It has been almost a month since my last real blog entry! Life is back to being sunny and bright, after a few rainy weekends! The one thing I miss most is MongMong the dog, who has gone back to his rightful owner after a couple of months in Daejeon.

The month of April was very full, exploring Daejeon, and getting out for festivals! The cherry blossoms were out in full splendour, although the day a few of us tried to get a bus out to the National Park to see the festival was a bit of a fiasco. The night before had been our company Kwesik, a night of food and drinks and Noraebang paid for by the Company. A little fuzzy-headed, we left later on the Saturday, and every bus that passed for two hours did not stop, but was packed with people, smushed up against the windows and all. Cab drivers were charging a fortune for the trip. We ended up exploring the National Cemetery instead, which was pretty cool, anyway!

The next day was Easter, and we headed southwest to Nonsan, a town on the other side of the National Park, where the annual Strawberry Festival was taking place. A hot, sunny, day, I took off on my own and explored the booths, meeting some new friends who are EFL teachers in Busan. I made a strawberry-lantern lamp, a strawberry cake, strawberry jam, a strawberry mask, and bought strawberry liquor - it was a sweet day!

Two weeks later, I was lucky enough to have my gracious hosts in Itaewon have me up to Seoul for another great weekend. I visited the Leeum Museum of Art, which was so fabulous - I would recommend it to anyone in the area - even the building itself is beautiful, and the works are displayed on classy black walls and in sensually lit display cases. There is a traditional side, where I fell for gorgeous celadon pottery, and then the modern art half, which boasts some Rothkos, Warhols and Hirsts, as well as Korean contemporaries. Very interesting!

That night, B&L hosted a party overflowing with food and guests from former lives - work, training, school and back home. It's an odd relief to be eating and speaking with a more diverse crowd! We stayed up talking, mostly about the Company, until dawn, and then slept through most of the rainy Sunday. L and I went to Insa-dong in the late afternoon in time for some shopping and finally, the Lotus & Lantern parade. It was magical! We didn't expect the event to be so whimsical, but we managed front-row seats and we given beautiful colourful lanterns made of tissue paper, and watched as thousands of people in bright, traditional costumes - monks, dancers, musicians, performers from various Asian countries - all paraded down the wide street. It was so great! We left before the end, though, anticipating the crowds in the jumbled Seoul subway. After navigating the huge city, it's a relief to be back on the KTX, a train where they play a beautiful Asian instrumental version of "Let It Be" while stopped at stations. I wonder if McCartney has ever taken this train and wondered about it. All in all, I managed one more fantastic weekend!

Otherwise, life goes on here in Daejeon. Our middle-school students had exams last week, so many evening classes were cancelled. This was welcome in my case, since the evenings have gotten warm and wonderful. I'm feeling quite at home, even at work, where I find my co-workers in the mid-afternoon and we prep. our lessons to the sounds of Lon's jazz standards while the rain pours down outside, or the blasted air-conditioning while I get my news from back home via podcast.

Soon, the term will draw to a close, and in three weeks, we'll have new classes. Thus, we've held speaking-reading-writing-listening exams these past two days, to see if the kids will move on to a higher level. These tests come just after the aforementioned public school exams, and right on Children's Day, a national holiday (!) when even banks and post offices are closed (!) - needless to say, the kids were none too happy! I suppose I will grant them their promised Lamion (Ramen noodles) party next week. Despite my strict front, I have to admit that they work pretty hard.

Speaking of which, it's time for me to go earn my money! I will add more pictures soon to catch you up on the sights from April. Keep well, friends, and stay in touch!

xo K