My visits home are not complete with out a trip to Vegas! Cody was supposed to have an interview, but they ended up canceling it as we were driving there. We thought about it for a minute and pulled over then decided since he had already taken the time off work, why not just go anyways? We did a pool day, walked around the strip, saw Zumanity, and had Korean food with my friend Vinnie. It was Cody's first time to try it and we had some amazing spicy dak galbi and Cody was all about the kimchi! I knew he would like it since he likes spicy and pickled things. Zumanity was another awesome cirque show!
My mom and I took a quick little visit down to Tuscon to see Brian where we were walking to go a restaurant and found a Korean place on the way.. Brian had also never had korean.. It wasn't nearly as good as the stuff Cody got to have in Vegas but still never enough japchae, pajeon, kimchi, or bulgogi.
Usually I like to have most things prepared at least a few days before my departure but was so busy with so many other things I didn't have it all together. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for technology.. I couldn't survive a year with just using my phone as communication device. I'm not super tech savy so spent some time at best buy playing with all the new toys and ended up buying a "connected" tablet which means I can use it as a phone with a SIM card in Australia if my phone does end up crashing! Plus i'll just buy a bluetooth keyboard and be able to easily blog about my experiences, and just keep lots of memory sticks to be able to organize photos! Sadly, my gopro went for a little swim at the bottom of lake pleasant and I looked for waterproof housing for my canon camera but wasn't able to find it. I think that maybe down the line I will see if I can get another since those moments where you are in the ocean or its' raining out, its the perfect thing to have. I finally got everything all together just the night before it was time to go. It all fit in my big back, a small duffle, and my little backpack. However my things combined weighed over 35 pounds which doubled the amount that I brought to Latin America! But to be fair, I'm moving somewhere so I need a few more outfits than just two!
My first little stopover en route to Asia was a two night one day in lovely San Francisco spent with the Rose's. I walked down the isle at the Gelman wedding with Steve and met Kelly actually the first weekend I was back in the USA after coming back from backpacking. They had just moved to Pacifica after living in Phoenix for quite a while and just starting up some life adventures after their daughter started college at ASU. Their apartment has an incredible view and overlooks the ocean. So I enjoyed an amazing night of sleep, and a leisurely breakfast, and hot shower! Then Kelly and I headed to Half Moon Bay, and a distillery on the coast. I had some delicious bread bowl clam chowder. The views on the drive down the 101 were incredible and so fun to catch up! For dinner I tried to think of something that I wouldn't have in a while.. and there is a little pizza place around the corner from them, that sounded amazing plus pizza in Korea is not like home. We hit a hilarious local dive bar after where we played what's new pussycat several times and made some people in there pretty angry, and they actually turned off the juke box. It was hilarious to see.
Steve dropped me off at the airport where the long journey to Busan began! I first had a flight to LAX and was super happy that I did not have to change terminals and my plane was just the next gate over. A much more pleasant experience because I probably would have missed the flight if not.. and after my last transfer at LAX I was really not looking forward to it. The next flight from LAX to Tokyo was really good. The meals were plentiful and actually not too bad. The seats were nice, blankets, pillows, etc. The in flight entertainment was not too bad either. The shows would start every 30 minutes or so which was annoying at times but plenty of selection. I watched three movies I think with some naps in the movies of course. In Tokyo the airport of course was wonderful and had tons of space and awesome lounge chairs to hang out in with wifi, and the flight had another meal. So I was well fed and not hungry, and in flight entertainment with Japan Airlines was even better than the previous with American. I've almost earned enough frequent flier miles to have a free US flight! WOOO! Why I didn't join a frequent flier program five years ago... I have no idea.
I landed in Busan and had to wait quite a while for the next bus to Pohang.. It was almost like I had never left, but then reminders of so many funny things that happen in Korea. I pulled out some cash, looked for some wifi unsuccessfully. From the bus terminal in Pohang I hopped in a taxi straight to Tilt to meet the bachelorette party. I at 7am in SF, and arrived at midnight in Pohang. Finally I got to see night my bestie Sunny as well. Towards the end of the night (4am ish)we got my first Korean food, some Haejangook.
It was a huge reunion at Tilt with tons of surprise to me, visitors, and of course a mix of all the people still living in Pohang. The next day we had a lovely beach day full of frisbee ish games like kan jam, spikeball and even some pick up. Then a huge group Korean Bbq dinner. The next day was the big wedding day for Ollie & Sunhwa. I haven't been to many weddings, but it was absolutely my favorite so far. I know I blogged before about the Korean wedding I went to of my Principals son. This was in one of the newest wedding halls. The parents of the bride and groom came out in their hanboks or traditional Korean outfits, then Ollie, then Sunhwa appeared from a corner stage with a big spotlight and opening curtain. Bowed to the parents, some vows. Owen was the most hilarious ring master. He first didn't want to come and bring the rings, he was busy outside playing I think? Then, threw a diva fit as he walked off the isle. Some of Ollie's friends sang a little song, Sunhwa's university choir group sang and danced to two Bruno Mars songs, and Ollie's brother made a song and everyone was up and dancing. Sewan and Patrick did a fabulous job being the MC's. Then we took some wedding pictures, headed to the buffet, and then to open bar time at Tilt. When Ollie, Sunhwa, and Owen arrived they had a sweet first family dance and the party started!
