Chuseok O'Clock!

People, Sweater Weather has come! (*Note: I capitalize because, to me, Sweater Weather is something in the vicinity of sacred.) I was told today, as I proudly wore a brand new sweater to school, that I looked "coozy." I think they meant cozy.

So, Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving has come and gone. So what better way to explain my holiday than in pictures. Here goes:

We spent a couple of days out east in Seoraksan -- Korea's biggest mountain.







Where we stayed, Osaek, there are famous springs there that were discovered by a Buddhist Monk many a year ago. This water tasted so much like iron, I felt like a vampire. (Cuz, you know, iron tastes like blood? Not funny? Shoot.)








We took a long stroll (the front desk Korean guy at the resort said it was a "hike," and despite the fact that all of the Koreans on the trail with us were in full-on hiking gear, complete with boots and sticks, this most definitely, just a stroll) through the mountains for a few hours one morning. Lots of pretty water falls.










Don't worry, mom. If I had fallen into the water fall, the life ring would have saved me.












Then, we went to the beach! We gazed at the ocean and tried to see Japan. We didn't.













Sokcho, the city on the eastern coast of Korea, is famous for dried squid and sting ray. Both equally disgusting and smelly.











After we returned from the east, we spent a day at Everland, Korea's best amusement park. We battled Korean crowds all day, but the T-Express 70 degree drop roller coaster made it all worth while.







So scared to ride the roller coaster...














Ali in the map, where he spends most of his life.

















We made friends with a polar bear! For being the most ferocious of all bears, they sure look cute and cuddly.












If you can't read the first point on this sign, it says: "The drunken, pregnant, old are not permitted in this ride." Gotta watch out for those pregnant drunk old people. They're a serious problem here.











Ali tried to win me a stuffed animal, in true "date at an amusement park" style, but he didn't. I love him anyway.








And we even got to spend a day in Hongdae at a little hand-made arts market, enjoying the fall weather and gazing at all of the beautiful pieces of art that we would never be able to fit home in our suitcase. Someday, someday.

So, to sum it up, a fantabulous Korean Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for, and so grateful I could spend another (and VERY likely my last) Chuseok in this country.

Sweater Weather? Not Yet.

Yesterday was the first day since last spring that the high was less than 80 degrees. It was a crisp, chilly 77! But it was enough for me to run home after school and immediately scrounge through the depths of my big pink suitcase for the winter clothes I packed away last April. I realize that I may be getting ahead of myself – 77 degrees is not exactly wool sweater weather, but after the never-ending heat and humidity this summer, I am ready to jump, head first, into a change in seasons.

So, I did my bi-annual sorting of the clothes and hesitantly parted ways with those that have been hibernating in my drawers for too long to justify another season of non-use. Then, I promptly headed to my favorite (and only) clothing store nearby that has cool clothes that actually FIT. They’ve finally started carrying jeans above a size 27. YA! My intentions were great – there was now so much space in my closet for all of the new fall clothes that were calling my name! After an hour and about 17 in-and-outs of the dressing room, I left with a new bag. Better luck next time.

I also made an excursion to the dentist yesterday to get a much-needed cleaning. Or as they call it in Korea, “scaling.” Why can’t they just call it cleaning? Scaling sounds like something you do to a fish when trying to separate the skin from the bone. So anyway, they “scaled” my teeth, which basically consisted of the dental assistant taking a malicious looking little drill and voyaging farther into my gums than any dentist has ever explored. My poor gums. So vulnerable. So exposed! Fortunately, it only lasted 15 minutes. Which left me with the same feeling that I had last time I went to the dentist and had a cavity filled in 2 minutes flat -- Is that it? Are you sure you did everything? Wouldn’t you just like to fiddle around in my mouth a bit longer just to make me feel like I’m getting my money’s worth? But I’m not complaining. The less time I have to spend with gadgets and drills exploiting the privacy of my mouth, the better.

Pinocchio

So, for your viewing pleasure and to give you an idea of what I do, here is a portion of the Pinocchio Performance we did last month. These kids are age 7 in Korea (which means Age 6 in America), and are my oldest Kindergarten class. Keep in mind that they've only been learning English for a couple of years at most. The video includes scenes 1, 2, and 5 (I edited parts of it so that it's not so long.) The drama and music were written by yours truly. :)