Tea houses, temples, and skyscrapers...

"Just because something is traditional is no reason to do it, of course"

- Lemony Snicket, The Blank Book

     Korea is a strange mix of traditional and modern.  One one block you have skyscrapers and the other you have traditional tea houses.  You will see girls walking in hanbok, the traditional dress, next to girls who look like they have stepped out of fashion magazines.  Its a weird mix but somehow it seems to blend effortlessly.  

This part of the city is Gangnam, as in Psy's Gangnam style that was so popular a couple of years ago.

 The song made the area so popular there is even a sculpture capturing one of Psy's dance moves.

Then a couple of blocks away down an alleyway you can find cozy traditional tea houses.  Most of the houses have a courtyard through a gate and then you are whisked back 100 years surrounded by low tables, cozy cushions, and bird song.  

The next day my friend's managed to convince me to climb a mountain.  I try to enjoy hiking but it is just not my thing, especially when it is 80 degrees and 80% humidity.

My least favorite part of hiking in Korea is that there are always beautiful temples about halfway up.

and the view from the top is pretty nice

It was so windy on the top and I was terrified.  Not only do I hate the physical part of hiking, I also have a fear of heights.

These people are absolutely crazy! They were free climbing these rocks.

The walk down was much nicer.  We went on a gorgeous shady path full of hostas and ferns, it reminded me of home.  This group of guys decided to take a nap on a big flat rock.

I convinced two of my oldest students to let me take a photo.  This is Jennifer and Sophie.

Last weekend Jodi and I were bored so we found a dog park to play with some dogs.  I really wanted this cutie to be my friend.

He did not want to be my friend.

Until I got some treats and figured out he knew tricks!

I was so close to stealing this guy! He was adorable and gigantic.

 Korea is known for its crazy cafes, dog cafes are no exception.  Its a place you can go and play with the dogs owned by the cafe.  This place was slightly different in that it had a lot more dogs, no food, and had a show two times a day that demonstrated training techniques and agility drills.  And it had some of the most amazing dog artwork I've ever seen.

The dog park was on the top floor of a mall.  After we finished playing with the dogs we wandered the mall and found this strange animal statue park.

I found my new boyfriend in Tarzan.

On top of hundreds of animal statues, they also had live chickens and rabbits.

Yes that would be a pig on a spit.  You could even turn it over the fake campfire.

I still have absolutely no idea why this place was here but we enjoyed our time playing among the weirdness.

Beth and I also attended a drawing show.  The premise was very strange and goofy but the art that was created during the show was amazing.

I won the t-shirt that was created during the show.  It was very embarrassing.  They pulled my ticket out of a box and I had to go to the stage where they actors spoke to me in Korean, of which I understood nothing.  

 This drawing of Napoleon was drawn in 2 minutes during the show.

 My ceiling is still not fixed but every day my landlord stops by to check and brings me things, like soap and watermelon.  Its very sweet but I really just want my walls and ceiling fixed.  He brought me the watermelon on Saturday and then told me I should get married.  

Rachael is back for two weeks for a visit so we spent our Saturday night bowling. 

So for the next two weeks, I'm back to being the third wheel for these two.













On Tuesday I have an interview with a new school! I'm excited to get everything set for my next contract and to start buying plane tickets and booking hotels for my trip.  I only have 6 weeks left until this contract is complete and I have been here a whole year!