Somerset Palace (Studio) Seoul

... booked to visit the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North- and South Korea organised by the American organisation USO. It wasn't easy to find Camp Kim, the starting point of the tour. More by coincidence our taxi driver drove by the Camp and we signalled him to stop. The tour itself was joined by many Americans so that we filled two buses to the DMZ. It was interesting to see some of the sites and the specially arranged demilitarised zone itself ...

... seen the adverts on tv for the Rosetta stone language packs then that is essentially how we teach English here. Then the flash cards are incorporated into various games so that the kids don't really realise that they're learning. Good job!

So I spent a couple of days observing classes and then got thrown into taken two classes this afternoon. It's difficult to say how old the children were as Korean age is different to Western ages as they ...

... is especially hilarious- my friend, Kori, being jumped over.  She was freaking out!
When we got back to our room Kori and I went down to buy some chocolate and now we are really tired so we are going to sleep.
It rained all day, but not very hard.  It felt really nice!
Our bus driver is the craziest driver EVER!  He is good, I guess, but crazy to say the least.  Today we flat bottomed our big tour bus and he parallel parked it, and we go up the ...

... and challenge of Artemus. However as we searched I prepared for my victory. We were accosted by a young man probably barely out of his youth who screamed at our group " I kill people so you can have your freedom" while men in attire made of green and white patches, black boots, and hats called berets watched closely. As we continued we ...

... classes, ranging in ages 7-11 and with various abilities. They are really good though!!!! Kids are like sponges and can pick up on things so easily. In Korea, education is really important and they abide by a rigorous schedule. Children, beginning when they are 6 or 7, go to school from 9-3 and then have afterschool English classes, additional math and science classes, and possibly piano lessons or tae kwon do. They usually get home around 7pm ...

... it...apparently it was from her mother and it said that Stella really likes me and enjoys it when I make eye contact with her! Weird, but I guess eye contact is a big deal in a classroom with ten other kids. I was so happy! Elena and I met up with Kerri last night and a bunch of her friends. We went to dinner and then to the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.....it was wonderful! It really made me want to learn a new how to play something....cello, piano maybe ...

... did the Shin Stotler family do yesterday/today? Had told Big H...Oh, I know. Oh, can't talk about that as this website is G-rated. Think of "Sex and the City" though and I'll fill you in on it, soooooooooome day. Only in person though. Nothing in writing, that I wouldn't want on the cover of the NY Times, the next day. OK? OK. Gosh, my mind is so blank now. I'll guess I'll come back, when I can remember, and edit.

... breakfast together every morning. She said this is not a typical Korean practice, but her family is very family-oriented. She also said it wasn't a traditional Korean breakfast, but it is what her family eats every morning. Her mother likes to be very very healthy. I hope to lose a few pounds on this trip :-) Misoo's family is so kind. Her parents don't speak English, but they tell Misoo to tell us things. They told ...