tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46213095698234752302024-02-20T22:46:10.938+09:00Claudia and Oliver's Korean AdventureA South African couple working as teachers in Korea hoping to provide amazing pictures and information to people who want to know more about Korea.
We provide our prespectives and understandings of Korean culture which makes for an interesting and sometimes humorous journey for both us and our readers.Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-63151649356569890922012-01-12T15:56:00.001+09:002012-09-16T23:02:36.296+09:00Our year in picturesI can't believe that it has been nine months since we left Korea and we both still miss the people, food, and lifestyle. It really was one of the best years of our lives. A lot has happened since we left Korea. We went <a href="http://www.cobackpackingadventure.blogspot.com/">backpacking </a>around South East Asia and then I returned home to South Africa briefly before jetting off to <a href="http://www.claudiasswedishadventure.blogspot.com/">Sweden</a> to start a Masters programme. Oliver is in South Africa doing what he loves, photographing and has also started his own <a href="http://ohphotosa.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. We are still together and still happy but every now and then we both miss Korea terribly. I thought it would be nice to show you our year in pictures, or at least a glance of our year in pictures. Enjoy!<br />
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May 2010-April 2011<br />
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May<br />
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Our introduction to great food</div>
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Our first trip to Nami</div>
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Our first Norebang experience</div>
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Our first proper market shop</div>
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June....</div>
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The start of the World Cup</div>
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A trip to Jumong Movie Set</div>
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Lotus Lantern Festival</div>
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SA Braai Day</div>
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July</div>
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Boryeong Mud Festival</div>
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August</div>
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Gyeongju</div>
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Busan</div>
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September</div>
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Andong Mask Festival</div>
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Trip to Everland</div>
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Wonju Tattoo</div>
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Hanji Festival</div>
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October</div>
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Gimje Horizon Festival</div>
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November</div>
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Garden of Morning Calm</div>
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DMZ</div>
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Peppero Day</div>
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December</div>
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Lots of snow</div>
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Happy Christmas</div>
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January</div>
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Nothing for Jan....this is when I had to zip back home for an ememrgency </div>
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February</div>
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Ice Fishing</div>
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March</div>
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Malliop Beach</div>
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White Day</div>
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April</div>
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Black Day</div>
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Then we left on a jet plane :( But despite all of the amazing food we ate and awesome places we saw the thing that stands out the most are the friends we made. We are still on contact with many of them and have planned trips to see each other!</div>
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I can't wait to visit Korea again someday!</div>
Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-68490852851352192582011-07-20T18:33:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:03:28.923+09:0020 Questions on our experience in Korea<strong>1. Describe your overall Korean experience:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Korea has been amazing! I am so happy that we decided to come here and experience a culture that is so different to our own. I have grown so much this year and I have had so many laughs and happy times. Korea has forever made an impression on my heart. <br />
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Oliver: Awesome! And nothing else.<br />
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<strong>Must sees and favourites</strong><br />
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<strong>2. One must-see in Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Gyeongju, it really is a beautiful area that is filled with culture and colour. It is different to any part of Korea with its huge temples and burial mounds. <br />
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Oliver: There is no one must-see in Korea. There are several things that have to be seen by everyone that has the time to do so: <br />
-Seoul and all of it’s vastly different areas and attractions. <br />
-Busan. Huge, beautiful city, coastal town vibe. Superb combination!<br />
-Gyeongju. Cultural and stunningly beautiful.<br />
-The DMZ. To give you some perspective on things.<br />
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<strong>3. One must-do in Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Drop your bags and just walk the streets of Seoul. Have no set plan. Just roam and see what you come across. Another is to indulge in street food. <br />
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Oliver: As mentioned above, there is no one must-do. Eat, travel, live life, all of which are done with distinct ease in Korea.<br />
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<strong>4. Your favourite food in Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: That’s a tough one. I have so many favourites but if I were to narrow it down it would be Dakgalbi, Haejan guk, and Shabu Shabu.<br />
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Oliver: I don’t have 1 particular favourite, but some of them: Korean style barbecue(regardless of the meat), Chuncheon DakGalbi and Nengmyeon (iced noodles).<br />
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<strong>5. Your favourite festival in Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Another tough one. It would have to be between the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul and the Andong Mask Festival.<br />
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Oliver: Buddha’s Birthday, Cherry Blossom, Ice Fishing, <br />
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<strong>6. Your favourite memory in Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: One of my favourite memories is the day we spent at Everland. It was a day with friends acting like youngsters. All in all a memorable day. Other great memories include watching the sea of people at the lotus Lantern Festival, sitting with Oliver one evening at Gwangalli Beach, Lauren and I dying our hair and putting face masks on, drinking wine at the Seoul Fringe Festival, randomly finding a sky lounge in Seoul. <br />
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No wait. My favourite moment in Korea was waking up the day after my birthday only to find that Oliver had literally fallen asleep in a bowl of ice-cream cake.<br />
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<strong>Negatives:</strong><br />
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<strong>7. What you didn’t like:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Spitting, I hate that people spit everywhere. It freaks me out and it confuses me because instead of not spitting people walk around with masks to help dodge germs. <br />
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Oliver: The spitting!! Make the goddamn spitting stop. It’s disgusting and it’s a great way to spread sickness.<br />
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<strong>8. Any regrets?</strong><br />
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Claudia: Taking on the morning classes is my biggest regret. Yes we got extra money but it wasn’t worth getting up at 06:00 and having to leave social occasions early so we could get our beauty sleep. The only other regret I have is that I didn’t turn to my agent (instead of my director) when my mother got ill. I might not have lost half my bonus if I had gone that route. <br />
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Oliver: Only one. Having taken on extra work, which turned out to be too much work for too little pay, and ended up taking away from the overall experience.<br />
