Image

Friday, June 15

My dear friend Joni sent me a Cinco de Mayo themed birthday care package that included margarita glasses and mix, small tiki torches, sombrero headbands, mustaches… I could go on and on. She also sent me a sombrero piñata.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the piñata. I thought about using it at my birthday party, but I figured that would just lead to Dave’s apartment being destroyed. One of my after school students’ birthdays was on Thursday so I told them early in the year we could have this Friday’s class be a party. It was the perfect time to use the piñata. We also did the Limbo (which they already knew) and played Pin the Tail on the Donkey. They loved it all. It was so much fun!

A year in photos – Day 110

Thursday, June 14

Thursday has been my worst day in Korea yet. As a result, this is the only picture I took all day. I took it right as I left my apartment.

Dave has a car which is both good and bad. The good part is that it easier for us to get places and see things, but parking can be a nightmare at times. We both thought that we were really lucky that the lot next door to my building is a paid parking lot. And they were much cheaper than the lot a few blocks away.

Recently, the lot started making some changes and now it’s not a parking lot anymore. They seem to be storing new cars there. The lot is always completely full. I took this picture to show Dave.

The reason why I didn’t take any pictures in the afternoon is because I was really upset because my co-teacher said some really awful things to me. Fortunately, it’s towards the end of the semester and we will only be teaching together for the next 5 weeks and then I’ll have a month long break before we have any classes together.

A year in photos – Day 109

Image

Wednesday, June 13

The girls and I went walking along the river again. We are going to try to go every Monday and Wednesday, but I’m not sure how many chances we’ll have before rainy season kicks in.

Along the river there are several work out parks (like you saw in Day 107). There are also several of these acupressure foot walks. Basically, there are rocks poking up. You’re supposed to take your shoes off and enjoy the pain of walking barefoot on rocks.

A year in photos – Day 108

Image

Tuesday, June 12

I went to dinner with Faith on Tuesday night. Afterwards, we walked around Seomyeon a bit and I found Garfield chatting it up with an employee at the shoe store.

A year in photos – Day 107

Image

Monday, June 11

On Monday night I met up with the girls to go walking. It was a really nice night. We walked along the river and stopped off at this exercise area to work out amongst the Koreans. While they take it super seriously, we were really just playing.

A year in photos – Day 106

Image

Sunday, June 10

It’s watermelon season! Watermelons in Korea are small and expensive. They cost about $15 each!

A year in photos – Day 105

Image

Saturday, June 9

Dave helped me do some shopping on Saturday. I put him to work by making him carry 12 liters of water back up to my apartment. Actually, he tried to do it all himself, but I wouldn’t let him. But I did make sure to take a picture before I helped him out.

A year in photos – Day 104

Image

Friday, June 8

Most of the students at my school have started carrying these around with them. I was curious about them so I asked my after school class kids. They explained that if someone tries to take them, they can push the button and it alerts their moms or the police or something like that. I guess it’s basically like a panic button. Pretty interesting.

A year in photos – Day 103

Image

Thursday, June 7

This is the window display at the Lotte Department Store in Centum City, Busan. This may be the ugliest outfit I’ve ever seen.

A year in photos – Day 102

Image

Wednesday, June 6

Garlic must be in season because I’ve been seeing a lot of it lately. I’ve been told that Korea is the largest consumer of garlic (based on population). Usually when you buy it it’s pre peeled, but my local grocery store was selling it freshly picked, stalks still attached.