Blogs from Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, Asia - page 15

...ooh, i discovered the best recipe for bad breath! we went out to dinner in one of the neighbouring (only an hour in the bus!) towns and had a kind of sit around the table and braai your own food meal (Galbi) which was pretty kiff -more about it in the blog from the 14th. FYI: Braai-ing a combination of garlic (and no, not the wussie diluted powder stuff us westeners use... i mean whole cloves!) kimchee and pork with a wasabi cabbage soup you can dunk the meat in is NOT good for morning breath! It wasn't so bad last night... BUT THIS MORNING! After all the fumes have been marinading in ones mouth for a few hours over night... baah i stinky!! i could taste the garlik and kimchee and wasabi and just about ... read more

We arrived at the airport at a frosty 3:45am! After negotiating customs etc we were out of the airport at 4:45. Our taxi driver greeted us with his "Darrell and Cathy" card and escorted us to his van. Someone in my family has just mentioned that it was a bit chilly last Saturday... well, you should know what chilly is! The minute we stepped onto Incheon soil outside the airport we were greeted by my (Cath) first -2degree C wind. Ahhh crazy cold!!! Although "Ahhh crazy cold!!!" were my first thoughts Darrell seemed to be flooded with his really great memories of his stay in America which kept him bubbling for ages :) The driver seemed to be in high spirits considering he'd probably been up since about 3 to fetch two westeners whose language we ... read more

Realizing exactly what I was in for, minute by minute awkward translation, a pair of adorably giddy parents, screaming, crying, giggling boys, and freezing temperatures, I took my privates (korean kids I teach privately in their own house, secretly, "beyond" the law...2% chance of being deported for taking away hagwon/korean jobs)...up on their invitation for a weekend to Andong - farther north and west of Daegu in South Korea. The Cultural Capital of Korea, much like Kyoto - of Japan, I'm guessing. Although I'm exhausted from the trip, I feel full, whole, a true and curious visitor to Korea. I've always thought-complained (to myself) that Korea seems to be a family-centric country. Many people do not move out of their parents home until they're married, many business deals or job appointments seem to be based ... read more

After the conference ended, I decided (beforehand) that I needed to do some traveling. I hadn't traveled much outside of Yeosu and my little corner of the world, and since I was in Korea's far east (Gyeongju is about 4-5 so hours from me), I decided to stick around there a little longer. So, a fellow Fulbrighter (Colleen--she lives in Yeosu, too) and I headed north to Andong for a few days (a small town of maybe 150,000-- small town for Korea) and then to Busan for a few days more (the second largest city in Korea and on the far southeast coast). Andong was amazing because while we were there, they were hosting their annual Mask Festival, which comes only once a year. At this festival, they have dancing, food, tents of merchants, and all ... read more

Diana, Charlie, John, Black, Juliet, Anna, ...Charlie left the second sunday, and Flower (she also refers to herself as Monkey) and Rose joined in the third sunday. They have a bit more English than I have Korean, but ever so slightly. They're accents, however, are MUCH better than mine. Black is mischeivous to no end, but when being bribed with candy he bats his eyelashes and reels in the goof. He also draws excellent anime, especially when the activity requires paying attention and repeating the teacher in English. He can only utter a few words and rarely responds to our questions without Korean explanation from Diana. These kids are much goofier than any those I taught at MoonKkang, but I assume they are more relaxed because we are on their turf. As well as the obvious ... read more