tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69143445384107880462024-02-08T13:42:14.450+09:00Hilary Meets the Land of the Morning Calm“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
-ConfuciusUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-89510397310758879022022-11-26T23:16:00.000+09:002022-11-26T23:17:00.606+09:00Good afternoon --TO<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:13.1pt;font-family:Arial'>Blog<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:15.4pt;font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:15.4pt;font-family:Tahoma'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:17.3pt;font-family:Verdana'><a href="https://bit.ly/3VaKCRL">https://bit.ly/3VaKCRL</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:16.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:16.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:16.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:16.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:21.1pt;font-family:Arial'>hardysmiles<o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-40896340756482685162010-04-05T01:13:00.004+09:002010-04-05T01:17:46.855+09:00Organic Farmers fight Injustice in Paldang and a visit to Slow Food Korea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A Field Trip for Big Kids</span></b></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEVoPlOSjoa0PA7rGsxMPcah41sHoj4ziU7zyQbZiSWjR_ht8fBZ0s6NZ4D4Ofc1SLtYMy-sxzGhVUjBya5UYZiWOwkvP1oARt_fTbRkFpw2HnEZj4IpQjAd-k5PZ_PCvlJutrq1i1rw/s1600/IMG_3224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEVoPlOSjoa0PA7rGsxMPcah41sHoj4ziU7zyQbZiSWjR_ht8fBZ0s6NZ4D4Ofc1SLtYMy-sxzGhVUjBya5UYZiWOwkvP1oARt_fTbRkFpw2HnEZj4IpQjAd-k5PZ_PCvlJutrq1i1rw/s320/IMG_3224.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Last week I came across the </span><a href="http://seoulsg2.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Seoul Study Group</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> , a discussion group that seeks to inform itself on global issues. It meets once a month, and luck had it they were focusing their discussion this month on issues related to organic agriculture in Korea. We were a group of over 20 students and two professors: Layne Hartsell (school of global studies at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul) and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dean of Liberal Arts and Chul-Kyoo Kim (Vice dean of Liberal Arts at Korea University) who facilitated the day's discussion.</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5cWAUhED4vkiXqWJ-Yk3dYPf1KJkokB77MNe6FFlN4Uo4mSZp37bRZD-yhOmBxSOWdoOM-8D2TGLnjfAnDzNZ7XoJyHW1xNT-RySfdzHELU38QPhunXqwEMppG3wB7lrxLH0xb1XU0I/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5cWAUhED4vkiXqWJ-Yk3dYPf1KJkokB77MNe6FFlN4Uo4mSZp37bRZD-yhOmBxSOWdoOM-8D2TGLnjfAnDzNZ7XoJyHW1xNT-RySfdzHELU38QPhunXqwEMppG3wB7lrxLH0xb1XU0I/s320/IMG_3253.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We took the train to Paldang, an area to the West of Seoul. There Kim Byun Su, an organic farmer of the region met us and guided us around the area. He took us to a place he called "Yangsu" or the meeting point of the Bukhangang and Hamhangang River. Here come together in Paldang Lake and become one great river, which is the Han river. It flows from this point through the middle of Seoul, and empties into the Yellow Sea. It is of particular importance because it is the main source of tap water for 20 million people of the greater metropolitan area of Seoul. </span></span></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"> </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>When Government Policy Clashes with Farmers...</b></span></span></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The land around Paldang Lake, called Namyangju, was a very interesting history. Dating back to the Neolithic age, it as been used primarily for agriculture, ideal due to its fertility and mild weather. Even until this day, agriculture is the dominant trade. In 1975, the farming community received a great shock. Korean government enforced regulations designed to protect the water by means of restrictions regarding activities on land along the river. The regulations caused great hardship on the people living there, unable to carry out seemingly benign projects such as house repair, or construction of additional farm buildings. For 20 years, the government labeled this situation the "Sacrifice of the Minority for the Greater Good of the Majority." In 1995 however, an exciting solution was created by means of the establishment of a farming co-op which would provide support to farmers who agreed to grow organic crops. It was perfect: growing safe food that supported a healthy biosphere and protected the water quality. Korea's greatest organic farming community was born, and is the source of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> 70% of the organic produce sold in Seoul. An additional sign of success is the fact that this area was chosen to host the upcoming 2011 World Organic Conference. One of the primary reason for its selection, was Korea's internationally recognized use of greenhouses to maximize sunlight.</span></span></i></span></span></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZAviL57D6OTMDdc4SSdNIhh41iU-NrWIb1Vr-YWFJu2wvI7fvUH2EQG07Xwr3NGGBEWhu8x1_9rpK1uviqS56nWKTFkBsoJTDRYSg57HhFi7xdFpJoGajUs5m8VUGSeRbz3sXrh_ySg/s1600/IMG_3226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZAviL57D6OTMDdc4SSdNIhh41iU-NrWIb1Vr-YWFJu2wvI7fvUH2EQG07Xwr3NGGBEWhu8x1_9rpK1uviqS56nWKTFkBsoJTDRYSg57HhFi7xdFpJoGajUs5m8VUGSeRbz3sXrh_ySg/s320/IMG_3226.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately for this tight-knit community of farmers, their political hardships are not over. Abruptly in 2009, the Korean national government announced its $18 billion dollar </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Major_Rivers_Restoration_Project"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Four Rivers Restoration Project</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. The goal of this policy to enhance water security, support ecosystem health, introduce enhanced flood control, and create spaces for eco-friendly tourism. This is a proactive project in reaction to concerns about global warming and the potential of water scarcity. On the surface it appears to be a very responsible, and forward-thinking government policy. However, in order to carry out the details of this complex project, the government has sent eviction notices to all the farmers living the Namyangju area. The reason? To convert the farmland into a city park. There was no time for disbelief, as surveyors came to assess the land, followed by demolition crews. Section by section, farming land has been taken, and the last area remaining intact is the area of Paldang. The only reason for its survival is due to the vigilant activism and farmer protests.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRduOo0QE2umGTGbB84kEMQLFLH3LLtS57tczXZfRI5oWt8iBZrDHidv3wa9rsWMuyAIPELLKQn574bvTsyz1AIZPdcqspSvIkjcSaowjariiggawuakRella8srJfHFPvY0fbPD7rEs/s1600/IMG_3255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRduOo0QE2umGTGbB84kEMQLFLH3LLtS57tczXZfRI5oWt8iBZrDHidv3wa9rsWMuyAIPELLKQn574bvTsyz1AIZPdcqspSvIkjcSaowjariiggawuakRella8srJfHFPvY0fbPD7rEs/s320/IMG_3255.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kim Byun Su is one of the organic farmers of this community. He has been fasting to protest the planned developments of the region. He is also a Christian religious leader. Religious leaders and farmers have come together to protect the land. If you ask them, they say "We all support life. All we ask is to let us continue doing as we have been, protecting life." Legally, Kim told us, they only have a few more months to stand their ground. He explained that the general Korean public wasn't informed or didn't understand about this conflict, and that the farmers' voices were not being heard. To add international pressure, the organizers of International Organic Conference (scheduled to be hosted here in 2011) wrote to the governor of Seoul, informing him that if he does not stop this measure, they will move the conference elsewhere.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In May of 2009 there was physical conflict with police when surveyors' attempts to measure the land were blocked by farmers. A similar confrontation in November of 2009 led to the arrests of eleven farmers. They spent one day in jail and were subsequently released: there was no legal base for their arrests. Kim says, that very soon, the only option will be to lie down in front of the machines coming to demolish the farms.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVCJq8ZdokHeR5vXsEVMiAsrYqZMkMJVH37mWd4OV9WsSSfrDTUzkqU9z19haTW62fB1mQHVkFvmgix09wqS5QrkHmqhrxTPvP-XFG0-5O-T3XPshbYQqMoAI_SFBD2HbDKyOloh5qx8/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVCJq8ZdokHeR5vXsEVMiAsrYqZMkMJVH37mWd4OV9WsSSfrDTUzkqU9z19haTW62fB1mQHVkFvmgix09wqS5QrkHmqhrxTPvP-XFG0-5O-T3XPshbYQqMoAI_SFBD2HbDKyOloh5qx8/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Slow Food Korea</b></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We took our leave of Kim Byun Su, and traveled to </span><a href="http://www.sfcc.co.kr/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Slow Food Culture Center of Korea</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. For those of you unfamiliar with Slow Food, this is a movement started in the 1980s in Italy in reaction to the harmful affects of fastfood production not only on the health of our bodies, but our land, biodiversity, community, and culture. Its aim is to re-establish the connection between those who grow food, and those who consume it. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBv-fjBmXbqV68zP_OtEY3TfiGlhxxeHXxuLfCvr8MnFAwv9_0OoDj40P5XCS4ku9mRvpbMRNuBrt3fVKl3MP-CVACR9q_UW4c1X4xxHz8LXV5jMwCoRuhaTJNP2zpDgBNQ4WdiKP3t8/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBv-fjBmXbqV68zP_OtEY3TfiGlhxxeHXxuLfCvr8MnFAwv9_0OoDj40P5XCS4ku9mRvpbMRNuBrt3fVKl3MP-CVACR9q_UW4c1X4xxHz8LXV5jMwCoRuhaTJNP2zpDgBNQ4WdiKP3t8/s320/IMG_3243.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">During our tour of the museum, our guide asked us if we knew what season grapes were ripe. He explained that in Korea, the season was September, but when school children were asked the same question, they never can answer correctly. Like most other countries in the world, Koreans are becoming detached from the natural food cycles, as international food markets allow for the same food to be "in season" year round. Our guide touched on the mysteries of industrial food, such as its miraculous ability to stay fresh (or not spoil) for absurd amounts of time, the miraculously short time required to grow food these days, and the mystification of ingredients by the difficult names assigned to them. We were told that in Korea, if you eat three typical meals in Korean restaurants, you are probably consuming on average 250 added chemicals that keep food cheap and delicious.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJCndqgCod0tOn83nAFsk-lAWIUsJoBEdC_tzqOgJYyycMVa5oejlFcWISU-ECo67Cq68MuKDAp0VRpnXVT-lJCFELpGs_TpdJQjgu-mnHMNhz85iX5htUK9jI2H1oWRPzdu15652YlI/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJCndqgCod0tOn83nAFsk-lAWIUsJoBEdC_tzqOgJYyycMVa5oejlFcWISU-ECo67Cq68MuKDAp0VRpnXVT-lJCFELpGs_TpdJQjgu-mnHMNhz85iX5htUK9jI2H1oWRPzdu15652YlI/s320/IMG_3239.JPG" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwrfninyoJ0SiCvUPFh7k1_7ARp9ytXl7p58cPTRUKcU2RbcItDBvyVtdKHKGWYaqyhb1uFczyjUiVpH1aY0p7OYymnWITCVNo0K1Fpeq9_skwK7Joe_nxb-Ao4j4VFuNvHpTqdYIufA/s1600/IMG_3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwrfninyoJ0SiCvUPFh7k1_7ARp9ytXl7p58cPTRUKcU2RbcItDBvyVtdKHKGWYaqyhb1uFczyjUiVpH1aY0p7OYymnWITCVNo0K1Fpeq9_skwK7Joe_nxb-Ao4j4VFuNvHpTqdYIufA/s320/IMG_3237.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After the tour of the museum, we were served a savory lunch, cooked by the resident chef of Slowfood. Everything we ate was not only organically grown, but locally as well. In keeping with the attention to detail and quality spent on growing the food, the meal was prepared in such a way that you could appreciate the individual flavors each component provided. We ate fresh salad greens, two kinds of kimchi, mandu (dumpling) soup, and washed it down with a special herb tea. For desert there was a selection of treats, including cookies made with Korean flour, a rarity to find here! After lunch, we had wrap-up lecture and discussion led by our professors. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Seoul Study Group Discusses:</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The failure of the free market is not simple supply and demand</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">: Although food is a very basic need, not everybody can have food, making this a social issue in addition to an economic and environmental one. In contradiction to the promises of the free market, liberal economic policies have not been successfully applied to agriculture. Data shows that there is actually a 10% surplus of food available in the world, but due to faulty distribution, large portions of the world population go hungry, whereas a minority is growing obese. Markets are socially constructed and politically controlled exchanges, dominated by monopolies belonging to agro-food companies who hold deep ties with the pharmaceutical industry. The combination of these factors makes "free trade" impossible to attain.</span></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">International food markets = national food insecurity:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> The rise of food prices in 2008 has made the issue of food and how it is produced a primary debate all over the world. When a country becomes dependent on a global food market, their population (in particular the poorest percentile) become prey to any volatility in prices. As Korea became increasingly integrated with the global food market, it resisted pressure by the WTO to allow free market competition in regards to the sale of rice. Rice is a traditional staple of Korean agriculture and diet. To this day, 100% sold in Korea is produced domestically, and this has helped insulate Korea from global food fluctuations. In comparison, only .2% of wheat is grown domestically in Korea, (which is why the cookies we were served for dessert at Slow Food were so special.) As the Korean diet changes to include more pasta, noodles, and bread, this will make the country increasingly vulnerable to price changes.</span></li>
<li><b>Its about the process:</b> There are aspects of the Four River Project mentioned earlier that are mostly beneficial, while there are others that appear to have a quite negative impact. What's important when carrying out project of this size is the process. Citizens should be able to participate in the decision process. As caretakers of the land, they have local knowledge of the area, and can provide beneficial knowledge that will allow policy makers to arrive at the best possible solution for all the actors (both human and non-human) involved.</li>
<li><b>Individual decisions become political and ecological acts:</b> Although most of us identify ourselves as simple consumers, we are in the words of Slow Food, "co-producers". It is in our power to connect directly with producers of our food, and support the farming practices we believe in. In addition to making personal contacts with farms (through organisations such as Slow Food and WWOOF) we should try to eat local food. Ask where your food comes from, and choose domestic product over international ones. If you are not sure, research the seasonal foods, and buy according to the plants that should naturally be available in that climate. When possible In Korea, there are farmers co-ops that are becoming increasingly popular. Look and join one servicing your area. Below are examples of what to keep an eye-out for when looking for Korean organic produce. Ask for "요기농" (yo-gi-nong):</li>
</ul><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhH2ssmxaMmo5RrzmV8fwgVlmM6Y569GQcqKzB_keJxHfZzgdy76JpoFrwohrKytqVGPPVlXmmahELOdbq7eY2D6LmGFsVHUmeDmuT-5WeXo0fZDbVve7wc5tA82n01Ptrk75-GYaBuU/s200/163344335.jpg" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJw0r5hSAAtxizkzGeRwfI_7N06-ju-WpI4q5WgE66tYBT4DHKvYqtQZZ41HPZRu-Fx-cfCdUDbqGDki4xOwgPhr63Nj0Qh1aNXI0Ts69avWjRaxtiGpc-s_jMyb_kOzrW3ZQy3TR7RoI/s200/0819%EC%9C%A0%EA%B8%B0%EB%86%8D%EB%91%90%EB%B6%80.jpg" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyw7VBiaY7dvf2zjGSDyrL8AtsLKdS8ItzMJdFangFNBu1jz9hFsl-ke2ocOSS_L3qltMGUP2cAAdckAySnTSJagrCtVQMaV4qQt5rFErRRucFS-cLf3LHE9mD5G9i2paF7mxksWL2kkc/s200/milk.jpg" /><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Food for Thought</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Organic farming is the complete opposite of industrial food production. Its goal isn't to make money, but to support life and allow natural relationships between interacting organisms grow and nurture each other. The conflict in Paldang is an unfortunate and preventable destruction of these delicate relationships. Communities must be educated about how their food decisions affect not only their stomachs, but their water, their neighbors, their community, and even national and international politics. Growing and consuming food is not a one-way relationship, but a complex web of inter-relationships. To demonstrate this, one anecdote told by our Slow Food museum guide, sticks with me. It is a story about Korean farming long ago. Before, he said, the Korean farmers would plant beans. They would make a hole in the ground, and not put one seed inside, but three. One was for the birds, one was for the worm, and the last one was for the farmer. In today's world filled with increasingly conflicting interests, we should remember this lesson that supporting other systems of life is ultimately supporting ourselves.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-84277136129220665212010-03-24T22:54:00.002+09:002010-03-25T14:23:46.953+09:00Visit to the House of Sharing "나누모의집"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTQjtIJItDm3KTfuj_yaRwQJ7mvRHIh8qRSJx0DBwb25_GhgceosJ4FTQQOIMnbHLHNwtNTQbED_0m3nF3L4_DZBcoiY5Ed4pmaeFwWnSk26oZGi2gEnVh-L94m0fRd0vINJvH5UPLOk/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTQjtIJItDm3KTfuj_yaRwQJ7mvRHIh8qRSJx0DBwb25_GhgceosJ4FTQQOIMnbHLHNwtNTQbED_0m3nF3L4_DZBcoiY5Ed4pmaeFwWnSk26oZGi2gEnVh-L94m0fRd0vINJvH5UPLOk/s320/IMG_3211.JPG" /></a></div><span id="fullpost">This weekend I made a very important visit to the House of Sharing, located in Gwanju City about an hour Southeast of Seoul. The House of Sharing is one of those destinations that every visitor to Korea should take the time to see. It is a museum of living history, an eye-opening lesson in human rights, and awing activism. In encyclopedic terms, the House of Sharing is a residence and museum for survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery over the course of the Asia-Pacific War (1931-1945).</span><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule"><b>Historical Setting: Korea Pre-World War II</b></a><br />
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</div><div></div><div>During Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion (1910-1935), it occupied Korea, declared it a protectorate of Japan (1905), and officially annexed it in 1910. Here in Korea, this time is referred to as "Japanese forced occupation" and it marks a very dark and painful past. The events that took place have been described by some historians as cultural genocide, as the Japanese Empire sought to suppress all aspects of Korean culture. Korean royalty was assassinated and replaced, century-old palaces were destroyed, precious historical artifacts were stolen, and ancient books burned. Every effort was made to erase memories too, with lyrics to traditional songs rewritten, history books edited, and Japanese language forcibly replaced Korean. Political and economic mechanisms to exploit the country were put into place, including land reforms designed to confiscate land predominately from the lower class, coupled with crippling high taxes which paved the way to widespread famine.<br />
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<b>Development of "Comfort Stations" : Institutionalized, Systematic Rape</b><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre">The Nanking Massacre</a> (also referred to historically as The Rape of Nanking) is considered a watershed for the sexual slavery that soon followed. This was a six week period beginning in December 1937 in which Japanese troops captured the former capital of China, Nanjing. There was complete loss of control over the soldiers. It is estimated that over 12,000 people were massacred and 20,000 women were raped, varying in range from infants to elderly. Gang rapes and mutilation were common, and victims were often murdered after. There are reports of soldiers competing for highest kill counts, and using prisoners for bayonet practice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzL9KHY2gPFDYXHcS7s0d-Ln-pXTBuyZfskKrggYE5IWSbIBWlJPweutqaKhqhP4L3bTmqWX7vSL88OpKzl3DQcpRNi097CnDMBXv86e5B-Zst1YEJLGp3Ja0Y-X0axfyT0Wrvb3Ti0E/s1600/comfort-women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzL9KHY2gPFDYXHcS7s0d-Ln-pXTBuyZfskKrggYE5IWSbIBWlJPweutqaKhqhP4L3bTmqWX7vSL88OpKzl3DQcpRNi097CnDMBXv86e5B-Zst1YEJLGp3Ja0Y-X0axfyT0Wrvb3Ti0E/s320/comfort-women.jpg" /></a>Beginning in 1932 and continuing until the end of WWII, "Comfort Houses" began to appear all over Asia, predominately in territories occupied by Japan. Military sanctioned brothels held several advantages. First, it increased morale of the troops, making them easier to control. This in turn, decreased the risk of Japanese soldiers raping local women in the occupied territories, thus preventing civilian uprisings. Furthermore, by having these brothels sanctioned by the military, they could control the risk and spread of STDs, protecting the health of their soldiers.<br />
