Do you know South Korea?

This is an excellent video artfully showing life here in S. Korea. The images you see are so familiar to Dani and me; it's like this guy took some of our memories and put them to video (with some decent music too!). I give this guy kudos for a job well done!

Do You Know South Korea? from David Dutton on Vimeo.

Also, thanks to Eat Your Kimchi for posting the link!

Truly a new year

It has been awhile since we have posted anything....but we still plan to keep this blog going. We have move apartments and jobs, so the transition has kept us very busy. Above is a picture of our neighborhood (Guro-Digital Complex) from the Wikipedia page about the area. We didn't move far from our old hood (in fact, it is somewhere in the background of this photo), but this place certainly feels more vibrant!

In the mean time, Dani and I are enjoying our new jobs and getting acquainted. I am at a publisher of children's English books and muti-media for private schools throughout Korea. Dani is at an all-girls middle school, and she says the students are behaving quite nicely.

May God bless this year as we seek Him more!

2 Year Anniversary!

On January 10th Todd & I celebrated a huge accomplishment--being married for two-whole- years. We've been very blessed so to celebrate this blessed event, Todd took me on a surprise date! We went all the way across town to a place we've blogged about before--Lotte World (check a few blogs back). But that wasn't where we were going. Nor was it to the microbrewery we passed and later came back to. Nor was it to the hand-gun shooting range. Though I knew at the slightest look of interest on my part to either brewery or range, Todd would change course immediately and head in either direction. I only hope he would have gone to the hand gun range before the microbrewery, but no matter, it didn't happen.

I kept my head down and headed straight because I knew we had come to go....ICESKATING!! And with 10 gatrillion people in Seoul, ice skating is an evasive sport full of bodies scattered across the ice, children racing and twirling into you, grown women and men holding onto any stable body close by so as not to fall, and senior citizens out-skating us all! Above us was the Lotte World indoor amusement park (you can see 3 stories up) and we were below it all going round and round in the cold. It was beautiful!




And after a visit to the microbrewery (apparently anniversaries are about both people in the relationship--go figure ;)--actually, this may have happened before the skating.) we headed out for an Italian dinner at a restaurant owned by an award winning chef! And I think those were edible flowers on our pizza. Ah, l'amour! I am blessed with a great God and wonderful husband!

Learn about Korea

Not too long ago we had a workshop for Native English Speaking Teachers. During the workshop we had a "Korean cultural presentation" to increase our all-things-Korean savviness. They showed us some videos from the Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project. This appears to be an educational campaign to give Korea worldwide attention. (Of course, we will use this info to impress our Korean friends, for the random cocktail party or for correctly answering trivial pursuit/Jeopardy question.) But don't get us wrong, this info was really impressive.

Here is a link to the video section of their website: kscpp.net videos


The most interesting video we found is about Hangul ~ the Korean language. Written Hangul is considered by many linguists as one of the most efficient, intuitive written languages still in use today.



So if you're bored (or simply interested in other cultures) watch some of these videos. You may be surprised by what you learn...we certainly are.

A New Year!!!!

Some photos from the last two weeks...
You know, because there were some holidays and all.



~Traditional Tea House on New Year's Eve:









~"Nor-a-bahng" (Singing Room) Christmas Night:





~ Christmas Day get-together with the English Ministry







~ Christmas Eve Dinner with Friends

Cold

Update (12/17): Snow outside our apt window! Yeah, it's exciting because we are from Southern California...




At School (12/8):





These pictures were taken a few days ago now...and that day was warmer!

Yes, the snow is beautiful. It left and then today it got colder.

Today it is 17 degree fahrenheit.

Walking starts to hurt after a few minutes.

Ahhh, California dream'n ....yep...

LotteWorld!!!

Ahhhhhh! Lotteworld!!!


Rumor has it this is the largest indoor theme park in the East....perhaps in the world!

Dani and I enjoyed the Holiday Festivities while becoming slightly ill on their various "Adventures" (amped-up roller coasters) and Tasty Snacks (see photo above). All in all, it was a great time! Really!

This place has a lot to see and do all with a bit of familiar themes (see our post on Seoul Land) from a theme park back home.

This place is impressive; the indoor structure can be used when it is really hot and really cold, as it does get here in Seoul. But the outside part, which is an island in the middle of a (man-made?) lake. The "Lotte" company (which owns half of Seoul) has done a nice job creating an entertainment facility that's fun for the whole family.

Sans the peanut butter covered squid....

Island Trip

We call it the "Island Trip" because we can't remember the name of the island, but it was beautiful and a nice getaway. We went on this trip about two weeks ago and had a great time with Paul and Candy. Without them we would not get out!

