Week 11

   Brrrr... It is getting chilly here! I have heard this will be the last "warm" week to enjoy the beautiful fall leaves and autumn weather. Lately, I have been preparing some presentations for my Fair Trade and Education for Development classes that we will deliver next week. I also visited some fun sites in Seoul, including the "Trick Eye Museum" in Hongdae, where you can take wacky pictures with your friends (see my favorite below) and the Lantern Festival a few blocks away from me. Large lanterns (comparable to floats you see in parades) are placed in the middle of the stream for a few blocks. You stroll along the stream and gaze at them in admiration, as well as learn a little about Korean history along the way. Mariem and I also made our own lantern that we sent floating down the river!
  There has been much political tension going on in South Korea, if you haven't yet seen on the news. I was able to witness thousands of individuals walk and chant down the street last Saturday, calling for the resignation of President Park Guen-hye. President Park is accused of being manipulated by a close confidante in many political affairs. The confidante allegedly has no political experience and is associated with a cult leader. President Park still has a year left in her term and has immunity while in office, hence the people's cry for her resignation. Her approval ratings are now dipping below 5%.  I was very impressed at how peaceful the protest was, considering the vast number of people involved. I have heard that protests will persist until Park steps down.
  I am also attaching a video I have compiled of Mariem and I's Jeju Island trip a couple weeks ago (see my last post for a detailed description). I hope you enjoy it!

Taking up ballet at the Trick Eye Museum. 

A display at the Lantern Festival. 

Montage of Jeju Island!

Jeju Island

I have just returned from one of the most glorious vacations to Jeju Island. Jeju is known as Korea's "Hawaiian Island", about an hour plane ride south of Seoul! Mariem and I booked tickets about a week ago and made the most of our 5-day trip. We did so much, so I'll just stick to the highlights:
  On our first day, we took a bus ride and a ferry to Udo Island, a small island off the coast of Jeju. We rented an electric scooter (similar to a small moped) and cruised along the coast of the entire island, enjoying rural and beach-side sceneries. We were a bit shaky in getting the hang of the scooter at first, but soon got the hang of it!  It felt like something out of a dream. Along the way, we stopped to dip our toes in the water and also enjoyed a peanut-chicken burger for lunch. It was surprisingly delicious! I find myself still craving it.
  On Saturday, we visited a lovely botanical garden, a few waterfalls, and spent some time at Jungmun Beach. It was shockingly  empty (as was our time on Jeju Island-- it's the off-season, we were some of the only foreigners, and it was a nice break from the giant population of Seoul). We swam in the sea (the Koreans were shocked by this), soaked in the sun, and ran around on what felt like our own private beach.
  Another great treasure we found was a natural swimming hole near Oedolgae Rock (pictured below). Encouraged by some picnicking Koreans, we hopped on into the pool and were carried about by the incredible current that flows in it. We swam, cliff-jumped, and even snorkeled about in it (thanks to a kind man who lent us his goggles). The picknicking Koreans gave us some oranges to eat afterwards, a fruit Jeju is famous for and that you see growing everywhere. We loved this place so much that we visited it twice!
 In addition to our day trips, we enjoyed the bonfires and karaokes that the hostel provided on the weekend-nights. We met and talked with so many Koreans (and a few foreigners). It was interesting to hear their  perspective on Korean culture and ask us about ours. We gained a lot of insight and really enjoyed ourselves.
  That's all for now! Enjoy your week :)

Scootering around Udo!

Delicious peanut chicken burger on Udo 

A beach near Sunrise Peak-- a crater-like formation we visited before Udo

The swimming hole! We swam in the right-most pool in front of the two rocks. 

One of the many waterfalls we visited.