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In the early years, the women were typically Japanese prostitutes who reportedly volunteered. However Japanese military expansion increased quickly, and volunteers dwindled, so the military turned to the local populations. Tactics varied from paying off parents for their young girls, deceiving women by promises of factory work, or simply kidnapping girls off the street. Most of the women found in these brothels were Korean or Chinese, however there were also women of Japanese, Filipino, Taiwanese, Burmese, Indonesian, Dutch, and Australian descent. Due to lack of official documentation, scholars can only makes estimates as to the number of women forced into sexual labor, which tend to vary in between 50,000 to 200,000.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ybw_a6gkCy9pbATX7HQiSmoAkKz_L8rgSjcZ7JREOO-dcuFAOeXo3PW1bL-NNMWIVqC42UHcmQC4wP869y5fiEhoElXrZlvRzoakP39IEF8fPg8f4Bbulcm_wrO0Leo36qrvNaXs0DU/s1600/image003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ybw_a6gkCy9pbATX7HQiSmoAkKz_L8rgSjcZ7JREOO-dcuFAOeXo3PW1bL-NNMWIVqC42UHcmQC4wP869y5fiEhoElXrZlvRzoakP39IEF8fPg8f4Bbulcm_wrO0Leo36qrvNaXs0DU/s320/image003.jpg" /></a></div><br />
While each survivor's story is unique, there are many commonalities to be noted. First: none of these women consented to sexual acts, they were indisputably victims of rape. Second, many of these individuals were pre-pubescent when they were forced into sexual labor. Their are some reports of women being as young as twelve, and usually no older than twenty. The women were, raped, starved, beaten and tortured daily. Punishment for disobedience was commonly brutal death. Women were punished for getting their period, for getting pregnant, and for getting diseases. Medical exams happened monthly, and after passing her medical exam, the women were usually raped by the doctor in front of other soldiers. Punishment for escapes attempts was extremely harsh. One of the women I met reported in her testimony witnessing a girl publicly sliced in half with a sword by one of the Japanese soldiers. At the end of the war, fresh mass graves were discovered, victims massacred by retreating Japanese military.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZXODawVDsT7EUfmBU0tMmvJOmgarfhkcZkXWGW9qtjLF-XMl0iWiDk9xxLh6fak05LwXKI_OJB4U4zriUo1UP2pPhbkyuvDjsimMB5LJRl46SZ1tNJPbXorUVCgL8fbwH7znvK1tGVg/s1600/256px-Chinese_girl_from_one_of_the_Japanese_Army's_'comfort_battalions'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZXODawVDsT7EUfmBU0tMmvJOmgarfhkcZkXWGW9qtjLF-XMl0iWiDk9xxLh6fak05LwXKI_OJB4U4zriUo1UP2pPhbkyuvDjsimMB5LJRl46SZ1tNJPbXorUVCgL8fbwH7znvK1tGVg/s320/256px-Chinese_girl_from_one_of_the_Japanese_Army's_'comfort_battalions'.jpg" /></a></div>When the Allied forces came through the abandoned Japanese military bases, there was a lot of confusion discovering these abused women speaking all different kinds of languages. Sorting out the situation took time as they had to call translators from literally ever linguistic region of Asia. After being freed, survivors still faced difficult choices. Social awareness and understanding of sexual awareness is nothing like it is today. Man survivors felt such great shame, that they couldn't return home, and for those who married, never spoke of their dark past to their loved ones. Suicide was not uncommon. Due to the violence inflicted on their bodies, survivors were usually unable to conceive, and many faced a lifetime of hardship after the war, battling severe psychological trauma, disease, and chronic poverty.<br />
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<b>Denial Despite Copious Evidence</b><br />
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During the two weeks between the ceasefire and arrival of American troops in Japan, Japanese military and government archives were systematically destroyed. Officials were ordered specifically to destroy any incriminating documents relating to war crimes, especially those concerning prisoners of war and forced laborers. The lack of official government documents is used by the Japanese government to claim their innocence regarding any involvement in the systematic rape of Korean women. Although the Japanese military destroyed many documents that could be used as direct evidence, there is still an overwhelming amount of evidence and testimony that makes this sad part of human history indisputable.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeg5r1f5cj9ERH8CwTUW2r5VMN1dIxC0G5DR2L5wDbw5bkgAwa7fL8L6s8cvdgKYrhXVNWfePLl3WYi5UZyDnO4Su63u34ryouKmdCdsKDAWDjC-j9F5o61PkIRxdOZn-Yi5hCbJrmfI/s1600/IMG_3185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeg5r1f5cj9ERH8CwTUW2r5VMN1dIxC0G5DR2L5wDbw5bkgAwa7fL8L6s8cvdgKYrhXVNWfePLl3WYi5UZyDnO4Su63u34ryouKmdCdsKDAWDjC-j9F5o61PkIRxdOZn-Yi5hCbJrmfI/s320/IMG_3185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Exhibit #1: This is a map marking all the comfort stations reported. Some stations were found and recorded by the UN taskforce dispatched at the end of the war, some reported by survivors, and others reported by soldiers. People who dispute the validity of survivors' testimonies claim that these women were willing prostitutes. Korean women were found all over Asia and as far South as Indonesia, and the abducted women were generally uneducated girls with no income. Remembering it was the 1930s when public transportation was limited and very expensive, how can we explain the diffusion of hundreds of thousands of Korean women all of the continent? Answer: Army transport, which would require the direct and orchestrated participation of the Japanese government.<br />
<blockquote>"We must record these things that were forced upon us" -Kim Hak Soon, first Korean survivor to come out publicly in 1991 </blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_7WbJNh4pGIVXSbAsfu8xd2HinDqTc1N3VExpon2eO_8w_ZQpTrWHDVIRz6m_20JqZus-DMpsXpwiLiMTSU-K7aoSyV-rfyl23YBe4Ja0fusLx-SlqWeEekMo_8zHwNf-Kxq8oAlEKs/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_7WbJNh4pGIVXSbAsfu8xd2HinDqTc1N3VExpon2eO_8w_ZQpTrWHDVIRz6m_20JqZus-DMpsXpwiLiMTSU-K7aoSyV-rfyl23YBe4Ja0fusLx-SlqWeEekMo_8zHwNf-Kxq8oAlEKs/s320/IMG_3194.JPG" /></a>Testimonies: A large number of women have come forward in the past few decades, to record their painful stories. In South Korea, 220 women, or "Halmoni" (respectful term for grandmother) have bravely come forward to offer their testimonial. As of 2010, 89 of these women are still alive, most in their late 80s or 90s. Further testimonies have also been given by soldiers who frequented the comfort stations, as well as officers involved in their institution.<br />
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Physical objects: Comfort station designs and setup were very similar, an their standard operating procedures often identical. Every station had a plaque on the wall, listing the rules of soldiers had to follow while being "serviced". This plaque was identical among stations not only in wording but right down to the size and font, quite obviously military issued and distributed. You can see more examples of common objects found in stations all over Asia when you visit the House of Sharing Museum<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW2QGvMLrPiIyFECucDpqG0R4vk33yBQo5KwsaSF6mz9IO_fAWVESJfH-grlcnIL_wHKUOpAAyVlvHbsS-dqmR9tgcdcCEyviNc20GARl7An1FUt9M8AxkjZnb12ie8vhJE3w9NJabRc/s1600/IMG_3202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW2QGvMLrPiIyFECucDpqG0R4vk33yBQo5KwsaSF6mz9IO_fAWVESJfH-grlcnIL_wHKUOpAAyVlvHbsS-dqmR9tgcdcCEyviNc20GARl7An1FUt9M8AxkjZnb12ie8vhJE3w9NJabRc/s320/IMG_3202.JPG" /></a></div><br />
On several occasions, Japanese officials have made general apology statements, such as Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995. Despite this, Japan absolutely refuses to accept any legal liability for crimes inflicted against self-proclaimed "comfort women", and it will not agree to use government money to compensate the surviving victims. Instead, it has set up the Asian Women's Fund, which provides retribution via direct donations from the Japanese public. Sadly, to this day, history textbooks are still whitewashed regarding the war atrocities committed, especially in Japan, but also in Korea. It appears the Japanese government is biding its time, in hope that after they last survivors die, the issue will dissipate.<br />
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<b>Lifetime Activists, Living History</b><br />
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In 1990, the <a href="http://www.womenandwar.net/english/menu_014.php">Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan </a>was established to support the surviving Halmoni. They help provide medical support, counseling, and provide shelter to those who have none. They have successfully pressured the Korean government to pass legislation related directly to the survivors, and are presently pursuing legislation that would mount pressure on relations with Japan to produce an official apology and retribution. The council also supports the weekly Wednesday protests which take place in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul. Every protest, they ask for the following seven demands:<br />
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<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohNX5Gzn-qzl9esjOESHg75cVhi5K892cW8uZESlsSSjqNaY7Ec2TyG3U7AeGCudCZoGhZiG0BzZJriZlfYMgLpf6jwMG-N0XA9Kjy1qJbKNTz8Tlrlxgn7MFkUEQtGYiAIzx6a8lw40/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohNX5Gzn-qzl9esjOESHg75cVhi5K892cW8uZESlsSSjqNaY7Ec2TyG3U7AeGCudCZoGhZiG0BzZJriZlfYMgLpf6jwMG-N0XA9Kjy1qJbKNTz8Tlrlxgn7MFkUEQtGYiAIzx6a8lw40/s320/IMG_3191.JPG" /></a>
<li>Official acknowledgement of the crime of the Japanese Military system of sexual slavery;</li>
<li>An official apology from the government of Japan;</li>
<li>Investigation and full disclosure of official documents;</li>
<li>Compensation to victims or their families;</li>
<li>Inclusion in textbooks;</li>
<li>Erection of monuments to the victims;</li>
<li>Punishment of criminals involved in the system.</li>
</ol><br />
In January 2010, they celebrated their 900th protest...the only answer from Tokyo is embassy soldiers dressed in riot gear.<br />
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<b>Want to get Involved?</b><br />
(Suggestions taken from House of Sharing Pamphlet)<br />
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<ol><li>Visit the House of Sharing and talk to the survivors;</li>
<li>Join survivors as the make their Wednesday protest in front of the Japanese embassy (or organize one in your home country);</li>
<li>Read testimony, articles and other literature regarding the issue</li>
<ul><li>To hear a Korean survivor tell her tale in her own words, you can listen to an audio interview <a href="http://www.rnw.nl/english/radioshow/kidnapped">on this radio show</a>;</li>
</ul>
<li>Send a letter to the Japanese government and your local politicians;</li>
<li>Educate the people around you, ask teacher's to include the survivors' stories in the their curriculum;</li>
<li>Donate time, money or organize a fundraiser;</li>
<li>Continue the global fight against the exploitation of women in wartime and the international sex trade;</li>
<li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6466897908&ref=ts">Join the facebook group</a> and receive updates, including information regarding upcoming visits to the House of Sharing;</li>
<li>Sign the following petitions:</li>
</ol><ul><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.womenandwar.net/english/japan_sign_en.php">http://www.womenandwar.net/english/japan_sign_en.php</a></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.jca.apc.org/ianfu_ketsugi/1200000.htm">http://www.jca.apc.org/ianfu_ketsugi/1200000.htm</a></span></span></li>
</ul></ul><br />
</div><div></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-53735592367930254632010-02-17T08:47:00.017+09:002010-03-24T23:08:41.537+09:00WWOOF Korea: My First Farmstay at Euntoe Farm 은퇴롱장<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><br />
In keeping with my New Year's Resolution to become better involved with my Korean community, I finally fulfilled one of my long-held ambitions to participate in the WWOOF program. WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The program began in England in 1971 in the aims of providing London-dwellers with the opportunity to get involved in the organic farming activities in the countryside. The program became increasingly popular and is now an international phenomenon.<br />
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<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The goal of the program is exchange: the volunteer provides physical labor in return for food, lodging, and sharing of sustainable farming practices. In order to become part of WWOOF, you register with the country of your choice (includes a nominal fee, Korea's was ~$50). This provides you with a year-long membership, and a booklet containing descriptions and contact information of all the farms subscribed to WWOOF in that country. You and the host agree upon the time and duration of your stay. A farm stay can be as short as a couple days, or can last years. Usually the relationship between wwoofer and host becomes familial. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Signing up with WWOOF Korea is easy. You can contact them through </span><a href="http://koreawwoof.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">their website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> and email them your registration information. You can wire them the registration fee via ATM or credit card. You will receive the booklet within a few days after making the payment. Jade, who is the main contact person from the WWOOF office in Seoul, speaks English fluently and responds quickly and thoroughly to any questions/help you may need.</span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-cUMca2OWkUvk7tH-6iFDU33KKwicbRSThqG8wx3U9L-88d300H1tSMWyba1GMO617NbOKqGUgf4mmVYzifQA28DrC4uJypNGSbEzBxRKQ8DqlXo3FVrHxItKo50ERzw6I_sc8OpQGA/s1600-h/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> </div><span id="fullpost"></span><br />
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<span id="fullpost"><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVpetjfABj579Da5YNLFJ83k_u9XQA2Mumm9-ypnxtK1dm4c9smb3QE2uvV9eqkBEztKmPsL4gLtATusy41BCjgNYo669UqHclt8TjEEQgfwarBQ57fh5JXkwMNdQYmhrBLgDutWO0IY/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVpetjfABj579Da5YNLFJ83k_u9XQA2Mumm9-ypnxtK1dm4c9smb3QE2uvV9eqkBEztKmPsL4gLtATusy41BCjgNYo669UqHclt8TjEEQgfwarBQ57fh5JXkwMNdQYmhrBLgDutWO0IY/s320/IMG_2944.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I had a four day weekend in February (13th-16th), for the Lunar New Year, which is a major Korean holiday. Jade warned me this wasn't an ideal time for a farm stay since it was time to relax and spend time with family, but in the end she was able to find a farm willing to host me in a province South of Seoul called ChungcheongNam-Do 충창 남 도. The farm is called Euntoe Farm 은퇴롱장 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=102196772639476067830.0004824564b69982c6315&ll=36.525422,126.679358&spn=0.001213,0.002411&z=19&iwloc=00048245a3dae018ffe96"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is a map</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. Annie, my Korean coworker and good friend, helped me get a a cheap bus ticket there and before knew it I was sitting shotgun in a van winding through snowy narrow roads of the countryside, up a long drive way leading to my new host farm.</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></div></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></div></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span id="fullpost"></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-cUMca2OWkUvk7tH-6iFDU33KKwicbRSThqG8wx3U9L-88d300H1tSMWyba1GMO617NbOKqGUgf4mmVYzifQA28DrC4uJypNGSbEzBxRKQ8DqlXo3FVrHxItKo50ERzw6I_sc8OpQGA/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-cUMca2OWkUvk7tH-6iFDU33KKwicbRSThqG8wx3U9L-88d300H1tSMWyba1GMO617NbOKqGUgf4mmVYzifQA28DrC4uJypNGSbEzBxRKQ8DqlXo3FVrHxItKo50ERzw6I_sc8OpQGA/s200/IMG_2933.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNkCv3vlz7G7MDr9HjBlYhyLnQJfp-b_IbLJgdtDnpHJ47b354oaNVzCOkdEQHr68AbADagnRHKRLaZ1fvLZWiJLqG9Qr6m8lwaPaBMumJ5VtqBtgMuLA-ZAZyEUFIzqJtOv6pzcVYm4/s1600/IMG_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNkCv3vlz7G7MDr9HjBlYhyLnQJfp-b_IbLJgdtDnpHJ47b354oaNVzCOkdEQHr68AbADagnRHKRLaZ1fvLZWiJLqG9Qr6m8lwaPaBMumJ5VtqBtgMuLA-ZAZyEUFIzqJtOv6pzcVYm4/s320/IMG_2975.JPG" width="211" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day One, Saturday:</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span id="fullpost"></span><br />
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<span id="fullpost"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNkCv3vlz7G7MDr9HjBlYhyLnQJfp-b_IbLJgdtDnpHJ47b354oaNVzCOkdEQHr68AbADagnRHKRLaZ1fvLZWiJLqG9Qr6m8lwaPaBMumJ5VtqBtgMuLA-ZAZyEUFIzqJtOv6pzcVYm4/s1600-h/IMG_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was picked up by Kim Young Chul and his daughter. The<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 13px;"><b><span lang="ko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> daughter, (she said I could call her 언니 "eonni" older sister) spoke some English, so I was able to communicate with her. I discovered however, that she didn't live on the farm with her parents, and she was studying for a big exam for university, so I would see little of her. Her father knew a few words in English, however it wasn't enough to have conversations per se. I would need to use what little Korean I had and my best miming abilities to get by. Yikes!</span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></b></div></div></span></div></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They had eight cozy one-room buildings along the driveway for farm personnel to live in. These buildings were all heated with the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1269127186112"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">traditional Korean heating system, ondul </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondol"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">온돌</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">and had a full bathroom, along with plenty of bedding. They gave me a key to one of these buildings and I understood it was to be mine for my four day stay.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_ZeuLMCtdTEKoI7pwBy01guCwd-pNFGdJhq81yZbnzOFhE4-pcN_BFIA96rS9MB9meaKMcbjoNtzurESOtTxwejAqfDWE6t4Imf6o1Op64cuvNpbRIY_WG-6IbxDmWd_wSb2zP7TTBU/s1600-h/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We spent the remaining afternoon in their office watching the Vancouver Olympics (speed skating specifically) which they were extremely enthusiastic about since Korea was giving the world a run--err---skate for its money. Kim Young Chul's wife, who single-handedly prepares three-square meals for close to a dozen people every day, had dinner ready every night at 6PM. The food was plentiful, varied, and always extremely yummy. Over half a dozen men in their 60s-70s joined us for dinner. I came to learn these weren't actually relatives, but retired men who preferred life on a farm as opposed to living in small apartments in the city. They help out with the farm duties as they can, and in exchange have three square meals, a house of their own, and warm family life. Conversations at meals were always plentiful, and it was clear that my host and his wife cared greatly for their extended family.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_ZeuLMCtdTEKoI7pwBy01guCwd-pNFGdJhq81yZbnzOFhE4-pcN_BFIA96rS9MB9meaKMcbjoNtzurESOtTxwejAqfDWE6t4Imf6o1Op64cuvNpbRIY_WG-6IbxDmWd_wSb2zP7TTBU/s1600/IMG_2952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_ZeuLMCtdTEKoI7pwBy01guCwd-pNFGdJhq81yZbnzOFhE4-pcN_BFIA96rS9MB9meaKMcbjoNtzurESOtTxwejAqfDWE6t4Imf6o1Op64cuvNpbRIY_WG-6IbxDmWd_wSb2zP7TTBU/s200/IMG_2952.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO1gkLbW8LUoLIDgNBUrxDRybXOUjLhNISXic37FLL92HEhvxmF09KJRYvzvlBvvJw5KXkZ-KF9AjnlhWOsnLfe97RwVL_ifowGTbAFV17-NJfK7GUDy7r47T9MyFOMNuerIb9xBFBsA/s1600-h/IMG_2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO1gkLbW8LUoLIDgNBUrxDRybXOUjLhNISXic37FLL92HEhvxmF09KJRYvzvlBvvJw5KXkZ-KF9AjnlhWOsnLfe97RwVL_ifowGTbAFV17-NJfK7GUDy7r47T9MyFOMNuerIb9xBFBsA/s200/IMG_2951.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day Two, Sunday:</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEorQfZkxi2CEDwQKeeQ0-QW-EFMIYHDwB6Z61DFitotKttvAxgd58qa-ucafHWpKceUdh5QZeRMhAbzNLsq_-zLS6apTR3HLnA1vAavaYbAl0IxfSlZegEDRTpoKF9FgIlJt875jfac/s1600-h/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEorQfZkxi2CEDwQKeeQ0-QW-EFMIYHDwB6Z61DFitotKttvAxgd58qa-ucafHWpKceUdh5QZeRMhAbzNLsq_-zLS6apTR3HLnA1vAavaYbAl0IxfSlZegEDRTpoKF9FgIlJt875jfac/s200/IMG_2963.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On my second full day, I accepted an invite for a tr</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ip into town with Eunni and her mom. Eunni and I went to the train station to buy my return ticket, then we joined her mother at church. This was my first time in a Korean church, and first time attending a religious ceremony in quite a long time. I felt a little guilty not being more smartly dressed: I had packed lightly and only brought clothes appropriate for doing farm work. The service lasted a little over an hour, and involved the minister preaching and a well practiced choir singing intermittently. After Eunni was able to explain to me that she and her mother were devout Christians, but their father didn't share their faith. I noticed in future meals, that the mother would always bow her head and say a quiet prayer before eating any meal</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div></div></span></div></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVT6h7vEva8qiq2W59Eh5F3pXARTtmhd4fM6j5jZkakBSZs2T_WcTq2_KXIRKmcWgI_ksP2jzngPyW0kdvTiLWEGd6nHAEukm9pPk8iNkU1eIR70msaeOD3c6bTKznTJNjHhK9_LpRww/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVT6h7vEva8qiq2W59Eh5F3pXARTtmhd4fM6j5jZkakBSZs2T_WcTq2_KXIRKmcWgI_ksP2jzngPyW0kdvTiLWEGd6nHAEukm9pPk8iNkU1eIR70msaeOD3c6bTKznTJNjHhK9_LpRww/s200/IMG_2966.