All posts filed under: Life

BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL

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A couple weekends ago I attended the staple festival for every foreigner who comes to South Korea, the Boryeong Mud Festival. I went with the tour group Enjoy Korea and they set up transportation, accommodation, and tickets into the festival. It was an organized weekend which I appreciated and they stationed a mini bar/food stand right beside our pensions so there was a place for everyone to gather at night. I hate to say it but the mud festival itself was a bit of a dud. There were mud wrestling stations and inflatable slides but the “mud” was literally dirty water on the pavement that people rolled around in. I spent an hour at the festival, got bored of it all so I cleaned off at the beach and hung out with new friends from Daegu. As night fell we gathered on the beach and watched PSY live in concert!!! YES!!! THE MAN WHO SINGS GANGNAM STYLE!!! IN FRONT OF OUR EYES!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!! That was by far the best part of the trip. The beach …

WAS THAT AN EARTHQUAKE?

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Earlier this month there was a 5.0-magnitude underwater earthquake near Ulsan, which meant Busan also had quite a shake. No one reported any injuries and there were no damages in result of the earthquake, but if you’ve never felt the world tremble.. it’s a craaaaaaazy feeling. I was sitting on my bed when I felt a rumble. The best comparison of how it feels is when you’ve finished riding a roller coaster and you’ve come to a full stop, waiting to get back to where you started. All the sudden, you start to jerk forward and it keeps doing that until you stop (for good this time) and the ride announcer dude says it’s ok to push your handle bars up and exit to your left. The small stop and start of the ride is what a small earthquake feels like.  It’s enough to make your stomach feel queasy. Have you ever felt an earthquake? What do you do in emergency situations? Someone needs to inform me of all safety precautions and procedures! Please send informative earthquake …

TAEJONGDAE TEMPLE’S HYDRANGEA FESTIVAL

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I’m currently sitting on my unmade bed with a Nature Republic Aqua sheet mask on my face and listening to blink-182’s new tune California. It must be Sunday. Last weekend was eventful! My friend Dev and I were on our way to Taejongdae Temple for the Hydrangea Festival and ran into some drama on a bus. We were conversing with each other when suddenly, an older lady turned to me and put her finger over her mouth and went, “shhhh.” We were shocked since we weren’t even talking loudly! Dev and I slowly made our way to the back of the bus and started conversing again. I felt another tap on my shoulder. A younger Korean lady asked if I could, “please be quiet.” Dev’s New York City roots immediately surfaced and confronted the lady asking why we need to shush on a public bus. The lady responded by turning away from him. We didn’t want to cause a commotion so Dev and I were silent for the rest of the 45 minute bus ride giving evil glares to the screaming kids, people talking …

PAINTING ON THE BEACH

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Hello friends! A couple weeks ago I saw one of my students drawing a picture during class.  She was moving a pencil around her paper so quickly and effortlessly, it was mesmerizing to watch her draw this portrait that would take me a decade to learn how to do. I am constantly amazed at my students and learn more about their quirks and talents every single day. They make losing my voice at the end of the day ALMOST worth it. Haha! But seriously, teenage girls never stop chatting. I am constantly talking over them but, that does not stop me from continually being their biggest fan. Anyway, the student I saw drawing inspired me to be artistic myself. On the weekend, I went to the art store down the street from my house and bought water colours, a notebook and a few brushes. It was a sunny day so I went to Songdo Beach, sat on a swing bench, and painted. I felt at peace to be on my own. To get lost in …

MY THOUGHTS (ORLANDO)

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I rarely make posts like this. I don’t ever want to get used to writing posts like this. It’s been a few days since the tragedy that struck Orlando and I want to publicly post my thoughts because I know there are people (perhaps yourself) who want to be reminded they’re not alone if you feel confused or upset. For the past few days I’ve been deeply saddened. On the weekend I heard about musician/YouTuber Christina Grimmie, whom I watched for years, be killed while signing autographs for fans. This news struck a cord. When you watch someone on YouTube you get to know them, their favourite foods, their family, what they do on a day to day basis, etc.. they become your friend that you check in with daily or weekly. When I read on Twitter that Christina has been tragically shot, I honestly didn’t know what “shot” meant. My mind could not process a beautiful, 22-year-old girl who was living her dreams have her life taken away for no reason. All we’re looking for is love and a little …

HAEUNDAE SAND FESTIVAL

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Hello friends! I went to the Haeundae Sand Festival last weekend, a magical place where you can go tobogganing down a giant sand hill, get lost in a sand maze and awe at the countless number of sand sculptures. You get the point. See all the sandy festivities and witness non-sand related moments, such as when I get locked out of my house and where I had the BEST chicken soup, in the vlog below!

