Bring on the fun....and food!

We're arrived safely in the USA. Our flight experience wasn't the greatest this time, probably the worst we've had so far. It started when we got to the airport and the woman at the ticket counter said, "you don't have an entry stamp to get back into Korea, go to Immigration." The line at immigration was at least 60 people deep, so I put on a puppy face and 4 minutes later a woman helped me and told me I could buy the re-entry stamp once I had gone thru security. So, B and I went thru and found the office. It took almost an hour to get the stamp, and we spent all the Korean Won that we had on us, and by the time we got to our gate, they were boarding. We did meet a guy in immigration who worked in the same small city that we worked last year (I thought he looked familiar). Then, in line for our Tokyo flight, we ran into some Canadian friends who we had met on our Chinese tour.
The ride from Korea to Tokyo was smooth, no problems. We even had individual TVs on the seat in front of us (we didn't really need it for the 2 hour flight though). Our layover in Japan was under 2 hours, so we just hung out there, but when we got on our plane, and settled in for our 11 hour flight, we realized quickly that our seats were in the last row of the plane....66! And, of course that's right by the bathrooms. So there were people coming and going the whole flight. To top it off, there was a young girl in front of us who kept opening the window shades to let the sun in. Not cool when you're trying to sleep!
Luckily we arrived in MN 30 minutes early and breezed thru customs. B's mom picked us up and we're now in Eau Claire WI at her house. We've already met up with B's grandma/pa Hohlfeld and cousin Tasha, and it was great to see them. Tomorrow we're headed to Duluth MN to see H's mom!!

A Party Like None Other

On Friday, Brandon celebrated his 26th Birthday. We had a tasty Chinese lunch with a friend and then in the evening met up with many of our friends for a big bash. The evening started off with a pork BBQ at one of our fave restaurants. Good thing we made reservations as there were 14 of us! Then we moved onto the tent bar, where we met up with hagwon teachers who finished work at 10pm. Our friend Megan, who works in Incheon (we met her last year on top of a mountain) even made it to Wonju! After a few hours at the tent, we moved onto U2, a western style bar and somehow we got talked into going to a dance club. It was a very interesting experience at least. To end the night, about 8 of us went to a karaoke room to sing it up. We ended out night when the sun came up. Two more of our pals are headed back to England and last night was our last time to see them, so we really made it count.

Today we're taking care of things at home as we have to leave our apt at 5.30am to catch the airport shuttle bus. Our flight leaves at 11am, and arrives in Tokyo at 1.30. Then at 3pm we'll be on the long flight back to MSP, putting us in the US 11am the 27th. Super exciting!!

The gang enjoying dinner.

Not looking a day over 24, I promise ;)

Taking up a good portion of the Tent Bar.

H, Alex, and B. He's from England but studied a year at UW-Eau Claire. Small world!

Korean BBQ & Congrats!

On Tuesday, to kick off our vacation, we went to my co-worker's house for a small BBQ. It was a great night to be outside, and since they have a house in a quiet neighborhood, it felt like a small getaway! Wednesday we took the bus an hour to Chuncheon, where we updated our alien registration information. Today, Thursday, is a rainy day, and has been raining constantly since about 6am. This may be our welcome to the 2008 monsoon season.
We heard very exciting news that my best friend Emily Museus and her husband Trent have welcomed a new baby boy into the world on July 23rd! 7lb, 10oz healthy baby boy. We're so happy for the family and can't wait to meet the lil guy!
Tomorrow is B's 26th birthday so we're having a party with some foreigners in town. On the agenda:a pork BBQ dinner, drinks at the tent bar, and maybe even some karaoke.
We leave Korea on Sunday the 27th at 11am for America, and arrive the 27th (American time) at 12.25pm, MSP. Can't wait to see everyone!

B, Yerrin, and her dad enjoying the BBQ.

Last Week of Classes

We've got one more day of classes, and are looking forward to our summer vacation! Korea is still suffering a heatwave, and the poor students are busy sweating (and not concentrating) all day long.

