Chuseok Break

Chuseok is one of the two biggest holidays in Korea, the second being Lunar New Year. It is likened to our American Thanksgiving with a few twists. There is no turkey and mashed potatoes. Instead Koreans visit the homelands of their ancestors and spend time together as a family remembering and honoring those ancestors and giving thanks for a bountiful harvest. The break lasts for three days, but for us it meant an entire week off school!

Songpyeon - steamed rice cake with sweet filling.

Haven got an opportunity to wear a tradition Hanbok for a day. She felt and looked like a princess. Many, many men, women, and children continue to wear Hanbok on special occasions. In fact, when my class of 18 dressed for Korean Studies class the week before Chuseok only 5 did not have Hanbok (two of which are not Korean)!

While many of our colleagues took advantage of the break and traveled to locations as exotic as Mongolia, Philippines, Bali, and Malaysia, we opted to stay in Korea and explore our new country. It was great and I would not have traded it for an airplane ride!

SOKCHO - We ventured East with our friends, the McCullough family, to the coastal town of Sokcho. Known for delightful seafood and small town charm, we found a pension (hotel with kitchenette) right next to the beach. Just 2.5 hours from Seoul, and a whole different world. It is amazing how quickly the country turns to green hills once outside of Seoul. About 10 minutes after we left the bus station we were in the midst of pine covered hills that lasted all the way to the east coast!

Fin with Luke and Walker, eating before the bus ride.

The most comfortable bus, EVER!

Haven and Hannah, hand in hand.

It felt so great to be in clean, marine air and with sand between our toes!

The best thing about our pension was the rooftop BBQ area. We took full advantage of the amenities one night for dinner. After a trip to the Jungang Market we came back loaded with fresh scallops and shrimp!

Yum, everything is fried!

The SWEETEST shrimp, but they eat with
shell and head still attached!

After spraining his ankle, Fin was forced to crutch his way around the market.

Hot and spicy Korean kimchi. We did not try any.

Haven helped pick out the scallops.

Dried fish and sea creatures were everywhere.
We were told it is a big Chuseok gift.

This lady tried to convince a prospective buyer to get this
octopus by putting it on the floor and letting it crawl around!

The view from our rooftop BBQ.

Enjoying some tasty seafood and fun friends!

Doin' it Gangnam Style!

Yep, spent a day in Gangnam last weekend. It is actually quite close. We hopped on the subway in Migeum and 45 minutes and 17 stops later landed in Gangnam. It was a Sunday and daylight, so much of the showy, party scene was sleeping it off. But we made a few great stops.

Right in the heart of Gangnam is a wooded park called Seolleung. Protected by the UNESCO World Heritage distinction, the park contains royal tombs belonging to Kings and Queens from dynasties dating back to the1400's. You couldn't get too close to the tombs but they were still quite a site. Especially against the backdrop of the city!

This "Spirit Walkway" lead from a gate straight up to the T-shaped shrine at the base of King Jungjong.




 No need to worry about getting your shoes dusty on the hike. Just visit the blowing station on the way out! We all had fun testing out this most unique feature!

Time for lunch so we headed off to the Coex mall. One of the largest underground malls in the world. Malls aren't exactly our scene, but we just had to do it. Lucky for us we found a fabulous Japanese restaurant and walked around a bit to explore.

Giant movie theatre at Coex

Every mall should have an aquarium!

In need of some calm we headed to the Bongeunsa Buddhist temple, a 1,200 year old temple considered the center of Buddhist practice in Korea. On this day it was quite busy with mostly practitioners lighting candles and incense as well as praying in the many halls. We didn't get to spend much time here and want to go back soon.

After a long day we are off to the subway!

Another First

It might seem funny to make a big deal out of "firsts" since pretty much every day here in Korea is filled with them. But this is a recent one of mine I wanted to share.

The magic hallway to the clinic!

Acupuncture in Korea - Long story short I ended up with a stiff neck. Most likely from carrying my family's weekly groceries on my back and in my arms in the subway and on the bus! A colleague sent me to an acupuncturist near school. The thing about going new places here are the wonderful directions you get. None of us know the names of streets or actual addresses so directions sound more like this, "Get off the bus near the Jeongja subway station and walk toward the Dunkin Donuts. Turn right and look for the hallway between the Korean food restaurant and the Pharmacy. Go to the fifth floor. There should be a sign" It is always amazing when you actually make it to the
                                                         place you were hoping to find.

The door. Sign, yes. English, no!

I was warned that this practitioner practiced a "Chinese-style" that tends to be a bit rougher than what I am used to. Man was I glad for the warning. This doctor didn't lightly tap the needles (stainless steel, LARGE, and reusable!) into my body, but rather threw them in a rapid succession of darts.

Snuck this one too. Inside the clinic, drawers filled with traditional herbs.

I had to sneak this picture while the nurses were out of the room.

Left to sit and veg I took it all in and was so glad to be there for the experience. Once the needles came out I got to experience cupping for the first time. It was unique, a bit painful, and left me feeling like it "worked."









Day one felt fine. But when I went back the second day and the cups went back on the same spots...yikes. A couple hurt so bad. A week and a half later my neck feels great and I only have two yellow bruises on my left shoulder!