buzz Korea - CGV Theaters-4D

I feel as if there is one (or several) set of particular experiences here in Korea that are worth noting for both Kelly and myself (more myself).  These experiences should come to no surprise to many of you who know my interest in movies AND the movie going experience.  4D.  CGV is a Korean theater chain, similar to AMC Theaters (also my favorite) back in the States.  The theaters are very nice and offer great selections of movies in English (which isn't unique, most theaters in Korea offer movies in English, I'm just highlighting CGV).  What puts CGV above the rest, however, is their ability to show movies in 4D.

Don't mistake me, not all CGV theaters have a 4D plex in them, nor is every theater room capable of 4D.    There are only a few 4D Plexs' in Korea (and the world).  When Kelly and I wanted to go see a movie in 4D, we would need to travel into Seoul and go to the I'Park Mall in Yongsan to watch.  Now, the CGV in WesternDom out in Ilsan boasts a 4D Plex in their theater, making it even MORE possible to watch MORE movies in 4D.

What exactly is 4D?  4D, in addition to the already craved 3D offers a wide variety of other stimulus.  These stimulus include wind (highly realistic), smell, sometimes lasers, sometimes bubbles, sometimes water and above all, moving and vibrating chairs.  These added stimuli increase the movie going experience to a near maximum.  The moving chairs are by far the best feature, as the movement coincides with the story almost bringing you into the movie itself (more than 3D already does).  If the camera pans in the frame, the chairs move with the camera almost making it feel as if you ARE the camera.  If Sam Flynn is fighting Rinzler in the arena, the seats move violently, and air shoots in your face when the identity disk flies past you.  Wild stuff.  The most recent movie we watched in 4D, as the reference suggests, (and I watched it twice) was Tron.

The special effects were already stunning in this movie (along with Daft Punk) and the 4D enhanced the movie even greater, making a potential B, B+ movie into an A, A+ movie.  It was so much fun.  Tickets aren't cheap at 18,000 Won ($16.00), but it is totally worth it, especially if you are already going to pay 16,000 for 3D.  Why not pay the extra 2,000 for moving seats?

*Do note that the movie company itself did not create 4D.  CGV created the 4D and designed it to go along with the movie.*

We've seen several other movies in 4D, including Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3, The Last Airbender (terrible) and Tron.  One thing we have realized was this.  Pick your battles with 4D.  Nothing will ever beat your first experience (ours was Iron Man 2).  After we saw Iron Man 2, we thought we could/should go to every movie in 4D (at least I did).  That is not true.  Some movies that are picked to be shown in 4D can be terrible (i.e., The Last Airbender/Resident Evil).  4D cannot help terrible movies.  If you want to go see a movie in 4D, make sure it has potential to be epic, like Tron or Avatar.  Moving chairs cannot compensate for a bad plot or even worse acting.

I know some of you say "hey Pete, 4D isn't new.  I've seen a 4D movie before." To which I then ask "Where?" to which the common response is "in one of those movie boxes that you see in malls or amusement parks.  I've also been to one at Disney World."  My next response is "False, this 4D is in an actual theater that seats 100+ people and shows the top movies for the public."

CGV was the first place in the world to show Avatar in 4D.  Chances are you didn't see Avatar 4D at Disney or in a 6 seater moving box in a mall.  You probably rode a roller coaster through space that ended up in the bottom of the ocean being chased by dinosaurs.  I've been on those too, and I can tell you it isn't the same thing.

If you live in Korea and haven't checked it out, do it before it's too late (i.e., before you go home).  It's a pretty fun experience.

BUZZ KOREA

KTO, aka Korea Tourism Organization launched a website called Buzz Korea.  It's a great website that links many bloggers together to share their experiences in Korea.  It's also a great to way find out about new events in Korea, as well as get ideas about great things to do that other people have done so far.  

Recently they just launched an event that promotes various blogs that they have selected.  One of my entries was picked.  Boo ya.  They recently just contacted me saying...

"The blog content that you have given permission to publish on KTO's buzz KOREA project Website, buzz-korea.com, has been selected as one of the top contents.  In order to spread knowledge about your excellent contents to more people, KTO has prepared a "Find the blogger with the best post" event.  If your content is voted as the top blog content by internet users, you would be given a generous prize.  Also, the voters that have chosen your content will also be given a wonderful prize.  Therefore, please take a look at the Event description below and we would like to ask for your active participation in having as many people take part in the voting event."

So, if you feel so inclined to vote for me, go to this website http://www.buzz-korea.com/eng/together.php?e_layer=1

and look for my blog post "Seoraksan" and vote.  You will have to register to the website (which is what they want, the purpose of the contest).  It's easy and takes only a few minutes.  

