Last day of the 1st Term in Jeju (26.April '12)

I had a little extra time on the last day of my 1st term in Jeju SDA Language Institute. So, what to do . . .

Ah, go down to Tab-dong, the area of the city that's by the ferry terminal and along the sea--with my camera. Here's a little bit of what I saw:

The "boardwalk" along the sea, with a collection of basketball courts. There's also a waterpark nearby.

Yeah, the sea doesn't look that clean, but it does smell nice (at least I think so).

Further down the path, but going towards the Ramada. At your far left, you can see Emart. Yeap, it's this close to the sea.

A statue of 1 element of Jeju's identity: the women divers.

An engraving of how they worked (there're some still left).

Looking back to where I started.

Just how close the airplanes pass by here. The airport is pretty close.

At the Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum.

You can't hide from these "stone grandfathers."

It's not the road signs that caught my attention, but the green and yellow sign that got me:

"Korea Institute for Birthday Culture Studies"

"Birthday culture studies"?

Never knew it existed.

What will they think of next?

This name makes me think . . .

. . . do students who study here do exceptionally well in their classes that it seems like a miracle?

. . . was it a miracle that this library was established?

. . . did they think it had a good ring to it?

This is what happens when I'm not ready.

I saw a police escort and photographers running and turning around to take a picture of someone coming behind them: a guy running with a torch.

I know the Summer Olympics in London is going to happen soon, but is this for that? I didn't see the Olympic logo (then again, I was too busy trying to look for my camera before the people ran out of sight).

I'm not a gardener and I don't know flowers very well, but I can say 1 thing: my picture/camera couldn't do these flowers justice.

My Orange, Education, & Harvest

Hi everyone. I've got a few more pics I want to share with you.

One of my students gave me this orange. That's my name in Korean (letters).

I feel loved.

My orange and I in the teachers' staff room.

The orange has gone over to the next phase. It was very delicious.

The Jeju Education Museum--just 1 block from my apartment.

A museum this close? Of course I'm there!

Confucian school.

(I went here alone, so there might be many things that I don't understand or portray incorrectly. I'll try to go again with a Korean.)

Confucian teacher.

Confused students.

Let's not interrupt.

A model of a Confucian school.

I'm afraid to ask what the tuition was.

Uniforms.

Outdoor kids' class.

Outdoor high school.

Whoa, check out the size (and gender ratio).

Ah, 1 of my favorite school subjects: lunch!

Sorry if you're hungry.

First time I saw Korean Sign Language.

It's definitely different in all languages/countries.

A nice garden on a very bright, sunny day.

Hooray for bursts of color!

 Same day, after the Education Museum, I went with a church member to pick Gosari herbs (basically ferns).

"Why?" you ask? Well . . . why not?

Besides, with this view, I think it was worth it.

Yeah, a few graves here, but it's all good.

The "gosari" (I don't know the English name) plants I harvested, only dried.

Man, I can't believe Term break is this Friday . . . .

Yes, I'm still alive . . .

Hi everyone. Yes, I'm still alive; just not up to date on my blog. I'm really sorry.

We've got 1 more week left in the term, so things are going to get even crazier than before. Just giving you a head's up that I will not be able to update this blog as much as I'd like. Thanks to my ultra-busy (yet very good and rewarding schedule) . . . and the fact that I just got new batteries.

Anywho, on to the pictures. . .

 This is in Tab-dong, 1 of THE shopping areas in Jeju City that's right by the sea.

If you walk about 10 min. through this gate, you'll get to the sea.

 This is a place I wanted to check out, but then I saw it was closed (I think permanently)

Oh sadness.

 I tell ya, the Chinese are everywhere!

 1 entrance to the duty-free shopping alley in Tab-dong.

 1 of 12 entrances to the Underground Shopping (mall).

Not sure, but I believe it's the only 1 in the island (at least it's the biggest).

 You can choose Korean, English, Chinese, or Japanese.

Chances are there's someone who can speak 2, 3, or even all 4.

 Lunch, just like the chicken cutlets I ate at Ssangyong-dong in SeoCheonan; only I've got 2 extra side-dishes (the price is the same).

 A cherry blossom tree in the park between the SDA institute and my apartment.

 A beatiful, spring, pink "snow"

 Fit for a queen to walk on.

 Not as attractive, but much more necessary.

 My new apartment!

Well, the windows you see on the very top are from my apartment (4th floor).

Pics of said apartment are soon to come.

 The park by the supreme court (just a block from the SDA institute).

 What's a Korean park without outdoor exercise machines?

Back to the park between the institute and my apartment. You can see the top of my apartment above the trees over to the right.

 Ah, lunch at the food court in Emart (right beside the sea).

Chill, they're fish cutlets.

 The sidewalk in front of Emart.

Love the palm trees.

A guy from the SDA church was kind enough to take me to the Jeju National Museum.

This was from the dome inside said museum.

There are no more pictures because my batteries died and I didn't have spares.

I promise to avoid this situation as much as I possibly can.

Okay, that's all for now.

The cherry blossoms were gorgeous, but they're all gone now.

The rapeseed flowers are out now and very lively and lovely. I'll try to get some pictures of them too before they disappear.

So yeah, now you know I'm still alive. I'll try to remind you every so often, okay?