Wonderful Weekend

JeongEui invited me to spend a weekend at her parents' house in Hadong. We had a great time exploring and practicing Korean and English :) I'll let the photos speak for themselves except to add that the last one would be better as a video to see the octopus tentacles wriggling!

Always Explore

Shortly after coming here, I discovered the public exercise machines, hula hoops, and beautiful pathways at the UN Memorial Park about a 30-minute walk from here.

Then just last week, I discovered exercise machines and hula hoops as well at a pagoda and picnic area at a beautiful hilltop park right behind the dormitory!

Waffle Sunday :)

 

Since I discovered this waffle stand that serves light, crispy waffles filled with ice cream for less than $1, we've made it a habit to go on the 90-minute walk at least once a week!

Depuis que j'ai découvert ce magasin qui vende les gaufres légères et croustillantes, remplies de crème glacée pour moins de 1$, nous avons pris l'habitude de marcher les 90 minutes au moins une fois par semaine!

Desde que descubrí esta tienda que vende wafles ligeras y crujientes, llenos de helado por menos de $1, lo hicimos hábito de caminar los 90 minutos por lo menos una vez por semana!

Desde que eu descobri esta loja que vende wafles leves e crocantes, cheios de sorvete por só R$1.55, temos hábitu de caminhar os 90 minutos pelo menos uma vez por semana!

この店でアイスクリームが入いるおいしいワッフルが70円以下で買える。見つけてから、毎週一回以上90分歩いて、ワッフルを買ってくることにしました。

Lest We Forget

I wore my poppy proudly at the Turn Towards Busan Commemorative Ceremony at the United Nations Cemetery to remember those who fought and gave their lives in the Korean war and in other conflicts. Shall we remember and not let it happen again.

Seoul Summary

 

I went to Seoul to write the long and tedious Canadian Public Services Exams at the embassy and had to go swing dancing after, of course :)

 

I stayed at Alan and Monica's house and we made banana pancakes and chocolate chip cookies! And went to see the fall colours in the park.

 

While there, I met up with past Selkirk students for dinner and karaoke. Penny is doing his Masters degree, Jeremy is now an engineer for Hyundai/ Kia, and James is a salesperson for the Soju we drank that night.

Saturday night I paid the $10 entry fee to the 24-hour bath house (Jjimjilbang) where I relaxed in the hot pools and steam room and then attempted to get some sleep on a thin mattress in a room full of snoring people. It was worth it for access to the baths, but definitely only possible for one night.

On Sunday I went for lunch with Christina, who lived with my family 8 years ago and who, at age 19, is looking all grown-up compared to when we last met 2 years ago.

Taking the slow train

November 3rd, 2011

Train: Mugunghwa 1216
Depart Busan: 12:50pm
Arrive Seoul: 6:02pm
Price: 26,500won
Scenery: Beautiful
1.5-hour conversation in Korean with an ajuma who gave me fresh peanuts and mandarin oranges: Priceless

광안리 (Gwangan Beach)

Gwangan Beach is lined with bars and cafés that have a beautiful view of the Gwangan Bridge.

Le plage Gwangan est bordée de bars et cafés aient une belle vue du pont Gwangan.

La playa Gwangan está llena de bares y cafés que tiene buena vista sobre el puente Gwangan.

A praia Gwangan está cheia de bares e cafés com uma vista boa do ponte Gwangan.

グワンガリは、美しい大橋を面しているバーやカフェがたくさん並んでいます。

Halloween Swing Party

This weekend I ventured up to Sosa Bar near Busan National University for their Halloween Party. The highlights of the night included:
- Feeling like a part of the crew from Wednesday nights at Latino Bar
- Getting pulled into a dance competition because my tomato dress was one of the best outfits
- Winning a free entry in said dance competition by making a fool of myself :)
- Dancing and talking with many new people
- And feeling like I might finally be getting the hang of swing outs!

Still Life

I took this photo on my walk home from school one day. I just like how it captures the kimchi pots and laundry on the roof of this housing complex and the apartment buildings in the background.

비빔밥 (Bibimbap)!