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<strong>9. Your most frustrating moment</strong><br />
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Claudia: When I was trying to quit the morning classes (which are not part of my contract) and I was told that “it was impossible”. It was frustrating that I was left with no other options. <br />
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Another one was when we checked into a motel in Busan on a Saturday morning and made sure that we were paying for the night but when we came back later that afternoon the owner demanded more money and said that we had only paid for the day. URG!<br />
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Oliver: Trying to quit the abovementioned extra work and ‘not being allowed to do so’!!!<br />
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<strong>Teaching:</strong><br />
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<strong>10. Advice on teaching:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Be a bit of a hard arse for your first couple of weeks, the kids need to know whose boss so that they don’t take advantage. Trying to friends right off the bat comes with a fair share of challenges.<br />
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Get kids interested in English outside of the classroom with website such as www.learningplanet.com and www.garfield.com. Try to not take your self too seriously and have fun!<br />
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Oliver: Take it easy, have fun. Simple.<br />
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<strong>11. A wonderful teaching moment</strong><br />
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Claudia: One of my kids, Steve (13), was in our highest level class and when I started with Parts of Speech he was overwhelmed and wanted to quit. But he didn’t and now he knows them better than anyone else in the class. When he was writing an essay a couple of months ago he looked up and asked me what Part of Speech a specific word was so that he could figure out where in the sentence it went. I was so proud!<br />
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During a game I was dared to behave like King Kong and found myself running around like a lunatic after my kids…good fun!<br />
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Hearing Billy (6) sing Just another Lemon Tree when he thought no-one was listening. <br />
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There are just too many…<br />
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Oliver: Basically any moment that involved interaction with my kids that wasn’t strictly “teacher-student”. <br />
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<strong>12. A horrible teaching moment</strong><br />
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Claudia: I can’t think of a specific moment but one of my classes was just painful in terms of their behaviour and attitude. That is the only negative thing I can think of. <br />
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Oliver: First day. Standing in front of 10 little kids, all staring at me, My god, kids have never been that scary.<br />
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Right now at the end. Saying goodbye to kids that I have absolutely fallen in love with. There is nothing more gut wrenching.<br />
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<strong>General</strong><br />
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<strong>13. The strangest thing about Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Korea is full of ironies, like the spit and masks, but one of the strangest things about Korea is seeing people dressed in hospital gear walking about the streets. Hospitals in Korea don’t have gardens or anything so you often see people, with their drips, walking down a pavement. Odd.<br />
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Another thing that is strange is how afraid people are to deviate from “How things are done”. There is no “colouring outside of the lines here”. People are terrified of getting things wrong. <br />
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Oliver: The contrasting behaviour. Examples: Everyone spits everywhere, yet people are all afraid of getting sick, and so won’t share bottled drinks, or wear face masks on the subway. Maybe nobody has realised that spitting everywhere is a sure-fire way to spread germs.<br />
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The ‘last-minute’ nature of things when dealing with foreign teachers. Many teachers, myself included are told that there is a school dinner, literally as people are walking out of the building on the way to that dinner. Foreign teachers being told that there is a school sports day happening, on the day, when the entire school has already left for the sports grounds<br />
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<strong>14. Describe the people:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Korean people are incredibly kind and efficient people. Some Koreans (in the minority) are not accepting of foreigners but for the most part Korean people are excited to meet a foreigner. <br />
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Oliver: Awesome. The people have ranged from super friendly, warm and receptive to downright rude and cold. To be totally honest, the rude ones have been so few and far between, that they are almost no worth mentioning. The overwhelming majority of people here see you as someone different and also treat you as someone different, but it has almost always been positive. Think: people buying you food or sending a round of drinks your way in a bar because you are a foreigner. The reception has been great.<br />
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<strong>15. Describe the culture</strong><br />
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Claudia: Korean culture is multi-faceted. There are the traditional aspects of culture like hanboks and kimchi (which are amazing) and then there are new cultural phenomenon like everyone owning the latest, most impressive gadgets and that everyone (men and women) constantly preen themselves in anything reflective. It really is interesting to witness how the old and new merge. <br />
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Oliver: See above<br />
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<strong>16. What amazed you?</strong><br />
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Claudia: The Banking and medical systems amazed me. The banking system is fast and friendly. The medical system is also amazing because it is so cheap and also very, very efficient. <br />
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Oliver: There were many things that amazed me. The amount of lights on a any given Korean street is ridiculous. In a very awesome way. The amount of packaging that Korea uses for everything is ridiculous. In a not so good way. Think : Individually wrapped hotdogs, wrapped in another plastic wrapper. Or triple wrapped food items, when a single wrapping would be ample. <br />
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<strong>17. Advice on living in Korea:</strong><br />
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Claudia: Be ready to see things you might not agree with and be willing to accept that it is different to what you know. Make learning Hangul your main priority when you arrive, this will hugely impact your Korean experience. Get out there and travel. Oliver and I actively went to festivals and cities and we really got a good look at the country.<br />
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Oliver: Learn Korean! We tried it, far too late, and not hard enough. But trying and making an effort goes a looong way with many Koreans. Plus, being able to read Korean will make your life a lot easier. <br />
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Show an interest in the culture and be open minded. Things won’t always be easy and things won’t always go your way, and you will be surprised on many separate occasions, but if you are open to new things, chances are the surprises will be nothing but positive.<br />
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<strong>18. Are you the same as when you arrived?</strong><br />
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Claudia: In some ways yes and in many ways no. I was hoping that Korea would help me slow down but I have realised that I am a person that is attracted to work and who will always be busy. However, Korea taught me to not take myself too seriously and to just sit back and take everything in. I have learnt so much through the incredible expats and locals I have met. I think I have changed in ways that are not immediately apparent.<br />
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Oliver: Not a chance. I feel a lot less stressed and on edge now then I did when I was back home, although I imagine that feeling might return again once back there. I have tasted true freedom in Korea, and that’s a feeling to be savoured and to hopefully have on a daily basis. I also have a much greater appreciation for kids, especially working with kids. Children make life better and happier. No serious complaints and just laughs all the way!<br />
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<strong>19. If you could do it again is there anything you would do differently?</strong><br />
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Claudia: The only thing I would change is doing the morning classes which took away from my experience but other than that nothing. All the small and big moments were awesome. If I could, I would do it all again!<br />
