The ferry!

We got to the ferry port about three hours early! Just as well because the cab dropped us off at the wrong one. We were told the international one was a 500 m walk, whatever!!! We finally arrived there and I was fit to drop it was so hot! We sat around for a while then I decided to look at the few souvenir stalls that were dotted around. There were some lovely bags so I decided to get one so I could empty out my belongings from my computer bag cos it was so heavy. I bought a sweet little back pack. Finally it was time to board and Jaron told me we were booked in 3rd class! I had a bad bad feeling. Was it going to be like the ferry on the charity programme I'd seen on tv where you sat on the deck with 3oo other people? We boarded and was directed by a smiling, bowing steward. OMG- it was a deck with no seats and 300 other people. I was so tired and I was looking forward to sitting somewhere comfortable so I could sleep fir the 4 1/2 hour journey. being out in the middle of the sea with no sight of land was really freaking me out so that and feeling really hot. hungry and tired was turning me into an irritable and weepy monster. I told Jaron to go and upgrade us or something. I was not going to lay down and sleep in front of all those strangers. He went of and found out that for about 4 quid we could upgrade. We didn't realise but there were no seats on this ferry. It was totally Asian style and people were quite happy to sit on mats for the duration of the journey. We eventually wangled a cabin on our own that had cushions and a tv. The stewardess tried to put us in a small cabin with 6 other guys but I so wasn't having that! I was in Prima donna mode!!

We settled in our cabin and Jaron was happy because it had a tv. We went of in search of food and I noticed that the upper deck had massage chairs. I ate quickly and made my way up there. I had the most wonderful nap and felt quite happy afterwards. I even sat on the deck outside for a bit and got over the fact that I couldn't see land. We eventually arrived in Mokpo and got a taxi to out hotel. The room was small and clean but it was totally Korean with bed rolls instead of beds. Jaron could not get the internet to work so after the very handsome Korean man tried and failed to fix it we were moved to another room. we spent a fairly comfortable night there and in the morning we made our way to the bus station. On the way there we saw a western man who took his shades off and stared at us for a while. I thought that maybe he was surprised because you don't get too many westerners in that area.

We boarded our bus and we were finally on our way to Gwangju, a place I was really looking forward to visiting. Incidentally, the Korean accent in that part of Korea is very different from Seoul and I think it sounds really cute.

we arrived in Gwangju and found a motel very easily - one with beds!! It was clean and comfy and near the bus station. The next morning we went to see the Gwangju memorial

( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju_Democratization_Movement ) Having seen the film May 18th and having read a bit about it I was keen to visit Gwangju. I think the Gwangju people are so brave and they have that rebellious streak that I admire. It was so touching to see the wall that was inscribed with the names of the people who died during the uprising. They were real heroes and most of them were young students who would be around my age now. This terrible incident happened in living memory (1980) and in so called civilised times. People who nowadays moan about the lack of freedom etc. in the western world should shut up as far as I am concerned. They don't know what real lack of freedom is. Dying because you don't agree with the status quo, dying because you dare to voice an opinion, dying because you are standing up for real human rights.......that's lack of freedom. Rant over!!! After we left the memorial we found a really beautiful temple. it was prayer time and the whole atmosphere was very spiritual.

Anyway I loved Gwangju! We went for a look around the main streets, looking for the two street where the uprising started. On our stroll we met the westerner from Mokpo. he turned out be a really nice American guy called David. He was teaching English in a small town near Mokpo. We had a bit of a chat with him and then moved on. While I was in Gwangju I bought a translater for half the price I would pay back home. That means I will have to work harder at my Korean now!

We moved on to Busan the next day, We got a bus which was comfy so I could have a sleep. The last few days had been a bit rainy and stormy so I was worried about the bus journey. Korean roads can be scary at the best of time especially the express ways. It started to rain heavily so I closed my eyes. I thought if I'm going to die ...please let it be while I'm sleeping!

