I went to North Korea!

Hello again everyone!
Was so excited about my day today and just wanted to let you all know about it. Most importantly before I begin, I am still alive! The reason why I say that is because today Miguel and I had one of the coolest experiences OF A LIFETIME by going up to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), which is the 10 mile wide neutral area/border between North and South Korea. It is only 35 miles from Seoul, which is actually kind of scary when you stop and think about it. We left this morning from the base at 7am and took the 40 min ride up north. After a brief historical video and tons of strict instruction from the military personell, we went to the Freedom Building. This important building is almost RIGHT on the border line between north and south. We were told that we were not to point or make gestures once we exited out the back of the building and into the courtyard of the two countries (which is where we had the unique experience of coming face to face with the enimy...with about 20 meters inbetween). They had cameras everywhere, on both sides, watching our every move in the buildings and especially outside. We were to wear badges at all times while in the DMZ. The North Koreans with their cameras, binoculars, and just plain sight were definitely scanning that each one of us had a badge from where they were standing. If we didn't have our badge visible or if we pointed and made gestures, openfire is a high possibility from the North Koreans, as they take this as provoking them. We saw three N.K. guards from visible sight, and obviously many S.K. and American Military on all sides of us. After viewing the area outside of the building, we were escorted to another building about 10 meters ahead of us. This building is where they hold many political meetings between the two countries. Half the building is in the South and half in the north. So essentially when they have their meetings at the center meeting table, they are still each in their own countries, because even the table is on the exact border of the two countries. It was in this building that I took some steps into N.K. We obviously weren't allowed outside the building into the N.K. side. It was so scary! Directly outside the N.K. exit were armed N.K. guards ready to fire at any moment necessary. So intense. After this, we stopped at a few watch points, where we could clearly see the N.K. side, propaganda village (a fake town that N.K. has set up to try to fool S.K. and it's allies into coming over. This town is actually just wood boards which they take down when it snows because the "buildings" cannot hold the weight of the snow...ask me in person if you don't understand. Or look it up, it's soooo interesting!) Our final stop was to the third tunnell. There are five in total, all found in the DMZ by the S.K. or it's allies. All of these tunnels were made by the N.K.'s who were clearly planning an attack on S.K. Luckily, they were all found before they had been dug all the way through to S.K. We walked about 500meters into the tunnel before we ran right into the barricade separating the N and S. We only saw one because the others are spread around the border in different areas. And Miguel's dad told us tonight that the 5th tunnel was found in 2000...the end almost to the middle of Seoul. FREAKY! Anyways, I have written too much, and I hope that you are all still reading this to the end! And if you are interested I suggest looking this all up on wikipedia. We are living history right now!!!