Happy Endings and New Beginnings

November 2013

My first year in Korea has reached its end and one full year couldn't have gone faster!  I am so grateful for all of the amazing memories I have collected in this year.  I am also grateful for all of the wonderful people who made the transition to living abroad such a positive one!

I spent the last couple of weeks at the end of my contract enjoying the fall weather, spending time with a couple of good friends who were saying goodbye, and preparing for my visit home!!

Children's Park

Chungyeolsa Shrine

My visit to North Korea

November 9^th & 10^th, 2013

After nearly a year in Korea, I finally embarked on a DMZ tour in Seoul.  This tour was a must see activity to participate in while living in South Korea and one I was able to complete several weeks before the completion of my first year’s contract.

To arrive in Seoul, Aimee and I took the last slow train at 11:00pm on Friday night and arrived around 4:30am on Saturday morning in Seoul Station.  We had a couple of hours to kill at the station before beginning our tour around 7am.  We tried to get some sleep on the train but there were some very loud old men having an intense conversation most of the ride there. 

• The itinerary for the tour included:  Camp Bonifas (an American military base) and a powerpoint presentation explaining the history and significance of the DMZ done by a soldier in the American military.
•  A visit to the freedom building ( a place where families from North Korea and South Korea are supposed to be able to meet but only one meeting has actually taken place in this building so far.
• A chance to enter the Panmunjom meeting building and stand in North Korea. The Panmunjom meeting building is a place where North Korea and South Korea can meet and discuss issues and it is right on the DMZ dividing line.

Inside Panmunjom meeting building, South Korea Solider.

Standing in South Korea and North Korea at the same time!

Panmunjom meeting building, North Korea in the back

North Korea solider watching us with binoculars!

Canada's contribution to the Korean war.

•     Dorasan Station - The only train station connected to North Korea.  No longer running.
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• Dora Observatory

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Outline of the DMZ and the perimeters 

3rd Infiltration tunnel - One of many tunnels North Korea has dug underground to try and invade Seoul.  We walked down into the tunnel but couldn't take pictures.

That night, we met with a couple of friends living in Seoul, my good friend Hahee who moved near Seoul in October and Aimee’s friend from home, Gabby.  We enjoyed some delicious pizza (I was starving, especially since we had been up since 4:30am).

We did the touristy picture with the Gangnam Style sign and explored the famous area for the rest of the night!

The next day, we walked around a really nice touristy shopping area in Seoul called Insadong that I really enjoyed and found very charming!

After that, we went to Hongik University area to enjoy another touristy, shopping, artsy part of the city!  It was a beautiful time of the year to visit Seoul with all of the fall colours and the slight chill in the air but it still being warm enough to be comfortable.