Spring has Sprung

When we returned from Australia we were very happy to find that Korea had warmed up. The first two days back were warm enough that we wandered the streets in just t-shirts and jeans. So lovely. Of course, not every day is that warm. We often need jackets or sweaters, but before we went to Australia we also needed mitts, hats, and a winter jacket. The change is amazing.

Spring in Korea has brought two noticeable changes besides the weather. One good, one bad. Beautiful flowers have started to come out on the trees and bushes in our area. I was anxiously waiting to see cherry blossoms, and it seemed like suddenly they just appeared. We wondered how trees we passed on the way to school seemed to grow buds and flowers while we were teaching. This past weekend we took a short stroll through our neighbourhood to take some photos of the flowers because if they disappear as quickly as they appeared, then they will all be gone overnight!

The negative side of Spring is the yellow dust. We knew nothing about it until now! Every Spring, yellow, polluted dust is blown into Korea. It comes from the Gobi Desert in Northern China. Intense wind/sandstorms bring the dust into Korea. The dust picks up pollutants from China along the way. I am sure that some pollutants from Korea also get mixed up in there, however, according to the Koreans, the toxic yellow dust is all China's fault. We have seen an increase in the dust and smog over the last week, and my sinuses and allergies have been going crazy. The "yellow" dust we have seen has been more gray than yellow. Regardless, the whole thing is unpleasant. Good thing we have beautiful Spring temperatures to distract us.







These next two photos are not ours. They are from internet sites about Korea's yellow dust problem. They are a good example of what Koreans see when the dust moves in. However, the face masks in the bottom photo are worn by many women everyday all year, not for the dust, but to protect them from the sun. Tanned skin is not popular in Korea. To them it means that you work outside, and are therefore lower class.