July Update

A long over due posting for sure, but there isn't / wasn't really anything to talk about. Just working and staying in Daegu. We are definitely into the rainy season as it's raining pretty often these days, and it's almost guaranteed to rain on weekends - part of the reason we haven't left Daegu to go to the beach or something. Combined with the hot weather, its extremely humid these days and makes it pretty uncomfortable outside. You start sweating as soon as you step outside. If our schools and dorms didn't have air conditioning, it would be really miserable. Speaking of our school, we got a new teacher the other day. An American from California, maybe in his 40's I guess. He seems like a nice guy, but he's a lot older so I doubt we will spend much time with him outside of work. Another guy should be coming soon, but they are having a hard time roping in teachers to replace us as we leave. Over the next 2 months or so 8 of us will be leaving, the 8 of us that due the majority of the work, and none of us can figure out how they are going to replace all of us. Personally, I think it's going to be a tough time for the school. Curt and I will be the last of that 8 I mentioned to leave, so we will be able to see what happens.
This weekend we were determined to do something interesting in Daegu so we went to check out this Butterfly conservatory I read about. It was a very small greenhouse, that had 2 different species of butterflies I think, and was fairly pathetic compared to the nice one in Niagara falls. I won't complain too much since it was free. It is accompanied by an educational center that was not too shabby, but when everything is in Korean it becomes less educational for foreigners like us. I think I found a few mistakes, such as moths being in some of the displays, but then again, maybe the text talks about how they are closely related; I'm not sure. These places were located around a small lake/ big pond where you can rent paddle boats, and go water skiing if you wanted. We watched a water skier for a while flying off a ramp which was entertaining for a while. Also, we always talk about how Korea is devoid of wildlife but we did see a baby deer and some fire-bellied toads. And I can't forget the cicada's! - those insects that make that high pitched buzzing sound throughout the summer. This place was full of them, and the pitch is higher and far more annoying then the ones back home, consider yourself lucky. If I lived in the country it might be unbearable.
The soccer guys we play with ordered a bunch of soccer uniforms. They are identical to Manchester United and were really cheap. This may be the reason that my numbered washed off after going through the washing machine just one time! Then they tell us to hand wash them..thanks. Curt and I just put our last names on the jersey, but the Koreans all put random names on them like bird, hairless, and dark for example. Playing soccer in this weather is also really exhausting. Even though we play at night its still really hot and humid.
I guess that's it for now..pretty boring I know. Hopefully things will get more interesting and I can post a little more often.

Curtis and I saying hello! And yes, I am trying to make that ridiculous face, I don't really look like that.

Some of these butterflies I don't live where they are pinned on the map, but I'm not sure.

Roy and I pretending to be studying a bunch of caterpillars ravaging some of the plants.
A cool carnivorous plant.

Not a great picture of a baby deer standing about 10 feet away. Apparently without a mother and not to concerned by us. Hunting is illegal in Korea, so maybe they aren't that afraid of us.

One of many fire-bellied toads we saw.