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Oliver: Learn Korean and not take on another stupid job just for some extra money. Otherwise it was pretty much perfect!<br />
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<strong>20. Thank you</strong>:<br />
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Claudia: Thank you Korea for the wonderful moments, amazing food, beautiful scenery, funny quirks, and super people. This year has been one of the best times of my life so far. I have been inspired to travel and see more of the world. Also, thank you to all the friends I have made along the way, people from all over the world, who seem to want the same things out of life as me. Lastly, I want to thank my children for making this year a fulfilling one with a lot of laughter. Thank you!Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-20630132852261868862011-04-28T11:45:00.001+09:002012-09-16T23:03:44.632+09:00Korea...friendsFirst a tribute to Korea and then a tribute to the friends made in Korea!!! We love you guys!! Thanks for making our time here so special!!<br />
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Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-33695960720879342892011-04-25T13:05:00.000+09:002011-04-25T13:05:58.443+09:00Korea...a video tribute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We just made a five minute video to pay tribute to all that Korea is....hope you enjoy it!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyngi6xlMz0l8mwJVokoNBzM9ysRjxWWhcM9GOmxByncu993XXZiH0AhLLx_wgtLWlmCoPAXcJVCHBv8DdRJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-28096728901095306602011-04-19T20:31:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:04:04.896+09:00Korea Fuck YeahWith just under two weeks left I watched this video again. I first watched it before we came to South Korea and I was confused. Now I have watched it as my year came to a close and it all makes SO MUCH SENSE.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bDN7Nx5J6No" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-42410669541709428472011-04-15T09:48:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:05:40.179+09:00A climb to the topPhew, can you believe it, Oliver and I are into our last month in Korea and it is steaming ahead quickly. <br />
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Last weekend we headed to a place we have been meaning to go to since we arrived, Seoraksan National Park. We know that Autumn is the most beautiful time to visit but we also know that that is when prices sky rocket and there are incredible crowds, so much so that you can't take a step in front of you without someone knowing about it. Now I am no seasoned mountain climber but that doesn't sound like an ideal way to climb a mountain. When I am huffing and puffing I need time to stop and having someone cramped up just behind me just would not be great. So we lost the best scenery for a more comfortable climb and it turned out to spectacular!<br />
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The tops of the mountains were still covered in snow and from a distance this gave them a very distinguished look and near the bottom flowers were beginning to bloom and sprout of colour were making their way to the surface. It was amazing, possibly one of the most beautiful places I have been to in Korea. <br />
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But getting these views was no picnic. In fact it was tough. Let's just say that my fitness is comparable with a sloth and I am not the biggest fan of exercise despite loving the outdoors. The first half of the climb was more like a leisurely stroll through beautiful pine trees and over babbling brooks but once we reached the first milestone Heundae Bawi (rock) things became a little (MUCH) tougher. <br />
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We had started the 808 step ascent to the top. Now these aren't steps like the ones you would see at a shopping mall. For my midget legs (Oliver likes to call them Frodollic*) some of these steps were huge and required a massive amount of effort. Others were small but on a very steep incline, at times it was frightening. I had reached an ultimate point of exertion, all I wanted to do was cry and Oliver was still all smiles taking photos here and there and urging me one like a good boyfriend (who, might I had, does not have Frodollic legs).<br />
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Once at the top is was breath-taking (possibly because of the climb, possibly because of the view). The wind was strong so we zipped up our jackets and sat about for a while taking photos and looking at the awesomeness in front of us. (Oliver has amazing photos from the day but his computer crashed on Tuesday and we are trying to salvage all of his stuff )<br />
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Then it was time for the walk down, after having rested for a while my legs decided to turn to jelly and were shaking at will. Not the most ideal situation when you are climbing down step stairs and over large, slippery rocks. After slipping once or twice we decided to slow down and did are descent and a nice, slow pace. By the time we reached the bottom we were both pooped. <br />
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We hopped on a bus and headed for Sokcho (the closest town to the park), found a very cheap place to stay, had a shower from heaven and then head out the door. Yes, we were both tires but Sokcho has a night time fish market and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit it! <br />
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We ate squid stuffed with rice and vegetable covered in fried egg...Yum! Then we weaved through the fish stalls and took in the sights and smells of Korea, something we know we won't get to enjoy for too much longer. <br />
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After about two hours we were both tired and it was time to headback for a good night's rest. <br />
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Oliver was out like a light but I struggled...my body was in pain. I am embarrassed to say but my body was super stiff. I was still feeling it badly on Monday and walking down stairs was a nightmare but now I am recovered and I am looking forward to our next climb...Chiaksan National Park in two weeks. <br />
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Post by Claudia<br />
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*Frodollic (a term coined by Oliver) is when someone has features that are similar to Froddo from Lord of the Rings. So short legs = FrodollicClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-60026308194852576892011-04-14T12:17:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:06:13.598+09:00Valentine's Day...no...White Day...no, Black Day!What?<br />
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Everyone of us knows Valentine's Day. It's a day on which big companies and corporations get to make lots and lots and lots of money. Or is it a day on which starcrossed lovers get to express their undying devotion for one another by showering the loved one in a hailstorm of gifts and goodies? Either way, we know what it is. Here in Korea it is very similar, the big difference being that the 'showerer' is the girl, and the 'showeree' is the guy, in layman's terms, the girl gives the guy gifts.<br />
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Exactly one month after the abovementioned day comes White Day, which I have talked about in a <a href="http://cokoreanadventure.blogspot.com/2011/03/happy-valentines-dayno-white-daywait.html">previous entry</a>. Read it to get up to speed if you must. Very basically it's the reverse of Valentine's...so the guy gives the girl the gifts.<br />
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Here is now the final part of this amazing trilogy, and it has been given the oh-so beautiful name of Black Day. In Korea there is no issue giving a day this name, but I am quite certain that in other parts of the world, the name might not go down quite so well. <br />
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Either way, this is the crux of the matter: On Valentine's, girl gives guy gifts, on White Day, guy gives girl gifts, and on Black Day all of the singles that were not able to celebrate either of these two joyous days sit down and eat noodles. Noodles? So why 'black'? <br />
Well, the noodles that are eaten are called Jajang Myeon, and they are thick wheat noodles that are topped with a black soy-bean sauce. They are delicious as all hell, and make the perfect accompaniment to any day of depression. <br />
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So this is what depressed single people should be eating?Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-58482665760215136432011-04-05T10:30:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:07:14.067+09:00Big City LifeWe have been living it up in the big cities these past two weekends. First it was Busan and then it was Seoul! I love big cities, there is something so mesmerising about them!<br />
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We took an overnight train with some friends so that we would have a full Saturday in Busan. That was fun! Busan is awesome because it is a big city mixed with a wonderful coastal life. It is relaxed and busy. We went out near one of their universities and it was buzzing with life and things to do...it made our little Wonju look old and slow (which comes with its own perks). <a href="http://cokoreanadventure.blogspot.com/2010/08/busan-ia-large-port-in-asia-and-second.html">Gwangalli Beach</a> in Busan remains one of my favourite places in Korea with its beautiful views, weather, and food! And unlike our summer visit to Haeundae Beah, this time we could see the sand and coastal line. It was great!!!<br />
