Giant Strawberries in the Korean Countryside

Today was a great day. It's amazing how the countryside of Korea is a completely different world compared to the city. I suppose that's the case everywhere and not just in Korea , but it's been awhile since I've had the chance to get out of the city. Mai has only 2 days left in Korea , so we went into the country this morning with one of her former coworkers. He coworker's parents own a strawberry farm and it's the middle of strawberry season here in Korea . If there's one thing that I have to admit Koreans do well, it's growing great strawberries.

We drove about an hour outside of Busan to a town called Jinyeoung. We met the owners of the farm and some old women who worked as berry pickers. They were all over 70 years of age, one was 84! They seemed like very tough ladies, the kind of women who have lived hard lives. I think I was quite possibly the first foreigners they've probably met. They were very friendly, asking Mai and I to sit down and drink coffee and eat strawberries with them

Mai's hand holding a 200gram berry...looks like a tomato!What kind of steroids have they been feeding these guys???

This woman was the youngest of the pickers and she was in her 70's. Full od life and vigor as well.

This is the only strawberry I could find...poor me! I'd never cut it as a berry picker.The old women would have simply left me for dead and possibly turned me into kimchi.

Long story short, we picked some strawberries and were kindly given some homemade strawberry jam. It was a great example of country hospitality. Oh yeah, I also had enough time to grab a couple of kebabs at Lotte Department Store on my way back to work. I was the envy of my school's break room...poo haha!!!!

Tonight will both be a happy and a sad one. There's going to be a party in Haeundae. It's a going away party. I ususally make nothing of going away parties in Korea because it seems as if someone is always leaving Korea and they are usually, at best, an acquaintance. This time it's Mai, leaving and Amity is on her way as well. Of course, I'll see Mai in a month or so, but life in Korea is going to be strange without her close by. Looks like we'll have a feed of Korean BBQ tonight at a nice little spot in Jangsan (my neighborhood),. Should be 20-25 people there.

March 1st Independence Day

"Taegukis" (Korean flags) are flying everywhere in Busan today as it's Korean Independence Day. This one is close to my school in Gwangan.

This Sunday night there will be a monster bonfire on Haeundae Beach. I believe it will be for a traditional Korean holiday called “Chongwol Taeborum,” which means “big full moon in the first month of the year.”I took this pic this afternoon as I walked to work. They were building a massive pile of wood and brush to set ablaze later. Notice I mentioned that I was going to work? Yep...even on a National holiday!

It’s another day on the Korean Peninsula, but not just any day. Today is Korean Independence Day. This is the day when all Korean’s celebrate their freedom from Japanese colonial rule. Most Koreans and foreigners living in Korea are enjoying this national holiday by relaxing, visiting friends and eating out. I found out that this Sunday there will be a huge bonfire on Haeundae Beach in Busan to celebrate “Chongwol Taeborum,” which means “big full moon in the first month of the year.”. I was there this afternoon and checked out the scene, as I went to work. Yes, Kevin was walking to work on yet another statutory holiday! As a CDI (Chung Dahm Language Institute) teacher, I have to work on all national holidays (for those who know me, you will remember my rant about working Xmas Day). CDI is actually a very good place to work aside from a severe lack of time off. The people I’ve met who complain the most about working at my school are those who seem to have an allergy to work. This is an allergy that most English teachers I meet in Korea seem to have. Many are simply here to play and travel and when a school actually expects them to earn their keep, most teachers end up in arms, complaining and moaning.

So many people I meet complain that their schools are unreasonable. “They actually expect me to be at school 20 minutes before my class. I’m not even getting paid for it! I can’t believe the nerve they have to ask me that.” EEEkkk…heaven forbid a teacher actually having to prepare for a class they must teach (loads of sarcasm here!). I suppose that tells you a lot about a “teacher” when they don’t even think it’s necessary to prepare for a class. Mind you, there are many difficulties and often unreasonable demands made of teachers in Korea, but I don’t think this is one of them.

I hope everyone has a nice Independence Day and can see the giant bonfires Sunday evening. There will be a nice one at Haeundae Beach. I'll try to be there.