2010 Peace camper Reunion

Hello All,

The peace camp this summer was exceptionally memorable to all of us. We learned so much about the war sixty years ago, along with its culture, economy, and environment today. Not only did we love the trip around the country, but we also made great friendships that will last forever. I know I am extremely grateful for the opportunity given to us by Sunny and the government.

Since we all live so far apart and will mos...t likely not see everyone again during our free time, I spoke with Sunny about having a reunion. She agreed and would love to have a reunion with the Korean Peace Makers. Haha. She also made me leader =/ of this trip...So..bear with me.

The Objective:

So Now, from here until September 15th, I will be taking opinions, ideas, and whatever else you guys have in mind. Please speak freely. So far, the ideal time for this (since we can't wait to see each other), is the last week of October, or first week of November (Sunny prefers the first week of November).

After September 15th, I will make a list of EVERYONE attending, assign rooms/tents and food stuff.. I need a lot of time to plan the event so anyone not responsive after September 15th, will not be included. I will also create another event after the 15th of September with everyone attending, so we can further plan what we want to do during the trip and what not.


The Plan (so Far):

A weekend trip, either Thursday through Sunday or Friday Through Sunday (For those traveling via plane, we'd have to leave Sunday unless you have somewhere to stay Sunday night).

Where?
Sunny's place (Since all of us can't fit in her house, she has offered camping for those who won't fit. If you don't like camping, there is a Best Western she can arrange for you to stay in).
Zion National Park, Utah

When?

Last Week of October or First Week of November ( It will probably be a little chili, hopefully not snowy though).

Cost?

At least 40-50 dollars per food plus room (if you stay in Best Western) and air plane ticket (unless you drive there). Sorry guys, this isn't supported by the Korean government, and travel arrangements must be made for Thurs/Friday and Sunday...Sunny nor I can support your hunger. haha

What I need by September 15th?
I need from you a full NAME.
A for sure HEAD COUNT. Either Say Yes, or No.
An E-mail Address.
A phone number. ( if you do not want to post it here, send me a message or text).

IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND BY SEPTEMBER 15TH, I WILL NOT INCLUDE YOU IN THE FOLLOWING TRIPS E-MAILS.

Also, PLEASE INVITE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TRIP TO THIS EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE. THIS TRIP IS FOR EVERYONE FROM THE PEACE CAMP ONLY. I am not friends with everyone from the Peace Camp, so please help me invite others to the event.

I will be making a new Event after September 15th with those who are FOR SURE going. Remember, I need a yes or no.. And for those who are flying in, either fly into Las Vegas, Nevada or Salt Lake City...Let me knowwwwww. Thanks! =]


My phone number is 916 825 3217 if you want to talk about it
e-mail is lilaznjdawg@gmail.com (please state name in e-mail.)

About me...

I'm very often misunderstood and misjudged, so I thought I'd write a few things down.

I try to be different and unique..not the typical follower or crowd pleaser.
I absolutely hate drama, so if you boutta have a problem, don't include me. But if it does include me, I probably have a solution.
I highly dislike people who do not text/call back if I text/call first...
I rather drive or ride than go to a party.
I have this feeling where the whole world except a few, hate me for some dumb reason.
I am misunderstood...I can absolutely guarantee that.
I am a one on one or a few on one kind of person, not a party attention whore.
Speaking of which, I don't like attention whores.
Music=Love=Life.
I live by a rule book, and a common law.
I've labeled people by the color of flags.
Pictures are my memories.
Writings are my dialogues.
I often fall for the girl who isn't good for me.
Caring too much is my gift..and my kyptonite.
I am a well-planned person..But i also do spur of the moment type things.
I enjoy meeting new people rather then seeing what used to be's.
I find quotes the most powerful words anyone can write.
My parents mean the world to me.
I have one best friend.
My car and bike come after the best friend and before most people.
I buy things because I like it, not because they have it or they like it.
I wake up in the middle of the night to go drive with a friend.
I have more thoughts than you could imagine.
But I am more open than most people about everything.
I'm not afraid to say what is on my mind.
If you text me, I'll text you back. But dont text me and LEAVE... Ass.
I like Basketball, Soccer, Football, and Baseball.
I am sometimes too critical.
I have yet to have a visitor to Maryland =[
I understand girls, yet they seem to always be a problem.
I don't trust anyone.
I am an apple lover, yet I have yet to have an Itouch or iPhone.
I wish there were more people to hang out with.
I wish certain people could read my mind.
I hate flakers. so we won't hang out.
I hate liars, so I don't believe whatever anyone says.
I hate fakes, so you're fake until proven true.
I am a man of my word and I expect you to be a person of yours. If not, then we're not going to be friends.

