Karaoke and Cherry Blossoms

Hey Everybody,

We’ve had an eventful couple of weeks, so we have lots to share with you!

A couple weekends ago, two of our good friends that we met on orientation decided to come to the island to check out where Andrew and I were living.

One of them biked in and one got a drive from a Korean co-worker. We decided to meet at a cherry blossom festival for the day. Andrew and I actually ended up (after a long cab ride) At the WRONG cherry festival haha.

This was actually a blessing because it was one of the most beautiful sights I have seen:

Andrew and I with Mi Jeong, his co-teacher

Andrew in front of his school, Daewol Elementary.

There were so many cherry blossom trees that the ground was completely white with the petals and it looked as if it was snowing. There was the most beautiful smell in the air and it was warm and sunny, it was just perfection…

Once we were done there, we went to the cherry blossom festival that our friends Dorian and Braek were at. We walked around for a while listened to some music and then headed downtown Ganghwa for some Galbi dinner.

With our friends Dorian and Braek:

That night we just stayed in and talked and laughed, and had a big breakfast in the morning all together.

Andrew and I then took them on a hike behind our house to see the lookout and the Buddhist temples before they left to go back into the city.

Old cemetery, overlooks the Island:

This weekend we were supposed to go to the sea parting festival in Jindo, down in the south of Korea. However, turned out the weather was awful there, raining and freezing cold, and a big chunk of people who were supposed to go decided they were to tired and not up for the long 4 hour train down there just for one night. In the end the consensus was that it was going to be pretty miserable and so we all decided to stay here for the weekend.

It’s to bad we didn’t get to see it, but in the end everyone felt good about staying!

On Friday night Andrew and I went into Seoul, met up with friends and had a LONG WILD night FULL of some AMAZING karaoke! I’ve never seen Andrew dance so much in his life ;) 

Sing it Andrew!!!

Anyone who knows me well knows what a BEAUTIFUL VOICE I have... ;)

We ended up staying out until 4 am! Which is SO weird for us because we’re usually asleep by midnight, we’re traditionally big party poopers!

It was an amazingly fun nightJ

The next day Jill and I went to a salon in Seoul which is known for its good work done on foreigners. Most salons have no idea what to do with blonde hair, but this salon trains its employees in Europe. They were so worried about us at the salon, constantly asking us if we were ok. It was very sweet.

We were both SUPER nervous about our hair, Jill was going darker and I was going lighter, but we were SO pleased with the results. Both our hair looks amazing and they did great cuts as well. We were very happy.

Jill, Andrew and I then went on a big shopping trip in Seoul to get some new clothes and finished the day off with a Thai dinner. The trip was very successful and we are all looking totally fly in our new outfits J

 

 This week Andrew is on a trip with his school to the South to see some historical dynasty sights (I think that’s what it is?)

 He’s going to three days, so I’ll be alone in our house for a while. It’ll be so weird and lonely, but we both agree it’ll be kind of nice to get the chance to miss each other! We’ve been cooped up in our small apartment since we’ve gotten here!

 

 

Must be off now, but will update as things continue to happen J

Missing everyone too much,

 

Only 282 days until we’re back in Canada, haha, Yes I have a countdown going!

Spring has come :)

Annyong Haseyo!

Sorry that we've gotten bad at updates, we've been pretty busy and haven't been remembering to sit and do an update once and a while..

We've started to become pretty used to the routine here in Korea, we are used to our schools and we've become familiar with the curriculum and teaching methods. We've also basically completely figured out transportation to and from and within the city, which makes life a lot easier on the weekends.

Living in a new culture really has its ups and downs. It looks so "fun" and like "such an experience" to everyone back home, and while in many ways it is, it really is a daily struggle as well. Things in Korea are REALLY different from Canada, almost the complete opposite in many ways.

There's a lot of sexism here, which is a huge emotional struggle to a woman who is used to living in Canadian society. Being white (especially on our tiny island) makes us a target to a lot of mild racism and some really frustrating situations. 

We're content and not regretting our decision to come, but it is a struggle in so many ways and everyone back home should know that it's not the fun, whimsical journey that it looks like from the comfort of a canadian home!

Last week we found out that since we never had orientation upon arrival, we were going to Incheon for a late orientation week.

We got to stay in a 5 star hotel for 4 days, eat all meals for free, tour the city and participate in activities which would assist us with our schools and classes.

We met a lot of awesome people and some great new friends, which we were extremely happy to have considering our pretty limited group on the island. 

Out at night during orientation:

A beautifully themed bar:

The orientation was great. A nice break from teaching, a free week in the city and we got some good ideas out of the presentations they had. 

Some of the material they covered could have been useful 2 months ago haha, but we just zoned out during those parts and did gain some good ideas that were needed.

On the second last day, they took the whole group on a tour of Incheon city! We got to dress in fake traditional korean clothes (the real ones are less clownish i assure you), and play korean games and instruments:

The whole group:

I am NINJA WOMAN

During the evening they took us out for an AMAZING korean meal, the best we've had here yet, with 6 or 7 courses and the best quality and variety in korean food we've had so far. Then we got to go on a little cruise ship out into the Ocean and there was a dance troupe performance and an acrobatics show.

There were about 1000 seagulls who swarmed the boat as well and took food right out of your hands! That kept me entertained for about 2 hours straight...

Dinner:

Christian, Andrew and Dorian

Laura dancing with the old korean women:

The week was a lot of fun and we were sad to come home again... Interestingly enough, we took a cab home to the Island late saturday night with our friend Jill, I was so tired and flustered as we got out of the cab that I left my purse inside, and didn't realize until we were standing at our door and the cab was well on his way back to the city an hour away. Our apartment key was in my purse...

It was 3 am and we were exhausted and had no way of contacting the cab with the language barrier and there are 45 cab companies in the city. 

Our neighbors ended up helping us break into our apartment until 4am. Yes, we bought them gifts the next day!

And my amazing co teacher FOUND my purse the very next day by making a bunch of phone calls. So, the story ends well:)

Those are the most exciting and interesting things to happen to us recently, we will leave you with some random pictures  from the last month...

Seoul Subway

Out the window of Eryn's friday school - Miongshin

Eryn and some of her students:

Missing you all.....

xo