The Rents in Seoul

At Gyongbok Palace

So yes...somehow it happened...my mom and I twisted my dad's arm just enough and they both came to visit me in Seoul!! I had been anticipating this moment for quite some time...knowing that having them here would be both awesome yet bittersweet as I would have to say goodbye to them for another 6 months.
I get to the airport just 5 minutes before I see them walking out of the exit gate, in Seoul, South Korea. There were hugs, tears, and huge smiles--and we're off to catch the bus to my place!

Monday they accompanied me to school and met my coworkers and students! They sat in on my first 3 kindy classes and I think the adoration was equal from students to parents and parents to students. The kids always LOVE it when we have guests in the classroom. Especially when it's their teacher's parents! Much laughter ensued. One of my students started telling us about how her dog died...so we were sad...and then she said that her grandmother kicked it until it died...and then she said "we cooked it"...and I'm just still HOPING that she was confused! For lunch I took em for kimbop and bipimbop to which they graciously tried but found it didn't agree with their taste buds so much. So Monday night we opted for some Korean fried chicken for dinner. They ate it up! (I mean, who doesn't like fried chicken!)

We woke up Tuesday to a cats and dogs type of raining. We decided we had to be active anyway so we hiked the mountain in my backyard (Bonghwasan) in the rain. It was fun-and wet, very very wet. Then we went back to my place anddd crash. THREE HOUR NAP. I suppose they have an excuse being jet-lagged and all...but me? It was nice to wake up from my nap though and see those 2 people I know so well sleeping peacefully in my apt. For dinner, my kindy director took us out for some delicious galbi which was enjoyed by all.Mom checking out all the awesome sides that come with galbi

Wednesday we woke up to another overcast day, however no rain was occurring so off we went. First we took the subway to Gyeongbok palace and walked around.

Being that it was the major 3 day holiday of the year, I expected no crowds, but it was packed. We walked around that vast space for a looonnng time and then walked out near Cheonggyecheon (gorgeous inter-city stream) and had some beers. Kom bei! (or 'cheers' in Korean)

Then we took the subway to Insadong for some market shopping and souvenir finding. This was probs my dad's favorite part of the trip--you know, shopping. For dinner I cooked my parents some yummy salmon.

Thursdee we awoke to the sun bursting through my apartment, without a cloud in the sky. Yessss! Finally, sunshine. We hop on the subway to hike up Namsan mountain. This mountain makes Bonghwa mountain look like a hill.Part way up Namsan

It was the most PERFECT day for hiking though. And also a perfect day for Coldstone Creamery once we make it to the top. I suggested we take a different way down, thinking it will be similar to going up...however we hike down the mountain for maybe 3 times the distance it took us to get up?? Everyone was a bit tired and perhaps slightly annoyed. Actually, everyone besides the 82 year old Korean man we met along the way down that stopped us and said, "Hello, have a nice day!" "How old are you? I'm 82"--as he does a full forward bend forward and puts his head between his ankles. "Can you do this?" he says, to which I reply "of course" and do the same...however mom and dad, not so much. He then asks us "Where you from?" Dad mentions Chicago and he and his friends Oooh and Ahhh and mention something about Michael Jordan and then say "See you later!" It was just the type of Korean experience I wanted my parents to witness. There are SO many charming/kind Korean people and it's always great to meet a new one. We FINALLY make it down and walk the streets of Myong-dong where my parents are just blown away by the amount of people, shops, restaurants and just STUFF everywhere. I told them it's even more intense in Tokyo. So after several tries for getting food, we stop at this little Italian place and get some flat brick oven pizza and bruschetta. Yes, Italian food in Korea. It was pretty good too. And we're off to the fish market. This is also something unlike anything else. We went at 5pm so it was pretty stinky too. But my parents were quite impressed. Needless to say we weren't having fish for dinner that evening. That night I took them for galbi at my favorite local restaurant. The food is cheap and delicious, and the owners are SO darling. They loved it. Just hangin in my lil apt

