Sky Blue

    Unless the Korea is a lot like Oregon in it's unpredictable change of weather, it is Spring here in Seoul! The cherry blossoms are beautiful, and line the streets. Seoul is gorgeous when all the color is popping up. The blossoms come in white, light pink, and purple. The weather is nice, and approximately 70 F and 21 C. I guessed the number for Fahrenheit, just checked and I'm correct. I now understand Celsius, a cool tidbit of knowledge I have gathered during my time in Korea.

     Now, I'm sure many of you have heard about the recent fire exchange between North Korea and South Korea. I have received a few emails/calls/texts etc. asking if I am okay, and for more information. Yes, a fire exchange happened, no, I'm not in any danger, no, there were not any casualties, and please, do not worry. When I first heard about this, I was a little frightened. As I have talked to a few of my friends during the Crimea situation, I thoroughly believed that if a 3rd World War was to occur, it would be set off by North Korea attacking South Korea.. or doing something similar in line of intelligence. I asked my coworkers about it, and my main boss man, Mr. Yu, told me to relax, that it happened often. Everyone else in the office who heard me bring it up, just kind of chuckled at the foreign girl. I was talking to Denise about it, afterwards, and she told me that she once had a similar reaction about North and South Korea conflict, until someone told her that, though North Korea has a lot of fire arms, but not the economical means to do anything about that. From what I have recently learned about both Koreas, through roommates, and coworkers, North Korea definitely has little to no economical wealth. So that is reassuring.

        Korean's consider their culture very " Bbali Bbali" or, hurry hurry (the antithesis of my experience in South Africa). I don't actually consider it so, from an outsider looking in, Korea is just a big city, with a lot of people, who take forever to change anything. Now, I say this with a bit of annoyance directed at Gangnam YMCA, and how work STILL hasn't gotten better, and how none of the incoming ICYE volunteers- aside from the UK girls- knew where their projects were or what they were until after arriving to Korea. Otherwise, if you get outside of the hustle and bustle, you meet some of the friendliest, most good natured people. Now, if only they would just have more salads.

       At work I have noticed that every English teacher uses the color "sky blue" a lot. At first I thought it was a weird New Zealand thing, not until I worked with another class did I realize that the kids REALLY like the color Sky Blue, an obsession, it has been called. I have also noticed that hand-bottom-contact is a physical form of a strong bond. I have been poked in the anus by children fingers, not something I really every wanted to experience, nor do I wish to experience it again. They also tend to grab your bottom. I have witnessed the swimming teachers pinch the bottoms of the little kids, now this isn't abusive, or at all negative, it's a form of a strong relationship, and trust, from what I understand. This would not fly, in the US, but nor would the behavior of half of the "Gangnam Brats", as I so charmingly named them. These kids are devils. The older they get, the worse they are. I know one thing, I am not above spanking my future kids. These kids have never been spanked, and really could use a good thwack on the rear every now and then.

Denise and I, burger buddies! After a usual obnoxiously terrible day at Gangnam YMCA.

       My friend, Andy, went to a wedding last weekend- and is going to another one this weekend, so hopefully will take me, Hannah, and Loren- and he shared with me some of the videos he took during the ceremony. I had heard before that Korean weddings were basically like drive ins to just get hitched at and leave, and from what I could tell.. I have to agree. The bride and groom walk down a cat walk, get married, turn around, take pictures with the family, and then everyone leaves the wedding hall and go to a wedding reception, after. I didn't see any wedding party members, or the father of the bride, or anything in this wedding. Maybe I just missed it, but it looked very odd, something I wouldn't want on the day I get hitched. I hope that Andy can take Hannah, Loren, and myself, it would be an awesome thing to experience.

     On Friday, Marcy, Claire, May, Loren, Andy, Geon Woo, Thomas, and I went to a jimjilbang. Now a jimjilbang is a Korean style spa. The girls and guys get separated for a while, while we are separated, both genders get to go experience wonderful hot baths and saunas. You're completely naked during this. The showering in front of everyone was a little uncomfortable, but then you remember, you're all just skin, bones, cartilage, blood, oxygen, organs.. nothing special, really, helps get rid of those awkward first feelings of vulnerability. Afterwards, you change into designated outfits, and then go down and we met up with the boys in a co-ed steam rooms. These go from 35 C to 76 C was the hottest one I saw, and then as low as 12 C. I went into one that was about 47 C and my cartilage piercings were getting so hot that it became painful. Luckily I had a towel that I wrapped around my face, and there is cold water that you sit in. You really feel pampered and refreshed after the jimjilbang and I'd really like to go to one, again.

       As I think I said before, I have been promised a host family that lives really near to Hannah. However, it's been over a week since the first mention of this, and I have received no news. So, I'm beginning to think it won't happen, luckily I'm flexible. I'm really enjoying my time, here. Though work really sucks, misery sure does love company, and at least I have Denise to eat burgers with, and complain about how terrible Gangnam is. Today was so bad I bought myself a chocolate cake. Marcy, Hannah, Loren, Andy, and I are the 5 amigos, and I'm really excited about this new found friendship with Denise. I already know I will really miss these people when I leave, just as I miss my friends back home.. only I'll see my friends back home, and there's a large chance that I won't ever see half of these people again. I guess that's what happens when you travel. I still wouldn't choose to return to Korea after my time here is finished, however I am enjoying my stay here, more. I'm no longer homesick. I got a hair cut in Korea, and I love it. As usual, back to short. Marcy, Loren, and I also saw a mini riot/parade/something that involved police escorts and banners on Saturday that was really interesting to watch.. too bad I still can't understand any Korean. My Korean hasnt improved much, at all... Update: Hannah just informed me that the riot included the Korean Prime Ministers name, and the word withdraw, so I guess I saw something really interesting, and didn't even understand it.. Go language barriers, am I right?

 entering the jimjilbang.. fairy lights!

 Dragon Hill Jimjilbang had this cool guy standing guard.

 I bought a sunhat in Insadong. Skipping down Insadong with Andy.

 police escorts.

 marches/riots/whatever is going on, here.

 Andy and his girls. Loren, Marcy, and myself.

I found good pizza! I was so excited! Hongdae's Monster Pizza is really similar to Pizza Mondo.