Yeoncheon Starlight Festival...

This weekends activity was an overnight trip to the Yeoncheon starlight festival (40 something dollars= everything included). We met our buses at 9 am (two buses of foreigners, mostly from our EPIK group)and head towards Yeoncheon which is between 1 and 2 hours from Daegu. Our first stop was a winery where we tasted 4 types of Korean wine. 

 

We were going to bottle the wine but where a little behind schedule, from wine tasting we went to site of the festival to have lunch. After lunch we were given about 2 hours to enjoy the day part of the festival which included different tents, activities, shows and food. We first made tie dye scarves with natural dye. Then walked around a little bit, tried free samples of more wine and beer. Watched a robotics show and hung out with the other EPIKers (other EPIK teachers). Sophia and I finally tried out first Korean corndog, which is a normal corndog then dipped in a second layer of batter then rolled in french fries and fried. After they fried the second layer + fries they roll it in sugar and ketchup, but I opted out of the ketchup. Our friends called it a corndog donut. It was quite good (and I wonder why Im gaining weight). After the corndog, Sophia and I hung out a little longer with the other foreigners and then made chinese fans with our astrological signs. After we boarded the bus around 4, we went to a temple (I think by the time I leave Korea, I would have been to every temple). We took a group shot and then the monk gave us bracelets.

Took pictures and went to dinner. After dinner, we went back to the festival site because university students had set up their telescopes. We looked through a few telescopes and I saw Saturn. It was orange, you could really see the rings around it. It was pretty sweet. We headed back to our cabins (after stopping for drinks and snacks). We stayed on a campsite, it reminded me of when I was a kid at Camp Letts. There where cabins, a lake and mountains.  I felt like I was home until entering the cabin. We enter and the first thing we see is the living room/kitchen and bathroom so we are all so surprised at how nice the cabin is, it even had a deck. Then we walk into the bedroom and remember that we are in Korea. No beds. It was an empty room with a closet/cabinets. Then we look inside and find our bedding. Pillows, cushions and blankets. The cabin was still pretty sweet. One of the hangwon boys (hangwon= private academy English teacher. EPIKer= public school English teacher) was celebrating a birthday so they made a barbaque between our and their cabins. We celebrated his birthday with cake, food and drinks. An EPIKer also brought marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers so we made smores. Actually, a few of our EPIK friends are Irish and English so it was their first smore experience.  The next morning we ate breakfast at the camp, I managed to wake up early and run around the lake and up the mountain. After breakfast we went to the ATV site, it was between going ATVing or horseback riding. Everyone chose the ATVs.  It was my first time ATVing. It was so much fun, I really liked going fast over the mounds. My ATV literally flew over the hills. We went through water, up hills and over rocks. I think the ATVs made the trip even more enjoyable. I got a need for speed (Mom you would agree with me when I drive, right?!). We went through the course then did a couple of loops in the entrance of the course. We hung out on the bus because it was a cold/windy and after everyone went ATVing (2 hours later) we went to a museum to eat lunch. We explored the exhibit then headed back to Daegu. Orginially, I believe there was a Daegu city bus tour but everyone was so tired we did no do it. Overall, another great weekend. Not bad for less than 50 dollars, accomadations, food, transport and activities...

Hello Busan, we meet again!

This weekend I took a spur of the moment trip to Busan. Well on Thursday I called Sophia and asked if it was okay that I came. So not spur of the moment but not planned weeks in advance like my other weekends. So Friday afternoon, I left school early and rushed to the train station to catch the 5:06 train to Busan. I made it with about 3 minutes to spare. Friday night was pretty low key, we met up with some of her friends from South Africa at a wine cafe thing. You know, where you sit in comfy chairs and order bottles of wine and cheese. Then we played scrabble back at Sophias with the other native English teacher who teaches with Sophia.

He dominated the game on his home made scrabble board. Look what you can do when you have so much time on your hands...we only teach 3-4 hours a day but have to remain in the school for 8 hours.

Saturday, we went to Korea's most famous beach Haeundae and to get Mexico food. It was kinda chilly and cold but the beach was very pretty. After we went to Gwangalli beach, which I liked better. 

