Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Autumn in 갑천 (Gapcheon) from Oct. 23

So . . . I'm behind on my picture-posting. Let's see when I can be totally caught up.

I was so stunned with the autumn foliage, that I had to bring my camera to school to take pictures in-between class. The vibrancy of the colors remind me a little of New England autumn,
All these were taken at Gapcheon Elementary School (My Wed./Thurs. school).


School and national flag, over-looking the playground.


From behind the elementary school, looking towards the direction of the middle and high schools of the same village.


Someone else is looking over the view . . .


On the bridge to get to my middle and high schools.


Gapcheon High School (for now)
A new building for the high school is under construction.


Just a little further up the hill, we have Gapcheon Middle School.


A view of Gapcheon.


The new high school building.
I've heard it may be finished either by the end of November or December. Either way, I should be able to explore it once its completed.
Oh yeah, the small building to the far left is the cafeteria both schools share.


The high school again, walking away from the middle school.


The middle school and the (new) high school.


Half of the restrooms.
The other half are on the other side of the main "school".


Crossing the bridge again, facing my usual bus stop home.


On the bridge, this time looking back towards the elementary school.


From the bridge, looking towards Cheongil (the northwest-ish)


Nice details.


Gapcheon.
Yeap, that's it.


The bank.
See the white truck parked in front of the bank? Another bus stop is behind it.


Yes, they do have English on signs, even out here--which I still don't understand why . . .


A typical vendor who uses a truck.


All kinds of rice snacks.
They are pretty good, to be honest. Not too sweet.


The ride mill building.
I sometimes hear it going and smell the rice when I'm waiting for my bus.
I'm gonna miss it.


I haven't seen such a vibrant red in a long time.


Or such luminescent gold.


Gapcheon Elementary's playground (behind the building)


The custodian is sweeping up the leaves.


This is a walking trail behind the elementary school and along the river.


Another bridge to cross the river.
By far, the funner bridge, in my humble opinion.


Love the sight and sound of moving water . . .
I truly will miss this.


Ok, back to class.
Had the kids make an autumn wreath (went outside to gather fallen leaves)

Here they are, using their wreaths as crowns:

5th Grader (name withheld for privacy)


4th Grader


5th Grader


6th Grader

There's another 5th grader, but he had to leave before I remembered to get my camera. Drat.
Except for that one, you saw all my 4th-6th grade students.


Overlooking the playground again, as the sun is going down.


The front of the school.


Same, but closer to the road.


Walking to the bus stop near the middle and high schools.


Two of the natural wildlife one sees everyday in this area.


Looking towards Cheongil again.


The middle and (new) high schools behind an individual's farm.


The water coming down.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Random Update (21.Oct.)

So I haven't posted in over 3 weeks.

As I said in the previous post about Nami Island, I had a fever. Praise GOD I got over it by the following weekend--which was an even longer weekend than the one before. I would have wanted to go out and explore another place, but I needed to rest. So I did and all was fine. I did end up going to Seoul that Sunday (12th), though.

Then, that same week I got over my fever, I got a cold. Boy, was I in bad shape on Tuesday. I felt it coming Monday afternoon, but it really hit me hard during the night. I barely made it through teaching on Tuesday. I'm so grateful that the English teacher told me to just take one class and he would take the other two. So I barely made it through that one. I slept in the teachers' office for a while, had lunch, and then I was allowed to go home early. Since then, I've been drinking about 12-14 cups of tea per day and going to bed earlier. I haven't been drinking as much orange juice or eating as many oranges as I could, but this had REALLY helped me A LOT! I'd say I'm about 95% well right now.
Yes, this was exactly a week ago that I got sick, but keep in mind that I get sicker and stay that way longer in Korea than I do in the States.

So praise GOD that I've gotten better, without having to see a doctor or getting drugged up Korean-style.

I really haven't done that much. Below are the few random pictures I've taken between then and now:


밥 버거  ("rice burger") at a new chain in Hoengseong.
Think of it as a rice dish that you can hold in your hand like a burger.
I liked it.



The one day I went to Seoul. This is from Gapyeong Station (갑영역), just across the street from DongSeoul Bus Terminal (동서울버스터미널).


On my way to the Express bus terminal (고속버스터미널), I discovered this express track to the express bus terminal. Quite fitting, right?
If you want to use it, this is Line 9.


Even getting to the terminal was faster than the other/normal way.



This is in Wonju, at the end of the main shopping area in Jungang Shi-jang (중아시장).
This was this past Saturday night (18.Oct.), after a friend and I saw a theatrical performance (in which my doctor-friend performed). Of course, it was in Korean, but the body-language was understandable.


So yeah, that's a basic sum-up of these past 3 weeks.

I'll probably be in Seoul this weekend again, seeing that it's my friend Tracy's last weekend in Korea. Just don't know when I'll leave though . . .

Thursday, October 9, 2014

남이섬/ Nami Island (3.Oct.)

My friend, Tracy, left Korea about 5 months ago. She's back--visiting for a month.
Our friend, Jennifer, decided to surprise her by inviting me along on their plans for Friday, October 3 (Foundation Day--national holiday). I found out about this the evening before. Fortunately, I was waiting on them.

I made it to Gapyeong Station early and kept an eye out for Tracy. A flood of people were coming in from Seoul, so you can imagine my relief when Tracy found me. She shrieked, ran over to me, and gave me the biggest hug I've had in a LONG time. 
Jenny said she and her husband were going to take a while reaching us, so go on ahead and we'd catch up later. So we did.


Across from Gapyeong Station.


The tower to zip-line into Nami Island. It costs less than $40. Still don't know why we didn't go.
There were a TON of people, so that might be related to the reason why we didn't do the zip-line.


Herding the cattle into the ferry that takes us to Nami Island.


Nami Island.


Not happy about how crowded it was. People were pushing all of us.


Just so you'd have an idea of how crowded it was.


Oh, lucky zip-liners.


Welcome to Nami Island.


SOOOOO many people with their "selfie sticks"!


Piles of stones along the coast.




Lovely path.


Black squirrel.


Huts?
We just walked around, we didn't read much or come close to many things.


Bike-cart anyone?


Sky-bike boarding platform.


Sky bike.


World Cup trophies? As fencing?


Lovely area to just sit down on the grass.


Oh, stunning autumn foliage!
Would be better without the people.


Linda, Tracy, and I.


Gazebo on the rocks.


Awkward . . . 










These are not actual balloons, but lanterns that light up at night.
The park closes around 22:30 or so.


The group altogether!


Swan boats and row boats.


Tracy and Linda in their swan boat.


Sick, feverish me in the back of Jenny & JinSeong's swan boat.


Traditional stoves.


Hello!
Can you find your language here?


Leaving into the sunset.


Ugh, out of focus, but still ok.


Very nice place, but I'd rather go during the week. Never again on a weekend.