Rice cake anyone?

My co-teacher made it a point to tell me that the school was not taking money out of my bank account for my lunch during the winter break. I could not understand why the administrative staff had not asked me for a collection for the lunches we have been eating in the admin office for the past few weeks. To thank them, I had a friend order a really pretty rice cake for the staff. It was decorated beautifully and even had a layer of packaged rice cake between the layers. The staff enjoyed it and it made me happy to see them happily enjoying the rice cake.

(smile) I am relearning how to live within a community, y'all.

Finally!!! I saw mermaids!!!

Real life mermaids in Jeju-do!

I have been wanting to meet the "Korean mermaids" (hanyeos) since I saw a youtube documentary that showed these amazing women and their legacy. I am inspired by them and have added them to my list of "she-roes". The mermaids are senior citizen scuba divers who dive with no equipment to collect sea food on the bottom of the ocean floor.   They do this to raise their families and send their children to school. The Korean mermaids are dying off and their daughters are choosing not to follow in their foot steps. Once these strong beautiful old women die off so will their amazing legacy.

The documentary on youtube is less than an hour. Check it out and learn about these strong senior citizens who learned how to adapt and survive.

I love how they swim to the bottom of the ocean and come up as angels!

They remind me every day in So Ko that if life knocks you to your knees, swim to the bottom of the ocean and then (choose to) come up for air!

Playing in fresh mountain spring water

This weekend, my girlfriend and I found a wonderful water/valley spot that Korean families go to in order to beat the hot and hazy days of the last weeks of summer.

We had to take two buses. The second one climbed a mountain past my travel school in Chudong. The bus was crowded with teenagers, hands full of water toys, eager to splash in the cool waters with their friends. When we finally found the spot, even though it was 9am on a Saturday, the place was already packed with families, food and drinks in hand, ready to enjoy fresh water from the mountains.

Take a look. We had sooooo much fun!

So Sorry...I apologize (sorry/not sorry)

Please accept my sincere apologies. Most of the pics fell off my blog and I have to take the time to put them back.

 Please be patient with me as I put all 600 pics back up.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

HUGS AND KISSES TO YOU ALL!!!

(so the teenagers in Korea use the expression "sorry/not sorry" to express a fake apology).

Luncheeeee!

Lunchtime at school is always an adventure, never sure what will show up. I am open to eating just about anything once.  I am, however, careful with the seafood in case I get an allergic reaction. There will always be rice, soup and vegetables at lunchee. 

OH, and of course KIMCHI!!! LOL.

South Korea's NEXT TOP MODEL

May 2015

We went to Namhae beach this past weekend with a foreigner tour group. We had a ball! Took tons of pictures. I acted like the next Beverly Johnson, Iman, Alek Wek, Naomi Sims, Grace Jones or Roshumba Williams.

Here are pictures of South Korea's NEXT TOP MODEL!!!

Don't drool at all the hot chocolate, babee!

You betta WORK IT GIRL!

In the middle of our photo session, some Koreans asked to take pictures with me.

Happens all the time. Were they attracted to the beautiful smile or the sun-kissed chocolate skin?

Cardboard boxes for the elderly

There are many people who sacrificed for this country after the Korean war. They gave up a lot in order for their beloved country to rebuild and prosper. Some of these same people have been abandoned/neglected by their society and/or children. Many of the senior citizens are left to sell food on the sidewalk or to collect cardboard boxes in order to survive. Many of the same vegetables and fruit are sold right near each other increasing competition and bringing down prices. The senior citizens also collect cardboard and it is sold by weight.

I don't pretend to know all of the factors that have led to this economic situation. All I know is that it makes my heart sad every time I see an older person collecting cardboard boxes. At this age, and after all they have experienced in rebuilding this country,  they should all be able to enjoy their golden years.

  

There has to be a better way to live.