Annyong haseyo Haeundae Beach!

I'm sure I'll be fluent in Korean after a year, but at the moment it's easier to do a mini bow to acknowledge people.

We were let loose on the streets of Busan this morning.

We wandered down into the metro, and surprised ourselves with how easy it was to buy a ticket, so decided to head out to Haeundae Beach. The feeling of pride I had as we got onto the right metro with our tickets in our hands was inexplicable. As was the interest we generated from a group of ladies, dolled up to the nines (for a Sunday morning) who openly gawped at us as they passed boiled eggs amongst one another and stuffed them in their Louis Vuittons.

The sun was shining at Haeundae, and it was the first time we'd seen Western people since we landed. (I know we shouldn't be excited about this, but I thought we might have seen a few more by now).

First off we followed some Americans into a bar which contrary to it's gross name, Fuzzy Navel, served pretty good Mexican food. This was soon joined by a donut that was topped with popping candy at Dunkin' Donuts...AMAZING!

By the afternoon the sun had got even hotter so we wandered down the beach where we saw an array of weirdly dressed and groomed rat dogs (I'm going to do a dog blog later)...but just as a teaser, I can honestly say that I have never seen a dog dyed neon colours before!

Busan Station// Haeundae Beach// Popping Candy Donuts//
Ultimate Frisbee Explained// Dipping my toes in the sea// Rock Surfing//
Dongbaek Park// The Sun// Market

We tried to figure out the rules of ultimate frisbee. It seems as though you have to wear strange head accessories, such as a bandana or sunglasses, or a combination of the two and act very dramatically ('We need more deefence on the oceanside' shouted at the top of your voice!) as a frisbee is thrown around...maybe I'll try it sometime.

Soon enough the drama of frisbee proved to be too much so we went for a walk by the coast and through Dongbaek Park. We were approached by an old man at the lighthouse, who called us Natashi and Madelime as he pointed out the best places to go in Busan and told us about being the president of a company and then (just as we thought he was going to ask us for money or try and sell us something) offered to take a picture of us together, and strolled off! Weird how in the UK you always suspect people are after something, when really people sometimes are just trying to be friendly!

We're now sat back at home, watching New Girl with our faces glowing a little red thanks to the sun, and although we have our first proper day of school looming over us tomorrow, I'm kind of happy that we've made our first own adventure into Busan -  maybe I will be able to survive a year after all! 

First Day in Busan

After 3 flights, one ride on the heathrow express and our first trip on a Korean bus in Seoul we finally arrived in Busan late Thursday night.

It's been a little bit bizarre since then - and I don't think it's just down to the sleep deprivation.

We were met yesterday morning at our apartment block by one of the teachers from the school, who had brought us an interesting breakfast of Shrimp burgers and Beef burgers.

After breakfast we met our fellow teachers, who all seemed really friendly- and then I was told it was time to meet the students. The other teachers had said the students were excited to meet us but I never expected gasps, claps and whooping!

The students were all really cute and I loved the questions they asked, the best ones being;
Have you had plastic surgery to make your eyes bigger?
How tall are you?
Do you know Harry Potter?

They would all gasp and clap when I answered. It's a bit daunting to think that I'll be teaching them next week! Eeeek!

Lunch was the first time we got to try traditional Korean food, rice, noodles, fish soup, kimchi and an egg dish...I think it will take some getting used to! We've resorted to stocking up on what we think are pot noodles and crisps until we get used to everything.

It was wet and dreary in Busan last night so I spent the evening unpacking my room and catching up on sleep.

Anyway, here's a few pics of the apartment...

Moving Day!

It's finally here!


After trekking back down to London and having a few moments where it looked like we might not get there in time to pick up our visas, thanks to the bus being super later, we finally got them and confirmed our flights for today at 17:00.

I'm glad I've had the last few weeks to see everyone and after a couple of teary goodbyes I'm finally ready to go. A final DQ, a colouring in session with the roller girls on Old No. 7's tables, a visit to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and gorging on Bannoffee pie (Because i have the excuse I won't get to eat it for another year) have all been highlights.

We're now waiting in the lounge ready to board our first of three flights, and I'm trying to ignore the fact that I've got several necklaces on and about 3 jackets to wear to try and keep the weight of my case down. My carefully packed hand luggage has already been unpacked by security, thinking I was carrying some sort of weird musical instrument and Tasha had to explain it was a pair of skates while i was patted down...See you on the other side!

Clumber Park

I don't know if it's because I had too good a time at DQ last night, or whether I lost too much money at G Casino afterwards, but I was feeling a bit out of sorts today. So when I went to see my Mum I asked if we could go out to Clumber park - the weather was amazing and it's one place that always cheers me up.

I have so many good memories here, spending days getting lost in the Rhododendrons, bike rides, feeding the ducks, lazy summer picnics, ice creams and BBQs with good friends. It never fails to astound me that at one point this used to be someones back garden!

So Long Cineworld

I knew that boy in Chronicle was gonna be a psycho...mainly because I saw it in the advert.

I really need to think more before I speak, but at least it got a few laughs at my expense!

We're still here! We've been waiting around for Monday to come when we can go pick up our visas, and for the agency to confirm when our flight is, which should be Wednesday at the latest! Exciting!

I'm kinda glad we have had these few extra days at home as I've been feeling pretty rubbish since Monday so I've been doing nothing all week, apart from abusing the last few days left on my Cineworld Unlimited card - much to the dismay of the other viewers as I've been repeatedly blowing my nose very loudly.

So here are my garbled thoughts on the films I've seen...

