The Children's Museum

    
     Today I took my pre-kindergarden class to the Children's Museum.  They had a wonderful time!  When we arrived, we were directed into the broadcasting room.  It was a room where the children interacted in a tv production.  They were on video camera and got to hold up signs.  After that, we went from floor to floor, exploring. 

     There was a water room, ball room, and music room.  My students favorite room was the construction area.  There was a mini crane that they could operate and big foam blocks to build a house.  They had a wonderful time.

Rooftop Paradise

     Living in a big city has its perks, along with its disadvantages.  I enjoy the public transportation.  I can take a bus, subway, or taxi any where and any time.  There are various restaurants and convience stores within walking distance. 
     The disadvantage is that I do not have a yard.  I would have to walk to the park and there are a ton of people there.  After much debate, I decided to sun bathe on my roof.  There is only one other apartment on my level and no one ever goes outside, so I figured why not.  It was a wonderful afternoon.

Living The Island Dream

     This weekend I had a mini get-a-way to Seonyudo Islands.  I departed early in the morning and arrived at the ferry around 11:00 a.m.  My excitement was building and I failed to see the intense fog that engulfed the surrounding buildings and the sea.  I waited in line to board the ferry, and to my surprise, the ferry was cancelled.  The next boarding was at 1:30.  Julie, Jim, and I decided to enjoy the wait and had a few beers.  Before we knew it, we were aboard the ferry and on our way.

     It was smooth sailing and we arrived in a wonerful bay an hour later.  We placed our packs onto a golf cart and walked to a bicycle rental shop.  I always imagined myself riding around an island on a pink bike, with a basket.  Today, my dream came true. 
     I arrived at the rental shop and saw the perfect bicycle.  There was only one...pink and with a basket.  I was estatic when the shop owner allowed me to take it.  I will admit, I looked a little silly, being the only person with a pink bike in a sea of mountain bikes. 

     The islands are linked together by narrow bridges, that allow only a bicycle or a motorcycle through.  The main island is the only one that has golf carts.  We biked up hills (I had to walk my bike up, no gears), coasted along shore lines, and weaved in between houses.  We stopped periodically to embrace the scenery.  At one stop, we walked out to an island.  The sea had parted and left a pathway of shells.  Scattered across the island was smooth, emerald sea glass.  It was amazing.  After collecting the glass (cheap souvenir), I peered into mini pools that were left when the tide went out.  Inside the pools were crabs and sea stars.  Along the way back, we also found a hidden cove.  The beach was empty and all I could hear was the waves splashing the rocks.  It will be my new "peaceful place."

 In the evening, I enjoyed a traditional Korean dinner and went to the beach to watch the sunset.  It was picture perfect.  As the sun was setting among the islands, people were digging up tube worms.  As the tide goes out, the tube worms will push up sand.  When you see this area, you scrape off the top layer of sand and pour salt into the hole.  The clam pops up, you grab quickly, and then put them in a bucket of water.  After an hour of soaking, you can grill them up. 

    


     The evening consisted of beers, bonfire, and fireworks.  The Koreans were a riot and really enjoyed their soju (rice vodka).  They were coming up and giving us food and were highly entertaining.  They set off numerous fireworks.  I even had a crab placed in my hand by a child.  I was very surprised!

 
    
The islands only have limited accomodations, so there were not many tourists.  In fact, when we went on our bike rides, we didn't see anyone.  I stood out as a foreiner and when I passed a Korean, they were excited to say hello and wave.  They were very welcoming and friendly.  When I was reading a book on the beach, a gentleman came up and offered me a bean pie.  The previous night, a few children came up and brought me onion rings.  It was a refreshing view on Koreans and a place that I will not forget. 

Small Fishing Village



Fish hanging to dry on a bridge

Dogs were hidden everywhere

A Well Deserved Weekend

     After a couple of stressful weeks at work, I needed a nice weekend get away.  I had decided to go with two fellow co-workers (Barbara and Kelly) to Busan for our three day weekend.  We traveled through the night and arrived a little past 3 A.M. at Busan.  Of course the motel was a love motel... with a circular bed!
     The next morning, we went to Yong Goong Sa Temple.  The buddhist temple is one of my favorite yet.  It was quite different from all of the temples that I have visited in the past.  It was perched on a cliffside, next to the East Sea.  It was a peaceful to walk along the arched bridge and listen to the waves smashing against the rocks.  The buddhist prayer was playing in the background and I sipped on fresh squeezed pineapple juice.   It was the start to a great weekend.
     Next, the truck dropped us off at Haeundae Beach, the most famous beach of all South Korea.  We started, by walking down a hill at the far right end of the beach.  We decided to go to Gecko's a popular expat restaurant that serves western food.  It was located right on the beach.  We grabbed a seat outside, to watch the interesting people passing by.  To our surprise, there was an air show with the Black Eagles!  It was amazing.

     After lunch, I laid out on the beach and viewed the sand sculptures from the world sand sculptor exhibition.  It is wonderful to various artists work with different mediums, especially sand.  I also enjoyed sand boarding.  There was a giant sand dune in the center of the beach.  People were boarding and riding a sled down it. 

   

The evening was spent on a patio next to the shore.  I ate pasta, sipped on wine, and relaxed with the girls.      