We of course stayed and danced our little hearts out and had a ton of fun in the photobooth where we got a little print out of the pictures.
The following day we had a nice little session of Ultimate on the beach with more visitors from the wedding. And lunch after, my all time favorite korean food Jjimduck!
That week I had some sub work in Daegu for a friend.. It was really fun to be back in the classroom after so much time away. Six on the Beach, the Ultimate Tournament was the following weekend. The party was a lot of fun, and it was great to have my friend from AZ Josie join me on the adventures and learn how to play.. Then win the most improved player from her team! I started subbing at a hagwon the Monday afternoon where I teach six classes with only a five minute break from Monday to Wednesday for two weeks. The Korean teachers assign all the things they want me to do during the class. I see only two of the same groups twice. The other Korean teachers at the hagwon are really nice but it seems really weird to just go through these books without making lesson plans. I understand the hagwon life a little bit more now. Most of the middle school students really don't want to be there, so that makes it a bit of a challenge, to do as many pages as we possibly can in the book, and then keep them interested in reading about the solar system and learning all sorts of vocabulary with crazy assignments in the book.
The first thing when I got in a taxi in Korea I started speaking Spanish to the taxi driver and he looked at me, like what... is wrong with you! It took a little bit to remember some of the common Korean phrases but I am thankful that I can still easily read the characters as that makes a huge difference trying to get around. Many things have changed since I left. The beach has many more Koreans using it instead of just those staring at the crazy foreginers in Bikinis. They still cover up really well from the sun but at least are out enjoying the water on jetskis, boats, and tubes. There seems to be a lot more people driving their own cars. It seems like each morning there is a grey haze over the sky until the sun comes out.. Not sure if that is weather or pollution caused. The weather has been really nice and mild compared to the other Augusts I experienced! Not too humid or hot, just perfect beach going weather!
Anyways it has been a great time so far and still looking forward to some more events and another week of teaching before I head to Seoul to spend more time with Sunny. Then it's off to Sydney to start the next grand adventure in the land down under! I couldn't be more excited. The plan now is just to visit Sydney then on to Melbourne to start work and life! :)
My mom and I took a quick little visit down to Tuscon to see Brian where we were walking to go a restaurant and found a Korean place on the way.. Brian had also never had korean.. It wasn't nearly as good as the stuff Cody got to have in Vegas but still never enough japchae, pajeon, kimchi, or bulgogi.
Usually I like to have most things prepared at least a few days before my departure but was so busy with so many other things I didn't have it all together. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for technology.. I couldn't survive a year with just using my phone as communication device. I'm not super tech savy so spent some time at best buy playing with all the new toys and ended up buying a "connected" tablet which means I can use it as a phone with a SIM card in Australia if my phone does end up crashing! Plus i'll just buy a bluetooth keyboard and be able to easily blog about my experiences, and just keep lots of memory sticks to be able to organize photos! Sadly, my gopro went for a little swim at the bottom of lake pleasant and I looked for waterproof housing for my canon camera but wasn't able to find it. I think that maybe down the line I will see if I can get another since those moments where you are in the ocean or its' raining out, its the perfect thing to have. I finally got everything all together just the night before it was time to go. It all fit in my big back, a small duffle, and my little backpack. However my things combined weighed over 35 pounds which doubled the amount that I brought to Latin America! But to be fair, I'm moving somewhere so I need a few more outfits than just two!
My first little stopover en route to Asia was a two night one day in lovely San Francisco spent with the Rose's. I walked down the isle at the Gelman wedding with Steve and met Kelly actually the first weekend I was back in the USA after coming back from backpacking. They had just moved to Pacifica after living in Phoenix for quite a while and just starting up some life adventures after their daughter started college at ASU. Their apartment has an incredible view and overlooks the ocean. So I enjoyed an amazing night of sleep, and a leisurely breakfast, and hot shower! Then Kelly and I headed to Half Moon Bay, and a distillery on the coast. I had some delicious bread bowl clam chowder. The views on the drive down the 101 were incredible and so fun to catch up! For dinner I tried to think of something that I wouldn't have in a while.. and there is a little pizza place around the corner from them, that sounded amazing plus pizza in Korea is not like home. We hit a hilarious local dive bar after where we played what's new pussycat several times and made some people in there pretty angry, and they actually turned off the juke box. It was hilarious to see.
