Blogs from Taejon, South Korea, Asia - page 3

Bomunsan Mountain What a breathtaking hike this was both literally and figuratively. It seemed like a good way to pass a Sunday with a couple of friends not expecting to find all the hidden treasures that we did. To start off the hike we were lucky enough to find a temple with a large variety of Buddha sculptures each with their own unique touches. You could feel the peace and serenity being in the area and it was a welcoming break from the city life where everything from eating to crossing the street is a race. After taking in all the temple had to offer we then made our way up the trail to the bottom of the mountain. As soon as you emerge into the trees you get the fresh smell of nature and the ... read more

Traditional Market Recently I was lucky enough to venture through a traditional market here in Daejeon. It was actually by a mere mistake that my mate Jessica and I found this treasure within the city. We were on our way to the famous Zooland that we have heard so much about, however, as usual we got a tad bit lost. I think our inner campus has dimmed as we can never find where we want to go in an efficient way. If anything I feel this is a great gift because we are able to find places such as this. Off of the main street there were numerous people sitting on the sidewalk or with wagons selling their fresh goods. The fruit here is absolutely incredible. Everything is so fresh as if it was just ... read more

Hi again. Let's talk about Costco for a minute, shall we? Admit it, it freakin rocks your world. Even halfway across the globe, its still rockin mine. After being in Korea for a couple weeks, my Edmonton comrade and I decided to hit up Costco right here in Daejeon. We got lost at first but finally managed to find the signature beige & red building that just gives you that warm giddy feeling inside. Upon seeing those big red words of COSTCO splayed across the side of the building, all feelings of homesickness disappeared in that instance! Of course, its not your usual big box store like back home...here, it consisted of 3 floors (one being the parkade). Remember, them Koreans just don't have the space, so we gotta build up! Walking in, we started our ... read more

I haven’t written in awhile as I have been so busy, but I found some time to sit down and write a blog entry. I have been here for about 6 weeks now and am finally settling down. It is starting to feel more comfortable as I am developing a routine. For my own sanity I need to have a weekly routine over here in Daejeon. I have started getting back into running and a normal sleeping pattern. Work is exhausting however. Teaching English to kindergarten is not an easy task. There is so much prep work involved because you need to be well prepared for every class. If you have any time left over or you are unsure of what to do, the kids go wild since controlling children that only know limited English is ... read more

I figured that I would write another blog entry. I am trying to think of what has happened in this past week that was out of the ordinary and so different. Work was the same as per usual, except for the fact that I got sick. I should have known that would happen. There are germs here that are not in Canada and plus many of the kids are sick as well. I just coughed and had a stuffy nose with the rest of my students so it all worked out in the end. The kids are getting used to my teaching style now, however, they are also learning how to ‘annoy’ Chantelle teacher. Typical children! I still look forward to going to school and seeing them though. I did finally get my medical done at ... read more