meet the cast

I feel like a few introductions are in order.

starring Ruby Higgins and Canara Heinke

co-starring Jo JaeYoung 조재영 as our interpreter and friend

the Yang family as my Host Family

and introducing Yang JiWoo 양지우 as my host sister

 

casting by: The SSCA and the Gangjin sister cities program.   

what have i gotten myself into

sorry, I know I haven't posted but I have had literally zero time haha I have never had a schedule as busy as this in my entire life.  right now it's midnight and I am finally getting around to organizing all my pictures and thoughts.  we had our last activity tonight: a dinner with the director of general affairs in Gangjin.  it was delicious let me tell you that right now.  so i may be coming home in two days but I still will post about my travels because I want to remember them.  and we need to remember that this is only the beginning!  i am returning after all

ruby learns english

day one:  

background, Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries if not the most homogeneous country on the planet.  so when Canara and I walked off the plane (which side stories may or may not include almost walking into the men's bathroom) we noticed that right away we were literally the only white people in the airport.  then we were the only white people on the bus and at the rest stop. then we were the only white people in the entire town. at least as far as we noticed.  never in my life have I experienced the idea that I am a minority.  when Canara and I walked the streets people would literally stop their conversations, what they were doing, and stare.  so naturally we were casted as the English volunteers right away.  

so actual start of day one:  Canara and I stayed in the Dasan Training Center 

we ate our breakfast of little sandwiches and banana milk in PLASTIC BOTTLES (no one understood my excitement about that) not really understanding what was going to go on in the next few weeks.  two things were really cool.  one: it was the first place we went to that you has to take your shoes off to enter. and two: the view. 

(no no, it's no big deal.  just a huge shrine to some ancient Korean thing.  take no notice.)

 

our first schedule was to work with the teachers if the Gangjin Foreign Language Town.  

it was amazing.  we got to work with the kids and play with them.  let's be honest here, my mental age was the same as theirs so we all became fast friends. 

day two: 

I don't know if you have ever experienced humidity like Korea's... but let me tell you.   immediately after walking outside there is a layer of sweat covering your entire body and the air is so thick, you feel like you are swimming.  so when we heard that our first activity was a hike, not even the teachers were excited.  but it was so worth it. 

 the final destination was Baeknyeonsa or  백년사 which is a Buddhist temple.  

it was at this moment that I knew I was in the right place at the right time.  I knew that this was an experience of a lifetime.