KOREAN THEATRE IS PRETTY RAD

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Hello friends! Last weekend the sun was shining and I attended my first Farmer’s Dance, or Nongak as it’s officially called. It’s one of the oldest dance forms in Korea and traditionally performed during harvesting time so farmers can have a beat to work to. It was believed the dance will also purify the villages from thieves and fires. As someone who lives in the area, I appreciate this very much. 😉 My friend and I went to a dog cafe in Nampo! I immediately fell in love with a puppy named Dookie because his ears and feet were too big for his body and he awkwardly flopped as he walked. He had no interest in me but I got my puppy cuddle fix and, it was fantastic. Speaking of animals, there is an abundance or stray cats in my area. I named this one Lucy. She likes to climb walls, judge you as you walk past and eats garbage. #spiritanimal My co-teacher gave me tickets to see The Queen’s Banquet in Haeundae Grand Hotel …

KOREAN FOOD COMA

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It’s getting pretty toasty in Busan (summer is coming!) so consuming ice cream as much as I breathe is getting to be pretty common. My go-tos are the honeydew melon popsicle and vanilla milkshake (you can get both at any convenience store in Busan and cost ₩1,000). Or if I’m feelin’ fancy, I get a green tea chocolate almond ice cream from Natuur Pop. This double scoop cone was around ₩4,500. I advise if you go, get the HUGE container that you can share with 4-5 people and fill up with ice cream for ₩10,000. I found that out a little too late.. I discovered one of my favourite places in Busan! If you ever visit this beautiful city, you need to head toward the Oryukdo Skywalk (the skywalk is a glass floor that looks over the sea). Beside the skywalk there is a coastal hiking trail that goes on for 3.5 kilometers. The views are breathtaking (see photo below.. it basically looks like this for the entire hike). Next time I’m going to bring a backpack full …

I SURVIVED SPORTS DAY

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Busan has a handful of beautiful beaches. There are the two main ones, Haeundae (where all the tourists go) and Gwangalli (where all the foreigners who live in Busan go). Both are great options but if you were to ask me, the best beach in Busan is Dadaepo. Dadaepo may not have a bar scene or food options galore, but if you’re looking to escape the city, soak in the sun, go on a mini hike, rent a surf board or a jet-ski.. Dadaepo is for you. I went last weekend and fell in love. The beach is MASSIVE, and it’s a lot less busy than the others since it’s on the outskirts of the city. It is also home to one of the BIGGEST in-ground fountains in the world (it’s pretty epic). The other day I attended a Busan Lotte Giant’s baseball game, which feels like an obnoxious party, with a bit of baseball on the side. Korean baseball games are not like baseball games back home in Toronto, for five solid reasons: Busan: Tickets are generally ₩10,000-₩30,000 ($10-$30). …

ALL OF THE LIGHTS

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It’s time for another weekly update! For you, and my mom. Hi mom. Near my house is a hidden little treasure, the Bosu-Dong Book Street. Walking down this narrow pathway is every book lovers dream, and it actually has an interesting history too! It was created after the independence of Korea. The Japanese left behind many books so, people started selling them. Busan at the time was the capital of Korea since Koreans migrated down here to escape the Korean War happening in the north (where Seoul is located). This is where refugees brought and sold their books. Eventually, professors and students came to the alley and started purchasing books, contributing to the build up of the current book street. Financial strain in the 60’s had students selling their textbooks and buying second hand, which is why you will see many used books. THE THINGS YOU LEARN FROM ME! There were a few English books scattered around the street, I was most attracted to the magazine stands. I purchased Nylon Magazine Seoul, and got a free …

FROLICKING IN FLOWER FIELDS

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Hello everyone! Last weekend I went to Daejeo Ecological Site which sounds like a snore, but it was one of the most beautiful.. backdrops for an Instagram photo everrrrr. How much do you hate me for saying that? Heh heh. But seriously, with 760,000 square meters of garden and lush mountains in the background, it was incredibly scenic (smelt great too!). Also, it was some kind of wonderful being on the subway going there since it took you right over the garden. I saw the yellow blooms, mountains and river all in one shot. My mouth dropped when the subway car came out from the dark tunnel and into what seemed like a Tom Thomson painting. It was unexpected so I wasn’t prepared with my camera, you’ll just have to believe me on this one. I also took a photo of funky tree.. bamboo.. things. This was also at the ecological site. Everything was green and vibrant there. I want to go back! It’s too bad the flowers are only in full bloom in mid-April so, if you …

FREE SOCCER GAMES AT GUDEOK STADIUM

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Hello all! Sorry this blog post is a little late but, better late than never (says every one of my students who hand in their homework late). Last weekend I went to my first soccer game at Gudeok Stadium, a three minute walk from my house. Gudeok Stadium first opened in 1928 and hosted soccer matches during the Summer Olympics in 1988. Currently, it is home to the Busan Transportation Corporation FC. It’s exciting to watch them play but, the team has such an odd name. Transportation Corporation? Why can’t they be the Busan Bears or Busan Barracudas or Busan Barbarians.. I also love that when you go watch a soccer match it’s free entrance, BYOB and you can bring in ALL THE SNACKS! I brought in an entire pizza. Below is a photo of the Busan Tower from the Lotte Department Store roof, accessible for anyone to enjoy. I recommend going up there, it’s a nice place to spend an afternoon. You get a great view of the mountains on one side and the …

BLOSSOMS IN BLOOM

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It’s cherry blossom season here in South Korea! Last weekend I went with my co-teacher Nancy and her boyfriend to see the pretty pink trees at Samnak Riverside. There was an entire lane you can walk through that had large cherry blossoms trees on both sides that reached over and covered your head. It felt like I was in a fairytale, especially when the pink petals gracefully fluttered in the wind.. and sometimes in my mouth. After staring lovingly at the cherry blossoms, and all the couples I passed holding hands and taking cute selfies with the blooms (felt like I was the 1,000th wheel), I decided to treat myself. I went to a flower shop near my house and picked up a couple succulents that now sit wonderfully on my night stand (‎₩6,000 each). Succulents are low maintenance and they’re prefect for small apartments, plus you only need to water them once a week. The wee plants bring a bit of life into my home, and I named them.. Nicholas and Henry. Naming plants is like, the billionth …