mussels)
-Sundubu jjigae (The picture isn't very appealing, but I promise it's good)
-Chamchi jjigae (This one has a recipe)
-Gamjatang (I don't eat the spine ha ha)

2. Public transportation.
-The city bus and subway systems are awesome.
-Also, the KTX train is top notch.
-Sometimes it's a better option to take the slower trains b/c they bring you closer to where you want to go.

3. My friends or Chin-gu-dul!
-My fellow ESL teachers, Korean, and military friends.
-I am thankful for all of you! :)

4. Day Trips.
-I can't even count how many day trips I've gone on this past year.
-Temples, palaces, shrines, mountains, beaches, parks, lakes, museums, shopping centers, markets...
-It's all for the most part been very inexpensive too!

5. Thankful Moments.
-People here in Korea are commonly very kind.
-I really appreciate all their help and attempts to help.

6. Cafes.
-I love tea and coffee and they do it well in Korea.
-Also, there are super cute cafes all around Korea.
-Cats Living Cafe in Hongdae in Seoul and Dr. Fish (everywhere in Korea) are some of my favorites.

7. Bang 
-No, not the kind on your head, but the word for 'room' in Korean.
-Dvdbang
-Noraebang
-Jjimjilbang

8. My apartment!
-It's cute, cozy, and has cat-tastic decor. :)
-I've had many good times here.
-Dinner parties, hours of chatting and connecting, movie marathons, and sleepovers.

9. Korean Stationary.
-I love sending postcards/letters home.
-There has been so much to choose from here, I can't get enough.

10. Last, but not least, MY JOB!
-This is one of the best jobs I've ever had.
-I love working with my students and it's great to see how much they have grown and changed over the past year :)

Here is to the next 7 months of adventures, and I promise you are going to be surprised! :) Oh I can't wait!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Summer is fading...fast.

It seems like in an instant summer has left Korea...
I suppose I am enjoying the cooler weather.
I dyed my hair dark again.
This month is a bit of a sad one...I'm saying "see you later" to a few friends.
I also have recently acquired 2.5 more gigs of music. :)
I can't complain.
Life is good.

Here are some snap shots from September.

Poor little Trig...she had surgery and then got sick. Bless her little heart :(

Guryongpo (Nine Dragon Beach)

The beach had so many little creatures. 

Freshly showered at the scuba school. 

See you soon, Jon, love you. 

Jess and I went to Siji and had amazing shabu shabu.
Afterwards, we went to a jjimjilbang (public bathhouse).
It was my first experience and it a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

Siji Square is torn apart. 
I hope to see the new and improved one before I leave.