South Korea Peace Camp 2010

my roommateee andrewww

animal love

What we do in lecture

Hillary meeting Sunny

He was making sure we didn't run to North Korea

no better experience then eating pizza on the streets of Korea

this was through the glass and the rain

she's happiest with a glass

Team USA + one Korean

she wanted to hold my hand

 

the canadian girls

 

oh shaun =]

her and her alcohol

but she still fun

Anyohaseyo

Now, in all honesty, before we went on the Korea Peace Camp 2010 trip, I wasn’t very excited to go.  I was nonchalantly about the whole trip, due to the fact that I was going to miss summer school and it interrupted my home visit in California.  I knew it was a golden opportunity, but it was also an opportunity that did not excite me.  Even on the flight, I couldn’t wait for the six day-seven night adventure to be over…

This all changed once we stepped foot in South Korea.  We went to places people imagine to visit.  From the Demilitarized Zone and JSA to the bullet train, lectures, shopping culture, beach, and wherever else we went in Seoul, Icheon, and Busan, the trip was an experience of a lifetime.  It is probably rare for anyone, including Americans, to visit such a diverse, cultural, strong, and economic country within a lifetime.  And yet, we students, were given a gifted opportunity and a journey. 

The trip itself was well-planned and organized to the very minute.  Our chauffer’s and guides were at times, fun, subjective, objective, and educated to be around.  They helped us with translation, transportation, guidance, and information that no tourist would know.   They were also lenient, funny, and helpful with whatever task us tourist, were trying to achieve. 

The trip was filled with almost too many things to do.  Our days were filled from 6am to 11p.m, and it almost seemed impossible to do.  It would have been impossible if we were tourists visiting by ourselves.  Thinking about it now, I believe the trip should have been two weeks! 

During the trip, I learned a lot of history between the world and Korea.  From the war that started sixty years ago until today, I believe we learned much more then we would have ever learned by reading a book or newspaper.  As an American, thinking of a country such as Korea, seems not as appealing as if it were in person.  I remember a guide asking, “What did you think of Korea when you first arrived.”  My honest answer was, “I don’t know.. I thought it was more of a third world country or an evolving country, not this advanced.” 

The thing I enjoyed most about the trip were the people on the trip.  No one acted out of control and no one was impossible to talk to.  We met many different students around the world including Korea, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, England, and Australia. 

To thank for this are the Koreans.  The Korean government allowed us to travel with family members, but also didn’t allow us to just hang out with relatives.  Instead, they gave us different buses than our relatives, along with different roommates.  In the beginning, I was a little hasty on this strategy.  But after a couple days of getting used to the people, the entire time was great. The Korean government also had an age range.  We weren’t traveling with our parents, or little kids.  It was just high school students and college students, people we could relate with. 

The friendships formed on this trip to me, will last a lifetime.  We now can say we have been to Korea, and we have been with people we enjoyed.  I asked a couple of people I met on the trip, “Would it have been this fun with different people?”    An although we agree that it might have been, it’s hard to say if we would take that chance to experience other people.  I love people I met, and hope to keep in touch with most of them. 

Looking back on the overall trip, it was a success.  We learned so much from the trip.  The experiences, the privileges, and the overall friendships during the trip will never be forgotten.  And it was all possible by the Korean government and our grandparents.  The government are such grateful, respectful, people for allowing us to take such a journey.  Our grandparents were very unselfish for risking their lives to protect something they might not have completely agreed with or understood.

Even though I was a little down in the beginning of the trip, I look back thinking, I wish it were longer.  If not longer, I wish it were an annual thing.  Hopefully, most of us keep in touch, and maybe create our own annual trip.  I don’t love many things, but I can say that Korea is one thing I did love.  It is also one thing I’ll always remember. Thank you to the people on the trip, and the Korean government for giving such a trip. Kamsamnida