This past weekend has been a lot more low key but Really Great! Friday night we celebrated our friend Andy, the South African’s, Birthday at the new lounge hangout in Ansan. It wasn’t a late night... and then we, Camille, Roberta, and I were up early and on the Subway for Seoul. I had the intention of doing something “cultural” as I feel it is time again and Camille needed to do some Christmas Shopping. The trip into Seoul takes about 50min or up to an hour and half depending on where you are headed. On our Subway line there is the “Seoul Racecourse Park” where a whole slew of business men often exit to go and gamble. Well my A.D.H.D. was getting the best of me on this particular ride so I said that we should get off and catch a race. SO because Camille and Roberta are the best ... we did! And Camille and I won! We walked to this huge stadium and luckily we had our trusty “Lonely Planet” books and learned that there was a foreigner section. So we trucked up to it and learned how to place our bets, put them in the machine, and cheered for our horses! It was a great new experience for Roberta and I. Interestingly, Camille has been to them before as it is big in New Zealand. Later, Will also told us that there are many parties at the horse races in Australia where everyone gets dressed in their formal gear, and the women DO wear those fun hats we see on the movies! I can’t wait to do that someday! After picking up our winnings, (mine a dollar.. Camille’s four) we headed to the “Horse Museum.” It was a small room with some old Korean horse paraphernalia... the best fact I learned was that when the old Korean master of the house died... he was buried with his alive horse!!! IMAGINE THAT!.... burying an alive horse is quite the challenge! The idea behind this is that the horse protects their wealth and they are able to ride into the next life. They were also buried with small horse figurines for the same reasons (much more practical!).
From there we headed into Itaewon. Itaewon is the area that is kinda dingy but has a lot of foreign import products. It is always weird to exit the subway and see so many foreigners on the street and to be able to understand what they are saying! We also have to watch what we are saying too... as people understand! haha this will take some getting used when I return back home. So Camille found a lot of her Christmas presents and then we got a phone call from Will and Dan (the new guy) who were also in Itaewon! So we met up and went to the overpriced red door for some food we can’t get anywhere else-- I bought crackers of all things (for $7.00), Will taco spice, Dan toothpaste, --- you know things you take for granted back home. We would have left with more but it is ridiculously priced. Then because we were with the boys... we ended up at an old Irish pub. It was great and I felt like I was back home at McNAlly’s. They played nice music and had multiple beers on tap for the boys... we all felt like we had left Korea for a moment. Not that I want to leave! ... But a little reminder of home is nice from time to time. So the intention of a really “Cultural day”-- (I was imagining art galleries or museums!)... was a bit of a bust! Then again maybe not... as Korean Horse Race Cultural... is something one does not experience every day!

Until next time!
miss you all- XO
me