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The rest of the day was spent eating food with my hosts, watching more Olympics, reading, and taking a lazy afternoon nap. The sun was setting on my second day on the farm, and I hadn't so much as lifted a finger. Meanwhile, I was being very well fed and taken care of. Worried, I grappled several times with my meager Korean, to ask</span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVT6h7vEva8qiq2W59Eh5F3pXARTtmhd4fM6j5jZkakBSZs2T_WcTq2_KXIRKmcWgI_ksP2jzngPyW0kdvTiLWEGd6nHAEukm9pPk8iNkU1eIR70msaeOD3c6bTKznTJNjHhK9_LpRww/s1600-h/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">if there was some work I could do. Each time my host would laugh and say "Hilarya, free-time-uh." I came to understand this was a holiday, and unlike my parents' sheep farm, this farm had no animals so farm chores could be put off a few days. My hosts were taking a day to relax, so I was too.</div></div></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">D</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ay Three, Monday:</span></b></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KkerVVM7wYY-WvE3PfGgRUxVaWvPYlyf8_shDXKuKLR43yM4dWW2ojFF7gnXKGbaaTmt8YqtOKxtwj-zUhHeLDrxHRtEmNcGvpq4mrov7_Es5iEnYWk3BF0JyBtkKFTQ2GOW6HFke1g/s1600-h/IMG_2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KkerVVM7wYY-WvE3PfGgRUxVaWvPYlyf8_shDXKuKLR43yM4dWW2ojFF7gnXKGbaaTmt8YqtOKxtwj-zUhHeLDrxHRtEmNcGvpq4mrov7_Es5iEnYWk3BF0JyBtkKFTQ2GOW6HFke1g/s200/IMG_2967.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">he third day was much more active. It started in the morning, Eunni and I went on a great mountain hike on Oseosan 오서산 which was about 45 minutes South of the farm. We left early in the morning and hiked up the mountain in ankle deep snow for close to three hours. The sun was up, the air was clear, and it was quite calm. Eunni had the genius idea to bring large plastic bags containing thin cushions to use as makeshift sleds, and we had a great time sledding our way back down the mountain. On our way down, we made a detour to one of the temples on the mountain, which like most temples, has some famous history behind it,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> but it was a little complicated for Eunni to explain to me in English.</span></div></div></span></div></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfsuqe1nOj73I4sLG34vcF5K4IA6CdmMAYnFDPKUr5JCpELpZprA8fHgr2F_dem2DL0eNrOZ1mL3ezgW6zzPh-8l1vu2pGMD1d_duacirDvYC1gLVDA4MNgOnCX9OFSbzRk4K6m4G8HE/s1600-h/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfsuqe1nOj73I4sLG34vcF5K4IA6CdmMAYnFDPKUr5JCpELpZprA8fHgr2F_dem2DL0eNrOZ1mL3ezgW6zzPh-8l1vu2pGMD1d_duacirDvYC1gLVDA4MNgOnCX9OFSbzRk4K6m4G8HE/s200/IMG_2983.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">e arrived back to the farm in time for lunch, and in the afternoon I finally got to do some real work in one of the greenhouses, with two of the older men. It was pleasantly warm in the tunnel, and we worked quietly cutting, trimming, weighing and packaging leeks for sale. The men seemed happy about my work speed, and my name was mentioned a lot at dinner accompanied with lots of smiles and pats, so I think I did alright</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span> <br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qaTDAR8wcI8uc_gihfRbZOLUob56bE-fQ9RqH7AzVQYgLPQ0M_mA_e62TO1GruCLk68UUTo_FrPXJwMdQY2bffIatddyRGgNEINe8JQ9RiRITGHmmMQMKdJDhwbK5coCfk-orPMaPBk/s1600-h/IMG_2980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qaTDAR8wcI8uc_gihfRbZOLUob56bE-fQ9RqH7AzVQYgLPQ0M_mA_e62TO1GruCLk68UUTo_FrPXJwMdQY2bffIatddyRGgNEINe8JQ9RiRITGHmmMQMKdJDhwbK5coCfk-orPMaPBk/s200/IMG_2980.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDKUOsezLJ0U1pp0dDBhC-BSF-rj0CGeEx49I24wlPxczCHojpWMvtiUQLGmwZArwwULSq2sB66vyTIz7AeySeEVYDYSf1Z8lnRCN7n8yzLyAJRb7qmfdwpExyvG4MmL8RStjKtpVMek/s1600-h/IMG_2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After dinn</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">er, Eunni showed me around the extended farming community. As we drove, she pointed out the countless rice fields and showed me how to look for the duck houses to know if it was an organic rice field or not. She showed me an organic dairy farm, a farmer's co-op headquarters where her father sometimes works, a satellite university campus, which has a program in sustainable farming practices and energy production, a building company with works with the university to build energy-conserving houses in the community... the list went on and on. She gave me a book with maps, directory, and detailed description of all the important members of this farming community, but unfortunately its all in Korean, so I can't tell you much more than what I saw for now. It was clear to me however, they have a very nice community that is trying to make itself as sustainable as possible using many different approaches and methods. I wished I could speak more Korean or there was somebody who spoke more English more. Eunni and I promised each other we would study each other's language, so next time we could communicate more</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Day Four, Tuesday:</span></b></span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PCSKEAXYysBJNkgPu4Ozek0Ls0uHR6Yk5GyIwC4C09Hid-dV6l9fCbIQmt3Nhw-ZsLnSRH8MBp94MfFihhybOjTsqryHcvgegCOfxecIAbT39QEWf2U18tt9o3C4eawzMBZaEkgX-K8/s1600-h/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PCSKEAXYysBJNkgPu4Ozek0Ls0uHR6Yk5GyIwC4C09Hid-dV6l9fCbIQmt3Nhw-ZsLnSRH8MBp94MfFihhybOjTsqryHcvgegCOfxecIAbT39QEWf2U18tt9o3C4eawzMBZaEkgX-K8/s1600-h/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDKUOsezLJ0U1pp0dDBhC-BSF-rj0CGeEx49I24wlPxczCHojpWMvtiUQLGmwZArwwULSq2sB66vyTIz7AeySeEVYDYSf1Z8lnRCN7n8yzLyAJRb7qmfdwpExyvG4MmL8RStjKtpVMek/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDKUOsezLJ0U1pp0dDBhC-BSF-rj0CGeEx49I24wlPxczCHojpWMvtiUQLGmwZArwwULSq2sB66vyTIz7AeySeEVYDYSf1Z8lnRCN7n8yzLyAJRb7qmfdwpExyvG4MmL8RStjKtpVMek/s200/IMG_2984.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PCSKEAXYysBJNkgPu4Ozek0Ls0uHR6Yk5GyIwC4C09Hid-dV6l9fCbIQmt3Nhw-ZsLnSRH8MBp94MfFihhybOjTsqryHcvgegCOfxecIAbT39QEWf2U18tt9o3C4eawzMBZaEkgX-K8/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PCSKEAXYysBJNkgPu4Ozek0Ls0uHR6Yk5GyIwC4C09Hid-dV6l9fCbIQmt3Nhw-ZsLnSRH8MBp94MfFihhybOjTsqryHcvgegCOfxecIAbT39QEWf2U18tt9o3C4eawzMBZaEkgX-K8/s200/IMG_2988.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">last day, I was relieved that they gave me some more work to do, as I felt greatly indebted for all their generosity. I started by thoroughly cleaning the house I stayed in, then a few more houses. Next, the mother took me to a few of the greenhouses and we cut free greens to make a big mix. (I embarrassed myself by managing to cut my pinky finger with the knife I was using, so I ended up just crouching next to the mom as she did the work). She took me up to their processing facilities, housed by a short, double-wide greenhouse. Inside were many stainless steel counter tops, large triple sink, and walk-in refrigerator/freezer. She washed the lettuce and left me to weigh and package it</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div></div></div></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjp0aLUN8HOVxPwyW4LDQO3ZB6NvsKyxjk0GufyrYeyS0PzjftaH8CZfKOgtwC_W8obrFcZrzRZaE84e5oPoVDdD7tVqPJO2DWNpeiKwzwtWJfWRuzLOEAUkwL8tDqsAWsxxwHRp7Zjc/s1600/IMG_2985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjp0aLUN8HOVxPwyW4LDQO3ZB6NvsKyxjk0GufyrYeyS0PzjftaH8CZfKOgtwC_W8obrFcZrzRZaE84e5oPoVDdD7tVqPJO2DWNpeiKwzwtWJfWRuzLOEAUkwL8tDqsAWsxxwHRp7Zjc/s200/IMG_2985.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Upon leaving, t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">he mother gifted me with an enormous amount of organic food, including a big box of these crunchy rice cakes she makes that I devoured, as well as a dozen organic eggs, tomato jelly, tomato tea, and three cases of the salad greens I had packaged. Everyone repeated many times their wishes for me to come again, especially in a few months time when there was more work to do and more to see of their farm. I longed to be able to thank them adequately in Korean for their generosity and let them know in their l</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">anguage just how much I appreciated their hospitality.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-46471126924619714332010-02-03T15:07:00.265+09:002010-02-08T20:13:21.709+09:00Never too old for field trips!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6ydk60e9vow_UhcmJ_4VdosSs28oNkpJxnTC9DRrDJh96sWnNuGSB3l-YF8UWfoNjht_nPazmjBqd00HvADEe9dtYXV4EEkP2aD6YBdmOtP6WjjJ4qr9B4X6TfJhBrDyxy3jhMPfNMA/s1600-h/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6ydk60e9vow_UhcmJ_4VdosSs28oNkpJxnTC9DRrDJh96sWnNuGSB3l-YF8UWfoNjht_nPazmjBqd00HvADEe9dtYXV4EEkP2aD6YBdmOtP6WjjJ4qr9B4X6TfJhBrDyxy3jhMPfNMA/s320/IMG_2788.JPG" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was feeling a little grumpy Wednesday morning about having to go to work a little over three hours early without any change in pay, but my kindie kids quickly melted that bad mood with minutes like they always do. We were going on our first field trip of the year, to the </span></span><a href="http://www.nfm.go.kr:8080/english/main.jsp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">National Folk Museum of Korea</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> and the National Children's Museum, both situated at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Gyeongbokgung" style="background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Gyeongbokgung"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Gyeongbokgung</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> (Gyeongbok Palace) in the Jongno area of Seoul (an area known for its many traditional sites and maintained dedication to Korean culture.) </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmbucTjicLZbV4G2IqLfRpEckr2Vr9fHFbzJybytfBfYm9xiOWZj7PhVJTWwwYBRNb93i4HTLHu08ljOtXtpSSjLtb4LjAaDghi4gshTWdnB8T0_ZdHROgR6FnIu9RV-6Q7ZqeSMur0s/s1600-h/IMG_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmbucTjicLZbV4G2IqLfRpEckr2Vr9fHFbzJybytfBfYm9xiOWZj7PhVJTWwwYBRNb93i4HTLHu08ljOtXtpSSjLtb4LjAaDghi4gshTWdnB8T0_ZdHROgR6FnIu9RV-6Q7ZqeSMur0s/s320/IMG_2793.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here we are leaving the school at 9AM and getting on the school buses. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It took an hour to drive there, whereas it would have taken closer to 40 minutes by subway, but considering it was close to rush hour, it was good timing. Here is what we saw as we entered the grounds:</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKxsSH66Y3LRi9iaDvzfi1TpDbC3aejQh_2KbSi61W1nzbnw5i9KtSjOr0LX4YGhmW8KublHiwC2yV5qke3lCsyIdyxsZ3r7pbjfKBHeX7fMobqLwOVeTooWsCJit5Md4xiPeCDS5iKE/s1600-h/IMG_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKxsSH66Y3LRi9iaDvzfi1TpDbC3aejQh_2KbSi61W1nzbnw5i9KtSjOr0LX4YGhmW8KublHiwC2yV5qke3lCsyIdyxsZ3r7pbjfKBHeX7fMobqLwOVeTooWsCJit5Md4xiPeCDS5iKE/s320/IMG_2796.JPG" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Those funny statues on the right are called Jangseung (devil images) or Korean totem poles. They are usually carved out of wood or stone and used to be placed at the entrances of villages to mark boundaries and fend away evil spirits. I love taking pictures of them, they always make me smile.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was pretty cold outside, (it's been hanging around -7C/20F the past week or so) so after teachers were satisfied with photo ops, we hurried inside to begin the children's museum. The children's museum is designed to be an interactive environment where children can learn about Korean ancestral lives, values, and wisdom through hands-on learning activities. It setup as a themed exhibition regarding a traditional tale of Shimcheon.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq6DzVhpW2sRU80BqJAKIe-RCrImnKHsLZWtJVag1jM4WZeUz3FoaifTfIZily7pqRgeDfUigxEc4-faHpsFczXocJ_lJjr2DlIpx7I5LKQGIzF7GTF1Sk0DBYnIWWs-dVff1n-i17Bo/s1600-h/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUq6DzVhpW2sRU80BqJAKIe-RCrImnKHsLZWtJVag1jM4WZeUz3FoaifTfIZily7pqRgeDfUigxEc4-faHpsFczXocJ_lJjr2DlIpx7I5LKQGIzF7GTF1Sk0DBYnIWWs-dVff1n-i17Bo/s320/IMG_2805.JPG" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNSn4ZuQGizD9wm_La2RdJZnQkn9oQv5uePDroscaBayZou1AKRA-lHD7pbC2rw-IafowRXBCxyfHclDEp2TKsZ92gbvkLd27nEESNmxXtCJhHZh6xKzsIwkNtlrgAgvyScGsHPYkl4/s1600-h/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNSn4ZuQGizD9wm_La2RdJZnQkn9oQv5uePDroscaBayZou1AKRA-lHD7pbC2rw-IafowRXBCxyfHclDEp2TKsZ92gbvkLd27nEESNmxXtCJhHZh6xKzsIwkNtlrgAgvyScGsHPYkl4/s320/IMG_2807.JPG" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is an abbreviated version of the story of Shimcheon:<br />
</span> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A long, long time ago, a girl named Shimcheon was raised by her blind father. One day her father almost drowned from falling into a stream, but his life was saved by a monk. The monk told the father that if he offered 300 seoks of rice to Buddha, he would be cured of his blindness. The father however couldn't provide such a great amount of rice. Shimcheon decided to offer herself instead, by jumping into the sea, but when she leapt into the waters parted to reveal an underwater palace, where the God of the Sea praised her, and sent her back to the surface in a Lotus flower. At the surface, the King spotted her and fell in love, and took her as his queen. Separated from her father, Shimcheon was sad, so the King threw a party for all the blinds in the land. When the father finally heard the sound of his daughter's voice, his eyes opened wide, and his blindness was cured, and likewise for the other blind people in the room. They lived happily ever after.</span></i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tkkppwUYnf2bhPOl9c0tK9MC7tYxn2WU6xLYVQxinMHwHVqipshyphenhyphenWjo43A6K1JarMWSNMJdL9YbtHY-1VblPOVYDXLW_bD51FWdzYRlar0BfhXmTY7fiFDY26Nvo4zW8n13DjErqdho/s1600-h/IMG_2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tkkppwUYnf2bhPOl9c0tK9MC7tYxn2WU6xLYVQxinMHwHVqipshyphenhyphenWjo43A6K1JarMWSNMJdL9YbtHY-1VblPOVYDXLW_bD51FWdzYRlar0BfhXmTY7fiFDY26Nvo4zW8n13DjErqdho/s320/IMG_2814.JPG" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The museum followed the tale. The first rooms were about Shimcheon's daily life with examples of food, chores, clothing, and housing for commoners during the Joseon Dynasty. Here are kids using different tools to grind grain, and baskets where kids could touch different kinds of soybeans, rice, and other beans/grains.<br />
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There was a pitch-dark room for trying blindness on for size, a ball pit for learning how rice was measure (seoks), and a throne to try out being royalty for a few minutes. </span> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNFw_WxTl_8yRu-j5BrhXceQQqvnRU5B3zfKSKd406r8hCZIXuPzfZVtDktKBxYjxT5Deu8vnwiX-R2ovP-HHzb2jx14-9nx9VDsF2IAvkKkVXeJ5R_d3UugFD8eTmIJdIfTK9bLmCow/s1600-h/IMG_2842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNFw_WxTl_8yRu-j5BrhXceQQqvnRU5B3zfKSKd406r8hCZIXuPzfZVtDktKBxYjxT5Deu8vnwiX-R2ovP-HHzb2jx14-9nx9VDsF2IAvkKkVXeJ5R_d3UugFD8eTmIJdIfTK9bLmCow/s320/IMG_2842.JPG" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsI2x3Nrr_iBYloCUNj0jTXaJ6vvUg36KLiuBJZWAZtNxqhdYq360gF9ESXPPpHu8nSS7TaFkUJgy4DyyQiSX2wK4uQ_5vw1f0mpd3K1k0zV8rmK1Q-lJ2xWzqk7-2ljpLH6ttmQBjyw/s1600-h/IMG_2845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsI2x3Nrr_iBYloCUNj0jTXaJ6vvUg36KLiuBJZWAZtNxqhdYq360gF9ESXPPpHu8nSS7TaFkUJgy4DyyQiSX2wK4uQ_5vw1f0mpd3K1k0zV8rmK1Q-lJ2xWzqk7-2ljpLH6ttmQBjyw/s320/IMG_2845.JPG" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Crossing the hallway, we entered into the National Folk Museum. This building houses over 90,000 artifacts, collected with the intention of providing a window into the daily living of pre-modern Korea. Items include old coins, records of real estate transactions, preserved clothing, farming tools, and wooden kimchi containers.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is a kind of casket for carrying bodies from the ceremony to their final resting place. The detail on it was astounding...it always makes me wonder how many hands and how hours were spent constructing such a thing...</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Finally there was a special Hanbok (traditional clothing) exhibition. We were on a tight time schedule so I didn't get to read up on it to much, but the material and presentation was nothing short of beautiful.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-30047018172196789662010-01-24T22:37:00.005+09:002010-03-24T23:13:29.635+09:00Sharing is caring no matter where you are<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Following my second resolution, getting more involved with my community, I spent hours on the Internet, looking up clubs and volunteer work I could participate in. I came up with several answers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Volunteering at animal shelters: this may eventually result in me becoming a cat foster parent, but to be perfectly honest, right now I am enjoying being responsible just for myself. Sasha and I ventured out to the Nabiya cat shelter south of Itaewon two weekends ago to volunteer and hang out with cats. The Shelter is a family-sized apartment building, filled with 50 cats which have been found and rescued by volunteers. The surprising majority of them are ginger cats, many of which are on the plumper side of things, perhaps because its a 24/7 dry food buffet. Even though 50 cats seemed a bit much for the size, no cats were shut in cages, but all had their own beds. Some cats were separated into separate rooms, either because they didn't get along with other individuals, or because they were sick/old. All of them were almost overwhelmingly happy to see us and talked and played with us the entire time we were there (close to three hours). The shelter seemed very well organized with dedicated volunteers, but I quickly realized I would not be able to become one of the regulars. It takes over an hour for me to get to, limiting volunteering to weekends, and then my weekends change dramatically week to week, so I can't make any firm commitments as the shelter needs. I do hope to volunteer at an animal shelter once a month throughout the year, we'll see how it goes.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">WOOF Korea: WOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. This is an international organization, which started in the UK in the 1970s. It has grown enormously, especially in recent years, and now has offices in more than 28 countries which help volunteers setup farm stays with organic farms in their country of location. The center of this program is exchange: exchange of labor, culture, and knowledge for experience, food and board. I have been wanting to participate in this program for a long time, but have never been able to not spend my time earning money. Here in Korea the opportunity has finally arrived. I hope to make my first farm stay during my three day vacation of the Lunar New Year, so be looking for that post!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Volunteering with PLUR: PLUR stands for Peace Love Unity Respect, which sounds quite hippy-ish, I know, but actually they do some very relevant things. It's a volunteer movement which exists here in Seoul. The participants are mostly foreigners who get involved in homeless outreach. PLUR has two main events Feed Your Seoul and Help Your Seoul...</span></span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friday and Sunday nights </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Feed Your Seoul</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: This involves working at a soup kitchen feeding roughly 200 homeless men over the course of an hour. Their motto for thi</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s event is "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">we sweat, we clean, we wash, we smile, we care". I haven't participated in this event yet, but </span></span></span><a href="http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909737"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">here</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> is an article from September 2009 which describes this event in greater detail.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunday nights </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Help Your Seoul</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: 15 volunteers meet at Seoul Station, and all chip in to buy some bread rolls and soy milk enough for a few hundred homeless people living inside and around the various subway stations. This event is organized in conjunction with a Korean NGO which operates there. One of the Korean counterparts takes 10 of the PLUR volunteers on a long walk to distribute food, which the other people stay behind and play some live music and distribute coffee and information about upcoming events.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I have participated in the Help Your Seoul the past two weekends. The first time I stayed behind to sing songs and hand out coffee. The goal is to have the homeless people makes submissions as to what songs they want to hear, and we will perform them. It was very cold, and since we we are in Korea after all, the songs were mostly Korean songs I didn't know, so I didn't feel very useful. Many homeless people did come through, accepted the coffee gratefully, and lingered for a while to enjoy the music. I can imagine it is quite refreshing to be engaged by strangers, as opposed to be ignored, as the average person tends to do when walking by a homeless person. There was a very sad and vocal fight however, which appeared to involve a homeless family. There was a little girl involved who looked to be about ten years old and stood there bawling while the man and woman fought loudly near us. After some time, volunteers from the Korean NGO came from outside their office and intervened. