Fireworks and phone calls - hey, that's my life!

Okay. So, perhaps some context would be good for this photo.

It was Saturday night, and I was just chillin' out, listening to my coworkers jam at karaeoke and you know, just relaxin' and such. My phone rings, and I jump up surprised because one look at the number and I know precisely who's calling - it was a long line of weird numbers that aren't Korean-esque ... translation? That meant it was Daisuke!!! WAHOO!!! So I answered my phone and rang out to the beach for some quiet time.

Sat down in the sand and talked ... for a while. People run to and fro, past me, behind me, around me, I don't notice - it's all whatever, haha. Anyways, Jamie walks up to me and hands me a roman candle. I realize this might be a good photo op. So, in my right hand, I'm holding my camera. My cell phone is squeezed between my right shoulder and my ear (because, of course I'm still on the phone at this time) and I'm holding a roman candle in my left hand. Jamie lights said candle, and walks off. So now, I'm holding a LIT roman candle in my left hand, and I'm pointing it out over the water and kind of freaking out. I've got my camera ready in my right hand, just WAITING for balls of flame to shoot out. ANNND I'm freaking out on the phone.

So that is why, for today, you get a photo of some weird, streaky white lights.

(^_^)

Because I was gone for the weekend ...

... you can have TWO photos/videos/whatever other goodness.

One for each day. (^_^)

The weekend? Was pretty much fab. I think that's the best way to describe it. There was hiking (just a little), great scenery, Korean spas, BBQ, karaeoke, fireworks, sandy beaches, phone calls, staying up WAAAY late and having a dance party, hard floors but comfortable pillows, noodles for breakfast (mmmm, kal-gook-su), and bird watching (which turned into watching some men fish, haha). It was a very relaxing weekend. Plus, I slept pretty much the entire way there AND back. So not only was it relaxing, but I also racked up a few hours of sleep. Mmmmm, sleepy goodness. (^_^)

This is Ah-Jin (AJ). Her mother, Jinny, is in the background. Jinny is one of the desk teachers at my work. Isn't Ah-Jin just PRECIOUS?!

Fireworks on the beach - this was when I was just chillin' out and thought it might have the potential to be a cool photo opportunity.

Oh, the memories ...

This photo is from a temple park in Nara, Japan. I love Nara. Wait, let me try that again. I LOOOOOVE Nara. Such a beautiful, beautiful place. Anyways, my host family took me to a temple in Nara, while I was staying with them in Osaka. The park was literally filled with deer. Yes, I did buy the deer crackers to feed the deer as well. And yes, this particular picture is of a deer with only half of his antlers, and his tongue up his nose.

Google "Todaiji Temple" for more information.

Wada-san

This is my puppy.

Her name is Wada-san. She was a gift from my friend Ryoko (Wada-san) before I traveled to Korea for the first time (Spring break). Wada-san accompanies me on all of my adventures - she spent ten days in Korea, twelve in Japan, and now has been relaxing back in Korea. You can kind of see the photo progession.

The top photo is of her in a classroom in Korea at Cheongju University. The middle picture is of her in a library in Japan. And the bottom picture is of her and I in my apartment. Haha.

That's my picture today.

(^_^)

The view from the window ...

The view from the airplane window on my way back from Korea - the end of my last Spring Break ...

March 25, 2008

Boo, computer. YAY, Chuseok!

Well, I had a great post going. A really, really great post. And then, my computer decided that what it REALLY wanted to do was to shut down. Pfft.

Seriously?

Blah.

So, I'm going to give you the Clif's Notes version, and I'll go more indepth later. Maybe.

Chuseok weekend was awesome - I hopped on a bus at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal at 3:20 PM on Saturday and made it to Daejon a little after 5:00 PM. My friend, Kwon Sun-Joong, had asked his family to have me to their home for the weekend, so his father (Sung-Won) picked me up at the bus terminal. He is a very nice man, and was so kind to have me to his house. :)

Sun-Joong (who is currently in New York, studying at a seminary with Jae-Young) had also asked his older brother to, in a sense, look after me while I was there. So, he did. His older brother is named Sun-Hyung, and he is very kind. I'll put a picture of him at the end of this post. My first night there, Sun-Hyung and his friend took me out to dinner. Then, on Sunday, I went to church for the first time in Korea! That was so nice! I really need to find a church in Anyang. After church, Sun-Hyung and I took his grandmother home, and then we went to lunch.

Later that evening, I went with the whole family to visit Sun-Joong's mother's family. There were MANY people there! I was so surprised! Everyone was SO nice to me, too. I really enjoyed my evening. This morning, we went to the Expo Center to see some traditional Korean culture. Afterwards, Sun-Joong's mother made us lunch, and then everyone took me to the bus terminal to catch my bus. It was a very fun weekend. I really like Daejon, and hope to go back there sometime relatively soon. It was very peaceful. :)

So that was my weekend. It was a lot of fun - I'm very glad that I had this opportunity. Now I'm back in Anyang, preparing for my shortened school week - YAY for three day weekends. :)

Sun-Hyung oppa and I after lunch on Saturday - do you like the fact that we're wearing similar shirts? :) One of Sun-Joong's many cousins - isn't she CUTE?!
Sung-Won, Sun-Joong's father ... he is really funny!
Sun-Joong's mother. She is very, very kind.