Springy Spring

 

Springy Spring!       16 Apr

Last weekend we had a nice adventure trying to get to Seoul! I’ve never had a problem getting a bus ticket on a Friday night but I usually go earlier then when we went  because it takes Nichole a bit to get home from school in the mountains.  I wanted to just hop on a bus from the express bus terminal and go from there. It takes us much closer to Shane’s house than the other bus terminal. Marlene had come from Gyeongju to meet us and taken the bus in Pohang to switch bus terminals! We got there and tickets were sold out until 9. So we rush back to the other bus terminal to find their tickets are sold out until 9 as well. I whip out my phone and try and figure out if there are KTX tickets available. There are. So we hop on a bus to get to the KTX station. I asked the driver several times before sitting down because we were in a rush. Each time I asked he said yes, Gyeongju KTX.. We get about 5 minutes down the road, I ask the girl sitting next to me. She says no.. the bus driver stops the bus. Stands up and starts yelling at us in Korean. We have no idea what he is staying, just stand there blankly. He hands us back our ticket and we then have to walk back to the bus terminal… We switch our tickets into just Gyeongju and will take a city bus to get to the KTX station.. Finally we get on a bus, get to the ktx tickets, get our seats together and are on the way!  It was my first KTX ride and it was really nice! But going through all that hassle, even if it was planned out you only save about an hour or so and it costs about 15 bucks more. So to me I rather just sit on the bus one more hour, but maybe for the future when I have a big group coming, have to book in advance. The KTX goes 300 km an hour or something like that. It literally feels like you’re flying! That was an adventure, we couldn’t believe how rude the bus driver was. We did ask before we got on where we were going and to just make us walk back to the bus terminal.. pshh! Quite rude.

When we arrived in Seoul, we picked up Lucy’s then headed to Shane’s to drop our stuff for the night. The plan was just for Marlene & Lucy to stay there. I didn’t want to completely take over Shane’s house.. well when we got back we just decided Abby & Nichole could squeeze in and snuggle party. We met some fun people out in Itaewon and had a late night. Lucy got one guy kicked out because he wouldn’t leave her alone and was being creepy! Then met some Mexican diplomats/Tequila Salesman? haah.

Got up Sat morning and headed to a nice bakery Shane knew of that made nice sandwiches on normal wheat bread, cheese, ahhh it was really nice. Then from there we headed to Seoul tower. It was a beautiful nice clear day out! From there we headed to Hongdae on search of “Free Arts” Saturday but never quite found it. We did find shopping, more friends, and a hair salon for Abby. From there we headed back to Itaewon to get ready for the concert. We picked up some taco’s to go and then a bottle of Absolut Vodka and some sprite, made some cocktails and got ready!   Then we were off to party rock and see LMFAO.We took a van taxi because there were 5 of us so a normal taxi wouldn’t take us. When we got there, we picked up our tickets and went right in! From there we hung out int he back for a bit, then Heather and I wanted to meet up with the Pohangers who were closer to the front.. She went right through the guy checking the wrist bands, but then he checked mine and said no.. I stood there for a while, and my friends came over to figure out a way to get me in. Another girl slipped off her wrist band, I slipped it on, then a different guy was working and good to go! Woo like 10 rows or so back from the front!

The concert was lots of fun! It wasn’t quite Lady GaGa or Edge Fest. But was definitely worth it. I really enjoyed myself. It was very funny to see how little LMFAO Koreans knew besides Party Rock Anthem. Sky Blue had an injury or something so didnt’ even sing or show up. :/ Either way the dancing was amazing. But the venue was much smaller then I expected, and they sold nothing int here. NO food, water, alcohol.. It was funny when they were singing “shots” song and no one could put their cup in the air.

After the concert we braved the long subway ride to Hongdae to go out in Seoul. Unfortunately most people were pretty tired and not really feeling it. Everyone went home at different times. I stuck it out with my Pohang crew until like 4 ish.. almost successfully stayed out all night in Seoul. Maybe next trip! Either way, I think the jumping and everything had everyone pooped and tired out.

Sunday we headed to a bar in Itaewon for some Western style breakfast/Western Food. We were about to start eating when this group of still drunk dudes walk into the place. (we were the only ones before) and just pull up chairs and sit down around us. They were being extremely obnoxious and rude. We wanted them to go away so we could enjoy our breakfast and they wouldn’t leave! The only people working were two tiny Korean chicks, and the cook.. With Shane, Lucy & one of the guys in the group finally got them to go sit away from us where they could smoke, and continue drinking at 11am on Sunday! After that most people parted ways. I went to a foreigner shop and got oatmeal, frosting, mac & cheese, taco seasoning, hmm maybe something else too. It is ridiculously over priced compared to home.. Like 5 bucks for the box of Mac & cheese. But sometimes you get desperate and need a little taste of home!

