New friends

Well I just wanted to do a short little post to get everyone up to speed before I run off to Thailand in a few days and come back with more stories than I know what to do with. I'm sorry to say that I have no pictures to go along with this post, so please bear with me.

This past weekend was one of new friends and interesting conversation. Saturday night found us outside our favourite CVS having a few drinks, minding our own business when along came Jamil, an outgoing fellow from Pakistan who lives in our building. He works as a cook at a guest house for Indian and Pakinstani people who work at the Samsung plant near-by. So he invited us to come eat at the guest house, thinking we might be interested in some Indian food. Which, of course, we were. So Jamil sat down with us, and before you know it another friend Hokey, a Korean whom my fellow teacher Chris plays basketball with, joined us with his hip-hop cell phone and perfect mastery of English curse words. So this turned into more drinks (I chose to drink orange pop) and, as it usually will, the conversation turned to matters of religion and science. Did you know, for example, that a chicken is not an animal? Great debate was had over that topic, let me tell you. But luckily before things got too heated the fried chicken arrived, and at that point we didn't care whether it was an animal or not, just that it was delicious. Once we were finished picking the bones and licking our fingers we realized it was 4am, so retired to our respective beds. Another one of those random evening that will live on in memory as reasons I love Korea.

So on Tuesday we took up Jamil's offer of Indian food. 8 of us Villagers and my new friend Erich, a fellow Suwoner, formerly of Edmonton, with a Saskatchewan obsession and rented piano in his tiny Korean box-house, set off to find the guest house. We were greeted by Jamil and escorted to a sitting room in the parking lot complete with sofas, a table, and some orange drink. We chatted there for a while until there was room at the dining tables for us, and then partook in the most fabulous meal. There was actual basmati rice, much better than the usual sticky rice you get in Korea, lamb, lentils, and cucumber cooked in amazing spices so it was rich and sweet and...unlike cucumber. Who knew you could cook cucumber? We all gorged ourselves embarassingly and were so full we could hardly walk home. And all for the low low price of $8! Jamil was so happy to host us, and we were more than happy to accept his hospitality. We will definately being going back there some day soon.

So the adventure continues. As fall sets in we are relaxing as far as going out and doing things, but I hope that will change soon, or it could be a very boring winter. I'm looking into taking some drumming classes (sorry Mom, another musical instrument you'll have to store for me) and possibly going to Buddhist meditation "workshops" on the weekends. Some cozy things to keep me occupied for the winter. And! New friend Erich has informed me of a bungee jumping site in Korea somewhere. Guess what my next obsession will be?

So, I'm off to Thailand in two days. Probably won't post until I get back.

Sushi, Noraebang, tall towers and a Folk Village

Well we are slowly recovering from the loss of Mel and Shawn. Life must go on, I guess. And the fact that their replacements are very fun people helps in the healing process. (No, no one will ever replace Mel and Shawn, but Collin and Rupali are pretty awesome too.)

Last week we decided to go for sushi on Friday night, something Mel and Shawn would never had done with us as they are both seafood haters. We figured it would help us to not miss them. We went to an all you can eat sushi buffet and needless to say got very very full. It was Korean-ized sushi. Mostly california rolls with various sauces on top, and some sashimi-type bits. But still very very delicious. And only $10 for an hour and a half of as much sushi as you can stuff into your stomach. I don't think I need to say that we will definately be going back there again.

We also discovered a new noraebang that night. Window booth as usual. We're never satisfied with displaying our talents just to ourselves, but must also make sure everyone in the street can see us too.

Some of the Korean teachers from school came with us and a good time was had by all.

Saturday during the day we vegged out. Shaun and I did some research for our trip to Thailand next week (YAY!!!) and in the evening we went to Jongno Tower. It's one of the tallest buildings in Seoul and there is a really exclusive (and expensive) bar at the top of it. It was a nice little exersion, though a pricey one. The view of Seoul was amazing, and the bathroom have a really cool motion-detecting sink. I got a glass of wine that cose approx. $20, was only half full and was the most disgusting wine I have ever tasted.

On Sunday I went to the Korean Folk Village, an historical reconstruction of Korean life. There were tons of building in different styles from around the country, and from different eras. It was interesting to see, but a lot of the same stuff over and over again. My favourite parts were the statue garden (I'm such an art snob)

and the performance of traditional dance.

This isn't my video, I found it on the web, but it's pretty much the same thing that I saw.

