Gwangju: The City of Light

We've all heard that Paris is the City of Light.

So is Gwangju (gwan-ju). I think Gwangju actually translates to 'city' and 'light'

For more information, check this out.

While you may or may not be able to see the lights of Gwangju from space, in this instance, LIGHT means things like education and culture. In fact, the Hub of Asian Culture is under construction a few blocks away and is slated for completion sometime in 2014. It is surrounded by a big blue wall. Seriously big. Probably one mile long on either side. On my side of the blue wall is my apartment, Brandi's apartment, work, Chosan University (private) and Chonnan University (national). On the other side is downtown. Find the blue wall and I know exactly where I am.

Gwangju is an art city, which I was extremely happy to find out about about 2 weeks before I arrived here. I love art in all forms: music, painting, sculpting, writing, dancing, food... And this city has them all. I've read about art festivals, film festivals, Kimchi festivals... I can't wait to go to my first one.

I'm also want to check out the Gwangju International Center (GIC) this weekend and see what's there. I'm going to check it out online first, and then maybe walk over there and see what there is to see, even if nothing is going on. And I know exactly where it is! It's on the 5th floor of the same building as the bank that I use. Which is right across from the YMCA and just down from The North Face. And probably surrounded by about 20 coffee shops and a Baskin & Robbins. Right by the entrance to the Underground. One street over from Art Street. And right in front of the end of the back streets to the downtown shopping. Just over from the blue wall.

There will be many more posts to come on Gwangju as the City of Light as I explore more and see all there is to see. Plus tons of pictures on here and my Flickr.