The completion of my second month here coincided with the day of my friend's birthday. It also happened to be one of the best weekends I've had in a long time. A weekend filled with good times and good company. After a small celebration at my place we headed for Busan, Korea's second largest city. It's about a 30 minute bus ride from here. From the bus station we took the subway to the university area, where night life is fully active. It was a big contrast from my little city - busy and loud and lots of foreign faces. We eventually ended up at a small club. Not the most attractive or inviting, or even enticing place, I have to admit. But after having walked around aimlessly for a while we decided to just check it out. It was loud and reeked of cigarettes. We had paid a cover so we decided to stay for a bit. A little bit turned into dancing til dawn. When you're surrounded by music and happy people you forget your surroundings. Hours later, tired and thirsty and in need of air, we decided to head out. We took a cab to the beach. We took our shoes off and rested our feet in the cool sand. Then we simply stood there and watched the sunrise. I don't think there's anything that can compare to the cool fresh air of early dawn accompanied by the sound of waves, and a calm that permeates, with what I can only describe as the majesty of a sunrise.
Life in Korea has been good. People are kind. They have a history. They have a culture. They have tradition. And they are kind. Traveling gives you hope in humanity. It makes you come face to face with people. It makes you realize people every where are really the same. And there's nothing sweeter than bonding with someone you can't speak with.
A while ago I went on a mini trip to the country side with some friends. We went to a city called Hadong, the green tea capital of Korea. They have an annual green tea festival there every year. The scenery was breath taking. It was beautiful, mystic. I'm hoping to end up some where like that. Seems like the only natural progression, to go back to nature.
Work has been good. I've definitely identified the trouble students by now. Some need a lot of individual attention. Most are good. Some are great. I still love being around kids all day. It's a whole other atmosphere. It's lighter and more innocent. Still, requires lots of patience and energy some times. Well worth it though.
Hadong, Korea.
The motel where we spent the night
View from our restaurant
Rainy night at the temple, Thousand Lanterns Festival
