fun day...weird night

Ok, so today started off pretty much as expected. All of us from my kindergarten packed ourselves into two buses and headed to the museum for a morning of fun. It took us about an hour to get there because of traffic so we didn't actually arrive until about 10:30. When we got there I was told that I had (unbeknownst to me) been partnered up with Alex, one of the more rambunxious students from our kindergarten class. Apparently on the last field trip he had been partnered with a fellow student and things hadn't gone so smoothly. So the other teachers thought it would be best if he was put with an adult, and since I'm the newbie that priveledge was bestowed upon none other than yours truly. Oh joy...

But actually Alex has over the last few weeks taken a liking to me, so he's actually a very sweet kid when he's not running around like a maniac. And because he likes me more than the other teachers (I think) he stayed with me most of the time and held my hand almost dutifully. Awww...he's so cute.

So yeah, we walked around there for about two or so hours and then we all ate lunch together in one of the rooms upstairs. After that, we left and came back to the school. The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing lesson plans for this upcoming week. Not too bad for a day's work. Like I said, it was fun, not like work at all really.

So after work I got ready to go out for the evening and spend some more time exploring downtown Seoul. First though I had to head down to Itaewon to change some more of my money before I could go anywhere. I also had some more kimbap for dinner while I was there (of course). After that, I decided to go back to Namdaemun Market and see if it would be more hopping on a Friday night...and I was right. Almost all of the stores and stalls were open and the place was packed. I didn't buy anything but I had a lot of fun walking around and window shopping.

From there I went to see if the big South Gate next to Namdaemun had reopened (it was blocked off last time I was there). Luckily they were done with it and I was able to take some really awesome pics. Then I walked around that area for a while until I spotted Seoul Tower high up on Mt. Namsan just south of where I was. I decided to see if I could get to it by walking...and so began my long trek through endless streets and neighborhoods up to the top of Mt. Namsan. Thankfully I found the cable car station and was able to take one up the rest of the way. When I got to the top though I found out that Seoul Tower was actually closed until November for renovations (sucky!) but there was still a good view from the top of the mountain anyway.

Even though I had paid for a roundtrip in the cable car I decided to take the stairs back down again. As I was walking I met a man who started a conversation with me in English. Thrilled as I was I began talking back to him very enthusiastically. As it turns out he was there with his son and they were enjoying a nice evening trek up the mountain as a kind of bonding experience. I told him about what I was currently doing and why I had come to Korea and he told me that he was a professor at a nearby university who specialized in the reunification of the Korean pennisula. Very cool. So we talked about that for a while as the three of us walked back down the mountain together. When we finally reached the bottom he showed me where he lived, which was actually right there at the foot of Mt. Namsan! He pointed out the direction I needed to go to get back to the subway and told me to stop by some time if I was ever again in the Namsan area. All in all he was a really nice fellow and I enjoyed talking to him and hearing his thoughts on reunification.

After the trek I was pretty tired but still decided to walk around Myeong-dong for a while, which was right across the street from the subway entrance. The area was pack with shoppers and stalls selling all manner of items from food to clothing to jewelry, etc. Again I didn't buy anything but was just glad to be out and about on a Friday night. I then headed back down to the subway to take the train home. As I was sitting waiting for the train to arrive this older woman sitting next to me must have noticed how hot I looked so she started fanning me with her fan. We kinda suedo-talked for a while since neither she nor I spoke each other's languages. Somehow I was able to explain to her that I was headed to Jungwha Station and she told me that she was heading in that same direction...so we ended up boarding the train together and continued our suedo-conversation (though this time a man standing next to me was kind enough to try to translate what she was saying). After that we stayed together until the time she reached her stop. So imagine this...here is this old lady who's high-tailing it through endless tranfers and subway tunnels and here's me lagging behind, practically running after her so I can keep up. But it was fun though...she really knew the subway very well! When we finally reached her destination we both waved goodbye as she stepped off the train. My station was a few stops after that and from there I came home.

Like I said, a pretty weird night but fairly memorable overall.

Only in Korea... :)

And now...pics!!!!!!!!

Here are Sarah and Angela...two of the brightest kids in my kindergarten.

from the left: Sarah, Joan, Angela & Steven (who's making a weird face for the camera)

Here they all are again...acting like kids.

This is the lobby of the museum we went to.

tonight at Namdaemun Market

the old South Gate at Namdaemun

another view

the view of Seoul from Mt. Namsan

another view

Myeong-dong from the subway across the street

Myeong-dong