The dentist. Korean style.

Going to the dentist in Korea is a special experience.  It is a lot like your dentist in America minus the gloves, warnings about things about to happen to your teeth, and trashy magazines in reception (well these might still be there but they are in Korean).  However, since two dental visits have been free for me so far, I'm thinking you have to take the good with the bad.  My dentist is a former student's father so he says "Aw.  St. Louis teacher.  Service scaling." (service means free in Korea).  However, my tooth restoration was not free, but still reasonable (I had some exposed, super painful roots).  It was painful and I kind of made a scene in the office.  Which was lame because the lady three chairs over was having half her upper teeth removed without a flinch...

So, if you're living in Korea, go to the dentist!  Or don't.  The no gloves thing is a little hard to handle.  I'm also pretty sure an ad like this could still run in Korea.  Seriously.

My little black book.

One of my Valentine's gifts was a Moleskine I didn't even know I had always wanted.

I can't wait to make all kinds of fun German notes in it!

Korea has had the most radical weather.  Sunday was beautiful and sunny.  Monday, it dumped snow.  Wednesday, it rained.  Today, it is beautiful and sunny.  As long as the weather holds out for our Ultimate Frisbee game on Sunday, I'll be just fine.

Currently listening to:  Apologies, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals.

Nothing says love like veggies.

Last year, Brendan bought me a book of vintage Valentine cards.

This one is the best.

I love Valentine's Day.

Currently listening to:  At Last, Etta James.

Hey! Let's go to Japan!

Nagasaki Peace Park.  Beautiful.  Painful. 

Hundreds of thousands of paper cranes.

 Beppu monkey reserve.  Sheer awesomeness.  Plus check out what my lens can do!

 Japanese sunset.  Perfect.

 Japanese trains are super slick.  I mean the KTX is cool and all, but it doesn't have wood floors.

Nagasaki Chinatown lantern festival.

Burning wishes and making sacrifices for the gods at the New Year.

Cutest restaurant ever in Fukuoka.  It had a tiny hobbit door.

Japan is nuts.  Super efficient, clean and things made so much sense.  They have sinks with built in hand dryers.  Come on.  That is as efficient as it gets.  We did so much in five days, it was an amazing whirlwind.  I'm so glad I got to experience it while I'm this close and it is just a ferry ride away!

Currently listening to:  Something Good Can Work, Two Door Cinema Club.

27

My birthday was awesome.  Hello early late twenties!

It was a fantastic time.  Now off to Japan.

Currently listening to:  We Are Stars, The Pierces.

A hunk of glass and plastic.

I spent a sunny, slightly warmer Saturday afternoon wandering about with my new lens for a few hours.  A fabulous gift from my dad.  Having a lens in the 70-300mm range is a big adjustment.  It's heavy.  It's huge.  It's awesome.

Currently listening to:  Picture Frames, Georgia Fair.

The Comfort Women

During my last trip to Seoul, my sister and I visited a comfort women protest.  The comfort women are women who were forced into prostitution by the Japanese government during their occupation of Korea.  They were mostly teenagers who suffered immense tragedy.  It was their job to "comfort" the Japanese troops as they saw fit.  Few of these women are still alive.  The ones that are continue to demand an apology from the Japanese government.

Sadly, the Japanese government won't even acknowledge the events that transpired so long ago.  The comfort women have come together to protest Japan every Wednesday at noon.  They sit in front of the Japanese embassy chanting, holding signs, and are usually joined by many others.  They have been doing this protest every Wednesday since 1992.  Rain or shine, the group gathers.  Though the day we went it was freezing and none of the Halmonis (Korean eldery women) were present.  A large group had still gathered and set up photos of the women and protested on their behalf. 

 The group that gathered (it was probably 15 degrees with the wind that day)

 The Japanese Embassy

 Pictures of some of the comfort women.

A supporter who continued to yell across the street at the embassy gates.

I don't understand why Japan won't apologize.  I know this group isn't going to give up anytime soon. 

For more information on the women, go to http://www.houseofsharing.org/.