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Erin and Dan - Erin Boyer Northington

I am from Syracuse, NY and my U.S. soldier husband is from the Southwest. We live by Camp Casey, South Korea, in Dongducheon, a city in the Gyeonggi province. We arrived in February, 2008, and will stay for two years. Daniel is stationed with the military and I used to teach English at an elementary school in Uijeongbu. I now assist separating and retiring soldiers prepare for a civilian career.

People think I'm crazy for going to Korea. But this life is short. And regret is a word I never want to utter on my deathbed. I won't bore you with anecdotes about how "life is about the journey, not the destination". But I am looking for my adventure. And I'm looking to alter my perspective; on myself, my values, my goals. This is a big, big world. And there are fascinating people for me to meet, and to decorate the trail Dan and I are trekking together.

Weekend in Tokyo
May 5th 2008 -» May 6th 2008 Holidays in Shangahi and Hong Kong
December 25th 2008 -» January 3rd 2009 My First Solo International Trip!
March 15th 2009 -» March 16th 2009

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Joined on: November 5th 2007
Last Login: October 21st 2009

Blog Entries: 35
Photos: 558
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Erin and Dan, order by Date newest first.

By Erin and Dan
July 14th 2009

Dallas and Sable- The Newest Members of the Northington Clan Asia » South Korea » Gyeonggi-do

First moment out of the crate

We welcomed Dallas and Sable Northington into the family on June 18th. They were less than four pounds together when they came home and are, as of publishing date, tipping the scales at a little more than 5.5 pounds together. They grow up so fast! I've published two videos of them sleeping, eating and playing on YouTube. The links are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PGmHSNgHb8 (A few days home) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sAzBukYyyM (the newest video) Enjoy!! [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
July 5th 2009

Retirement: The Chinese Get it Right! Asia » China » Beijing » Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven
Dancing

There are so many people in China that retirement for men is mandatory at 55 and at 50 for women. So what do the Chinese do? Go to an old folks home, become reclusive and moan that no one visits? Nope. Instead, they become fully sociable, joining clubs, taking up hobbies, singing and playing games. And the place to do it all is the Temple of Heaven. Here they dance, play hackey-sack, sing in large choruses or solo, twirl ribbons, create music on Chinese stringed instruments alone or wind instruments in bands, play badminton and cards. Throughout the sprawling and well [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
July 4th 2009

Great Wall, Summer Palace, Marble Boat and Wangfujing Street Asia » China » Beijing » Great Wall of China

Great Wall!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!! We got up at 6:30, ate a tasty buffet breakfast in the hotel and boarded the tour bus at 8:00. Off to the Great Wall! From this point in the wall you can go right or left. Right is an easier incline, but left has a better view and there are fewer people. So we chose left. Oye. It was extremely hot and humid. I'd like to say that's the only reason I had such a hard time. But alas, I must admit, I am WAY out of shape. (I don't even know where the gym is [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
July 3rd 2009

Celebrating American Democracy... in China? (Day One) Asia » China » Beijing

Playing cards
in front of Tian'anmen Square

Well, we decided to give it one more shot and visit China. For those of you who are avid "Erin and Daniel" blog readers you are probably thinking, "But Erin! You were deported last time you were in that god-foresaken country! Why on Earth would you want to return?" I might say, "I wanted to bring a little bit of American democracy to those freedom deprived peoples during our Independence weekend." But really, one of my goals is to visit all the World Wonders and the Great Wall happens to be one of them. So we booked a (cheap!!) four-day tour [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
March 16th 2009

Kyoto: Take Two! Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion

Japanese Woman in the Street

March 16 I woke early in the morning ready to hit the ground running. I still hadn't decided what to do about staying in Kyoto for another day or heading back to Osaka. The hostel serves a 500 yen breakfast (about $5: tart yogurt with pistachios and dried cranberry, two homemade organic rolls, one wheat and one green tea, with butter and honey, and one egg scrambled with chopped ham and parsley) so while I ate I read a Frommer's Guide to Japan. After just a few minutes of reading I knew I had to stay in Kyoto for another day. [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
March 15th 2009

Flyin' Solo in Kyoto Asia » Japan » Kyoto » Kyoto » Gion

Seoul's Incheon Airport
This is why it's been named World's Best International Airport for the 4th year in a row.

For those of you who don't know, I made the very difficult decision to quit the teaching job I love and accept a position as a career counselor, a contracting job with the Army. The U.S. economy is having a worldwide affect, and Korea's economy took a sharp downturn about 5 months ago. The Korean dollar is worth about 30% less than when I arrived. Therefore, I needed to earn U.S. dollars. Sounds easy enough but visa laws are pretty strict. I've been jumping through hoops for a week, and one of the thing I needed to do was leave the [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
March 10th 2009

Playing Catch-Up! (Feb-Mar) Asia » South Korea » Gyeonggi-do

Dinner at Jogno Tower
A 7-course meal costs about $100 but at least it was tasty! And there was an amazing view of the city.

I want to do a quick catch-up before I do a blog about Japan. February 14 Valentine's Day! Daniel surprised me with a beautiful 7-diamond flower necklace before we met two other couples for dinner and a show called "Nanta". It was a hilarious music/comedy/performance much like "Stomp!" because it's based around percussion. It was FABULOUS and I highly recommend you see it- it plays in dozens of major cities around the world. February 24 The long awaited and much rehearsed performance! I wrote, directed, and choreographed a cute little play about how humans are ruining the [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
March 4th 2009

Lunar New Year in Korea Asia » South Korea » Gyeonggi-do

Lunar New Year's
Janet in her hanbok, the tradition Korean dress for special occasions

The week of January 23 was the Lunar New Year. Although I know a little about this holiday I am including a link to a great website that (briefly) describes Korean customs for this holiday. Please check it out so you can better understand this important holiday and its interesting customs. It will take you about 45 seconds to read. http://www.newyearfestival.com/new-year-in-korea.html [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
January 3rd 2009

The (Grand??) Finale Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon

Kelly and I
celebrating in the streets

Do you know that drinking game called "Never Have I Ever" in which someone begins by saying something like, "Never have I ever eaten raw squid" and everyone who HAS done that takes a drink? Well, now Daniel and I have the distinct privilege of taking a drink next time someone says, "Never have I ever been deported from the communist People's Republic of China". Yes, that's right, folks. Dan and I had the delightful experience of deportation, which I highly suggest you try, if you have not already done so. It's fabulous. But first, I'll back up. New Year's Eve [View Full Entry]

By Erin and Dan
December 29th 2008

A City That Belongs to No One Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon

Our Sleeper Car on the Train
A little small, but not as bad as the rooms with 6 beds, no door, no TV and no light switch!

What a city! Hong Kong is an amazing mix of ethnicities like I have never seen before. Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Japanese, Western and Eastern European, Canadian, American, African... it's all here. And it all works. We are staying on Nathan Road (Kowloon, on the mainland, not the island), packed with massage parlors, restaurants, jewelry, purse and shoe stores. A block away are the famous Peninsula, Continental, and Imperial Hotels, as well as high end shops like Chanel, Dolce and Gabbanna, Hermes, Gucci, Dior, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. The stunning Hong Kong skyline you see in all the [View Full Entry]

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Erin and Dan - Erin Boyer Northington

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