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Last week, I went with the larger group on the long walk around the area distributing food. Before leaving, we put on yellow volunteer coats, and are instructed how to behave. We are told how to say politely in Korean "please accept this" while holding the food out respectfully with two hands. We are asked to speak quietly as we near homeless people, as they are often sleeping and don't appreciate being disturbed. We are also asked to not leave food on the ground but rather on their blankets. If a person finds the bag of food on the ground they will most likely consider it dirty and discard it. It was explained that for most people this meager two buns of bread and soy milk would be their only meal of the day.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We walked for an hour and a half, making a wide circuit around our starting point at Seoul Station. Our guide from the Korean NGO walked briskly and spoke shortly in Korean with us, very business-like. He seemed to be on familiar terms with many of the people we fed. Many of the men were sleeping when we passed, and the guide would call out to them as we passed, waking them up for food. Each recipient seemed grateful for the food, sometimes thanking us in English. I was repeatedly amazed by the make-shift homes these men had made for themselves, and was surprised to learn that we were serving significantly reduced numbers: a good majority of individuals were staying in shelters during the cold winter months. One of the funnier moments, was giving food to a man, when opening the cardboard rooftop of his 'home' had two talkative cats curled up with him. He was full of smiles and the cats seemed quite at home. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Once the food is gone, we return back to headquarters, to rejoin the music group and debrief. Usually a group goes out for their own dinner at a nearby restaurant before parting ways. It's about a 40 minute subway ride for me back to my nice, warm, clean apartment, with an enormous pot of tomato cabbage soup on the stove. After an evening spent seeing people sleeping outside in cardboard boxes and accepting bread and milk for their only meal, I marvel at how rich I really am, and consider how lucky it is that I can make an income purely off speaking and writing my native language. This world can certainly be a curious place...</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-50840615093008849942010-01-23T15:07:00.088+09:002010-02-08T20:13:49.782+09:00A Lovely Sunday in Seoul: Friends, Buffets, Fish, and Beer<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is an example of a typical Sunday... AFTER payday:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUR0r9qlaadXnE5dFZ195LA0r-aF0aXqZE5aheClkvVx82EIqXHTcwH3RVhqGCGT9otMywWLbFGjwXnxzMp8E6dz-PTiI2qYw-B0bjq4aHb9DFNdTWmmmccsx2LTePXuw16kK_srDQFs/s1600-h/20959_687903015896_121501878_40628405_3230778_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUR0r9qlaadXnE5dFZ195LA0r-aF0aXqZE5aheClkvVx82EIqXHTcwH3RVhqGCGT9otMywWLbFGjwXnxzMp8E6dz-PTiI2qYw-B0bjq4aHb9DFNdTWmmmccsx2LTePXuw16kK_srDQFs/s320/20959_687903015896_121501878_40628405_3230778_n.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After waking up without setting an alarm, I get dressed and head to the subway to travel 40 minutes and meet friends in Gangnam (the official ritzy area of Seoul). In short walk we arrive at the Big Rock. This pub is popular among foreigners for its quality imported Canadian beer on tap, many TV screens tuned to a football or hockey game back home, and has a relaxed atmosphere, but that's not quite why we are there. On the weekends it also has a superb western-style brunch buffet, and buffet have become my new hobby. I was too busy eating the food to take a picture, but next time I will make more of an effort.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDd3ifaSyV64Pb3EbP7K0vCQEIsTNFzQ4ccB37iWOvH9t23F91RIaxwQ1768uOMbgEreUgwZ43haKrTNuleqbqpRLHcCrNM1lyKrR_0pXYGZaohRP1tcN7QVC6AzRFkyLTCsyyf3_7-M/s1600-h/20959_687903080766_121501878_40628418_7559771_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDd3ifaSyV64Pb3EbP7K0vCQEIsTNFzQ4ccB37iWOvH9t23F91RIaxwQ1768uOMbgEreUgwZ43haKrTNuleqbqpRLHcCrNM1lyKrR_0pXYGZaohRP1tcN7QVC6AzRFkyLTCsyyf3_7-M/s320/20959_687903080766_121501878_40628418_7559771_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoANAgSsX2cexzHCUgIYDxvvHnNIqD4lUYLHk-156_44oExpHRjYJL4y_NrDDu7jf7SZ1DmHEAz_AzmSYd9usWrwsTuILowpIXwU65OLQcK-BWL1SZm3Jv18aUnQgeOQRLCr4FcCCbN6o/s1600-h/20959_687903045836_121501878_40628411_1014000_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoANAgSsX2cexzHCUgIYDxvvHnNIqD4lUYLHk-156_44oExpHRjYJL4y_NrDDu7jf7SZ1DmHEAz_AzmSYd9usWrwsTuILowpIXwU65OLQcK-BWL1SZm3Jv18aUnQgeOQRLCr4FcCCbN6o/s320/20959_687903045836_121501878_40628411_1014000_n.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After a leisurely stroll up and down the main street of Gangnam, we arrive at Dr.Fish, and decide to take a break, drink some tea, enjoy the all-you-can-eat-toast, play some card games and...get our feet nibbled on by hundreds of little fish. These little fish happen to love nibbling on the dead skin on your feet, rejuvenating your feet with a ticklish </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_fish"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">pedicure</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. I'm not sure where this practice originated from, but it appeared to be more popular among the foreigners than the Koreans. Actually we became the entertainment with our squeals upon first dip into the water. Our photographer that day was Valerie, who had already experienced Dr.Fish and knew to have her camera out ready to snap pictures of us the second we put our feet in the water:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitASBRT-l0Zg27WCbWTyNIw3DiK-n3A4bZl1bwssrs1ZdHqvkXINLT0-17-zkskcVNfU1LSefEGAnDjxcBHwV_K7YNSjlCjY07INEkJc1ZH8SAAfvDRO29wf2Ti_HbzIUa6Q0d04ISzN0/s1600-h/20959_687903070786_121501878_40628416_550853_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitASBRT-l0Zg27WCbWTyNIw3DiK-n3A4bZl1bwssrs1ZdHqvkXINLT0-17-zkskcVNfU1LSefEGAnDjxcBHwV_K7YNSjlCjY07INEkJc1ZH8SAAfvDRO29wf2Ti_HbzIUa6Q0d04ISzN0/s320/20959_687903070786_121501878_40628416_550853_n.jpg" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYP4HGl3blKEK_PKff0VptPQU18_DtCdcYGzvnyhPJeC1RSDnmro33vzZnLZrKlkUMGBzMv-pIMuH5w_bBZG_QoirIHHX89CSHaYfpv5uJXiquREM5kcG21r2mNcglqWG4XoNH19Gq64/s1600/20959_687903055816_121501878_40628413_2895789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYP4HGl3blKEK_PKff0VptPQU18_DtCdcYGzvnyhPJeC1RSDnmro33vzZnLZrKlkUMGBzMv-pIMuH5w_bBZG_QoirIHHX89CSHaYfpv5uJXiquREM5kcG21r2mNcglqWG4XoNH19Gq64/s320/20959_687903055816_121501878_40628413_2895789_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAQw3kbIf6R-vy53om4AJXXRaDR7YQq6-gJnpwhVfiaDpxZXUHP3y_Llu0Elb7zxzk_6AXNS6JLDLuYO2S12SuDZ7_t3LUs6Rao_L3dqMB0YzDtNpZMkcrPdyPA-WDWA2iMzekoCl7wk/s1600-h/20959_687903060806_121501878_40628414_3646911_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRAQw3kbIf6R-vy53om4AJXXRaDR7YQq6-gJnpwhVfiaDpxZXUHP3y_Llu0Elb7zxzk_6AXNS6JLDLuYO2S12SuDZ7_t3LUs6Rao_L3dqMB0YzDtNpZMkcrPdyPA-WDWA2iMzekoCl7wk/s320/20959_687903060806_121501878_40628414_3646911_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK-7PtYtyZCzdMEwGOtOi6KMHjbCf9tekRkFkXBQ_kK8tdgJEUjQwAslWKdFedVS-2L6x4ejarVi_DTA57Ej8rsudcKm4fm3LN89EGDrBSRfHCFB5NT-1Qwbni00g1bJ1MKWEcRxjowA/s1600-h/20959_687903050826_121501878_40628412_421608_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK-7PtYtyZCzdMEwGOtOi6KMHjbCf9tekRkFkXBQ_kK8tdgJEUjQwAslWKdFedVS-2L6x4ejarVi_DTA57Ej8rsudcKm4fm3LN89EGDrBSRfHCFB5NT-1Qwbni00g1bJ1MKWEcRxjowA/s320/20959_687903050826_121501878_40628412_421608_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As the owner of some incredibly ticklish feet, keeping my feet in the water for our full fifteen minutes felt a lot like a form of torture...don't let the hysterical laughing fool you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw7GQe7fKLHPyOVyso5cVlfTSvfPQJ4fgtaiR5bcBrzvGlm6-Q6OLSj98mnVt9sNYPBvgSRziLpUWU5fdA4mbBGlN2eWO2ct2lSfjcmFKkYcFWwSyAv80BsBuEAnlAt69Wu2ok570548/s1600-h/20959_687903035856_121501878_40628409_4934200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw7GQe7fKLHPyOVyso5cVlfTSvfPQJ4fgtaiR5bcBrzvGlm6-Q6OLSj98mnVt9sNYPBvgSRziLpUWU5fdA4mbBGlN2eWO2ct2lSfjcmFKkYcFWwSyAv80BsBuEAnlAt69Wu2ok570548/s320/20959_687903035856_121501878_40628409_4934200_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsGUm5CSgHk7oiX7wmsPnmtED5GqjQPhxYOEkbaw4X_Bp633B-7svRadmcW5A5HL8ovZinO9RKTsKJgOtkYyLfBbbRWJt3vkz8YLW3P9uCHvZn81f0Tolyw9udG76wZZCZ9qMHvAscbE/s1600-h/20959_687903040846_121501878_40628410_5497315_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsGUm5CSgHk7oiX7wmsPnmtED5GqjQPhxYOEkbaw4X_Bp633B-7svRadmcW5A5HL8ovZinO9RKTsKJgOtkYyLfBbbRWJt3vkz8YLW3P9uCHvZn81f0Tolyw9udG76wZZCZ9qMHvAscbE/s320/20959_687903040846_121501878_40628410_5497315_n.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Heehee, after our time was up, we each had our turn to get our feet washed off with fresh water and toweled dry by one of the employees. As each person withdrew their feet, an onslaught of fish attacked the next closest feet...and at the end we left Nikolas to fend for himself with the entire tank of fish.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTmIv2PsUPYT5D4KuEkFy29UO1qyAwoI-CAu3qmUbcjonA2VfYC_vbucP4Setst0Uvw18YEfnkpyACRvLy-OKKT2NfaZtyPLF5u20xbUZg6rhihBwKmrGXLXuOnn_6MLcNrn62ZS-50w/s1600-h/P3030756-thumb-450x337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTmIv2PsUPYT5D4KuEkFy29UO1qyAwoI-CAu3qmUbcjonA2VfYC_vbucP4Setst0Uvw18YEfnkpyACRvLy-OKKT2NfaZtyPLF5u20xbUZg6rhihBwKmrGXLXuOnn_6MLcNrn62ZS-50w/s320/P3030756-thumb-450x337.jpg" /></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To end the day, with our numbers down to three, we decided to check out Castle Praha. This is a brewery which is styled like Czech beer hall, and serves good food and great beer. They feature three main lagers, Pilsner, Grannat and Dunkel. The lighting and decorations create a comfortable atmosphere, and the openness of the space makes it an ideal location for big groups. Also their beer was tasteful, which is a hard find in a country that loves run-of-the-mill light beer. I'll return for sure!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-88615642485275447972010-01-23T09:53:00.003+09:002010-03-24T23:09:28.224+09:00Working out in a Korean GymAs it turns out, I had been walking underneath a Korean gym twice a day for the last six months on my way to the subway and back. I finally spotted it one night from a taxi on the other side of the road while scanning the tall buildings for 헬 스 (hail-suh -> health) and 피트니스 (pi-tuh-ni-suh -> fitness). I ran in and got a phone number, and had one of my Korean coworkers call the next day. It was perfect, $100 for three months, open 6am-midnight, and a minute or so walk from my house, depending on the traffic light.<br />
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<a name='more'></a></div><div>I only have my university's gym to compare to, and sadly for my beloved school, they are about the equal in size. The first difference: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">KPop</span> pumping non-stop out of an old but efficient sound system. As I climb the stairs to the fifth floor I can hear it get louder and louder. Second: there are some funny machines from the 70s that are still popular here! They are both for cellulite and blood circulation I believe. </div><div><ul><li>The belt massage machine: This is a big belt that you put around your body: could be your waist, back, legs, whatever. Then you turn on the machine and through the belt it vibrates your body. It looks hilarious because it makes everything jiggle. I haven't been brave enough to try. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X62o14GL7aQ"><b>Here</b></a> is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">youtube</span> video of someone using a similar machine. The machine at my gym however looks much older, like...it was bought in the 70s!</li>
<li>The rotating bead seat: (Sorry had to make up my own names!) This is a seat you sit on, but the seat is made out of large wooden beads that rotate, which I think must give some sort of kneading massage, to "melt" away that cellulite located on your bum! This one doesn't seem as popular as the belt massage machine.</li>
<li>Bruise-producing hula hoop: This is no ordinary hula hoop! It is quite intimidating, almost as wide as I am tall, thicker than my hand grip, heavy, and with large knobs ("acupuncture points" on the inside. Read <a href="http://www.exit15.com/magic-hoop-exercise-hula-hoop-p-959.html"><b>this</b></a> advertisement to see how they are presented. They are extremely popular here, and I am pretty sure a high percentage of Korean women in Seoul own one of these. Certainly every gym has one!</li>
</ul><div>The machines in my gym seem quite old and run down. It seems that the computers on half of the treadmills don't work well anymore, and the handful of bikes are quite old as well. But the weight machines are in very good shape, and there is good selection of free weights. Everyone is extremely nice to me, and every once and a while someone tries to talk to me, even though my small vocabulary limits conversation greatly. In the morning there are usually half a dozen people or less, and usually all women in their thirties and forties. In the beginning I thought I had lucked out and it was a women-only gym! It seems the majority of guys prefer going after work.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Besides the entertainment of watching the cellulite machines being used regularly, there is also the backwards walking on the treadmills. One of my coworkers watched astonished as a guy at her gym CRAWLED on his treadmill...we never got the full scoop on the purpose of that exercise! When you don't understand the language, there are always many mysteries...</div><div><div><br />
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</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-69031673851618901672010-01-22T15:06:00.001+09:002010-02-07T12:56:46.067+09:00A Korean Wedding<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4fKUNqtpOHgl0XXMRNViAyhw3r9_eHH3p3hcQAKv-uCZOB1eH-csbzkzjxk0yda5tsUiXf6TpDg29fJ9D9rc-knjQwV-paDCl6q4U9AaiefC2Eor32FWGOAZ6KOGZWaHKqgaYDFmcq8/s1600-h/IMG_27984a" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4fKUNqtpOHgl0XXMRNViAyhw3r9_eHH3p3hcQAKv-uCZOB1eH-csbzkzjxk0yda5tsUiXf6TpDg29fJ9D9rc-knjQwV-paDCl6q4U9AaiefC2Eor32FWGOAZ6KOGZWaHKqgaYDFmcq8/s320/IMG_27984a" /></a>My kindergarten co-teacher, Hena got married in January, and as one does in Korea, invited all the entire workplace with nice card invitations that she placed at each of our desks a month prior to the ceremony. It was to take place a wedding hall about an hour's commute to the East of the city. Many of the foreign teachers were going, as it was our first opportunity to see a Korean wedding first hand. Our boss and most of the other Korean kindergarten teachers also came.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlo7i8O8606GBx1dZICiduFG-e1SqyKxCuR8TdH3uMinDZ7op-1M5HmN0jhwpSvW9DINwImBzq7ujRUv-Q9LGWS8RDWeM9CHjjQI_e8PsAQ5MWjQ1v22KRkoWLn8RVvsMH6yBDfFPYq4/s1600-h/IMG_27983a" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlo7i8O8606GBx1dZICiduFG-e1SqyKxCuR8TdH3uMinDZ7op-1M5HmN0jhwpSvW9DINwImBzq7ujRUv-Q9LGWS8RDWeM9CHjjQI_e8PsAQ5MWjQ1v22KRkoWLn8RVvsMH6yBDfFPYq4/s320/IMG_27983a" /></a>The wedding hall is an enormous facility. The building where the weddings takes place has tall ceilings, and is decorated lavishly, in the way five star hotels are. When you enter, you check in with the front so you can get your meal ticket, and sign the register if you wish. The hall was noisy and filled with people, both from our wedding and other weddings going on simultaneously.<br />
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We found Hena in the Bride's room, taking pictures with her soon-to-be hubby, family, and friends. She was very excited to see us, and asked us to wait so we could take photos as well.<br />
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While waiting, I got ambushed by an old relative of one of either the bride or groom, who spoke a little too loudly and closely, but seemed very nice. He wanted to know where I was from, and upon learning I was American, wanted to know if I would show him around the States when he comes to visit. After a few minutes, to divert his attention, I found things to take pictures of, like this poster of Hena and her fiancé.<br />
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After we did our photos and video well wishes, the Korean teachers left us to go eat. Naturally us foreigners were shocked that they were skipping the ceremony and going to eat, and planned to leave after. They laughed and explained to us that this is accepted behavior, that everyone does this, and that Korean weddings are really boring anyways. What is more important, is the money donation we had given earlier, and making an appearance like we did while Hena was getting her photos taken.<br />
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</div>Us foreign teachers stayed behind and found seats in the wedding wall, which was slowly filling up.<br />
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(FYI: that is not a real wedding cake, just a prop... you bet I was disappointed!)</div><br />
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Inside our wedding hall, it was chilly, and nobody had taken off their coats. The crowd was mostly older people. We stood up when the bride walked down the aisle to the familiar music, accompanied not only be her groom but a support team or two camera men, two women responsible for keeping her dress perfectly arranged throughout the ceremony and a man with an ear piece who seemed like an overseer or sorts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuxk7vDvXswebN8VVikBoEsp8d1GaKT26gQAwQsVY3yWZbDCyj3Vku3wrbp47jbilET1HQcLEtwRr-9MLIgu1Qs3fjYPz51U-DntS0Q78ZZa3cJ738XMVKVVbzbx7kIWeegW_02dDSFg/s1600-h/IMG_279818a" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuxk7vDvXswebN8VVikBoEsp8d1GaKT26gQAwQsVY3yWZbDCyj3Vku3wrbp47jbilET1HQcLEtwRr-9MLIgu1Qs3fjYPz51U-DntS0Q78ZZa3cJ738XMVKVVbzbx7kIWeegW_02dDSFg/s320/IMG_279818a" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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I enjoyed referring to this guy as wedding secret service man. I'm surprised he didn't confiscate my camera after I took this shot.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">There was some music played at certain intervals, at first I was wondering if they were personal friends of the bride and groom, but I'm inclined to think that they were rather employees of the wedding hall.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">There was some intense preaching. The minister spoke loudly, and we were sitting very close to a pair of speakers that weren't very kind on the ears, but I suppose most of the members of the audience were of an age that required the volume to be a little too high.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">As with all traditional Koran ceremonies, there was bowing to the elders...</div><br />
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</div>Tables were pre-furnished with food and drink, with some soup and the warm plates brought out after you sat down. After eating, it was time to go, but we stayed late enough to see my coworker come into the food hall and wish her a happy honey moon (they were going to Hawaii!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-90055749794019500082010-01-10T00:27:00.003+09:002010-02-07T12:57:48.293+09:00BauHaus, where you can love and be loved for 5,000 won<div style="text-align: center;">Korean jeopardy question:</div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll take Hongdae for 50 points: BauHaus, where you can love and be loved for 5,000 won</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Give up?</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">What is... Seoul's dog café. Located deep in Seoul's popular party district, Hongdae, is nestled <a href="http://club.cyworld.com/club/main/club_main.asp?club_id=50239076"><b>BauHaus</b></a>. Sasha's boyfriend Brandon was visiting, so after Seoul's folk flea market, and eating a satisfying meal of Korean BBQ, we met up with more friends at the dog café.<br />
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</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">The café is a little overwhelming for those unaccustomed to animals. In fact, my Korean friend Annie, didn't feel comfortable staying, and quickly took leave of us after we found the place. After stepping over the baby gate and opening the door, and squeezing through another baby gate, your senses are immediately bombarded by chaos. You have entered Dog Kingdom. There are dogs running, barking, leaping across tables, begging for treats, being scolded for bickering, walking over counter tops, jumping down and crossing the room, taking a dump or leak on the floor, being groomed. A strong dog smell fills your nose, and you cross the room carefully to an empty booth, and wait to be ordered. Word to the wise: order a drink with a top on it, otherwise it's up for grabs as far as the four-footed friends are concerned!</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Sasha was the most adamant about visiting the dog café, and after living with her for several years, I can vouch that this is the happiest I have ever seen the girl. As photos attest, she got a whole lotta love!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-76786740532423637172010-01-05T16:22:00.007+09:002010-02-07T12:59:45.245+09:00Why Snow Days are not Fun When You Work for a HagwonYesterday, Seoul had its heaviest snowstorm in several decades. <a href="http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/01/05/201001050004.asp" style="font-weight: bold;">Here </a>is a full article by the Korea Herald. Apparently the 25.2cm (roughly 10") was the most snowfall they have had here in here in 41 years, and the second biggest storm since they started recording snowfall back in 1937. To me it looked just like a normal snow storm, but here it wreaked complete havoc on transportation.<br />
