GSE 9800 ~ Korean Adventure

Team presents to a class at Busan National University on 9 May.


The Team proves to be a big hit in an English class at a local girls' highschool.


On 11 May we attended another lunchtime Rotary meeting, this time at the Club of the incoming DGN.


12th of May saw us undertake a session of Korean Martial Arts training at a local primary school.


Iven takes control.


Letting our hairdown at Karaoke on the 13th May after an afternoon visit to the beach.




Vocatioanl visits have also being coming along strongly.

Wesley hits the sreet with the police!


Team takes to the country for 2 days of sightseeing and industry visits.

We are approximately halfway through, and things go from strength to stength! Things are going well here. Our hosts continue to set a hectic pace for us however thus far we keep up with diligence. We have seen many Korean sights and met with many people of note including those in Rotary, government and industry.

Learning about local industry, governance and culture is extremely interesting. A little gets lost in translation, but all the visits are worthwhile and informative. Vocational visits continue to progress and more are planned.

Hard Hats ~ Team Visit Heavy Industry!


We have attended numerous Rotary meetings and presented at all ~ our Korean is coming along well and we manage to incorporate the local language to great effect, which is very well received.

Clinton and Wesley Don Traditional Garb!


The team are getting along well with Iven doing D9800 proud as team leader. We are confident in achieving established Rotary GSE goals and in our role as ambassadors for Rotary D9800, our own organisations and for Victoria and Australia.

We look forward to returning and visiting our Sponsor Clubs to share with you our experiences, if not before at the welcome home dinner!

Yesterday we visited the beautiful Bomosa Temple, where we were privy to some beautiful chanting by some monks.

Temple Time!


Today we were assigned new families.

We met at the crown hotel in Bomeil Dong for the change over, it was hard for some of the families to let go!

"I think that we might have changed a few lives here in Busan (Iven especially), he might not be the best on the korean lingo, but he has a certain way with them and they respond to "very good",
"Joy I O"!

The girls are enjoying the shopping and handling the pressure of being on the run, by taking the time to have Saunas whenever possible. They have both made in roads in to their vocational visits here in busan (excuse the pun).

I (Cinton) Have been the first to fall ill (to a little cold) but it has not slowed me down at all, Wesley and myself were able to enjoy some time to ourselves today, as our host family were unable to collect us until 6pm. We jumped on the subway (our new best friend) in to Handae, to the Bexco Exhibition building where we spent a few uninterrupted hours at the Busan car show.... Outstanding!

The Motor Show!


I'm sure the weather is fine in Melbourne as it is here.

Meet the team from MBC News!!!



Headlines brought to you today from MBC's newsroom by BUSAN'S NEW ANCHOR MAN AND WOMAN (Wesley Bryant and Michelle Gurry).

In today's headlines:

GSE team visits Busan's MBC television studios and radio broadcasting centre, meeting with the Public Relations Team and taking a tour of the facilities. After presenting at the Sae Busan Rotary Club, the team spent Friday afternoon relaxing at a Korean style sauna while Michelle undertook a vocational visit at the Kangan Hospital.



Sports and weather brought to you by Mr Iven Mackay!!!!

Today was our first day where we were to present to a Local Rotary Club.

Once again the day started with a discussion as to what would take place (we are living each day one day at a time).

Our host families converged at the crown hotel where we loaded in to a mini bus and headed to City Hall where we were very(!) formally introduced to the Director of International Relations and Tourism.
Issues relating to tourism and the team's vocations were discussed in brief, before gifts and badges were exchanged.

We then received a tour of city hall and the tourism department (Iven's sharp eyes picked out some gifts that had been presented by Jeff Kennett). We were shown a video on Busan and then presented with more books and gifts. The hospitality that we have been shown is outstanding.

"I am not sure if any of us will want to come home at the end of five weeks".

From here it was on to Busan Hotel to meet and present to Busan Rotary Club. The meeting was a formal lunch meeting where three new Korean Rotary members were inducted. It was all in Korean except for our presentation that seemed to go well.

Lunch was a 12 plate buffet, each! of Kimchi, beef, rice, squid, soups........

After our fill we took a tour of a Buddhist temple. It was amazingly peaceful.

Next we took a tour of some local caves (very touristy), the caves were half manufactured half original, they were said to be an Amythest mine. All we found were a group of 60+ year old koreans having a rave inside, some acrobats and a Drummer boy... Will save that one for welcome home dinner.

Today the team presented at the D3660 Conference in Che Ju, giving brief introductions and the Four Way Test in Korean.

Convention Centre


They say that Jeju has "3 many things", stone, women and wind!! We discovered the wind in full force today out seeing some of the sights of Jeju (photos to come!!)

We had a look around the southern side of the island proximate to the convention centre, visiting an ancient temple which was great!

Convention Bannner

Another day, another beautiful meal to start! No cereal here! We visited the volcano which was a good opportunity to escape and have a quiet time together and reflect. We also visited the sauna (pronounced souner!) where we had a bath with all the korean folks! It was a good relax.

This evening marked the opening of the district conference, with a special mention for us amongst an hour of special mentions!

The team are getting on well. Michelle, Natalie and Iven are by themselves, but Clinton and Wesley are together with hosts.

Tomorrow heralds a full day at the conference!

Visit to Volcano


Team at the District Conference Dinner

Well, the journey to Busan was uneventful. An early morning saw us at the airport at 5am to Sydney, then a pleasant upgrade to Business Class! We saw the very most northern tip of Australia, it looked so beautiful!

So three flights later and no time in between, we arrived at Busan to a welcome banner and party!

Promptly we were taken to dinner and introduced to some local cuisine, beer and fire water! It is not as cold as we thought, the weather is reasonably mild.

After a vey short flight we headed to Che Ju and again, business class! We are being treated far too well!

Welcome to the first entry of the GSE Team from Rotary District 9800 in Melbourne, Victoria. The team is being led by RC Toorak membe Iven Mackay. Team members are Natalie Lawlor (RC Kew on Yarra), Clinton Hosking (RC Brighton Beach), Wesley Bryant (RC Camberwell) and Michelle Gurry (RC Melbourne).

The 9800 Team are travelling to Busan, Korea!

It is Sunday before our departure, and we are all getting very excited. We are not sure what to pack, as we have varying reports on the weather and how cold it is!

Busan Temperature - 15