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

"Rock of Ages" | Augustus M. Toplady | 1776

--
I was just singing the first verse of this song in my mind and then decided to look up the whole thing.

Who writes likes this in our day? Who can present the complete work of Jesus Christ as this man has? Who can now witness to the life and hope of a purchased believer in such a way as this man?

May those can speak, sing and write.

Yechon & Andong

Early in October we headed out of Seoul (finally!) to the countryside--about 2 hours south of seoul to Yecheon and Andong......




Early in October we headed out of Seoul (finally!) to the countryside--about 2 hours south of seoul to Yecheon and Andong. Yecheon is a beautiful town with mountains, trees, and fresh air. With our beautiful and wonderful hosts, we went to a Buddhist Temple, hiked for a view of the switch-back river, and went to one of the oldest "pubs" in Korea. It dated back to the 1500's. We also stayed in a wood cabin that had a Chinese style loft and bedding. Meaning a mat in the attic. It was surprisingly comfortable. Dinner was excellent too. Our hosts provided a Bulgolgi BBQ by moonlight on the balcony complete with a waterfall background. By far one of our best meals in Korea.

Todd, Candy (our hostess) & I also made it on TV when we crossed the Pyeongpyeongtalle (or something like that. It basically means Ping Ping bridge.) It is a tiny, rusty footbridge in the middle of the switchback river that you have to walk barefoot over because it's a couple inches under water. It's famous for being in a Korean drama. In fact, the whole area is becoming more popular due to the successful tv show. Whatever you hear from Todd, though, it was my idea to cross--which led to our two minutes of fame. We haven't found the footage yet but when we do we'll post it.

After risking lock-jaw and tetnis shot from PingPing, we drove another hour to the quaint and quiet village of Andong. It was very peaceful, beautiful yet commercialized. Every inch was kept up to standards you wouldn't see elsewhere. However, keeping it maintained that way preserves the opportunity to glimpse into how it looked a long time ago. The tile roofs of the wealthy houses sitting side-by-side with the thatch-roofed houses of their farmers and servants while crops and flowers grow all around makes us all wish we could leave Seoul and be country people.

Especially when we drive back home. The traffic was fine until we hit the city. What usually is a 20 minute train ride took us almost two hours by car. We almost lost the tranquil rest we gained from the trip. But at last we were home and we truly, truly enjoyed seeing Yecheon and Andong.




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Happy Chuseok! (추석)

What is Chuseok you may ask? I am not totally sure, but I am not working so that makes it a happy time indeed!

Okay, really it is a type of Korean Thanksgiving. Everyone visits parents and grandparents to eat a big feast and remember relatives that have past. The city is quiet as a majority of people go out to the countryside to congregate with their family.

So, raise a glass tonight to Chuseok!

Learn about Chuseok here.

Korean Expat Cartoonist

Dani and I really have loved reading this comic from a fellow Native English teacher, Luke Martin. (Here is the site: roketship.com/)

He just finished his teaching contract so he will not be doing any more, but the website is full of the little things in life here in Seoul. If you want to know what everyday life is like here, then check out this site.

Here is a video about him and his wife:





Oh, if only we could explain it all....

Summer English Camp

Dani and I finished our first half of teaching for this year! The last three weeks was teaching a summer English camp to the kids who signed up. We played games that related to grammar lessons, made British pancakes, constructed pinatas and watched some movies. All-in-all, good time. Below is an end of camp video I made full of our memories from the 3rd graders (basically, freshmen in high school if they where in the US) class. Hope you enjoy!

Lover's Walk - Seoul

The Dog Cafe

Ronell, our South African friend and fellow teacher, and I (Dani) went to the dog cafe. Todd stayed back claiming to "work" but we know he doesn't really like dogs (Todd: Not true). We're going to test him later at another dog cafe!






It was sooo much fun. We first got there and some dogs were interested in sniffing our bags but lost their curiosity. Then, we got iced cappuccinos and there was a little more attention. I guess you can't live in a dog cafe and not become addicted to caffeine. But we and the dogs truly became temporary best friends when I went to the front of the cafe and talked to a handler. He pointed to a package of green dog treats which were slightly more expensive than the rest. I no sooner picked up the package when I was surrounded by an army of dogs wanting to be loved, petted and adored.

Ronell spent most of her treats on trying to get all the dogs to give her hi-5's. They received a severe and lengthy lecture if they couldn't do it properly. I spent mine trying to get the most interesting dogs to come closer. There is a breed here that has large eyes and they are very quiet. I like these ones the best :).







There is also one cat that lives there. It looks like it's eternally pissed off. Can't imagine why.....