This week Graham has been out taking pictures of the Cherry Blossom trees, as they look so fantastic at the moment, and only last for a couple of weeks.As well as taking pictures down the streets, he also climbed the mountain again to get further pictures.I forgot to mention that there was a mini bush fire on the mountain a few weeks back and Graham was there to see all the action, whilst I was at work.I think he should become a reporter in the field!Whilst he was climbing the mountain one day he noticed there was smoke up ahead and then saw the helicopters flying over with buckets of water from the reservoir to put it out.He then scaled down the mountain and headed to the reservoir to get pictures of the helicopters collecting the water!Luckily the wind was blowing the smoke in the opposite direction to our apartment block, but it was still a little scary, and some of the students were very worried.We think it was started by a discarded cigarette.

This week Graham also went down to the reservoir and saw lots of turtles.He noticed them and started watching them, and soon realised that he had a small crowd of Koreans behind him trying to see what he was looking at.It seemed like they'd never realised there were turtles in there before!Graham has also found a place to play tennis, so he has started going with one of our friends. I really must get myself motivated and join them one day!That's the only problem starting work in the afternoon, and working until late, I'm rarely motivated to do anything in the mornings.

We got our first electric bill this week.It was about 6.50GBP for 6 weeks - amazing!I also got my first phone bill, which is about 12.50GBP for the month.Graham has got a phone now too, so it makes things much easier, plus I can always check up on where he is now! He got a second hand phone for about 17.00GBP and has gone for a pre-pay (pay as you go phone).I wish I had done that now, as I think it will work out much cheaper, but I'm in a year's contract now.

On Thursday night we went downtown, after work, to do the pub quiz again, but did terrible.I don't think we shall be going again - the questions are so difficult!Way too much Greek Mythology.Friday was pizza night again, and then we were woken at about 6.30am by the people above us having a huge argument.They seemed to move all of the furniture around and the woman was doing lots of high pitched shrieking.The Korean women have really mastered this well!

On Saturday we went to our first baseball game.Baseball is huge in Korea and our local team, the Kia Tigers are pretty good.We had to get to the match a couple of hours early to get good seats, and still it was pretty packed when we arrived.Luckily our friend had a Korean friend who was already there and had saved us seats near to first base.We couldn't have asked for better seats, the only problem was that we were right in front of the TV camera.On Friday I had asked some of my students to explain the rules to me, so I would have some idea of what was going on (apparently it's not 'just like rounders!') and they had told me that I would be on TV because the cameramen always focus on the westerners in the crowd.Well, they were certainly right!The camera was definitely pointing in our direction for the majority of the game, and when walking to get a taxi after the game with my friend we were stopped in the street by an old man telling us he had seen us on TV!The friends we were with also received several phone calls whilst we were at the game from people telling them they had just seen us all on TV.So, I'm famous in Korea, and shall probably have a steady stream of kids tomorrow at school telling me they saw me on TV too!

As for the game, it was very close, but we lost 4-3.The whole event was pretty entertaining though, and really long and cheap.We paid 8,000 WON each for tickets, which is just under 5.00GBP and we had to buy a couple of cans of beer each so the ticket scout would sell us the tickets. We arrived at about 3pm, the match started at 5pm, and finished at about 9pm, so it was a very long afternoon.They sell all kinds of snacks, particularly fried chicken, and the Korean people near us were very kind in sharing their food with us.We were given strawberries, fried chicken, cheese biscuits and popcorn throughout the game.I can't say that I understood everything that was happening, but I got the general idea - it is really just like rounders!Even if you don't understand baseball the whole event is enjoyable.We were sat near the cheerleading stand, and they alternate between the cheerleaders and a guy who acts as a kind of compare.He has a microphone, a synthesiser and a sound system and he gets the crowd singing all of the chants.All of these chants are rip offs of well-known songs, which they have changed the words to - mostly saying Ki-a Ti-ee-gi-ers (which is how they pronounce tigers). The crowd really got involved and most had inflatable batons (I shall be purchasing some of those before the next game!)The cheerleaders were not so entertaining.Yes they are beautiful, skinny Korean women, but the choreography and the dancing skills are pretty appalling, but then I am the worst critic!We also managed to get a Mexican wave going all of the way around the stadium.It was a full house, so it looked amazing, and it was one of our friends who started it, along with the help of some of the Koreans around us who shouted out the Korean word for 'wave!' to the crowd.

Today I went with one of my co-workers and my friend to another area of Gwangju.We went to a roof top BBQ, at another friend's apartment, as it was such an amazing, hot day.I'm so jealous, as we don't have access to our rooftop.Our friend over there has an oven and is a fantastic cook.She does a dinner every month at which she cooks all the things you might miss from home.So today we had humus, burgers, potato salad, sausages, and then chocolate self-saucing pudding for desert.It was amazing, and I'm so full now.She also makes vodka jelly shots, so I had a few of these too!

So, another good weekend, and a new found love of baseball.Shall be going again soon and getting ourselves some shirts, so we shall look like proper fans!

Maggie x