Quick Update!!

Here is some brief stories from the first week of travel in Korea. These stories will not appear on the school blog.

The Rotary welcome party

Hooping it up on the campus of KNU, Kusan National University.

They say it's the "Rucker" of South Korea.

After the University visit were I dominated the hoops scene we went to a nature preserve for migratory birds. The area we are staying is famous for the Baikal Teal (Link 1) (Link 2)

It was very interesting and I learned a lot but the VERY funny part was the last stop of the tour. Here is all I will say. The Duck below was two stories high and on the inside of the building the internal organs of the duck were on display. It was interesting. I will let the pictures speak for themselves! Note the final picture was located at the rear entrance, letrally and figuratively.

The next two photos are of me and my host and his family. Kang likes the beer, we get along well.

So that's just a little info on the goings on. If you want a more rational explanation of the week see below.

Here is a link to a blog post that updates the week on my school blog

Click here for LINK TO SCHOOL BLOG POST

Photos of the trip CLICK HERE

Korean exams - take a look

Quick note for my 8th graders. My host families daughter is also in an all girls school. They go to school from 7:30am till 10:00pm. That is not a typo. She's a  9th grader and takes 13 subjects. They have no extra-curricular activities.

Check out this link
http://m.npr.org/story/120339767

Sent from my iPhone

We made the Newspaper

This appeared in the local newspaper of Gusan. We met with head of
city planning in the mayor's office.

I'll sign autographs at request.

Goofing off in Jeonju, South Korea

I was goofing around and filmed this for my students.

PHOTOS!!!

City hall and the mountains

We just finished a meeting with Jeonju's vice mayor. It was filled
with protocol, official proclamations, and king words. He was quite
gracious.

We had a light lunch, by recent standards, at Chinese restaurant owned
by a Rotarian whose family emigrated from China before he was born. It
was nice meal and I was able to impress with a couple a phrases of
Chinese. The three phrases of thank you very much and good-bye
exhausted my Chinese vocabulary.

I'm sitting in our mini bus on a gorgeous sunny day driving through
the mountains that border Jeonju. I'm chillin to a nice music mix
from my iPod.

The scenery is breathtaking. We are going for a stroll in the
mountains. I can't wait.

By the way nearly all of my postings have been done with my IPhone in
"airplane" mode. That means only wifi with no telephone network.
Pretty amazing.

Although there is wifi nearly everywhere very few families have it in
the home, that's based off the 5 host families we are staying with.
This observation could quickly change.

PS. I have yet to Hawkeye, Radar, or Klinger. 8th graders ask you
parents, this is before your time.

Drum lessons

We stopped by a traditional Korea music school this morning besides
several performances with various instruments we recieved some music
lessons.

I learned the drums!!! And by learned to play the drums I banged on
drums for about ten minutes.

Wednesday, April 7th

Beautiful day in Jeonju! It's sunny and about 55 degrees.

We visited the Christian Broadcasting Company, radio and TV.

Afterwards, we stopped and took a couple of photos of the soccer
stadium in Jeonju. The stadium hosted several World Cup matches when
Korea and Japan co-hosted the World Cup in 2002.

Sent from my iPhone

Good Times!!!

It was a good day for Johnny!!!

This picture was after the brewery tour of "The Hite" brewery company.

This is me with friends of my host family who came for a visit. We may or may not have had some beers.

For a full description of the day, that doesn't invovle most of it by the way, check the link to my school blog that my students are following.

http://johnstephany.blogspot.com/

I like Hite!!!

The brewery tour was fantastic. I mean what else would you expect me
to say.

Everything was way hi tech. There were videos/propoganda and all kinds
of fun techie stuff.

The best part was the post brewery "tasting". I did my part and I can
honestly say Hite beer is pretty darn good.

Good day of touring and now we head back tp our gist families and
dinner.

Here is a photo of our gang enjoying "The Hite".

Brewery tour of the Hite Brewery

If I don't return to the states in a month you might check here.

www.goodtimetour.co.kr

Morning tour of Chonbuk National University

I had a wondeful home stay with Mr. Kim and Nam last night. Very
gracious hosts.

This morning we had a presentation from the people at Chonbuk National
University (CBNU). After the presentation we toured the CBNU with two
if their student ambassodors.

After that we visited Mr. Choi's (One of Rotary leaders of Jeonju)
home church. They have a simple church that still donates over
$500,000 a month to overseas missions.

The photo is our lunch spread, Korean BBQ.

Non School Update

Ok people. I'm in the the bedroom of my host family's home. I'll be here for about a three days. We've had a great but busy first couple of days.






Today we have,

1. Independantly toured the city of Jeonju post breakfast.
2. Has Korean Stew for lunch

YOU MUST CLICK THIS LINK AND DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO TO WATCH OUR MEAL IN "ACTION"

4. Toured a Catholic Cathedral in the old town.

5. TOured the Hanok Village. This in an older part of town that has traditional Korean Architecture and numerous historical sites.

6. Visited a totally magnifiscent elder activity or "wellness " center.

7. Had the official Rotary welcome banquet.

8. Came "home" to my host family.

Tommorrow we visit the Jeonbuk National University,an ecological preserve, and Hite Brewery.

Johnny is excited!!!!!

Photo Album of the day

2010.4.5 Jeonju

A "lively" lunch

It's been a fabulous day. We saw the Catholic cathedral in Jeonju
which dates over 200 yrs old.

We then toured the old town which has classic Korean architecture.
Very beautiful.

In the afternoon we toured a wonderful senior activity and wellness
facility. The place shamed most places in the US. And it was free to
any resident of the city over 60.

Oh, the photo below? Our lunch was a traditional Korea stew. One of
the more interesting ingrediants was a live octopus that was cut up in
front of us and placed in the dish which was cooked at the table.

The picture does not do the visual justice. The cut off tentacles
squirmmed until the were cooked. It was chewy but delicious!

Later.

Check out our ride!!

Batmobile step aside, here comes the Rotarymobile.