This past week has been a busy one. Sunday started off with the 코스모스 (Cosmos) Festival. To clarify, this was the flower, not to be mistaken with the entire universe. We traveled about 20 minutes by car to get to 하동 (Hadong), where we walked through tunnels of squash plants and vines and fields of flowers. We also walked through the vendor booths to snack on some interesting food and eat lunch at a restaurant under a tent. We also listened to people singing karaoke. Let me tell you, Korean people take their karaoke very seriously. This venue had a stage and a professional set up with speakers, a wall of television screens, an MC and enough seats in the audience for at least 100 people.

October 1st also arrived this week, which brought the Lantern Festival in 진주 (Jinju). Along the river, there are hundreds of lanterns that are lit up every night for people to view. There are also many food vendors, live music, fireworks, and an art gallery. 진주 아카데메 (Jinju Academy, where I work) is pretty close to the river, so my coworkers and I stopped by and ate dinner this past Tuesday after work since we had Wednesday off. I got a pork shish-kabob that was literally the spiciest thing I have ever eaten in my life. When asked, the worker said it was only a little spicy. And like a fool, I believed him. By the end of the stick, I was crying and sweating. But it did taste delicious, I must admit.

This week with having Wednesday off, it felt like a Sunday. So when we went back to work on Thursday, it felt like Monday again. But it was the best Monday ever since the following day was Friday. But another week has passed, which means that it is just over a week until I begin my journey back home for my sister’s wedding. I am taking a bus to 부산 (Busan), getting a hotel room for the night, and then taking a taxi to the airport the next morning. It should be interesting to do all of this without a phone. Wish me luck.

In other news, I officially started Korean lessons this week as well. Three other teachers and I are taking lessons from one of our supervisor’s friends who taught English for many years. The first evening was just to determine each of our levels, so I haven’t learned much yet, but I have high hopes and am excited to see where this takes me. I still find the hardest part about living in Korea to be the language barrier. It’s harder to accomplish small tasks that seemed so easy back home. But I will persevere.

This weekend also brought new adventures and faces. Today, we went to the 삼성 (Samsung) Buffet, where I ate far too much, and met new people who either currently live in 진주 (Jinju), or used to. Afterward, we walked to a coffee shop and played some board games with yet more new faces. It was a fun day, and I was glad to meet new people who live around the area.

That is all from me this week, so until next time my friends! Stay safe and stay happy. And as always, thanks for reading.