Running in Seoul

Not far from Hyehwa Subway Station you can find the canal that stretches from Dongdaemun History and Culture Park all the way to the Koart Ville dormitory. Besides going for a walk and watching the sunset, this is probably the closest and most convenient place to go for a run for those of you who like jogging. For a longer run, however, I recommend taking the subway to the Han river. At Dongjak station you get directly to a nice park area that's perfect for a 10k+.  

So far I have participated in two 10k races in Seoul and I will attempt a half marathon in May. It is a lot of fun and I can only recommend to get together with a group of people and sign up for the next race. Its a great experience to take back home. The races usually take place at the Han river and cost between 20.000-30.000 won (about $15-$25).

Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere and some Wildlife

I was so confused about the weather and seasons in the Southern Hemisphere even before I left! I though that because it was winter in the U.S. (Northern Hemisphere), it would be summer here down under...being that everything is the opposite haha! As this may be true, I was not totally 100% correct...we arrived at the very end of Australia's summer...IT'S STILL SO HOT THOUGH! Actually the seasons go as follows:

1. Summer: December to February
2. Autumn: March to May
3. Winter: June to August
4. Spring: September to November

So for the most part, I will have lived an extremely long "winter" hahaha! Northern Queensland has very much similar weather as Hawaii when this:

To stormy, cloudy, and gloomy within a few hours like this:

In this part of the world, we are prone to tropical cyclones, the equivalent to hurricanes in the U.S. Although they are really dangerous to be in, I enjoy the mean-looking clouds, the roaring thunder, and the heavy torrential rains. Like Katy Perry sings in "Firework," "...after a hurricane comes a rainbow..." a lot of wildlife comes out and you are surprised! Occasionally wallabies, wallaroos, and kangaroos frequent the campus, but yesterday, all of the students, including myself, were amazed at how many were out and about, hopping around!! I saw three wallabies foraging about in the grass minding their business haha!

The bugs too...now I know most of us has seen the hit TV show, "Australia's Deadliest" and as I have not encountered any of those scenarios yet, I have run into my fare share of "creepy crawlies" like this really vibrant grasshopper :)  

Bocas del Torro, Panama

Panama Here we Come !
This place is full of smiles, good vibes, and love. When approaching the bridge I was sure I was going to turn around because it was not in the best condition, but I made it over and from the first hello to the last goodbye I felt as though I was home. The locals were so welcoming and assisted me in speaking Spanish, even though most of them spoke English. It can be a bit frustrating for me when speaking English because my mind translates words into Spanish and when speaking Spanish I do not know all of the vocabulary needed, but the locals were more than helpful. Leaving was the hardest thing I have done thus far because I fell in love with the clear blue water and open skies. I spent a lot of time speaking to locals about how they felt about tourists, politics, and what they love most about Bocas. Hearing it from their mouths was very rewarding and I was able to see Bocas in a different light. They taught me to salsa, bachata, and meringue. They sure do know how to dance. . . I did not sit down at all. I was able to spend time at Red Frog National Park and Starfish Beach, as well as go dolphin watching while I was there.  I was placed on a bike while someone rode me around. It was terrifying, but an experience to remember.  Going back is a must. I have met so many people and it reminded me a lot of the Hawaiian culture. I was invited in for food and met families. I do not look forward to crossing that bridge again, but what is on the other side is well worth it.