 I awoke the next morning to a sky lit up with wonderful rays of sun.  Perfect beach weather.  I headed to the beach (Gwanganli Beach).  This beach was very peaceful, with a few people spread out.  It was populated with Koreans and just a few foreigners.  I enjoyed watching the jet ski whizzing by and the banana boat. 
     After a late lunch, we took the subway to Haeundae Beach.  We knew it was going to be a great start to the night, when we saw a beer truck on the street handing out free beer to anyone who came up.  No I.D. required.  Only in Korea would this be possible!  We headed over to the boardwalk and found a front row seat to the Salsa Dance Competition.  Kelly and I enjoyed cocktails made fresh from home and watched Barbara and others enjoy the dancing.    I got dragged out on the floor, twice.  I haven't any clue how do dance, but the instructor tried his best.  It was really hard, but very fun.  It sparked an interest, and I just might take some lessons.

Enjoying a drink

Yes, I drank from this hole in the ground at the temple.

Fresh Vegetables

Green Tea Plantation

    
     This weekend I traveled with my co-workers, Jim and Julie, to Gwang ju.  We traveled by bus, about a 3 hour and half hour journey.  When we arrived at the bus terminal, we searched for a locker to place our belongings in, while we continued on our journey.  To our surprise, the lockers required a thumb print to secure your belongings.  You just placed your thumb in the scanner and the locker closed.  It was very convienent, in the fact that you did not need to worry about a key. 

     Our trip continued with a second bus to the Boseong Bus Terminal (approx. 40 minutes), and a taxi to our final destination: Boseong Green Tea Plantation.  The Boseong Dawon Tea Plantation is on the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula. The temperate climate of this region is ideal for green tea cultivation. This plantation was established in 1957.  It is famous for ujeon, the highest quality of green tea. 

     Green tea leaves are divided into categories based on when the leaves are picked depending on the season and weather conditions. Green tea leaves are harvested 3-4 times annually in Korea.  The first leaves are  picked before Gokwoo (April 20).  The tea is made of the earliest bud after the cold winter and is the highest grade. The second harvest of leaves picked is called Sejak.  These leaves are harvested before the leaves fully open in early May.  It can also be called, Jakseol.  This means birds tongue, because the leaf looks like a bird's tongue and is one of the most popular teas.  The remaining two teas are:  Daejak and Yep tea.

The bushes in the background that are bare have already been picked.

     When I arrived, the air was filled with a wonderful fragrance.  It was amazing to climb the stairs and look at the rows of green tea bushes.  I walked in between the rows and took in the quiet atmosphere.  I climbed to the peak, where I was able to view the coast line.  I ascended along the backside of the hill, coming across older, green tea bushes.  There a serene stream that ran along the path, which I followed until I reached the bottom of the plantation. 

    
     I had worked up quite an appetite and tried green tea noodels.  They were quite delicious, and yes, they were green.  Dessert, was green tea ice cream.  It had a very stong taste and I could only eat a little, but it was quite delicious. 

Green Tea Ice Cream

     The evening was spent in Gwang ju.  It is very hard to find hotels in Korea, even in major cities.  Many hotels are dubbed the name, "love motels."  The rooms are usually rented by the hour.  So it is advised to check out a room before you stay there (even if the establishment looks nice).  He found a decent place and had a typical night for friends in Korea.  We sat outside a Family Mart (similar to a 7/11) and had a beer, snacks, and talked. 

     The next day took us to the Damyang Bamboo Forest.  It was worth the trip.  We spent hours walking among the touring bamboo plants.  I never knew that they could grow so tall!  I knocked on a few, because I couldn't believe that they were hollow on the inside.  They forest had a sweet smell and provided shade that was a great relief from the scorching sun.  When a breeze would sweep through the forest, the trees would make a beautiful rustling sound.  They would sway at the top, leaves falling down. 

    

      Lunch was bamboo rice.  The rice was served in a bamboo plant, with red beans.  It was very moist and had a slightly different taste.  I really enjoyed it.  We also had a wonderful array of side dishes.  Most, I could not eat, because they were too spicy. 

Bamboo Rice

    Along the way, the landscape was full of rice paddies!  They were nestled in valleys or spread across open land.  It made the long bus ride enjoyable.

 

Relaxing on the bus.

 It was a wonderful weekend trip!

Julie tried a green tea leaf.  It wasn't very good!

New Bamboo Sprout

 

Teacher's Day

    On Friday, I received numerous gifts throughout the day from my students.  The gifts were for Teacher's Appreciation Day (May 15).  It is a day to thank teacher's for their dedication and hard-work.  I was very appreciative of the gifts that I received.  The gifts ranged from Starbuck's gift certificates to Prada perfume and MAC make-up. 
     Many parents give the gifts for thanks, but some believe that if they give a great gift, their student will receive extra attention.  Bribery has been a growing problem in Korea, especially among teachers and tutors.  I am glad to say that I treat every child as an equal.

Gifts from my Students

Yellow Dust

     Spring in Korea is beautiful.  Flowers are blooming everywhere, the air is filled with a sweet scent, and the trees are brilliant green.  Now imagine a filter placed over your eyes.  This is what it is like with "yellow dust" in the air.  Everything has a thin brown film on it.  Buildings, windows, cars, even my table and counter.  The sky looks foggy and hazy.  Local people will wear masks to cover their noses, acting as a filter against the heavily polluted air.  On days when the "yellow dust" is high, parents will encourage their children to play indoors.  I too, wear a mask on my walk to work.
     Yellow Dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms will carry fine, dry soil particles. The particles are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China and Korea.  When the particles pass over China, they pick up heavy pollutants, which are carried and dropped along their way.  In significant concentrations, the dust can affect air quality.
     Many Koreans that I have met, blame China for the dust and the polluted particles that leaves on their country.  While traveling in China, I was able to see the work being done to decrease the large concentrations of the yellow dust.  China is planting trees ontop of its hills and mountains to act as a filter for the yellow dust.  It was great to have the opportunity to see an active approach to a problem that occurs every spring in Korea.

My Hello Kitty Mask