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Beautiful Gwangalli</div>
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Posing in Busan</div>
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Then there is Seoul. The mother city. A megalopolis that is awe inspiring. Even though we have been to Seoul many times, we have never gone to Seoul for the sake of being touristy. We have always found ourselves there with friends, or part of a festival, or as a stop over on the way to somewhere else. Yes, we have made a point of seeing things in Seoul but we have never we dedicated a whole weekend to going to the touristy sites of Seoul. Unlike our trip to Busan which was centred around food, drink and relaxation we prepared ourselves for a lot of walking and sight-seeing in Seoul. <br />
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We saw and did a lot, including walking down Insadong, having fun in a hoarders paradise, and visiting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdaemun_Market">Namdaemun</a>, a 600 year old market (apparently the oldest in Asia) which was huge and packed with so many different people, smells, and things to eat!<br />
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A museum packed with everything from our childhoods.</div>
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One of the many crowded market areas</div>
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Then it was off to <a href="http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=260067">Namsan tower</a>. Yes, believe it or not, we have been here for 11 months and have never gone up the tower which offers one of the best views of the city. We strategically chose to go up just before sunset so that we could see the city during the day and at night. The view was amazing but not as good as it could have been because Seoul was having one of its <a href="http://cokoreanadventure.blogspot.com/2011/03/horror-that-is-yellow.html">yellow days</a> (Murphy's law). It was wonderful nonetheless and we spent well over an hour up there having coffee and soaking up the awesomeness that is Seoul!<br />
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I couldn't capture the view from the tower if I tried.</div>
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Then we got lost for two hours, my bad! But eventually found a banging restaurant with some delectable Samgyeopsal. We chowed down and had some beer to end off the day! <br />
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The touring was not yet done. On Sunday we went to the <a href="http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/79">War Museum</a> which was massive...we didn't even go inside the museum as the displays outside had enough to keep us busy for a while and with the weather being exceptional it seemed the obvious choice to stay outdoors. We strolled in-between all war planes, tanks, helicopters, ships and artillery.<br />
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Bits and pieces from the war museum</div>
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After spending a long while there we headed to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_River_(Korea)">Han River</a>. Another place I am sad to report that I had never gone to. We bought some beer, relaxed while people rode their bikes around us and watched the sun set over Seoul. This was somewhat symbolic as this will be the last time we get to tour the streets of Seoul. The fact that our contracts are coming to an end is becoming more and more apparent and we are sad!<br />
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Walking around in big cities like Busan or Seoul is awesome!! You never know what to expect and every experience is different to the last!!!<br />
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Post by ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-46887020424460094252011-03-31T10:20:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:07:48.258+09:00The Horror that is YellowKorea has been wonderful. We have experienced beautiful people, amazing food, stunning places, and a society that is crime free and efficient. Sounds like a fantastic place, doesn't it? Well, let me tell you, it is. <br />
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So far (and were down to our last month here) we have had no major complaints. Sure there has been the odd Korean man or woman, who seems to have been suffering from xenophobia, and has treated us differently, but these could also have simply been horrible individuals, and let's be quite honest here, they exist everywhere.<br />
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I now have a major complaint. And the horrible thing is that it's not actually a complaint that I can share with anyone for the hope of it being remedied. It's a complaint that bothers me every morning, and no matter how much I complain and throw my toys, this complaint will arise every year for the forseable future. The complaint: Yellow Dust.<br />
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Yellow Dust "is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia sporadically during the springtime months". It happens when high speed surface winds pick up very fine sand and dust particles in the deserts of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and northern China. It has gotten far worse in the last few years, due to an increase in pollutants contained in the dust. <br />
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OK. Fine, so the air is dusty, what does that mean. Let me first point out, that I am by no means a sickly person, and I don't suffer from any sort of sinus issues. I live in the highveld of South Africa, which is a very dry area, and I never have any issues with spring pollen. Here however, things are different. Every morning this week I have woken up with stuffed nasal cavities to the point of headaches. I have woken up with said headaches on occasion, and it doesn't get much better throughout the day, other than the fact that I have been blowing my nose every few minutes.</div>
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It really has been that bad. And it's not just me, others I have spoken to suffer from the same issues. National news agencies issue yellow dust warnings, in which they advise people to wear face masks and refrain from outdoor activity. It's crazy. Apparently Korea will only receive about 5 'yellow dust days' this season, but exactly when those are I'm not sure. I'm hoping they pass soon. I want my sense of smell and my ability to breathe back!</div>
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This is what Seoul can look like. This is an image swiped from the internet for illustration purposes. Our city looks nothing like this. To be complately honest, one cannot even see the dust here in Wonju, unless you're staring into the distance and then you can see a definite haze, but not a complete 'yellow out' like in this image.</div>
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I hope this rant will be taken as a serious public service announcement, and not just as the blustering of a sickly westerner, which I'm not, I'll have you know! <br />
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Post by OliverClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-5562723846111265122011-03-22T22:28:00.001+09:002012-09-16T23:08:21.852+09:00Jangdari SikdangWe sit down, starved after a day of sightseeing and ready to taste something new. We get the menu, pricey, hmmm. The hunger growls in my belly and I realise I don't care about the price, I just want food and I want it to be something I have never tried before. <br />
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Outside the restaurant</div>
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Turns out where were at the right place. Danyang is famous for garlic and this restaurant (Jangdari Sikdang) specialises in Garlic rice. Yum. 20,000Won for Garlic Rice. What? Oh well, we are here now and the waitress assures us it is amazing. We nod. <br />
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Next thing our jaws drop as we see numerous side dishes being brought to our table, a true smorgasbord. In the end we counted 24 side dishes, just for the two of us, and the best part was that each and every dish contained garlic. There was pickled garlic, mustard garlic, garlic with raw beef and pears, garlic mandu, garlic wraps, fried garlic and crab, and the list goes on. <br />
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The raw beef and pears, sublime!</div>
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Garlic, tofu, and kimchi...yum!</div>
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Pickeld garlic, garlic mandu and roasted garlic.</div>
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Every garlic lovers dream</div>
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Pork served with sesame leaves.Yummmm!</div>
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After being able to pick my jaw up off the ground, I turn to Oliver and say, I thought it was meant to be a rice and garlic dish. I see no rice, and this is so so so much more than our little <em>Lonely Planet</em> made it out to be. Before I finish my sentence we are presented with two other dishes, one for Oliver and one for me. It is the garlic rice and it smells fantastic!<br />