Boat ride with one of my favorite people. I do not like being in little boats because of the fear that it will tip over, but she kept me smiling the whole way. . . .  I can truly say it felt great feeling the wind through my hair and enjoying the moonlight. (On our way to Bocas Del Torro, Panama)

into my major

I had the pleasure of visiting the Inter American Court of Human Rights with my Human Rights in Latin America class and I have to say it is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. We were given a tour by the secretary and he sat down to discuss many of the processes, as well as court cases that are seen. This made my heart jump out of my chest being that it is along the lines of what I would like to do with my life, working with Indigenous peoples and endangered species. During class I learned that the United States has not ratified the document needed for us to be a part of the court and how it has its advantages and disadvantages. The court is very small and 60% of the funding needed for the court was given by Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. This court gave me a bittersweet feeling because they have the power to go as far as amending constitutions, but cannot force the country to comply with the rulings. This left me with a pain in my heart because I want to know what more people can do when their rights are being violated, they have gone through the proper channels, the court rules in their favor, but the country does not comply. It is even more disheartening because many of these cases take years to get processed. However, on the plus side I do understand that one cannot win every war and there are many countries who are willing to comply, which is good for the people. Venezuela recently pulled out of the court and many questions were asked as to how to help, but there were not many answers. Being in the court gave me more motivation to fight for those without a voice,. I am not sure how I am going to do it, but so many things have been swept under the rug and people have been crying out for help. The court has the right idea and I am forever thankful that my professor planned this trip. It was not only eye opening, but it allowed me to broaden my horizons.  I am all smiles after this experience. They also offer internships :)

mi mejor amiga y la atardecer

always a good time with this lovely lady. Not only was the water warm, but the sand was soft and cool. This is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the pleasure of traveling.

Recent Explorations

Now to get you guys caught up on my recent explorations. In the past few weeks I have been to the beautiful, Manuel Antonio. I stayed ate a hotel right on the beach. They joy in being so close was being able to see the sun rise and set right outside my window, as well as star gaze. I have never seen the sky so clear in all my life. I lay under a blanket of stars, enjoying conversation with the locals. Most of them speak English, but were very eager to assist me in speaking Spanish, which I loved. I was able to go to a National park and see Sloths and many monkeys. The Monotiti is the most common. They are small, black and white monkeys who will steal your things, so do not leave them unattended. While on the beach I had my first encounter with a raccoon. They were attempting to steal something out of a fellow group member’s bag. I had the most fun when we had free time because I spent it with the locals. I learned so much about the land and Latin culture by speaking with those who lived in the area and made many friends. We discussed things ranging from living conditions to politics and my mind was completely taken away by how much they knew about the U.S. and how little we knew about their politics. I enjoyed learning.  What took me by surprise was what they called me, morena (color of skin-brown). However, here it is known to be a good thing. I could not help, but compare to the racial outlook in the United States. I fell in love with the people and the vibe of being in this beautiful place. As Sunday rolled around I did everything I could not to leave, but the reality was that I had school Monday morning. Going back is a must.

Monte Verde y Arenal

While traveling to Monte Verde my once heavy heart began to smile. My first few weeks were spend getting acclimated and I was not completely happy with my choice, but the moment I arrived on the country side my heart sang a never ending tune. I was surrounded by mountains and acres of land with horses and cows. Life was simple and I felt free. In Monte Verde and Arenal I had the pleasure of going zip lining for the first time as well as visiting Baldi Hot Springs. The hot springs were amazing. There were many waterfalls and a water slide, which I did not use, but I heard it was fun. I am not a water slide kind of girl. The bar in the water and largest waterfall caught my eye. Everything was nicely lit and dinner afterwards made it so much better. The buffet was full of a variety of food and all sweets my little heart desired. I was even treated to the most delicious cookie ice cream that I have ever had while out and about. The next day we were off to a waterfall at La Fortuna, which was a nice hike and beautiful. Swimming was a no go because I prefer for my hair not to look like a teased cotton ball, but the view was indescribable. Zip lining was interesting. We zip lined on the longest line in Latin America. I was not sure how I felt about going at first, but as soon as it was my turn to zip I was more than eager to go. The Tarzan Swing was another story. I was nowhere near prepared to take the plunge off of a platform. My arms and legs shook all the way across the bridge and while they hooked my up. My last words to friends were, “I said I was going to do this, so I have to do this,” and I did (with a little help). I was not going to jump. My body was not happy with the situation, but after a little push and my heart dropping I was just fine. The first drop was the worse.