Justin arrived

After a grueling flight, Justin has arrived in Gwangju. His arrival was on Sunday evening. Then in typical Korean style, Monday was his first day at the school. He didn't actually have to teach. He simply shadowed the other two foreign teachers who he was replacing. As it was an exam week, he had little to observe. Tuesday was the first full day of teaching and lets just say it was "uncomfortable." haha Some quick thinking and a typed out survival guide did the trick. Justin is now relatively settled in his apartment and had begun his first full day of teaching without having the expected few freak out moments all foreigners experience the first few classes.

King's Feast

This is our friends, Peter and Leah, last full week at school. So Mr. Han decided to take all the teachers out to lunch. We went out just a little from Sang Mu to a traditional restaurant. It was really nice with a great atmosphere. I think everyone had a really good time. I have yet to muster the courage to tell our boss that I don't like seafood. As a result, he piled the fish on my plate. Along with the slow cooked fish was sting ray, crab, seaweed based soup, and a few other dishes.

I don't want to offend so I swallow it down always quickly followed by a swig of tea or water. This has nothing to do with Korean cuisine. I know many foreigners who enjoy seafood so they love it. I just don't enjoy seafood in any country. haha Regardless, I can usually find something nice to fill up on. Today my dish of salvation was a cool mash potato like dish that had nuts in it. It was pretty good and rice and ddeok-galbi (which is a mixture of pork and beef galbi) as well. Another thing I really liked was a tomato based salad. It was delicious. Over all it was a fun lunch a nice farewell to Peter and Leah.

Korea Red Devils

One thing I have come to really love about Korea is how they are so supportive of all things Korea. Whether it be the validity of Kimchi being eaten at every meal to national sporting events, Koreans show their complete and total support. Last night Jack decided to see just how serious they were.

At 3:00 am our time Korea faced off with Nigeria. Although, it wasn't an outright win, Korea was able to win the advancing nod from world cup officials. They advance to the next level of play. Throughout the country people came out in droves to watch the game. No crowd was greater in Gwangju, than that of Guus Hiddink field. Gwangju's world cup stadium was filled with 20,000 people last night all just to watch the game on the huge monitor. Vendors lined the streets surrounding the field. Fans donned their red flashing horns and body paint and the game began. It started at a sleepy 3:30, but by dawn everyone was wide awake again with the news of advancement. I threw Jack's pictures and video clips together into a quick youtube video for you to see. Also I took a few pictures from Seoul to add some flare at the end. :) Enjoy.

Yuseong Spa

I did it! I have officially taken part in a public bath.

I didn't think that I would ever get up the courage to go to a public spa but today was the day. Jack declared June 19th Crystal Day. (I am still not sure as to why, but hey, who am I to complain?) He whisked me away on a trip today. Lunch in bed. Yes, I do realize that for normal people who wake up at appropriate hours it would be breakfast in bed, but I like to sleep so don't judge me. Jack brought me Kraze burger and then we headed off to Seojeong-ri KTX station. It is the fast train that goes up to Seoul. We arrived in Daejeon and hit up Costco, E-mart, and then headed off to Yuseong Hot Springs. It is a Spring popular throughout the city. It is said to have healing properties. It is high in alkaline minerals such as calcium, and potassium, sulphur, carbonic acid, silicic acid and radium. There is a legend that during the Baekje dynasty a young soldier was completely healed by the hot spring. His mother first saw an injured crane dip its broken wing in the water and then fly away. She took her son and he was instantly made whole.

We went to the spa hoping to use the outdoor pools that are coed and fully clothed but it wasn't available. I was really bummed. I found out the indoor spa was still available. I paid a cheap 5,000 won and went into the spa. It was very different for me to be in a crowded room full of naked women. haha I know it sounds pretty crazy to the average westerner, but here it is no big deal. No one seemed to worried about the fact that I was there and so I wasn't worried about them. I enjoyed the hot showers, the multiple hot wet and dry saunas, the jade rock room, multiple pools with different minerals and temperatures. I must say the cold pool was quite refreshing after hitting the first sauna. I felt like I was going to pass out from the heat. There was an awesome pool with High pressured waterfalls as well as jets in the warm and hot pools. It was amazing. After I showered off again, I headed back out to meet Jack.

I was completely worn out from just laying around in the heat and pampering myself. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. I really liked it. Despite my super modest history and awkwardness around naked people I must say I will be finding a sauna in Gwangju to frequent as well.

We finished the day eating out at Bennigan's. It was like a little Irish/American haven right in the middle of Daejeon. After devouring my two entrees (that's right, I said two- once again don't judge me), we headed back to Costco to pick up the super comfy bathrobe I spotted earlier today.

All in all, I'd say the first annual Crystal's Day was a success.

