Monday, October 5, 2009
"Happy Chew-sock what?" Let me fill you in: Chuseok 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.
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 songpyeon, among other Korean treats that I couldn't identify.
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.
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 Unhyeongung Palace. 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:
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 ---->
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.
Below, Arthur hasn't put on his hanbok yet...he is still having a great old time!
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.
Jessica fell asleep on the bus ride and I couldn't help myself:
Arrived at the palace and waiting for our tour to start. Justin starts playing with his shadow:
Getting more organized: lining up two by two
Taking shoes off to go in the building and helping the children up the steep steps:
Teaching the girls how to bow and sit down like the royalty who used to live here:
And the boys turn:
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:
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.
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!)
My kindergarten class, minus one student Jack who didn't come to school unfortunately:
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.
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.
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!