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Ok...a quick update on last Wednesday's first volleyball game. WE WON! And then we all went out to eat to celebrate and then we went to a Karaoke bar. I decided to sing Michael Jackson, Beat It. They especially enjoyed my imitation of the moon walk. Very entertaining evening!Now back to Seoul. We caught the 7:12pm train on Thursday night since we had no school on Friday or Monday. It took about four hours to get there and we only had to make one train transfer which we almost missed, but that's a minor detail.
Adventure #1: We arrived in Seoul about 12:20am and really had no idea what we were supposed to do. Honestly, the whole trip was really last minute because we couldn't find tickets so we were a bit disorganized. (For those of you who know me well...that is definitely not my style, so I was a little stressed.) We walked outside and the only information we had was what we thought was the hostel address. Andrew forgot to print off the paper with the directions and phone number, this was mistake number one. So we walked out to where the taxi's were and hoped someone know where the 'Guys and Dolls Hostel' was located. It wasn't a brothel I swear although it does kind of sound like one. No one really spoke English, so this man came to help because we obviously looked lost. We showed him the paper and he called a few more people over to help. He finally looked at us like he knew where we were going and put us in a taxi.
A $10 taxi ride later we were in front of a university. I thought we might have been in the right place because I thought the web site said it was located close to the university. I asked a guy who looked about my age if he spoke English, which he replied yes, and I showed him the address. He confidently pointed to the left and told us 5 min down the street. I looked at Andrew like, "Great! We are on our way!" Ten minutes later we still hadn't seen it and I didn't feel like we were going too. So I walked into the police department to ask them. ( I wasn't sure if that was allowed but Andrew said they are there to 'protect and serve' so I went a long with it.) I showed them the paper and he tried to find it on a map, which he couldn't, and I began to worry. He started to make some phone calls and after ten minutes, we were still sitting in the waiting area. I began to feel bad that this was taking so much time. I was also a little nervous because if the police couldn't find it then it must not be legit. However, after several phone calls he showed us on the map where we needed to go and let Andrew talk to the host on the phone. When Andrew talked to him, he asked if he knew we were at the police station. Did he really think we were that stupid? Anyways, we completely backtracked to where we came from and the host met us at the university. Needless to say, if he didn't meet us, we never would have found it. It was tucked in an ally way and there wasn't even a sign! The host was nice and the place was clean, it ended up working out alright.
Adventure #2: We woke up early because we had to switch hostels and after getting lost the night before, we didn't want to waste our whole first day wondering around. Check in at Hostel Korea wasn't until 1:00pm so we were hoping we could just drop our stuff off and begin our exploration. Andrew did end up navigating the subway system well and we made it there in no time. It seemed legit and nice so we dropped our stuff off and went about our day. The eight year old Lonely Planet book that we found in our apartment is what we used to navigate, so we were never really sure if the places we were going were still there.
The first place we went was called Insadong and the Namdaemun Market for some l
ocal shopping. We got off the subway and the first thing we saw was a Pizza Hut...then a Smoothie King...then a Subway! I knew it was going to be a great day. The shopping was your typical tourist shopping and I was a little disappointed. But a fun experience anyway. On our way back from shopping, we were walking to Subway so I could have my first turkey sandwich in more than a month which it record, and we heard two girls screaming in front of us. As we kept walking we noticed a bum passed out drunk on the sidewalk with his pants down and everything exposed. I just kinda shrugged and said T.I.K. A term foreigners use when something strange happens. It stands for 'This Is Korea."
ocal shopping. We got off the subway and the first thing we saw was a Pizza Hut...then a Smoothie King...then a Subway! I knew it was going to be a great day. The shopping was your typical tourist shopping and I was a little disappointed. But a fun experience anyway. On our way back from shopping, we were walking to Subway so I could have my first turkey sandwich in more than a month which it record, and we heard two girls screaming in front of us. As we kept walking we noticed a bum passed out drunk on the sidewalk with his pants down and everything exposed. I just kinda shrugged and said T.I.K. A term foreigners use when something strange happens. It stands for 'This Is Korea."Adventure #3: After a delicious lunch, we just decided to cross the street to see what else was around us when a man came over and asked us where we were from. We told him the 
USA and he said that he had lived in Houston for the past 16 years but he is from Korea. We began talking when he asked us if we had seen the palace yet. We said no but we wanted to and asked him how to get there. He looked at his watch and said, "Do you have time now?" We had nothing but time so we started walking with him. He told us how he grew up in a house near the palace and use to sneak on the grounds at night with his friends when he was younger. His name was Kim and he was about 64 years old. We thought he was just going to point us in the direction of the palace but he took us there himself. He informed us that he was in town for a few weeks getting dental work done by a friend from college. We just figured he was bored and wanted some company which we didn't mind at all. I
t was great actually! We walked up to the palace, which was from the Yi dynasty but it was actually destroyed by Japanese just a little over a half century ago. The Koreans have since rebuilt is using the same technology that is was originally built with more than 600 years ago. While outside, we got to watch the ceremonial changing of the gurards which was pretty neat.
