I woke up singing Obladi Oblada this morning…maybe because
yesterday I decided to make these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars (that
taste almost like reese’s) and then ended up eating half of the container… life goes on. Today I embarked on my first hiking trip in Korea. I was
really looking forward to it because I haven’t had much exercise since I got
here and also because I haven’t seen more than 3 pieces of grass and one leaf since
I got here.
The only thing that I wasn’t looking forward to was waking
up at 6:30 for a 7:30 bus departure. I have surprisingly gotten very
comfortable with sleeping in since I don’t have to be at work until 11. I set
my alarm but I couldn’t get to sleep until around 2am last night so waking up
wasn’t much fun but I threw back some coffee and put my running shoes on and
off I went to meet the group. . I went with three other foreign teachers whose
Muay Thai master is in charge of organizing these excursions. We took a chartered bus because the hiking spot was about a 2 hour drive from Pyeongtaek.
It was impossible to miss this tour bus. As I approached the
departure site, I could see an array of ajummas and ajusshis in NEON hiking
gear, with poles and the whole works. I was literally prepared for an intense
day of non-stop hiking up mountains and through treacherous paths and running
from bears etc.
As soon as I stepped onto the bus I knew that this was not
going to be your typical organized hike. The inside of the bus looked straight
out of Snoop Dogg’s video for Sensual Seduction. It had multi-colored neon
flashing lights on the ceiling and these Persian looking curtains with tassles.
We had just sat down and the bus had barely started moving
when a lady came around and started handing out beer and soju. Have you ever started
drinking before the sun has entirely risen in the sky? Key word being: STARTED.
Not continued from the night before. Neither had I… until today. In North
America, hiking means put on your sweatpants and running shoes and prepare for
some strenuous walking where you will break a light sweat at the very least. In
Korea, hiking means put on your neon finery and a full face of makeup and walk
for 20 minutes until you reach a suitable place to sit and consume copious
amounts of soju.
I came prepared for a workout and I was determined to get it
so two of the other teachers and I left the group and continued up the river.
It wasn’t the epic pilgrimage that I was picturing but I was just happy to be
out of the city for a bit and the scenery was beautiful. We passed several
other groups on our walk and everyone was incredibly friendly. One kind
stranger shared his rice cakes with us and offered drinks.
We hiked for about 80 minutes and then made our way back to
the rest of the group. We jumped back on the bus and headed back towards home,
stopping on the way back for a buffet lunch. Meals here are always a guessing
game. You never know quite what you’re eating until you bite into it, and
sometimes not even then.
The highlight of the trip had to be the noraebang (karaoke)
on the bus ride back. My previous hiking trips have never involved alcohol, karaoke
and old Korean men and women dancing down the aisles of the bus. I have laughed
so hard in this past month, I really feel like a kid again. That’s what I mean
when I say that it’s been a rollercoaster. Sometimes you have a really bad day
with your students and you miss home, and then the next day could be a complete
180 and suddenly, you fall in love with this country. Overall, it’s been a
great experience so far and I am really happy that I came. I will be spending a weekend at a Buddhist
temple in the very near future and hanging out with some monks. Stay tuned.
Love <3
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