2.14.86

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY M&D!

Captiva, Florida March 2010

be mine busan

A rather unannounced snow storm left Busan under a thick layer of fluffy goodness this Valentine's day. Students, staff...singles alike took to the streets as if nothing had changed. Really, the ever so brave Korean women were still sporting their stacked heels, tights and denim cut offs. For my chickadees, this was their first experience with a true snowfall.

a man covered in snow

and it was a ball

Kindly our principal let us out early to bounce around the playground. Everyone kept asking me if the weather reminded me of home, it did somewhat, but mostly I remembered the magic that follows the first flakes.

Hyunhee and I stepped out

 The quiet calm of winter that falls over you, ignites a craving for a cup of tea and a good book, perched before a crackling fire.

Yas and I join the effort to make Jemm more creative. We ended up leading the project start to finish.

Of course there was no fire to be found so I settled on fun with my students, pasteries, chocolate, tea and crafts with some girlfriends.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

LOVE me some JAPAN

Kym and I set sail to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Japan.

shoes worn by Geisha girls

Arriving in the port city of Hakata, we took the JR high speed train to Hiroshima. We spent two days here, touring the city by bike - I was perhaps overly enthusiastic about the basket in the front...

across the river stands the A-Dome, the nuclear hypocentre

The Peace Memorial Park, the site where the United States dropped with first atomic bomb in August 1945 was of particular interest. This slice of green in what has now grown into a bustling urban jungle, pays respectful homepage to those that suffered. 

the 'memorial mound' where the ashes of the victims have been laid to rest

From here we moved up the coast to Kyoto. Kyoto is the perfect mix of old and new Japan - temples and palaces of generations past blend seamlessly with 21st century life.The city maximized all spaces, stairways to nowhere reveal the most quaint French bistro, refurbished house basements - an Italian kitchen.

Kyoto side street by night

Like Hiroshima we explored the city by bike, dipping into shopping promenades, food markets and arcades. Leaving Japan I could not help but draw the obvious comparisons between the two Asian countries. Despite their many commonalities, what ROKs about Busan is the life I've created here.

cranes for peace

CHEERS TO THE NEXT 6 MONTHS FRIENDS!