A Year of Reflection

It's my turn...and it's also my debut! After one year in the books, I was asked by my husband to post a blog about being in Korea for one year. I think I know what he was thinking now as I sit here and wonder just how someone gives a brief overview of a year. Moments stand out to us, but even then, those don't do justice for what our minds and hearts have experienced.  One year of anything is always significant. Although we signed a 14-month contract, one year is still important to us. 

And so we celebrate. 

It was one year ago that we were shaking in our winter boots a little bit as we were dropped off at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 5 a.m. with a one-way ticket in our hands to Seoul, South Korea with a time-frame in mind of over a year. Woah. We were off to teach English to we didn't know quite who and well, where we were going to live? We didn't quite know that, either...

14 month's worth packed away in bags

Ready to go, but not before falling flat on my back on that dang big, black bag! 

Our boss picked us up at the Seoul-Incheon Airport. We drove to Ilsan, South Korea late that night to meet his wife who had been prepping our one person, studio apartment in an office-tel shared with restaurants and other businesses. After meeting her and listening to a quick tutorial about the place, we went straight to bed only to wake up at 3 a.m. and unpack. You know... stay a while.                                                                                                   

Apt. 504 after some minor re-arrangements

It was the next day that I distinctly remember. Our boss' wife came to pick me and Peter up to take a look at the school just down the street. Before we headed there, she brought us through the bakery in the lobby of our office-tel. That morning I heard Mercy Me's, "Here With Me". I reflected on those lyrics later and journaled about them that week. These were words that I thought were so affirming to hear that morning, but that also have dictated our time here thus far. 

And I can feel your presence here with me.

Suddenly I'm lost within Your beauty...

You're everywhere I go.

I am not alone.

It has been so evident that we haven't been alone, although the distance has caused its challenges and heartaches throughout certain seasons. We've clung to the promise that God does not sleep. He has watched over us by day and night for the past year and we trust He will continue to do so as we wrap up this chapter in our lives. We've been able to see His beauty in so many different things here that it's almost overwhelming. We've been blessed and there's not a week that goes by that we don't pinch ourselves at least once or twice and say, "We're living in Korea right now."

Come, allow me to take you down Memory Lane as I sift through so many pictures it's not even funny.      It's actually confusing. 

First Korean BBQ at "Hole in the Wall Palace", named by foreigner co-workers

Crazy Namdaemun Market in Seoul

Me and my gals, Chloe and Charlotte

Trying to keep up with our little guys daily (Taken at an SLP field trip)

Pete's first time skiing

 Hiking. Nothing I did before...something that I'm becoming accustomed to!

Creeping on some joyful families in Tokyo, Japan. We had loads of fun traveling to different countries around Korea.

Entertainment in Ilsan. The Spectacular Musical Fountain. 

I couldn't have made it without this place-Lake Park. It was my Minnesota, a 5 min. walk away from our apartment.

Guests. Couldn't have made it without them, either! -Devin and Brooke in August-

-Drew and Meg in April-

My parents, Nanc and Ran, in August

Michael Bumann and Caleb in October

We are never disappointed when we have a chance to get out of "the city".

There's no time nor the energy to look through all of our pictures to find all of the incredible people who have come into our lives this year. Many have gone, but we're becoming used to the fact that that's life as a foreigner in Korea. We're so thankful for our co-workers who were so hospitable from the first time we met them and who we continue to have great Friday or Saturday night dinners with. We're incredibly grateful for the church family that we have in Seoul and the lasting friendships that have formed within that body. We have had a blast this past year reminiscing old times and experiencing crazy, new stuff with fellow Bethel alumni who have made the trek themselves to pay off student loans while teaching English in Korea. I think we're up to 9 now?! We've fallen in love with Korea, its people and its culture. Many, many Koreans have reached out to us despite our stupidity involving getting around their city and our lack of knowledge about their language. 

We don't want to say we're anxiously counting down the days here in the remaining months ahead, but we're very much looking forward to reuniting with friends and family back in the States. The last year has exceeded our wildest dreams about living overseas and has allowed us to accomplish goals and take in more of this planet. Our contract isn't over yet. We have open classes, Christmas celebrations and parties, vacation in the Philippines, a celebration of another new year, weeks of more teaching and graduation for "our babies", as we like to refer to them as, and hopefully a bit more travel.

We're excited for the journey ahead!  

Pete has also made a video commemorating our one year.  As the file is too big for blogger, click the link below to see the video.  You may need to wait for it to load.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3656051/Korea%20one%20year%20video.m4v