News from South Korea....... hmm not too much going on still, just working, playing, sleeping, having fun where I can!
Work has been good, still really enjoying the Kindies though they can be hard work! There is always something funny going on, the most recent incident quite...hmmmm...how can I put it....interesting? For some reason kids in Korea find it highly amusing to butt hole poke... yep you read correctly. They put their hands together like they are praying (but pointed forward, not up) and at any opportune time attempt to poke you in the butt. The funniest (yet most disturbing) incident of this was on Monday. One little kid Jeff, was on his knees in a ball having a pretend tantrum in class, Jay the little loud trouble maker noticed Jeff cheeks were parted, beckoning a poke... he seized the moment and struck...I have never seen a boy move so fast in my life! The whole class was laughing sooooo hard! As I said disturbing behaviour but strangley amusing! Jay has recently been the subject of curiosity... last week he was wearing a neon yellow slapband as a collar around his neck (think mardi gras style), today he had fire engine red lipstick which he applied to himself (surprisingly well, in fact probably better than I could do myself!) then proceeded to run around kissing all the boys to leave a mark! hehehehe was so funny as the lipstick didn't come off too easily! Before that he used to steal the girls puffy headbands and wear them!
Last weekend Andrew, Tania, Jeff and I joined some other friends on a trip to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone - border of Communist North Korea and Republic South.) The tour was guided by a US Army officer and we all had a great time, despite the heat and rain and learnt a lot of interesting stuff about the history of the North and South.
After a long day we met up with some other friends for dinner and a few drinks to celebrate Erins birthday! Andrew, Jeff, June and I are also going whitewater rafting this Saturday and perhaps bungee jumping if I get past being terrified??? Can't wait to be in water that isn't a pool or my shower!
Anyhow, must post these pics and get to bed!
There was a lookout that allows you to see where North Korea meets South. Not too bad a view really, you can see quite a distance with the binnoculars...however you can only take photos of the view from a 'photo line' from where unfortunately you can see nothing!
This is a photo of propaganda village, North Korea's fake village in the DMZ, where they used to broadcast propaganda constantly. Noone actually lives there apparently and the lights are switched off at the exact time each night.. The flag you can see is huge - over 30 metres long and requires 80 men to raise it.
All decked out in US Army get-up!
This is the door that leads to North Korea..we actually stood on North Korean land.....These soldiers are Black belt kung-fu tae kwon do experts, they looked really scary. Their job is to guard this door at all costs... Jeff was plotting his escape....
This man the poor bugger, sits up at this window and watches...and watches...just in case.
North Korean Military watching us.
Ok, is hard to see but this plaque says:
On July 27, 1953, in the small building approx 1000 meters to the front of this marker, representativesof the United nations Command, the Korean People's Army, and the Chinese Peoples volunteers signed a Military Armistice Agreement that brought the Korean War to a halt. From the initiation of hostilities on June 25, 1950, until the Armistace the war cost the Korean people untold treasure, anguish and the lives of approx 150,000 members of the Republic of Korea armed forces. UN Command forces suffered approx 40,000 casualties in the fight for liberty. Thanks to these sacrifices the Republic of Korea is a free and democratic country.
This is the table where the Armistace was signed. The right side of the table is North Korean, the left Soth Korea.
Birthday Girl Erin!
1,2,3 Cheers!
Me, Jeff and Ginny
Stan, Susan and Andy.