My favourite Korean dish - grilled veggies and an egg on rice with a mild hot pepper paste - $3 :)

Mon plat préféré coréen - légumes grillés et un oeuf avec du riz et une sauce pas trop épicée - 3$ :)

Mi plato favorito coreano - legumbres asados y un huevo con arroz y una salsa no muy picante - $3 :)

Meu prato preferido coreano -  vegetais grelhados e um ovo com arroz e um molho não muito picante - $3 :)

私が一番好きな韓国料理：ご飯にやいた野菜や卵とちょっと辛いソースがつけてある。300円 :)

Sunset and a Temporary Home

My bunk bed in our 5-person dorm room and the sunset from the roof.

Mon lit au doitoir de 5 personnes et le coucher du soleil du toit.

Mi cama en el dormitorio de 5 personas y la caída del sol desde el techo.

Minha cama no dormitório de 5 pessoas e o pôr do sol do telhado.

5人の部屋に、自分のベッドと寮の屋根から日没の写真です。

Sunrise and a Piece of Home

For me it was the pie and cake we ate while watching the sunrise - for Laziz it was the Uzbek lunch.

Pour moi c'était la tarte et le gâteau que nous avons mangé en admirant le lever du soleil - pour Laziz c'était le dîner Uzbek.

Para mi fue la torta y el pastel que comimos mientras admiramos el sol nacer - para Laziz fue el almuerzo Uzbek.

Para mim foi a torta e o bolo que comemos ao nascer do sol - para Laziz foi o almoço Uzbek.

私にとって、日の出に食べたパイとケーキだて、ラジズにとって、ウズベッキスタンの昼ご飯でした。

Latern Festival in Jinju

"MultiRoom" Birthday Party!

Cake, pumpkin pie, unlimited popcorn, karaoke and "happy birthday" sung in multiple languages make for a great party :)

Gâteau, tarte à la citrouille, maïs soufflé illimité, karaoke et ''joyeuse anniversaire'' en quelques langues sont parfaits pour une anniversaire.

Pastel, tarta de calabaza, canguil (palomitas) ilimitado, karaoke y "cumpleaños feliz" en varios idiomas son perfectos para un cumpleaños.

Bolo, torta de abóbora, pipoca ilimitado, karaoke e "feliz aniversario" em varios idiomas são ótimos para um bom aniversario.

ケーキやかんぼちゃパイや無制限のポップコーンやカラオケと何か国語での「お誕生日おめでとう」はいいパーティでした。

Birthday Rub

One thing I love about birthdays is you get to pamper yourself. This year I took myself to the spa for a full-body massage. Now one thing you must know about bath houses in Korea is that you don't wear bathing suits. So here I was, laid out on a massage bed in the corner of the womens' bath house in my birthday suit :)
The masseuse laid hot towels on me, washed my face and covered it with grated cucumber. She then started to scrub my legs and worked her way up over every inch of my body exfoliating my skin until I was sure that I wouldn't have any tan left (and would be pale white as is popular here). And then she did it again and again for what must have been 45 minutes.
And just when I thought, this must actually be a body rub and not a massage, she poured hot water on me, covered me with massage oil and began to knead my back. She proceeded down to my legs, my arms... several times over - and then stood on me and massaged me with her feet... several times over - and then continued to massage me by stretching my limbs in all directions and working the kinks out of my joints.
At times it hurt, but boy did it feel good! One and a half hours later and I felt like she had scrubbed and rubbed and jabbed and stretched and pressed away 24 years worth of tension.

Touring Busan

This Sunday, I toured Busan with Ivan, Laziz (from Uzbekistan), and other international students from China and Vietnam. Our day started on a pirate-style ship that took us from the port to Gwangali beach. From there we took the bus to a pottery place where we had bibimbap for lunch. There were hundreds of clay statues depicticing people with open heads, open mouths, and no ears which represents the local way of thinking that by freeing our minds of unnecessary thought and not letting in harmful noise, we can relax by singing together. In the afternoon, we dressed in traditional Korean clothing and learned to bow at an etiquette school. We finished the day with a visit to a beautiful seaside temple where my camera battery died :( We plan to go back there someday to catch the sunrise though.

Autumn Wedding

Congratulations to Selkirk alumni, Revecah and Richard!

Félicitations à Revecah et Richard, anciens élèves de Selkirk!

Felicitaciones a Revecah y Richard, antiguos alumnos de Selkirk!

Parabéns para Revecah e Richard, ex-alunos de Selkirk!

Selkirkから卒業したRevecahとRichardにおめでとうございます!