MORE Catching up...

Pictures are out of order...Bre and I, Sean and I with the crew @ BBQ, Picking out our guns, after shooting the guns with our targets....

Me showing off my shell casings....

Shooting...so scared.

Good times!

Picnic in the park on a rainy day- thank goodness for gazebos!

Out & About

Victor @ the Loft

Jake and Erin

Silly crew, $2 beers gazebo

The boys, gold Casio watch- Andy's pride and joy.

Partner in Crime

Jager Bombs?

Dangerous times...

Enjoying a little Seoul footy match

Outside of World Cup Stadium- Erin riding the bike to make the light work...

Dinner party @ my apartment with friends

One of Ash's last nights out

Jang Fam- Inae, Summer and bro

Enjoying a bucket of Ice Tea.

Ajummas

Another ajumma

It never fails to be adventurous here in Korea- so much to do all the time! The summer was HOT HOT HOT and it rained soooo much! Rainy season here lasted months this year...ugh. It added up to a lot of bad hair days, wet shoes and what else....party times (because it doesn't rain inside right?)

I've been lucky to have such a great group of friends here! Most recently there was a picnic in Lake Park on a rainy Saturday afternoon- invaded a gazebo overlooking the park. Lots of great food, good friends and Mamosas.

Had the opportunity to shoot a hand gun- wow. That was something else...in the movies they make it look so easy, who knew there was such a kick back and shell casings fly out? Haha...Atleast I hit the target, might not have been bullseye but it was still on the paper!

Watched a Seoul soccer game with a bunch of people one weekend, drinks afterwards. It was an adventurous evening, which tends to be the usual in these parts.

I continue to meet new and interesting people from all over! Every weekend something different is going on. This past weekend I toured around Hapjeong solo. It is a lovely little area with tons of cafes and interesting places to look at. There are shops all over and it's right next to Hongdae- a popular late night party spot. I stopped in at a cafe and enjoyed a Sangria and sandwich while people watching- something I would have never had the guts to do back home. I also have been taking the bus all over the city- which might not seem daunting, but not speaking Korean, you really could be dropped off anywhere- and how do you know your stop when it's in Korean? I've learned not to be scared, stop living in fear of the unknown and just continue to get out and explore! What's the worst that could happen- getting lost? So flag a taxi and tell him to drop you off somewhere familiar....I can't believe how much I've grown coming here! I feel that everyone should have the chance to do this in their life! Get out of the box so many times people get sucked into and see the world around you! It's full of interesting places, people and adventures!

I can't believe I've been here for almost 8 months now! Time is FLYING! I don't want to go home...not for awhile atleast. I feel like I've just started to explore the world around me- why stop now? I plan to extend my contract, a couple months at this point. I don't doubt that I'll be back here or else living somewhere else in the world this time next year....for all the people out there that are too scared, making excuses of why not to do it....DO IT! I'm a living example that it's possible to survive in a land that doesn't speak English and eats kimchi for breakfast! You only get one life- live it to the fullest!!

Mom and Dad Swing by Korea

Dad's big boy beer that he proceeded to spill all down the inside of his shirt- it's actually tricky when it hits a certain point to drink. The tables here also have refridgeration cups built in to keep it icy cold!

Cheeky beers with fellow Hwaj crew!

Reunited at last!

Introducing....SHABU SHABU!! Steaming hot, delicious soup you sneak those insanely thin slices of meat into, plus add udon noodles and at the end it wraps up with rice, veggies and egg crisped to the bottom of the bowl, not to mention the insane amounts of wasabi and soya I mix all in...heavenly.

Al and Sean getting good use out of the chopsticks

Didn't love sitting on the floor though-

$1.50 biggie ice cream cone in Myeongdong

Blue Brothers?

Tourists in the shopping area

Dad apparently didn't change his army cargo shorts-

@ LaFesta in Ilsan

Visiting the kiddies!

