Thursday, November 27, 2014

Ok, it's official . . .

I think it's safe to announce this. I haven't received any confirmation email of this sort, but I still think it's safe, considering that time that has passed:


I'm officially student-loan debt-free!!!

("Hallelujah Chorus" from Händel's Messiah playing in the background)

I didn't really think this day would come, seeing I thought I was done once before and another loan showed up it's ugly head. It's been almost 2 months since I paid off my last loan, and I haven't received any other type of notification for other loans.

I'm done paying off my student-loans!

and just to think, it only took just under 3 years to pay them off in South Korea . . . 

I'm not saying this will definitely happen to you--especially now that the government is really cracking down on reducing NETs (Native English Teachers). I don't even think S. Korea is a good option anymore. They are cutting back on benefits--and positions--left and right. The positions that are left have several current NETs to choose from--same with the English hagwons. It's best to go somewhere else.


Anyway, friends, rejoice with me: for the debt I was under has now been lifted! I was enslaved by debt, but am now free! All praise, honor, and glory be to GOD who made it possible!

Back to Daejeon/대전 (22.-23. Nov.) *minus pictures*

So I did something I rarely do: go out for the weekend without my camera.

Do I regret it? A little, but only a little.

Nov. 22 was my friend's husband's birthday. Also, a group of us went to see the group leader's kids he used to work with at an orphanage in Daejeon. They had a concert. Couldn't say a lot about it, since we were late and missed the 1st half, but the 2nd half I really enjoyed. There was a photo-shoot afterwards, in which we were photographed (I REALLY didn't want to. I didn't know anyone and no one knew me: what was the point?! Publicity? Sheesh . . .). Afterwards, it was dinner at a Mexican restaurant called "Takorea".
Takorea has the BEST Mexican food I've ever had in Korea! Also helps that the owner is Mexican, the cooks and staff are Mexican as well. The menu might not be very big, but it's got just as many vegetarian options as non-vegetarian. I'm told you can't get that in Seoul! It was great having real Mexican food, the flavors I remember from the States, a ton of other expats, and speaking Spanish. I honestly completely forgot I was in Korea. I kid thee not. I would say this restaurant alone is worth the trip down to Daejeon--oh, and the prices were decent too. Oh, and since we had a birthday boy, he was given a Mexican sombrero to wear and they gave him a complimentary virgin tequila (we ordered it that way, since he doesn't drink). LOVED IT!!!

After that, a few rounds of either sharp-shooting, batting cage, shooting hoops, punching/kicking whatever had to be punched/kicked for points. Then it was to the "Popcorn" Multibang. This is a place where you can have karaoke, Wii games, snacks, movies, and other stuff. It was nice and clean. We got to sing a little and then played a several Wii sports. This was my 2nd time doing so. Great fun!

After finding a hotel to spend the night, some of us met the next morning (the leader and his 2 students who came along left for Seoul in the morning) and hung out, explored, and made it back to Takorea for lunch. Then it was back to the bus terminal. I left 1st, having a ticket that would take me straight to Hoengseong--or so I thought.

The bus had a few stops between Deajeon and Chuncheon. It stopped in Cheongju and Wonju. At Wonju, I expected the bus to go straight through Wonju and into Hoengseong--as usual. This one didn't. It got back on the highway, heading for Chuncheon. I was 1 of 5 people left on the bus, and I guess they were either headed for Hongcheon or Chuncheon, but I needed to get off at Hoengseong. Heck, that's what I paid for and the ticket counter sold it to me. The bus driver remembered me (only foreigner on the bus, I wonder how. . . ) and was trying to ask me where I was going, to which I replied Hoengseong Terminal. He went on and on about something which I couldn't understand. But I did make out the word "taxi".
What? Are you not going to take me to Hoengseong Terminal, or even Hoengseong for that matter? I just stared at him, since I didn't understand. He tried to explain, but I just didn't know the vocabulary he was using. I tried asking, "so, you're NOT going to Hoengseong?". A simple "yes" or "no" would've been enough. Nope, he had to give me a paragraph--and I understood none of it. So I continued to stare without understanding. I think he decided to turn back into Hoengseong, if anything, to get rid of me. Fine by me. He did eventually drop me off near the terminal--no, he didn't go in. Apparently, he's never been to Hoengseong before, seeing how he took the small roads and not the normal roads the buses take to get there. Either way, I got home without too much drama and without losing it--because GOD gave me an extra dose of patience. Boy did I need it!

So, that was my nice weekend in Daejeon, plus a little hint of a scary story to finish. 
Whoopee.

Oh, Happy Thanksgiving, Americans! Don't get too crazy with Black Friday tonight!

Busan (15.-17. Nov.) + Cheonan (17. Nov.)

