Ok this is the first time I've put photos up, so I hope it works out. Sorry these are way way way overdue. Here're a brief overview of the pictures below:
--- Seoul- over Jordan's birthday weekend we went to explore a really old and quite impressive palace. And yes, I am holding a waffle. It is common to encounter waffle street vendors. Another reason to love Korea.
--- Our Saturday trip to an nearby island just west of us. We took the bus, ferry, and bus again in search of the beach- at first we were dropped off in what appeared to be the middle of a field without a sand granule in sight, but after a bit of conversing with some local folk (mostly gesticulating) and perseverance with the map, we found the beach (ok fine- Jordan found it). Twas delightful. Everyone was fishing, swimming, and having a good time.
--- Next you'll see a humorous handful of pictures that showcase our recently acquired knack for traditional korean drumming. Other than the fact that we don't speak Korean and sometimes have no idea what the instructor (the guru on the right) is saying, Jordan suffers extra tribulation on account of his height. You'll notice, (with a few laughs I hope) that dear Jordan has to put his drum stand up on the stage so he can reach the thing.
---Next we come to one of the best parts about Seoul: soccer. We've gone to see 2 FC Seoul games and to go to their last home game next Sunday. It's such great fun. We only wish we could speak enough Korean to join in on the chants. We've compromised by clapping and mimicking sounds here and there. Note Jordan's spiffy new jersey. He blends right in.
---Next- hiking. We recently went on a 3 day hiking trip to Gangwon-do, which is a province northeast of us with gorgeous jagged mountains. The hike on the second day took 11 hours to reach the summit and back again, but the view was well worth the effort. Absolutely beautiful. It was unlike any terrain I've ever seen, and the autumn colors were breathtaking.
---And finally, here's the real gold mine of photos-we finally got to dress up like ninjas. We're waiting backstage to perform the drumming number we've been practicing for a festival/exhibition put on by Jordan's school- Tongjin Elementary. Most of the people in our drumming crew are Tongjin teachers, but the man who is posing with Jordan is one of my favorite fellow teachers from Seoam Elementary.
Hope you enjoy these.
More to come!
