TO BE CONTINUED

It has been a hot -  hot - HOT Summer. 

The trouble with having so much to blog about is having no time to blog.  Here is a brief summary of what I have been up to! 

  Stay tuned for Summer Part 2 SOON...promise.

My girlfriend, Gabrielle's mom came to visit!  So I had the chance to do and redo some touristy stuff with them.  It was a lot of fun showing her around  

*HINT HINT*

Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

Gwangmyeong Cave (광명동굴)

This was a day that was WAY TOO hot to do anything - finding refuge in this cool cave was so necessary.  Super random adventure. 

Make a wish!

For my Summer Vacation (consisting of a Thursday - Wednesday long weekend -_- ....)  I went to the East Sea! to the famous town of SOKCHO!  Had such an amazing time swimming and eating !

 View from the HOTEL!!

The beach! and market! - FRESH FRESH SEAFOOD !!!

Right down the street from my apartment is Central Park!  All Summer long, every other Saturday there was a FREE CONCERT at the Bandstand!  So many people come out for a night of music and some really big names come through.  We showed up early and  managed to score a REALLY awesome spot for "COOL" - a popular K POP band form the 90's ... the show was SO FUN.

Food Trucks are popular EVERYWHERE...especially Seoul Night market!

 SHORT AND SWEET
 *** MORE SOON **** SOON SOON SOON

*** For those interested in how far along on my BUCKET LIST I am... Check back to my MARCH Blog... I'm keeping the list updated !  ****

SORRY! (...kinda) OXOXOX (always...)

** The Long Overdue Update **

Looking back on the last six months (?!?! shit, half way....) since arriving here I can't even begin to put into words the changes that I've made in my life!  I wanted to take this year for myself.  I've been very selfish with my choices and with my time.  Despite having some guilt from this (IE not finding the time to stay as in touch with my loved ones at home...) I've never been happier!  I'm feeling more satisfied with my life than I have in a long time.  I AM SO BUSY! and everything I do I'm doing it with myself in mind first - its new and its awesome.  

I'm home for a VERY brief visit next week and I can't wait to see as many people as I can.  I want to make more of an effort moving forward to keep my family informed and reassure them of my well being!  I am so grateful to have such a loving and supportive family.  Both sides of my family are incredible and I am a much better and balanced person because each one of you are in my life. *tears*

Here are a SOME of the things I've been getting up to... 

WORKING! ... a lot.  I have a lot more teaching time, prep time and grading time involved this time around.

Shout out to my wonderful student Kelly for the purple cat and my fabulous Aunt Jenny for the continued love/support and hand made cards!!

I went * - GLAMPING - *.  No tents included but into the mountains we drove and spent some much needed time away from the city in the mountains of Hongcheon, Gangwon-do!  Life is a little slower in the North East - and it was a weekend filled with relaxation, lots of meat and white water rafting.*

*** Rafting pictures - the term "White Water" used very loosely...more like a lazy river cruise...

I celebrated CANADA'S DAY - there's a great Canadian bar in Iteawan called Canucks!  Spent the afternoon there with a fellow Canadian coworker and some other friends who enjoy any sort of celebration.

 

and of course...MY DAY! 
3 different times - 4 different cakes!

1. Work celebrations!

2. Shared this evening with my bestie, JENNY!  Her birthday is July 7th - we started with a classy dinner in Seohyeon at FUN 'N' FLAMES - pizza, pasta, wine... happiness.

3. AFTER PARTY - 210 - classic.

4. Actual day - Wednesday, July 12th, with this classy fellow...CARROT CAKE (?!) olives and more wine!  Cheers to my 26th journey around the sun!

Supporting my boys, The Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium is still one of my favourite summer activities.  I've been to 3 games this season and hope to make a few more. The KBO is such a fun league and the fans are often more entertaining than the games!  We like to get General Admission Tickets - bring a cooler and park ourselves for the afternoon!  

War Memorial Museum - Here I was reminded that the Koreas are technically still at war.  Life here is not filled with fear nor is North Korea and their missile testing headline news everyday like it seems to be at home.  The situation is real but no one dwells on any danger that the countries may be in, its more of the sadness and embarrassment of the division.  I learned a lot and am proud of the role Canada played this county's history.

I can't sit here any longer!  MORE TO COME - I promise.