We actually arrived in Busan alive!!! OMG it was so hot! We got a cab to the motel area and found one within our price range. The motels there were more expensive because it is a holiday town. We stayed in the color motel - and it WAS very colourful! As I was waiting outside while Jaron checked it out I noticed that the building opposite was the community service office. Was it community service as in the UK where naughty people pay their debt to society, I wondered? Well that was confirmed as a resounding 'yes' when a very irate young man emerged from the building looking at a piece of paper and cursing loudly in korean (yes, I have managed to learn Korean swear words!) That and the fact there was a huge nightclud in the same road daunted me a bit but I thought 'what the hell, live dangerously'. The motel was a bit over the top but quite nice really. The toiletries were nice and the shower was fantastic. We went to a meat restaurant for dinner and it was great. Three types of meat and ribs, rice and two beers for about 7 quid each. The side dishes were lovely and the service and atmosphere was good. We wandered around a bit but had an earlyish night so we could go out the next day.

The next day we went exploring the shopping area. They certainly must love Lee Junki there because King and the Clown posters were hung all along one of the street, He is a Busan boy so quite rightly they must be proud of him. We then went to Haeundae beach which was very nice. it was fun to see the place that the film was set in - (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_Wave_(film). It was a pretty area and we had a very enjoyable ice cream in the Baskin Robbins. On the way back we stopped of in a large shopping mall and had a look around. I was imagining I was rich and looking at all the designer gear I could buy if money was no object! We also visited the port and the fish market. It was very interesting and very smelly!

That night we ate one of my favourite meals Dak Galbi (see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dak_galbi ) I'm so going to learn to cook that when I get home. We got up the next morning and took a cab to Busan station so we could get the KTX back to Seoul. I loved Busan. The people there have a really cute accent and there was so many handsome men there, We've come to the conclusion that the further south you go the hotter the men! Probably not true, just a coincidence.

Before I end this part I must have one last rant. Mosquitoes! Bloody, evil, bloodsucking monsters! Last year when I was here I got bitten once. This time because I've been in warmer areas of the country I have been bitten 25,000 times! i even have a bite on the palm of my hand. Well at the last count I'd say about 49 times! I itch like a mofu b***ch! I stink of repellent but they still want my blood! I hate them with a passion you cannot imagine. I'm not one for wanting to hurt another living creature...spiders are quite safe in my house. But these evil little flying, no good for nothing ogres should be wiped off the face of the earth never to return! I have done some research and they serve no useful purpose at all. Some scientist even hold the opinion that if they were eradicated it would not effect the eco - system at all. So if there are any scientists out there looking for a new project please find a way to kill every single one of them please. They are the only living creatures I want to see extinct!!! The spooky thing is, all the time I've been here I haven't actually seen one. They sneak out during the night like vampires and drink your blood, then hide away during the day.

Jeju!