Steve dropped me off at the airport where the long journey to Busan began! I first had a flight to LAX and was super happy that I did not have to change terminals and my plane was just the next gate over. A much more pleasant experience because I probably would have missed the flight if not.. and after my last transfer at LAX I was really not looking forward to it. The next flight from LAX to Tokyo was really good. The meals were plentiful and actually not too bad. The seats were nice, blankets, pillows, etc. The in flight entertainment was not too bad either. The shows would start every 30 minutes or so which was annoying at times but plenty of selection. I watched three movies I think with some naps in the movies of course. In Tokyo the airport of course was wonderful and had tons of space and awesome lounge chairs to hang out in with wifi, and the flight had another meal. So I was well fed and not hungry, and in flight entertainment with Japan Airlines was even better than the previous with American. I've almost earned enough frequent flier miles to have a free US flight! WOOO! Why I didn't join a frequent flier program five years ago... I have no idea.
I landed in Busan and had to wait quite a while for the next bus to Pohang.. It was almost like I had never left, but then reminders of so many funny things that happen in Korea. I pulled out some cash, looked for some wifi unsuccessfully. From the bus terminal in Pohang I hopped in a taxi straight to Tilt to meet the bachelorette party. I at 7am in SF, and arrived at midnight in Pohang. Finally I got to see night my bestie Sunny as well. Towards the end of the night (4am ish)we got my first Korean food, some Haejangook.
It was a huge reunion at Tilt with tons of surprise to me, visitors, and of course a mix of all the people still living in Pohang. The next day we had a lovely beach day full of frisbee ish games like kan jam, spikeball and even some pick up. Then a huge group Korean Bbq dinner. The next day was the big wedding day for Ollie & Sunhwa. I haven't been to many weddings, but it was absolutely my favorite so far. I know I blogged before about the Korean wedding I went to of my Principals son. This was in one of the newest wedding halls. The parents of the bride and groom came out in their hanboks or traditional Korean outfits, then Ollie, then Sunhwa appeared from a corner stage with a big spotlight and opening curtain. Bowed to the parents, some vows. Owen was the most hilarious ring master. He first didn't want to come and bring the rings, he was busy outside playing I think? Then, threw a diva fit as he walked off the isle. Some of Ollie's friends sang a little song, Sunhwa's university choir group sang and danced to two Bruno Mars songs, and Ollie's brother made a song and everyone was up and dancing. Sewan and Patrick did a fabulous job being the MC's. Then we took some wedding pictures, headed to the buffet, and then to open bar time at Tilt. When Ollie, Sunhwa, and Owen arrived they had a sweet first family dance and the party started!
We of course stayed and danced our little hearts out and had a ton of fun in the photobooth where we got a little print out of the pictures. The following day we had a nice little session of Ultimate on the beach with more visitors from the wedding. And lunch after, my all time favorite korean food Jjimduck!
That week I had some sub work in Daegu for a friend.. It was really fun to be back in the classroom after so much time away. Six on the Beach, the Ultimate Tournament was the following weekend. The party was a lot of fun, and it was great to have my friend from AZ Josie join me on the adventures and learn how to play.. Then win the most improved player from her team! I started subbing at a hagwon the Monday afternoon where I teach six classes with only a five minute break from Monday to Wednesday for two weeks. The Korean teachers assign all the things they want me to do during the class. I see only two of the same groups twice. The other Korean teachers at the hagwon are really nice but it seems really weird to just go through these books without making lesson plans. I understand the hagwon life a little bit more now. Most of the middle school students really don't want to be there, so that makes it a bit of a challenge, to do as many pages as we possibly can in the book, and then keep them interested in reading about the solar system and learning all sorts of vocabulary with crazy assignments in the book.
The first thing when I got in a taxi in Korea I started speaking Spanish to the taxi driver and he looked at me, like what... is wrong with you! It took a little bit to remember some of the common Korean phrases but I am thankful that I can still easily read the characters as that makes a huge difference trying to get around. Many things have changed since I left. The beach has many more Koreans using it instead of just those staring at the crazy foreginers in Bikinis. They still cover up really well from the sun but at least are out enjoying the water on jetskis, boats, and tubes. There seems to be a lot more people driving their own cars. It seems like each morning there is a grey haze over the sky until the sun comes out.. Not sure if that is weather or pollution caused. The weather has been really nice and mild compared to the other Augusts I experienced! Not too humid or hot, just perfect beach going weather!
Anyways it has been a great time so far and still looking forward to some more events and another week of teaching before I head to Seoul to spend more time with Sunny. Then it's off to Sydney to start the next grand adventure in the land down under! I couldn't be more excited. The plan now is just to visit Sydney then on to Melbourne to start work and life! :)
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