An Update on Life

It's been a while since I have given a proper update.

So…. Life in Korea is definitely better than when I first started. All I could think of the first few months were how quickly I could book a flight home.

I’m starting to enjoy it much more, though I find it difficult to still except certain traditions and characteristics of Korean culture. God truly graced me with an amazing friend. Here name is Cam, she arrived a weeks before I was ready to book a flight home. She’s a fashion designer from London, so naturally we have a great foundation for a friendship.

Before she arrived I had friends (foreign co-workers), many of which were really wild. Their idea of fun was to get drink every weekend etc.. but luckily Cam is not that way! She is a more relaxed and mature individual. She to has a boyfriend back home so we could relate to the difficulties of long distance relationships.  I feel like peers though she is older than me, she often offers good advise.

I have been in good connection with Kelly Vassar, we share the same time zone as she is teaching in Japan. We are currently in the process of seeing weather or not we could teach together in Japan for 3 months. If it’s possible the contract would start in April of next year and end in July. Following that Kelly and I will take a couple weeks to travel to India, a long awaited trip for me.

Please pray that they accept us both. It would be a much-needed change from Korea. I pray for and miss tremendously my family and close friends dearly- Alina- Elise- Winter- Moniqua- Courtney- Joanna & Eddie- Rob and Richard. But most of all Joel. Joel and I are doing well. Fighting the good fight while staying together long distance. It certainly is not easy task but we are hanging in there. Joel will visit in December, I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!

Enjoy all the new post on my blog.  Also check please check out my new Website/ Portfolio  at http://www.lauracreations.org/

I MISS YOU ALL

LOVE,

L

Outdoor Service & Buddhist Temple Trip

Several Sundays ago we have service up in the mountains. Cam my close friend here in Korea came as my visitor. Afterwards the church had arranged for us to eat lunch at a restaurant that specialized in DUCK! Yuck.... well I did try a piece and then kinda wanted to vomit. It definitely does not taste like chicken- like everyone says! 

Afterward Cam and I were lucky to be joined by a great married couple, Sue and Ho who drove and showed us around this lovely Buddhist Temple.

This was the view during service!

Charming private hut you can rent to have lunch with family and friends. 

I found this to be quite interesting. Once this site was excavated this monument was stripped and rebuilt in order to  insure a sound structure. Within it they found a Buddha statue encased inside.
This statue now rest at the Korean Museum of Art in Seoul.

The grounds of this attraction must have had at least 6 different types of temples in which you could pay homage to ancestors, and of course to Buddha himself.

If I'm not mistaken all of these lantern like abject on the ceiling represent descend ancestors.
Our translation was a bit difficult. 

Encased in this statue are the ashes of deceased Buddhist. There names are engraved on this black marble sheet.  

Once the statue in the above image is filled to capacity other mimi structures are built. 

Halloween

Hi everyone,

Here are a few photos from Halloween in Korea. Me and my friend Cam went to a underground bar and watched all the foreigners who dressed for the occasion. It was pretty funny, there were quite a few characters there.

It was hilarious walking in the subways as wizards, everyone was staring at us more frequently then usual lol.

Me & my best friend Cam in downtown on Halloween

Underground bar on Halloween


This group of girls and one guy dressed up as the team from "Dodge Ball" the movie, it was hilarious!
 They were moving around couldn't get a front shot. But you get the picture haha...

Random dude on the dance floor

Dracual

Woobang Land

Welcome to Korea's version of Disneyland!

Another field trip with my school. We went to Woobangland. Korea's verison of out Disneyland. It was right before Halloween so the whole park was decorated- really cute! Its quite a decent size given it's in Korean and everything is small. We were pressed for time so didn't do much roller coaster riding. Nonetheless the park was really fun I will definitely return there again, maybe when my boo Joel comes to visit!! Oh yeh check out all the animal photos, there was a mini zoo as well!

Entrance

Meriel left- Amber right. Waiting to go in. 

Waterfall inside the park

        

Kevin- my youngest student he is 5 in American yrs. SOOO  CUTE!!
This shot is on the ferris wheel cart.  

Uhhggg - this is Sophia, one of my least favorite students. She is a little terror, but she's really photogenic lol... 

Random

Here are some random images I have collected that I really like. Some are form coffee shops, others are from walking on the streets and shopping.

Sign for denim inside shopping mall.

Abstract coral sculpture hanging on ceiling inside the mall.

Cool signage inside a restaurant.


 

Super cute cup of tea. This triangle shaped tea bad was inside the cup - on left. Then they give you a cute square dish to place it on once finished- on right :)

Random little hut house/ restaurant on the side of the rode. 

Busan- International Firework Show!!!

This was my first trip to another city out side of Daegu. As well as my first real train ride!

I was about a month ago I went to to Busan to see the International Firework Show. You guys it was amazing, truly. There were fireworks that I had never even seen before- imagine that.  There were even 3D fireworks, as well as flying Phoenix birds- SO COOL!!! 

The fireworks were displayed at Busan beach and they were launched from the Busan Bridge just 30 feet in front of us. It was spectacular; they shut down the entire bridge for 2 hours while the show ran. Below are images of my journey- train tracks- rice cakes makers on the street- and the amazing bridge. 

Train tracks!

Busan city, after exiting the train station. 

Rice cake central haha...

Me & my BF Cam 

Busan bridge

Thousands filled the streets to see the show!

,

Botanical Gardens

Hi everyone, 

Sorry for the delay in updating my blog. Unfortunately I have been sick every month since my arrival in Korea. But nevertheless I have an abundance of new images to show you all!

The following are images of a fieldtrip to the Botanical Gardens I took with my school, it was beautiful.  The gardens were displayed both out and indoors. Enjoy xoxox

Seomun Market

Kelly, you might find Seomun Market similar to the Russian Market in Cambodia.
Seomun Market, a massive outdoor market filled with food, clothes, spices, fruit, scooters, nuts and dried fruit.  Practically anything you need you can get at Seomon.
As you can see it is very congested and dirty.

As I have mentioned before my side of the river, where I live is considered to be the rich part of Daegu. While the other side is primarily filled with the hard working, older generations. This side of the river is different in look and smell. Everything is much older and more run down, significantly poorer.

FYI, those are dried Cockroaches on the upper left...yuck!
I recently went on a field trip to the Botanical Gardens with my school. I will upload those pictures soon.
I miss and love you all. Please pray for me :)  

xoxoxo
Laura