They are showing off the stickers and pencils my parents brought representing Canada- lovely gesture to which I'm still peeling off the stickers from random places around the classroom

Canada pinning which was brief- I was too nervous the parents might get upset if they saw a Canada pin through their kids $200 Burberry shirt- true story.

Dad impressing the kids- the kids LOVED my parents!

Three robots in Insadong

Shopping area in Insadong

Insadong

We went to see Nanta perform- a cooking-like show, similar to "Stomp" but in the kitchen. It was amazing and dad was chosen to partake....he looked ridiculously silly but it was fun to watch! He married the Korean girl on his right at the end of his little part in the show...amusing.

"Fly" on dad's hat, it was just acting, no words really, so no one really knew what was coming next!

They made him eat soup

Posers, stopped for a photo op without actually venturing into the palace...

@ Korean War Memorial in Yongsan- outside they have ships, tanks, planes...

In front of museum

Venturing into the DMZ exhibit featured there

Cute.

Mom and I in the entrance of museum

For three weeks in Sept./Oct. I was fortunate enough to have my parents come to visit me!! It was so great to see them- unfortunately I was really busy, but they got to see what goes on here and to be able to tour around Korea a bit! I was definitely excited to see them at the airport- lots of hugs and I even shed a few tears! It had been 7 months since seeing them in person- I missed them!! However, it seems like just yesterday I had this crazy idea to come to Korea and my mom promised me that they'd come for a visit in September....the time finally came!

When they first got here they were super tired from the 14 hour straight through flight- they didn't sleep at all and seeing as Korea is a completely opposite time difference, they were right messed up. I took them for dinner- which would have been their breakfast! First though, we got checked into a love motel- haha...they have them all over Korea. Cheap motels for couples to go to...to hang out I guess? There was a heart shaped light above the bed and everything...super romantic- sick. There was more to it, but I'll leave that to the imagination. Mom and dad were both super tired so it was a short night.

I had the Tues, Wed and Thurs off that week for Chuseok, Korean "Thanksgiving"- they don't eat turkey here...it gave my parents and I sometime to tour around, but a lot of stuff was closed. My mom and dad went for long walks each morning and sometimes night- I feel like they know my neighbourhood better than me now! They also only spent only one night in the luxurious loveeeee hotel before crashing my apartment. It was tight quarters for a week but we sucessfully managed without killing each other!

Throughout the week I tried to take them to a few places that I knew, shopping areas, Nanta performance, different places to eat. I guess I wasn't the greatest tour guide- I was also busy with monthly exams, marking and report cards. Mom and dad ended up heading down to Busan for a week- it's South of Seoul, at the other end of Korea and it's a beach town. While there they saw a really big fire....they seemed to enjoy it but were hesitant to really be adventurous with the food.

When they got back they toured around Ilsan and Itaewan a bit on a few days. They ended up feeling really comfortable with the subway- which is super easy to use. It's in English and you can't really mess it up! They went to the Seoul Grand Park Zoo which they claim to be the best zoo they've ever been to- I have yet to check it out myself.

I must say that I am extremely fortunate to have such great parents to first off, be so supportive of my decision to come here in the first place. I'm also super lucky that they got to come here and visit me- I wish the time wouldn't have gone by so quickly! I feel like I barely saw them. They got to meet some of my friends, have some drinks with us and just take in a bit of Korea. They got a little taste of the ups and downs I've gone through- from language barriers to ajummas who will push you off the sidewalk on their way by. They also got to see why I love it here- my apartments, the kids I teach, all the crazy cool things I'm experiencing!
After the 3 short weeks it was finally time to part ways. I brought them to the airport where I felt like I just picked them up days before....we had our goodbyes where I refused to cry, and then they don't know this but I stood by, out of the way and watched them go through security, choking back tears. Despite all the times we butt heads over meaningless things my parents mean the absolute world to me. I wouldn't be who I am today without their love, support, and guidance through the years. I love you mom and dad!! xo