The Westin Chosun Beach Busan

... wise. We had a chuckle at how much change I had and he seemed to believe it would be a lot. We made a friendly beer bet about how much it would be and I took it in on Wednesday to the bank. The banker had a chuckle as I pulled out a few huge bags of coins. All in it was 307,000 WON. This was James' first guess before he changed it to 300,000 and I was just under at 270,000. With this new found wealth minus the cost of one Kilkenny, I decided that I would call Nathan to see if he ...

... and roads. Its such a strange subterranean system with random shops selling all sorts of weid items. However, because the airconditoning has to be pumped into the underground system and the sale air hangs, the whole effect creates a smell which can only be likened to...well, old people or a combination of mothballs and the fermented Kimchi everyone eats here... for anyone who has ever been to Flambard's 'Britan in the blitz' its like ...

... br*ke the entire time. I me*n, we've *lre*dy st*rted this trip. No stopping now! I plug my e*rs into my iPod, *nd resume my *bruptly interrupted sleep from the morning. 4.5 hrs of ro*d l*y *he*d of us. And we're off. We stop only once in the middle of the trip to m*ke * pit stop. I show Kolin the "in's *nd out's" of *ll th*t comes with * rest stop. How the sinks work *nd the so*p *nd driers, etc... Wh*t p*rts of the vending st*nds to hold your ...

... been in my life, but you get the idea.Going home was strange. People are really freaked out! Like REALLY!! Maybe for good reason, but I do have one thing to say about it, and it is this: It's going to be ok. Really, we WILL get through this. We've been really comfortable as a country for a long time, and everyone's freaked out about this change. I get it. These are hard times. Hard times build character...trust me...that's what I tell myself anyway ...

... br>I don't have any solid plans for Christmas. Everyone keeps asking me, "What are your plans for Christmas??!!" with these bright, expectant, smiling faces--like they expect me to tell them something fantastic!!! ...but nope. Maybe Christmas Eve, I'll gravitate towards some of the watering holes that all the other foreigners gravitate to. Not conventional, but it's where you can see and chat with people who celebrate ...

I am bored tonight. My mind is relatively clear. I did find a sweet North Face rain jacket for about 30% off the price in the states, so, that makes me happy. I have been in Korea for close to a month now. I havent done much and I am kinda hoping/thinking it stays this way. I want to save money, as much as possible, so, with the Won the way it is that might be hard to do. I wanted to get an XBOX, that might be out. I wanted to go to Japan and China ...

So, today is Teacher's Day. A big deal in Korea! In fact for the teachers it means, no classes, a half day, and presents are expected!!! I myself, did not receive that many gifts, but what I got is really special. I got some red carnations, a really nice "Korea" keychain from one of my favorite students, a candle set, and from a girl who's always been pretty quiet sol far, I got this letter:

Melisa,

Today is Teacher's Day. You are ...

... it. We could hardly believe it when we were sitting on the boat, that was the closest encounter yet! The end of Japan though, it was a fast 2 weeks but porbably the most rewarding country to travel in. The people here are its best quality, they are so helpful and nice. WOW! we have alot to learn from there attitude towards each other. You see business men bowing to each other on the street, they have huge respect for other people.

... liikkeita meren asukkien takia ;) Ma nukuin koko matkan ja Busaniin saavuttaessa etittiin ekaks hotelli. Loydettiin taas aseman vieresta halpa turistihotelli. Ilta meni taas tutustuessa paikkoihin ja shoppailukaduilla on markkinat joka ilta. Siel oli kaikenlaista kojua ja myyjaa. Ja ois ollu vaikka mita shoppailtavaa mut paatettiin jattaa se Seouliin kun laitetaan sielta sitten tavaraa kotiinpain. Erityisesti lampimia vaatteita joita ei ...

... trapped by the high rise buildings and added to by the traffic made Gyeongju's conditions look positively Baltic). Korea is a country that most people know very little about. Park Ji Sung, Hyundai, Samsung...many would be hard pushed to carry on. There is one thing however that the Koreans are famous, or rather notorious for - and that is the consumption of Man's Best Friend. We too had heard the rumours but our 5 months in Incheon had produced no evidence that this ...