Somethings I did in July 2015

A highlight for 2015 was going to China again. I will make a separate post (or posts) to share some of the photos I took in China. The trip included time spent in Hangzhou, Li Zhou, Zhuji, and Shanghai.

The trip was part volunteer work and part travel. Among other things, I taught some English and martial arts to Chinese young people.

During my final two days in Shanghai I went to a jazz club (The House of Blues and Jazz), which was a lot of fun.

To my great surprise, the performance Cavalia involving horses that I missed when it showed in Korea was showing in Shanghai. It felt like a great blessing to be able to see it.

The National Museum of China in Shanghai was a grand spectacle, with some fantastic art.

I felt very inspired by all the aesthetics of my China-trips, that I decided to make a real effort to start get into the habit of making art again. Below are some of the scribbles I did in both China, and back home in Korea in July.

I had a really great time in China, and lots of fun in Shanghai. It is a beautiful city -- or at least, the parts that I found myself in.

One things I seriously enjoyed in China was the food. I really, really, really loved the food.

Back in Korea, I met up with my friend Bruce (Mingun) Park and Tae Eung Kim, both of whom I hadn't seen in over a year.

I went to my friend Mary's birthday party.

I also got my Korean driver's license.

And apart from my regular twice-weekly Taekwon-Do classes that I teach in Seoul, I also taught two ITF Taekwon-Do introductory workshops. The one was at an aviation college, and the other at the Seoul-Yeoksam Global Center.

Some things I did in June 2015

In June I graded exam papers...not so nice. The missing capital letters for "hamlet" and "ophelia" in the papers started to cause anxiety. 

On one paper a student left me a message. He said that after returning from military service (which is mandatory for all Korean males) he felt like quitting school, as the classes he took did not inspire him, and he started to give up on his dream of becoming a literature professor. However, after taking my classes this semester it possibly saved him from giving up on his dreams. "Thank you for always making us THINK," he wrote. "We appreciate it."

Sometimes I question my purpose here as a literature lecturer--why am I always trying to get my students to "think" in a society that doesn't value personal opinions and rogue "thinkers". A little message like this one makes it worth it though. Trying to get my students to "think" is indeed my goal.

My little orchid bloomed and smelled wonderful, which was nice.

I also baked a lot: bread, cake, etc. Something I hope to do more off in 2016. 

I applied for a visa to visit China the following month.

I made sure to treat myself with some fabulous meals.

I got a new bookshelf! Yeah! (With "new" I mean, it is new in my home -- it is actually a second-hand bookshelf, but I love it.)

I went on a trip to Donghae and Jangho Village--the latter is supposedly the most beautiful village in Korea. It wasn't that beautiful, but the trip was nice.

I went to dance performances.

#Lifest

My former Taekwon-Do student got married.

I went to a Mark Rothko exhibit in Seoul.

There was a MERS outbreak in Seoul, but it didn't really affect me.

Mmm...

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” -- Mark Twain