I will be back Korea, next year.

The student district was great, it was much like Seoul (I live in the student district). The difference was there was so much more fresh fish and fresh food in general. After trying to find this Sauna for a long time, we were starving. We decided to just go and find something to eat and then continue our search.

We came upon many good places we could eat, but most places were for huge groups of people, so it was ridculously expensive. In the end, we found ourselves in a small yet packed little tavern-like place. The specialty was Pachon (파전) which is similar to a panacke, and the fact that it had seafood in it made it all the more better. Before we ordered, they gave us service, which were those bugs I had previously eaten. Michelle was so brave and ate one, however I did not want to go near them again. I then ordered what we wanted in Korean, and the waiter almost died on the spot. I do not think he was used to foriegners speaking Korean.

He was quite smitten with me, it made Michelle and I laugh so much. Michelle and I were happily eating and drinking when he came over and asked us our ages (most Koreans in respect ask age, due to the fact that what type of language you use depends on how old you are).

We went to go and pay and I didnt recongise the waiter as he had taken off his glasses. Whilst paying, he introduced us to his mother (who happened to be the owner). Who in turn, told him to stop chatting up the white girls and put your glasses back on, in Korean. The sight of that nearly made me wet myself. As soon as we left, we were in the middle of the street, surrounded by only Koreans, screaming with laughter. We got some looks I tell you.

About halfway up the street, we decided we needed to go to the toilet. We headed back to the place we ate dinner at, and used their toilet. Michelle went in first and the next thing I heard was this massive crack and mad laughing. At that time I was really worried about Michelle, as she wouldnt open the door. She had broken the toilet, the top of it in a clean break. I believe her when she says she pressed a button, such a great experience.

I decided instead of merely seeing the city it would be nice to get out of Seoul for a short period of time. I chose Busan as A) I have never been there before, B) there is a beach and C) Michelle would be with me.

As we were quite cheap we decided to get the cheapest coach ride down there (5 hours and at around 10 quid). I was happily surprised when I found out I could book it online with my card, as I am a foreigner living in Korea I thought that was something I could not do, but that was not the case. I booked it for the Friday evening until the Saturday morning.

We boarded the bus with no itinary, no accomodation apart from the idea we would stay at the sauna for a couple of hours to sleep. I had one experience of these saunas and that was before I went to Jejudo (all the flights for that day were cancelled and they only told us a little earlier that the airport was also not open 24 hours).

The coach jounry itself was amazing, I had been in to the Korean countryside before but never to the south. We drove straight through the middle, across the whole country by bus. The fact that I could see everything around me, watching the sun gradually set over endless mounds of which they call mountains. Passing by little collections of towns where you could gradually see the lights be turned on to make way for the night which was quickly approaching. Generally I try to sleep when I am travelling, however I have found I cannot sleep on coaches.

We arrived at the bus terminal late and decided to go to the main town and find a sauna there, however no luck. We spoke to the tourism lady at the counter and found out that it was just hotels and motels in the vincity. I personally did not want to pay a huge sume of money for four to five hours of rest, most of that would be exploring or something anyway. So we decided to go to another area where she told us there was a sauna. Turns out it was a very good idea indeed as we ended up in the student district.

April:

The sun began to come out and the snow has finall gone.  My mother has just left as well so I have normality back for some time. I loved having her here,  it was nice to spend some daughter-mother time together without younger hindrences. We ended up shopping together, drinking together, showing her around a city I have called home for the last past ten months. However, from the moment I picked her up to the moment I dropped her off I missed home. I still do as I write this last post.

Living abroad in a hermit state brings a lot of new experiences and ways of thinking. The study of something out of your comfort zone is one of merit yet also one that brings about a lot of hinderences. I for one am very glad I chose a degree who’s  requirement was one of abroad study. Not only do you gain international awareness, but at the same time you are in something you are not familar with so you are able gain insight that you may not have been able to in your home town/ country.

May:

Studies continue – time is flying and the clock is ticking down before I begin my trip home.  I had to send my pass port back home (to England) to get my Russian visa as I was unable t0 get that from the Russian Embassy in Korea. It was rather expensive, but it means I can still get to Russia so thats a relief. My father came too (to Korea). That was a strange experience. We traveled down to Jejudo together and experienced some intense yet strange things.

July:

Less than 30 days before I go.

I will update more on Jejudo later.

Whilst trying to read all of these text messages around fifteen different numbers called me continuously. They were sending me text messages to with stuff like ‘Are you Jessica from 소녀시대?’, ‘I am a man’, ‘I love you’, ‘I am your biggest fan’, ‘ Are you really…. ?’, ‘Please respond, otherwise….’…. and it went on for ages, something I would call harassment to be honest.

I saved seventeen different numbers to my phone so I knew which one was which to some degree. As well as constantly answering the phone and text messages I asked my friend to help me sort it out, and he did.

However it is still kind of happening… bloody high school students whatever they are.

PIG (lung, skin, intestine )

CHICKEN(heart, neck)

Insect….

Strange foods that are up next:

-Dog

-Baby octupi

-Pig Trotter

-Chicken foot

I took my mother around the palace.

I took my mother around the palace.

I took my mother around the palace.