Random pictures

I'm in the middle of a three day weekend and enjoying it. Tomorrow we will go to Gyeongju. Today I thought I'd add some random pictures.



There was definitely something big burning down over there, but I don't understand the local news so I have no idea what it was.












The ABSOLUTE BEST staff that Carroll library has EVER had (I speak objectively, of course). This picture is minus the ABSOLUTE BEST intern and volunteer, Mr's Kim and Kim. And, to shake things up a bit, the man on the right is also Mr. Kim.








See the yellow on the mountain? I took several shots trying to capture this. Our best guess is some kind of flowering tree that grows on Palgongsan but not Apsan.












Campaign ajummas. They bow to passing cars for their candidate, who is apparently #1. The candidate pictures all have numbers on them, but I have no idea what they mean.









The party wagon. The campaign ajummas ride inside and wave to people while music and slogans blare over the loudspeakers.

Happenings in Daegu

Friday was Buddha’s Birthday. Paper lanterns have been going up all over Daegu for awhile. I worked through the festivities, but I did get caught in some wicked traffic on the Apsan bypass. There were tons of people hanging out on the mountain, which conforms to my idea that mountains are much more sacred in Korea than they are in the U.S. There was music and food under rows of tents and lots and lots of people.

There is an election in Korea on June 6 (how do I know about all of these holidays, you ask? My Korean employees get holiday pay for them). Yesterday we got stuck behind a pedicab with a giant picture of someone smiling on the back. Later, we saw a convoy of cars filled with people in identical suits playing “if you’re happy and you know it” through a megaphone with Korean lyrics. My favorite is the flatbed truck that has a pavilion on the back with pictures of a smiling man plastered all over it. There are around 10 people on this pavilion waving and singing along with the campaign song, which is blasting from some speakers. Bobby says the truck passes by our house every morning. Elections seem like more of a party than Buddha’s birthday!

Friday night we broke out our new barbecue and grilled some burgers on the roof. Our view of the city after night fall is worth a million dollars, and coupled with deck chairs and beer it was a night to remember.

*No pictures, mea culpa. If it ever stops raining I'll get some of these campaign vehicles at least.