Seoul, South Korea

The first week of October in China is a celebrated holiday called National Day or The National Day of the People's Republic of China.  On October 1, 1949, the PRC was founded with a ceremony in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.  The National Day marks the beginning of a Golden Week with many festivities and the best of all, time off of work.  The majority of the country will travel to see family and friends thus making public transportation a nightmare. 


A co-worker and I decided to travel to Seoul, South Korea because it was close and easy. I didn't do much research before going, but I found out there is lots to do it Seoul.  We went to see the major palaces, shopping areas and a comedic martial arts performance, and that was all in the first day! 


Whenever I travel, I always try to get some hiking in and Seoul has plenty of mountains easily attainable.  Seoul's highest peak is Mount Bukhansan at 836 m or 2700 ft.  We hiked to the very top, not an easy feat but it was worth it! But my favorite part of the trip was by far our visit to the DMZ or the De-Militarized Zone.  A demilitarized zone is an area usually between two military powers where military activity is not permitted.  The Korean Demilitarized Zone roughly splits the Korean peninsula in half, specifically at the 38th parallel.  We visited the old railway, an observatory to look out over North Korea and the 3rd tunnel North Korea tried to built into South Korea.  Then we were taken to the Joint Security Area, to the actual line dividing the two countries.  I stood watching North Korean soldiers about 200 m away keeping watch through binoculars.  We entered a building used for peace negotiations located directly on the line owned by the United Nations. The whole experience was very serious, very legitimate and a little intimidating.  After visiting the War Memorial Museum the day before, my knowledge of the Korean War was fresh and seeing the present day situation of these two countries relationship will stick with me forever. 


The trip overall was a huge success.  South Korea is very different from China and it delivered us a nice break from our daily Chinese frustrations. 

Changing of the guards at the palace

Future painting?

It was quite the climb

I got a little nervous at this point 

But it was worth it!

What a view!

Still climbing

Now I'm just showing off :)

At a Korean baseball game

Go Doosan!

Couples can attach a lock at the top of North Seoul Tower in hopes that their love will last forever

At the War Memorial Museum

The 3rd Tunnel, one day hoping for peace

South Korean soldiers facing North Korea, they all kept a taekwondo position 

North Korean soldiers looking at our tour group

Inside the U.N. neutral building at the country's divide, South Korean soldier standing guard

United States military soldier stationed at the Joint Security Area

Located at the DMZ line, South Korean citizens can come put memorials to their loved ones still in North Korea

Its been a long week, but Seoul was great!

CISS brings water to Yunnan

This past month, CWEF partnered with Concordia International School Shanghai (CISS) to install a clean drinking water project in a small village outside of Lincang, Yunnan.  22 students and 2 teachers helped dig trenches, lay pipe and build a cistern to help over 100 villagers get clean water.  Everyone put in a lot of effort and all together, with the villagers and students working side by side, the water project was almost completed in only one week.  Many of the students interacted with the villagers laughing and learning about each others lives.  A few boys helped build a basketball hoop out of bamboo and an old basket while some girls helped in the kitchen preparing our meals.  Many villagers have never seen a foreigner before and were very perplexed at our actions and speech. 

Each night the students reflected on their experience in the village that day and many were touched by how hard the villagers worked and what lengths they had to go to to get water.  Our partnership with CISS not only provides poor, rural farmers with clean water but it also opens the eyes of high school students to a different lifestyle.  In addition to this water project, CISS participated in an eyeglass clinic, two English teaching projects and another water project with CWEF this past month. 

The progression of a water project:

Identify clean water source and build cistern with filtration

Dig trenches and pipe water to village

Build cistern at village

Pipe water to each household

Clean water!

Carrying bricks up the mountain to build the cistern

Digging trenches

Building of the cistern

Some villagers laughing at the students

A few students made a basketball hoop made out of bamboo and a basket

Outside the home of a family where we did an interview

Helping remove corn kernels from the cob

Nice view!

Cistern at the fresh water source, the fire is to help attach two pipes

Workin hard

I made a friend