The morning after the night before was a bit painful for Jaron. I'm so glad I don't get hangovers! We had to be up early to make our way to Gimpo airport to meet Cherry and Jaeduk at 12.30. We had to finish packing and do our washing first. We were finally ready and said bye bye to Catholic University. We got to the airport on time and had a bit of lunch before we got on the plane. This is when the surrealness started! Going through customs was weird considering it was a domestic flight. It's the first time I've been scanned with a hand held scanner. My bag was opened after it had been through x-ray and my purse was examined. I also had two lighters in my bag and your only allowed one. Cherry marched over and claimed one! Jaron's pot of change was taken away and looked at.
We got on the plane and settled in our seats and then I saw the flight attendent. OMG tall, dark and handsom! Jaeduk was clicking away and I asked him to get a pic of him. The next thing I knew the handsome attendent came up the aisle wearing a stupid hat and comedy glasses! I wondered what was going on and Cherrry explained that he was going to entertain the passengers. He gave a cake to a small girl who had a birthday and then he played games with the passengers. I couldn't understand a thing but cherry was good enough to translate for me. It all seemed like good fun although it was a bit strange. I can't imagine the snobby BA staff doing the same thing. We landed at Jeju and my first impressin was - Beautiful! Such a pretty place. We went to cross the road and there were stern looking ladies directing the trafic and the pedestrians. They were not that friendly and as Chery said "They should be working in North Korea".
We Picked up our hire car and made our way to the resort. On the way we decided to go to Love land. What a funny place (see the pictures on FB) Apparently it's a theme park to get the honey moon couples in the mood. It just had me in hysterics! Everything was sex themed from the toilet door handle to the drinking fountains. In the middle was a giant penis but it just looked like a whale to me! The palce was full of staues of people having sex! Most of the visitors seemed to be elderly tourists but there was a few young couples. We went in the small museum where there was an array of sex toys through the ages on display. We went into the gift shop where I bought a few bits. Cherry got hijacked by an ajumma who was showing her vibrating thingies and then the ajjushi came over and showed her the different speeds it had. The whole thing was funny and surreal! I think it's a strang place to have in a country like Korea. We then went to the mysterious road which looks like it's going uphill but cars can roll down it! I couldn't work it out because it definately looked like it was going uphill. We finally got to our resort after a couple of stops to look at the wonderful views.
Our apartment had a living area with a small kitchenette and two rooms. Us girls nabbed the one with the bed and the boys had the one with the bed rolls. The resort was 3 star but really nice. The view from our balcony was gorgeous. That night we went to the hotel bbq restaurant and ate black pig which Jeju is famous for. We had brekki in the hotel and that was strange. There was a selection of Korean foods and some western food. I helped myself to egg, bacon and sausages. I had a few cherry tomatoes and toast. I coudn't find a knife. There was a spoon and chopsticks on the table but no knives and forks. We had to ask the waitress for some cutlery and I think she had to go off and look for some. Koreans are so good with chopsticks that they can eat anything with them. Us poor westerners need our knives and forks!!! The next morning while I was downstairs waiting for the others a group of youngster who looked like they were on some sort of bonding programme came and asked me if they could have their picture taken with me as it was the last mission they had to complete! of course I obliged. A bit later another group asked so Jaeduk and I of course obliged again. Huh! We're famous with that company now!!
We then went to the Lotte hotel for coffee. What a beautiful hotel. If I win the lottery I'm staying there! The coffee was overpriced but it was worth it to be in beautiful surroundings. The coffee lounge was right next to the Duty free store which is promoted by 'the boys' and Rain so the view was doubly nice! Jaron was a bit sad to go back to our humble 3 star accomodation after that!
We went for lunch at a fish restaurant and the raw fish was lovely. It was the best I've ever had. I was dubious about eating it as I was still feeling a bit tender from the food poisoning I'm sure I got from the fast food restaurant near the uni.
After lunch we had a drive around to look at the sights....actually that's not true we got lost! The sat nav wasn't getting a signal so we spent a lot of time just driving. We found our way to the duty free store and had a good look around. Cherry did some shopping and we decided to go back to our room and then go to the beach. The beach was lovely but we didn't have long there because it was closing. A bunch of lifeguards walked by and Cherry nabbed them so I could have a pic with them :) Very nice! that night we had a late dinner at the bbq place again. the next day we had to say goodbye to Cherry and Jaeduk as they were flying back to Seoul and we were getting the ferry to Mokpo. We will see Cherry again before we leave but we won't see Jaeduk agian until next year so It was quite sad. We had lunch together before we saw them off and got our cab to the ferry port. That's another story!!!
My impressions of Jeju: OMg it's beautiful. It's hot (34 while we were there) and tropical. It has lovely sights and it's so great to be in a place with palm trees! I really want to go back there agian and stay for longer. There was so much we didn't ge to see in our limited time there.

