The Magic

While Samantha was here we talked a lot about Korea and the differences between here and the other countries we have been to. I explained to her that I  hadn't found the "magic" yet. I can easily recall times when I was walking around Reykjavik and the magic was flouting through the air in contagious whispers.

One day when I came back from school Samantha told me:
"I found it."
"Found what?"
"The magic."

A few days later she took me to the river that runs through the city so we could look down from the walking bridge to the fish below. When she explained about this magic I assumed it was coy, you know, the large orange fish that people put in outdoor ponds. So we walked to the spot and we looked below. All I saw was gray fish that sometimes their scales reflected the sunlight back to me. I stared for a moment or two and said, "I don't feel it". Samantha tried to convince me that there was magic down there. We stayed for ten minutes or so and I never had any luck feeling the magic. That is, until a few days ago.

Last Friday I hopped on a bus with Meredith and we headed to Tongyeong, which is a smaller coastal city at the South tip of Korea.

One of my favorite parts about being in a car or bus traveling is looking out the window. From Minnesota I've been able to drive though Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois all during the summer before coming to Korea. The midwest has very distinct features to its landscape. There are roads covered by a canopy of green trees, evergreen lined roads, rolling hills with tan rock, and a lot of farm fields that really aren't that bad to look at. Iceland had a very distinct landscape as well. There were volcanic rock everywhere and it was almost impossible to drive anywhere without seeing a mountain. While on a bus in Sweden between cities I felt transported back to farm country, it was amazing.

Let me get back to the magic. Now that it is nice outside I'm actually looking out the window while on the intercity buses. I've noticed some common landscape features of Korea (once you are outside the city). The roads are lined with squares of rice fields covered in water and behind the fields are green mountains. These little villages are scattered among the rice fields and a high rise apartment complex is never far off in the distance. Another constant is red neon crosses on top of steeples, they are always red and neon, that glow bright in the night.

On the way to Tongyeong there was mist rising off the rice fields due to the rain that had happened earlier in the day adding a sense of mystery and magic among the villages and neon crosses. I stared out the window until the sun had fully set marveling at the fact that Korea had some magic after all.        

8.

As predicted the month of May flew by and the time seemed to speed up as soon as Samantha landed in South Korea.

I don't think I'll ever be able to find the words to describe how thankful I am that Samantha came to visit me. It was such a blessing to have a familiar face around to share my "Korean Life" with. She got to meet my co-teachers and visit some of my favorite places in Ulsan. Now when I need to vent or share a funny story she will be able to truly understand because I'll be honest, sometimes you just need to be here to understand how things work. She even got to experience one of my classes getting canceled while I was in the middle of teaching.

Samantha's adventure started off with a confusing bang (as it should be, this is Korea). The bus she was on didn't stop at the stop she needed, but keeping her cool she walked back towards the stop I was waiting at. The only problem was - I was at the wrong stop too! (the map was not very specific on what side of the street I should be on). I was sitting on a bench with my friend Mikaela trying to decide what to do because the bus monitor said Samantha's bus wouldn't be here for another hour. A few minutes later Mikaela said, "I see a tall blond girl walking towards us." Mikaela's response sums up Samantha's whole visit. The reaction Samantha got was priceless and some of my students about had a brain aneurysm trying to comprehend how tall she was (and then factor in her blond hair and blue eyes I'm surprised no one fell over.. although there was one 6th grade boy who stood inches from her feet staring at her for two minutes with his mouth wide open). The best way to share our wonderful 12 days together is through pictures.

Do you remember a picture I posted back in January in front of this palace? Well I finally got to go inside it! One thing I do appreciated about South Korea is their history and how well they preserve their history. The historical sites are all so cheep to visit as well - 3,000 won to visit this beauty. 

It was Buddha's birthday on May 17th and the city was covered in paper lanterns. 

Samantha's first Korean meal - bulgogi.

I took Samantha to Ilsan beach and we decided we needed to recreate our Lake Michigan picture. 

This lady grabbed Samantha and wanted to take a picture with all of us so a man with a large camera took our picture. I have no idea where the picture ended up but I decided to have him take one on mine as well. I have never had this happen before. 

Our days involved a lot of coffee. 

And a trip to the bamboo forest. 

Of course I took her to get samgipsal. 

And the most important thing: BUBBLE TEA! I think Samantha visited the little bubble tea shop around the corner from my apartment everyday. She went so often that she got a free one!

Once again, it was a great 12 days and I slept for a full 12 hours the Saturday after she left. I was so tired from all of our adventures. Samantha left with a suitcase full of Korean beauty products, her tenth country marked off her visit list, and many memories of Korean life. 

Now life is back to "normal" and I'm preparing myself for my last 4 months in Korea with a final "to do" list. 

Bless friends!