Celebrating Buddha's Birthday on Deokjokdo

As you know now, we headed to the island of Deokjokdo (or something like that) on Friday. It was Buddha's Birthday, we had the day off, and we were happier than clams. Waiting for the express train at Guro Station, laden with scads of bags filled with what would become our meals for the next few days...

And then we got on the boat...

The weather is fabulous, the company is good.




Yours truly is tickled pink because the sun is shining just like it's supposed to.

And we settle into our beach. It's empty...it is glorious.



Katie took a run to the water. Stopped short. It was about 10 degrees in there...nearly unbearable even for one's ankles. Still, sea water is heaven on earth. We had to get in.

Korean Baywatch?

Wine on the beach. Delicious.



Back at the camp, Kara prepared dinner at the outdoor kitchen.
This place was really, really nice.
It's amazing what you can come to recognize as, "nice" after a year in Asia.



Outside our room at the dining table, Katie, Michelle, Kara and I have one of many laughs about something or other. Twas a good time.

Later, we retreated to the beach where some Koreans helped the boys make a bonfire. Bon is right.



But this Korean did not like the idea that we had fashioned this blaze. Eventually, he retreated and the fire burned on.









In the morning, it was clear that the "wild cat" the owner had warned us about had paid our "stove" a visit :)



After a looong day of cold and rain, the drink took over, the noses got pretty red, and the camera just could not resist the taking of ridiculous photographs.



Looking out from our room, the water created a setting sun over the sea effect as it poured down from the plastic covering. Oh, the water.



But inside the Batcave, the mosquito net was taken out and under it we congregated. To, you know, keep warm and entertained.



Alas, we did have to return. Seagulls followed us all the way from the coast for the promise of food. Not-so-silly birds.



As my time in Korea draws to a close, I appreciate weekends like these, times like this, more than I might be able to express. The sea, the company, the drastic weather changes, being away from the city, being surrounded by like-minded individuals...it all makes me very, very happy.

It's Summer

It's official...my head is still damp from attempting to dry my hair in my hot apartment, I'm wearing short sleeves and it's only 8:40, and I've worn my Birkenstocks to school for the first time in 2010. Summer is here.

Weekend was great. The weather was amazing on Friday and the company was good enough to keep us cheery through the cold and rain on Saturday. And who can beat a ferry ride? I just love the open water.

More to come once the pictures are loaded up.

Enjoy the Long Weekend!!!

Proudly Graduating

I've done it.

I graduated from girly push-ups to man push-ups today. I'm tickled pink. I did five at the gym (after a staggering 45 of "mine"), and finished the night off tonight with five more. I also did a pull up (with [a lot of] help).

Feels pretty awesome to feel every single muscle in my body at once.

Open a book and see where it takes you (Gem-styles)

Since this little cafe in Osan would be the perfect place to read, when I found this website on Happenstance, I was tickled pink. What a novel idea. Here's what that blogger had to say about it...

Was reading the Nicola Beauman article in the new Vanity Fair and she recommended a great website called whatshouldireadnext.com. You type in a book title or author you love and the site will recommend others you might like. Brilliant!

Aaaaand...it actually works! Loving it!

We're heading out this weekend to Deokjoekdo. I think there will be quite a bit of boozin', beach-styles, but I think there's going to be time to do some reading as well. Bust out the good books...let's get our weekend on!

Wrapping my head around it

Sometimes when I hear a quote I like, I take awhile to mull it over, think about it, and really understand it before I share it. This one comes from Mr. Branch Rickey, who was a baseball exec back in the 50's. He helped Jackie Robinson break the colour barrier in 1952. In the spirit of things not happening until we make them happen, here's me at the Korean consulate almost a year ago and the quote that sums up my journeys.

Things worthwhile generally don’t just happen. Luck is a fact, but should not be a factor. Good luck is what is left over after intelligence and effort have combined at their best. Negligence or indifference are usually reviewed from an unlucky seat. The law of cause and effect and causality both work the same with inexorable exactitudes. Luck is the residue of design.”

