Showing posts with label Cambodia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cambodia. Show all posts

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Beginning



It's the beginning of the end around here.  The more Ian and I research the Labor Board, the more it seems like it would be a full time job (before and after our actual dismissal) to bring any kind of consequences to Yoon's.  And, while I believe in fighting for one's rights, it's always important to weigh the cost and benefit and choose one's battles wisely.  We haven't given up, we're still looking for options.  But, if it comes down to it (and it likely will) we will choose moving on and traveling instead of bringing Yoon's to justice.

We packed up our winter clothes and some of the things that we don't need around here.  That's what is in the two big boxes.  The small box is full of textbooks and teaching materials that we need to give back to Yoon's.  It felt really good to get some things packed away.  Parts of our apartment look a little empty, but it brings us a lot of relief to be finally moving on, even if it is under unfortunate circumstances.

We fully planned our trip today.  The only thing we have left to do is actually book our flight home (either in to SEATAC or PDX).  Here is our basic itinerary:

  • We fly out from Incheon Airport on July 24th at 2:15pm.  After a four hour layover in China, we'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at 9:55pm.  
  • We will stay in Vietnam until the 27th, when we will head to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for two nights.
  • Then, on the 30th of July, we'll head up the river to Siem Reap where we will spend five nights (including our one year anniversary)!
  • On the 4th of August we'll fly from Siem Reap to Prague (Czech Republic) via Bangkok and then Moscow.  Our layover in Bangkok is 12 hours long.  It's at night, but we're going to see if there is a safe place to get something to eat so that we can get a little view of the city.  We'll spend 4 days and 3 nights in Prague.
  • On the 9th of August we'll hop a night train for the 7 hour trip to Budapest, Hungary where we'll spend 3 nights.
  • On the 13th of August we'll get on the earliest morning train (3 hours) to Vienna, Austria.  We're spending 3 days and 2 nights there.
  • On the 15th we'll get another night train (7 hours, again) to Venice, Italy where we'll spend 3 days and 2 nights.
  • On the 18th we're hopping on yet another night train for the whopping 11 hour trek to Paris.  We're hoping we don't have to change trains, but we might.  We'll be in Paris for 4 days and 3 nights.  Our original plan included spending my birthday in Paris, which can't happen, but (ironically) we'll be in the city during Mom's.  Hey Mama, what would you like?
  • On the 22nd we'll get on our last night train (6 hours) to Munich, Germany where we will be until the 26th, when we plan to flight back home.  We haven't bought that last bit of airfare yet, we're still scanning for a good price.

For those of you keeping score at home, that's 10 cities (9 countries) in 33 days.  It'll be one hell of a whirlwind, but it's what we've been waiting for.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow.  It's tough to be motivated for a job from which you've already been fired.

Good night!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Decisions, Decisions

Tentatively, Ian and I have decided to visit Vietnam before embarking to Cambodia.  I tried to get some planning done today, but it proved too much work for my limited time between classes.

So far, that line is about all I know for certain.  I don't know much about SE Asia, so I'm starting from scratch.  If you have suggestions for the two areas we'll be in (3 days around Ho Chi Minh and 3 days around Siem Reap), please share!  I'll be sure to post details as they come into place.

As we were walking up to catch cabs to go to work, Chun wha drove by (she was coming from a meeting or something at Sinback) and picked us up.  Ian asked her about the trip to Andong and she said she would pick us up between 8 and 8:30 on Saturday morning.  I'm excited for another long day of adventure with them.


Tomorrow will be the first time Ian and I have ever worked on the same campus.  I'll tell you all about it.

Good night!

Monday, May 24, 2010

A Different 100 Celebration

On December 1st last year, I posted for the one hundredth time.  It was a pretty big milestone for me, proving to myself that I could keep up with a writing project even when there were no consequences for not accomplishing it.  Everybody Jecheon Tonight felt a little more legitimate.

Yesterday marked another occasion revolving around the number one hundred.  One hundred days left on our contracts.  We're in the final stretch, folks.  Sixty-five working days left.  Ian doesn't want to book anything for South East Asia until after this month (our month long probation to see if more students are enrolled).  But, Sue has told me that more students are signing up, so I am not worried.  We're keeping an eye on Thailand, however.  Our plans (to spend three days there and then head to Cambodia) may have to change as there has been a lot of violence between the Red Shirt protesters and the military.  Parts of Bangkok are still sectioned off and under a state of emergency.  But, we'll just play it by ear.  Maybe Vietnam then Cambodia, or Laos first.

When our contracts end, we'll spend our thirty days in Europe.  Our itinerary ideas keep changing, but I'll be sure to update you when something's official.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mom's Photos

I know you've all been looking forward to seeing Mom's photos.  Since we uploaded photos to disc today, I have a folder of them to share with you.

Mom took a video of one of my classes today, so I'll post that tomorrow.  Julia decided that Ian and I will switch classes on Friday, so that should be interesting.  Ian's system is completely different than mine.  We used to teach the same classes, but the Goam system was completely reworked two months ago.  Ian doesn't even use books.  He just makes lesson plans based on the Korean English teachers' classes.  It's going to be a rough day for me.

In random and tragic news, there was a double murder in Jecheon today.  A man killed his wife and daughter.  Last I heard, he hadn't been apprehended.

Now on to Mom's photos, starting in Cambodia and ending in Seoul, Gyeongbuk Palace.

Angkor Wat and Siem Reap: 

























 
Tonal Sap Lake:













 
Hotel staff:



 
Cooking class:




 
Silk factory:



 
Mom's tuk-tuk driver, Vutha:
 
Mom jet lagged at the hostel in Seoul:
 
Seoul and Gyeongbuk Palace:














These two girls work at the palace.

Good night!