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My morning classes were canceled since there was only one of my kindergartners who made it to school, and our administration made a decision to cancel afternoon classes as well. In all I only taught two 40min classes and then got sent home. Our morning classes for the following morning were also canceled.<br />
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Unfortunately, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">snowdays</span> here are nothing like the ones back home. As a kid I remember doing victory dances before going to bed upon weather <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">forecasts</span> about major snowstorms, and come morning, leaping out of bed and impatiently waiting for the school closings to get to the 'C's where I hoped to find my school's name. Early closings were always full of excitement as the bus spun its tires up freshly snow covered roads.<br />
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Here however, nothing good comes without consequence it seems. We have been called into work this Saturday for a FULL day of teaching in order to makeup the time lost Monday and Tuesday. I had a dentist appointment scheduled and an overnight ski trip planned, and I'm sure all my coworkers had their own plans as well, but we weren't given a choice and have been told to cancel them. I find this quite frustrating, and it really has wiped out my childish giddiness about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">snowdays</span>! I certainly will keep this event in mind when I start shopping for my next contract!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-34067407093704288642010-01-02T09:07:00.003+09:002010-02-07T13:01:28.639+09:00New Year's in Seoul and a Teacher's ResolutionsNew Year's in Korea was quite similar to New Year´s at home, except for the fact I was in a very big city celebrating with some new friends and strangers. Champagne was involved and we spent a good part of the night in an Irish pub, and that's all I'll say about that!<br />
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</div><div>What I did want to talk about was New Year's resolutions. I've never taken them seriously before, and never understood the logic. Why wait until the New Year to do something when you can start tomorrow? But this year I decided to give it a go:</div><div><br />
</div><div>Resolution #1: Get back into shape! Eating lots of white rice, sitting in chairs all day, having drinks on the weekends, all this adds up to noticeable pounds after a few months! I made up my mind to get myself a gym membership and go every weekday morning before work and to change my eating habits, eating less rice, more fruit, and incorporating healthy snacks to munch on over the course of the day.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Resolution #2: Get involved with my community. I'd like to be more than just a young person that comes to Korea to teach and play. I want to do something a bit more meaningful, that allows me to try some new things and meet some different kinds of people. In the beginning of January I started pouring through websites related to community service and clubs in the Seoul area.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Resolution #3: Continue learning as much Korean and things about Korea as I can. Its very easy to get used to where you are, and get so involved with your day-to-day living that you forget to appreciate your surroundings. My goal is to keep studying Korean continuously this year, and to try and do something culturally interesting or city-exploring every other weekend.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-77907555152888916562009-12-28T09:25:00.011+09:002010-02-07T13:11:49.965+09:00Christmas no matter where you areSo what is Christmas in Korea? Whatever you want to make of it, essentially. Unfortunately, I lost my "big" vacation, due to the closing of my school during our swine flu outbreak. So instead of having both Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve Day off, I only got the latter. (Same will apply to New Years as well).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rAVP9VLFFnED5CULgi4eE8khyphenhyphenTCDrHGLKiU9X486-iNPSP-Jg4THjct-vlWTKkEdIpe8eiKAdwiq7fCU4RXFfkhr-hfB8qq2Grw8atYgmCQmPxSAPmd-kTRw59PsxR-Y1UaMfUeZvrM/s1600-h/CIMG4799.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420077549543919586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rAVP9VLFFnED5CULgi4eE8khyphenhyphenTCDrHGLKiU9X486-iNPSP-Jg4THjct-vlWTKkEdIpe8eiKAdwiq7fCU4RXFfkhr-hfB8qq2Grw8atYgmCQmPxSAPmd-kTRw59PsxR-Y1UaMfUeZvrM/s400/CIMG4799.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>It started in the beginning of the month, when my co-worker Amber (from Toronto) and I sprinted to Itaewon (foreigner district) after work one Friday to catch the Christmas version of Seoul Standup Comedy. My friend, Rob, was one of the comedians in the show and he invited us. It was hosted at the Rocky Mountain Tavern (RMT) bar, which is the place to go for a happy combination of wings, beer, and watching the hockey/football/etc baseball game from home at an appropriate hour in your timezone on a big screen TV.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmrnoXFhN8Zcyyl0XN1nO1WGGjCTCMlm19xCMXwAOeQbo1YMslSErNVFsl3mnxz48c2Xn3hCWoVD5h0wzpmyTkAFlxBStHgD1BqGB3-kf4_ec4lYLIRBX3Z75_95WNtw6KCyoRRp6SwI/s1600-h/CIMG4800.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420077555943342242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmrnoXFhN8Zcyyl0XN1nO1WGGjCTCMlm19xCMXwAOeQbo1YMslSErNVFsl3mnxz48c2Xn3hCWoVD5h0wzpmyTkAFlxBStHgD1BqGB3-kf4_ec4lYLIRBX3Z75_95WNtw6KCyoRRp6SwI/s400/CIMG4800.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>The guy above was my favorite. He was mimicking a guy from a small town in Virginia , and his drawl was perfect. He was describing the town and their old home days celebration, and it was making everyone laugh because of how small it was, but for me I was finding a lot similarities with my hometown, right down to the orange blinking traffic light and the tractor pull.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jXB-tRT8-0uobym9scqbJp3gRGhA9ivwbQe-o-RkL1RXHAyepVM0Ee3hP8d-IPuhkwhNtQUUxtgIk66Z7Ewx_gutL8L8pDMkbSrwlDjSsmOwHzR8VAwUfPbT1DVe7gNENzA4cqId4yE/s1600-h/CIMG4801.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422838018035991106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jXB-tRT8-0uobym9scqbJp3gRGhA9ivwbQe-o-RkL1RXHAyepVM0Ee3hP8d-IPuhkwhNtQUUxtgIk66Z7Ewx_gutL8L8pDMkbSrwlDjSsmOwHzR8VAwUfPbT1DVe7gNENzA4cqId4yE/s400/CIMG4801.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>One of the comedians re-wrote the 12 Days of Christmas into an English teacher in Seoul version, and got the entire bar singing. If you click on the picture, it will enlarge so you can read the lyrics.<br />
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Here is Amber, singing joyously along with everyone else ----><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span>I have a short audio clip of the end of the song, but blogspot wont let me upload it right now... I will try and work that out later. I can tell you that it sounded glorious.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDtJg8UOS7tzxfjelRVV9bT8A17LvgRvJ0CFA7WFKdMzJ95mDtFRG9ouHOAtOITLsuRT7rQMnp0SSpiOD3Fe24VvcE5xtCZC43VC73I3mWEjQcJTg8v_b-baxT9zVSZZtruEr84p2C9Y/s1600-h/19961_732459837587_13608930_42691007_2864769_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420081709027459122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDtJg8UOS7tzxfjelRVV9bT8A17LvgRvJ0CFA7WFKdMzJ95mDtFRG9ouHOAtOITLsuRT7rQMnp0SSpiOD3Fe24VvcE5xtCZC43VC73I3mWEjQcJTg8v_b-baxT9zVSZZtruEr84p2C9Y/s400/19961_732459837587_13608930_42691007_2864769_n.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Two weeks ago, another coworker of mine, Sarah (from the Chicago area I believe), returned to Itaewon after our work on Saturday, to Chef Meili's for an extremely yummy turkey dinner. The meal was organized by my original recruitment company, Ask Now. They rented out the restaurant for us and commissioned the chef to make us a typical homestyle meal, complete with soup, Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, veges, mulled wine and pumpkin pie. It was heaven! (Sorry no photos available, but I'm sure you can picture it in your mind's eye).</div><br />
A week before Christmas I went shopping at Costco and bought an enormous container of candy canes (350+) and on the 24th, I gave them out to all my coworkers and students. For my boss, supervisor, and four closest co-workers/friends I got them some small Christmas presents. After work, we were invited to a foreigner ugly Christmas sweater party at a barbecue restaurant. I couldn't bear to spend $15 on a sweater I would only wear once a year (that could pay for three meals here!) so instead I opted for a reindeer antler headband that I wore with pride.<br />
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Christmas finally arrived...and it rained. But I didn't mind too much, because you know what? Santa came to my apartment too!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqVtMKKHHVisENF5M18F7sZFzzK_lRniYUAX0WS_Qzg7hhXUqyhG-nIKXE7CvOV5nyzA9yDrIfp60ETjMv0DYoupvVQ-0AlJ3_C6DaeSKDcLrCWYLjXF89yHWLQRjTkD8x4g7eprCgfM/s1600-h/IMG_2658.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420083230277442242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqVtMKKHHVisENF5M18F7sZFzzK_lRniYUAX0WS_Qzg7hhXUqyhG-nIKXE7CvOV5nyzA9yDrIfp60ETjMv0DYoupvVQ-0AlJ3_C6DaeSKDcLrCWYLjXF89yHWLQRjTkD8x4g7eprCgfM/s400/IMG_2658.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Ah yes, the Christmas chair. (Stole the idea from my roommate, Libby. Genius!)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLd9IkS8TyWUQFt55L1nCRyK_LaV7grZe31T8y3JTcg56lMnjkME3AZfovdT2vJy4tCQdP1xTequF1v8O4WhpJQTOuWdcTEQNjkD_P0e37Vq7VX8VDMwRrPnN-Yed7z99B6BR2IdAcug/s1600-h/IMG_2641.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420083222422957074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLd9IkS8TyWUQFt55L1nCRyK_LaV7grZe31T8y3JTcg56lMnjkME3AZfovdT2vJy4tCQdP1xTequF1v8O4WhpJQTOuWdcTEQNjkD_P0e37Vq7VX8VDMwRrPnN-Yed7z99B6BR2IdAcug/s400/IMG_2641.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></a>Oh Rudolph, you are so sneaky!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGTaUUoI9leR9mqE_G9ViTF5joVtjKRyt0dCM1s-5p6DPP8j4aShl17zV3tM_AijD-wOMIQ9tieVCLT1gZ79u10RPKQ6XXP_mWGKYDQQpx8nEvbpJxipVFcVN-lBIDBDJi3xfoc7PEME/s1600-h/IMG_2645.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420083237912279506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGTaUUoI9leR9mqE_G9ViTF5joVtjKRyt0dCM1s-5p6DPP8j4aShl17zV3tM_AijD-wOMIQ9tieVCLT1gZ79u10RPKQ6XXP_mWGKYDQQpx8nEvbpJxipVFcVN-lBIDBDJi3xfoc7PEME/s400/IMG_2645.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQufrGO9LWfEDnArqnjnDX7G1xH407SRaRwTrg1J2QLBOwsjimNkg5VcE6YlqWTmfTl9ofJPCT3uP6mLLMxmEgx3eACTnXe3Xjg-Bw7QltyctIXDRtNMRoV4AUcsvl2edmzonZ1nObozM/s1600-h/IMG_2652.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420083252950748994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQufrGO9LWfEDnArqnjnDX7G1xH407SRaRwTrg1J2QLBOwsjimNkg5VcE6YlqWTmfTl9ofJPCT3uP6mLLMxmEgx3eACTnXe3Xjg-Bw7QltyctIXDRtNMRoV4AUcsvl2edmzonZ1nObozM/s400/IMG_2652.JPG" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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I even got some Christmas lights and a Christmas candle for my room (because it wouldn't be my room if it didn't have Christmas lights. I can't believe it took me 4 months to get with the program!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqPMD-n1zdHnsWQ_WiSjuvYzE8s6mQkhrx3AKEEwLa69gy67E_hO9ICOmFtAPB3zVvQQg0l5e-wxrtytqLYF0FOKuPFSrM4eKWhDYlTeWmuJjS_W5XtpUKb65jWWVqvo8eutnrwen6d4/s1600-h/IMG_2659.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420083245384182562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqPMD-n1zdHnsWQ_WiSjuvYzE8s6mQkhrx3AKEEwLa69gy67E_hO9ICOmFtAPB3zVvQQg0l5e-wxrtytqLYF0FOKuPFSrM4eKWhDYlTeWmuJjS_W5XtpUKb65jWWVqvo8eutnrwen6d4/s400/IMG_2659.JPG" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Despite lack of oven, I slaved over the stove-top in my room/kitchen and made mashed potatoes, salty deviled eggs, steamed veges and a very yummy fruit salad. By the time Sasha arrived late afternoon, everything was ready. And you know what Santa brought me? A can of black olives!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf18e9o6GtUuut4OdudMxs9IwJ3bI_oFnLd3gIoDHrrICOaDjhhWWtrrlNYKsJ2XMwlx-qlpYt-RWRiwd1t6uqK9yvwO-CsqwuJ6XoB4jLBHW61gskyRZev7y11Byrn0GiaXtMJqA_O6M/s1600-h/IMG_2663.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420085320663902722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf18e9o6GtUuut4OdudMxs9IwJ3bI_oFnLd3gIoDHrrICOaDjhhWWtrrlNYKsJ2XMwlx-qlpYt-RWRiwd1t6uqK9yvwO-CsqwuJ6XoB4jLBHW61gskyRZev7y11Byrn0GiaXtMJqA_O6M/s400/IMG_2663.JPG" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Even though she didn't grow up with a lifetime of practice and isn't particularly fond of the holiday, Sasha was quite a good sport about my giddy festiveness, and opened her presents from the Grinch, Rudolph and Frosty without any protest. Look at her go:<br />
She even made some origami Christmas decorations:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa1vzTJe8fA_ecMX3LrMf5awzQJouNJVehLq4NPdUTEDI1L37_Ama2Cxnqqk6RZYwPKwdSPVd7ZX4SW3PgDtSSy2DQzyDnFGT0DHYHXi2X_jX9ZrC2twiggwKFY9q-MPDFRBmYjBspfU/s1600-h/IMG_2662.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420085311682666322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa1vzTJe8fA_ecMX3LrMf5awzQJouNJVehLq4NPdUTEDI1L37_Ama2Cxnqqk6RZYwPKwdSPVd7ZX4SW3PgDtSSy2DQzyDnFGT0DHYHXi2X_jX9ZrC2twiggwKFY9q-MPDFRBmYjBspfU/s400/IMG_2662.JPG" style="display: block; height: 267px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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After eating and present opening, we watched Home Alone, followed by Scrooged. Doesn't get much more classic than that!<br />
When Sasha left to catch the last subway home, I peaked outside, and was very pleased to see that the rain had turned into beautiful snow. You're alright Korea, you really are.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-92082096794125508172009-12-27T10:26:00.010+09:002010-02-07T13:14:30.483+09:00Four Observations About Korean CultureI haven't talked too much about culture differences in Korea. Here are a few things that pop into mind:<br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Out and about:</span> Prepare to be pushed. Seoul is crowded. The sidewalks, stores, subways, u-name-it are always full of people going in all different directions. Add to this fact that Koreans' idea of the personal bubble space is much smaller than in the US/Canada, and you have the result: guaranteed physical contact. To a foreigner, this can seem rude, because it feels like you are getting bumped, pushed, shoved, and jostled from all sides by people who don't seem to notice you or apologize for the seemingly avoidable bumps. This can be quite aggravating on a bad day, but it is something you simply must get over if you don't want to be in a bad mood all the time.<a name='more'></a> </li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stylin' all the time:</span> In Korea, appearance is extremely important. You will never see a Korean under any circumstance wearing a coat over pajamas as they run to the convenience store to pick up some milk for their coffee in the morning. Dressing well and looking your best is a sign of respect to others, and is also a reflection of yourself. My adult students that I taught this month explained that if you dress smartly, then strangers will think that you must be a very intelligent person. As for the style that's IN here, there is a lot to say. Murses are in. I repeat, murses are in. What's a murse? A man's purse. And they are in. Next, if you are a young lady, you wear high-heels with everything. Heels should be 4" or more, and often look a little risqué by North American standards. Furthermore, you can wear shorts/skirts almost short as your underwear, but keep that cleavage hidden. Actually, hide your entire neck area, shoulders and your back, we just want to see legs. Finally, accessorize the bling-bling. If its shiny and sparkly, its perfect. Cellphone covers, earrings, bags, nails, headbands, clothes, shoes, u-name-it, should be covered with some sort of shiny fake diamond or jewels whenever possible.</li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Its about family:</span> Families are extremely close here. Children live with their parents usually until they get married. Grandparents are not sent to nursing homes, but instead move in with one of their children. Due to how small homes (apartments more typically) are here, this does mean that there is very little privacy, and that 'child life' is extended well into someone's 20s. For instance, I have a foreign guy friend who is dating a Korean woman in her 20s. We went out to eat together on a Sunday night, and around 10pm we were sitting talking at the table digesting the meal, when she got a phone call from her father telling her to come home. They explained to me that she has a curfew and needs to be home when her parents ask. For me this is incredible that an adult woman has a curfew. I wondered if her father was more strict because she had a foreign boyfriend, but I did not ask this question.</li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why aren't you married???</span> Relationships and marriage appear to be much more traditional here. If you see a guy holding not a murse, but a very girly purse, look around him, there is probably a girlfriend nearby. It is the job of the Korean boyfriend to hold the girl's purse at all times, no exceptions. It is also sometimes required to wear matching outfits, which both partners seem to do eagerly. I have yet to get a picture of this, but will post it when I do. Most of all, it is important (for women) to get married in a timely fashion (i.e.: in their twenties). Almost all the Korean women I have met close to my age bemoan the fact they are not married yet, and vow to be married in one years time. "Do you have a boyfriend?" "No, but I'm going on several dates next week!" Being setup on blind dates by friends (and sometimes mothers) is common here. Criteria for a good boyfriend seems to go something in this order: 1. Has a good job, 2. Is good looking and dresses well, 3. Shows good taste in restaurants/things to do, 5. Is intelligent, 6. Is funny. Parents opinions are extremely important, and if they don't like a guy, than the relationship is doomed. Things parents might not like is the potential candidates job (how will you provide for my daughter???), religion, and ethnicity. (It has been explained to me that sons are expected to take care of their elderly parents, so they want him to be married to a Korean girl who will know how to cook them the foods they are familiar with. Listening to my some of my Korean friends dating troubles, sometimes it seems to me they are more worried about what their parents think, or about the economics of marriage than choosing someone that they are truly happy with. I'm curious to know about divorce rates here, if they have been increasing in recent years, and if there is any data on marriage satisfaction. Dating is much shorter here, and it is not uncommon for a marriage to take place within a year of meeting. Then, the couple gets an apartment together and lives with someone other than a family member for the first time in their lives.</li>
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There is certainly a lot more to say about culture, and if you have any questions or edits, hit me up in the comment section underneath!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-30350714169013903952009-12-16T08:47:00.007+09:002010-02-07T17:19:58.715+09:00'Tis the Season: Holiday preparations in SeoulIt's that time of year again, and yes, it comes to Korea too. I have been singing Christmas songs with my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">kindergarteners</span> and engaging them in detailed discussions about Santa Claus with my elementary-age students. Familiar pop Christmas songs are being pumped out of store speakers at full volume, and plastic Christmas trees are popping up like dandelions everywhere you look.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo4uSrbZf_EEshSm1U2V00lW0vliDpOCHiHnI5skNYZKnqcD1Wo2-DH8APvvouRI7UkWluCrXSaVegHIsLVi1A_njQWjfmTwY8iZ8uVy1nBflfnmfChKn_AiE0pZLg4mnCgZXxViYgHY/s1600-h/CIMG4796.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415615057282157410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo4uSrbZf_EEshSm1U2V00lW0vliDpOCHiHnI5skNYZKnqcD1Wo2-DH8APvvouRI7UkWluCrXSaVegHIsLVi1A_njQWjfmTwY8iZ8uVy1nBflfnmfChKn_AiE0pZLg4mnCgZXxViYgHY/s400/CIMG4796.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>(Subway station: Case in point)</div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfQA9sWZwDlZdrKG4A5a-JcKwrPOs2UdL9mpfW3cD9iszFKqcxURfIOBZv4FTePcQZCfvPhLy_vVZAUtT9DOj-NfK3whJuDObycrQRwMpkQ242uhNFMW8ZAYjrn6tfDy2CEleyL4e4Vk/s1600-h/CIMG4797.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415615063515067362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfQA9sWZwDlZdrKG4A5a-JcKwrPOs2UdL9mpfW3cD9iszFKqcxURfIOBZv4FTePcQZCfvPhLy_vVZAUtT9DOj-NfK3whJuDObycrQRwMpkQ242uhNFMW8ZAYjrn6tfDy2CEleyL4e4Vk/s400/CIMG4797.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" width="300" /></a>I was also surprised to hear that familiar clanging of bells, and voices (even in a foreign language) clearly calling out for money. Yes, of course there is the Salvation Army here, and at every other corner too.<br />
