Gallery Golmok Art Bazaar

Every first and third Sundays Gallery Golmok hosts an Art Bazaar. It is where you can browse their galleries but also enjoy arts and crafts for sale in the alley area. In case you didn't know this gallery is located in Itaewon near the Noksapyeong side. Tucked in an alley-way with colorful walls is also a cafe.

 On display were works by the artist Cho Dae Hee that seemed to glorify the symbol of Nike and basketball. The technique and materials used certainly allowed me to take pause and give a second look.

Outside I found a few artists selling items from paintings to tea cups. It was fun to look around at the offerings, but I felt a little too much like the "foreigner."

To complete my experience I took refuge inside the nearby cafe called, The Alley. This place features a range of drinks from the caffeinated to the alcoholic kind. I sat down with my sketchbook and a cup of "Honey Milk Tea" and soaked in the cool Fall afternoon.

After I had finished my tea and some sketches I took to the backstreet that connects Gallery Golmok and the main area of Itaewon. I wanted to see if anything had changed since my last visit. A few more shoe and clothing shops had opened and there were definitely more people about. But it still had that unknown and fresh vibe to it.

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I hope they still have this event as the weather turns to chilly cold, but no matter I still recommend you getting out to this little section of Itaewon.

The Stress Mill

Drama Festival is next week and so the kids have been pushed to practice their script, dances and positions. The pressure seems to steam off from the homeroom teachers throughout the day. I am trying my best to keep a cool head and also just do the job of practicing with the students.

To be honest, I am tired and just want this to be over with. I don't think I was prepared walking into this, due to that it is becoming so rigorous. Maybe I was naive in that department, or all this "life" stuff blinded me.

But really I am keeping my chin up and hoping for the best. I think the kids will perform well, but that mine will look a little different from the rest.

I think next week they will announce if they will give me another contract or not. So I am kind of holding my breath till then. With my release of being in a relationship I feel like anything is possible, which is both good and scary.

The end of October as always is another stressful time here in Korea. But, you know, I am enjoying the Fall colors amongst all this. Are you?

A Possible Cure for Korea's Public Art

If you travel enough around Seoul you start to notice large steel sculptures in front of corporate buildings. At first they look interesting, but after the fiftieth time you start to think it is just some kind of contest.

I found an article that talks about some kind of street artist covering up corporate sculptures. Some kind of new trend.

I think if this person or these people came to Korea, they would have their work cut out for them!

September Field Trip: Natural History Museum

For our September field trip the children were sent to the Seodaemun Museum of Natural History. First the kids sat down for a 3D movie about dinosaurs.

Next everyone was rushed around the museum going to the different sections, some covering Earth science to Biology.

It was fun and all, but the kids hardly had time to examine things and the ones in the back missed out on the Korean explanations.

Outside there was a large sculptural area with huge dinosaurs for kids to touch and play on.

One exhibit, I assumed, talked about the evolution of man and even had life size models for examples.

If you have kids in Seoul I would recommend taking them here as there was a lot to see and quite a few hands-on things. However, it wasn't the Science museum I recall in my childhood where everything was pretty much touchable and playable. Where is that museum, Korea?

Tom the Cat is One Year Old

Approximately a year ago my ex (sad face) knocked on my door and had with him a box. He said, "Open the box." I did and out popped three little furry and dirty heads.

Since then I have been mom to the sweetest cat there is, Tom. (Except for when my friend took care of him for me for 6 months. Thank you!)

His brothers have since found homes (one at my friends and the other at me ex's). But the time that I have had Tom and grown to love and take care of him, he has become my special little buddy.

It's amazing how much a little animal can grow in just a year, but it just means more warmth and fuzziness.

Tom has given me so much already in just one year. He acts as a prompt alarm clock when I over sleep my alarm. He becomes my bedside buddy in times of homesickness and heartache.

He's there for me when I open the door after stressful days of work and ready to tackle me in the morning.

Happy Birthday my little Tom! I hope you have many more and we get to share more wonders of the world together.

Tribute Video:

Sunflower Creative Arts

This might interest folks who want to expand their ability to work with young children. My brother works for a school (back home in the USA) where they try to give the kids as many creative possibilities as they can.

He hosts a blog called, Sunflower Creative Arts, where you can see some of the things they have accomplished.

Topics include, "Experiencing Risk" and "Let the Children Play." Certainly he has a lot more freedom with the kids than say here in South Korea, but it might open your mind to thinking how to get them engaged

Certainly I enjoy reading it and catching up on how other people do their teaching job. So why not check it out?