This week H prepared a karaoke-type lesson for the last class. Students could choose any song and sing to their classmates. Some students showed their dancing abilities as well. One class was awarded choco-pies as their class received the most stickers for speaking English this semester (200 actually). Tomorrow she'll do the same at her small rural school as well.

B has been entertaining his students with a Japanese animation (translated into English). He's got to go to school for a half-day on Monday, but it's only for a closing ceremony.

Today was also the last Korean language class for H. One member is heading back to England so we had a group photo. Granted, 3 students were absent as they will be traveling starting this weekend, but it was a good last class.

7th grade class 1-2. The class with the most stickers!!

A typical meal for us: meat mix with added veggies, spicy cucumbers, raw veggies, lettuce.

Korean language class members: Heath, Vin, Annie, Amy, H, Sonya, and our teacher.

School Day Trip

On Tuesday B's school began their 3-day exam period, which means that he has 3 half-days this week. To kick off the big event, all of his teachers gathered Tues. afternoon and headed 2 hours south-east to a town called Jung-seon. This place is 'famous' for its rail bikes. An extensive set of railroad tracks are in the area, and some are now being used for this fun, touristy thing. About 30 teachers ended up going on the trip.

After the rail bike, they headed to an old gold mine cave, and took a walking tour through that. Soon it was time for dinner, and B ate a spicy chicken stew type meal. All in all it was a good day for him.

Yesterday was my last extra high school class, and today is my last extra mother's class. All of the mothers want me to continue this class next semester, but I'll be way too busy with university. So, tonight after our class they're taking my co-teacher and I out for dinner. The menu is a surprise, but I'm sure it will be tasty.

This is the 2-seater rail bike (they're pushed together in this picture).

There were also 3-seater options, which all of the teachers rode. B was with a P.E. teacher and his Vice Principal.

This was inside the former gold-mine/cave.

Two weeks ago one of the English teachers had a house-warming party (he invited all 40 of the teachers over for dinner, and most of us came). This is my friend Gyung-un, me, and my co-teacher Jinny b4 the meal.

Hot & Humid

The weather here is becoming unbearable. Temps are in the high 80's everyday and the humidity never drops below 70%. Yesterday, it was 89 but felt like 107. Yuck.
On Friday (4th of July) we had an Independence Day/Going Away Party for 3 of our friends who are heading back home soon. It was potluck style, so we got to enjoy some great foods. It was nice to chat with friends, as we know we won't see them again for a long time.
Saturday B had his test for his 2nd degree black belt. Although he won't find out the results for a few weeks, he feels that it went well.
This week his school has finals so he'll get to come home early 3 days this week. I've got a full class schedule and hoping that I can keep the students focused enough to play a review game.

Rained Out

This past weekend we made plans to visit a really cool mountain and temple in southwest Korea. We were planning on renting a car with our friends Dayle and Hee-kyung, but unfortunately we awoke to rain on Saturday morning. It rained all day so our trip has been postponed for now.
Instead we went to the movies with some friends; we watched "Kung Fu Panda," an animation about a Chinese panda who becomes a kung fu master. It was a cute movie. We grabbed dinner at a Japanese place downtown after the movie. We were curious to see how authentic it was, and since our pals lived in Japan for over 2 years, we thought they'd be pretty good judges. They said that it was fairly authentic but definately had "Korean" influence.
Afterward Amy and I did a bit of shopping downtown while the boys headed to our place to hang out.
On Sunday we relaxed at home and did an E-mart run in the evening for groceries. Luckily we went late enough as all of our meat was half-off.
B just found out today that instead of his vacation starting July 26th, it now begins July 19th. They then asked if there's anyway we can change our plane tickets to match this change. Sometimes the Korean way of doing things is a little too unorganized for us (we told them there's no way). Now we've got a week together to hang out b4 coming to the States (maybe we'll get to take in our mountain and temple then!)