There is a bridge which spans out from one side to the other. 

There is a third beach in Busan as well as a harbor. That's why Busan was my first choice in Korean cities to live in. Busan is also alot bigger then Daegu, population wise and size wise. It took about 40 minutes to get from Sophias apartment to the beach on the subway. 

Sunday, we had a home cooked breakfast (finally as Sunday which feels like Sunday). Janina (South African) made us eggs, toast and bacon. I miss bacon. After breakfast we went to the Hongbeopsa temple for a free Korean cultural event of making Lotus lanterns and paper lanterns. We first took a tour of the temple which was very modern, mainly because it was completed October 2010. It wasnt a traditional Korean temple, it was circular with a giant buddha on the top. It still contained elements of traditional Korean temples though. Our buddhist tour guide explained different aspects of buddhist culture. 

One being that the toilet/bathroom in ancient Chinese lettering is called the room where you let go of all your worries. He said when you are full you worry so the toilet is where you get rid of all your worries...Since the temple is so new, to get to the roof. Our tour guide told us we could either take the stair or the elevator. If we take the stairs, there are 108 stairs and with each step you lose another worry. He then asked which one we would like to take. 

We all took the stairs. The giant buddha on the roof was another scrine/praying room. After taking pictures, we went back down to the main hall to make our lanterns. It looked as though there were about 80 foreigners making lanterns. We all sat on the floor atop cushions in a circle. First we made the paper lantern then the Lotus lantern. It was alot of fun making the lanterns...I hope I am able to bring them back to the US of A. I bought some hooks and hung them in the corner above my bed. 

 

Oh, we made Lotus lanterns because buddhas birthday is coming up (May 10th->when I go on vacation to Jeju Island) so Lotus lanterns are a common activity to do before/on the Korean holiday. So the symbol of the Lotus flower is:

"The lotus flower is one of the most ancient and deepest symbols of our planet. The lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind."

 

I would also like to point out that the temple shared a parking lot with a church. In Korea there are more Christians than buddhist but many people follow the ethical values of confucionism, which isnt a religion more of a way of life. It is moral, social, political and philosofical ideas brought to Korea by the Chinese philosopher Confucius.  

This is my paper lantern and Lotus lantern...

Waffle in my hand!

It is finally starting to feel like spring in Daegu. Which is following with the 6th grade lessons on the different seasons. Last week, I was telling the students the difference between when school starts in the USA compared to in Korea. Their first semester is in Feburary and I told them ours starts in September (elementary school). I also told them about the different vacations like a short winter vacation and a long summer vacation (over 2 months). The kids asked what we do during the summer so I said you can, travel with your family on vacation, visit grandparents, summer camps and hang out with your friends. The Korean kids then asked if we had to go to school and I said, no. They all want to be American now because there is no school in the summer. One kid goes "I envy you." I said "wow!" good word! 

I don't think I mentioned how a day works for many Korean children. They wake up and go to school, 8:30 am. Then have school until around 2:30. Then there is after school classes which last to around 4:30. After school and after after school classes, children (whose parents can afford it) send their children to hangwons or private academies. I know a bunch of hangwon English teachers. The hangwons usually run to about 10 pm. In theses hangwons, students learn more, do homework and attend classes. After hangwons, if the student has not completed their homework, they do so at home. Then play video/computer games then sleep and repeat. 

Also, every other Saturday there is school. I do not have to come in on Saturday but the teachers and students do. They have only 2 full weekends a month. So back to vacations, the students tecnically do not have school but they do have hangwons and educational camps they go to. This summer I have 2 weeks of "English camps" which really is just a normal school day with classes but I can be a little more creative with these classes. 

So after elementary school, the kids go to 3 years of middle school and 3 more years of high school. Elementary school is free but middle and high school is not. In the 3rd year of middle school, the kids take a test. What ever score they get on the test depends on what type of high school they are allowed to attend. Then the third and final year of high school they take another test to determine if they are allowed to attend college or not. It is not a placement test its a test to see if you can go. Kinda like the SAT but more important. Okay, so obviously the education system is way more hardcore than in America. 