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The garlic rice...</div>
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Our table was littered with dishes from end to end with barely enough room to place our beer glasses. After a quick cheers, we tucked in and it was a mouth-watering, mouth-orgasmic, flavourful experience that allowed us to taste many familiar Korean flavours while also trying new, exciting ones. <br />
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It was like painting a picture in your mouth, add a dash of this and a little of that and voila you have an artistic sensation that gets your taste buds screaming for more. <br />
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Danyang is an amazingly beautiful place, although difficult to get around it has some awesome things to see like Guinsa, the Ondol Resort, or the rocks that emerge out of the river. But Jangdari Sikdang should be on your list of must sees. The restaurant is decorated with awards, the staff is super friendly, and the food, well, the food is simply mind-blowingly good!<br />
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Post by ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-69842769428335686532011-03-18T20:30:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:09:13.148+09:00Won Cashing Girls 원캐싱Everytime we spot an advert by the "Won Cashing Girls" Oliver gets very excited. I am not sure if it because they are pretty or it is because their music borders on iritating/awesome (a definite earworm). Or maybe, maybe, it is their very bizarre way of moving. <br />
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Here is one of their best and it was the first we ever saw<br />
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I love the guy...so weird!<br />
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Hope its stuck in you head...good and proper!!!Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-58935657085921585562011-03-15T10:17:00.002+09:002012-09-16T23:09:49.253+09:00Happy Valentine's Day...no White Day...wait, what day...?Confused by the title? So am I. Let me explain.<br />
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I believe that most people that read this blog (the whole handful of you ;) know all about Valentine's Day. It is a 'traditional day of love' on which to be-gift your partner, or nowadays basically anyone, with chocolates and gifts and anything else that may symbolise your love for them, or that you simply care, even if just a little. Still with me? Good. It's pretty simple.<br />
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Just some of the many items on sale almost everywhere.</div>
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Here in Korea things run a little differently. You see, Valentine's Day here is not a day to give gifts to just any loved one. Here it is a day on which to present something special to your someone special, but only if you're a girl. Huh? Yes, on Valentine's, girls give gifts to boys. Again, this is simple enough right? OK.<br />
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Now is where things became a little 'what?' for me. Valentine's Day is celebrated on the 14th of February, and here in the love stricken ROK, there is a follow up day to Valentine's. It is called 'White Day'. It is celebrated on the 14th of March and is meant to be the day on which the earlier recipients of bountiful pleasures are meant to return the favour. So now it is time for then men to pucker up, or open up (the wallet) and bestow upon the ladies something special. <br />
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The birthplace of White Day is apparently Japan, but don't tell a Korean that, they tell you you're lying ;)<br />
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It was started by a Japanese confectionary company as an 'answer day' to Valentine's. The origin of the name supposedly lies in the fact that it was usually white chocolates that were given in return. The idea is also to give handmade chocolates to your loved one, but most gifts on White Day consist of store bought items, produced by dozens of manufacturers.<br />
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To me it all sounds like an elaborate scheme set upon us by the big, bad marketing machine in the sky. And to be completely fair, Valentine's Day doesn't need an answer in the West, because it's a two-way street anyway.<br />
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Whichever way you look at it, as a pessimistic hater, or an optimistic lover, there is no denying that this is a big day in Korea, with everyone from little school children to high powered businessmen getting in on the action. I know I did my part...Claudia liked her gift :)<br />
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Aha...guess what...there's a follow up to White Day, too. But more about that in a future post.<br />
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Keep the love going!<br />
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Post by OliverClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-89912318410484279842011-03-14T10:16:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:10:29.565+09:00Mallipo Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend we headed out of Wonju toward the west coast for a farewell party. I was nervous about going to the beach. Lately, the wind has been strong and nippy (to say the least) and as is the norm the wind is likely to be even less forgiving on the beach. But I was wrong. <br />
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We were met by an amazing coastline with the most gorgeous blus skies and just a light breeze. It was the first real sign we have had that spring is on its way. <br />
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This was my first time to a beach on the west coast and it was astonishingly beautiful. It was empty with the odd high school student or romantic couple roaming the white sands and the ocean was calm and a rich blue hue. This was in steep contrast to how we experienced <a href="http://cokoreanadventure.blogspot.com/2010/08/busan-ia-large-port-in-asia-and-second.html">Gwangalli </a>and Gangneung beaches in summer which were fairly packed.<br />
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We had a braai (or bbq) on the sand and ate and drank like kings. The day was filled with awesome discussions, great food and the type of relaxation you can only hope to stumble on. <br />
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As day rolled into night we doubled our beer blankets on decided to make a bonfire and shoot of some fireworks for good measure. What fun!<br />
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Post by ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-31055584625087116182011-03-09T20:40:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:10:51.727+09:00Pushing boundaries: Student's in South KoreaI recently wrote an article for <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/"><em>Go Overseas</em></a><em> </em>about how hard children work in South Korea. <br />
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I looked at both sides of the argument and put together my opinion!<br />
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You can see the argument, which is very much my opinion, <a href="http://www.goteachabroad.com/teach-abroad-blog/pushing-boundaries-students-in-south-korea/1290">here. </a><br />
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Let me know what you think!!!<br />
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ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-24147680229546373872011-03-01T17:00:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:11:27.185+09:00Standing on a RiverThe very first thing I am going to do is get a reason, or an excuse out of the way. If you believe what I say, then to you it's a reason, if you don't it's an excuse. Either way, this is the story:<br />
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As anyone who reads this blog knows, we have been pretty good at doing updates on the blog, which given schedules and happenings is not always an easy thing to do. The last month or so has been particularly bad with regards to any news from the ROK. As Claudia mentioned in a previous post, she had to rush back to South Africa, due to medical issues in her family. Luckily though, things have taken a sharp turn for the better, and Claudia will be returning to me here in Korea in a couple of days. YAY!<br />
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So Claudia had some big issues, which is why she has been struggling to do any updates on the blog. But why have I not done anything...? Quite simple and straightforward really. About 3 days after Claudia left, I fractured two bones in my wrist while snowboarding. Joy of joys. So for the last 3 1/2 weeks I have been stuck with a massive splint on my arm, which was kindly dubbed 'the claw' by my friends. The 'Claw' made it incredibly difficult to sit at a keyboard properly, and aside from the pain, made typing anything near substantial a very difficult and tedious event. Happily for me, the Claw has been retired and will now be serving duty as...well, nothing really. My hand feels 100 times better, although not 100% yet, and I am able to type again. Another YAY!<br />
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Buy it or not, that is the reason for lack of updates from my side. So here is a new update.<br />