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Last week we had a short, beautiful snow flurry in the morning. My kindergartners were beside themselves. I pulled up the blinds and allocated them a full five minutes to squeeze together at the window and stare at the snow with their faces <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">smushed</span> against the window. It was pretty cute. Unfortunately for them, by the time the bell rang to go home, the flurry had passed and left no evidence in its wake.<br />
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How am I celebrating the holidays?<br />
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Step 1: Watching one of the 80-odd Christmas movies I downloaded every night before bed<br />
Step 2: Listening to Christmas music I brought from home (and have listened to every Christmas since I was a little kid<br />
Step 3: Making plans for the holidays with friends, which include yummy dinners, pyjama day watching movies with Sasha, and an all-out karaoke nightUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-78459237812793620652009-12-16T08:31:00.008+09:002010-04-06T08:17:03.734+09:00Doh! Losing bags in Taxis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Y1notyqU5ZSamcGE_tndBoRmBH0K8c7zYtqwBqnyV2OESJUnXvhF5Uny__8h2SootVHBNBurQ-Wq-xj-ke2fO5hIWIXa5ZeO_8QBQXM3bvPRe_Y-Jtz5lqAsam2WLfATyzSLcTfuVLU/s1600-h/doh.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415612224705383218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Y1notyqU5ZSamcGE_tndBoRmBH0K8c7zYtqwBqnyV2OESJUnXvhF5Uny__8h2SootVHBNBurQ-Wq-xj-ke2fO5hIWIXa5ZeO_8QBQXM3bvPRe_Y-Jtz5lqAsam2WLfATyzSLcTfuVLU/s400/doh.jpg" style="display: block; height: 282px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 285px;" /></a><br />
So I made one brilliant move last week, which was leaving my purse in a taxi. This happened after a big shopping adventure at our local Costco (it was pay day, so we splurged). My coworker and I were rushing to get everything out of the car so the taxi driver could leave, and it was dark and I guess I couldn't see my black bag in the shadows where I left it. Gone.<br />
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In the end I didn't lose too many important things, my cellphone and wallet were luckily both in my jacket, so I didn't need to call a million financial institutions. This being Seoul, home to a zillion different taxi companies, if you don't know which one you got in to, its nearly impossible to track down. Word to the wise, always take a mental note of the taxi company you get into, and always ask for a receipt, even when you pay in cash. Cab receipts have not only the name of the company, but also the cab driver's phone number so if you lose something, you can contact him directly.<br />
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If you do lose something in a taxi or public transit, here are things you can do:<br />
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<ul><li>Start with the Travelers Help Line: Dial 1330</li>
<li>Have a Korean help you report it to the police, </li>
<li>Report the item to your embassy by phone or email</li>
<li>Visit the <a href="http://www.spta.or.kr/">Seoul Private Taxi Association</a>, and the <a href="http://www.hi-call.co.kr/">Seoul Private Taxi Cab Association</a> (both sites are in Korean)</li>
<li>Have a Korean help you call the Seoul Taxi Transportation Association (02) 420-6110 and the Seoul Private Assocation (02) 4159-5215</li>
<li>Call the Da<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">san Call Center (Korean only) for more help regarding taxis and access to taxi dispatch </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1688-0120</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Call the Lost and Found at TBS (Transportation Broadcasting System) 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">299-1282</span></span></span></span></li>
<li>If you have it, call your travel insurance company</li>
<li>Lost it somewhere else? <a href="http://www.seoulcityblog.com/2009/04/22/how-to-track-down-lost-items-left-on-public-transportation-or-in-taxis/#more-222">Check out this blog</a></li>
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This being Korea, there is always more hope your item will turn up: a friend of mine lost her wallet during a night out on the town, and it was turned in three weeks later to her national embassy, with everything in it! I have heard similar stories from other foreigners. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but in the meantime, I went shopping and bought a new bag.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-70408737842678533832009-11-12T14:55:00.004+09:002010-02-07T17:29:27.238+09:00Happy 빼빼로 Day!<div class="mobile-photo">Today is November 11th, or 11/11 and here in Korea we are saying "Happy 빼빼로 Day" to each other.</div>What? Happy Pepero Day?<br />
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This is essentially Korean Valentine's day. 11/11 looks a lot like four pepero (pocky sticks), and so on this holiday children and young couples exchanges boxes of pepero. Teachers are also recepients of the below boxes. Some of my coworkers were so lavishly showered with pepero that they were trying to give it away. I receive a manageable amount of chocolate covered pretzels that I was sufficiently able to find a good place for ;)<br />
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<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi174RrQf7Uut_HM_8xiHwQ_o2UTkU_5r15J12wX_yhDMpolAkycDgR6aZN6sZ1ms-awJ91WAEOlE9g8FyVZyKBNiBj2GJO7AGYE1s926oh98FGvBWU5Yz6D_Uv6OYGMqzxlGpxeKWuDYY/s1600-h/pepero-772160.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403091932427291058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi174RrQf7Uut_HM_8xiHwQ_o2UTkU_5r15J12wX_yhDMpolAkycDgR6aZN6sZ1ms-awJ91WAEOlE9g8FyVZyKBNiBj2GJO7AGYE1s926oh98FGvBWU5Yz6D_Uv6OYGMqzxlGpxeKWuDYY/s400/pepero-772160.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Above is the original pepero box made by Lotte (an expansive Korean conglomerate that touches all areas of commercialism, including food production, shopping, and baseball teams.) According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepero">Wikipedia</a>, Lotte has been accused of making this a commercial holiday, a charge they deny. Their version of the story is that the holiday "just happened" to become popular when they started selling mass amounts of pepero in special gift boxes and promotions such as this:<br />
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<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0HE21riZaOvpw-45iNkWEQYnxwsh8kEZcQsLl46YjEXQb8Jl56sMgIaJ4LR8LBVfAzmOW9ckCJJzLsGED-teSNREWX9YG9y3s74fHbIp4aYYCcz_1_UBqwmF1Db_JeqQVcX2Pv9cL_Y/s1600-h/pepero+day-773781.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403091935633242498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0HE21riZaOvpw-45iNkWEQYnxwsh8kEZcQsLl46YjEXQb8Jl56sMgIaJ4LR8LBVfAzmOW9ckCJJzLsGED-teSNREWX9YG9y3s74fHbIp4aYYCcz_1_UBqwmF1Db_JeqQVcX2Pv9cL_Y/s400/pepero+day-773781.jpg" /></a></div>Last night walking home I say these stands everywhere. Good thing I am a teacher, or I would have had no idea what was going on!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-23386045311903775402009-11-04T18:26:00.007+09:002010-02-07T17:35:18.658+09:00Swine Flu: It could happen to you!It is time I write a post about the swine flu frenzy here. In fact, part of the reason I have been able to catch up on my blog is because my school has closed its doors, from Wednesday until next Monday in reaction to the swine flu epidemic.<br />
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Since I arrived here in Korea, I noticed that people were much more concerned about the swine flu (or the oink as some expats call it) than back home. My first day teaching, every single <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">kindergartner</span> was wearing a face mask. I had been in Korea over a week and a half and was clearly in good health, but I think some of their mothers thought it best to use some caution with the newly arrived foreigner. Antibacterial lotion is used as often as soap, and the slightest cough or scratchy throat is tightly monitored.<br />
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When I began my job and my responsibilities were described to me, it was also explained that new headquarters policy required foreign teachers to notify their school if they were planning on taking an international trip. This is because upon return we will required to sit in quarantine for a week after our trip, with paid deducted, in order to prove that we didn't contract the swine flu from abroad. As the flu has become more prevalent in our area, they have also required all staff members to take their temperatures in the morning upon arriving to school and at night before leaving in order to monitor our temperatures.<br />
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To my knowledge, several of my students and coworkers were diagnosed with H1N1, but they have pulled through just fine. I fell ill myself on Monday (probably from the aftermath of a cold rainy and sleep-deprived Halloween). Monday I was very low on energy, felt achy and had the chills all day (part of that was due to the fact it was 32F outside and nobody was turning the heat on in the building, in fact many windows were kept wide open!). Tuesday I was congested with a runny nose, and had a fever of 38C (100.4) when I walked into work, though energy-wise I didn't feel that bad. Surprisingly they let me work (perhaps because we were already short and they didn't have anyone who could replace me. In the evening before my last class, my boss had me check my temperature and it was up to 38.2C (100.7) and she asked me to go to the hospital. I convinced her to let me go home and sleep it off, and she relented. My fever did get higher that night, just over 102 at its highest, but by the time I woke up in morning I felt much better. As I hung around in bed my temperature continued to lower until it was at 36.7 (98.1), my normal temperature, and there it stayed.<br />
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My boss called to check up on me later in the morning and she agreed I didn't need to go to the hospital. I am glad she agreed on this: the H1N1 test is 200,000W (close to $200) and is only reimbursed by insurance if you test positive. Its night time now, and looks like I'm in the clear. Did I have the oink? We'll never know for sure, but if I did, it should be down right ashamed of itself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UW9ABb8WQq68NpucgQjg7VMHvEdNQvsEnLApFK0OPvnvdApqtMKRNeiBw3W8VeCIcncwZwwp8DMe0xTUvivFNYaWSYo5Vl-1PyuP_cIzXpohPyCDNMBvJD70Yysr4E8Q9YTPn9IQE0w/s1600-h/swine_flu2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400186338062211522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UW9ABb8WQq68NpucgQjg7VMHvEdNQvsEnLApFK0OPvnvdApqtMKRNeiBw3W8VeCIcncwZwwp8DMe0xTUvivFNYaWSYo5Vl-1PyuP_cIzXpohPyCDNMBvJD70Yysr4E8Q9YTPn9IQE0w/s400/swine_flu2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 313px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-67183561988587055582009-11-04T16:47:00.007+09:002010-02-07T17:37:41.791+09:00Korean 101 Intensive Class with YBMMy last blog post was October 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>, and here I am on November 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> writing my next one. No, I didn't fall off the face of the Earth, actually, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">au</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">contraire</span>, I signed up for Intensive Korean lessons, everyday, Monday-Friday from 9-10:50AM before work. They took place about an hour's subway ride from work, which had me waking up usually around 6:30AM. Since I don't get off work until 7:30, and usually dinner and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">interneting</span> consumes a few hours, plus studying means that I have been burning the wick at both ends so to speak.<br />
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So let me tell you about the class itself. Walking into the class I had 6 Korean words in my possession: yes, no, hello, thank you, discount please, and subway station. Not even numbers. It was slim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pickins</span> vocab wise! Which is why I signed up for this intensive 101 class. I thought that having class every day meant I would be getting a lot of practice speaking and I would learn fast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8MkPp4CzD3-ze74qZffaUgEshpdFQ6A3hCjLmYZoes45QhvUavwEMcjx-82yio9Sivv2mZgvjDTo2gs0ZXEbOZxFWodvCdN7HJxenW9ZjDEmTw6IxcB29zZ6og7jQQPKHZ0K4vOIg_U/s1600-h/hangul.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400175112192281330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8MkPp4CzD3-ze74qZffaUgEshpdFQ6A3hCjLmYZoes45QhvUavwEMcjx-82yio9Sivv2mZgvjDTo2gs0ZXEbOZxFWodvCdN7HJxenW9ZjDEmTw6IxcB29zZ6og7jQQPKHZ0K4vOIg_U/s640/hangul.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 283px;" width="452" /></a>Class the first day: we were six total and we all looked like we were roughly in our twenties. One guy was a Korean-American who grew up in Texas and was now living in Korea because he could from the sounds of it. He actually knew a smattering of Korean, having been here for six months and six aunts in the area. Another guy, a Canadian from from Ontario had been here a few months himself and also seemed to have good starter-amount of Korean, enough to be putting together some sentences that I certainly couldn't understand but the teacher could. There was a guy from Rhode Island that appeared just as novice as me, though had been here three months. There was one other girl, from Japan, who seemed to spending vacation here in Seoul for a month and learned quite quickly.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_VTfSjw9VONeskczVPzzubz-1w_d0hCUqTVINO-C7xOqU3evjIiZCIncGCGqiEjobD4Dy-pg1ovoAunvLxg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Newsflash: the class was immersion, with no English being spoken. The teacher started right away asking us in Korean our names and nationalities and what we did. Hearing all this Korean directed our way and then seeing some of my class mates not only understand but even be able to answer immediately made me think I had gotten the wrong classroom. I was about to ask where the 101 classroom was when the teacher started going over the roster, and my name came up, so I realized this must be the right place.<br />
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Second Newsflash: Class everyday doesn't only mean regular practice, it also means we cover material three times as fast. We learned the alphabet on day one, by the morning of day two we were supposed to have it committed to memory.<br />
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Probably doesn't sound or look that bad, but for me, I certainly needed more than 24 hours to commit this stuff to memory , especially when over 2/3<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rds</span> of that time were spent working and sleeping!<br />
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Later in the month I asked my teacher for permission to take a short video during class time for this blog. I made it really short because she seemed camera shy and I didn't want to distract her. She is explaining to us some grammar rules regarding verbs.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">October classes are over now, and I am finally able to sleep in (well past 6:30 anyways!) and I have greatly expanded my Korean vocabulary to include over 100 words as well as some useful expressions and phrases. That being said, I wont be taking 102 Korean lessons for the month of November. I wasn't able to keep up with the workload required for the class and fell behind the others. Instead I'll be taking 8 one hour private lessons this month, 4 at the same institution, and 4 more private lessons directly from my Korean teacher. In addition, I should be doing a language exchange over dinner once a week with a Korean woman I met when I first got here. So my Korean learning will continue, but at a much more relaxed pace this month. :)</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-71397070318364232392009-10-05T21:02:00.009+09:002010-02-07T17:50:14.538+09:00And the lesson learned at Bukhansan is?Sasha and I made plans to meet up Sunday morning to climb Bukhansan mountain, which is in the North-East outskirts of Seoul city. It took me an hour and a half subway ride to get there, and I was not alone. Car after car, subway after subway became increasingly packed with middle-aged Koreans dressed head-to-toe in very professional (and colorful) hiking gear. It felt like I was at a volunteer photoshoot for some major hiking gear company like the Northface or EMS.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAB8iws-TcDL5rGdnFGgEA_JETjpxzHrCf-8ZVYUmmUv-42DWTc9eszeTZoJfS5Zvdt_gnpxkV4BJ4qeZoPfHSee5bCVpAS50H0JlU8gQ_cgwh35bPLsdrmPL02ApFalS23avfvdn068/s1600-h/CIMG4656.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389106561221361810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAB8iws-TcDL5rGdnFGgEA_JETjpxzHrCf-8ZVYUmmUv-42DWTc9eszeTZoJfS5Zvdt_gnpxkV4BJ4qeZoPfHSee5bCVpAS50H0JlU8gQ_cgwh35bPLsdrmPL02ApFalS23avfvdn068/s400/CIMG4656.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Unfortunately Sasha and I are still cellphone-less losers, and we both left late and missed our meeting time and never found each other. I waited an hour and decided to go hike on my own. Ten minutes later she arrived at the station and proceeded to wait for me two hours before giving up... (Payday is only two days away, so I'm getting a cellphone next weekend which will eradicate these kind of meeting problems...)<br />
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I followed the sea of Korean hikers (there were thousands of us) away from the subway station and toward the mountain. I was given an information map in English,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHvCx457xYQeidP66BndXeQDpyTovUwcbqzexOOemaEbdgk3cw361ueH6hfHUIK8qOfvcSmbCrK2zsgp2VqZHbb1GHJPMB24NO39WndIhZptzYE6gjrNNrjc043YttDeZwdGvdkh8ZnA/s1600-h/CIMG4618.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389103674450258818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHvCx457xYQeidP66BndXeQDpyTovUwcbqzexOOemaEbdgk3cw361ueH6hfHUIK8qOfvcSmbCrK2zsgp2VqZHbb1GHJPMB24NO39WndIhZptzYE6gjrNNrjc043YttDeZwdGvdkh8ZnA/s400/CIMG4618.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>but ended up not really using it, as I was trying to get off the beaten path and away from the hordes of people. This impatience was the key reason that I nearly had roll my way back down the mountain out of exhaustion...<br />
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After my first hour of following paved paths, I noticed a cow path going up into the woods marked only by red markers. I could say a middle aged-man just disappearing out of site on it above me, so I followed, with the arrogant thought ('well if he can do it, surely I can do it too.') Ha. This path went STRAIGHT up, and only provided small ledges to rest at. This is a nice path, the ones I was following here much much more narrower and featured a cliff on a side.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDMPlfYUQunuO7ugl8nwDTbZvzsI9oy_M23cxnJjcrFJKJnbSizvHq_lNDRjecEOoSbC2UmjDDU5Utyyfj_FYspTg09L8oD2Dj4T9zfiqh_7vk03MfVkJiES8tlh-PgMsx50fAnz2o-U/s1600-h/CIMG4617.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_SqUqUFvIO6r7wBdic9NG2zpzsBME4ZCR8X6lPu_kkbCRtL2azY_x3tOu00pfIbPxhngIG4yr6FSC2u4qKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></a>It was on one of these rest I stumbled across three Koreans in their early 40s I'm guessing. Red-faced, huffing and puffing, I had surprised them taking a snack and water break on one of these small landings. They didn't speak any English and they quickly ascertained that I didn't speak any Korean either, but they invited me to join them for their snack. I showed them my English map and made gestures to ask where we were on it. They looked at the map for a while, and finally the guy started blabbering away, and I believe to have understood is that the map I had was for Bukhansan...and I was no longer on Bukhansan mountain... Doh! After they packed up, they motioned for me to follow them, onwards and upwards. I figured, since I was off the map, but not read to stop, I'd better follow these people. They ended up adopting me for the rest of the day...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5wjv5LBm-4A6CJou657-g0GfXtkKdR5jqg3lrdqrM9SWEBlphd3JloeAc5EniFiX8kjMSbGmUy7lXdZFioC2zLHMym0g4hOflrVqWSL4RHZ9VtFo1aCV5FeUdk_HJ4HID8WJLprRcfM/s1600-h/CIMG4629.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389103693976760338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5wjv5LBm-4A6CJou657-g0GfXtkKdR5jqg3lrdqrM9SWEBlphd3JloeAc5EniFiX8kjMSbGmUy7lXdZFioC2zLHMym0g4hOflrVqWSL4RHZ9VtFo1aCV5FeUdk_HJ4HID8WJLprRcfM/s400/CIMG4629.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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And this was the beginning of the longest hike of my life. We went from peak to peak, me always following these agile climbers as they literally scampered up cliffs and boulders, always looking for the highest peak, and the best view. See those black dots? Those are rock climbers... we kept getting closer and closer to this cliff, and I was getting worried that they were going to scurry up that too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehlHzQzBUzLQRBjwL0cbkyBvNrn0urcxr-4pZCWdvNDMZauQ-thqwRWaIqR1LlHhXQlPRcUlUw7bV-LIkErIw5ApvVM6kM3HoH5vqtkRy9edUgIoIvc-S2Fuz3B567R3MJR7dBvhnBhM/s1600-h/CIMG4632.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389103700220617122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehlHzQzBUzLQRBjwL0cbkyBvNrn0urcxr-4pZCWdvNDMZauQ-thqwRWaIqR1LlHhXQlPRcUlUw7bV-LIkErIw5ApvVM6kM3HoH5vqtkRy9edUgIoIvc-S2Fuz3B567R3MJR7dBvhnBhM/s400/CIMG4632.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>After a few hours I was EXHAUSTED. I haven't had any opportunity to work out here, and during my last month in Canada/the States I wasn't able to work out half as much as I wanted to. After several hours hiking, my thigh muscles were spent, and difficult to control since they were shaking with fatigue. And we STILL weren't going down yet. We stopped for a good long lunch, and they shared their entire spread with me (even though I had brought a bit of food with me, though admittedly it was pretty measly compared to their meal!)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57AevSPfAsryyPVEGDsNneONVo9Dxea9R9N1rxdWxDp-keU5Bb0tbGtpUDLbUFOTure7ohKZeP3C4kDNpTJSod4tG_E-tGvO8zmD842PQ92AYo1EUr6PQZsmq0NCQLShM5a2rVjbDD0k/s1600-h/CIMG4638.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389106536148597202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57AevSPfAsryyPVEGDsNneONVo9Dxea9R9N1rxdWxDp-keU5Bb0tbGtpUDLbUFOTure7ohKZeP3C4kDNpTJSod4tG_E-tGvO8zmD842PQ92AYo1EUr6PQZsmq0NCQLShM5a2rVjbDD0k/s400/CIMG4638.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>I tried to only take a few bites, but they kept offering things to me and motioning, and I it seemed like it would be more rude to refuse. I was shocked to see them (between 5 people including me) share two bottles of soju...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTDFQwhbRLORECom7LCplfbquavMzMl0olYrnGBPN2Sdm06vXuldam742V_o4CTWxYJ1dF9YFtu2POjbItrNq0gP5FX0VpDyTdffSNxGPbWqfBiwApPya8pr1X4F1pX4raJ6fB1XPdQY/s1600-h/CIMG4636.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389106528474226114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTDFQwhbRLORECom7LCplfbquavMzMl0olYrnGBPN2Sdm06vXuldam742V_o4CTWxYJ1dF9YFtu2POjbItrNq0gP5FX0VpDyTdffSNxGPbWqfBiwApPya8pr1X4F1pX4raJ6fB1XPdQY/s400/CIMG4636.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>It seemed dangerous to me to drink any sort of alcohol when you'd be getting up in an hours time to continue hiking rocky ledges. But they took their time, and ate a lot and rested a while after, and for myself I didn't feel lightheaded at all. (After we picked up camp and past by other people having lunch I notice bottles of soju were present at almost every sitting).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2sSXmi7F4qS9lLIfx6yiwaW6Pkc9X-DjKPu9Oqiy5mGTVEqdirYoP1v1rKIJqt_yAgJ0de7FDQmX2hGpeOdqp-a4jzJiO_K2Uj10KANa5PEi0_dUTKWw4poRmPwBiKvnIlUAFAMCqWs/s1600-h/CIMG4647.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389106545851063778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2sSXmi7F4qS9lLIfx6yiwaW6Pkc9X-DjKPu9Oqiy5mGTVEqdirYoP1v1rKIJqt_yAgJ0de7FDQmX2hGpeOdqp-a4jzJiO_K2Uj10KANa5PEi0_dUTKWw4poRmPwBiKvnIlUAFAMCqWs/s400/CIMG4647.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Though lunch allowed me to rest my legs, they were still just as tired and hard to walk with. My Korean hikers kept urging me on though, even when we passed by a normal path (as opposed to the goat paths we'd been follow along ledges) probably telling me it was just a little bit further. I think this was the highest point that I took a video at: You could really see all of Seoul:<br />
