The scholarly activities of a scholar.

So I've just been measured, weighed, had an eye and colour perception test, had my blood taken and been X-rayed as part of the TaLK mandatory medical check-up. I had to wee in a cup too, something I originally thought worrying as they initially told us we had to be observed. Luckily I had the luxury of a private cubible (so kind) in the men's bogs. I was a bit dubious of the fact that somebody would be paid to watch people wee all day. What a CV booster that would have been for them.

Over the last week we've had lectures on how we're going to cope, what we're going to be doing and how to (attempt to) control our classes as apparently the kids are crazy. Then we had a couple of creative lessons (painting and fan making) and a physical lesson, Taekwondo. We had this on day one. I really would have loved to have been an observer of myself and the others to see us all have genuine difficulty telling the difference between our left and our right. After an hour of jumping round and amazingly not knocking anybody out with a stray limb, we had a nice walk through HOT KOREA back to our dorms.

I've also painted what somebody with a really active imagination might possibly consider an orchid, see below:

Today I'm going to a peach festival. Yes, a festival for PEACHES. Apparently they love their festivals in Korea. My province is famous for it's red chilli paste ('butter') so hopefully I'll be able to go to that festival and set my mouth on fire. All in due time though. I can already hear the partay music from town, and there's events like a peach eating contest, peach picking and  face massages with peach oil. Expect photos like this to follow. Also, the grasshoppers are REALLY big here, so that photo is probably to scale.

Tomorrow I'm off to ChungNamDea, the presidential retreat for, well... presidents. Then another week of lectures. WOOOO!

Gamsahapnida for reading!

James Henry Trotter

P.S. I don't think the grasshoppers wear monocles here, but I haven't been here that long so you never know!