The best part was these hats. They have a long ribbon attached to the stick that you see here, and with the slightest bob of the head the musicians make them twirl around in amazing patterns. Also while their doing this they can flip in the air and play drums. Now that's multi-talented.

The leader of the ribbon guys did a solo bit with a huge long ribbon. He did break dancing moves and stood on his head, all while keeping the ribbon going. I was gasping and clapping along with the Koreans on that one.

I was also intruiged by these drums.

They have different kinds of skin on either end so they make a very different sound depending on which end you play them on. And you also used two different sticks, one thin bamboo one, and one with a round rubber tip. They make a really beautiful sound, and I think there's a lot of skill that goes into playing them. I really want to learn how..I'm going to see if I can find some lessons somewhere. Though maybe having another delicate musical instrument to fly home would not be such a good idea. I'd have to have to choose between my drum and my guitar.

There was also a buddhist temple onsite. I'm not sure if it was an actual temple, as in people actually used it...or if it was just...a representation of a temple for the purposes of the folk village. It was my first temple visit though, and I was rather awestruck, even if I wasn't sure it was a real temple. I want to search out more of them now, and am even more determined to do a mediation retreat while I'm here.

For supper I had chicken stew with ginseng. Very delicious, though it could have used more salt. And yes, that's three kinds of kimchi. The cabbage one was much "riper" than what I'm used to. The first bite was quite a shock, but once I knew what to expect I rather enjoyed it.

That's pretty much all that's been happening, I guess. I'm working on expanding my circle of friends, meeting a fellow Canadian in Suwon on the weekend to talk about organic farming and what not. You know, the usual. Still going to the gym, which has been much more enjoyable since the weather cooled down a little. Bought a bunch of Korean poetry books and a cookbook.

To see the rest of my photos from the folk village visit my facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1188934&l=36359&id=890700076

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50788&l=ea857&id=890700076

Birhdays, partings, and new friends

It's been too long since I posted anything...I guess nothing much has been happening. I've been religiously going to the gym since the beginning of August and rather enjoying it. The theatre festival took up a lot of my time. But we haven't been having many crazy adventures of late...

Let's see..where did I leave off. Oh yes, I don't believe I've posted about my new friends yet. One night not too long ago after soju and fireworks in the park, we partook what has become our new fad, crane games. You know the kind where there is a glass box full of toys and whatnot and a big claw that picks them up. They have them all over here and you can win really cool things like mp3 players, digital cameras, ipod accesories. At least in theory you can, but they make it pretty much impossible to win those.

Anyway, I don't think I mentioned it, but my faithful teddy, Punky, was accidentally left behind at the Motel Coconuts while we were at the Mud Festival, and I have since been mourning the loss. Now it just so happened that there was a teddy in the particular crane machine we were at, and after pumping in all of my cash, I finally won her. I named her Miju, and while she is not Punky, she does have a striped jumper like he did.

Here she is while still inside her prison.

Also that night while walking around looking for more crane games, we came across Hue.

Imagine the looks we got carrying him home!!! (Don't worry, I didn't steal him, he was set out to be taken away with the trash.) I named him Hue after the seedy Hotel I can see out my window. I will paint some fashion on him eventually.

We have been going through a period of transition here at the Village. Three teachers have gome home, and two more have arrived, soon to be a third. It was a very sad week for us, saying goodbye to two members of our five-some.

We went to our favourite place, Carne Station (all you can eat bbq and all you can drink alcohol) on Saturday for one last night out. Needless to say we took full advantage of the open bar sitchation. And then went to our favourite Doll House noraebang, horseheads in tow.

Details are splotchy at this point...sorry...

Tuesday was my birthday, and Mel and Shawn's last day of work. So it was a bitter-sweet day for all.

I got some carrots as a gift, a joke at the expense of my penchant for red-heads and thus all things orange.

Here is me blowing out the candles on my cake. And I thought I was going to a staff meeting...

Here's a pic of the staff as they were on Mel and Shawn's last day.

After cake we went for Thai food and then back to our apartment for drinks and fireworks. And a tearful, prolonged goodbye. Its crazy how, though we've only been together for 4 months in total, I feel so close to the people here. It broke my heart to say goodbye to them. I suppose I should get used to it if I'm going to keep up this nomadic lifestyle...

We miss you Shawn and Melodie!!!!!!!! The Villagey will never be the same without you!!!!!