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Finally we started descending, but that felt more precarious as my tired muscles made it difficult to navigate the loose gravel covering the sandy rocks.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhaY7hm47uDCTwmZ6hrj_6Mxv1V3kyCvWNXVXe3YDZtYeFfk_WLCpsXhlAuY-JXmCjNQxd3hk84cyDvO8qACnkDpu9-BJg2cL3r6ytXyi04YKvbxE19QkaHYENh7wUzwsqK4MtUuc1gk/s1600-h/CIMG4655.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389106553996837826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhaY7hm47uDCTwmZ6hrj_6Mxv1V3kyCvWNXVXe3YDZtYeFfk_WLCpsXhlAuY-JXmCjNQxd3hk84cyDvO8qACnkDpu9-BJg2cL3r6ytXyi04YKvbxE19QkaHYENh7wUzwsqK4MtUuc1gk/s400/CIMG4655.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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We took it easy, and eventually, (FINALLY!) we returned to the touristy area with all the shops selling hiking gear, just before the subway station. The man in the group walked me all the way to the subway station, and we gave each other short bows and I said thank you with as much meaning as I could but it seemed inadequate after all he and the other women had shared with me. I felt comforted by the fact that at lunch he had given me his business card, so when I go back to work I can ask a co-worker to help me compose a short thank you email to him in Korean.<br />
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Hard to see: temple tucked away on the mountain side---><br />
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So lesson learned? Middle-aged Koreans are the human equivalent of mountain goats, and don't go following them unless your fit to climb every single mountain peak on (and off) the map!<br />
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Here is the path I think I did...?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDMPlfYUQunuO7ugl8nwDTbZvzsI9oy_M23cxnJjcrFJKJnbSizvHq_lNDRjecEOoSbC2UmjDDU5Utyyfj_FYspTg09L8oD2Dj4T9zfiqh_7vk03MfVkJiES8tlh-PgMsx50fAnz2o-U/s1600-h/CIMG4617.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389103643295480274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDMPlfYUQunuO7ugl8nwDTbZvzsI9oy_M23cxnJjcrFJKJnbSizvHq_lNDRjecEOoSbC2UmjDDU5Utyyfj_FYspTg09L8oD2Dj4T9zfiqh_7vk03MfVkJiES8tlh-PgMsx50fAnz2o-U/s400/CIMG4617.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>And the video version:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzwl3PPSYGwXHgPAQYuVwkhMnhx7ZEQMnMnXCHO3pv6L1pSZlwvmE3A1M379MgDo11xlqsRyxqdlImjAs2njQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-43040708024370517712009-10-05T18:43:00.004+09:002010-02-07T17:58:27.100+09:00Deoksugung Palace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG77XH3_QAq6MuJqH6Ur-9f91GlR4STgn0-4SH0Qz2yjM-iYTPQXpUEpmAMa8cNQ1MuHRKqARgzpRiUTsHP3zvJqlReR4A8Xv9nYJcW5Unsy_FIKww9tg9YEzq7KzQOqSHa7wXNK0cST0/s1600-h/CIMG4473.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG77XH3_QAq6MuJqH6Ur-9f91GlR4STgn0-4SH0Qz2yjM-iYTPQXpUEpmAMa8cNQ1MuHRKqARgzpRiUTsHP3zvJqlReR4A8Xv9nYJcW5Unsy_FIKww9tg9YEzq7KzQOqSHa7wXNK0cST0/s400/CIMG4473.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: 'courier new';">Thursday, my first day of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chuseok</span> vacation, I went exploring. Originally on the search of a cultural theater that used to do special drum performances, I stumbled across this gate:</span><br />
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Turns out I had just come across the smallest of Seoul's major palaces: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deoksugung"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Deoksugung</span></a> <span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">(Palace of Virtuous Longevity)</span>.</span> It was built in the mid-1400s during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseon_Dynasty"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Joseon</span> Dynasty</a>, the longest reigning Confucian Dynasty and the last royal dynasty in Korean history.<br />
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Inside the above building was the royal throne (below) and this building was used as the setting of official ceremonies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1vEnWUo6AwrDjlhgfgiaA17QdIWk3Z8ah5jVQykA2qbKrNK5hwIqS9i6P-gbHTikNALDHKvxXymnikoM5gc3m2gmpWK-agh2mH8zMn758tOPHxRrO4T4iEmZWTIbT-rhcgy2IpfIenY/s1600-h/CIMG4491.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389072143390462194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1vEnWUo6AwrDjlhgfgiaA17QdIWk3Z8ah5jVQykA2qbKrNK5hwIqS9i6P-gbHTikNALDHKvxXymnikoM5gc3m2gmpWK-agh2mH8zMn758tOPHxRrO4T4iEmZWTIbT-rhcgy2IpfIenY/s400/CIMG4491.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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The palace was originally built to be a prince's residence, but at the turn of the 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> century, the five major palaces had all been heavily destroyed by the Japanese invasion, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Deoksugung</span> became a royal palace. It is considered to contain some of the best remnants exemplifying royal architecture. Another unique aspect to this palace is the extent to which you see the traditional architecture juxtaposed to the modern.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfgbN6s4B-0BjXyR6ASav1uk6i54TusTWrJesutOq04fB7Q0YqrV64IZwoeVWxmGENR15EzDAMfrfULEiUosDNIGs3eMKGNYpJ2cw5NY_ybNk6O_3z-WjpbLkVv1L04E3_d8LKEsf40Y/s1600-h/CIMG4492.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389070339291793522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfgbN6s4B-0BjXyR6ASav1uk6i54TusTWrJesutOq04fB7Q0YqrV64IZwoeVWxmGENR15EzDAMfrfULEiUosDNIGs3eMKGNYpJ2cw5NY_ybNk6O_3z-WjpbLkVv1L04E3_d8LKEsf40Y/s400/CIMG4492.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TRflmF4vwgeJC0pCUNBmePZpWP3DRWhL7P1k3ngXksJCoxj-Dfu7Dy8CY682iArPHwa088AasRLJvtvuOrYz0vd_SGIy0dyKplUrtd31WS67cCACn_6nfVBWQBhsugetDdwtLMxzzJw/s1600-h/CIMG4502.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389070366898092754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TRflmF4vwgeJC0pCUNBmePZpWP3DRWhL7P1k3ngXksJCoxj-Dfu7Dy8CY682iArPHwa088AasRLJvtvuOrYz0vd_SGIy0dyKplUrtd31WS67cCACn_6nfVBWQBhsugetDdwtLMxzzJw/s400/CIMG4502.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa789iXuv3ZSIVcFGXr706pWbGu0Q3oNPo7AF1um06azwWDPQ52flHzfbdUBbIgNjhEjueU3aOqWKkq-H8V3cR72C3dCD2rjLRElcX9kWUDP43eGgyw74L4yCU7S6B4s_UrOaM1iSIT4/s1600-h/CIMG4511.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389070376045543762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa789iXuv3ZSIVcFGXr706pWbGu0Q3oNPo7AF1um06azwWDPQ52flHzfbdUBbIgNjhEjueU3aOqWKkq-H8V3cR72C3dCD2rjLRElcX9kWUDP43eGgyw74L4yCU7S6B4s_UrOaM1iSIT4/s400/CIMG4511.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK9d0BVrctPjlWZGoAB9Z8gRwxh-Ff3ympPThQ1JG2kmIirqDBr1QXgR7vdcdtW5TDJKlUCDFvrqAv5x3ZbwSDbBHkbI1rGZRfC_MbElIjHGba6BDtw2nhXxKZV7GforMqAWg_ZpYBeQ/s1600-h/CIMG4496.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389070348026954290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvK9d0BVrctPjlWZGoAB9Z8gRwxh-Ff3ympPThQ1JG2kmIirqDBr1QXgR7vdcdtW5TDJKlUCDFvrqAv5x3ZbwSDbBHkbI1rGZRfC_MbElIjHGba6BDtw2nhXxKZV7GforMqAWg_ZpYBeQ/s400/CIMG4496.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nCQq4oWO_qrMkL6Z-ttlii2FG2M5uBq4N2XvZkmGLP60qn0bsX5_hZ4pYNrJ7J4AnGWaNECiM5TjnTL7UbQ9qrLYfZ6Q6pLNyIds-DPHoAWtPJvP6Eqip9h-bA9rjNaNbLB78U5dUrs/s1600-h/CIMG4497.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389070357218274898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nCQq4oWO_qrMkL6Z-ttlii2FG2M5uBq4N2XvZkmGLP60qn0bsX5_hZ4pYNrJ7J4AnGWaNECiM5TjnTL7UbQ9qrLYfZ6Q6pLNyIds-DPHoAWtPJvP6Eqip9h-bA9rjNaNbLB78U5dUrs/s400/CIMG4497.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Much of this palace was destroyed by the Japanese during their invasion in the early 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> century, as they did with all important Korean landmarks and cultural possessions. What I saw today only constitutes 1/3 of the buildings and grounds what used to exist at this Palace, though I believe it is perpetually under slow reconstruction. If you would like to read more about the specific buildings in the photos below, click <a href="http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/seoul/65">here</a>.<br />
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The following are some decorations scattered about the grounds that I liked. First, there were many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">guardian</span> goblins like this one below, and on the roof ridges there were tiny gargoyles, whose <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">silhouette</span> got more early as dusk fell.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAs2JS1zJIQeAzFp33rgw9KKrzVlhWIxeB-FcwXn4TM1nVQFK2_TRuXkRk_gxwlvUoKiNlG2cEijBLcY8gR0F5pDzwhmL9mkgvMaYZK7u4ZBMU03_wffh2ks9ct5X29PZ-SVKL9ynS2s/s1600-h/CIMG4478.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389068341423014354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAs2JS1zJIQeAzFp33rgw9KKrzVlhWIxeB-FcwXn4TM1nVQFK2_TRuXkRk_gxwlvUoKiNlG2cEijBLcY8gR0F5pDzwhmL9mkgvMaYZK7u4ZBMU03_wffh2ks9ct5X29PZ-SVKL9ynS2s/s400/CIMG4478.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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The photo below was probably my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">favourite</span>: its called a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Singijeon</span>, or arrow launcher, invented by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cho</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Museon</span> around 1448. It shoots 100 iron-tipped bamboo arrows using paper-gunpowder rocket, with a range of 100-150 meters, depending on the size of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Singijeon</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEUJJAO-VWFDCWFHep1RnXwrB07zvk6P3m1PjJhY01m9Sw1EjNsX9gcrdGVfl8EYQfzFAS4uifWEr93XhiHIwFYTRgcslj8vdnU2N94sD6rqgDFLhh15kEbLCYW-HmSiNQFUvVMkyl48/s1600-h/CIMG4481.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389068359970639426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEUJJAO-VWFDCWFHep1RnXwrB07zvk6P3m1PjJhY01m9Sw1EjNsX9gcrdGVfl8EYQfzFAS4uifWEr93XhiHIwFYTRgcslj8vdnU2N94sD6rqgDFLhh15kEbLCYW-HmSiNQFUvVMkyl48/s400/CIMG4481.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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The picture underneath is the Bell of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Heungcheonsa</span> Temple, which was forged in 1462. It's rung only once a year, for New Year's Eve. There was also an automatic striking water clock called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Jagyeokru</span>, but I didn't take a picture of it.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-38779170054726477222009-10-05T17:09:00.012+09:002010-02-07T18:05:01.568+09:00Happy Chuseok! YBM Kindergarten Field Trip"Happy Chew-sock what?" Let me fill you in: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuseok">Chuseok</a> is essentially Korean Thanksgiving: a celebration of the harvest, celebrated every year according to the lunar calendar, near the Autumn Equinox. Just like holidays that you are familiar with, the holiday is centered around food, though not exactly turkey and gravy and pumpkin pie.<br />
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First: we only had a three day week this week (Thursday & Friday off) and a only a 4 day week this coming one (Monday off). On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, lots of food flooded into the teacher's room from thoughtful Mom's. (Usually we receive something yummy to share a few times a week, but with the holiday approaching, every day we were receiving multiple yummy things). These things included dough-nuts, homemade cheese cake, and a special rice treat called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songpyeon" title="Songpyeon">songpyeon,</a> among other Korean treats that I couldn't identify.<br />
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Our school direction, a woman named Danny, gave all the employees a nice bag with two bottles of 2006 French Merlot, and some teachers additionally received comparably nice gifts from some student's parents.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq83SBX3OE2__d4IVRS6LZdG-e6KkPIG9T8k3RpPHCPgKe-cSXvWYegeDwVCnzkHuPu1H1dh0VceZ4EMimDX_rddD_NyWxPRvZRsXORfq3cT2ETTy3i_5oBk54-vw3SIGSPmW_ZpmB-Ro/s1600-h/CIMG4375.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389037551481482082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq83SBX3OE2__d4IVRS6LZdG-e6KkPIG9T8k3RpPHCPgKe-cSXvWYegeDwVCnzkHuPu1H1dh0VceZ4EMimDX_rddD_NyWxPRvZRsXORfq3cT2ETTy3i_5oBk54-vw3SIGSPmW_ZpmB-Ro/s400/CIMG4375.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Since Wednesday was the end of our session, (a session is usually a month long, and is distinguished by the handing in of grades and comments to the parents), the morning kindergartners got to go on a field trip to a temple a 45 minute bus ride away, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unhyeongung">Unhyeongung Palace</a>. For this special trip and holiday, the children and our Korean teachers dressed up in Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress. I was able to get some great photos of my kids in their Hanbok as we prepared to leave the school:<br />
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All the Korean children are given English names (usually chosen by their parents, and sometimes the names resemble their Korean names). This is Jessica, my most smiley and adorable student. She gives me hugs and tells me how much she loves me daily ----><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A27RmBlCtMosyRgG5-nBRe7bKzukxdc6GMZyMtD1cp_PcK2nalbvFExm3AlXJZc2VRXadSa9qJT0Pqum8lm7BVp14qgD2QB81of0MN87BwFAo1ISNVekSXvLs9xHZipOkvnp8DbPXzM/s1600-h/CIMG4376.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389035942196249698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7A27RmBlCtMosyRgG5-nBRe7bKzukxdc6GMZyMtD1cp_PcK2nalbvFExm3AlXJZc2VRXadSa9qJT0Pqum8lm7BVp14qgD2QB81of0MN87BwFAo1ISNVekSXvLs9xHZipOkvnp8DbPXzM/s400/CIMG4376.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Next is Gina, who is quiet and shy, but a very good student. We think she is the daughter of dentist because she takes FOREVER brushing her teeth after lunch. I'm going to quietly time her next week to get some statistics on the matter.<br />
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Below, Arthur hasn't put on his hanbok yet...he is still having a great old time!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWAck5RS9SIaHCYvUtU0AHUD0V2w2XKJYokuvTBdqVW6qsP23DcaQWE9t0NA07-PUYkYk_fXpeDsyj831GUnG9kPvG62Kyn2AV6jIpfn9uGlXSKHC07B4TCwseqQ4Vu8-z70IJt3So_Q/s1600-h/CIMG4383.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389035954172214978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWAck5RS9SIaHCYvUtU0AHUD0V2w2XKJYokuvTBdqVW6qsP23DcaQWE9t0NA07-PUYkYk_fXpeDsyj831GUnG9kPvG62Kyn2AV6jIpfn9uGlXSKHC07B4TCwseqQ4Vu8-z70IJt3So_Q/s400/CIMG4383.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>From left to right Alyssa (my youngest, 4 years old, who is often singing and drawing instead of paying attention), Sam (the most advanced boy and always finishing work super fast), Alice (the most advanced girl, sometimes finishing her work even before Sam), Alex (hidden), Jessica, and Andy.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GjN9RauuGhv_xr9TPqGfdCjUk5yyPfvc6sfDy-809HEUJYOnA3pC4ndAn51BVd2wskpwUu66X7K-6ULe1NnQfEALg7VUOMOIkwTJILF829XQC3JikK6ZZ15efWls7EBDAfebrO_Sm5Y/s1600-h/CIMG4389.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389035959582818338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GjN9RauuGhv_xr9TPqGfdCjUk5yyPfvc6sfDy-809HEUJYOnA3pC4ndAn51BVd2wskpwUu66X7K-6ULe1NnQfEALg7VUOMOIkwTJILF829XQC3JikK6ZZ15efWls7EBDAfebrO_Sm5Y/s400/CIMG4389.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Jessica fell asleep on the bus ride and I couldn't help myself:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOfHdo260V9x9Reh2tOlywCLgRsHWkE2hpWt-wJcv-vWHVKx5CpBxy5T_bSbT6aWS9YudcHB4ZVuTePNOzvlkUkdRpk4yF2Ve4TdJPRKZVU8RJ-9NoGxdHW7obUBkf1Pj5uxW5aZBlTI/s1600-h/CIMG4412.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389035969255206914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOfHdo260V9x9Reh2tOlywCLgRsHWkE2hpWt-wJcv-vWHVKx5CpBxy5T_bSbT6aWS9YudcHB4ZVuTePNOzvlkUkdRpk4yF2Ve4TdJPRKZVU8RJ-9NoGxdHW7obUBkf1Pj5uxW5aZBlTI/s400/CIMG4412.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Arrived at the palace and waiting for our tour to start. Justin starts playing with his shadow:<div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK-t1EN4Axy8KSY_9GSjsxazfIMC8BHUc9a_Fyz1LZyPapCsy2KaNjWTGQqfTw_IsOoTZ3HMkAsQl3p2Q7gYJDqRbMQGQNVsAyPaApCVljqbf422Anj_REIk9BNVGrGegnR3xhleEqMw/s1600-h/CIMG4418.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389037558455041682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK-t1EN4Axy8KSY_9GSjsxazfIMC8BHUc9a_Fyz1LZyPapCsy2KaNjWTGQqfTw_IsOoTZ3HMkAsQl3p2Q7gYJDqRbMQGQNVsAyPaApCVljqbf422Anj_REIk9BNVGrGegnR3xhleEqMw/s400/CIMG4418.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Getting more organized: lining up two by two<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qt7Zt0-5_Y5E0WG1B3q5_FN762ojKJEHSzsx-29qeiRBpkJDquji_kmlZdU8dEwAFooZZVQ5GkQXq2A7yVJ89px6bopmFfd2Ayc2B6hP0AuCMT0leu7nU87ct7J0dhRg8wMIh6qwuIs/s1600-h/CIMG4421.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389037566487173890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qt7Zt0-5_Y5E0WG1B3q5_FN762ojKJEHSzsx-29qeiRBpkJDquji_kmlZdU8dEwAFooZZVQ5GkQXq2A7yVJ89px6bopmFfd2Ayc2B6hP0AuCMT0leu7nU87ct7J0dhRg8wMIh6qwuIs/s400/CIMG4421.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Taking shoes off to go in the building and helping the children up the steep steps:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj541NvRkJyYbIH3wbIc7UwJhqqXYagOrs__GoCxxHjYr_O8oQj5wATOaQoSd2oSyOQAI3X0zBN8xMw4wOnMcbdXJrWJWaO6SFRBY-EBoLiGz0ILbUi8uzAiqfyawMW753ex666gmiwVMU/s1600-h/CIMG4426.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389037577610951506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj541NvRkJyYbIH3wbIc7UwJhqqXYagOrs__GoCxxHjYr_O8oQj5wATOaQoSd2oSyOQAI3X0zBN8xMw4wOnMcbdXJrWJWaO6SFRBY-EBoLiGz0ILbUi8uzAiqfyawMW753ex666gmiwVMU/s400/CIMG4426.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Teaching the girls how to bow and sit down like the royalty who used to live here:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmo2wlGEr20YOi6RDpwJud4ovM0RDUr9v8-lSzBTJfPXacMGlS3uCGuO7M0uOnJo0c6eHRmk1gSIaKt9rnlOJPIbP3ncRPTJFykQ3WZVVHPUIWmKgUSsUfi0EHZb3hMt7v5dN4oKoOZc/s1600-h/CIMG4431.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389037590809940514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmo2wlGEr20YOi6RDpwJud4ovM0RDUr9v8-lSzBTJfPXacMGlS3uCGuO7M0uOnJo0c6eHRmk1gSIaKt9rnlOJPIbP3ncRPTJFykQ3WZVVHPUIWmKgUSsUfi0EHZb3hMt7v5dN4oKoOZc/s400/CIMG4431.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>And the boys turn:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVZ_vjJtCEnGjKg-crZWEwF1XXR_euGqApsRNwDA_zER_RF7dKBeX4LWwFz-Z1sV7EiFGuRUOK_-maqEWYgqqGm_f4eVNc5smAnUfWc9HdAizENIsHY_kfnoZljLm3WhrmejWGkVvWd4/s1600-h/CIMG4436.