Nami Island

I went to Nami Island last weekend with a few teachers from orientation.  There are two ways to get to the island from the "mainland," 1.) ferry (boring!!!) OR 2.) ZIP LINE!!!  This was the best part! I thought I was going to be scared, but I wasn't! I also thought it would be like a roller coster (of which I loathe), but it wasn't, totally the opposite!  I filmed my entire ride!  Here are a few pictures from the island.... 

Entrance to the mainland

Some (crazy) person bungee jumping!
Looked like he was going to get whiplash! 

Where the fun begins!! Once you go in, you have to record
your height and weight, and make your reservation.
You take an elevator up to the "loading dock".  We
ended up waiting for what seemed like almost 2 hours! 

People before me....

I'm strapped in....headed to land.....

I had just gotten off and was trying to take a pic of the other side from where I came...

Pretty flowers....

Wild ostriches.....don't get too close!

Their feet look like something out of a scary movie!

The island is known for the taping of a famous Korean soap opera.
When there are no people, the view of the path really is amazing... 

The Resurrection

This week I taught my students a little bit about Easter, besides the eggs and bunnies.  It's not that I planned a lesson about it, it just came up during class "discussions."

When students heard the word, they were more than confused and I did the best that I could to explain (with words and gestures) it to them in a way that they would be able to understand.  I had to keep it as simple as possible.  Even my co-teacher who isn't a Christian and doesn't think that he can be (despite of what I have shared with him), was able to understand.

So basically, I explained that Jesus died on the cross (for us), and 3 days later He arose from His grave.  Once students understood what I was explaining and showing them I got a classroom full of, "Ahhs!"  Which is their way of saying, "Yes! Yes! Sarah Teacha I understand! I get it!" 

The most difficult part was trying to explain to co-workers why I wasn't eating lunch or why I would turn down food when offered.  (Side note: saying "no" in Korea when someone offers you something, even if you are polite, is heavily looked down upon, almost like you are being rude.) Nonetheless, being as patient as I could be, I did the best that I could to explain Lent, Fasting, and Easter to them.  Some understood, some didn't.  I didn't worry about it.  And in the next hour, or day, or week, they would ask me again, and I would explain again, and again, and again.  It didn't bother me to explain.

Funny as it may be, the children understood better than the adults.

Keep in mind, while many Koreans are Christians, the majority (I have found) are Buddhists......(Buddha has his own holiday and there is no school, everything is shut down).

Pepperoni Pizza, Coke, and a Side of Favor Please....

So I went to get pizza instead of going to the gym today.

I got what I always do, pepperoni pizza and a coke (which you would never catch me drinking in the states).

I gave my card to the pizza man. He swiped it and said, "No".  I look at him and he swiped it, again. "No."

Thinking there was something wrong with my card, I looked at him confused.  I tried to explain to him that I would be right back.  I needed to go down the street to my bank.

I arrived at the bank only to learn that the ATM machines were not working. I attempted to ask the woman "manning" the machines how long it would be before the machines begin working.  Of course she didn't know.  I also asked her if this would affect people trying to use their cards.  She apologized and told me yes.

Side note: Being here for all of 9 months now, I have realized that Koreans speak more English than they would like people to believe....it's been more than one occasion when I have tried to speak the little amount of Korean I do know, sounding ridiculous, only to later learn that Koreans do in fact know English, even though they say, "I don't speak English" (?).........I know what you are thinking. Do you ask them if they speak English before you begin talking to them? Your answer: y-e-s!


I headed back to the pizza place to tell the man (and his wife) that I would be right back because I needed to go home and get the cash.  I also explained that the bank was out of order. His wife looked at me and said, "No. No."  The husband said, "Just come back tomorrow and pay. Write your hand-phone (cell) number and your name."

Taken aback by their kindness I said, "Okay.  (Pointing to my face) Remember my face! I will be back tomorrow!"

The pizza man shook his head and smiled, "Oh yes. Pretty face! I remember. Very pretty."

 

Jackpot!

Thera-flu!  Found in Seoul!