Let’s get this started. Friday I was feeling sort of down.
It probably was my lowest point so far in Korea. I had no plans
for Friday or Saturday. I told myself it was a weekend to get work done, but come
on really? It was 9:30 at night and I hadn’t left my apt. I knew I needed
to change that. So I took the stuff I wanted to get done to a coffee shop and
stated to work. I was there maybe a half hour when Su Kyoung the owner of my
favorite coffee shop DDols messaged me. Her, her husband, and a few others were
out eating and they wanted me to join. I was relieved and had a fresh breath of
life. At that point I knew that staying for this extra time will be managable, I have people outside the ones whom are leaving.
But there was still some hesitation. Saturday I was at ddols most the day
doing work. Then went home and watched some tv shows and movies looking forward
to Sunday morning.
Sunday morning came early. I was to be at the rock wall at 9:30. The club was meeting and going to a place nearby to make a new trail in this rock formation. I wasn’t looking forward to it too much cause it sounded like me sitting around for several hours and watching them do work and then me trying, but not being able to get up the natural rock. Wow was I wrong. It was a lot of fun. When I got there they put me on fire duty, Hell yeah!!! I love fire. So after I started a nice fire I noticed the oldest member of the club sawing down trees with a hand saw and pulling them over near the fire. I have no clue why. We had a lot of wood as it was. I still am not sure why we did it, but I spend most the sawing trees down and dragging them to the pile. Which was a lot of fun I miss hard manual labor. Then lunch was strips of beef cooked over the coals of the fire. BEST MEAL YET. It reminded me of a nice juicy steak, but the best was yet to come, I am told to put my shoes on, I am climbing next. At the bottom I looked up to the top about 50ft to the end of the course, needless to say I was intimidated the holds were not popping out, colored and perfect for my hands. That is what I am used to. Well here goes nothing. I slowly worked my way up. At times thinking there is no way then after feeling the rock for a minute I would find a hold. That feeling is amazing. When I reached the top it was a huge boost of confidence, but I wanted to keep going. But there is not better feeling than climbing your first natural rock.
The next day I was honored to be invited to a 제사 or Jaesa. Which
is an ancient tradition honoring the ancestors. Wow it was great; the
grandfather spoke good English and the kids whom I know from climbing, love me.
One little boy only wants to sit on my lap. I have adopted both of them as my
brothers. The ceremony started with the grandfather writing the ancestors name in Chinese characters
and placing them at their seat at the table, a table that was packed with tons of
food. Then incense was lit to welcome the spirits. And a series of welcoming
bows were done. The grandfather then poured drinks for the ancestors and stayed bowed as the
ancestors ate. After a few minutes they brought them dessert. Then more
bowing to say goodbye and thank you. In closing they burnt that piece of paper with the names on
candle from the table. That was to cleanse the room. Wow it was awesome; as it
was starting the grandpa looked at me and was like why are you not taking
pictures? I didn’t know it could. He then demanded me to take a lot of pictures as time posing for them. I thought it would be rude to take pictures during the ceremony, but what do I know.
Fast
forward to the next Friday, it was going to be a busy and fast paced Friday
with a lot do to. First school, then leave early to travel to Daegu for a
farewell banquet with some of the scholars that are leaving, finally travel to
Busan to get a good night sleep before the shark dive. Well, just
like in Michigan nothing goes as planned. I leave for school and there is maybe
a half an inch of snow. Which is exciting but as I hear that some of the other scholars schools
were canceled I was more confused. Yes, it was the first legit snow fall and
this area isn’t used to snow. But for it to shut down schools? I didn't think of it being near enough. I get on my bus
like normal then as I am almost to my school I get a call from the mentor
teacher... no school! Well that is awesome but I am on the bus and almost to the
school. If I take this bus to its destination it will park there for an hour
and then another 40 mins on the bus back to my place. So I quickly decided to
get off the bus. Haha mistake maybe... I ended up just walking, and walking for
about 30 minutes wishing for a cab. But wait, that is right I am in the middle of
nowhere. When a cab finally approaches me,his light is off and that means that he is
already taken. The trek continues. But that cab comes back after dropping that
person off and picks me up so in the end i was able to get a ride home instead of walking several hours. It was about 15$ but I didn’t
care I was out of the snow and freezing cold. That was the first hiccup. Then we get a bus at 4:10. It is an hour 20
bus ride and we have to be there at 630 so we have time. HAHAHA we knew the bus
would take longer than normal due to the conditions but we had no clue it would take 3 hours. So needless to say
we were late, but so was everyone traveling from neighboring cities. The event was awesome. Saw some old friends
and were able to say goodbye to those who were leaving. Then was the
trek to Busan to stay in a jimjalbong on the beach side. Epic right, spa on the
beach. We get there and they are cleaning the spa area so we could only shower and
sleep. But, the next morning the spas were open and we took advantage of them. Of
course being the only guy in the group I was in there with a bunch of Koreans and me. Needless to say mine spa time was much
shorter than the girls. So I went out and had a nice cup of coffee
next to the ocean. Not a bad alternative.
shark dive..... to be continued......
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