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About 2 weeks ago, I was invited by my co-teacher and friend Sunny to go fishing in Jinbu. Fishing is not something I'm crazy about, and in my eyes it is an activity best performed wearing no t-shirt, having a cold beer in my hand and sitting on a riverbank in the South African summer sun. This was a little different.<br />
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A view of the river</div>
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In the clothing department, I had to don more than just a pair of shorts. The extra itmes included a pair of long thermal underwear, long jeans, thick socks, a long thermal vest, a long sleeved t-shirt, a t-shirt, another t-shirt, a jersey, and a thick winter jacket. So the attire was a little different, OK. <br />
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Was I holding a cold beer in my hand? Nope, the ice cold beer was replaced with a very rapidly cooling cup of hot....oh wait, no it was hot, now it's gone cold, coffee.<br />
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Was I standing on a river bank? No. I was standing on a river, a frozen river. <br />
So it's a little different. Was it awesome. Hell yes.<br />
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The technique involved holding a little 'fishing rod' (more of a little metal rod with some fishing line) above a pre made hole, and bobbing it up and down, in an attempt to convince the fish that the lure is indeed a living creature. Did it work? In my case, no, I obviously do not have the motion down to a T yet, but there was definitely no shortage of fish being caught all around us. Sunny and her friend Veronica didn't catch anything either, but it was all made up for by a boy from Sunny's church that was with us, who caught 4 fish! It felt like he didn't stop pulling them out.<br />
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Sunny and Veronica showing off their technique</div>
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The champion fisherman</div>
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After the fish had been caught, people had the option of simply taking them home, or going to a nearby restaurant, that sells all manner of fish related dishes, or for a very minimal fee (3000 Won or about R20) they would cut up the fish for you, so you can enjoy it raw, with some veggies on the side and some dipping sauces. Our mind was made up...the latter choice was ours, and what a good choice it was. Pieces of raw Trout dipped in a mixture of Soy Sauce and Sesame seed oil...heaven.<br />
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The raw fish...mmmmm</div>
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A spicy fish soup</div>
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Anyone coming to or living in Korea should really do this. The joy of spending a day in the cold (dressed appropriately, of course), enjoy the Korean winter sun, and tasting a fish you yourself (or a friend) caught is fantastic. Definitely worth the time and effort and a highly recommended winter activity!</div>
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Somebody's catch of the day</div>
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Veronica doing her best!</div>
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Veronica and Sunny in beautiful Jinbu</div>
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Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-76438086524424069132011-03-01T13:54:00.000+09:002011-03-01T13:54:33.772+09:00Heading backToday I am heading back to the land of morning calm to finish what I started. <br />
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The month in South Africa has had its fair share of ups and downs...thank you friends and family for trying to help me where possible!<br />
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You will be happy to know that my mother is doing much better. She is still a little sore but you can't compare her to what she looked like a month ago. So now that things are OK on this side I am going back to Korea. <br />
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It will only be for a short bit (another two months before our contract ends) but I am so grateful that I get to go back and so good bye to my kids, my friends, the food and the country in general. <br />
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When I left in January I was disraught because I did get to do any of these things and I felt as though I was not done in Korea so I am thrilled I get to go back!!!<br />
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So..instead of being sad that I only have two months I am over the moon that I have two more months and I am going to live it up Korea like crazy!!!<br />
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So you will be seeing a lot more activity on the blog once I am back!<br />
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Cheers, <br />
ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-66011040105015351042011-02-25T23:20:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:11:55.699+09:00Kitsch Korean ArtModern day Korea is kitsch and much of the art in Korea is also kitsch yet I wouldn't have it any other way. <br />
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Any attraction on Korea is bound to have photo opportunities, places where you can stand by hearts and be cute. Being cute is a very important quality in Korea.....its something I struggle with; I have never been good at batting my eyes. There are also bounds of abstract art things I don't quite understand. <br />
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When I think about art and Asia I think about beautiful strokes with an eastern flare that are stylish, feminine and historical but it turns out that that’s not what art in Korea is like. <br />
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Sure, you can find these Eastern beauties but they are often hidden away in fancy art galleries somewhere in Seoul. Chances are you will get lucky in Insadong but even there the art is more western. <br />
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Like I said earlier the main form of art we encountered in Korea was kitsch and out in the open and somehow I wouldn't have it any other way. It is so different and strange. <br />
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What's more is that there are also photographic exhibitions everywhere you go, although often the photos are mediocre and I wonder who chooses them. But I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that everyone seems to have a professional camera and I think that has a lot to do with the socio-economic situation in Korea. <br />
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People have money, more than they know what to do with. <br />
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Anyway, clearly I am rambling and this is a post saying something but I am not quite sure what. <br />
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Well. Here is some of the random art we have encountered, not the kitschiest but definitely some of the most random. And I like it, yes I said it out loud and I am going to be discredited and labelled as someone who clearly knows nothing! But hey...it is so totally Korean!<br />
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A totally cool big fish!</div>
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Random, abstract glass thing</div>
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Awesom clay men</div>
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Random heart in th middle of nowhere! Makes me think of a Justin Timberlake song, weird!</div>
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Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-77523614286738286252011-02-14T19:37:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:12:50.577+09:00Gangneung Unification parkA couple of weeks ago we headed down to Gangneung. A little coastal city that may Wonju residents love to visit. We prepared ourselves for a array of seafood and a look at some of Gangneung's best attractions. One of the most impressive was Unification Park. <br />
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Unification Park is supposedly meant to be a symbol of the eventual unification of North and South Korea. However, in my opinion, it achieved the opposite. <br />
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At Unification Park you will find a North Korean submarine that crashed into rocks just off of Gangneung's shore in 1996. The submarine had been sent to spy on South Korea but founf itself in water that was simply too shallow to navigate. After setting fire to the submarine, to prevent the South Koreans from gaining any addaitional information, the North Koreans fled but a manhunt ensued and only one of the 26 crew survived the attack. The submarine is outdated and old. The technology looks like something people used to play with in the twenties. <br />
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Walking through the sub you feel claustrophobic and cramped and struggle to imagine how 26 people managed to fit into this tiny vessel. <br />
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This stark contrast to the sub the 4000 ton US/ROK decommissioned warship that has also been put on land for display. The vessel is huge and seems to be equipped with an array of weapons and has a history to match. It was built in 1945 and has participated in the World War II, Vietnam War, and the Korean War.<br />
