Recap

So I know I haven't been completely committed to this blog. But with good reason...I was out enjoying my first two months in Korea. To pick up on where I last left off I have met and become friends with such an amazing group of people. They have all been here for varying amounts of time ranging from four months to over four years. They come from all over the world including England, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, and even as close to me as Denver, CO. But I have to say they are all thoughtful and all of them know how to have a good time. Just recently we all went down to Busan for the weekend as a sort of last big group trip before they all start heading back home. Between the dance party in the apartment in Seomyeong to the keebabs out in front of the dance club, and finally topping off the night with a brisk dip in the ocean we created a pretty memorable final farewell for our group.
The first to leave are a really laid back couple from New Zealand, Hamish and Megan. They are getting ready to go to Japan for a couple weeks and then they plan to buy a van, fish, camp, and travel around New Zealand. The thing I remember most about them were all the card games and tournaments we played at their apartment high above Geochang.
It is sad seeing this great group of people leave, but as my friend Graham told me, "You don't stay for the people because eventually they will all be gone." On a positive note last night I met a couple of the newbies in town. Two girls named Sara and Laura are working at the Geochang Lift College, which oddly enough is the only elevator college in the world. Finally, I met Diana who is an sweet girl from South Africa. So out with the old and in with the new. The next chapter of mighty Geoochang begins!!!!!!
So to recap on exactly what I have been doing for two months I am pleased to say that it included a lot of little trips all over South Korea.
Daegu
Korea's third largest city is not much of a tourist destination but it provides plenty of the amenities that I need. Considering that it is just 5,ooo won (about $4.00) and one hour bus ride away I have visited this city the most. These trips included going to see a new movie, Chloe (overtly sexual movie that I think made the Koreans watching it with us crawl in their skin). Going out to all the fun night clubs and western eateries, this included Frogs, Holy Grill, Gorilla Burger, Commune, as well as many other bars and such that at this point have faded into a haze. I have also gone down to Daegu for shopping which ranges from the Gap, Zara (an Italian clothing store), Lotte Department store, Home Plus (a cheaper better form of Costco), and all the other random Korean side shops in between. I even dropped by Daegu one night after a crazy weekend in Seoul just to experience the KTX train ride with a couple of British friends I had just met in a hostel a few night prior. Daegu has many fond memories even though it offers the least amount of tourist attractions of any city I have been to so far.

Seoul
Korea's capital city and home to the World Cup Stadium as well as Asia's largest electronic market. Seoul is a great city because that is where most things happen such as festivals, major concerts, and it has the largest array of western restaurants. On the flip side I am not a huge fan of Seoul because it is so large. Seoul has the world's busiest subway system and it definitely feels like it when it is five o'clock and you are crammed into a subway car like one big human jello mold. No one stands supporting themselves you act as one entity just swaying back and forth as the subway moves. But I do have some great memories in Seoul. Like on New Year's Eve when Graham, Jitesh and I were running through the subway desperately trying to reach Hongdae before the clock struck midnight. It was so bitterly cold that night I think it got down to -20 Celsius. Or my last adventure to Seoul when I went to visit my Korean friend and ended up meeting some really cool people in the hostel where I was staying. Clubbing, driving around in the M5, and over all craziness for that Lunar New Year Weekend. Funny enough one of the guys I met at that hostel, Tom, was considering coming to Geochang and so he had posted something on our Geochang G.U.E.S.T facebook page. Later on I came to find out that is who recommended me as a good contact in Geochang when the new South African girl, Diana, coincidentally contacted Tom via facebook. I know small world right?

Finally, Busan...Oh Busan
By far the prettiest city in Korean that I have visited since I arrived. It picture perfect mountains back right up to the beaches. When I went sailing and looked back to the coast line all the multi-colored buildings almost resemble the Mediterranean coast, or least that is what I imagine it looks like. Tons of restaurants, bars, casinos and plenty of beautiful beaches it makes this quite the get away and fortunately for me it is only two or so hours away. I am really looking forward to the Pusan International Film Festival which in recent years has become more and more prestigious not to mention the amount of cool DJ's and live entertainment that comes in to play on the beaches until the early hours of the morning. Oh I was even able to get my hair colored and cut there, although it did take over four hours

Well plenty of things to report home. I hope everyone else is doing well. I miss you all very much. But if all goes well I am seriously considering staying another year. These are some of the best moments of my life and I don't want to ever give them up. I gaining all sorts of insights to life, teaching (although less than initially expected) girls who absolutely adore me, and living in an amazing country by myself. I think I could do this for just a little longer than expected :)



Oh this is a clip from the Winter English Camp, these are the Philippians dancing for the students. Pretty cute!


One Love,
Erin