42.2km Jack's Marathon Challenge

This upcoming week starting on Monday Jack is going to work on a week long marathon challenge. So, some people can run that in one day but come on. It isn't bad for a person who has no real running experience before this year. Jack has over the course of the last three months has lost 40lbs (19 kilograms for the non-Americans-haha)

He is an unstoppable force. It is pretty ridiculous in my opinion. I am really proud of him. One of the main benefits of being in Korea is the lack of readily available comfort food and personal transportation. We walk everywhere. Add those factors together with a gym membership and you get my substantially skinnier husband. He is doing great. While I cant say I will match his distance ran next week I do promise to at least hit the gym with him when he goes next week. :)

Good Luck!

황사-Hwangsa YELLOW DUST

It has been a grueling few weeks. Spring has sprung and along with it came the kicked up dust storms. The storms are a phenomenon that originate in the Mongolian desert, Northern China, and Kazakhstan. The winds carry the dry soil particles over both Koreas, Japan, China, and even parts of eastern Russia. Along with the thick air of the season comes a slew of respiratory problems, itchy eyes, sore throats, and an onslaught of other problems.

Ways to avoid problems:

Stay indoors
Wear a mask
Wipe down hard surfaces in your residence near windows and entryways
Wash any exposed skin when you come in from outdoor activities (face, hands, etc.)
Clean all produce that may have been exposed

World Cup Soccer

Tonight was a fun adventure. Korea went head to head with Argentina tonight. It was not a pretty picture. Things looked a little hopeful at the half as Korea scored a goal to bring it to 2-1 just before the half. They could have brought it back but lets be honest. It is Argentina: the best team in the world.

The best part about the game was all the interesting and resourceful places I was able to watch the game. It began in the classroom. I said it. I watched TV in my classes tonight. My students did their work at super sonic speeds to be able to watch the game for the last ten minutes of class.


Along with the classroom, I also watched the game from a makeshift outdoor theater in Sang Mu. People were camped outside of Tom and Toms watching the game. Following that Jack and I headed out to go get dinner. We watched from the cab. All the taxis have tv Once we arrived at the bus terminal, we heard shouts from inside. I whipped out my cell phone and opened my KBS station on my phone.


You have to love a country where you can get network tv on almost every phone (not just on phones that cost over four hundred dollars). We finally arrived inside at U-square and got into TGI Fridays and requested a seat at the bar so we could watch the last half of the game. It was a nice evening, well until they lost. haha

Toms Shoes Knock Offs... Really?

I was a bit shocked today at something I saw in the market downtown in Gwangju. There were multiple pairs of Toms Shoes for sale. I got so excited because #1 I think they are adorable and #2 They give little kids shoes in other countries. As I walked a bit closer my friend Hira from church told me they are from Japan. Then she told me they are not real Tom's shoes. It was pretty humorous but also pretty sad. The worst part is I am seriously thinking of buying a pair because for the life of me I cannot figure out what size I am in Korean sizes. The Tom's Shoes website offers delivery to Korea, but it is complicated. I think I am a 245 but only God knows for sure at this point. At least this way I can try them on. haha Well I am probably a horrible person, but those green ones I saw were cute. haha Just another day in the life in Korea. :)

Civil Defense

Nothing like being late to work because of a civil defense drill.

Jack and I were on our way to pick up lunch at T.G.I.Fridays this afternoon. We were starving and were not in the mood for any more of the copious amounts of McDonalds we have had lately. We thought it would be nice to get something of worth for lunch. We left Landpia (our apt building) and caught the first cab we saw. As we headed to U-square we were stopped at a red light in Sangmu that is necessary to go through before getting on the highway. We sat for a few minutes and then I heard the sirens. I figured there had been a wreck. Ten more minutes passed and I motioned to the cab driver a car wreck and he nodded his head. (apparently he had no idea what I was trying to communicate) Time continued to drag on.

Jack and I decided that we should just get out of the cab and walk home since we still weren't too far away and we didn't want to be late for work. We paid the cab his rate and walked to the corner to catch a glimpse of the massive car wreck that apparently required several ambulances and about thirteen cop cars. As we approached the intersection we were shocked. There wasn't a single car in sight. Yes I am that person who wants to see the car wreck. I blame it on my former EMT dad. We looked around and saw a bunch of city officials dressed in beige.