Anddd Friday. Friday we take the subway (I believe my parents are sick of the subway at this point, I know I am) down south to the Han River. We rent bikes and ride along on another gorgeous day. My mom was SO excited once she got on the bike. She couldn't stop laughing. She said she can't remember the last time she was on a bike. It was hilarious. We stopped for some noodles on the river at a place to which I promised they would like and I claimed as 'amazing' as I apparently do for all food--and they ended up buying some chips and peanuts to eat instead. :-/
So we returned the bikes after an hour and just laid in the park looking up at the sky enjoying the day. Then we took the subway to Samcheong-dong, this really cute area with tons of coffee shops, art galleries, and shops. We walked around for a bit--my mom wanted to find something Korean to buy for herself to wear--but no such luck. We head back the hour subway ride home to relax and get ready for dinner with Mal--she's back from China!! We were going to go out downtown again for dinner, but we were all exhausted from all the walking, hiking, biking, shopping, etc so we went to the local chicken and beer place for dinner. Good times. Then we head back to the place and relax a bit before we fall asleep for my parents' last night in Seoul. We wake up early this morning and I take them to catch the Limousine bus to the airport for their 14 hour flight back home. As we wait for the bus I find myself with very mixed emotions. So happy that they actually came out to see me--I mean, it's truly incredible. So sad that I will have to say goodbye for at least 6 months. Their bus pulls up, we hug one last time and reluctantly wave goodbye. I walk away from the station crying and thinking about how much I love them. Now I am back in my humble abode, blogging about this wonderful time that is now over. I feel a bit lost and overwhelmed as and will not feel at peace until I know they have arrived safely in Chicago. But, I couldn't be happier that they came, and am truly grateful to have such amazing parents, and that they would come across the world, to visit their daughter.

Chuseok Holiday--Korean Thanksgiving

Erica and Rosie

So Korea's most celebrated holiday is known as "Chuseok," aka Thanksgiving. This year it fell on the third week of September, therefore giving me and my students a 4 day holiday! Woo hoo. So, on the Friday before the holiday, my kindy students came to school dressed in their traditional Chuseok attire, known as hanbok, to kick off the celebration. They looked like little Asian royalties. UnBELIEVably cute!

Rosemary class

Erica--say "kimchi"

Ladies

Chillin

Erica and Amy

To keep with the tradition, we played games like tuho and unnori and made Songpyeon. Songpyeon is a rice cake treat with a lil surprise in the middle. It is delicious and also fun to make. Kind of like food art.

Elizabeth, Lily and Ryan making songpyeon

Emily teaching me how to make it

My finished product--not bad eh??

Matt teacher demonstrating tuho

Girls win

Teacher challenge

It was a nice change of pace to be able to play with the kids and get to learn more about their culture, as opposed to just teaching them in the classroom. Oh, and also there's another perk about this holiday...sometimes the students bring us gifts!! Please see below:

Fancy rice cake gift box (equivalent to a box of gourmet pastries)

The greetings on cards are always entertaining. This is from an 8 year old.

Not a bad gift set

Happy Chuseok!

Cheong Pyong Beer & Music Festival

Cheong Pyong

After doing some research on what can I do to make this summer last just a bit longer... I come across a Beer Brewing and Music Festival during my online search at www.korea4expats.com. Let's see...beer, music, a weekend out of the city--yes please! So Amber, Josh, Mallory and I hop on one of Seoul's grand tour buses and off we go into the country. After a funny ride there-entertained by my friends Simon and Nate, we arrive at the fest. Upon arrival, we notice the many tents hosting kegs, Mexican food, and people handing out bracelets; all surrounded by a gorgeous backdrop of a mountain and river valley. We were a bit excited. We spent the day drinking delicious locally brewed beer and relaxing in the river. Amber and Josh

Amber and I swam across the river and attempted to climb the mountain. Let's just say that we didn't get too far. Without any shoes and a HUGE spider in our way, it was hard to get anywhere. Finally the music began...and it kicked off with our very talented friend Simon's voice echoing off the mountain side. It was a perfect day.Simon and Nate

