Apr 1, 2012 - Sunday, April 1

Picked up Dian from the Busan airport (she had to stay in Tokyo over night because bad weather in Michigan forced a delay and missed connecting flight). There is a political race going on here. I’m not sure which office the candidates are running for, but it’s easy to identify the campaign supporters by their bright colored jackets (red, green, blue and purple ) as groups of them walk around in the shopping district and or stand on busy intersections singing and waving to passersby.

Mar 31, 2012 - Saturday, 3/31

I returned to the mountaintop exercise park, this morning. I find it very warming to walk around the park as the sun rises. After I returned to the apartment, Erin and I took a bus to the Home Store in Samchongpo. We picked up a few groceries and a flat iron. Then, Erin and Pup-pup walked with me to the grand opening of a nearby store. When I left the store, I headed straight to my favorite cafe. Dian arrives later tonight, we learned that her flight to Japan had an hour delay(hopeful she’ll arrive in time for her connecting flight to...

Mar 30, 2012 - My First Friday in Korea

I had a late start getting out, a grey rainy day. Before walking in the rain to the café, I stopped down stairs on the second floor to visit Erin in her classroom. She was teaching one of her youngest groups of students. They were actively engaged in learning the names of colors in English. Later this evening, I plan to interview one of her older students.

Mar 29, 2012 - My First Thursday in Korea

This morning, the three of us walked to a fitness station near the river. The huge hula-hoops were painfully enjoyable. After we dropped Pup-pup off at the groomer, Erin walked with me to the Twosome Place café (my new hangout, love there free Wi-Fi) and then she returned home. After having lunch, I decided to order dessert. Now Erin has told me more than once that you cannot deviate or make changes to menu items at any restaurant (she calls it their inability to think outside the box when it comes to ordering food at restaurants), Twosome...

Mar 28, 2012 - My First Wednesday in Korea

Erin, Pup-pup and I returned to the neat mountaintop fitness park. We walked one of the trails and used the various equipment at the exercise station, I got a kick out of the pedel powered musical exercise bikes. One has to maintain a minimum speed to keep the music playing. The park also has areas one can sit and have a meal and or sit and reflect. After returning Pup-pup home, we biked to the military airport (I had to remind Erin several times unlike her I’m not a” biker”, I’m a walker.) which is about 5 minutes from her apartment and...

Mar 27, 2012 - My First Tuesday in Korea

Got up early, walked around town. I discovered this neat mountaintop fitness park and entered it by climbing a very long steep set of stairs. The park has various walking paths and an area with exercise equipment (no camera). Then I walked to the Twosome café where I had lunch and used there free WI-FI. (A neat thing about the café, after placing your order you are given a buzzer /pager ( like the ones given at the Olive Garden when you have to wait for a table), so that you don’t have to stand and wait for your food. After logging in on...

Mar 26, 2012 - My First Monday in Korea

Erin and I took the bus to another city about 30 minutes from town this morning and went to the Home store (US equivalent to a Super Walmart). We got groceries and the basic necessities (several bags of Hershey Hugs for me). While Erin was at work I walked around town in search of an electric air pump. I brought our air mattress from home so that I could have my own bed. Unfortunately, the air pump went up seconds after I plugged it into the outlet (there was an electrical burning smell). The two Korean repair shop owners were very...

Mar 25, 2012 - My First Sunday in Korea

After leaving the W in Busan, we took the bus (about an hour ride, similar to the Greyhound bus) to the Sacheon, the town where Erin lives. We got Pup-pup and walked to the Twosome Place café and ordered lunch to go. Later we rode bikes to the bus terminal and got tickets to Jinju( about an hour ride away). We did a little shopping before meeting up with Erin’s book club friends at another local American type café that has free Wi-Fi. After the bus ride back to Sacheon, we ate dinner at a Korean restaurant. Then, we biked to Erin’s job...