Wednesday was a public holiday so I went on a 15ish Km Hike to Borgnesoya. A big mountain and temple near my house. It’s about a 30 minute bus ride. I had organized a big event for lots of people in Pohang to come to but there were some sprinkles in the morning so it scared people off. It ended up being perfect so it wasn’t as crowded! Just the dedicated ones who wanted to do the whole thing! It was awesome, we got to see all 12 water falls. There were some sprinkles in the end but no downpour. Then the bus only comes every 90 minutes and we still had about an hour to wait. Mary, one of my friends from South Africa who is probably the most free spirited person I’ve ever met! Anyways, she decided she didnt’ want to wait for the bus, so said we should try and hitch hike. We stood at the end of the parking lot for about 5 minutes, then a BMW with a young Korean couple pulls up and moves their stuff from the back seat so the three girls can hop in. They were going to Busan, but dropped us right off outside my little town. I was extremely excited for my first hitch hiking experience. And there is no better place to do that than Korea. I don’t think I could do it in the states..

Monday night Nichole hosted dinner club and she wined and dined us! It was awesome. We had pasta, with an Italian salad, some wine cocktails, fruit, ice cream. I made pumpkin/carrot bread with frosting as well! It was delish and tons of fun to have a girls night.

Tuesday night I went and practiced some salsa! Despite missing all the classes except the first one, I’ve caught on pretty well. The Ceroc (my MCC social dance class) that I took a year ago really helped. We do a lot of standing by ourselves and doing the steps. It is so much more fun to do with an actual partner which were slowly getting to!

Thursday after school I went to a lake nearby and checked out some Cherry Blossoms. It was super pretty! I hope they last for a few weeks they are sooo pretty! But it’s funny how the rest of the tree just looks so bare and empty until the blossoms! But we’ll see the weather has been super duper windy, and rainy. :/

Friday finally taught my high school classes again. We talked about traveling. I had a really bright group of boys, they were very engaged, respectful, and interested in my lesson.   Then had a birthday party to attend at Tilt, themed the Seven Deadly Sins. I didn’t exactly dress up. I have this funny ironic shirt a girl gave me that says nicotine, caffeine, alcohol. So I wore that, kind of as a general sinner. I usually wear the shirt inside out because it’s an awesome purple color, but the message is horrible!

Saturday slept in. Then went and watched some rugby games and hung out with my favorite South Africans. A new friend, Henco has been in Korea four years had us over, then cooked this delicious South African stew type dish. It was to die for and an awesome evening with friends just chillin, listening to music, telling stories, watching you tube!

Today I got to skype briefly with Sarah finally! Then cleaned my apartment. In the busyness had become an absolute disaster! Dishes over flowing and clothes everywhere!! Finally I biked to the beach! I wanted to go on a run and it was such a nice day out! So loaded up the ipod, left the phone at home, and had some nice alone time at Chilpo Beach. Got some much needed Vitamin D as well. Laid in the sand for a while, then went on a 40 minute run through the sand! That was sooo hard, but good training for 10k coming up in a few weeks! EEK! Then finally got to attend salsa class again! My salsa shoes came in. I need to wear them some more, they are a little uncomfy at the moment but hopefully they get better! After salsa we have dinner with the class members and I really wish I knew a little more Korean so could interact more with them! Slowly they are starting to speak a little more English which is cool!

This week at school was interesting. Eunjeong told Joanne that she was going to take sick leave for a year. Then she told the principal that she was going to take sick leave for a month. Then she ended up taking sick leave for 1 week. So I had to teach classes on Thursday with the home room teachers. The students were absolutely wonderful! I would love to do that. Be in full control of the lesson and just have assistance with discipline, and a few translations. It was so cool, and kids seemed so much more interested and some were excited that my Eunjeong wouldn’t be there. I would teach ESL forever if I found a nice situation like that. I love it! My co teacher says she will be back on Thursday.. We’ll see what happens. But something must be going on, and she isn’t happy. Or something wrong with her pregnancy? I have no idea.. We’ll see what happens this upcoming week!

I’m soo excited for this warmer weather! Koreans are saying this year there isn’t really a spring. Just really short and it’s going to get really warm quickly! But I’m totally okay with that. Would rather sweat any day then be cold!  Either way am excited to be able to literally bike about 20 minutes and be on the beach! Then all the sports and things with friends on the weekends. I am so thankful for this job. I’ve never had a 9-5 before always worked strange hours and Saturdays since I was like 14 and sometimes Sundays. Sometimes on the weekend I still wake up and am horrified that I missed work! To have the weekends completely free to do anything you want is amazing!

Much love! <3             N