New Friends and DMZ Trip

Yes! I finally have time to post this!

Last weekend was pretty exciting and eventful.

It all started on Saturday night (19. March) when some of Thula's friends were coming to visit her. I went with to show her how to get to their meeting point. They were late, but ended up being worth the wait. When they arrived, they had a proposition I didn't imagine.

Wanna go to the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone-between the 2 Koreas) the following morning?

Heck yeah!

I've wanted to go ever since I arrived to Korea, but had no idea how or when. I was going to hang out with a former student, but then I called her to see if she would like to come with. Bless the child, she said yes! Hooray for people who can afford to be flexible! That night, we ate at "All That Barbeque" (I've shown pictures of it. I finally got to eat there! YEESSSS!) and enjoyed it thoroughly. What a bunch of unexpected blessings!

First, I'll show you the pics from Saturday night, then we'll go on to Sunday.

This item at the all-you-can-eat buffet was quite amusing.

The group!

R to L: Bo, Omar, Thula, Tiffany, and yours truly.

Now all of these are from Sunday, 20. March . . .

Not what I expected to see in a cafe (in the express bus terminal).

We took the bus up to Seoul, but had to take the subway from the Express Bus Terminal to Seoul Station (where we would meet our DMZ tour guide).

Anna (our illustrious tour guide)

The van stops here. We get to walk around and then get on the official DMZ tour bus.

Peace Bell.

Huge Peace Bell.

During the Korean War, this bridge was blown up; but many people still crossed the river on what was left of this bridge to enter freedom in the South.

Can you read the white sign?

Whoops.

Interesting.

The Peace Bell again.

Yeap, I'm here.

The train line that runs through the DMZ into both Koreas.

We were here.

The observatory on the top was pretty cool. Too bad it was cold, rainy, and windy . . .

This has the words to the national anthem of Korea (the South, I presume).

From the observatory on the roof, facing north.

Thanks Sally, for the picture!

Thanks to the South Korean soldier who took this picture!

The Peace Bell from the observatory.

Facing south.

Prayer banners (?)

to see what's left of a train that was attacked (don't remember by who).

We couldn't go on the actual bridge, but this was a close as we could get (down to the end).

A pool in the shape of the Korean penninsula (both Koreas).

At the end of the bridge.

On to what's left of the train.

whoa.

Wanna snack? Try squid on a stick! (I wouldn't, thank you).

On to our next stop and some info of it: in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese (dunno if Cantonese, Mandarin, etc.)

Anna pointing where the 2km No-Man's-Land portion of the DMZ starts in South Korea. There's another 2km stretch on the North Korean side as well.

We were presently at a train station right before it (it's the red circle beside her hand).

Dorasan Station.

WHAT?!?! A train system from Korea to Portugal?!

So, if North Korea was open to the rest of the world, I could travel to London by train?!

Dang, what an opportunity!

Okay! North Korea, here I come! (joking, of course)

Next Stop: Dora Observatory.

Mission: See the DMZ and beyond--that is, North Korea.

We couldn't go very close, but from where I was allowed to stand, that thing between the 2 central binoculars is the North Korean flag, on a 165 m tall pole.

The only way we can see North Korea.

The Photo Line. If we took pictures one step beyond this line, we risk getting shot by snippers (or so I was led to understand).

Next Destination: The 3rd Tunnel.

The North Koreans have built a bunch of tunnels to get to Seoul and attack it. This is the 3rd of 4 that have been found--so far.

But first, let's play with the statues!

Sally and I trying to push this ball together.

C'mon! Put your backs into it!

Group picture.

L to R: Sally, me, Hae-Sung, Bo, Tiffany, Thula, and Omar.

Okay, all silliness aside.

The entrance to the 3rd tunnel. It's a 350m walk down (and up) on an 11 degree slope. 250m further, we get to the DMZ border. Man, the 350m climb back up killed us! It was our workout for the week.

Our tour bus We were only about 12 passengers total.

The last stop: Unification village.

Mission: Souvenir shop (like soy-bean chocolate, North Korean Soju (Korean vodka), ginseng, etc.)

