I guess I celebrated a little too prematurely about amazing weather...yes, the snow and frost is behind us, but apparently springtime is filled with unexpected weather changes. Check the forecast on monday for the following weekend, and you shouldn't be surprised to watch the weather shift and change all week, making plan B's or C's necessary. Perhaps this is normal in most parts of the world, but I have to say, my wardrobe is getting a little complicated...sweaters, jackets, umbrellas, tank tops, jeans, shirts...and soon, rain boots! I'm going to need more closet space to be amply prepared for the spastic weather conditions!
Putting down my weather girl cap, let me get you up to speed about May in Korea. It has been an adeventure-filled month, so I will relay events in an order of my choosing, rather than chronologically...because I can. Firstly, I can proudly announce that I have become a card carrying member of the elite but growing club of the Tattooed. Yup. In a country where its practically illegal, no less. Apparently to be a legal tattoo artist in the ROK, you must also have a physician's license. Does this really happen? No. I'm not sure how the studios stay in business, but at "Tattoo Korea," my shop of choice, business is a-boomin'. The other obstacle they have to overcome is the stigma most Koreans carry for tattoos. The U.S. is a liberal dance party in most things compared to K-land, and this is no exception. Tattoos are closely associated with gang activity here, to the point that one of my friends, who has a small star outline tattooed on her wrist, was asked by an excited 6-year old what gang she was in. My kids (and co-workers) have yet to see my tattoo, so I'll relay their reactions when it happens. (oh, and the tattoo in question is a camera on my wrist, with the word "kimch!" written in hangul, or korean characters. that is what they say instead of "cheese" when they take a picture here).
Moving on, May is an amazing month filled with government holidays (yay!), including "Children's Day," and Buddha's Birthday. I have one comment for children's day, which I got a full five days in a row off for, and that is that, at the age of 24, I finally fulfilled my dream of celebrating a children's day, in the face of Mother's Day and Father's Day, because Mom, everyday is NOT children's day (kids in Korea not only get the day off, but their parents take them to do whatever they want, and give them money and presents. Boo-ya.). The second day off, Buddha's Birthday, lead to a whole number of fun things to do. The weekend before, I attended a Lantern Festival, complete with parade, and then I enjoyed another long weekend. This was spent in Sokcho, a place in the north-east of the country. Buddha's B-day coincides with that of one of my friends, so we spent the three days hiking Soraksan (Mt. Sorak), hanging out on the beach, and otherwise exploring Sokcho. We witnessed obscure and questionable bachelor/bachelorette party rituals on the beach (what we think was a groom, dressed in yellow tights and women's underwear, being hit with a baseball bat by his friends, dressed in shiny business suits, and a group of Korean women looking on from the sidelines, and occasionally collecting money), found an almost abandoned amusement park (sadly, no Korean carnys. I was disapointed) at which three friends got a free ride on a not-so-up-to safety regulations pirate ship ride, and finally threw in a movie for good measure.
That caps off my adventures in May, but now let's take a few minutes to chat about events in the news...Attribute it to proximity, or maturity, but I've been trying to keep an eye on the news lately, as it's beginning to get a little alarming. I am referring to events in Thailand, which I had the opportunity to visit in January, and the growing tension between N. and S. Korea. Thailand seems like the worst might be over, hopefully, though I think their goverment may still be a trifle unstable till the Red Shirts are completely under control, but I'm a little concerned that tensions might be rising on the Korean peninsula. The recent stress was caused by a S. Korean warship sinking earlier this year, that killed almost 50 sailors. It has been exacerbated by the announcement by ROK, months later, that they now firmly place blame on N. Korea, despite their adamant denial of any involvement. ROK also announced that they will be cutting off trade with the North, who replied that any negative actions by the South will be met with all out war. Excellent. At the moment, I am not too worried; this turn of events hasn't affected the Koreans daily life here, and I have connections at the army base who say there aren't any signs of either side waging war any time soon. So. In completely unrelated, changing the subject mode, I leave Sept 30th...
Next Month: WORLD CUP!!!! WOOOOO! (thought I'd end it on a positive note).
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