Teacher's Trip

I went on a trip with the teachers to the southern part of Korea last Monday & Tuesday (July 20-21). It was stretching in many ways and I learned a lot about Korean culture. It was good for me to be the only foreigner (waygookin) traveling with 52 other Koreans. I'm really glad I went.

Unfortunately, my camera wasn't working very well, so I didn't get to take many pictures. However, one of the teachers shared his pictures with me, which I was quite thankful for!

Highlights of the trip included:

• Great bus conversations with Kang Meesuk
• Hae-in-sa Temple
  
  
  
• Visiting the Wetlands
  
  
  
• Singing A Whole New World with one of the math teachers at the Noraebang (karaoke). It was special.
  
  
  
• Good chats with teachers.
• Arguing with Kang Meesuk about who would be sleeping on the floor.
• Being flooded with memories of New Zealand with some beautiful breath-taking scenery. Perhaps GREEN is becoming my favorite color (they say absence makes the heart grow fonder...) I also learned that Korea is 70% mountainous.
  
  
  
• Geo Jae Island (the second largest island in Korea)
• Visiting the POW camp on Geo Jae Island. It was quite educational and fascinating to me. I have so much more to learn about Korean history!
  
  
• Had a full meal of hway (raw fish). It's true. It was emotionally/mentally somewhat traumatizing, but actually didn't taste too bad.
• Took a cable car ride and did a little bit of mountain climbing.
  
  
  
• Watched some Korean TV - the Beautiful Ladies show (foreign women who speak Korean fluently).
• Was treated to a nice cup of coffee by the vice principle
• Enjoyed observing the younger, single teachers - quite entertaining.^^
• Had a lovely chat with Kang Meesuk about journaling.
• Thankfully did not have to go to the hot springs and public showers (something I was a little nervous about...)
• Had extra time to read on the bus.
• Observed how quickly everyone ate dinner on the way back. Kang Meesuk and I laughed about the cultural differences I noticed. Everyone was finished in less than 10 minutes. I totally felt like there was some type of competition. I finished last... and was even doing my best to hurry. It was quite humorous as we reflected on it later.
  

I definitely had a good time. At the end however, I was ready to eat some western food (kimchi and rice for breakfast just doesn't work so well for me... followed by the raw fish... and then a race to see who could eat their dinner the fastest. lol.

I also decided that I'm really ready to go home and be with people that speak the same language with jokes that I can understand and truly laugh along with and feel connected with. I'm so thankful for Kang Meesuk's companionship, though. She is a dear and faithful friend.