Somehow over the course of our stay we have yet to observe this very common practice. On the fifteenth of each month there is a 민방위훈련 (min-bang-ui-hun-nyeon) or civil defense drill. In earlier years this would be more likened to the duck and cover drills of days gone by in America. A co-worker of ours told us he would hear the siren in school and would have to get under his desk until the all clear horn sounded. Sounds like fifties era America. This was within the last few decades here. The drills had let up under the former president. They still took place, but ducking and covering were not really the focus. They would conduct drills at busy intersections to prepare if there was an attack on the country. I was actually in shock. I think this is the first time in Korea I haven't seen a car or city bus run a red light. :)

Our co-worker Sean told us he didn't even think they were doing them anymore until we told him about our experience today. He blamed it on the uber conservative new President Lee. (who, by the way, I have yet to meet a person in Gwangju who likes him) His harsher stance towards the North really angers some Southern Koreans who still view the north as disconnected family. Regardless, the drills are back in place in Gwangju. We should expect to travel to both lunch and work on these days from here on out by foot.

It makes me feel safe to know they are super prepared if anything were to happen. Fifty or so years of running drills keeps you ready in case of emergency. :) While I know we are war ready if anything were to happen, I was still late to work. :( I wonder if there is a drill for that?


Here is a video of a typical civil defense drill. This was shot in Chongju, bu tit is very similar to what we saw today except we saw many more police cars, ambulances, and as we live near an air force base we heard the jets flying overhead. They also participate in the drills.

Lets just say if you didn't know what it was, it would scare the crap out of you. haha

Trip to Seoul Continued...

Well we are now finally getting back to normal. I put my parents on a plane yesterday morning headed back to the US. They stayed in Korea for two weeks. I think they had a lot of fun. We took them all over the place. I am going to need about a week to recuperate from all of the traveling and food we ate. The trip was capped off with a weekend in Seoul. We visited sites all over the city ranging from Namsong tower to the Korean War memorial. It was pretty great. To check out all the pictures you can look at our album.

hotel of love...

Love motel: a hotel rented out in small time increments ranging from one to three hours. These are found throughout Asia as well as South America to provide a place for locals to go with their lovers or prostitutes.

A love motel is a perfect getaway for single men and married men alike looking to hook up. Single men and women commonly live with their parents until marriage in Korea. If either sex is looking for some intimate time, their mom's house is the least likely place to go. Married men obviously do not use their homes for these endeavors. As such, a need was formed and, as it is not illegal to run a cheap motel, the love motel industry was born. Dependent on the area these hotels can range from windowless hook up rooms to exotically lighted and colorfully decorated rooms equipped with anything from a moving bed to mirrors strategically placed about. Prostitution in Korea makes up for more of the national income than agriculture if that says anything about the size of the industry. (paraphrase from speaking Korea) As you walk through the streets you can find pornographic advertisements for coffee girls. (coffee girls are ordered to deliver coffee to your home or hotel and for a small additional fee a number of other things) They are amongst the poorest paid prostitutes in country going for about ten to twenty bucks a pop according to one of my foreigner friends.

Well, I can now honestly say I have stayed at a Korean love motel. It was by accident of course, but it was interesting all the same. On my weekend trip to Seoul with my parents we looked for a hotel in the Gangnam are. It is a nicer shopping district in Seoul and is full of great spots for food and fun. We thought it would be a great central location to stay. We had our boss book it for us. It was not cheap so we thought it was legit. Well lets just say we found out otherwise as soon as we stepped into the elevator. The walls were covered in iridescent darkness accented by a stunning leopard print velvet. Our room was " beautifully" decorated with blue and red mood lighting that pulsed above both the bed and hot tub. The overhead light only was bright above the sink. The room was littered with little cups with condoms inside. It was pretty hilarious.

We had to check in early so we had an additional fee. The normal check in time was at 11:00 pm. Pretty hilarious if I do say so myself. The time for full night check in is strategically chosen based on public transit availability. I will say on the hotel's behalf that it was clean and the staff was pretty friendly. One more thing to check off on my life's to do list. haha

Go ahead and add B&E to my rap sheet

Since my parents have been here we have tried to take them to the more beautiful areas of the city of Gwangju. These have ranged from the super traditional Yangdong Market to a Kia Tigers Pro Baseball game. Today we decided to have a little fun as well. We heard from a friend there is a Danish hot dog restaurant in the World Cup Lotte Mart. We decided to check it as well as the stadium out. For those of you who do not know, South Korea put in a bid for the 2022 FIFA world cup games. As a result, there have been beautiful stadiums built throughout the country. One of the most beautiful is the Guus Hiddink Stadium. It was originally built for the 2002 games. The stadium was renamed to honor the Korean national team coach after their victory in the stadium over Spain advancing them to the semi-finals. It is considered one of the most beautiful FIFA stadiums in the world.

Much to our chagrin, the stadium was under total and complete lock-down. So Jack and I decided to go stealth. We went through the press office building to their private entrance to the stadium. The doors were unlocked there, so technically it isn't breaking an entering. Trespassing at best. haha! We didn't see any posted signs warning against trespassing, but then again if we had, we wouldn't have been able to read them. As a result, we got our own private tour of the entire stadium ranging from ground level to up in the decks. :) Enjoy the pictures!