Have a great day!

Math

I love it when my students ask me to help with a math problem.

Actually, this has never happened.

What usually happens is I see them struggling with a math problem with another teacher (mainly their math teacher), and jump right in there with my mad skills. What Koreans lack in creativity, they make up for in tenacity, so you can't hate on them for not being able to think outside the box. I, however, sometimes lacking in smarts, make up for it tenfold with creative (mathematically speaking, at least) thinking. I just love tackling a good old fashioned math problem. Totally serious...don't be a hater.

Thanks to istockphoto.com

Anyway, they needed some help with this little diddy. Since no one else shares my affinity and love for Le Mathematique, I won't bore you with the details. Needless to say though, when the math teacher here thought this problem was lacking the information needed to figure this bad boy out, Miss. Bergamo was on the case, figurin' 'er out.

Nice-uh.

Note: one more day of classes before Sports Day all day Thursday followed by a day off for Buddha's birthday. Sweet. Headed to some island for some fun in the sun...supposed to rain, but I'm sure our positive thoughts will stave that off.

Also, my Korean mum is mad at me for not coming to the 8:30 am Teacher's Day celebration. I can feel her hostility. Yikes.

SERIOUSLY

The latest advice from the Mother Hen that I'm taking is,

"Don't take yourself so seriously."

LOVE it.

Speaking of not taking themselves too seriously...I present the Olsen twins. Acting their age. Imagine. I'm loving this. Thanks to Dirty Little Style Wh*re :)

Belts and Bikes

Image courtesy of frolic-blog.com

I love belts. Love them long time. I'll have to stock up when I'm home. Korean waists are considerably smaller than ours. I will also have to get some boots. I know...I'm the last person on earth who has yet to buy herself some boots. They always make my feet look so big though...I haven't been able to wrap my head around it and just get over it.

One of my students told me yesterday that there is a country where one has to obtain a bike license to ride and there are only certain places where one can park this mode of transportation. Furthermore, she concluded, bikers have to take their bikes for emissions tests. I'm not sure about this last one...she might have gotten some facts twisted around. Regardless, sounds like an alternate universe to me. Shouldn't we be encouraging bike transport?

I for one am doing my part...I walk everywhere here, take public transportation, and even attempted to ride a bike on Sunday. Note: I haven't been on a bike since high school and I told my student this. She could hardly believe it was true. Ask yourself...when was the last time you rode a bike? Anyway, it didn't go over so well. As it stands, I'm already sort of awkward, standing six feet tall, so me on a bike? Not so graceful. There's your strange mental image of the day. Hope you're having a good one :)

Starting my vision board

image courtesy of apartment therapy.

This house is going on my vision board. In case you don't know, a vision board is a collage of all the things you want in life. The idea is to look at it daily, picture that it IS your life, and work your way towards it. Of course, it changes all the time as your needs and desires change, but this is a good start for me. The image above is from a different house, but the strategically-placed chandelier is just too adorable to pass up!

Check out this kitchen! It's decidedly Marcuzzi-esque while also being entirely ethereal. I can't get enough.




Click here for the image.

And I'm fairly certain I'd fall in love with my home if each day I was greeted with this...

Click here for the image.

thank you thank you thank you! 1st-option.net (stills)

Dear UWO

thanks, robarts.ca

Dear Western,

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for letting me continue to log onto your libraries so I can research the latest and greatest on alternative therapies for diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. Even though I'm not a student anymore, you sure do treat me like one. And the appreciation oozes out of me: trust me.

thanks, wikimedia commons

But you make me wait, Western. You make me wait on pins and needles and that reminds me of icy cold love. I don't like it; I don't appreciate it; I wish you'd get off your high horse and just tell us already.

thanks, flickr

Thank you. Good day.

Alexis