Sunday, March 31, 2013
Regarding the "War"...
Looking around here in South Korea, the locals are acting like nothing is happening. The news here barely reports anything. We are keeping a close watch on any news we have access to via the internet, but there is no state of panic thus far. We do not feel unsafe or in danger, but will keep our ears and eyes open. Should we feel like things are not so good, we will split faster than you can say banana. ;)
Catching up
Wow, we haven't updated for a really long time! Months have come and gone. We have since moved to another town in South Korea, Gianni has had another birthday, and Christmas passed us by.
Last August, we moved from the island of Jindo, to a town close to Gwangju called Hwasun. It is slightly more convenient and the apartment is larger and much nicer. Of course, we miss our South African neighbors in Jindo, but the foreigners that we have met in Hwasun are really lovely.
The building that we live in is part of a large cluster. All the buildings look the same-- I like to call them the "Korean Projects". Totally cookie cutter, but safe and comfortable.
Our SA neighbors in Jindo were great and living in this building made us appreciate them even more.
At least once every couple of weeks, we get a visit from a Jehova's Witness. They can't speak English, but that doesn't stop them. No matter how many times you tell them that you can't understand Korean, they continue to ramble like you will catch on miraculously. The last one stuck her foot inside the door and every time I tried to pull it closed, she forced it open wider. I had to walk away and get Brian to deal with her because I was afraid I was about to be carted away to a Korean prison for assault. DO NOT MESS WITH ME LITTLE KOREAN LADIES. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW. And loud kids screaming in the hall like there is a fire...if you wake up my napping child, I will surely throw a shoe at you.
From what I can tell (sorry, stereotype coming) Koreans are packrats. They have piles of nonsense in their apartments and stacked out on their breezeway/porch/laundry room/veranda. Some people even have the audacity to stack it out in the end of the hallway! "I claim the end of this hallway for my own personal catch-all!" There are boxes and office chairs and just piles and piles of STUFF.
The old lady at the end of the hall does it, but even worse....she dries food in the hall. She puts down plastic and lays out the most foul-smelling stuff to dry and expects you not to step on it.
Believe me when I say that it smells like dirty feet. It isn't only contained to the hallways, however. This is a photo of people drying something in the parking lot---where people PARK and DRIVE. If I were driving my car through here.....well, you can imagine the result.
There is a playground nearby, and a Baskin Robbins. That is all that is necessary for our little munchkin to smile. Even if the hallway does smell like dirty feet sometimes. :)
Last August, we moved from the island of Jindo, to a town close to Gwangju called Hwasun. It is slightly more convenient and the apartment is larger and much nicer. Of course, we miss our South African neighbors in Jindo, but the foreigners that we have met in Hwasun are really lovely.
The building that we live in is part of a large cluster. All the buildings look the same-- I like to call them the "Korean Projects". Totally cookie cutter, but safe and comfortable.
Our SA neighbors in Jindo were great and living in this building made us appreciate them even more.
At least once every couple of weeks, we get a visit from a Jehova's Witness. They can't speak English, but that doesn't stop them. No matter how many times you tell them that you can't understand Korean, they continue to ramble like you will catch on miraculously. The last one stuck her foot inside the door and every time I tried to pull it closed, she forced it open wider. I had to walk away and get Brian to deal with her because I was afraid I was about to be carted away to a Korean prison for assault. DO NOT MESS WITH ME LITTLE KOREAN LADIES. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW. And loud kids screaming in the hall like there is a fire...if you wake up my napping child, I will surely throw a shoe at you.
From what I can tell (sorry, stereotype coming) Koreans are packrats. They have piles of nonsense in their apartments and stacked out on their breezeway/porch/laundry room/veranda. Some people even have the audacity to stack it out in the end of the hallway! "I claim the end of this hallway for my own personal catch-all!" There are boxes and office chairs and just piles and piles of STUFF.
