South Korea 2017

Waiting for the plane...이제 작별 인사!!

One last night of bowling and fun with my ESL students and co-workers! I am so proud to have been their teacher. Whenever I think of the kindness my new friends showed me over the past two months, I want to cry from happiness! I just want to thank them so much for making this abroad experience amazing, and for showing me that I love teaching! It would not have been the same trip without them :)

Had a wonderful last week in South Korea! We ended our unforgettable internship with a party for all of the students and ourselves at the global office. The food was absolutely amazing! Everyone was dancing and having a great time. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this experience.  I will never forget my time at Dankook University (especially the steps!). 

Korea taught me that coffee and hotdogs are the perfect couple. #shook #woke

 Hiked the Dongdaemun Plaza to Namsan Gate today! I found a tucked away garden with many inspiring sculptures, as well as a wonderful view of Seoul!

Selby House exhibit l Daelim Museum, Seoul

We rode the majestic Pegasus this week, and we also visited the Trick Eye Museum in Hongdae! I absolutely love this area of Seoul. Every night there’s live music, people walking excitedly up and down the streets, and really fun little shops and museums to check out. Hongdae is super fun, there’s no trick to it :)

It’s been a couple weeks into the AP portion of the program, and the cultural activities DKU offers have begun. Last weekend we took part in an overnight temple stay at Woljeongsa Temple. We learned Buddhist prostrations, did a 108 prayer bead meditation, and walked around the beautiful grounds of the temple. During the activities I felt like suuuch a shameful tourist, but simply being at the temple was a truly peaceful experience. It made me want to renounce my worldly ways and spend my life meditating…until I realized I want to eat Chipotle again someday (@__@) Anyway, above are some pictures from my stay. It’s mostly pics from the temple grounds and the surrounding hiking trails.  -CAUTION, SUPER CORNY REFLECTION AHEAD- On another note, it hasn’t really hit me that I’m going home next Friday…in some ways I am ready for this trip to end, and in other ways I’m not. All I know is this will not be my last visit to Korea. I’m under no delusion that this country, just like any other, isn’t without flaws– but coming here has had such a huge impact on me. I’ve truly had the time of my life, and I could see myself being happy here. The details of this trip may get fuzzy in time- the things I’ve heard, smelled, tasted. However, the moments I have experienced, the people who have become my family…all are memories I can’t imagine my life without. Whatever happens once I get on that plane, I’m not afraid. I feel that I have a newfound strength and hope for the future no matter what the next adventure is, and I have this abroad trip to thank for that peace of mind. SOUTH KOREA 2017 and 5EVER!!!!!!!!!! -landersun

Recently downloaded the popular Korean photo-editing app,“Snow”. #soscared

Our dinner at #jagalchimarket! Very fresh (and delicious) eel :)

Busan

Weekend in Busan-- Over this past weekend our amazing students took my two co-teachers and myself to the famous port city known as Busan. Busan is the second-largest city in South Korea, next to Seoul of course. The first thing you notice about Busan: Every inch of this city is scenic! Whether its driving through the stacked streets of colorful houses, seeing the misty blue ocean out of a car window as you climb the winding roads to peak elevations, or hanging out on the advertisement-perfect beaches. No matter what it is absolutely stunning! Our students’ kindness and thoughtfulness to bring us on their weekend trip made me want to cry (so sweet!) Plus, we saw so much of the city because of them! I don’t think I would’ve learned quite as much (or eaten quite as much) without my students help! :) I’m going to split up the pictures in the next couple posts. The first set are pictures from Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, and the Night Market/Jagalchi Fish Market area. Haeundae is the most popular beach in Busan, and it’s a good place to find cool and creepy sea creatures and shells. Gamcheon is a revitalized neighborhood in Busan. It was the home to many North Korean war refugees, looking for relief from the war. Now, it is a center for local artists and tourism, which has stimulated the economy in the otherwise poor area The doll pictures are from the “Grand Budapest (Doll) Hotel”, which is a cool mountainside museum of old dolls from the 1800s-present. It’s a Korea thing, just go with it. The Night Market in Busan is a really awesome place to try street food! You can try pork belly on a stick, icecream and waffle crepes, and all kinds of seafood from around the area. The second set of pictures are from exploring the metropolitan area of Busan, and also visiting the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in the south-eastern part of the city. If you can manage the trek you can see fantastic sculptures of the Buddha at the higher points of the mountain. The view of the ocean is pretty damn amazing too :) ALSO: That puppy wanted to come home with me so bad! ALSO, ALSO: Photo credit for some of the pics at the beach goes to my amazing photographer students, Ji-Ha and Soo-yung! I couldn’t have gotten a pic of the Statue of Liberty doing a backwards headstand with a shell on her stomach without y’all :) Lastly, I really got a relaxed vibe from the locals, and the seafood was amazing! I could definitely see myself working (and eating) in Busan in the future :)

His puny 100gs were no match for my 405g catch! >:)))

Our beginner students workin’ hard!