After a year and half of teaching in South Korea, I have been blessed once more with a sponsored trip through EPIK. This would be extra special since this would be the last one I’ll probably be able to experience. I think there comes a point in the school year when all teachers are tired and weary. I can honestly say that I was one of them. As much as I love my students, I was tired.
This cultural trip gave me a chance to revitalize and to regain my sense of wonder in this ever beautiful land of South Korea. Every time I think that I’ve seen all of Korea’s wonders, I’m always put back in place and forced to eat my words. It’s not an overstatement to say this over and over again: Korea has so many endless and timeless beauties! It’s a beautiful place!
We began our trip in the city of Daegu where a sea of foreigners was waiting to board gigantic buses. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many waygooks in one place but it gave me a sense of community. Yes I didn’t know all of them but a sense of comradery was in the air. We all needed this trip. We were tired. But a few hours into the trip changed all of that.
We reached the island of Goeje. It boasts one of the world’s deepest undersea tunnels. Its architecture is top of the line. And it cuts time travel to almost half for many locals going to Busan. The Goeja Bridge is a stunner. And just under it also boasts it newest port accessible to many international vessels. No wonder why South Korea just recently became a member of the G20. It truly is an economic powerhouse. It is also gaining more and more recognition for its old and new cultural contributions. One of those is in the area of film and music. So many Asian countries are clamoring for its newest dramas and KPOP music. Tourists throng Korean sites where a drama production shot a few scenes. One that we saw is Windy Hill in Goeje Island. It was such breathtaking scenery with its brown windmill and the cliffs plunging to the blue sea and the hilly coast as the backdrop. I just kept thinking of a perfect movie setting. I started taking pictures- silly pictures with silly poses; I was probably thinking I was the movie star. All my stress and worries went away at that moment. I was at ease.
But the highlight of the trip for me would have to be Oedo or Lonely Island. Who would have expected to find a tropical paradise situated in the southern region of Gyeongsangnam-do. Reaching the island was a treat in itself. We boarded one cruise ship and all I kept thinking was how they put so many foreigners in one boat; and the possibility of the boat sinking; and that most foreigners do know how to swim. I studied my pamphlet for Oedo intently. Admiring the pictures and hoping to take the same shots upon arriving. It’s like a scavenger game. Trying to find the same views became a fun activity for me. But words can’t describe how I felt when I saw this beautiful place. Even my friends on Facebook couldn’t believe that it was an actual place. Some of them thought it was a folk art painting. All of them wished they could see it too. This made me even more appreciative of being in South Korea. I felt so undeserving but glad I could share it with my friends even if it’s only through pictures. It’s a perfect place to bring a special someone. It’s a very romantic place and away from the hustle and bustle of a city hub.
And so what have I learned from this experience? It gave me another chance to be thankful once again. I’m thankful that I’m here. I’m thankful for a job. I’m thankful for a chance to see this beautiful country. When my contract ends, I hope I could get another chance to visit this place. And when I do, I’ll bring all my friends and family with me.
Thank you EPIK for your generosity and support.