Back to spring, so this weekend was gorgeous and Sophia and Louise came to visit from Busan. Saturday we went to Suseong lake and did paddle boats. They were alot of fun and shaped like ducks. There were cherry blossoms everywhere! Who needed to go to the cherry blossom festival when they were right here in Daegu! We were then going to go bowling but it got too late so we went out instead...good alternative!


Sunday, I had my co teacher Ji Yun's wedding! It was so nice. She looked amazing! A traditional Korean wedding is alot different than American wedding. Koreans get married in wedding halls. The wedding hall has many weddings at once on different floors. We arrive to the wedding and instead of gifts, you put your money in an envelope with your name on it. Then they give you your food vouchure. The bride sits in a room and people come and take pictures with her. There are a few chairs to sit in but alot of people stand in the back between the room and the entrance. There is also a live video people can watch who are in the entrance way. The ceremony is very short and the groom sang to Ji Yun. She cried. Her husband is in the army and there were fellow army personnel there who formed two lines down the aisle. Ji Yun and her husband had to walk past the army men and do different task before they could continue to the end. At one point the groom was doing push ups on the floor. 

He said funny (I assumed because everyone was laughing) jokes, they had to kiss for 5 seconds but when the army counted to five they did it very slowly so it took about 2 minutes. After the wedding was over everyone eats. It was not a reception for their wedding though. There are food halls and you use your vouchure to go to the buffet. There were people from the other weddings in the food halls as well. The buffets are for everybody. The the whole building So I ate with another one of my co teachers and her family. 

After the wedding, I met up with my friends, went to the park to see cherry blossoms, went downtown and then home for the night. Ofcourse, I realized after Sophia and Louise left on the train to Busan that they had my keys. I guess Sophia just needs to come back!!! 

Oh, so we were finally able to take Sophia to waffle in my hand, or so she calls it. I think the place is called big waffle. They have the ice cream waffle which is a belgium waffle with 3 scoops, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream and then chocolate syrup. The first time Sophia came to Daegu, we did not go to waffle in my hand but kept talking about it. I think this was why she came back to Daegu...WAFFLE IN MY HAND!!! 

Haiensa Temple + Herb Hillz

This weekend, like most weekends we went hiking to another temple This temple is called Haeinsa which is famous because it houses the buddhist bible.

 

I think its like the most complete version in Korea, or atleast thats what I understood from the Korean man trying to speak about the Tripitaka Koreana. For this artifact, the Haeinsa temple is a UNESCO world hertitage site. 

Sunday, we had planned a trip the Herb Hillz which is located in Daegu. It was about a 30 minute bus ride to the outskirts of the city. We were to go ziplining! We ended u doing the King Kong course, Herb Hillz has about 4 different courses and this one was the toughest one. Herb Hillz is like a little amusement park sorta. 

It had one ride and bumper cars but you can do crafts, zi p line and do other activities. So zip lining in Korea is different than American zip lining. We are strapped into our harnesses and given a quick safely lesson. Then set off to complete the course. There were NO instructors on top of the course. Everytime I have done zip line there were instructors to help...WTF! haha. So only two people are allowed on a stand at once, and you cant go unless the person in front of you goes. We get stuck and do not move. 

It turns out that a Korean man got scared and refused to continue the course. After we went down the first zip line he would not go up the ladder to the second zip line. John, said he freaked out and started crying. Two instructors had to come rescue him. There were 3 zip lines throughout the ropes course. All three I hit the padding and bounced back into the middle of the zip line and had to turn around and use my weak arm strengh to pull me back. 

 

This ropes course was hard. They had what I called the bike of doom. A bike you had to ride across a narrow bridge, the snowboard and you had to scale trees. Literally, scale trees as they where in the middle of your lines. It was a good time :) 

After we walked around and went on the one ride which was the viking ship which goes up and down....once again it was a great weekend. We are trying to plan different activites for each weekend. So far we have about 5 weeks worth of plans/ideas of things to do. This weekend coming up I believe we are going to try to go to a Cherry Blossum fesitval. In about 3 weeks, I have signed up for a DMZ tour and bungee jumping with adventure Korea. It should be legit!