Brenda and I took a day trip to Seoul today! It is such an incredible city, and I'm looking forward to spending more time there. We mostly shopped today; it was nice to see some English books and some brand names that I recognized, but the best was all of the tiny, local artists selling handmade jewelry and one-of-a-kind glasses frames! It's a whirlwind in Seoul, so many people, music blasting from every store, various languages shooting left and right. There are countless street vendors and little restaurants: some with lines around the block. I had an ice cream wapple ("wapple" is literally Korean for "waffle" in my phrase book) from a street vendor and it was delicious! We rode the subway, got stepped on by angry Koreans, took the KTX for the first time, and generally had a fantastic and busy day! I really want to get to know Seoul while I'm here and spend more time there soon, but for now, the day trip filled me with wanderlust as well as a great appreciation for my own Daejeon. While Daejeon is much smaller than Seoul, it's so very comfortable. It's certainly a bit enough city for me and the food is cheaper ; ) Daejeon is a city of 1.5 million but it's only about the size of Seattle, so it's very walkable, has a trio of creaks running through it, an electric downtown for night life, a University, and two amusement parks! I can't believe the loyalty I already feel to this city. Of course, it's no Seattle, that city will always hold a very special place in my heart, but when our train pulled into the station at midnight, I had the (unfamiliar for the last month) feeling that I was glad to be almost home.
We're currently in the middle of our Chuseok break! I think I've mentioned this, but Chuseok is Korean Thanksgiving, the harvest festival. It's one of the only times every year that Koreans stop work and go home to spend time with their families. Koreans and foreigners are travelling all over the country this week. Most of my students are going to visit their grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. And Brenda will be headed to Seoul (again) to visit her grandmother. Mallory and I, however, will be venturing South to Busan! Monday-Thursday for us will be the lovely sea-side city of Busan, an elleged must destination for tourists and locals alike. Weather permitting, we'll be basking in the sun, on the beach, reading books and dipping in the cold water by day, then exploring the vast nighttime experience the city has to offer. There's the possibility of Mexican food and even a spa trip ahead! I'm really excited that this break came after only a month here because I didn't get the chance to take a break between leaving Spruce Street School, Seattle, family, friends, and home to come here. I really haven't had a vacation to just relax since Christmas (not that I'm complaining, I love being busy), but a truly relaxing, lazy, enjoyable time in the sun for a few days is just what I need right now.
In other news: PETER IS COMING TO VISIT ME IN NOVEMBER! I'm really excited to see my brother, I absolutely can't wait! And there's a terrible, awful, flashing blue light outside my window that keeps me up until at least two (usually later) most nights. My friend Courtney said she'd sew me some black out curtains (she's a seamstress!), but if that doesn't work, I might just throw a rock at the neon sign's outlet because I can't handle the sleep schedule I've become accustomed to.
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