Catching up

Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated! As usual I have been keeping very busy, something new going on each weekend.

At this point to give a full update on everything would just be too dang lengthy, so I'll try to keep things brief.

First, I went on another DMZ/JSA tour with a friend of mine. I felt I had a different perspective on the whole thing after my involvement with North Korea Peace. It was very interesting again, and very moving. Sadly we couldn't go into the conference room this time due to 'construction work', or something, but at least it was a clear day!

The Bridge of No Return...after the war, POWs were given the chance to choose which side they wanted to be on. They crossed this bridge to go there, and would never return to the other side.


The North Korean side of the JSA. You can see the NK guard keeping a close eye on us.


Panoramic view of the JSA...the blue buildings are ROK controlled and the silver ones DKP controlled.


A view of Kaeseong (North Korean city) from the Dora Observatory.


Me, our group being addressed by our US military guide. In the background is the Bridge of No Return, and the site of the Axe Murder incident, and all that countryside is North Korea.


The next day was the BIG DAY. Finally going to see the YG Concert I'd been looking forward to for months! My pictures are pretty pathetic because my friend sucks at taking pictures, and they were really enforcing the no-camera rule inside the arena. But rest assured it was a fantastic show! There were 5-6 groups that performed, and a lot of collaboration between them, and it lasted 3.5 hours. And they played all my favorites. And the best part was, the tickets I had thought would be crappy side-of-the-arena seats were actually floor seats, so I was standing within 15 feet of the stage the whole time. It was so exciting to see everyone close up!










So then what happened....

Ah yes. The following Saturday was the annual Santa Sports Festival at the Olympic Park in Seoul. I had joined the team of a friend of mine to participate in the 5k. Originally I had signed up to run, but soon realized that without any training time and such a long time since I've run any distances, it would be best if I walk. So I changed my status to 'walker' but still, it was a 5K!

So we got to the park and everyone got a Santa stole and hat to wear. Then the 'race' was on! There were a few others on our team walking so we walked around the park among the hundreds of Korean Santas and chatted.







When we finished, we met up with some of our team members. Our team leader told us that our team had been chosen as one of 3 teams in the event to receive a special prize.
So we went to claim it, and it was 3 big brown boxes! We were so excited to see what would be inside.



Kat and I (our team leader) laughed hysterically while the others looked on, confused. So we all claimed one or 2 boxes of plastic bags and Kat and I set off into the crowd to distribute the spoils.




The Koreans got REALLY EXCITED about the free plastic bags, and we were quickly mobbed. We walked around saying, in Korean of course, would you like some plastic bags? And they would ask, Can I take 2? Of course!

It was definitely the highlight of the day, playing Santa at the Santa Festival.

Ok, so then we come to this weekend. Yesterday was the day of the BIG TEST in taekwondo. 2 guys were testing for their yellow belt, and this other guy and I were testing for our 'deputy black belt', or Bo Dan. I was nervous that the guy from Kukkiwon or the Olympic coach would be there. But no, it was just the head of the Incheon Taekwondo Federation, the Incheon branch of the WTF.

I was really nervous. And I did make a few mistakes but I find as soon as I make a mistake the nerves kind of dissipate, because then I realize they are nice enough people so I was able to redeem myself.

So then at the end we lined up and I was called to the front, and I took off my red belt and got a black one!



I was so excited. (Notice this time I have a much more taekwondo-appropriate stance. Now that I have a black belt, I have to be more mindful of these things.)

Anyway after that we had a Christmas party, with all our Taekwondo students, and the Master who tested us and his family, and the Jiu-jitsu guys who use our gym in the evenings. It was a good time. At the end, Master Kim and his family gave me a ride home. So I figure now when I test at Kukkiwon for my 1 Dan, (where he will be my judge) I have a bit of an in. Or something.

It was cool though, he gave me some pointers after the test which is nice. He's obviously very high up in the Taekwondo chain, so it's cool to be getting instruction from him. His wife is herself a 7th degree black belt so it was nice talking to her. We exchanged numbers so perhaps sometime we will meet so she can either teach me Korean or Taekwondo, or both.

So as you can see, I've been very busy. Next weekend is Christmas already and with that comes another balloon launch and Christmas party, then my birthday, then a staff party, then New Year's, then Ice Fishing Festival, then maybe a weekend free? (probably not), then I'll be back in the States to finish out January. Busy, busy time! But as my Korean teacher once noted, I 'really enjoy my life'. Which is the whole point, isn't it?