So today was the Polar Bear Swim, and let me just saw it was an AWESOME time. I'll start from the beginning of the day, because I started off with a little bit of an adventure even getting out of Pohang. One of our Korean assistants told me the other day that I was supposed to take the Express Bus Terminal to Busan, instead of the Intercity Bus Terminal. Well, it turns out that he was wrong. Luckily, I was only about a twenty minute walk to the other bus station. I was too lazy to get money out of the ATM last night, so instead of catching a taxi, I got my early morning walk in.
I managed to board a bus to Busan around 8:20. Only problem was, I still had another hour and fifteen minutes on the subway to the beach when I arrived. I was supposed to meet my boy Robin (who's from Milwaukee) at 9:30. I didn't realize my trip was as long as it was, or I would have left town sooner. The only thing it turns out that I missed, was Robin in some Ice Breaking contest. This contest consisted of him breaking through ice with a hammer, just to get a banana.
I did arrive exactly at 11, and found Robin right away (hard to miss a guy who is 6 foot 6). We were pretty pumped about the event and made friends really quickly with mobs of Koreans who wanted their pictures with us. There weren't as many foreigners as last year, so Robin and I got to be "media whores." Excuse the expression, but it truly seemed like it. It didn't matter if we were stretching, dancing with other foreigners, taking our clothes off and get ready for the water, there were photographers eying us all times. The best part of all, was taking a group picture with the mayor of Haeundae (the beach area where we were) standing next to me. The man introduced himself to us, and I think we were interviewed at that point as well, by a local media outlet.
Somewhere around 11:45 am, people started to jump in the water and begin swimming towards little soccer balls, that could be traded in for prizes. The only catch was you had to swim 50-70 meters in some really cold water. Robin and I both managed to be some of the first ones out there, and by the time we got out there, the normal Polar Bear folks were piddling around splashing in the water with their friends and family. Robin and I came back to shore, hid the balls, and jumped back in for a bit. Mind you, the water was probably between30-40 degrees, but we were having a blast nonetheless.
During the time we jumped in and splashed around, I saw two of my friends from the English Club in Daegu. They had remembered I was coming to the event, and by chance they found me there. So Hyun, who is a really cool girl, and is also a sculptor, was there with my good buddy Stylish who has played a large part in running the English club. I was so excited to see them that I gave them big hugs in the water, and we splash around for a good bit.
As I was splashing around with other Koreans, I was attempting to pull a wrestling move on a guy and dump him in the water. Instead of doing that, my face hit some part of his body (I don't really know), and he freaked out, because there was blood coming from some part of my face. I just thought it was a nice bleed and shrugged him, but apparently it was a laceration above the eye. I pleaded and pleaded with the medical staff to let me play some more, they insisted I go to the medical tent instead, which was probably a bright idea .
Anyway, I spoke with them in Korean (trying to put a good impression on them), letting them know that I felt fine, and I was not hurting. The Chief Doctor, or Medic, whatever he was, explained to me in Konglish -- that I had a 1 cm laceration. I just wanted a bandage, because spending time with my friends on a wonderful Sunday afternoon was more important than kickin' it in an emergency room for a few sutures. I may get it looked it tomorrow, but my friend So Hyun bought me some fancy Johnson and Johnson band aids, after we all got our time at the spas in -- of course that was when all the swimming ended officially. The thing about my Korean friends -- they'll go out of their way for me, time after time, and won't think a thing of it. I think that's why I fit so well over here sometimes.
Anyway, we ate afterwards at a Thai restaurant that was good, but the servings could have been a lot bigger for what we paid. I know I'm spoiled eating four dollar Korean meals nightly, but that's the way it is. This lunch cost four times that much and just didn't have much sustenance to it. The curry sauce was great, because it had some kick to it. Busan is well-known for some great foreign restaurants. So Hyun's friend (whose name I forgot), had actually brought donuts along as a gift for Robin and I, so we did have some sugar before the meal even got close to starting. Her friend actually owns a little coffee and donut place and is an artist as well. Robin talked all our heads off during lunch -- he is quite the talker, but the guy is awesome, and has had some interesting life experiences all around the world.
When the meal was over, So Hyun's friend who drove her and Stylish down for the event even took me to the bus station. It was definitely not along the way -- thirty minutes out of the way, but she was really cool about it. I didn't ask them too at all, but they insisted on me not riding the subways for over an hour. Once I got to the bus station, I then was able to hop right on a bus that was just about full (rare for my rides lately), which took me to Pohang, so I could make it back to this wonderful dorm room of mine. Anyway, from becoming a temporary "media whore" (excuse my language very much), to getting a "laceration", to braving chilly, chilly waters, to enjoying some good times with friends -- it was an awesome, awesome day.
Enjoy the pictures!!!
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