This post is entirely dedicated to Masks.

A masked Birthday Party, traditional Korean Mask Dancing, and a day at paintball while wearing protective face masks. Yep, looks like I've spent the better part of the last two weeks with my face covered...

So the weather is finally starting to warm up over here, and both Kate and I are taking full advantage of it.

On Saturday, the 5th of June we threw a very decent party in honour of yours truly turning yet another year older. In Korea I'm actually considered to be 29, anywhere else in the world I am now 28, and mentally my age is still open to debate. comments on a postcard addressed to someone who cares.

The theme of the party was 'Homegrown Superheroes', meaning a superhero you have created yourself, preferably with a Korean twist; and some people actually went to a bit of effort with the idea. here are some of the ones i can remember off the top of my head. Note that their true identities are withheld so that they can continue to fight crime, dress sense or whatever other enemies they have: (click to enlarge any picture)
* Radioactive Woman: A gas mask, tin foil leg warmers and a nuke symbol on her chest. Yeah, she was the bomb that night. ( <-- sorry.)

* Aurora: with the power of cheap and unnecessarily enormous costume jewelery on her side, nothing could stop her from achieving whatever it was she was out to do.

* Kimchi Man & Side Dish Boy: The Digestive Duo were out in force, complete with matching capes, matching pommy accents and matching poor humour.

* Dong Chim Boy: That little rascal. Dont pull his finger. You KNOW where it's been. Extra points for creativity here.

* The Pox: The only Supervillian at the party. Currently completing a medical degree, not to cure himself, but because he thinks that Doctor Pox would sound more menacing.

* Ninjuma: Ninja + Ajuma (ajuma = old korean woman) = force to be reckoned with. Ajumas rule Korea as it is, but now they do it with STEALTH!

* The Dumpster Diver: Dont park your car there, he might think you are throwing it out. This shady individual rides the fine line between recycling and just never throwing anything away. Outfit consisting of 100% reclaimed goods. From this angle you cannot see his puppy slippers.

So when my korean co teacher and her friends dropped by to say happy birthday, I think Korea's general opinion regarding foreign teachers got put back about 10 years. They didnt stay long.

The party went really well, thanks mainly to Katie's tremendous efforts in the kitchen both on the day and during the week leading up to the party. Well done baby, but if you expect to better it for my next birthday then you might want to get back in the kitchen any day now and make a start, cos that was a HUGE effort just gone.

What else has happened? Well, wednesday following the party all the local foreign teachers were treated by the district office to a field trip out to Andong. We saw a traditional mask dance, went to an old Korean village, and had a damn nice Korean chicken dish for lunch. A nice day out, and a decent excuse not to teach on a wednesday.

Finally, and most painfully, there was a Paintball day out near Pohang on Sunday just gone (13th June) for anyone interested. Kate and I got a group of local pain-seekers together and headed out to do some damage to our fellow man. in short, it was GREAT fun, and we will be doing it again soon. the fact that only a headshot counted as a kill meant that everyone took a lot of hits everywhere else during the course of each game. Great stuff, and a nice group of people too. We finished off our ammo in one on one ten-paces-turn-and-fire style just to make sure that everyone went home with bruises.

This weekend we have no mask-based activities planned yet. Watch this space to see if we take up ice hockey or something just to continue the trend.

//Brendan

 <-- Exposed arms and legs? What could go wrong? At least I felt like a pale Predator.