tricks are for kids

a few weeks ago, we didn't have school on a random thursday because it was our school's foundation day aka birthday aka holiday to use as an excuse to not have school. the co-t's and i decided to spend the day up in seoul bopping around from insadong to itaewon to hongdae aka we basically traversed the entire city in a triangular fashion via subway aka we left sinchang at 7:30 in the morning and didn't get back til 9:30 at night aka i was exhausted. 

we started the day by seoul station at the old station museum, wandering the halls and rooms. they have a really cool exhibit right now about how you spend your free time. my favorite part was an exhibit in a long hallway in the back where there was a black and white moving picture projected on a 30 meter wall. it moved, there was music, it was interesting to watch and walk along. insadong, the "traditional" part of seoul, was next on the list. this is where the streets are too narrow for fire trucks to come put out fires and artists are abundant. it's a neat little part of town. traditional candy, traditional art, traditional fans, the works. we wandered, we tasted, we tried on, we felt, and we absorbed. then we hopped on the subway to itaewon, one of the "foreign" parts of seoul where a lot of foreigners hang out. we ate lunch at on the border, delish. the co-t's had never tried mexican food in a mexican restaurant and i was craving endless chips and salsa. then we hopped on the subway again and went to hongdae, the other "foreign" part of seoul to the ice museum and the trick eye museum. 

 (this is what you see in the bathroom stall when you're trying to use the facilities)

the day was full and fun. we spent a lot of time and money on each other. we compromised our preferences, tried things we hadn't, found new things, ate familiar things, bought matching things, that city was ours for that day. i am so lucky to have co-teachers who are willing to explore and try and wander and get lost and ask for directions and make fools of themselves. i'm grateful that they want to learn english and teach me korean. i'm grateful that they spent the day with me when they could've spent it doing anything else. i'm grateful they spent their free time with the wacky waygook (me, duh). i'm so grateful i get to teach alongside these awesome, wonderful, inspiring ladies. 

boys before flowers

once upon a time, i didn't find korean men attractive at all. then, julie made me watch this stupid drama. and now, i don't think the drama is stupid and i think some korean men are verrrrry attractive. 

meet: boys before flowers or 꽃보다남자 (pronounced "goat-boda-namja.") i devoured 25 hour-long episodes in about a week and a half. 

(that heart is sooo korean)

aren't they cute? 

it's like a season of grey's anatomy every episode. so. dramatic. guys, i'm serious. they've changed my korean life. i realized korean people can be mean, koreans are beautiful, and i've started using gu jun-pyo's expressions daily. such as: "wheeeeyyyyy" (whyyyyy), "chicha?" (really?!), "mo?" (what...). 

if you want a glimpse into an unrealistic life in korea - watch this show. it does have some normal things in it. also, korean dramas are da bomb. (i also think it resonates with me because it's a classic pride and prejudice take on korean culture). it's that good. 

here's a sneak peak ---

april weekend south

i like escaping. even if it's only for an hour to walk outside or for an entire weekend to explore south. this weekend was one of those times. we planned it in advance, but it happened when i needed it. we got on a bus in seoul at 11pm and started the drive south to an island in jirisan national park, the oldest in south korea. we arrived at the ferry at 4:30am and spent a few hours resting. the ferry to the island was about an hour long and we spent the time sipping hot coffee, brushing our teeth, stretching our legs, walking around the ferry. once on the island, we were bussed to the opposite end to hike and climb back. it was called the jagged ridge hike for good reason, there were many times i was reminded of angel's landing in zion. you were on a ridge with the ground dropping away from you on either side. it was thrilling, and scary, and so beautiful i was distracted a lot of the time. there were cliffs, stairs, ropes, bridges, chains, and rock faces to scale. it was my favorite hike in korea so far. 

once we got to the other sides, five hours and a bottle of mak at the top (in true korean style), we sat down for pajeon (a kind of green onion or seafood egg pancake). well-deserved after the long climb. we loaded back on the bus and onto the ferry and drove another hour to tongyeong where we were staying the night on the harbor. there were turtle ships there! my area in asan is known for lee soon-shin and his turtle ships in battle, i even got to explore a couple. after showering off the day and night in the bus, we went to dinner at an oyster restaurant and i ate oyster for the first time! raw, steamed, kimchi oyster, baked oyster, so much oyster. i think it was 7 courses later that i finally stopped eating oyster. i'm still not sure what to make of it, oyster. it's pretty good. maybe someday i'll eat it again. i'm not going to go looking for it, though. 

sunday morning began with a stroll around the small town, snacking on honey bread with red bean and iced lattes. then we got on the bus, again. and drove, again. to jinhae for the cherry blossom festival. we started at the train station and then ventured to the stream. both beautiful. both packed with koreans. everything was blooming.

it was a dreamy weekend. spent with friends. adventuring. pushing limits. taking risks. eating oysters. thankful for people who are curious like me, who like to see things for themselves, and who aren't afraid of heights (or if they are, are willing to climb anyways). 

go out on a limb. climb a mountain. do it.