Mortified!

So things have pretty emotional at work lately... and I have been pretty tired and run down. So... like any person would.. I have a cold. My head feels like it has been stuffed with cotton balls... my lip is swollen from an impending cold sore... and I think I have a sinus infection. GRRRR!
On another note... yesterday, I went to the bathroom and was seated on the toilet... when 4 fingers popped up above the stall next to me... then... a little head popped over!!! I was so mortified!!!! I didn't know what to say or do. She then disappeared... I heard the little patter of feet... then fingers again... and then 5 heads popped up. Aparently, the girls stood on the toilet seat to see over... why? well that's anyone's guess. A male friend of mine... to whom this happens to a lot... said that it's because they are curious to know if you are white or colored everywhere! Ah kids will be kids... and you can't really fault them on being curious... but from now on I am going to be using the toilet when the kids are in class... so as to not be peeped upon.
Cheers!

Back to the grind of things

It has been over a week since I have been back from the island and I decided that I needed something else to look forward to. When we were still at SEV, having the island trip to look forward to helped me to stay sane... so I thought having another excursion planned would assist with the sanity. So on Jan 1-5, 2007 I paid for a vacation to Thailand. I will be going by myself, which is ok, it will give me time to do what I want and to just chill. Then, on February 19, 2007 I am going to China. I am going to stay in Beijing for 3 days, which will give me enough time to see the major attractions.
I think everyone needs something to look forward to... and well... I am definately looking forward to my next vacation.

Cheusok vacation

This past week, Korea celebrated Cheusok (Korean Thanksgiving). Almost everyone in the country has a vacation and it is a big travelling time. Knowing that this will be my last year in Korea, I, along with some friends (Cathy, Sarah and Paula) decided that we would spend our Cheusok in Korea. We found an online tour group called Adventure Korea which specializes in organizing English speaking tours in Korea and booked a trip. On Wednesday, October 4 through Saturday, October 7, we went to Ulleng-do and Dukdo Islands (about 10 hours away from Seoul). Along with 85 other foreigners, we boarded a bus and took a 2.5 hour ferry ride to the middle of the ocean, for some rest and relaxation. Here are the pictures from my trip...

7 hours on a bus can make anyone tired. I found this photo once I got home from the island... aparently Cathy stole my camera... I think it is pretty funny.

This is all of us outside of the ferry, while we are still on the mainland. The ferry is not at all like one in Canada... on this one you are assigned a seat on the boat and are not allowed outside at any time. There are windows on all sides of the boat... but they do not open. So needless to say a lot of people became sea sick... without any air in a boat... well it can be overwhelming. Oh well... it was an experience.

Mountain

On the second day of our trip we went hiking up Song-in Peak in Ulleng-do. The hike was 9km and lasted about 6 hours. When we were first told about the trip, Paula and I thought... ok, it is going to be just a leisurely stroll in the woods... but WRONG! To get to the peak we had to climb rocks... hike wooden stairs... and hoist ourselves up with ropes. Needless to say this was quite an adventure.
After about 2 hours of hiking... I became pretty discouraged and decided that I could not go on. The korean tour guide, thinking that I needed his encouragement, then started to clap at me and scream "Bali Bali" (Hurry up). Finally, after threatening to push him off the side of the mountain if he clapped at me again, he left me alone to climb.
Another climber... whom I later met as Terry... came down to where I was seated and said that he would stay with me throughout the trip. He then pointed out the markers alluminating the path and said that we should walk to the first marker. I tiredly agreed... then stopped for water... we then walked together to the next marker.. then the next... all the way up to the peak. I strongly believe that Terry was sent there to help me. I believe in fate... and well.. it was just kismet that he was there. He managed to give me the encouragement and support I needed to make my way up. LOL... I later found out that he was a psychiatrist... but hey.. he is good at what he does.

This is the mountain we climbed. It is 982 meters (9km) and it took about 6 hours to complete (4.5 up and 1.5 down). Though I wont be climbing any mountains again soon (my gosh do my thighs hurt)... it was a personal victory for me.

