Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Suncheon Bay *Updated! 6/27/2013

When you go to Suncheon bay, there really isn't water, it is more like a mud with a super thin layer of water over it.

They have some crazy "fish" that lives here.  I say "fish" because it lives on land and water.  It walks by pulling itself with its two front fins, it can jump and swim--really strange!!

Anyway, our friend Keoung Jean and her mom (who we call Keoung Jeans mom, because that is what she wants us to call her) took us to the bay. 

They have a path way through all the reeds so you can get up close to it.



Keyoung Jean and her umbrella---it rained on and off while we where there.
I am loving the rain!


Pepper didn't like sharing!  It was funny cause when Keyoung Jean finished her juice she just stuck her straw in Peppers and kept drinking away---Pepper is making a grumpy face, but really she wasn't that mad, she was teasing Keyoung Jean --


It is so pretty!  I can't wait to see this place in the fall!

There is a tourist area where it shows parts of a life of a famous Korean Author--never heard of him or his books, but these next few pictures are from that---they show what a traditional Korean village may have looked like.

Kimchee Pots--It can take a month or more to make Kimchee--so they use these pots to make it in.  YUM!

Keyoung Jean and her drink!

The Traditional doors are really cool!

The windows openthis way to keep the rain out I guess--Wheeler is thinking deep thoughts, mostly about how he can tick us off by being a brat more...If I were to guess.

Tradtional house

a little garden area, Statues with the earth and kids in a garden



These4 little rest areas are everywhere in places like Suncheon Bay and Suncheon garden--in the mountians, around the farm land---perfect for a little place to relax while it rains!

On a little tour bus, so it is kind of blurry--the river.


 This is the best picture I have of Keyoung Jeans mom right now---Not sure what Pepper is doing--

Opps there is the bell--write more later.
everything is so green right now--if there is a little patch of dirt something will be growing out of it.  Nothing really looks like weeds either--everything is very smooth or soft looking--no prickly plants.

Very popular dessert over here---Rice with ice, fruit and this red bean that every thinks tastes so sweet-
I think it taste like a bean.  This I think had a little ice cream also---they stir it all together and we all share.

Mom you would hate the way they eat over here---One big bowl that every one eats out of.  I think it is rude to put your teeth, or tounge on your chopsticks, but you use your lips to pull the food off and then dip it right back in again! 

The tide was not in so there were no boat rides up the river, but this is the river that goes from our area of town all the way to the ocean.

More of the pathway in the reeds.  Without the pathway, you would sink in mud and not see anything since the reeds are at least 6 feet tall!

The grey is wet (with rain) concret and the plants and trees wehre so pretty, my camera just doesn't do it justice.

Sedona isn't in many pictures, but here she is!  Her umbrella has broken already --good thing kids umbrellas are cheap!

Pepper and her new shoes--both girls got new shoes when we arrived.  We walk so much they needed better shoes and Peppers feet have grown so much!

Bright shoes are very popular here---1/2 way through the path are air compressors.  I guess when it is dry it is very dusty so people use these to clean off.  Why not have it at the end I don't know--I guess 1/2 way seemed like a great place to put it!

The reeds meeting up with the trees. That is Lucas under that umbrella

Yes ladies and gentlemen, that is Lucas is shorts--He only owned his swimsuit, (which is what he is wearing here) so we finally bought him 3 pairs of shorts!  His poor legs have already burn--
His legs have never seen the sun, so now they are turning white instead of neon white.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

slacking in the blog department!


I am well aware that many (all 7) of you are wanting more updates, but I am running into problems at home still!

Our apartment had the phone line cut at least a year ago and it will take a guy coming out and figuring out how to set it up again.  He came in, plugged in a phone (we bought) and said, "the phone line is not working, I will be back." and we haven't see him since.

So I am not sure when or what we will do. 

We can't just go to the apartment office and ask for help because the apartment isn't in our name, so we have to wait for someone at the school to do it.  So far I am not sure, but nothing has happened.

PLUS we found out we were givin the wrong address.  We live at 107-1410 not 107-1407!  So we have received some of moms mail, but not all of it.  I am pretty sure we are the only Americians so I don't think it would be too hard to figure out, but you never know.

People are still being great to us.  Everyone is helpful and nice.

I will try to finish up the picture postings, but that is another SHORT update!

It feels like we have been here for so long, because we do so much!

Can't wait to down load more pictures when I bring the CORRECT cord to plug in...plus we got our phones so we have been spending time with those---still can't figure out how to post to Facebook from my phone!! grrr.  I will work on that!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Hour of testing

So until July 5th I am the "testing" teacher, which means I have 50 minutes of testing students, but the thing is, I rarely have students to test, so it becomes 40 minutes of internet time!

I should really bring my camera since I have this time to just use as I need---I guess I could prepare for tomorrows classes?!

Anyway--

Just a quick update on life.  I have written so many emails and facebook posts I am sorry if I repeat a lot!

We have found the church and let me tell you how we stood out the first sunday!  We walk in 20 minutes late, cause we can't figure out how to get to the church from the bus stop, and the meeting took a little pause while we sat down--but what a blessing to look up and see two white people sitting on "the stand".  The mission president and his wife came to say their good byes--so my first talk (listening) at church was in English!  That was a suprise!

