Day 30 - Sunday Service in Busan on Gwangalli Beach

This is officially the last day of the 30 day blog! *sob* *sniff*

I spent this day in Busan with my friend and fellow Korea-video blogger Avery aka AbatarTeacher.

After traveling like a runaway slave on Saturday, I decided to sleep in on Sunday and head to a 130 pm service at the Busan campus of the church I attend in Seoul: New Philadelphia Church. Afterwards, I went out to eat with a bunch of people at a little Western food pub called Sharkey's. The food was good. It was nice to catch up with a few old friends and get to know a couple of new folks too.

Sadly, it was so cold, I forgot to take any footage of the beach! #FAIL

Anyway, I'm sure I've said it before, but I highly recommend spending time in Busan if you come to Korea. You won't be sorry you did! ^___^

This is the last of the 30 Day blog but you can still find me here on this blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista

Day 29 - Ferry from Busan, Korea to Tsushima, Japan

So, as I mentioned in Day 3, I needed to do a "visa run" to maintain my legal status in Korea. The procedure is pretty similar to anywhere else in the world where two countries have entry agreements allowing tourists to stay for a specified period of time: You go out. You come back in! Simple as that.

I had planned to spend New Year's with a friend in Shanghai but China's newest in the series of ever-changing visa policies made that impossible. After planning to 'not really plan a vacation/visa run,' I decided I'd take the quickest means to that end and do a single-day trip to Japan.

Never having taken a high-speed ferry before, I also opted for the shortest option--a 2-hour ride to Tsushima Island as opposed to a 3-hr ride to the more popular Fukuoka port, which I do not regret in the least after experiencing the ride!

For those who care, I used Daea Express. I wasn't impressed with their check-in service but the boat was adequate. As before, I'm not a big fan of fast boats 'cause I'm well aware of my capacity for seasickness but as long as I can put together a good plan for knocking myself out for the duration of the ride, I might do it again. ^___^


I've only got 1 more day to go! Ask me some questions here on the blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista

Day 28 - Slow (무궁화) Train from Seoul to Busan

Y'all, I felt like I was on the Midnight Train to Georgia this whole trip! I had never taken the slow train for such a long distance (and I probably won't again)! Normally, I take the KTX train from Seoul to Busan. The trip is about 3 hours and costs about 58,000 won. The slow train I took is called a mugunghwa (무궁화) and it only cost about 29,000. They're the cheapest cuz they're the slowest. I had expected the same level of comfort as the KTX but that was far from the case.

The biggest annoyance on the slow train is how many people are popping on and off and roaming the aisles searching for seats (because they only paid for a standing ticket). When I boarded the train, some guy was sitting in my seat. When I arrived with my ticket, he quickly jumped up. If I were not familiar with the standing ticket system, I might have been thinking I was the one in the wrong place!

As I mentioned in the video, I had about 4 or 5 different people in the window seat next to me. It was annoying enough that I'd suggest requesting a window seat if you're riding for a long distance. At any rate, I'll DEFINITELY be taking the KTX train back to Seoul! lol

I've only got 2 more days to go! Ask me some questions here on the blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista

Day 25 - Christmas in Korea Pt.2

As you can probably tell from Day 24, I was feeling a little "Bah humbug" about spending Christmas in Seoul rather than back in the US with my family. Even so, I decided to spend part of Jesus' birthday at a Christmas service cuz I figure it's kind of like his birthday party and whatnot. I'm glad I went (and dragged a couple of people with me)!

I took video of a couple of my favorite Christmas songs and even a little of me singing which CLEARLY disproves that silly stereotype about all black people being able to sing! (I try. I really do but...)

Pretty short and sweet on this one cuz I'm headed off on a quick visa run to Japan over the weekend. :p

Oh yeah! Michael Hurt's blog is: http://metropolitician.blogs.com/


I've only got 5 more days to go! Ask me some questions here on the blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista

Day 24 - Christmas in Korea Part 1: 솔로대첩 No Singles Allowed!

Christmas in Seoul is like Valentine's Day in America...on cocaine: bigger, faster, and more couple-y! For this very reason, I kinda hate it! LOL

That being the case, this year, some resourceful Korean folks decided to make sure their Christmas was full of couple-y joy, because well, that's the only kind of joy that really matters on Jesus' birthday, no? >_>

They came up with an event called 솔로대첩, which to the best of my understanding means, "This is your chance not to be a loser on Christmas, so don't mess it up!" Guys and girls had a chance to do speed dating Korean style. Point & snatch, if I'm not mistaken! Either way, it made for good TV, thus all the footage and photos online.  ^___^

Part of me is just a little salty that I couldn't go since I had to work. Haters gon' hate!

I've only got 6 more days to go! Ask me some questions here on the blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista

Day 23 - Black People in Korea! (Brothas & Sistas of South Korea)

Today, I went to a meetup hosted by Brothas & Sistas of South Korea, better known as BSSK. The group revolves around a Facebook group dedicated to making life easier for black folks in Korea. ^___^

Not all members of the group are black and while the group was started by an American, members are from all over the world---anyone who finds the black experience relevant to their own experience.

For newbies in Korea, the Facebook group is a great way to get info (hair products, regional foods) or just find other people of the same cultural background in your area.

The group has been a big help to me on many occasions, so I thought it was something important to share during my December blog. :)


I've only got 7 more days to go! Ask me some questions here on the blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista

Day 22 - American Food Christmas Party in Seoul!

Today was a pretty low-key day. My friend Michael Hurt threw a Christmas party complete with all the American food fixin's! There was SO much food. ^____^

Gatherings like this are always nice in a city like Seoul because there was such an interesting and diverse group of people. There was an American artist-in-residence, a few native Koreans, long-term expats and folks just beginning the journey.

It's always nice to get some of one's "native food" during the big holidays. It's even better to have friends who think enough to organize things like this in the first place. :)


I've only got 8 more days to go! Ask me some questions here on the blog,
Or on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BearingMySeoul
Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearingMySeoul

I'm also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeoulSista
And Me2Day (미투데이에서 한국말로 포스트를 쓰다): http://me2day.net/yoseoulsista