Seoraksan Part Deux

So our last day in Sokcho was amazing, thanks to Yeon, once again. At the jimjaebang, we arranged to meet her for lunch. So she met us at the bus station and then drove us to the fabulous little restaurant right next to the water. The restaurant was really random. It had statues of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and the Statue of Liberty, then it had a windmill and a fake horse. It was weird. But it was so much fun. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was amazing and the friends and food was fantastic (how was that for descriptive words?). Really, what more could I ask for? Nothing!

 The view from our table

 Yeon and I posing with the restaurant behind us.

 The biggest dog, ever. He smelled REALLY bad, BTW.

 Yeon and the Statue of Liberty

The Crew

Dunkas and seafood spaghetti (red and white sauce)!

I love this picture.

We stayed at the restaurant for a couple hours due to our excessive picture taking and English lessons. I taught Yeon our number system, haha. It was a lot of fun though - perhaps teaching English really is my calling. 

After the restaurant we went to this bird observatory that was built so you could watch the birds fly south for the winter. I didn't enjoy it all too much, mostly because I was having gastric issues and was in the bathroom for the majority of the time we were there. TMI? Sorry.

The scenery was beautiful though.

Yeon looking very stylish and svelte

After the bird observatory, Yeon (who was driving us around in her mother's car) took us on this drive around Sokcho's rural area. We ended up at this traditional village which for the life of me, I can't remember what it's called. It was in Korean too, which makes my life more difficult. How dare they give a Korean village a Korean name! Anyway, the majority of the time we were there we were taking tons of pictures and walking around. Keep in mind that this day was the second day of PAIN. Oh. My. Gosh. My legs weren't experiencing typical soreness, no way. It wasn't the kind of soreness where you actually enjoy it because you felt like you did something productive for your muscles. 

This was simply PAIN. Every step I took made me look like I had some genetic leg disorder which rendered me incapable of walking. Stretching didn't do me any good. Sitting didn't do me any good either because the second I would stand up my muscles would freak out and go rogue on me. They couldn't do ANYTHING. And sitting down to use the restroom (which, if you know me, is A LOT) was horrendous. I felt like I almost broke my toilet on several different occasions because I would plop down on it so hard that the whole toilet and floor would shake. It was just bad all around.

(Several days after this painful soreness, I finally did some research and figured out that I had, in fact, strained my muscles. I injured my poor muscles due to my ill-advised hike to the peak. It took almost two weeks for my legs to return to normal. I had to take the elevator at work because I walked up and down the stairs so slowly it was actually faster to take the elevator up and down one floor. Pathetic.)

Anyway, back to the Korean Village. There isn't that much to note here except that the weather was beautiful and even though Yeon and I struggled to have a conversation (in which we would both get VERY excited once we figured out what the other was trying to say), her company was the best. 

The traditional houses behind us

Remember how sore I was? This was painful. 

Beautiful meadow of flowers (I was thinking about getting stung the whole time).

We got pamphlets!

After the village, we had to get back to the bus station because we had an approximately five hour bus ride back to Daejeon. So Yeon drove us back to the station and we said our goodbyes. Yeon, who like I said before, is the sweetest person I've ever met. Do you also remember that she makes jewelry? Well the last day in Sokcho, she was wearing this necklace that she made and at the bus station she GAVE IT TO ME. I couldn't believe it. It was her going away gift. 

The heart shaped necklace she gave me.

Okay, it's self reflection time. Meeting Yeon changed my life. There. I said it. Yeon was just one of those people who does things for people because that's the kind of person she is. She doesn't do it to gain anything. She's the type of person who does things for people just to make their day a little easier, to make their smile come more quickly or to make their life a little more blessed because they can finally admit that there really are good people in the world. I'm a touch jaded. Most of the people I've met are out to do what THEY want to do and who cares what anyone else wants. Or. They only do nice things for you because they get things in return. I want to be surrounded by Yeons. I know now I don't have to settle because not everyone in the world is a big D-bag (if you don't know what a D-bag is, don't ask) who only thinks about themselves. For the last few years, I've been surrounded by D-bags who only associate themselves with me because I'm the type of person who gives freely and without question. I live to make people happy and the only time that's a character flaw is when people take advantage of it. 

It's difficult to explain how much this trip affected me. I simply feel too much. And a person who feels too much always has issues sorting out all their feelings. Everything I type "feelings" or "I feel," I feel (haha) so cheesy! But I'm a girl and full of estrogen, so I can feel all I want. 

Another issue during the trip was the whole "left behind" situation. I was the third wheel the whole trip. Totally. I constantly felt left out. I was already incredibly sensitive because I practically hiked up the stupid mountain by myself. Another obvious third wheel moment was the bus ride home. I was putting my luggage underneath the bus and asked them to save a seat for me since they were getting on the bus (and leaving me behind...). So when I got on the bus the seat that they had saved me was a single window seat, while they were sitting several rows back, together. Lovely. Perfect. 

So, on the ride home I was super depressed, exhausted and was crying. Thank God it was dark and the majority of the people on the bus were asleep. I tried to nap, but was simply too exhausted to nap. Don't you hate that? When we got off the bus in Daejeon, it was very awkward and silent because I guess they didn't realize they were giving me the shaft the entire trip. 

I have two kinds of upset. 

1. I act like a child and cry.
2. I shut down and have absolutely no emotion.

I was in complete shut down mode. I had already exhausted option 1 on the bus ride home, so option 2 was my back up. I bid them adieu with my death stare and took the bus home.
(On a side note, I talked to Maria and Daniel about my feelings (there's that word again) and everything is fine between all of us now. In fact, Maria and I are getting along great).

In my defense, it was a VERY long, tiring vacation, but in the end I know it was worth it. So, in case you didn't get why this trip changed my life, here's a countdown.

1. I proved to myself that I am mentally strong.
2. I realized that not everyone is a D-bag.
3. I accepted that I need to give myself more credit for my successes.
4. I also accepted that I'm too hard on myself.
5. I need to give my self-esteem some TLC (tender, loving care)
6. I am worthy enough to be surrounded by Yeons.
7. I'm an amazing gal.

So that concludes Seoraksan. Bye bye!