Something about Simon's voice and lyrics leave you always wanting more. The fact that he can whistle like Andrew Bird doesn't hurt any either. He's basically awesome. The music continued on throughout the day and night. Beer was drank (grammar??), food was eaten, and good times were had.Bonfire

We slept in pseudo-tents...as in we slept in structures that were made up of a raised wood floor with a tent like tarp over the top of it. There were some mats in there for comfort. The sleeping arrangements were not ideal, which was fine...I had more of a problem sharing my tent with the 10 large banana spiders that thought this tent was theirs too. I've always said, camping is intents.
Sunday, we wake up to another gorgeous day and take the bus back to the city. Music and beer festival: success!

Field Trip: The Insect Museum

So as I've previously mentioned, we take a kindergarten field trip once a month. Originally this month we were going to go to a traditional Korean village (awesome) which got changed to visiting an Insect Museum (slightly less awesome.)
Regardless, it's always good to get the kids out of the classroom and do something more interactive. They seemed to enjoy themselves quite thoroughly.

Matthew (great ears eh?!)

Sarah and Esther looking for bugs

Looking at dead butterflies...


Looking for slugs


Snack time: always an enjoyable time for both teacher and student as these kids parents pack way more than these kids can eat...so it's always...ok who's got the best snack today??

Gum

Annie's a princess--just ask her.

Daniel--I mean he's just one of my favs

This morning made me smile

Today began with a typical morning for me living in South Korea. Alarm goes off 8am--I press snooze for about 30 minutes to an hour, hop in the shower, and then run around like a mad woman trying to get ready to leave for my first class that begins at 10:30am.
Somehow I make time (sort of) to go down to Amber's apt and drink some coffee and then we walk (suburb mom style) to school.
The elevator ride up to the 8th floor was my favorite part about the morning. Amber and I pile in the non-air-conditioned, small elevator, along with 7 other kids and 5 older Korean women. The minute or so that we're actually in the elevator, there is much confusion about which floor these women want to go to. One of them selects one floor, while another clearly disagrees, cancels that floor, and chooses another. This happens several times until we stop at multiple floors where no one gets on or off. It's funny when these women are talking to each other, because while I'm sure they're just talking nicely, it often sounds like an argument because the Korean language is a tonal language and so much intonation is used when speaking. Many times it sounds as though people are arguing, when in reality, they're simply conversing.
N-E-way...finally we reach the 6th floor; they look out, confirm it's the right floor, laugh together and walk out.
Ahhh to live in Korea. :)

Rafting in Korea

Since I've been in Korea, I've been dying to go white water rafting. I've rafted in Costa Rica and the states and throroughly enjoyed it. There are several options for rafting in Korea, being that it is a tiny peninsula covered with mountains and river valleys. The question is however, are the rapids going to make me scream (which I like) or are they going to be lame?

My friend Beth and I decided to take a bus East of Seoul to Inje to find out. We happen to go on the most BEAUTIFUL weekend--bound to make any experience that much more enjoyable. After 3 hours on the bus, we arrive in Inje which is just a little rafting resort town. Rafting shops and little hotels all over the place, rafting guides walking around in their wet suits, people seeming as if they couldn't care less about a thing...with a sprawling mountain in the background, and a river at its base.

Our guide takes us and four other rafters out on the river. Now while I'll admit that this river was clear, clean and beautiful; and the mountain was amazing, and the sun was bursting from the sky, the rapids themselves were a bit too calm for my liking. I prefer, when going over a rapid, to feel as though I might fall in, and maybe even do so. One of my favorite parts of rafting is getting out of the boat and just floating down the river-- looking like a floating head--this reminds me of a delirious laughing fit while rafting in Costa Rica... Nevertheless, the trip was awesome.

Post rafting we get a free (well not really free because it cost $40 to go on the trip) meal and then we hop back on the bus to Seoul. Noodles, veggies, bean sprouts...

Final opinion: it was wonderful to get out of the city and enjoy nature even though the rapids themselves left something to be desired. Yay Korea!