USA and he said that he had lived in Houston for the past 16 years but he is from Korea. We began talking when he asked us if we had seen the palace yet. We said no but we wanted to and asked him how to get there. He looked at his watch and said, "Do you have time now?" We had nothing but time so we started walking with him. He told us how he grew up in a house near the palace and use to sneak on the grounds at night with his friends when he was younger. His name was Kim and he was about 64 years old. We thought he was just going to point us in the direction of the palace but he took us there himself. He informed us that he was in town for a few weeks getting dental work done by a friend from college. We just figured he was bored and wanted some company which we didn't mind at all. I
t was great actually! We walked up to the palace, which was from the Yi dynasty but it was actually destroyed by Japanese just a little over a half century ago. The Koreans have since rebuilt is using the same technology that is was originally built with more than 600 years ago. While outside, we got to watch the ceremonial changing of the gurards which was pretty neat. He told us the entrance fee should be waved since it was a holiday which made the day even better. Well the fee wasn't free and Kim thought that was just ridiculous so he told us he knew someone that worked there and led us around back. I looked at Andrew like what is he doing, we might be going to jail for real and not just asking for directions! Once we got in, without paying, he told us that he told the guard we lost our American friend inside and needed to go find him. When the guard asked for our ticket stubs Kim said our friend had them. I still feel bad about not paying but we didn't know what he was doing, but the ticket price was on
ly 3,000 won which is less than $3. Kim was pretty proud that we saved 9,000 won.
ly 3,000 won which is less than $3. Kim was pretty proud that we saved 9,000 won.Anyways, we walked around the palace grounds for about two hours while he told us everything. It was awesome and so much more enjoyable and educational than if we were to have walked around by ourselves. The knowledge that he knew was incredible and I wish I could have wrote it all down so that I could have remembered it all.
After our long walk, we were crossing the street to leave when he asked two girls at the cross walk where a good coffee place was around the area. They told him and then he invited them to come along. So our three man party turned into five and we all went to have coffee, on Kim. It was great. He told us stories about when he was growing up and more Korean history. He left us with something to think about and I just love it. He said that "The world is an ugly place and it's up to you to make each day beautiful." Andrew and I both felt very lucky to have met Kim and so grateful for the wisdom that he shared. Talk about being at the right place at the right time.
After our long walk, we were crossing the street to leave when he asked two girls at the cross walk where a good coffee place was around the area. They told him and then he invited them to come along. So our three man party turned into five and we all went to have coffee, on Kim. It was great. He told us stories about when he was growing up and more Korean history. He left us with something to think about and I just love it. He said that "The world is an ugly place and it's up to you to make each day beautiful." Andrew and I both felt very lucky to have met Kim and so grateful for the wisdom that he shared. Talk about being at the right place at the right time.Adventure #4: After our exciting day at the palace, we were going to meet Kyle, Andr
ea, and their friend Phil from the Peace Corps for a show called Nanta. I knew nothing about it other than the fact that it was expensive and there was no talking; that way all nationalities could enjoy it. Well...it was AMAZING and I wish I could have been allowed to take pictures. It was this show that was about four cooks who transformed knives and cooking utensils into musical instruments. They used only items that could be found in a kitchen to make their music. It was combined with actual cooking, dancing, and comedy. It was hilarious and Andrea was called up on stage where she married another random audience member...she was a good sport for an awkward situation. All in all, if you ever hear about NANTA, definitely check it out!
ea, and their friend Phil from the Peace Corps for a show called Nanta. I knew nothing about it other than the fact that it was expensive and there was no talking; that way all nationalities could enjoy it. Well...it was AMAZING and I wish I could have been allowed to take pictures. It was this show that was about four cooks who transformed knives and cooking utensils into musical instruments. They used only items that could be found in a kitchen to make their music. It was combined with actual cooking, dancing, and comedy. It was hilarious and Andrea was called up on stage where she married another random audience member...she was a good sport for an awkward situation. All in all, if you ever hear about NANTA, definitely check it out!