Interesting fact about this village: Since this is the closest South Korean Village to the DMZ, the residents have 2 benefits from the government:

1. don't pay taxes, and

2. the men are exempt from mandatory military service.

After this very interesting tour and look into the delicate thread between 2 strong governments, we were starving and fixed that in Coex mall in Yongsan station.

Vietnamese cuisine. It was okay, but it could've been better.

Next, off to a cafe! Cafe Pascucci to be exact.

Thula takes a picture as we sit down with Michael and wonder at what we want.

We surround the menu, and Tiffany shows something she seems happy about (the mall directory).

From here, we leave . . . and so must I.

Til later.

A Great Sunday (13. March)

Whoa, I haven't posted anything for 2 weeks . . .

. . . so busy is my life in Korea . . .

Anywho, as a new coordinator, I had to go to the New Coordinator's Meeting on Saturday night (12. March) at the main institute close to Hoegi Station (yes, in Seoul). Also, there was the regular Coordinator's Meeting on Sunday morning (13. March).

It was interesting, in that I'm now allowed to know "the secrets" not open to regular teachers. Wow, that sounded as though I were an Illuminatus or something. Anywho, it was ok, but what happened afterward was the highlight of 2011.

I met a few friends afterward in Bucheon. We went to a Korean restaurant for lunch. Later (this is where the real fun took place), we went to a nearby park. At this park, we rented these bike-cart hybrid things and had a blast riding around the park in them; racing each other and such. I loved it! Thank you so much Jennifer, LMS, and Arron for that awesome time. We must do this again--for an hr. next time (and find some hills). ~_^

To the pics!

Seoul Station . . . one angle thereof

I thought the waterwheel was interesting. It actually works (waterwheel/fountain).

From Sunday at Bucheon:

Jennifer and LMS

Jennifer talking to some kids inside this . . . thing.

Some art for the artist.

Manning the vehicle.

My crazy and animated driver.

Great times!

1 Year

Hey, it's March 15 today.

Do you know what this means?

My mother died a year ago today.

Sheesh, so much has happened, I can't believe it's been a year already . . .

Please pray for my family.

Ugh, have to go back to work now. At least I'm too busy to think--this can be a good thing.

A new term has come; and with it, a few changes.

First, I am the new coordinator. This means, I am in charge of the foreign teachers in my institute. I found out about this change when it was too late for me to decline (by about 2 weeks). I am not amused. At all.

I've had a few challenges already, but with God's ever present help, they've been settled. May He stay with me--or more importantly, may I never wander from Him.

Thulie has returned to South Africa. Thula has come to take the vacant spot in our institute. Thula also hails from South Africa. She's a joy to have. We're getting along very well. Hopefully, this term will not be as bad as I've imagined.

Anyway, this past term break, I didn't go anywhere or do anything extravagantly special. I did invite friends and former students to a special outing on Tuesday, March 1.

Destination: The Independence Hall of Korea.

Reason: This memorial commemorates the fighting spirit of Korea when it came under Japanese domination. One of several independent movements against the Japanese happened in Cheonan on March 1, 1919--92 years ago. This is why I thought it was fitting to go there on this day.

There were a few setbacks. Some of my friends arrived late, the 1 former student who could attend was late, the bus was beyond full, and most of my friends had to leave early. Also, there is so much to see there, we should have arrived as soon as it opened in the morning (I'm not kidding!). It was also a cold, rainy day. For a moment, it even snowed. I would've taken more pictures, but the lighting wasn't good, my hands were freezing, and most of my friends were in a crunch for time.

God willing, I will return on a warmer day and spend the day there--with someone/some people who can translate or explain things for me . . . and take more and better pictures.

Below are the ones I have taken.

The entrance to the the Independece Hall of Korea.

The entrance building with a field of flags.

In case you were wondering: yes, I'm in Korea.

The sign explains the symbolism of the flags.

After those who needed to leave left, this was all that was left of the group: Arron (friend from orientation), Kate (the only former student who could attend), and yours truly.

Check out the differences in height!


I apologize for not posting more, but I don't have much to post; picture-wise or idea-wise. Just know that I'm still alive and still breathing. I have my good days and my bad days; but I will not give up until my time is over.