Korea's Changes

A few people asked me what I was graduating from that I was, well, endowed with a graduation gift. I have graduated from nothing, but my Korean kindergarteners have all moved on to elementary school. The new school year starts in March, and starting Monday I will be teaching completely new children every day. I'm excited about my new class, but sad to see my students go. I hate goodbyes, and I'm forced to realize that over half of my time here in Korea has already passed. 

Yet, time passing isn't all bad. On July 16th 2008, I wrote that Gimbap is one of the worst foods I've ever had, but somewhere in the past 7 months it's become my new favorite food. I eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's only a 2,000 won meal. Truly remarkable things have happened since arriving in Korea, like my new found love of the color pink. In Korea, most things are shiny and bright and I've decided that my blog will be too.

Sony Angels

Sony Angels. All of the little girls in my class are obsessed with them. Besides the elephant angel pictured above, they also come with various vegetable hats and other animals. They're cute, but obsession worthy? Only after receiving one as a graduation present yesterday did it start to make sense.

It's a boy!!!!! Mazel tov.

Adventure

A hectic work schedule and tightening purse strings was leading me deeper and deeper into a dark pit of doom until a few weeks ago (it didn't quite look like the picture (it was a lot darker)). The stagnation produced more stagnation until I realized I hadn't gone anywhere in weeks and I was slowly starting to wonder if my trip to Asia was worth the mental journey or the airfare when it happened.

There was a sudden brilliance before the tunnel, when Elizabeth and I realized that Korea is so small we can take a day trip to almost anywhere in the country. We slept in Saturday (sleep had also been something I was feeling deprived of) and met at the bus terminal. We chose the bus departing at the nearest time, and were suddenly headed towards GwanJu (having no idea what direction the city was in or what was there).  What we found was adventure and happiness.

After a long walk down a river path (and some lecherous looks from old Korean men), we magically ended up in the downtown area of the city. There we found the singularly best drinking establishment I have ever been in. The Ethnic Cafe is a fire hazard at its very best, with hundreds of candles sitting and hanging around a center pool. Curtains form alcoves of pillows for lovers to nestle and adventurers to drink cold red wine (it seems impossible to find wine served at room temperature in this country). 

Since my journey down those candle lit stairs, my heart has beat a little faster, I've smiled a bit more, and life has become more enjoyable. The weather is warming and more journeys into unexplored basements will soon be at hand.