May 23 - May 27: Lazy Days

Saturday will be my 7-month anniversary of living in Korea, and only in the past week did I discover that there is a rock climbing gym mere blocks from my apartment (okay, so maybe I wasn't exactly burning the pavement in search of one). Seb and I walked over Monday night to check it out, and it is a terrific place. Besides my frustration over this crazy Korean woman who basically climbed on top of me on a few occasions, I am probably going to join the climbing gym and cancel my regular gym membership.

I just can not enjoy this spring weather enough! It is enough to make me start to forget about how brutal the winter can get in Korea! Two days this week I strode over to the nearest park for some mid-afternoon relaxation during my break. The Koreans must think I am crazy for exposing my body to the sun. It's rare to be out on a sunny day and see a Korean female NOT carrying an umbrella or at least blocking the sun from hitting her precious milky-white face with her hands or a book. Like most westerners, I feel sickly when I do not have a bit of color on my body, so on a beautiful day, in the sun you shall find me!

Sadly, this is the last week in Korea for some of my friends. My teammate Ronan and his girlfriend, as well as a great new English girl named Ellie, who I have only recently met, are all leaving on Sunday. A fellow teammate of mine cooked a fabulous meal at his apartment in honor of Ellie Wednesday night, and Thursday night we took her out for a galbi dinner.

The leaving-due festivities will come to an end Saturday night at a huge bash in the Pirate Bar in Sanbon for all those leaving. I am sad to see them go, but we will definitely make sure to see them off in style!