The old lady at the end of the hall does it, but even worse....she dries food in the hall. She puts down plastic and lays out the most foul-smelling stuff to dry and expects you not to step on it.
Believe me when I say that it smells like dirty feet. It isn't only contained to the hallways, however. This is a photo of people drying something in the parking lot---where people PARK and DRIVE. If I were driving my car through here.....well, you can imagine the result.
There is a playground nearby, and a Baskin Robbins. That is all that is necessary for our little munchkin to smile. Even if the hallway does smell like dirty feet sometimes. :)
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Welcome, Spring!
The long-awaited warm weather is finally beginning to arrive. I am hoping that it stays for good.
The weekend before last was a big event here in Jindo. There is a natural sea-parting phenomenon that happens every year. We did not attend because it was still a bit chilly, but the photos of our fellow expats are fantastic.
We did decide to go to the concert that was put on, which happened on Monday evening. There was traditional music and then they had several K-Pop acts. We did not get to stay long, though. It was very loud and I think the singing scared Gianni. If you have never heard traditional Korean music, you should look some up. I would compare it to a banshee. I totally understand why Gianni had a screaming meltdown and then was an angel as soon as we left.
She did enjoy the first song, even though it was just as loud. It was a boy band dancing to a Lady Gaga song. Hmmm.
They also had a couple of amusement rides. I don't know if you can see it in the photo, but there are NO seat belts! what?! Those kids were holding hands so that they wouldn't pop out and every once is a while, a kid would topple onto the floor and the other kids would help pull him back into a seat. Madness!
Yesterday, we were able to get out to a local park, which Gianni loved. She played with a little Korean girl and they were talking to each other, even though I doubt the girl understood Gianni's gibberish and as far as I know, Gianni can't speak Korean. I could be mistaken.
The weekend before last was a big event here in Jindo. There is a natural sea-parting phenomenon that happens every year. We did not attend because it was still a bit chilly, but the photos of our fellow expats are fantastic.
We did decide to go to the concert that was put on, which happened on Monday evening. There was traditional music and then they had several K-Pop acts. We did not get to stay long, though. It was very loud and I think the singing scared Gianni. If you have never heard traditional Korean music, you should look some up. I would compare it to a banshee. I totally understand why Gianni had a screaming meltdown and then was an angel as soon as we left.
She did enjoy the first song, even though it was just as loud. It was a boy band dancing to a Lady Gaga song. Hmmm.
They also had a couple of amusement rides. I don't know if you can see it in the photo, but there are NO seat belts! what?! Those kids were holding hands so that they wouldn't pop out and every once is a while, a kid would topple onto the floor and the other kids would help pull him back into a seat. Madness!
Yesterday, we were able to get out to a local park, which Gianni loved. She played with a little Korean girl and they were talking to each other, even though I doubt the girl understood Gianni's gibberish and as far as I know, Gianni can't speak Korean. I could be mistaken.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Jindo, South Korea
In August, we moved to an island in South Korea. While this may sound glamourous and leisurely, it is challenging.
It is a rural community surrounded by mountains, with small businesses and shops everywhere, along with farms and small refineries.
Jindo is famous for the breed of dog that is native to the island, also called Jindo. There is a history of the breed which the Koreans are apparently proud of, and they do not like to export them.
Unfortunately, they aren't as kind as we would expect to these animals. There are a lot of strays and I have seen dogs locked inside dog houses with no food, water or means to relieve themselves for days at a time.
A few views of the town:
It is a rural community surrounded by mountains, with small businesses and shops everywhere, along with farms and small refineries.
Jindo is famous for the breed of dog that is native to the island, also called Jindo. There is a history of the breed which the Koreans are apparently proud of, and they do not like to export them.
Unfortunately, they aren't as kind as we would expect to these animals. There are a lot of strays and I have seen dogs locked inside dog houses with no food, water or means to relieve themselves for days at a time.
A few views of the town:
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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