This is Paula and I climbing the mountain. Though we were a few steps apart, we managed to complete the hike togtether.

I can admit it... when I reached the top of the mountain I cried. It was overwhelming to know that I did it!... to know that we did it!

Tour of Ulleng-do

On our second day of the trip, Paula, Sarah, Cathy and I went on a bus tour of the island. The scenary was absolutely beautiful.

This is Paula and I at Turtle Rock, aparently the rock behind us resembles a turtle with a baby turtle on its back... I can't see it... but hey... to each his own.


On top of a tiny mountain was a shrine and statue to Buddha. Not only was it located in a beautiful location, but the intricate carvings and statues were amazing.

The view from the mountain.

Dudkdo

During our stay in Ulleng-do, we had the chance to go to the Dokdo island, which is a Korean territory, but has been the subject of an ongoing dispute between Korea and Japan. In history, the Japanese have tried to seize the island from Korea without success.

This is the ferry we took to Dukdo Island. Because there was a typhoon hitting Japan at the time, the waves were 10 feet high. We get on the ferry and right from the get go we start crashing into the waves. The boat would sway and then crash... hard... on the ocean water. After about an hour of the rollercoaster... which needless to say, I really wanted to end... I leaned forward... grabbed my barf bag... and well you can imagine the rest. I then stood up to throw out the sack in the garbage, when another girl on the boat screamed "don't forget to zip lock the bag closed." I had just closed the bag when the boat hit another 10 foot wave and dropped. Suddenly, my knees buckled and I fell to the floor, the zip locked barf bag then went whirling through the air and simulataneously... almost in slow motion... the passengers on the boat screamed "NOOOOOOO!" Thankfully the bag was closed, so when it hit the floor, it just bounced a bit and then came to rest next to the trash can. I sheepishly then picked up the bag and threw it in the trash bin... then quickly... with my head held low... walked back to my seat.

This is the Dukdo Island. After the 3 hour... terrible... ride... land was a sight for sore eyes. Aparently, over 90 percent of the passengers had been ill due to the rollercoaster ride we had to endure.
Dukdo Island is the land in dispute between Korea and Japan. Though it is basically just a rock in the middle of the ocean... I think the dispute has more to due with the fishing rights associated with this island than the land itself.

Cathy and I on Dukdo Island.

Cable Car pictures

Sarah and I on the cable car
In the background is the mountain we climbed
The town from above

One extra day on the island

Because of the waves... all of the ferries to and from the island were cancelled on Saturday. So unfortunately we were not allowed to leave the island. That's ok... Sarah, Cathy and I headed to the beach, while Paula relaxed back at the hotel.

Cathy at the beach
The beach in Ulleng-do
Me, Cathy, Sarah, Liz, Paul and Josh at the beach

Holiday!

So opening week of AHEV is now gone and overall it was a huge success. The children were great... the media were impressed... the big shots were impressed... and to be honest... so were we. Though it was extremely tiring and long... the week was great for our teams moral. Lately things have been a little tense... with delays... and construction... but as soon as the children walked through the village gates... all the delays and stress seemed worthwhile.
The new poster for the village was shown on Wednesday... and... lol... I am the model on the poster. It is pretty funny... I am standing with two kids and smiling. Actually it is pretty flattering... with all the photos they took... to be the one chosen. I will scan it next week and post the pic.
Right now I am on vacation. For the next 9 days I am on my Cheusok (korean thanksgiving) vacation. For the first couple of days I am just hanging around Ansan... but on Wed-Sat I am going on a tour of Dukdo and Ullendo Island, with Sarah, Paula and Cathy. Dukdo island is the island that Japan and Korea fight ownership over... so the trip will not only beautiful... but educational as well. I will post pics when I get back on Sunday.
Anyways... things are good. We now have cable tv... 450 channels... 50 or so of them english... and internet. So things are begining to settle into some sort of routine.
Cheers!