Thought I'd better update seeing's camp has finished. Firstly, our last night out in Seoul was good but very wet! We went to eat and then made our way to Itaewon fr a drink. The rain was awful. It had been raining for a couple of days - but only at night thankfully. Anyway a good time was had by everyone. It was Scotts last Saturday so it was a bit sad.
The last day of camp was very sad. By the time it came I was exhausted. We'd had to write two estd so that eant a couple of nights up until 1 am and then one night in the office until 8pm making props for our play. The dress rehearsal was a disaster! It was fine until the other classes came in and the kids were making a lot of noise. My kids lost their concentration - even my Pinocchio who is very good. My shark had been away so he was shakey anyway. we practised and practised and on the day it was fine.
The last day was so sad. I was fine until a couple of my kids went and one of htem started crying. After the plays, awards etc the teachers had to get on stagew and say goodbye. It was bad enough we had to watch teh montage of pics set to sad music first. Hanna also played sad background music while we were up on stage. I was so tearful. After I said my piece Amy came on stage and gave me flowers. I felt like I'd got an award! After our speeches the CA's made theirs and they were crying more than us! Afterwards there were quite a few crying kids and lots of tearful goodbyes. Hopefully when I go back I'll see a lot f the kids again. We wnt back o the office and started packing up. I love Koreans - there was non of this 'lets pack up tomorrow". It was all hands on deck and it looked like the English camp never existed! Everything was packed and classrooms were rearranged. We freshened up a bit then made our way to the meat restaurant for our oodbye dinner. Lots of food and soju was consumed. Afterwards some of us went to a Noreabang and soju was smuggled in. OMG we were all drunk - the singing left a lot to be desired. Of course in our drunken state we all thought we sounded great! I just about remember leaving. On our way home Steve pulled beers from his bag and we carried on drinking. I woke up on my bed fully clothed clutching my handbag! It was a very emotional day and night. I'm going to miss the kids. the CA's and Hanna and Mr. Han so much. It was a great 4 weeks and even though it was hard work I really enjoyed it. I really hope I can do it again.

The CA's

So the first week of camp is over and the second week has begun! I'm feeling a bit less confused now and I've got into the swing of things. I feel more at ease with the children now I feel I've got to know them better and I'm beginning to remember their names (me and names!!!). Now is the time to mention the CA's (classroom assistants) When I first saw them they looked friendly and cute. One in particular made an impact on me - Steve. I could tell straight away that he is a fun person and lively - my kind of person. I was hoping he would be one of my CA's but unfortunately he's not. My first impression of him was correct. He's handsome, funny and sweet. He speaks really good English (although he has an American accent) as he has travelled a lot. He strikes me as being intelligent and interesting. He is actually learning to speak Spanish as well. The only other male CA is Hooney. He is a well built handsome boy that also speaks good English. The others are pretty young girls, Rachel, Adela, Ann and claire. Unfortunatly I haven't got to know the other CA's too well as there never seems time to talk to them much as they are so busy. They usually go home with the students on the bus so there isn't time to go for a coffee and have a chat. I think that's a shame. But having said that they are all lovely and very helpful.

The boss is coming tomorrow and that's making me feel a bit nervous. Although I'm confident in my ability I always find being observed nerve racking!

we've had a good special activity this week. The children had to read tongue twisters and there were prizes. I was really impresses with the children's ability. The teachers and CA's had to have a go too and after listening to them all I feel ashamed that after 2 years of Korean lessons I'm still so useless. It was a great activity and everyone had fun.

The weekend! Oh what fun. We met David at last and he looks as fine as ever. I also met SooYoung and it was so good to see her. We had a great meal and then went to Noraebang (karaoke). I have some video and I'm still considering whether to post it or not. (Especially Scott doing Again and Again!) After that we went to the hill and indulged in beer and dancing! As ever Itaewon was packed and lively! I think this weekend I'll have a quieter one! Got home at 5am again and had a brilliant cab driver who spoke English. The week after will be a celebration because it's Scott's last weekend here. I don't know how he will feel about going home after a year here. It's a shame he can't come to Jeju with us. It's also a shame that Cherry, Andrew and Jaeduk weren't out with us this weekend.

Apart from being sick last week my health has been great. no sickness from the medication and my blood sugar has been hovering around 6.5! I feel fit and healthy and my legs feel thinner already due to all the steps and hills! (ok - I can dream:)) My appetite has decreased too, I think it's because of the heat.

Observations: lots of dragon flies and pretty butterflies.

Stationary here is cheap and so cool!

There are nearly as many mobile phones here as people but I can't get mine connected! (that's a story for another day!)

Iced lattes are so cheap I'm afraid I'll become addicted!