Back to school...sort of

Jason & I on top of the Oreum slated to go up in flames next weekend...Fire Festival!

A beautiful walk at Gwakji Beach

I spent the rest of my vacation in blissful relaxation. Jason and I hiked up Hallasan again and, as usual, the weather cooperated. Other than that, watching movies, catching up with vacationing friends and crocheting have been highest on my priority list!

Another hike up Halla:

snowpacks!

You could barely tell if the horizon was the ocean or clouds

Gwakji beach

Chagwido (Chagwi Island) in the distance

We took Charlie (a friend's dog) on a 5 hour adventure walk

Last week I went back to school and taught...count them...3 classes the entire week! Due to many circumstances I won't bore you with, I'm not really teaching next week either. I'll just go to school and spend the time running errands, studying Korean, and watching movies. Then we have 2 weeks at school with no kids to transition into next semester which begins March 2nd. I'm getting a new English classroom and 2 new co-teachers next month as well. But I'm back to my regular schedule of teaching yoga, going to Buddhist Temple and meeting with my Korean friends. Not to mention enjoying the sunny weather with walks to Sarabong, adventurous hikes in the hills around my apartment, and beach trips.

Nearby Chagwido, dried squid and pensions...looks a little Mediterranean

February is an exciting month to be on Jeju. There are many "Kuts," traditional Shamanic Festivals to welcome different Gods to Jeju. The Shaman tradition is one of the original religions in Korea along with Buddhism and Confucianism. Shamanic customs have been preserved especially well on Jeju. The season for Spring Kuts started last week and almost every village has their own festivities. I went to a big one at City Hall on Friday and got to share in the soju drinking (offering to the Gods) and parading down to watch traditional singing and dancing. Next weekend is the Fire Festival where an oreum (small mountain) is lit on fire! I've been told it's the best festival on Jeju.

Traditional masks

The offering table for the Spring Gods

We shared in the offerings of soju and even got on TV! They love foreigners...

Village dancers

There were hundreds of drummers from each village in Jeju City

The parade stretched out before us...

And behind...

Dancing and celebrating at Gwangdeokno

I would like to quickly clear up something about which I get asked constantly...I am not dating John. John is my nam-dong-saeng, my little brother in Korean terms. It may appear that we're together, but we are just good friends. I have been dating someone for a few months, but I'm not gonna shout that out over the internet. I bet if you do some quick detective work you can figure it out...