Myeongdong and Gwangju

We believe we have finally survived the Korean winter. The temperatures are actually staying above the 40's and the trees are starting to sprout. We've been told that Spring comes and goes quickly, so to enjoy it while it lasts.



Two weekends ago Ian and I explored a new area of Seoul called Myeondong. It took us by surprise because it's appearance did not resemble the rest of Seoul. It contains multiple streets of updated shops, restaurants, and actual department stores. It was also cut off to most car traffic, so we didn't have to worry about the weaving motorcyclists. Before exploring , Ian did some research on the best noodle houses in Korea, and apparently there's one right in the heart of Myeongdong. We were able to find it rather quickly because of the line of people waiting outside and the smell of garlic incorporated in the air. Since the line is continually long, the restaurant employees get you in and out fast. You immediately pay when you sit down and once your food arrives, you are expected to eat, not socialize. The noodles were hand pulled and covered in a pork broth with garlic, ground beef and dumplings. It was delicious! The only bad part was that it ruined our breath for at least two days.



After eating our soup we made our way down the meandering streets. Needing to calm the garlic taste in our mouth, we decided to have dessert. Fortunately, we quickly found soft serve ice cream. However, this is not the dinky soft serve you get at McDonalds, these were at least 10 inches tall of creamy chocolate and vanilla ice cream. They were quite delicious. After stuffing ourselves beyond belief we shopped some more and eventually made the trek back to the apartment.



This past weekend we decided it was time to visit our friends Eric and Dana, who are now teaching in Gwangju. After an exhausting 50+hour work week we trudged ourselves and some clothes to the train station. Fortunately, the train was very quiet and relaxing. So, after eating salami sandwiches and Pringles, we listened to music and relaxed for the entire three hour ride there. Definitely one of the most relaxing train rides I have ever taken!



Once we arrived, Eric and Dana showed us around a shopping district in Gwangju. We got some drinks and ttoekpoki (deep fried food items covered in a Korean chili sauce). The next day was spent taking a bus to the nearest mountain range. We attempted a small hike, but stopped early because Ian was feeling under the weather. So, we made it back into town, walked around the shopping district, went bowling, and ended the night with some delicious Korean BBQ. All in all it was a great trip. It was nice to see Eric and Dana and to see an area outside of Seoul.



Tonight, Ian and I are working the late shift and then coming home to eat home cooked vegetable coconut curry! Hopefully it's as tasty as it smells.



Sorry for the delay in posts. Becoming Head Instructors has literally taken over any free time we may have. But, I think we are slowly learning how to strategize our work and free time. Hopefully our posts will be more frequent. Pictures will also be posted soon!

Long Time No Post

Okay, so we haven't posted in like 3 weeks, but we do have an excuse. Since becoming head instructors Leslie and I have been working about 11 hour days (including class prep) and we just haven't had the energy to post, but we are back on the wagon now!

We are now about 1.5 weeks into the new term and things have been busier than ever. Our classes have been good, but they are giving us some challenges as well. Leslie has been teaching a TOEFL test preparation course, which is a lot of work and can be quite complex. I am teaching an advanced grammar class, and have found that explaining English grammar rules, that at times I don't even truly understand, is no small undertaking. My first day of class was met with more than a few befuddled and mildly panicked expressions from students. But practice makes perfect right? Right.

This term I am also teaching a couple students with moderate mental illnesses, which has been both rewarding and frustrating. It is great to see them succeeding, but it also make class less beneficial for other students.

On our limited free time we have been trying to explore Seoul a little more. With the Olympic fever that has swept this small nation due to the success of Yu-Na Kim and other Korean athletes, we decided to check out Seoul's Olympic Park. Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988, and created a huge park on the city's eastside where many of competitions took place. It reminded me a bit of New York's Central Park, as it is a big chunk of grass and trees surround on all sides by high rises. The only difference was that the border of the park was sprinkled with stadiums catering to the various Olympic sports. The park also contained pieces of an earthen defense wall dating from 300 A.D. We weren't sure if the wall was real or simply a modern reconstruction (like most "historical" sites in Korea), but we let our imaginations take hold and hoped for the best.

The other big news around hear is that we are taking our week vacation in the middle of April. From April 17th to the 25th, Leslie and I are headed out of cold, polluted Seoul to the beautiful and fresh Philippines, where hopefully the majority of our activity will involve sand, water, good books, and 50 cent beer. We are going to spend a week on the island of Boracay, and maybe poke around Manila for a day or so. We are incredibly excited and are already counting down the days!

Tardiness

Our deepest apologizes for failing to maintain the blog over the past couple of weeks. We have been really busy starting the next term as Head Instructors and teaching new class. Excuses aside, we promise we will get a post up by this weekend.

Thanks for your patience!