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| I've been wanting to blog all about these pots (옹기-Onggi) for a while as I think they're an interesting part of Korean culture. Though I showed you pots more than the eye could see at the slow food farm from yesterday, most Korean houses actually have like 6 or 7 of them. The are clay pots that are then fired in a kiln, and then preserve the food no matter what temperature it is outside. You can preserve bean paste, kimchi, soy sauce, pepper paste and anything else imaginable. My co-teacher gave me this delicious drink she made by letting plums and sugar sit in the pot for the whole summer. It is really cool to me, how even though Korea is making all these attempts to modernize, it still preserves some of the traditional aspect of its culture. I really have been feeling a lack culture lately, and I was thankful my teachers trip allowed me to see some of that again. |
Teacher Trip Day 2 |
| The name of our pension (where we stayed, konglish for a villa i think). |
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| Our tour started out at the Anseong at the Hantek Botanical Gardens. What prey tell were we doing at a Botanic Garden in the middle of winter, I could not tell you. We saw some trees and a greenhouse, but that my friends, was about it. I think some of the other teachers were as un-enthused as i was, because they decided it would be fun to start a snowball fight. It's fun to embrace your inner child nonetheless! |
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| Next we went to an active Buddhist temple in the mountains. This I thought was extremely cool because Buddhism is a very interesting religion to me and I saw several practicing monks walking around. It was so peaceful to see the gorgeous temples covered in a fresh coat of snow. The picture immediately above the caption is apparently one of the Korean National Treasures. The temple is apparently named the "seven rebels(or something like that) temple" because 7 bad men came here at some point here and were enlightened by Buddhist monks. I love this traditional aspect of Korean History. |
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| A newer Korean tradition is after all the little devils are at bay, the teachers come out to play. With the help of a case of Soju and a vat of Maekju, the teachers all found some courage to sing and dance and go a little crazy. They work so hard all year long and certainly deserve a night to let loose. This up here, is my principal, the most important man at our school belting it out for all to hear! After the Norebang festivities finished we all retreated to our little houses ( I stayed in a room with 5 other teachers, sleeping on mats on the floor with blankets...def not the most restful night of sleep I've had). We had a little A-Bar so to speak in the main area of the house before we all went off to bed! And the story continues on day 125. |
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| Does anyone find it concerning that there are pictures of baby goats outside a store with a bunch of pots? |
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| Interesting contrast between old and new Korea.These apartment complexes are everywhere!! |
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| The crew at Christmas dinner. What's better than some tinsel and korean bbq. Don't forget the soju. |
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| For Christmas, Korean's really like to eat cake. So far today I have been offered 3 cakes alone. Before cutting into this deliciousness they sang Jingle Bells in Korean.. More updates on my Christmas shananigans tomorrow! |
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| Every car has one of these phone plates on it so you can call the person if their car is in the wrong place. Often times, Koreans will park another car in and leave their car in neutral so people can push it in and out. I find it funny that the message is in English! |
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| My students quiet, focused and captivated as they watch Elf. This has been the best behavior I have seen yet! |
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| New means of transportation.. bus from pyeongtaek to Seoul. |
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| Dongdaemun wholesale shopping district. |
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| Imagine heaven and hell in one building...and this is what it looks like. Little 9X9 rooms in an unventilated area with all the clothes you can see for miles. Crazy...crowded..wonderful |
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| One of the stores was made for me! |
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| This is one of my students (as Ali would call him... a little gogi mandu). I'm pretty sure he is the shortest student in our school, but his English isn't bad. He always carries my laptop for me, or comes to my desk to talk to me.. Aaaaaa...dorable. |
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| So this washer/ In addition, my bank is making me mad because I cannot successfully send money home and I still haven't gotten the cable for my TV fixed... All because I don't speak this silly little language. Oh how you play with my heart Korea! |
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| Cooked my first korean meal for a korean company. Bruce helped me set up my wireless, so i thought I should make him Bi BimBap. He says he liked it, but maybe he was just being polite.. : / |
