Trapped

I have to admit that we do not like being in the city. Sure there are benefit but mostly there are not benefits.



At time we feel like this little green patch of grass. Once so vibrant and full of life. Perhaps even surrounded by other growing living things, but now trapped amongst concrete. Smothered.

The smothered feeling has increased somewhat with the hope of spring being dashed by the news of "yellow dust". You can read a full description on the previous link, but dust storm from Mongolia fly over parts of China, pick up pollution and spread it eastward.

This is a picture of the effects of yellow dust. We took this while driving to Costco. To prevent breathing in the harmful chemicals we have to wear these very fashionable masks.

We like to pretend that we are doctors and professional medical staff but we still feel ridiculous.

But as the weather has been getting warmer we've ventured outside more and more. We can't help it. Even with yellow dust, being outside is necessary for our sanity.

There are two (or three) parks within walking distance of our apartment. Subong Park, Juin Park, and another nameless park that probably is part of Juin. Juin Park/Nameless Park is very close. And very small.

This is Juin Park.



Yes, that's all of it. You see those benches and the trees lining the tiny strip? That's Juin Park.



Here's the front view. Not much to it. However, if you turn and go the opposite direction of the first picture there is a little bigger section of a "park". I say "park" because these two parks are sidewalks with trees on either side, with some exercise equipment around.



Sitting on a bench this is looking to the right towards the exercise equipment.

When we first arrived in Korea we thought the exercise equipment was fascinating. And honestly, I still think it is.

Here are some videos of our first encounters with some equipment at the Seoul Main Institute.






But now at Juin Park there are Twist n' Turn machines.




After taking the above video we were joined by a lady who showed us how it was done.




I'm not convinced that this actually does anything but hey, it's better than nothing.

These next two videos are of Matthew successfully climbing the monkey-bars and me, not-so-successfully attempting the monkey bars.








Do you see any resemblance in our behavior? We spend a lot of time together. =)



And this is looking left, from the bench. The person in the red jacket is near a main street and if you turn right there our institute is about a minutes walk away. So as you can see, there's not much to Juin/Namelss Park.

The first time we visited these parks we scoffed at the size and lack of grass and other park-like things but after being in the city for this long our view point has somewhat been altered. Even these little areas have become mini-havens and we go to get out of our apartment and talk and walk.

Being in the city too long can really mess with your head for what is and isn't nature.



It makes us dizzy.

When we are feeling especially energetic we walk to Subong Park. This park is located near the top of the surrounding area. So the walk is all up hill. All...up...hill. But it's worth it because it is much bigger, more trees, more grass, and...more exercise machines!




This is what I like to call the Moon Walk machine. It's what I imagine moon walking would be like. It's my favorite machine.




This is a 360 degree view of the exercise area at Subong Park while I do the Moon Walk on the machine.

I had really wanted to try the side-to-side machine. But they were occupied frequently but finally I had the chance!

And then I was joined by this Korean gentlemen.

Besides the exercise machines there are other places to walk around, they are all paved concrete areas with trees and grass in enclosed areas.

It's nice to see grass but its definitely for looking only here.

Even the trees are enclosed. Nature is secondary to cement.

This is a view from the top of Subong Park. The red circle is of our apartment. We're the second window from the top. We're on the corner that's circled.

As I said before we use to think it wasn't worth it to go to the park because it wasn't what we were use to but now we enjoy going. Amazing what 8 months in the city will do to you. We are truly appreciative of where we have grown up.

America and more so heaven looks more beautiful everyday.

1 Corinthians 2:9 "However, as it is written: Eye has not seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him..."

We can't wait to be home.