Chronicle. Although a little predictable (mainly cause of the trailer!) and some things left a little unexplained(the giant fairy light in a hole in the ground that makes your nose bleed and gives you the ability to fly), I loved how it was filmed and thought that it sometimes verged on epic.

The Woman in Black. Creepy locals and a crazy dog lady watched from behind my jittery hands.

The Vow. Rachel's bad hair and Channing's inexplicably fat neck...the story line wasn't interesting enough to stop me from making these sorts of observations.

Project X. Awesome soundtrack, needlessly annoying character called Costa, but pretty funny to watch.

The Descendants. Amazing Hawaiian scenery, nearly made me do a cry several times (which would have been embarrassing for everybody) and I loved Alexandra and her friend Sid as she taught her dad how to man up!

Bel Ami. Edward Cullen before Bella being even more cold and calculating in a period drama coupled with Uma Therman talking in a weirdly husky voice, but came out loving Christina Ricci even more.

Wanderlust. I love Paul Rudd, he never lets me down. 'Nuff Said!

This means War. 'He's British' 'That's as bad as having small hands'...What does this mean? Felt mildly offended for the rest of the film, the thigh slapping by the gent further down the aisle didn't improve things either...

Although I'm a little gutted to be missing the first Hunger Games movie coming out I have managed to persuade Tasha into one more cinema trip on Monday to see The Raven- we should also be proud owners of our South Korean visas then! Every cloud... 

LDN Calling

I felt like crying when the alarm went off at 3am on Monday morning, after a night of tossing and turning - not helped by the fact there were two of us squished into my bed, which isn't quite a single but not a double either. But we both dragged ourselves out of bed and got ready for the coach that was taking us on a mini adventure down to London. At 4:30am.

We arrived at 9:30 and power walked our way to the bustling road i had jotted down, 65 Buckingham Gate. We strutted into what we thought would be the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and announced we had come to apply for our visa. 

I hadn't really taken much note of the butler-esque man that stood at the grand spinning doors, the marble floors and walls, or the very majestic looking polished wooden desk, until I saw the bemused expression on the receptionist's face, who announced that we were in the HQ for Rolls Royce - I think that was a sign of things to come.

We crossed the road shame facedly and walked into the embassy - not quite the same, it felt like being back at my old Comprehensive school, low ceilings, everything was brown or beige and there were pigeon holes everywhere. We filled in yet more forms, queued while we watched Koreans bowing to each other - which made me a bit nervous about the Korean etiquette which I haven't even started to try and get my head around, and then we were hit with the news that our visas wouldn't be ready until next Monday. What makes this fact worse is that the school had called to say that our apartment was ready and waiting for us, and the embassy added that we would have to come and collect the visa -another trip to London!

By this time it was 10am and our tiredness had definitely kicked in, only another 8 hours to burn until the return trip. I definitely knew how this guy felt at this point. Santander's card machine decided to eat up Tasha's card and she almost had a nervous break down in the street about her financial situation - nothing a hot chocolate with cream from Starbucks couldn't help.

We decided to try and make the most of the day so hopped off the tube like proper tourists at Buckingham palace, to be greeted with a massive crowd and lots of police on horses, all gathered around watching the Beefeater's playing New York New York on brass instruments. We hung around a while hoping we might catch a glimpse of a real royal - but no such luck so we went on the hunt for cupcakes instead in Islington.

The Hummingbird Bakery looked so good, but we settled on The Diner - an American style restaurant down the road for some proper food. We then headed back to Victoria and clock watched in a pub, waiting for our coach to arrive - trying to ignore the odd man with a tattooed face who kept asking if we were sisters, and the students with annoyingly loud laughs.

Finally the coach arrived and as Tasha settled down to nap, i was entertained by the lady infront who must have called everyone in her phone book to tell them that her Jamaican boyfriend, who is yet to get a green card, who is nasty to her to the point that she cries, really only acts like he does out of love...really?!

We finally got back but I still had something to do - at 10 on the dot I drove around to Corporation and asked if my lost drivers license had been handed in on Friday night. I stood watching some sights that could definitely out do what we had seen at Buckingham Palace trot into Corp (alot of 'when I were there age...' thoughts ran through my head until I realised how old I was sounding), listening to the bouncers comparing bizarre stories with each other and hoped that next Monday didn't quite turn out the same way!

Desert Island Decision Making

I never really gave much thought to the question about what items you'd take if you were stranded on a desert island- but it's kinda fitting at the moment as I madly search through my case, trying to cull anything that isn't really that necessary.

I thought packing would be easy with the additional time we've now got due to the delay with the visa, but I think it's turned into a curse. I'm neurotically looking through my suitcase to see if there is anything that I could really live without for a year - only to discover I haven't packed this or that, and add even more stuff, ignoring the groaning noise the zip seems to be making under all the pressure.

I'm realising there's a fine line between being prepared and being excessive. But really - it's absolutely vital that I take the glittery Toms and the camo ones... isn't it? I imagine it's kind of like a parent being forced to pick their favourite child, surely?

I've found dividing the stuff into what i actually need, and what I would like to take helps and let myself pick a few things out of the 'would like' pile. Here are the luxuries that have come up tops:

My skates, Cadbury's chocolate, teabags and a few films including;  Amelie, Moulin Rouge, Where the Wild Things are, My neighbour Totoro, Eternal Sunshine, The Notebook, The Little Mermaid and Lion King.

I'm just happy to have my kindle that my lovely Aviva colleagues bought me as a leaving present so I don't have to make the same decision with my books.