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What is fantastic about this park, which I don't think I have ever seen anywhere else, is that you are able to engage with the submarine and the vessel. You can touch the guns, turns the knobs, run your fingers along the rusty exterior of the sub, you can re-position the missile launcher on the vessel and you can simply imagine what it must of been like to be on these aquatic marvels. Cramped into an outdated submarine or scanning the seas for possible threat off of the large deck of the warship. <br />
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It's saddening and awesome all at the same time. <br />
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A trip to Unification Park in Gangneung is for anyone who enjoys history, an interactive approach to history, and seeing things in a way you have never seen them before.Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-75794614758653871232011-02-10T18:05:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:13:10.249+09:00Some Fabulous Pics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just some fabulous and random shots from around Korea. To see some more of Oliver's magic have a look at our galleries (above) or join his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivers-Photos/125970287427670#!/pages/Olivers-Photos/125970287427670">Facebook Page</a> or <a href="http://oliversphotos.tumblr.com/">Tumblr Page.</a></div>
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I have put our blog into a manuscript with amazing pictures and cool sub-categories. We are thinking of publishing. What do you think? Could you think of a publisher that would be interested in our sort of material?</div>
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We look forward to your feedback</div>
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Enjoy the pics....</div>
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Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-19133932808470459852011-02-07T21:14:00.003+09:002012-09-16T23:13:47.721+09:00What to check when checking inOne of the greatest things about travelling in Korea is the abundant supply of affordable accommodation. If you don't understand Korean then it is best to not book in advance. <br />
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Often online accommodation that is in English is overpriced. What you pay online is still cheap but you can get similar accommodation for a better price if you scout out places while on foot.<br />
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There are numerous types of accommodation available, these include<br />
<ul>
<li>Hotels: Often the most upmarket and expensive option, these are available at hot tourist spots like Nami Island. They are also the most luxurious.</li>
<li>Pensions: Almost on the same level as a hotel but with more of a Korean, as opposed to western vibe. In a pension you will more than likely have a flat screen TV, bath (a huge commodity in Korea) and internet facilities.</li>
<li>Love Motel: These are the most accessible type of accommodation. This is what Oliver and I most often use...you are looking at paying between 30,000W - 60,000W. There is a shower, a TV and occasionally communal internet services. </li>
<li>Minbak: This is about as cultural as you can get. You pay minimal amounts to stay with a Korean family in their home. Although affordable many expats complain about the curfew and movement restrictions with this option.</li>
<li>Hostel: Very cheap and if you are not someone who is deeply attached to privacy this option could be best for you. If you are travelling in large groups you could take up a whole dorm if your lucky.</li>
<li>Jimjilbang: Again, extremely cheap. You stay at one of Korea's bathhouses. You sleep on the floor and use a wooden block as your pillow. You can get away with paying as little as 7,000W. What a bargain! Again, not for those that are deeply in love with privacy.</li>
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As a couple, Oliver and I found the love motels to be our best option...not because of love making per se but because it proved to be the most flexible and most affordable when two people were sharing the room. </div>
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We needed the room for very little other than sleeping and storing our stuff in. <br />
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However, our extensive travel in Korea has taught has that some important questions need to be asked before taking the offer.<br />
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If you can't speak Korean prepare yourself for a lot of hand gestures and confused faces.<br />
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Firstly, before agreeing to prices ask to see the room. Sometimes you will be amazed and more often than not you will see a clean room that is perfect for a short stay.</div>
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Once you know you are happy with the state of the room ask if they have a curfew...you don’t want to be caught out in the cold. </div>
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If you have a bigger party, 3 or 4 people, ask if you can put everyone in the same room. Some places will agree to have more people in one room for the same price. In that case, they just give you a floor mat. But it works out to be a very cheap option.<br />
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If you are happy with everything take it! But don't be afraid to shop around. In any given place there is generally the accommodation district with tons of motels piled next to another. Competition is fierce so if you are not happy with the proposed price shop around. Oliver and I found a great little place in Seoul for only 30,000W where as many other places ask for more than 50,000W. There are always bargains to be found!!!<br />
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Oh, and always remember to ask for a business card so that if you need to get back using a taxi all you do is show the man behind the wheel your card!</div>
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Post by Claudia</div>
Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-71098388001631097302011-02-04T01:01:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:14:45.602+09:00Here's an update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdAZKd0bCs7hoMIoFYg6qTJG2-1VbXP7xnURNARZOxmRyuSQrLdzrgOMYO6jD5dDUq0MA46CXZ7Vt4XE2FhEFEyF0I_5OWagSa1KZAcJ31-MSSsSqui-ezUp4i23d4s4zXXSSbmv_1F0/s1600/Walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdAZKd0bCs7hoMIoFYg6qTJG2-1VbXP7xnURNARZOxmRyuSQrLdzrgOMYO6jD5dDUq0MA46CXZ7Vt4XE2FhEFEyF0I_5OWagSa1KZAcJ31-MSSsSqui-ezUp4i23d4s4zXXSSbmv_1F0/s320/Walkway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Wow, things have been crazy and now is the first time I have a chance to update you on the situation.<br />
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My dream was to go to Korea and have one-year without any drama. A year of fun and awesomeness. Yes, a gap year.<br />
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Unfortunately, life doesn't quite work that way.<br />
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Last Tuesday night I received a message telling me that my mother had gone into organ failure and was in ICU on a ventilator. Things looked grim and the doctor recommended that I get back to SA as soon as possible. <br />
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So, that's exactly what I did. <br />
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I had no idea what to expect once I got to SA and I didn't know if I would be able to return to Korea. So Tuesday night was very emotional. <br />
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I contacted my director and explained the situation, I helped find a substitute teacher, and then I went about packing up my stuff. This whole process very traumatic and I simply couldn't stop crying. <br />
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I packed up my class and did my best to write notes to my classes to apologise for not being able to say goodbye in person. This was heart-breaking...in that moment I realised how attached I had become to my students. <br />
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Then I went about packing up the apartment and trying to get most of my stuff together. I threw a lot away. Then, it hit Oliver what was happening and that he would now be alone in Korea....he also started to cry. So, both swollen from tears we went about our business. <br />
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On Wednesday we made our journey to the airport and tried our best to remain upbeat but every time I spoke to someone on the phone...the tears started again. <br />
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The moment the plane's tires left the tarmac I was devastated....I didn't know if I would see Korea again, I didn't know if I was going to see Oliver for the next three months, and most of all I didn't know how my mother was doing.<br />
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I touched down in Johannesburg and met my sister. We made our way to the hospital. My mother was not doing to well. She was still very groggy but for the first time since Tuesday she was lucid. She couldn't talk because of the ventilator.<br />
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After two days the ventilator came off but she had to remain in ICU due to being very weak.<br />
