DMZ

Sorry, the website turned to Korean and I didn't know how to change it back but I finally figured it out. Anyway, last week I went, with a couple of the other teachers, to the DMZ (Demiliterized Zone between North and South Korea). It was both educational, fun and depressing, if that makes any sense. It was definitely educational to see everything. It was fun because I spent the day with 2 amazing people. But is was depressing to think that the people of North Korea are living in such horrible conditions and there is little a person like me could do. We got to go into a tunnel that the North Koreans had dug to try to attack Seoul. There are 4 in total. I think we went into the 3rd one discovered. The fourth was discovered in 1990, not that long ago. A bit chilling. We also got to go to an observation deck to see into the north. Again, chilling because not only were we looking into North Korea as though they were animals in a cage for observation, but because the city we looked into, complete with a factory and a single high rise building and a few homes up in the hills, looked completely fake and empty, only put up to give the look of 'everything is normal over here.' We were not allowed to take pictures of the tunnel or the city. I don't know just why, but there were guards who would take your camera and erase the pictures if you tried. It was a good learning experience but I do not see myself going back.

Children's Grand Park Zoo

I took one of my classes to the zoo today!!! We are learning about elephants so me and another teacher thought it would be a good idea to go to the zoo. Of course, the elephant turned out not to be there today. bummer. But we saw tons of other animals like lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, zebras and polar bears. The kids loved it and I loved taking the kids. So much fun. Enjoy the pics.

Jeju Island

So this happened before my last post but I just got the pictures from my friend. I had only been here a couple weeks and we already had a 3 day weekend at the school. A group of girls had planned to go to Jeju Island, Korea's version of Hawaii, and they got me a ticket to got. Lucky me! It was so much fun not only to have a little vacation already but to be almost a celebrity. Only Korean's vacation there so they are not used to foreigners. We had about 3 people ask for pictures with us and boys hitting on us. LOL. So much fun.

The first day we spent the entire time on the beach. It was great. They had umbrella's set out for people to lay out on. They rented tubes so float on, too. They only bad thing was that there were so many people it was hard to relax without bumping into someone.

The second day we went to a couple of the beautiful waterfalls on the island. Chungeyon and Chungiyon (I think that is how you spell them) falls. The last day we went to see some volcano lava tubes caves. Awesome. The most fun part, though, was renting ATVs on another island we took a 15 minute fairy to. It took only 1 hour to drive around the whole thing. So much fun.

A great start to my time here.

Month 1

So I have been here for a month. I still don't have a camera so I am waiting for pics from friends. I have a few from my video camera. I went to Seoul Tower this weekend. It is in Namsan (South Mountain). It is a beautiful tower in the middle of the city. You can see the entire city. I am gonna try to go back in the fall when the leaves change, in the winter when it snows, and in the spring when there are flowers and take more pics. At the bottom of the tower, to my suprise, there was a mexican band playing!! So funny. Something I thought I would never see.

Nothing crazy exciting has happened but I was told about an amazing Italian restaurant. I have also been to some great Indian places. I have loved all the Korean BBQ. Love it so far.

The only bad thing so far is that I have not been able to get a cell phone. Aparently foreigners dont pay their bills so no one wants to cell to them. Great. Also, asians have such small feet that no one carries my shoe size. The only place that did wanted $80 a pair!! I don't pay $80 for shoes. I can barely get myself to pay $25. It's okay though. My mom is wonderful and is sending me some. I love her.

I am here!!!!

I miss and love you all so much. I am so sorry I have not written. Tomorrow I will have been here 3 weeks and I just got internet at my apartment today!!! There is so much to say. So, I wont lie. My first night here I freaked out. It was a combo of stun and no sleep on the 12 hour flight with only 4 hours of sleep the night before. But I overcame that quickly. I am so lucky. I was hired with an amazing school. There are many horror stories of private schools only being in it for the money and doing things to the teachers but this one is amazing and really is in it for the kids. I have my own classroom and I teach 5 different sets of kids in 5 and 6 year old classes. They are all 3 hours long. Some kids come once a week, some 2 and some 4. My apartment that they provided me is amazing for Korea. It is big and modern. It is only a 15 minute bus ride from the school. There are about 15 foreign teachers. Some leave at the end of the month and when they do I will be the only American left. The rest are from Canada. LOL. They have all been so amazing and helpful. I have already become close friends with a few of them.

So, I have already been shopping twice in Miyoung-dong, a big shopping district near the school. It is my new home away from home, away from home. =) I have already spent $250 on clothes, YIKES. Very little of the clothes fit me, which sucks but is kinda funny, because Asians are usually so petite. I don't think I am going to find any shoes, with my size 9 fat feet but keep your fingers crossed for me. The jewelery is amazing, though! However, they have recently opened a Forever 21 which is just my style.

The teachers have taken me to eat many places including Korean which my new favorite meal is Shabo-shabo. It is a meal where they serve slices of beef with mushroom, bean sprouts, lettuce, onion and more. You boil it in a pot of broth right on your table. AMAZING. There is also Kimbop, and others I can't remember the name. So far I have not found anything I don't like. (I refuse to eat anything with tentacles) There are also American chains here like Pizza Hut, although they love to put corn on their pizza. Who knew?

Itewon is an "white town" where many of the American chains can be found and a lot of foreigners like the military. Too bad I don't like military men. LOL

I have also been to Hongday, the party district where it is easy to be out till 4am.

I am having so much fun and I appreciate every ones love and support. I miss you and hope you are all doing well. Please, keep in touch. I will try to post photos. I will write more as soon as I can.

Marissa, give me suggestions of places to go!!!