Sister and President Furniss are leaving tomorrow, and the new President are coming in.  I sat and talked with Sister Furniss for the Sunday School and Relief Soceity time.  She doesn't speak or understand any Korean.  She reads church books during that time.

Anyway--the second Sunday we are still late because we got off at what we thought was the right stop, but it still wasn't correct.  We asked a lady where the church was and she walked away from us. Lucas yelled "I'm speaking Korean!" and she still walked away---first time someone hasn't been helpful.  The next two ladies we asked--walked us to the church--that is more of the Korean way!

I learned about "Chia" yesterday--it is a mindset that says we are all together, we are connected.  I help you because it is the right thing thing to do and one day someone will help me.  It seems like everyday the school brings in food and for about 10 minutes the teachers (13 of us) stand and eat the snack and talk.  It is a feeling of collectiveness. 

There are about 5 Korea teachers here that speak English very well.  I like to small talk with them.  the other ladies don't talk to me at all.


Other news

we went to Suncheon Garden Expo---which is a big deal here in Suncheon--it is a large "garden".  It has fun things, like face painting and plant planting, and fun places to take pictures.  It also has world gardens--America, France, South America, Italy, and many more places.  It was super hot on Saturday when we went and we weren't really on planning on going---Oops the bell rang---write more tomorrow!

Friday, June 7, 2013

More pictures! *ANOTHER Update 8/25?



I am always running out of time, but I at least wanted to post the pictures.  Until I write the descriptions you will have to make the up yourself. 


Here you go!



This is in the park a few blocks from our apartment---just another lovely day!

This is about 4 minutes hike from our apartment--we live right next to the mountain.
These are burial mounds.


Right behind our apartment

We can almost see these stairs from our apartment door--if the trees weren't so thick!

Another buriel ground!  They are really pretty.

Hiking and the view of the city
The big lake in the middle is the south end of Lake Park---

It is not smog, it is fog.  We are right in a cloud a lot of the time.  You can almost make out the mountains on the other side!



Lake Park--the lake looks brown because of the rain churning up the dirt at the bottom of the lake.
Almost right in the middle of the picture is a small white-ish item that looks like it is in the water.  That is a stage that sits on the lake--We have gone over a few times to watch different performances.

Most of those tall buildings are apartments--seriously there are a ton here!

The city looking at it from a different view

We knew the church was right across the mountain so we thought we would walk it and try to find it.  2 hours later we stop at a rest area and meet these 5 men and one of their teenage sons.

They nvited us to eat with them -- the ramen they were making was really spicy so they gave the kids most of their meat and we (adults) had ramen.  They were very nice and friendly.
The funnest one is not in the picture.  He kept teasing Sedona that she was eatting to much and giving Pepper more food since Pepper couldn't eat as fast with chopsticks.  The others seemed to tease that guy too.
As he was making ramen one guy kept putting more water in and the funny guy would yell at him (in a good-hearted manner) and the other guy would keep sneaking water into the pot. 


I took this picture from the little hut we stopped and ate at.

While the guys were helping find our way out--we come across an electronic sign in the middle of the mountain path--so strange!

That Blue truck is parked in front of the church--It is really hard to find!

These guys are the logos for The big Garden expo taking place--oops that is the bell--gotta go!

A lot of these were directions to the church so we wouldn't get lost---we still did!


This is the sister in our branch that got married the week after we met her and moved away.  She was very helpful!  Wish her eyes were open :(


I am replacing Erin---her last day was also her birthday!!
Some of the teachers at my school--
woman infront with white shirt is my boss--Ann!



Erins cake--the cake here is crazy!  We have sweet potatoe cake--it takes just like a sweet potatoe
This was white cake I think---every pretty--this little cake was about 22 dollars!



$40 worth of stuff!  Diapers were $28


Trying to find some dirt to walk on, we just started walking towards the farm/mountain area--these are pictures from that walk/hike



Wheeler has turned into such a monster.  He will stop and not move if he doesn't want to.  Middle of the street, on a mountain hike,  he doesn't care....he just gives up!

Lucas said he rememebers the area being more like the above picture and NOT like the below picture

The orange stripped apartments are were we live.

this hike reminded us of Colorado a little more.  It was beautiful!

This tree just didn't belong, but it was so pretty!

A garden shot--this was during our walk through the farms--we just started walking towards farm land to see if we could find a trail-

I have this picture at the bottom too---they have these workout stops along every road!  Walking along you are going to run into at least 5 of these--seriously!



Sedona could not figure out how to hold up a shirt so her face is her being 1. confused 2. Angery  3.  sad

BUT I took the picture because of the english on the shirt!  I love it!  English is everywhere over here on clothing--but we can't find Korean on any clothing (except the tags)--this one has been the more confusing one so far!

The sign on the wall says "no peeing" with a man peeing--plus you can see lucas's reflection in the mirror.
this is the only sign I have seen like that so far.

They wrap the new tires here in aluminum foil!  Why?  I have no idea--to make them stand out?
seriously I don't know.  Very strange stuff!



Some of Wheelers fans



Wheeler is so unique over here that people stop what they are doing and follow him.  I am not joking!  He had marriage offers at one place--"I will wait for you"  a girl in her 20's told him!

There are workout places all over --- Lucas is working out with the girls