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Thankfully...she continued to get better. The doctors figured out that my mother has an immune disorder which means her body often rejects treatment...now that they knew what was wrong they could correctly treat her. <br />
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From there she went from strength to strength...being able to sit, then stand, and then walk again. She is now out of ICU and will hopefully be allowed back home on Saturday.<br />
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On top of my mother being ill, I got a message from Oliver in Korea that he had fallen badly while snowboarding and had broken is arm. When it rains, it pours.<br />
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Once I realised my mother was doing better my attention turned to Korea. Could I go back? I contacted my director who was a little reluctant because I said I would not be able to extend beyond the end of April as my sister is getting married in May.<br />
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He took a long time to think and deliberate on the matter and eventually decided I could come back to work on th 7th of March. There were conditions to this arrangement but either way I am happy that I get to go back to Korea and give it the farewell it deserves. I get to do the things I have been putting off (like climbing Chiak Mountain), I get to say goodbye to my kids, and I get to be with Oliver (I am not a big fan of the idea of long distance).<br />
<br />
So, for the next three weeks I will be staying with my mother helping her get better and making sure she is strong. If my mother is still feeling a bit fragile by the time I leave then my brother will move in with her while I finish my contract in Korea (and hopefully...if we can save enough...our back packing trip).<br />
<br />
While in SA...I will still keep the blog updates...I will write articles I simply haven't had the time to do until now. Unfortunately, due to Oliver's break...he won't be able to contribute for a while.<br />
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If you have any questions about Korea or would like an article on something in particular...let me know and I will do my best to help!<br />
<br />
So...that is what has been happening! Things have been a little crazy and it has all been emotionally stressful (on everyone involved).<br />
<br />
I guess every adventure is bound to have a bit of crisis!Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-30810348650412763982011-01-28T16:42:00.001+09:002012-09-16T23:15:07.155+09:00CrisisHi there, <br />
<br />
I am sorry that the blog has been quite. I had a bit of a family crisis (my mother is very ill) and had to unexpectedly fly back to South Africa. <br />
<br />
I am back in SA and not sure when or if I will get back to Korea before our contract is up! I am very sad that I had to leave Korea...but when duty calls.....<br />
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Oliver is till in Korea and he will write posts and keep pictures coming in...it just won't be as frequently!!<br />
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Thanks so much for your understanding!!!!Claudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-65638740136168951952011-01-21T19:32:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:15:37.957+09:00Our RainbowIf you remember during Autumn Oliver and I did a trip to Nami Island!<br />
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We had a lot of fun and the colours of the autumn leaves were so beautiful that we couldn't help but make a rainbow out of them. <br />
<br />
So, like real nerds, we found a table and for two hours we collected leaves and made our rainbow. It got a lot of attention from people passing by and we were (and still are) very proud of our rainbow!<br />
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This is just a short post to gloat, so here are the pics:<br />
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Our lanscape has changed so much since Autumn...these colours seem like a lifetime ago! I love it!<br />
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I forgot about our little nerdy/awesome project until I discovered these pics on Oliver's computer the other day!<br />
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Hope you like them!!!<br />
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Post by ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-79151750810493361862011-01-19T20:48:00.002+09:002012-09-16T23:16:14.667+09:00King KongToday was a good day!!!!<br />
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Very good indeed! <br />
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Except for the fact that as each day goes by I am getting more and more sad that I will being saying goodbye to my kids!<br />
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I am nervous that the next teacher will undo the teaching I have done.....and most of all I am sad that I won't get to act like a complete idiot and have people think that it is awesome!!!<br />
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Today, with my eldest class (14 year olds), we played a game that involved shooting people. On shouting shoot you point your hands at two different people, whoever has been shot the most has to do a dare!<br />
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I was a great mastermind and managed to get two girls to act and sound like elephants for ten seconds. Despite being red in the face they were also rigged with laughter!<br />
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Eventually all the shots were pointed at me and it was time that I endured some of my own medicine. <br />
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I was told to act like King Kong for 20 seconds. I was instructed that I had to make sounds and do actions. <br />
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Taken from Horrorphile.net</div>
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So I did.....Fists pounding away at my chest I began making some unsightly sounds and ran around the classroom like a crazy person. I teased the girls and as I was hoping towards the boys, fists punching wildly, they got up and started running.<br />
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What followed was a frenzy of laughter and craziness. We ran around the classroom for a bit with the boys constantly crashing into each other like drunk drivers before I climbed onto the table and did a final King Kong drum-roll on my chest!<br />
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I then said goodbye, and chased them to the front door!!!<br />
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Oh, how I will miss for being loved for being an idiot!<br />
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Post by ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4621309569823475230.post-30202342996095747122011-01-17T22:03:00.000+09:002012-09-16T23:16:47.867+09:00Frustration, ice and clothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh my...I think I might just SCREEEAAAAM!<br />
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Washing machines are not my favourite thing in the world and that cannot be more true for how I feel about our washing machine in Korea.<br />
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On its best day it half-washes things and takes forever but in winter it is worse, MUCH WORSE.<br />
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This is partially because I have never lived in a country that drops below -3 degrees Celcius let alone -20 degrees Celcius. <br />
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You see, our washing machine is in an outdoor room (covered) of our apartment which means that the pipes freeze which leaves us high and dry with no clothes to put on.<br />
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About two weeks ago our machine would not drain water. It just sat there full of water and clothing. My director came over and showed me that our water-outlet pipe was frozen. He went about defrosting it and I watched closely incase it happened again. <br />
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Little did I know I would be going through the whole process every time before being able to do our laundry on. <br />
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Here is the process:<br />
Take off the end pipe, run hot water through it until the pipe eases up and the ice comes loose, then attach the pipe and pray like hell that it works.<br />
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But yesterday there was another twist in the tale. The pipe that lets water into the machine froze and at a slight tug it snapped. URG! <br />
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So it was off to the shops to by another pipe. Then I got to work defrosting and attaching and praying. AND....it didn't work!!!<br />
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Cry cry...frustration....deep breath....forcefully pull out some hair. <br />
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So Lauren gave me her heater and I let it radiate against the inner pipe (attached to the machine) that had now frozen. <br />
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I have just put the machine on again....cross fingers that it works this time or else I am going naked to work tomorrow which is going to make the freezing weather that much more real :)<br />
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Post by ClaudiaClaudia and Oliverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440102543375185266noreply@blogger.com4