A World Unknown

So the good news is that I arrived home safe and sound from the North/South Korean border, better known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Saturday afternoon some friends and I went on a 7 hour tour of the DMZ where we were first required to sign a waver understanding that the Korean military cannot be held accountable in the event of a hostile enemy act. So in other words, they could not guarantee our safety if North Korea decided to pursue an attack. It was a very interesting tour and I actually learned a lot (considering we were running on ZERO hours of sleep). Gwangju is about 4 hours from Seoul (where we had to meet the tour group) so we decided it made the most sense to leave late Friday night (or early Saturday morning) at 2am. The bus got into Seoul at 5:30am which gave us an hour and a half to kill. Luckily we found a 24 hour coffee shop and set up camp until we it was time to head North.

Being able to peek over into such a secretive, unknown world was such an erie experience. We were able to view one North Korean village that seemed almost like a ghost town; very still and silenced. All in all it was a very unique experience to say the least. I purchased some original North Korean currency which I was told Kim Jung Il (North Korean President) had recently revised and has only allowed his citizens to exchange a couple hundred dollars to fit its new form. This means that individuals and families who have savings were only permitted to trade the required sum and the rest has been occupied by the government. It is hard to believe that a Country like North Korea exists in such an autonomous world we live in today but hopefully tours like this one will encourage people to stick their necks out further and question the type of regime and control that is present in their realm of isolation.

Old North Korean currency I purchased. Kim Jung Il is present on every bill AND coin... a little narcissistic, eh?

Posing with a South Korean Solider who did not move from that position for the entirety of our tour

A North Korean village close to the border

Peeking over to the other side

This gate was filled with little banners that South Koreans displayed if they had been separated from their families during the war. North Koreans are not permitted to leave the country and therefore have never been able to reconnect with displaced family members.

An old train with hundreds of bullet wounds

North Korea is just behind this gate. "No entry" would be an understatement

On a brighter note, today (Sunday March 14th) is a Korean holiday known as White day. Exactly one month after Valentines Day, guys are supposed to spoil their girlfriends with candy. On Friday I received buckets of candies as well as a pie from the majority of my male students. It was so adorable! I also received a new student on Friday who already had his English name chosen from the minute he entered the classroom. I now have a "Franklin Roosevelt" along with Obama and George Washington. He was very stern on having me call him by his full name... just "Franklin" won't suffice. I was also given a new nickname by my students who are STILL dumbfounded by my hair and tell me it looks like Ramin noodles. My new name is "noodle teacha" and it cracks me up every time!

You can tell one has been in Korea for an extended period of time when they start to recognize Korean celebrities in advertisements. Walking around Seoul, I was able to point out some Korean actors and pop stars posing in Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's ads. I was very proud of myself since when I first arrived here, I honestly couldn't tell the difference between the Principle of my school and the President of Korea!

Being in Seoul I always end up treating myself to some good old Western food! I mean, Korean food is great and all but kimchi can get pretty old and a good turkey sub or McDonald's burger is a good reminder of home. However, since this is still Korea, restaurants naturally must alter their menu's to cator to the mainstream citizens and of course, McDonald's is no exception. So instead of onion rings they serve "squid rings" and also offer a shrimp and rice cake burger! Yumm (not really).

Anyways it's getting late and I still have half a sub I saved from Seoul, so I am going to enjoy the last of my Western dinner and get ready for another week of teaching.

Write more soon!

Signing off,

Gillian xx