rain rain rain......sun??!

so with all the typhoon rain (nearly everyday since i've been back here) my flight was cancelled last friday evening to busan. with only one flight a day to busan and only going for the long weekend........leaving on the next possible flight (assuming it was going) wasn't 'till saturday night. uugghh!! instead of flying i got a refund and took the bus to seoul friday night and then first thing saturday morning i took the ktx (the high speed train ~250km/h.....but sometimes as fast as 300 km/h) with tobi. not so bad........but it meant travelling for about 7 or 8 hours instead of the 1 hour flight. i was keeping my fingers crossed that the return flight for monday evening would still be on schedule.

we arrived at aisha's apartment to many hugs, kisses and smiles all around. we sat around her apartment for the morning filling each other in on stories from the past months. it's always great to see tobi, aisha, and kyra but it was a special treat to see our friend from the first year we taught here---mi kyung. she is such a great girl. we didn't do a whole lot in busan because it rained the whole time we were there. but it was just good to be with close friends who don't live so close.

on sunday afternoon---during a 5 minute break from the rain---we decided to take a walk on the beach and few minutes into it i ran into an old friend from home, dale knowles, and his wife, beth anne---whom i've never met. it was fun to finally meet her and to chat for a while. they have been here since march and are having a good time.

surprisingly after it rained hard all day monday......my flight did take off. i arrived back in sokcho and have just been hanging out waiting for summer to maybe begin before i leave 2 weeks from now. today it is actually partly sunny!!! t and i were thinking of going to a larger city an hour south of here, for something to do but maybe we'll stay in sokcho...........

reunions

i went to wonju (another city in korea) to visit my best korean friend and meet her new baby! he was born a month early---when i was travelling. his name is yoo i sak. he's so cute! he has tons of hair and big feet and hands. he only likes to be held and wakes up if his mother puts him down after getting him to sleep. i suggested that she buy a swing for him 'cause all he really wants is to be moving but she thinks he's too young---she said maybe next month. weird. what's gonna happen between now and next month that will prepare him for the swing? if i was unable to do anything 'cause my baby wouldn't lay down........i'd be getting a swing so fast! anyway it was so good to see nan young and meet the baby........i just hope i can stay longer next time.

tonight i will fly to busan (yet another city in korea) and meet up with some friends i won't see before i leave in august. in my first summer here (2001!!) i went travelling to the south of south korea with 4 other teachers from the preschool---2 korean teachers, a girl from canada and a girl from austrailia. it was so much fun. one of the korean girls was the friend i saw yesterday in wonju and the other korean girl i haven't seen in years. the other 2 girls are still teaching in korea (seoul and busan) and i have seen them often. of the 5 of us, 4 are getting together for this long weekend. nan young can't make it with her baby. she will be missed.........but i'm sure it'll be a good time.

done and done

so my ticket is booked and paid for. i will be home on august 6th at nearly 2am. see you all very soon!