It is Korea's most famous island (often called the Korean Hawaii), and many people tell me that I will feel like I am in a completely different country.
I'm busing it to Busan first thing in the morning then boarding a plane at 2:30pm and heading to paradise. (ASAH!) I'll be meeting my new South African friend, Diana (she is also a teacher in Geochang), at the Jeju Hiking (oh, the irony) Inn for a fun-filled weekend in the sun! Oh sun, how I've missed thee! I cannot wait to feel your cancerous invoking, ultra-violet arms around me once again!
Along with planning a last-minute trip to paradise, today has been quite eventful. After lunch, I was informed by my students that North and South Korea will break into an all out war tomorrow. (They tend to exaggerate) But it did remind me to check a daily news site other than Perez, and sure enough, South Korea has publicly accused the North of torpedoing (is that a word?) the Cheonan Warship last March, which killed 46 sailors. To put it mildly, this is one pissed off peninsula.
I'm glad to be getting the hell out of dodge tomorrow. I even excitedly told the aforementioned class that I am going to Jeju for the holiday weekend. I expected equally excited responses. Instead, I got...
"Teacher, no! Tomorrow is war! You don't go to Jeju! You go to USA!"
"I don't need to go to the USA. I'm safe. The American Army is here."
"Teacher! Call your brother! Tell him come to Korea!"
They then talked about my brother's height for the next 45 minutes, while I tried to teach a lesson on speaking with doctors and pharmacists.
A few weeks ago, I showed my students pictures of my family, and now they are obsessed with my brother. I showed them a picture of him all decked out in his dress blues (which is impressive, I must say) and pictures of his return from Iraq. They went on and on about his height, blonde hair, blue eyes, and the "many decorations" on his uniform. Now they pretty much think he is the Chief of Staff of the United States Army.
I also told them that his wife, my sister-in-law, is also an officer in the army, but they were not able to fully grasp the concept of a woman being a wife, mother, attorney, and army officer. (Don't get me started on my sexist rant)
So, Scott, if you could just swing by Korea tomorrow and solve the whole North/South issue, that would be great. Thanks.
ALSO, I heard a cuckoo bird outside my window today. Other than in a German-made clock, I've never heard one in real life. AND it sounded just like the clock! I did not know that cuckoo birds were native to Korea, but I checked my resources (aka wikipedia), and they do, indeed, live in Korea, among other places all over the world. I did not see the bird. I only heard it. Hopefully, it will stick around, so I can try to get a pic.
Well, THIS bird needs to pack for tomorrow and get some beauty sleep, so I must bid you, my tens of readers, adieu.