Finally, on my 3rd year in Korea, I finally go down and visit the 2nd largest city in the country: Busan. I can say this: I really liked seeing the city via subway. I know there's a city bus tour, but I still don't know where it begins (Busan station?). Anywho, I arrived at the Busan Central Bus Terminal, way up in Nopo-dong, Northern Busan, Let me show you what I was able to capture:



Of course, taking a bus from Hoengseong that took over 4 hours, we had a pit-stop--and in Andong, no less! I was just in this town the previous weekend!


The subway stop where my guesthouse is at. Very convenient, seeing this is connected to the bus terminal and this is my first time in Busan.


The subway map. Much less daunting than Seoul's, right?


The guesthouse I stayed in (taken from the veranda on the 2nd floor).


Little difference I noticed: these Busan subway cars have 4 seats on each side for the elderly, pregnant, physically disabled, etc. It's 3 in Seoul.


Ok, this is more or less the same as in Seoul.


Lovely art piece as soon as you get off the station.


Ah yes, the connection to Line 3 is that way.


A tourist map of the city. Good to know.


At the end of the "regular" subway line, waiting for the subway train heading towards Gimhae (as opposed to this one in the photo, heading towards the airport).


The route of this "other" subway line.


Oh, you can actually see ahead, instead of only the sides!


Restroom at 연지공원 (Yeonji Park) station.
A convenient little sink for kids to wash their hands.


So, I arrived at the station early, hence I decided to take a walk along the creek they made that parallels the subway line.


Looking out towards Yeonji Park.


Ducks!


I cam back in time to see my former-student. She took me to her friend's burger joint called, "Burger Seven"


Philly Cheese burger.
Not bad at all!
A little too much cheese for me, but that's my fault for ordering it.
For you who eat pork, you get 2 small sausage links with each burger set!


Leaving and taking a look back.
Even if you don't eat meat, I'd recommend you to go and check it out just for the interior decorating. They also have that really light ice cream!


We needed to walk off the meal and had a bit of time before going to her art hagwon/institute, so we took a walk around the same Yeonji Park.


Fountain shows.


I. Like. Bridges.


The Autumn foliage was all out here too.


A group practicing a traditional Korean farmer's band and ribbon-hat dance (called "nongak").


Panoramic view of the lake.


The red leaves and ancient fortress wall wayyyyyy over in the distance (on the mountain).


Now, off to the art institute.


A few masterpieces by previous students.


Continuation of former students' masterpieces.


Not sure who made it.


One student's attempts in watercolor.


Sketches on top of watercolor.


My former student with a trial sketch.
I'm impressed.


Well, I met her art teachers and their high school son. I really liked them. They wanted to show me around--and my student wanted to go on a trip too--so I let them. They took us to Gamcheon Village (감천마을), which is one of the most "artsy-fartsy" places in Busan/Korea. Quite a fitting place to be recommended by artists.





By an elementary school.


General map of the village.


One of the pieces: colorful birds with human heads.


Yes, let's.


That's as much as I could get.


Looks out onto the harbor.


I've never thought of doing that with used/old pants.


Of course, there's always something catered to couples in this country. Why would this village be an exception?


Even the birds make a heart-shaped cloud!


But I still like the view.


Reminds me of Latin America.


What's up with the Little Prince?


Treat on the village: red bean porridge (that's cinnamon on top) and ddok (떡) or rice cakes in leaves.
Both were quite good.


It was a lovely evening with the family. They even brought me to the door of my guesthouse! (it was quite far)

The next day, I'm off to Busan Station to get on the KTX.


Panoramic attempt at the subway exit/entrance in front of Busan Station.


At Busan Station, with my back to the station.
Whoa.


See how precisely the trains are aligned to the platform?


Inside the train.


This is my 3rd (?) time riding the KTX, but my 1st riding it for an extended period. It would normally take about 4-6 hrs. from Busan to Cheonan. With this KTX, I made it in less than 2.5 hrs.
Nothing like the KTX to remind me how small this country is. You can't really enjoy much of view, since you'll be going through tunnels half the time.

So, in Cheonan and off to see a former student I haven't seen in a while--and his new business:


A PC Bang! (Basically, an internet cafe that's mostly used by gamers).
This place just opened about 2 months ago, so brand new.


You've got quite the variety in snacks--even variations of fried rice (볶음밥).
Fancy schmancy!


You can have this huge screen all to yourself.
Don't worry, there are 100 computers, so you shouldn't have a problem getting one.


That's how it's done.


This is the building where it's at in Cheonan, at (두정점) Dujeong-jeom.
Sorry, don't know the exact address.


The main entrance.


Also went to see another former student, and , , ,


her 36-day-old daughter.

Those were the highlights of my trip.
LORD-willing, I'll take a couple more before I go for good.