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389040670990281490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVZ_vjJtCEnGjKg-crZWEwF1XXR_euGqApsRNwDA_zER_RF7dKBeX4LWwFz-Z1sV7EiFGuRUOK_-maqEWYgqqGm_f4eVNc5smAnUfWc9HdAizENIsHY_kfnoZljLm3WhrmejWGkVvWd4/s400/CIMG4436.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>After bowing practice they were given some putty-like stuff in blue, red and white (Korea's colors) and were told to mush them together. The stuff was actually a kind of rubber, and when you steam it, it will become an eraser. Each student got to make themselves their own eraser:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5MhIUcpQrQBAShcOgursVT5ZE6hkh8Eeqo8ySV9kovsNyQEft8c1LPF7cXeA0EAyFm0T34MOGhw8MsyCN7B-fgXAbGNty1cEg_TnEvaS6hkA-IDGrhMplcMVPnL3sFM3Jy61mrwEPGw/s1600-h/CIMG4447.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389040679679357634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5MhIUcpQrQBAShcOgursVT5ZE6hkh8Eeqo8ySV9kovsNyQEft8c1LPF7cXeA0EAyFm0T34MOGhw8MsyCN7B-fgXAbGNty1cEg_TnEvaS6hkA-IDGrhMplcMVPnL3sFM3Jy61mrwEPGw/s400/CIMG4447.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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Since our guide only spoke in Korean and so I really couldn't get anything out of what was being said, I took a stroll to check out some of the other rooms in the palace. Everything is made out of wood. The windows/doors have a wooden grid, with a translucent paper over the back of it, which is thin enough to let in light. Some of the rooms were set up with furniture and mannequins to give you an idea of how royalty lived here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxroPZQ8Z2IbS2ZupM0mkyAno2UU6s8qsNpU8lzzj4rsJ185oKxP-4D2Ss0VdFY2GrjK_SB6d9JYWR88wvIbUOunc0fquoOPFUaGQkvmvlzba9GSqSRKcScfEXbvrUt4jQDmZr-mEJdM/s1600-h/CIMG4463.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389042992965243554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxroPZQ8Z2IbS2ZupM0mkyAno2UU6s8qsNpU8lzzj4rsJ185oKxP-4D2Ss0VdFY2GrjK_SB6d9JYWR88wvIbUOunc0fquoOPFUaGQkvmvlzba9GSqSRKcScfEXbvrUt4jQDmZr-mEJdM/s400/CIMG4463.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSilsj7MpL0UKfBpRZNUU9UkveOny4PWlPRl3EizQDQblv34HPPdm5QdyfWQ6AUTWnuDuDBqgavo77GXxh0_QYPntz4rGHaXFJwnmmvkpJLiWP5eBTfoJ7-SS22XlT_Bm4rGMOKU3xqU/s1600-h/CIMG4454.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389040701197170866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSilsj7MpL0UKfBpRZNUU9UkveOny4PWlPRl3EizQDQblv34HPPdm5QdyfWQ6AUTWnuDuDBqgavo77GXxh0_QYPntz4rGHaXFJwnmmvkpJLiWP5eBTfoJ7-SS22XlT_Bm4rGMOKU3xqU/s400/CIMG4454.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9YVpf-T21HKhu7fVHX4U0rQOw58yLzEpp9TwqqrcGlhXfuIgoQtGspSjuFg8Oe4dc3h31Y0mP4bctdn0nTBqz0w_ZDI7dWIemKY_hXbZETdYYFIGamaVQ4JxuaTMBMvjbtTbsNY-TOU/s1600-h/CIMG4459.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389042981411964498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9YVpf-T21HKhu7fVHX4U0rQOw58yLzEpp9TwqqrcGlhXfuIgoQtGspSjuFg8Oe4dc3h31Y0mP4bctdn0nTBqz0w_ZDI7dWIemKY_hXbZETdYYFIGamaVQ4JxuaTMBMvjbtTbsNY-TOU/s400/CIMG4459.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVvyXcYBdgLsTa1hn8O6eYnzNx52Z8wMoZkXpgN_4DRNS0kbESx99LhA7UHH_CmKGuXTuhyhXm5yEjv6pzDSNaDsTwvmEJfXOx9tTVg4Li1ynNWH-HZwWL8W6FYAg3PdDmrcNiPTlutg/s1600-h/CIMG4455.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389042973339907634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVvyXcYBdgLsTa1hn8O6eYnzNx52Z8wMoZkXpgN_4DRNS0kbESx99LhA7UHH_CmKGuXTuhyhXm5yEjv6pzDSNaDsTwvmEJfXOx9tTVg4Li1ynNWH-HZwWL8W6FYAg3PdDmrcNiPTlutg/s400/CIMG4455.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZzjuMP-PtjA3FwLne2PZrfw6JWkRjF_Poe_32PR8m8mHv93EXeL1fP2njQYscB-cuG8WMUs24UOmio4S3McJOLEZ9z2s9vWdzVyC72UvLuWIn4ysbuQQgKNFbxzIc5jb_10r5gQMKmw/s1600-h/CIMG4453.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389040695068845762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZzjuMP-PtjA3FwLne2PZrfw6JWkRjF_Poe_32PR8m8mHv93EXeL1fP2njQYscB-cuG8WMUs24UOmio4S3McJOLEZ9z2s9vWdzVyC72UvLuWIn4ysbuQQgKNFbxzIc5jb_10r5gQMKmw/s400/CIMG4453.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
One of my favorite pictures: if you click on the picture it will open in a new window in its enlarged version. Justin is posing for the picture (though he should be paying attention to our tour guide, this pic is just too cute!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNuHS03btjYIrNRMX1d7lxRpXnAUc5RXBwYSppMPxq8UdvQyW2e0k6dTumGny1Jk7FIOwM_8wa6ooTj3fYdxaJ7gvMiYMwWo6HRr09vfuWeHCKzRrhQ0B4CbhNIKi-t2HXMSjeLVh210/s1600-h/CIMG4457.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389040712214551666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNuHS03btjYIrNRMX1d7lxRpXnAUc5RXBwYSppMPxq8UdvQyW2e0k6dTumGny1Jk7FIOwM_8wa6ooTj3fYdxaJ7gvMiYMwWo6HRr09vfuWeHCKzRrhQ0B4CbhNIKi-t2HXMSjeLVh210/s400/CIMG4457.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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My kindergarten class, minus one student Jack who didn't come to school unfortunately:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N7hZWSYy_AyzGFGZlfMphrHaHoAPtzb4QbfVmO_OGbVibJnmc_0BTlo3lXdxSQGaEk6-ocs4g-9oK-5ZClUeEreRuSYsL_l96iYWimdQb1UC-06gV7nXDMIfE6yPuhUoT9sg9rzz2Ak/s1600-h/CIMG4462.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389042998864747826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N7hZWSYy_AyzGFGZlfMphrHaHoAPtzb4QbfVmO_OGbVibJnmc_0BTlo3lXdxSQGaEk6-ocs4g-9oK-5ZClUeEreRuSYsL_l96iYWimdQb1UC-06gV7nXDMIfE6yPuhUoT9sg9rzz2Ak/s400/CIMG4462.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Last, the students were taught about the royal tea ceremony. Again, all information was in Korean, but things I can tell you about this: green tea is served, with great attention as to how it is poured, one must always use two arms. The tea must be drank in precisely three sips. The cookie provided is also eaten in three bites, and you hide your mouth with your other hand as you take a bite. The women pouring are two of our Korean teachers. On the right is Hena, my Korean co-teacher for my kindergarten class.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK4XO8_7uMlQWZYVmd2DLMqNm9jHCkmLmMyBfUjvnvENX6_7jy9qULaMQMONC24uWzxgYPzYbso7YaukwKuC4GKtbTImMsNq-57ZgUbsCDVPZAYAHmZIA0bilHDCMhlnXKLFEeYfA3po/s1600-h/CIMG4470.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389043008788023106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzK4XO8_7uMlQWZYVmd2DLMqNm9jHCkmLmMyBfUjvnvENX6_7jy9qULaMQMONC24uWzxgYPzYbso7YaukwKuC4GKtbTImMsNq-57ZgUbsCDVPZAYAHmZIA0bilHDCMhlnXKLFEeYfA3po/s400/CIMG4470.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Most Koreans go home for Chuseok to spend time with their parents and grandparents, who often live outside the city, so the place quiets down. Many shops are closed, and the public transportation hours of operation change.<br />
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Foreigners, however can find plenty of things to do with their vacation in the city, and I was no exception. More to come on that later!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-78387907068995206402009-10-05T16:08:00.009+09:002010-02-07T18:07:22.857+09:00A two headed turtle and aquarium modern art<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD24zyvrMecyGinBZXx7VUsIHTzw1geUcOqGeILnEcNfAHtEzNwvvUHe37MPmTlreP9obAUWo_bds4hujlk-qKBS3b7k9xO8goSXpVBbjtDLpmIrMV2d8n1dEAylsX2UKKU2Nxv6lfRns/s1600-h/CIMG4211.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389023294062702882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD24zyvrMecyGinBZXx7VUsIHTzw1geUcOqGeILnEcNfAHtEzNwvvUHe37MPmTlreP9obAUWo_bds4hujlk-qKBS3b7k9xO8goSXpVBbjtDLpmIrMV2d8n1dEAylsX2UKKU2Nxv6lfRns/s400/CIMG4211.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>After doing the mass freeze at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">COEX</span> mall, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Saeko</span> and I met up with my other old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">roomate</span> Sasha (two former <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">roomates</span> with me in Seoul: how lucky am I!!!) and we went to check out the aquarium, only a five minutes walk away. The highlights included seals, sharks (accompanied with an underwater tunnel through their water), penguins, a two-headed turtle, bats, and funky modern art involving fish. Pictures say it best so here you go:<br />
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Sasha was really excited about going to the aquarium:<br />
The two headed turtle!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMMU8lLr0URlmG-k5ZEcyBZ0WJnbu_uOOTUwYLaYUccqEaXHF3zgkkgNcN3h6w3qI2ABo11S6wIPwBqFzHzmIFr_C8sfBEpQbaaXtKsYq-aMPMkrDs43t1iPEy6-LRV_UkVcpsMX7kwg/s1600-h/CIMG4272.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389015363235312194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMMU8lLr0URlmG-k5ZEcyBZ0WJnbu_uOOTUwYLaYUccqEaXHF3zgkkgNcN3h6w3qI2ABo11S6wIPwBqFzHzmIFr_C8sfBEpQbaaXtKsYq-aMPMkrDs43t1iPEy6-LRV_UkVcpsMX7kwg/s400/CIMG4272.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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The funniest English sign of the day (and probably week):<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBYKotV1_hcgTfVp5wOPsxTICEO-JgcFGq0p3Q9X_UgArNS_uPuGOxOF3hgYSECC2f-5nYATVv3Cb37lv7E6iV0GJXKyUP3wj-nfHaYhfjV5flh4hD4Z0qSjZa_MYc-pq_B8XVIl-ssE/s1600-h/CIMG4265.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389015351414951042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBYKotV1_hcgTfVp5wOPsxTICEO-JgcFGq0p3Q9X_UgArNS_uPuGOxOF3hgYSECC2f-5nYATVv3Cb37lv7E6iV0GJXKyUP3wj-nfHaYhfjV5flh4hD4Z0qSjZa_MYc-pq_B8XVIl-ssE/s400/CIMG4265.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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And they called her the fish whisperer:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95uvny9uIFUZ3MfsdyTB2q0ddykM8YtkOGHTy-sIXKkMVSqpxH4TkHRjabp6LT1T8-DpXZ9lxRtWttyvF395iCt4l7OFi0XEYopU54DuNAKfEatluXaEcN6A_mHu2qKKBZHYZYYziixQ/s1600-h/CIMG4264.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389015345936544466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95uvny9uIFUZ3MfsdyTB2q0ddykM8YtkOGHTy-sIXKkMVSqpxH4TkHRjabp6LT1T8-DpXZ9lxRtWttyvF395iCt4l7OFi0XEYopU54DuNAKfEatluXaEcN6A_mHu2qKKBZHYZYYziixQ/s400/CIMG4264.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Modern fish art:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOplpHnzdYf_BisJOUT3TDea9Q5Hjmr9b-C2EOvSc5llkOBRVDfU7rOQ1v2UxVr0TBpqbrw5NKnQQNuQuMzg26Sqhdy85UKJAvTJhDCC95-aWz6Q0sY9gUzJTBtvWE9RCH6Mz7xQD5TZg/s1600-h/CIMG4250.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389015338106946370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOplpHnzdYf_BisJOUT3TDea9Q5Hjmr9b-C2EOvSc5llkOBRVDfU7rOQ1v2UxVr0TBpqbrw5NKnQQNuQuMzg26Sqhdy85UKJAvTJhDCC95-aWz6Q0sY9gUzJTBtvWE9RCH6Mz7xQD5TZg/s400/CIMG4250.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Maw: Mario is literally "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">swimmin</span>' with the fishes"-- poor guy!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZPKtS2prdHzXyTbtq_z8tUxxB_dw1zSG1mkj1Pq3TAwoJnde4UByTMJxf-VA_iEeuhLm2pKqaQ7iyc4ObVYkE04hB-qTEyfOhCbwmzOJrwNLU-wsaWgYTWswdzeNXMNz5osPGR4suJU/s1600-h/CIMG4244.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389015323962398834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZPKtS2prdHzXyTbtq_z8tUxxB_dw1zSG1mkj1Pq3TAwoJnde4UByTMJxf-VA_iEeuhLm2pKqaQ7iyc4ObVYkE04hB-qTEyfOhCbwmzOJrwNLU-wsaWgYTWswdzeNXMNz5osPGR4suJU/s400/CIMG4244.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Shark tank!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZig3FasheozsVtDDV0S98psopCOS52TpGojzxl0r4ZeVo91K89JyD58PIQVOOw7UrsRFKIPTTjjrp5tAqmZyvJq-JszSUOj6dTwmR5ELm71oofejWyI2m_FqHRn6ct9TD6obaPxf6E4/s1600-h/CIMG4302.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389018384731224434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZig3FasheozsVtDDV0S98psopCOS52TpGojzxl0r4ZeVo91K89JyD58PIQVOOw7UrsRFKIPTTjjrp5tAqmZyvJq-JszSUOj6dTwmR5ELm71oofejWyI2m_FqHRn6ct9TD6obaPxf6E4/s400/CIMG4302.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Scared by the shark tank?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSX-bqjUx9LhX_kCG5C41vTiwp0gyLdmyxUNCPYsb_1uXfh5DUoFj874QWVujAnWW-_GWUQ-txqMMgAa41hPNe6Yx2QSRPGTwCmlTnHSOit_0qOYSYDv29z_T_pE_lAYHd3l4tP58prw/s1600-h/CIMG4312.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389018392584261426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSX-bqjUx9LhX_kCG5C41vTiwp0gyLdmyxUNCPYsb_1uXfh5DUoFj874QWVujAnWW-_GWUQ-txqMMgAa41hPNe6Yx2QSRPGTwCmlTnHSOit_0qOYSYDv29z_T_pE_lAYHd3l4tP58prw/s400/CIMG4312.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Leaving the aquarium, I ran into a favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Japanese</span> friend of mine:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev3-nJSf9BH6ILJG3bw_XcVGAKc4Lp29fu5VhgRPUkyHdek8j7STxy5sVcgwpZF-YkooQC2N46KyKVc3r56sxUW3HcQdDU03t_ypvinFHYagFFYFIw4l_oFB4GtNLUf_1ROQeHpAd4rY/s1600-h/CIMG4328.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389018411325040802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiev3-nJSf9BH6ILJG3bw_XcVGAKc4Lp29fu5VhgRPUkyHdek8j7STxy5sVcgwpZF-YkooQC2N46KyKVc3r56sxUW3HcQdDU03t_ypvinFHYagFFYFIw4l_oFB4GtNLUf_1ROQeHpAd4rY/s400/CIMG4328.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>In the food court you can find Jackie Chan's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">favorite</span> noodle restaurant:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL6C5WDPv23iZqB4uXnKJeKPSaLO_mRoPWq-HK3Wgmu7sC0jRul96JF3kJEEQOQXGJLWlDVZYbZ0ejuRLEsYVISOTmlyfnaLa8hf4WM4yQdpymoWYtsWqMH1jnkbBXxI6x2CJpVuc5cE/s1600-h/CIMG4327.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389018403981415234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL6C5WDPv23iZqB4uXnKJeKPSaLO_mRoPWq-HK3Wgmu7sC0jRul96JF3kJEEQOQXGJLWlDVZYbZ0ejuRLEsYVISOTmlyfnaLa8hf4WM4yQdpymoWYtsWqMH1jnkbBXxI6x2CJpVuc5cE/s400/CIMG4327.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-29721223270326740792009-09-29T23:16:00.007+09:002010-02-07T18:08:52.762+09:00The Day the COEX Mall Stood Still: Mass Freeze in SeoulFor those of you who have never heard of a Flash Mob, or Mass Freeze, whose popularity is often credited to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improv_everywhere">Improv Everywhere</a> , let me fill you in. First, a Flash Mob is when a large group of people come together suddenly in a crowded place, do a synchronized unusual action for short period of time, and then quickly leave the scene, all the while staying 'in character.' Lately the popular manifestation of this is Mass Freeze, in which as large a group of people converge at a crowded location and at a specified time, freeze in the middle of whatever they were doing: drinking coffee, talking on the phone, scratching their head, picking up something they dropped, ect. They stay frozen for exactly 5 minutes, and then they all unfreeze simultaneously continue whatever they were doing as if nothing had happened.<br />
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This short youtube video will give you a better idea, its about a popular Mass Freeze done in Grand Central Station a few years ago ----><br />
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Several of these Mass Freezes were organized in Montreal over the past year, and I kept getting the invites, but could never make it, due to work, school, or club obligations, which was really disappointing. So when I heard last week one was being organized in Seoul, I got very excited! Even better it was happening on Saturday, while Saeko was here!<br />
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It was taking place at COEX Mall, an underground shopping mall located on the East side of the city. Its actually the largest mall in Asia. Saeko and I arrived at the meeting place and time above ground. We were close to 200 mostly white anglophone foreigners. The organizer explained to us that we were doing the freeze in the food court below our feet in an hour, and reminded us some guidelines to keep it successful, such as staying in character after the freeze ended, wisely picking a pose not too difficult to hold for 5 minutes, ect.<br />
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Anyways, for a first freeze for the organizers (and for Saeko and I) the event went pretty well. So many Koreans were walking dumbfounded around the food court trying to figure out what the hell was going on, taking pictures and posing with some of the "frozen" foreigners, and security seemed to be a little unnerved. There are several youtube videos to be found on youtube, but this is the best one:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0wSlmE2PRTk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0wSlmE2PRTk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div><br />
Unfortunately the person didn't move around to where Saeko and I were frozen, so we're not in the video, but we were there! Enjoy the video, and if you like the idea, keep your ears peeled for a Mass Freeze in your area (or organize one!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6914344538410788046.post-90279754081956440192009-09-29T09:19:00.007+09:002010-02-07T18:11:18.353+09:00First Haircut in Seoul: The Green Turtle in Itaewon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AW24iMylZXQFfFVprVqrp6R1pjBXoRQzyAcEsNdEM_hi2p5h9eLjWHPOlAnPYB92h2B4Ea0bghriSgI9hNo3CFhqTLfa-rta4q4pGhOAU2wV92LgzyniSX6GaPOlZJ1UPColWO6SHpw/s1600-h/IMG_2724.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386682479526623634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AW24iMylZXQFfFVprVqrp6R1pjBXoRQzyAcEsNdEM_hi2p5h9eLjWHPOlAnPYB92h2B4Ea0bghriSgI9hNo3CFhqTLfa-rta4q4pGhOAU2wV92LgzyniSX6GaPOlZJ1UPColWO6SHpw/s400/IMG_2724.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Under recommendation of a work colleague, Thursday night after work <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Saeko</span> and I sprinted to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Itaewon</span> in search of the Green Turtle. I was told that the owner, Michel, was a flamboyant hairdresser, who had a good taste in style and spoke fluent English.<br />
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After trading our shoes for slippers I was quickly in a chair. The hair washing was accompanied with a quick but nice scalp, neck, and shoulders massage, which was great after a day at work. In reality Michel functioned mostly as translator, as he had several woman working for him, and several of us foreigners sitting in chairs. He would move <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">in between</span> us and take over for a few minutes doing more specific styling, and then turn to one of the Korean women and give them instructions on what to do next.<br />
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In the end though, my hair was back to the puff and spike that I like, and the total cost was 30,000 won (I added a 5,000 won tip...I wasn't sure if I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">should</span> or not, especially since I read multiple times that in Korea you never tip, but I wasn't sure if haircuts were different...)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZR8n_Z-XFpPdHK1o4-4whsvX71fT0UsHiEBjI7RF3Gn35vioxHCnad3P6SQx8hyd5TSNXeyk0pIAL1uVGDTaVr7YS0iBVtsgbrRElnaAAjOAkVyACpWjnlMLcNp0O-GeOnIfbGocqNc/s1600-h/IMG_2726.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386684438952363138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZR8n_Z-XFpPdHK1o4-4whsvX71fT0UsHiEBjI7RF3Gn35vioxHCnad3P6SQx8hyd5TSNXeyk0pIAL1uVGDTaVr7YS0iBVtsgbrRElnaAAjOAkVyACpWjnlMLcNp0O-GeOnIfbGocqNc/s400/IMG_2726.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRHiwcC1bNwRWXGM4p4u2h9JEy-xx_UT9v3_FMN6fw372V1XViNsm1HRFENyFCxnIKgvA6kWSYgcrMkK89MEINwzvlgXw0eEzSAEGnlxbkTln4a8xRgEKRKBtG8vFt4BhEx3fmd-IZuE/s1600-h/IMG_2727.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386684451986337682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRHiwcC1bNwRWXGM4p4u2h9JEy-xx_UT9v3_FMN6fw372V1XViNsm1HRFENyFCxnIKgvA6kWSYgcrMkK89MEINwzvlgXw0eEzSAEGnlxbkTln4a8xRgEKRKBtG8vFt4BhEx3fmd-IZuE/s400/IMG_2727.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn2mof4U72Vyom-hD1vN6Bma6gt3FU3ryCskhTBVg6dCd_34ZrsdVHe4Ieap6WMHpNFOr8BlLcHJIvr2FZdfzOLwBdoSHEcD1V4SX47AnQLxuclSd6h3gJNHq3jYt68KHI5kbgSkVdKE/s1600-h/CIMG4191.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386682457429342642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn2mof4U72Vyom-hD1vN6Bma6gt3FU3ryCskhTBVg6dCd_34ZrsdVHe4Ieap6WMHpNFOr8BlLcHJIvr2FZdfzOLwBdoSHEcD1V4SX47AnQLxuclSd6h3gJNHq3jYt68KHI5kbgSkVdKE/s400/CIMG4191.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>After, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Saeko</span> and I wandered the streets until we found a nice Irish pub to have dinner. We failed to take pictures of the yummy food, but we did get pictures of our drinks!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEnaEIkan91fKKtECf96yjLEMvh_a1AHRVAjSqBUudWcZ9Un9X8hNDv0UMHAb8dEpLqa6DSlxjZ9n7plgdJmvMDsxPz3WERSJo89KYr77MnD7KDNPlbuzoObQ4s2xfODdKWyJrBAgLGM/s1600-h/CIMG4190.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386682447634196258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEnaEIkan91fKKtECf96yjLEMvh_a1AHRVAjSqBUudWcZ9Un9X8hNDv0UMHAb8dEpLqa6DSlxjZ9n7plgdJmvMDsxPz3WERSJo89KYr77MnD7KDNPlbuzoObQ4s2xfODdKWyJrBAgLGM/s400/CIMG4190.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Since we also heard that on Thursday nights, many bars have ladies nights in which we get to drink for free, we hit up one bar before going home. Due to lack of knowing where else to go, we were directed by some foreigners on the street to the Loft on the main drag. We were warned not to expect much in terms of the atmosphere, but it did feature free drinks for the ladies, every night. The place made us instantly think of a mix of the Mulligans and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Maysen</span>, only set in Seoul, so the locals were probably US military men instead of hell's angle's folk. We didn't stay long, but now we can both say we've been there and seen it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1