Thursday, the 6th of June was a national holiday so we all had the day off school. I went up to Seoul for the day - Psy, Elvis and a stupid face in tow - to visit Bri, my roommate from orientation. I met a really nice Korean man on the subway from the train station. He assumed I was lost and after asking where I was headed he told me what stop to get off at and showed it to me on the map. I'm pretty sure he just wanted a chance to practice his English, which is often the case here. We continued chatting and after the ten minutes I spent with him, I knew more about him than I do some of my friends! He was cool though and he's lived a very interesting life! I love chatting with friendly strangers.
This boy and I were wearing the same shoes. Trying to get a picture with both of our feet in it, without blowing my stealthy cover, was probably the most exciting part. I have no idea why I felt the need to do this.
Essential subway accessory.
I met up with Bri and we went to the trick eye museum before meeting her friends and going to dinner in Sinsa. It was really great seeing her again, so much so that I stayed too late and missed my train. I ended up not getting back to Jochiwon until 1am. Getting up at 6am the next morning was pretty rough but you can't stay mad at Friiiiiday!
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This picture is really random but it saved me from being hit in the head with an empty can as I was walking from school to the bus stop. I was texting Katie at the time and for some reason it was relevant (probably not that relevant) to send her a picture of what I was drinking. In the split second I stopped walking for so I could take the picture without it being blurry, one of the construction workers fired a drink can out the window of his car that was parked by the path. Had I kept walking, it would have cracked me right in the face. So taking this picture saved me that little bit of grief and definitely deserves inclusion in this post! Go on, Gatorade!
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Bus gang hiding in the shade. The dreaded summer is coming!
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Why settle for just a (bloody massive) margarita when you could throw a corona up in there?
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Jochiwon is trying to be pretty.
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First Korean vocab test yeaaaaah!
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Skyping with these two was so much fun! It was just like being at home and hanging out together. I laughed so much. They really made my day! P.s. These are the censored photos. It got weird.
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After four months I finally found the fancy toilets in Dongdaegu Station. This is a weird post but the other ones are so rank. I was so excited to find these! I felt like I'd found Narnia. Peep that vegetation game, yo!
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Fun T-shirt is fun.
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THIS! I will never live this down. My co-teacher told me she had posted pictures on the school website and said that I should take a look. This is what I found! It turns out she's been writing 'Rucy' on all of my official documents for the school and office of education. My friends and family have really leeched on to this one and assured me that my new nickname is here to stay.
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I'd like to take this opportunity to let you all know that I was placed here in Sejong because I had requested to live in a city. Yes, this is a cow just hanging out in the middle of an apartment complex. I rest my case.
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The last supper! Serious dinner at an Indian restaurant in Cheonan before getting my bloods done and finding out that I'm allergic to everything!
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Dermot and the band released their debut EP as Shadows & Dust. It was a shame I had to miss their big launch gig but it made my day to receive Dermot's parcel with the hard copy and a handwritten letter. Very proud of my brother from another mother.
You can listen to the EP here.
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Mt fridge is all decked out with the letters and cards I've been sent. And menus of course (they're gone now). Considering it's standing tall in my bedroom, it's nice to have it dressed up a bit!
This is a hint. Send me letters.
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My extremely Asian-looking bed. Yes, my wallpaper is the best. You're correct.
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We teach just about everything here.
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Instantly thought of my brother, Eoin! I think he would have shed a tear if he were here. Those Korean crackers are messing with the display. Cheeky.
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Finally, after travelling from Australia to Ireland to Korea, my new camera arrived! I got majorly screwed over by customs going into Ireland but dodged them coming into Korea. Yin Yang.
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I saw this man walking around Jochiwon one day in his shiny purple pumps. I've seen him several times since wearing the shame shoes. It wasn't an accident after all. It takes a real bad ass to pull these off and pull them off he most certainly does. He don't currr!
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Another excellent dinner made by Maggie! She feeds us good and proper! There was even avocado. Our gatherings turn very Hunger Games when avocado presents itself.
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My co-teacher: "Lucy, you should read all of these books and then you'll be an expert."
Emmmmmmmmmmmmmm, no.
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The cat in the building opposite me. He can taste the sweet freedom!
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I win at snapchat.
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As I mentioned in another post, Korean couples love to wear matching clothes. HOWEVER, yes this is a matching family! The man in front is even holding a baby girl wearing the same dress. Theyre like the Korean Kardashians. But better of course. I got so distracted by them that I walked into a hanging lantern and nearly fell in to a barrel of silk worms. The vendor loved it. Emotional.
My first meal in Sejong City. Apparently some buildings are actually finished here.
After my very embarrassing run in with the silk worms earlier, I decided I'd show them who's boss at dinner. I ate silk worms for the first and most definitely last time.
Sushi, tuna sausage and sake made up for it though.
And FIN.
Whooooo exhale.
I'm getting there!
