Summer 2007
20 Aug
Oh, Korea. I love this place, most days. The summer weather ranged from clear sunny skies, to RAIN RAIN RAIN, to so hot i have to sleep with wet rags across my face. Though the weather isn’t always exactly what I’d like, I suck it up. I’ve had some really fun adventures.
My greatest achievement to date is my solo bike journey to the 38th parallel, a 28k ride from Gangneung. I’ve taken the trip twice… both resulting in really tired legs, sunburn, a constant fear of 18-wheelers running me off the two-foot shoulder. I’ve accumulated a really cool army hat and a wooden bracelet, and encountered some interesting roadkill (huge rats, bluebirds, even a half-decomposed frog).
***
A group of us went river camping for Noah’s final weekend in Korea. We stayed in a very nice ‘minbak’ which is pretty much a room-for-rent with a bathroom and small kitchen. The place looked like mushroom houses, very Alice in Wonderlandish. The river could be seen just through our picture window. We swam in the river, those adventurous few jumped off rocky cliffs into deep holes that were really narrow, whilst the rest of us lounged in the river and played on the slippery little waterfalls.
***
We celebrated Marnie’s birthday with a bbq at Anmok beach. As it turns out, we arrived just in time for the rain. We swam in the mild ocean and took some silly photos. Marnie is hysterical.
***
Yinny and I headed to Anmok to check out this incredible surf. The sand was almost all washed away, and the waves were definately amongst the biggest I’ve ever seen.
***
Amy, Dana, Liam and I downtown a little bit too. We discovered this place with a really weird sign outside. I thought it was a goth vampire club after watching an episode of CSI. It turns out to be a crazy gothic ‘nori-bong’ (kareoke room). We didn’t sing, instead we posed.
***
LCI was all fun and games this summer. My worst students were on summer vacation (yesssssss) and I had some visitors to pass the time a little more quickly.
***
PUPPIES!
I puppy sat for Amy. She called him ‘Chocolate.’ I called him “Rocky Raccoon.” He peed on newspaper for me. He also peed on the PC room table, and dropped a deucer on the floor there. Oops! When I carried him i put him in my hoodie pocket. FALL IN LOVE, I know i did.
theeeeeeeeeeee end.
or more to come.
i’m not sure yet.
<3 :)
MRumianowski
i love the puppy.
paul wants one.
i do too.
Love the mushroom houses. One thing I really thought was cool about Korea, more specifically Kangwon-do, was the obsession with making normal life resemble fairytell settings.
Melissa,
Your adventures are an inspiration! I loved the video of the kids singing, and esp. loved that you made them write stories and draw pictures about YOUR family and friends! Hysterical!!
Will miss you on Thanksgiving!
Oma made me take pics of her in front of the autumn trees, which I will email to you! 🙂