Some Sunny-ness and Some Now-ness

Today, I went for a run in the wetlands area that is pretty close to my apartment. It was awesome! The land just opened up and I could see all the mountains that surround Daegu. The wetlands birds (cranes, I think) were flying around. It's a beautiful sunny day with a nice cool breeze. Safe to say I had a great morning so far, which is good because I was feeling down about losing my wallet this weekend.

On Sunday morning, as Emma and I were getting dropped off on her side of town, I must have dropped my wallet. We looked everywhere for it. Luckily (I guess), Emma was becoming a veteran at sorting things out after losing a wallet (she had lost her wallet twice within the last month). We had made plans to go to Gyeongju to ride tandem bikes, but instead we needed to head to my side of town and pick up my passport and my bank book from my apartment. We spent all day walking around my side of town and actually had a great day doing this. After reporting my missing wallet and ARC (Alien Registration Card) to the police, we walked up to Hwasong Waterside Park. The park is on one of my running routes that I do every week, but I have not spent anytime walking around in it. We grabbed some drinks at the entrance of the park, sat on benches and watched the synchronized fountains over the lake. It was relaxing. I have started to enjoy the area that I live in the more that I explore it. Living right on the edge of the city is a nice contrast. It's easy to get out and see some open sky.

Last night my dad and I were talking about the importance of solitude. He was referring to an interview on NPR with this lady who has studied social networks and technology for the last 15 years. She was saying that social networks have destroyed our ability to experience solitude. Every minute of everyday we are surrounded by e-mail, text messages and facebook. This is obviously becoming more true everyday with the new developments of 3G networks and smartphones. While studying this stuff, the lady started to understand the importance of oneness and solitude.

She recommended turning off your computer and smart phones (if at all possible) for the majority of the day. Then at night, you should spend a chunk of time doing what you need to do on the internet and with text messages. Now, obviously, many people's careers depend on the internet and text messaging. This is only a suggestion to try to do what you can. When you do have everything off, you tend to spend more time in the present with yourself or the people that are immediately around you. This will allow you to connect with what is 'right here, right now'. I think this is a great idea and I will try to do this myself. Maybe I finally get some reading done (I am still working through 'The Master and Margarita' [I was cruising through books before this one]).

We get Monday off next week! We will probably end up staying in town because intercity travel is supposed to be a nightmare.

Comin' Around to the Full Year!

I taught my first set of classes of this last fall term yesterday. It was a good bunch of students for those two classes. Today, I teach another set of two new classes that I will have all term. This last term will be a full one including double classes on Saturdays, so it will be a good send off for me.

Speaking of send offs, I said good bye to my first friend in Daegu, Mikey. He was the first to introduce himself to me at my school when I first got here. He also took me out to brunch about 11 months ago to meet two friends downtown. One of  two people we met at brunch was Emma, the girl that I have been dating and travelling with for 10 months. The other was Chuck, who is Emma's best friend and a super great friend of mine out here. I'm going to miss Mikey. He was one of the best things about my school.

This summer has been rough on me, and I am not sure why. I had a great schedule (Saturdays off) and it was summertime. Maybe it was the heat and the humidity. I miss sunny days due to the fact that it rained pretty much everyday over the summer. Another thing that I miss is the stars.  Most of all, I think I just started to get tired of doing the same things every week. I am not used to a Mon-Fri job. I have been working a floating schedule for three years before this, and I miss that freedom. It made every week feel completely original. I hate getting in to a rhythm because it makes time fly too fast. Well I only have 12.75 weeks left until I head out to Europe with Brent (not that I am counting down).

I have a short list of things that I am going to do before I leave Korea:
- Jeju with Mom - She is coming for 2 weeks in November (excited!!)
- Seoraksan - A mountain park in the north that is too crowded in the summer time.
- Jeonju - They have a really nice traditional district and some very famous local food.
- Jirisan - A mountain park that I have been skiing in, but I hear that they have beautiful trails.
- Seoul on Sept. 17th - Saying goodbye to Joe from training.
- Fireworks Festival in Busan - I went last year. It was awesome!
- Write at least 6 good songs - I miss playing in a band (I used to be famous! [not really])
- Start training for a 1/2 marathon - I have been only running a 3.7 mile route 4 times a week because of the heat. I want to be all tuned up when I get back to elevation.

Well, looks like those 13 weeks will be busy (not including school). It's going to go by super fast. I will try to update every week. I will also start posting pictures again.

Still Here!

Hello hello.
I've been super busy with school lately. I will post some updates in a couple weeks. Everything is going sweet! Went ice skating with Emma today, yesterday Brent and I went to the pool and had to rent a speedo swim suit and a swimming cap. Silly Korea.

Heinsa Today

We went to a really beautiful temple today! I am super tired from this weekend. I have 2 day weekends this whole term!! Very exciting! Hopefully I don't spend a tone of money.

Anyway, Hawaii was incredible of course. I have been to lazy to tag or put comments on the pictures, but here is  a photo album showing our trip:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.648115040539.2161554.43804181&l=9bfdeb640d

Hawaii Next Week!

No posts lately... I am preparing stuff to go to Hawaii next week to meet Jeromy.

In the last couple weekends, I have been hiking on an awesome trail in Palgongsan, and we went to Seoul for tons of Mexican food and to see some mountain lions at the zoo.

More posts when I get back!

Fourth Time To Gyeongju

I think Gyeongju is becoming what Santa Fe was for me in the States. Whenever I have time and it's going to be nice weather, I just head over to Gyeongju. It's beautiful. This last weekend was my fourth time there. It's been different every time.

Anyway, I just got back from a run. It is really getting pretty in Daegu. A lot of flowers and trees. It's really getting green. Also, there was an awesome thunderstorm this week. Apparently there are no thunderstorms in Daegu (just like there is no snow in the winter [there is]) but there was a really bright and loud one going on outside the window while I was teaching. This weekend I think it's supposed to rain, so we might be staying in.

Here's a link to the latest photo album I put up on facebook:


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.636478954349.2158366.43804181&l=562dc6d31c

Cherry Blossoms!

Emma, Yeonjeong, Brent and I went to Gyeongju this weekend for the beautiful cherry blossoms. Also, to just get out of town again.

Here are the pictures:

Drinking some Pocari Sweat (good hangover cure)

Anajpi Pond with cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms

Ssambap: A local food in Gyeongju

Enjoying the awesome weather and nice day

Cherry blossoms