After the show, we went out for a night on the town. It was fun and my favorite part was 
probably the alcohol in a bag that you could buy from a street vendor...it was just a funny idea and it made me think of you Montgomery :)We left around 1:30am to return to our hostels. Out of all the hostels in Korea, Kyle and Andrea were staying just around the corner from us in Sinsol-dong and we didn't even plan it....just crazy!
Adventure #5: Saturday, Andrew and I decided that we were going to back to the area where the Palace was to explore the areas that we didn't have the chance to. We ended up getting off at the wrong stop but ate lunch there anyways and decided to go to the Seoul Tower which is supposed to be one of the tallest buildings in the world because it it built on a mountain. We also decided to go to The War Memorial of Korea as well.
Go figure...Andrew and I got lost looking for the freakin' tower. We walked for a bout and h
our in the total wrong direction (even though Andrew claimed he knew exactly where we were). We ended up walking through a really cool shopping center and I saw the coolest looking building but I was exhausted and we hadn't even seen the tower yet. You would think we could have just looked up to see it and followed the road there, but all the buildings were so tall and we couldn't see past them. I ended up asking someone and we walked to the tower only to find the longest line ever for the cable car that takes you to the top. So I snapped a photo and decided that next time we are in Seoul we will go up in it now that we know how to get there...thanks to me :)
our in the total wrong direction (even though Andrew claimed he knew exactly where we were). We ended up walking through a really cool shopping center and I saw the coolest looking building but I was exhausted and we hadn't even seen the tower yet. You would think we could have just looked up to see it and followed the road there, but all the buildings were so tall and we couldn't see past them. I ended up asking someone and we walked to the tower only to find the longest line ever for the cable car that takes you to the top. So I snapped a photo and decided that next time we are in Seoul we will go up in it now that we know how to get there...thanks to me :)After we were exhaust
ed and defeated from not being able to see the tower, we decided to go to the war museum. We were both so glad we didn't just return to the hostel. The museum was awesome and HUGE! It had monuments and life size tanks and dozens of life size planes (dad you would have loved it) and missiles. Then inside was the actual museum. My favorite thing would have had to be the the"Statue of Brothers." It is a symbolic statue of the Korean War and depicts the real scene of two brothers' dramatic encounter during the Korean War. The elder brother being a South K
orean army officer embraces the younger who was a North Korean army soldier. It was so sad and touching, I just loved it. Although the reason the monuments were built were in recognition of the people that had sacrificed their lives, the mood of everyone seemed to be very upbeat. I felt very proud to be an American while I was there and proud of what the American soldiers did to try to protect democracy and national peace. I now feel 
like I understand the war so much better; after listening to Kim and visiting the memorial. It is interesting to note that everything was translated into English except when it talked about places where the Koreans had been defeated, that was only written in Korean.
ed and defeated from not being able to see the tower, we decided to go to the war museum. We were both so glad we didn't just return to the hostel. The museum was awesome and HUGE! It had monuments and life size tanks and dozens of life size planes (dad you would have loved it) and missiles. Then inside was the actual museum. My favorite thing would have had to be the the"Statue of Brothers." It is a symbolic statue of the Korean War and depicts the real scene of two brothers' dramatic encounter during the Korean War. The elder brother being a South K
orean army officer embraces the younger who was a North Korean army soldier. It was so sad and touching, I just loved it. Although the reason the monuments were built were in recognition of the people that had sacrificed their lives, the mood of everyone seemed to be very upbeat. I felt very proud to be an American while I was there and proud of what the American soldiers did to try to protect democracy and national peace. I now feel 
like I understand the war so much better; after listening to Kim and visiting the memorial. It is interesting to note that everything was translated into English except when it talked about places where the Koreans had been defeated, that was only written in Korean.Later that night, we met Kyle, Andrea, and Phil for dinner before parting our separate ways in the morning. It was a great weekend and we are so glad we were able to get tickets at the last minute. Seoul is a definite must see for anyone traveling to Asia and I hope we can make it back soon!!
I want to leave you with this again, and this is something I will try to do each and every day, "The world is an ugly place and it is up to you to make each day beautiful!"
Great blog! My name is Lauren and I was referred to your blog by my mother who is a co-worker of your mother. I am going to begin contract negotiations in April for a teaching position in Korea that will begin in June. I am really excited and have been on a quest to gather as much information as possible.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your future blogs about your experience in Korea!