It's been a crazy 2 weeks since I've last posted, as my time here is running down quickly (only 1 more week left!) and I'm trying to get things done and spend some quality time here.
So, 2 weeks ago I headed up to the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone) - the border between North and South Korea. It's a 4 km stretch of land between the two countries that was established after the Korean War. There wasn't a peace treaty, they basically just decided to stop fighting. It's was pretty surreal - makes you realize how tense the situation is even though they've made a lot of strides in the last few years (not counting the little missile fiasco that's going on right now). The North is just so unpredictable - possibly due to their self-obsessed, deluded leader. It also makes you realize how far South Korea has come in terms of development. We visited a tunnel that they only found 15 years ago that was dug by the north after the DMZ was established that goes under the DMZ. They think they're might be a lot more of them, some of which go almost to Seoul. I hope they don't ever get used.
At a memorial near Freedom Bridge. The bridge used to be used for exchanging POW's. It's sad because so many Korean families were divided after the war.
This last picture was taken at Dorasan station - they're building the first railroad between North and South Korea. I guess George Bush visited not too long ago. The Korean prime minister wrote this really eloquent statement about unification and a new era of peace and prosperity. George bush wrote this - and I don't think he even spelled railroad right.
Keeping on my theme, the next day I hit up the Korean War Memorial and Museum. It's absolutely huge and impressive and I have a much better understanding of the war and Korea's history now. I had no idea how huge the Korean War was and how many countries were involved. You really do feel the military presence here everyday (both Korean and American). I live right by an airforce base and yesterday 8 helicopters flew over my house right in a row. There's constantly airplanes in the air, soldiers walking around. Plus, a few months ago we had an air raid drill. I say, if the North attacks - send in the ajimas. Those 60 and 70 year old women scare the hell out of me. They're always wearing giant visors and jogging pants and pushing people around - I always stay away.
The other excitement lately is, of course, the World Cup. The last World Cup, the Korean team did was better than expected so there was a lot of pressure on the team to do that again this year. Their insanely obsessed with it here - way worse than hockey playoff time. Their first game against Togo last week was at 10pm and Andy, Jonathan and I headed to City Hall in Seoul. They had the game playing on huge screens and they expected over a million people to go and watch it there. How could you not go? It was absolutely insane - a sea of red (their team's colour). During the game, everyone sat on the pavement and watched politely, but when they got a goal - everyone jumped up, screamed, danced - you name it. There were massive fireworks and music too. When they won, all of Seoul was partying - it was awesome.
Sadly, they were eliminated the other night by Switzerland. The game was at 4am and even my preschoolers got up to watch it. There were just as many people at City Hall at the 4am games as there were at the 10 pm game - minus me, of course.
Some Random Pics
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