the long awaited....my korean experience (an unexpected visa run turns into much, much more)

i went to korea(south to be exact) last weekend for four whole days. unlike other vacations i've had over here this one had a very specific purpose called "get a new tourist visa". some call it a "visa run". i found myself in somewhat of a conundrum as my current application for a work visa had not come through yet and my tourist visa was almost expired. why not remedy the situation with a weekend getaway to seoul? and so i did.

it worked out pretty well considering i had to book my tickets less than a week before leaving. i found a welcoming, friendly and most importantly cheap hostel. the first night i arrived i met my dorm roommates who happened to be fellow alts(jennifer, daniel, and katie respectively) from japan. we were instant friends as i invited them to join me on a tour of the DMZ the next day. this was the most thrilling day. we learned a ton via our wise tour guide, austin (pronounced like the texan city), as we visit several key areas along the north korean/south korean border (otherwise known as the DMZ, de-militerized zone). the tour included visiting the third tunnel which the north koreans built in order to infiltrate the south after the cease-fire in 1953, the gyeongui train station which is now just a huge empty space awaiting the korean re-unification (the track is set up to go all the way to paris, but the remaining 3km are yet to be complete due to the countries separation), and the Dora Observatory which overlooks the north korean propaganda village. all very, very interesting.

this is north korea from Dora Observatory. you can see the huge statue of Kim ll-Sung and the North Korean flag waving opposite the South Korean flag.

this is at Freedom Bridge which was used by refugees from the north. south koreans who have family in the north place cards, flags, prayers, and letters along the entrance.





before i left japan i had several japanese teachers and friends tell me to enjoy the wonder that is korean food. and boy, were they right. the rest of the trip consisted of eating and shopping interspersed with some temple-viewing. we tried bibimbap, galbi, barbeque(korean of course), even the local favorite: live octopus! mainly this was my new friend daniel's undertaking, but i supported his efforts by taking photos and trying a little, non-moving, piece. the sauce was really good. i didn't keep it my mouth long enough to tasted the terrific "freshness" of the 'pus, but instead swallowed it right down. koreans are crazy.





another adventure occured the next day as i wandered off by myself at a old person festival. next thing i know i am dancing with some old korean men and their old lady friend is giving me korean liquour shots and shoving pig's foot in my mouth via metal chopsticks. this all took place within about a ten minute period. after realizing that the longer i stay the more i'd have to drink i decided to thank them profusely (the only thing i know how to say in hangul at this point) and duck out. koreans love them some blondies.

i got my name calligraphed by a korean artist at the park too. while he was painting i chatted with some of the old korean men. some of them spoke very good english and others spoke japanese. in general, i think that koreans are much more gregarious (without having to be drunk) than the japanese. though koreans do love their alcohol as evidenced above.

we decided to be as touristy as possible and partake in the infamous 32 centimeter ice cream cone. i decided to share this tall commodity with brad and his friend ryan. we hung out for our last night in the big city. we river-walked it, ate at a korean food stand and drank some korean brews. it was the perfect ending for an amazing long weekend in korea.


i woke up early the next morning to catch the bus to the airport and my hair looked like this. tsunami-esque. i thought it was funny. it was funny.

gunma ken marathon! (in my case only a quarter marathon)

this sunday, after spending most of saturday drinking wine at the coco winery harvest festival, i ran the 10k "marathon" in maebashi. my friend lisa and i entered together and we were initially very apprehensives as neither of us has ever (in our lives) ran that much. we were nervous as we listened for the much-awaited starting gun. however, our fears abated as we kept our pace slow and steady (we both read the "turtle and the hare" story when we were youngin's).

to our surprise, it was easy. i am still sort of shocked that i was not really that tired afterwards. and today i am amazed that i am not sore at all. when did i turn into a running machine? truth be told: i haven't. but that's not what it looks like in this photo. no? fine.

anyway, i ended up finishing 381st out of about 800 women. my time being: 1hr 4min 00sec. if you want to study some japanese you can search for this on the certificate. we also received t-shirts and free water. bonus.


p.s. still going to korea. woohoo!

kids! gotta love em.

i've been at shogakko this week and let me tell you, it has been a hoot. the students continue to be "bikuri-ed" (surprised) at the gaijin amidst them, saying "o ashuri sensei da-" whenever they see me from a distance. i feel like i've finally established myself as a full-fledged elementary school teacher since i've, as of recent, been able to conduct class (for the most part) without the assistant of the japanese teachers.

with that said, i still can't remember what beetle is in japanese even though most of my students absolutely love them. thus, my japanese skills are not quite as awesome as i'd like to imagine.

as part of their special "life lessons and future occupations" class, the 5th graders planted, grew, and harvested their very own field of rice. i was lucky enough to participate in the harvesting, or as we'd say in the midwest "harvestin'". the group of local farmers (old men) taught the kids and i the proper way to cut the rice with the miniture sickles. of course they said i was amazing. they say the same thing when i say konnichiwa. i suppose it could be some of that previous farming experience (see previous post "you see, old macdonald had this farm").

it was a humbling experience as one of the farmers cruised up in his high-tech, mini-combine, rice-harvesting tractor. i had to document this for my farming grandpa and uncle. they don't make machines quite so big here as they do in south dakota.

i spent the rest of the time frog-hunting with the students. japanese kids love them some lil critters. we took pictures of my "pretty shoes" and their boots. gotta love go nen sei.

on reading and relating...

i've been reading an oprah's book club favorite "white oleander" by janet fitch. it's a story of a daughter and her mother. it inspired me to think about how i've been shaped by my parents.

i am my mother's child:
-i love people through food
-i enjoy brushing my teeth after meals
-i have a small waist and a big bottom
-my nose has been referred to as "cauliflower-like"
-i can see my hands taking her shape already
-if i could go back and do it again i might be a nurse
-i worry for those i love

i am my father's child:
-i am stubborn(but only when it's really necessary...)
-i can analyze people/situations until the cows come home
-i am sensitive
-i'm not afraid to be honest
-i enjoy artistic challenges and working with my hands
-i am rational
-i am an athlete

yet another introspective blog entry. i'm going to korea soon. yea!

things that make you go hmmmm....(realizations in life. thank you c&c music factory.)

1) relationships change and usually it's a good thing
2) honesty is the most important element to any relationship...although white lies do come in handy for those awful haircuts and/or dorky glasses
3) students--be they adults, two year olds, or thirteen--can unfortunately make or break your day in fragile states*
4) i never want to validate myself through others again
5) when times get tough it's probably time to bring out the old verse "this too shall pass" (also the title of a stellar new song by india arie)
6) natto is the grossest, most disgusting thing on this planet and japanese people eat it (almost puking three times in front of 2nd graders is not cool)
7) music is perhaps the most amazing healing agent of all....that and a necessity for getting your groove on
8) talking to people who are millions of miles away and feeling as if you are in the same room is one of the best sentiments i've ever had
9) babies are cute, but japanese babies are usually cuter (except for august and nugget)
10) i have a very vivid imagination
11) as the years go by getting to know the real you gets easier and easier

*to be honest, as of late, i've been in love with my students. even the ni nen sei little bungholes who never listen.
** this update is brought to you by a thursday evening of skipping japanese class.

i tried some of bridget's ice cream at the international festival and it stuck to my lips and dropped to the ground. she was not pleased.
other photos need no explanation. just me dancing and wearing a sari.