Skating, Baseball Game, and Shopping

I wrote this yesterday (Saturday afternoon)... but for some reason my computer wanted to be stupid...so don't pay attention to the time stamp!



Yesterday, we took our morning students ice skating. Zach, Travis and I all expected the kids to just be okay. Korea is not a place you would expect to see expert skaters. We were completely wrong! 95% of the kids kept up with us. All of the skating teaches that were at the rink were laughing at us because the three of us were in short sleeves! It was sooo much fun though. The most difficult part of the expierence was trying to figure out what size skates we needed. All of us ended up with skates that were probably at least 1 size too small. Needless to say, our feet definitely hurt afterwards.

It was super cute because all of the Korean teachers didn't know how to skate. So they were geared up like the kids, helmet and all, and took lessons with the instructors. I loved seeing our tough teachers be so vulnerable. Luckily the three of us knew how to skate or else the kids would have been by themselves.

After school, I came home and hung out with my family before going to the baseball game. I watched Toy Story on my computer with my host sister. Yes, I took pictures of her watching it and they are posted in the album. ( I also took them because Sam and I agree that she has the cutest hair in the world and I wanted a close up picture of it.) We had to leave at 5 because the stadium is an hour away by subway.

So Danny, Minho (my host brother), and I headed off to meet everyone else there. I am not kidding at all when I say there is nothing better than a baseball game in Korea. First off, we bought beers outside while we were waiting for everyone else to get there. It was a much needed 3,000 won ($2.50) investment after a long week of teaching. Secondly, our tickets (which were upper deck directly behind home plate) were only 8,000 won ($7). Where can you get tickets to a baseball game in the U.S. for a pro-team for 7 dollars!!!!!? Beers/Food were the same price inside as it was outside the stadium. Again, something you will not find in the U.S. ! My host brother told us the team colors so we could all dress up to fit in. I have never seen more spirited fans in my life. Take the student section of a Rebel Basketball game and imagine a whole baseball stadium with that type of craziness! Stacy and I were in love and wished games were like this back home. My host brother could not have been in a better mood. With the baby, he doesn't get to go do a lot of things like that so the smile on his face definitely made it worth it. I called it an early night afterwards and crashed like a baby. Definitely best night of sleep I have had since being here (probably due to the alcohol in my system).

Today, we went to Incadon, which is like the shopping area of the city. I really wanted to start looking for everyone's presents and my host mom wanted to spend more time with me before I move houses tomorrow. We had dinner at this cute little restaurant. We sat on the roof (I took pictures of the view). As we walked back to the main street, I noticed a few things that stood out to me. 1) There was a street sign at one of the lights that looked like a french horn with a big X through it... I asked my host mom what it was and she said it was a "no horn" zone... meaning carsa cannot honk their horn... INTERESTING!!! 2) People in Korea when they walk do not care who they are cutting off.... we were behind a group of girls who would constantly just change direct and walk right in front of us... I almost fell off the sidewalk like five times trying to avoid running into them. 3) The police were out directly traffic on the road. We were right by the Blue House (same as our White House) so security was every where!! But the Police had a HUGE bus parked by them. I asked what it was for and she said at any given time there has to be 10 policemen on the road. So the others sit in the van, watch tv, relax in the air conditioning, and when its time to switch, they do! Thought that was a little out of the ordinary!

Tonight is just going to be dinner with the family and then relaxing. Switching houses at 10AM tomorrow... I'm intrigued to see how the next one goes but I will definitely miss the first one..


Goodnight.....

Pictures: "Skating, Baseball Game, and Shopping" http://www.flickr.com/photos/46379050@N04/sets/72157624496182959/

Pictures: "Random Pictures from the First House" http://www.flickr.com/photos/46379050@N04/sets/72157624500398319/