Altered Perspective One (July 6)

• Korea has many islands but the biggest is Jeju. It has a city on it and is it's own province. Because of that, TaLK also places scholars out there. When I first heard that, I kind of wished I had been sent there, as it is referred to as "Korea's Hawaii". Since that initial thought though, I have definitely changed my mind (though I do still want to visit some day). Very few of the scholars on the island leave it during their stay, because you have to fly and then bus to wherever you want to go. Yikes! In case you just tuned in, I leave Pohang nearly every weekend (now go back and read my adventures ;)). This week, a few of them came to the farewell party and are now in Pohang for Ashley's barbeque. But they don't know anything about traveling haha. I'm not trying to be mean, its just true. Two girls brought rolling suitcases. Yes, it's 4 days. And yes, that's how I packed before Korea. But a suitcase is so much work! One girl didn't bring anything to do (book, ipod, puzzle, etc.) because she didn't think the bus rides would be that long. The other girl asked if there was a process for checking in and getting on the bus - they've never taken the intercity buses. I'm honestly not making fun of them. I just really didn't realize how much I have learned about traveling. And how much I'm glad/how lucky I am that I wasn't placed on Jeju. And how much I love the mainland. Wow, perspective is cool.
• The bus trips here are so beautiful, because you basically can't leave any city and get to another in Korea without going through the mountains. Today, after all the rain we've had, everything was green, and the sun was starting to peak through the clouds, it was especially breath-taking.