May 12, 2011 그냥 수업 "Just class"

The title speaks for itself.  We just had class today.  We start each day with a devotional and then begin our classes.  We talked about history and culture mostly.  After two hours, we then split up into language groups and practiced Korean.  There's 3 out of 9 who speak Korean fluently so they've been our teachers and mentors.  Kenwood Huh is Korean who lives in New Zealand and served a mission in 부산 Busan.  Junil "Juni" is also Korean but was born and raised in the US.  He served a mission in 부산 Busan too.  Stephen served a  mission in 부산 Busan too. 

For language groups, we were split into 3's.  I was with Michelle and Juni.  Dr. Peterson sent us out to talk to people and ask about what they're doing.  We went into this Shaman's house and asked about his work.  However, I didn't get to hear all of what he said because I was so tired that I fell asleep sitting up.  I guess it was ok but Juni didn't really know what he was talking about.  He was using terms relating to Shamanism that would be helpful if you were a believer in Shamanism and would be confusing if you weren't.  So it was weird practice.  However, I believe my listening has improved.  Before, Korean sounded like garble except for words that I knew.  Now, all sounds clear!  I just don't know what they're saying but at least I can picture how the words are spelled in my head and understand their grammar structure of sentences and expressions.  Cool :-)

For lunch, we went to 본죽 Bon-Jook which is a traditional Korean porridge restaurant.  Doesn't sound tasty?  WRONG!!  It was sooo good!  I had 해물죽 seafood porridge (hae-mul-jook).  Who would have thought porridge would ever taste good?  Yeah, me neither!

본죽 Bon-Jook - Korean Traditional Porridge

This sign is no joke.  The food took FOREVER!  But that's good because that means it's from scratch :-)

해물죽 Seafood porridge

All gone!

After lunch, we did more language practice and then had some free time.  As we were walking down the streets and saw these pet shops with puppies in them.  Oh. my. goodness.  So cute!!!!  I was so close to buying one but then the idea of where to put the puppy during the study abroad then came to mind haha lol. 

How can you turn away from something like that??

We went out to eat for dinner and on our way home we heard all of this loud singing.  There were these guys dressed funny making lots of noise and singing on the streets. 

What's that noise?

What on earth?????????



The south is very different.  It's not as busy as 서울 Seoul but it's beautiful here.  I'm starting to adjust to 김해 Gimhae as we speak of right now.  I miss 서울 Seoul but I think I'll have a special place for 김해 Gimhae in my heart soon.  :-)

May 11, 2011 양동, Branch President's Home

Today was really rainy.  One day it's sunny, the next day it's pouring.  At least the weather channel has been accurate at predicting the weather and it's been consistent throughout the day unlike Utah haha. 

Our first stop was to 양동 Yang-dong which are these BEAUTIFUL villages!  I wish I could have taken a lot of pictures but because it was raining hard, it was difficult to.  Plus, we were in the van due to the heavy rain.  However, Dr. Peterson said that we would come back again so hopefully the weather will be better for pictures!  :-)  At 양동 Yang-dong, there are villages that are centuries old that people still live in.  It was such a cool site to behold.  I'm glad that they preserved this part of Korea.  We met a man who I believe they call a 총손 Chong-Sohn who is a leader of Confucian ceremonies.  Part of that responsibility is teaching those who wish to learn the Confucian classics (aka SUPER HARD and GENIUS).  Hearing stories from him described how life can be at times very burdensome but important to carry out.  He talked about how his father received so much stress from it that it killed him.  His stories were incredible; he's such a humble man.  They served us 매실 Mae-shil which is this sweet plum juice that tastes a lot like Kool-Aid that can be served hot or cold.  It's definitely better cold but on a rainy, cold day it was perfect.  He had to leave but his wife made us some lunch which was AMAZING!  We had 천국장 Cheon-gook-jahng which is this partially fermented bean soup.  Most people say it's sour but I didn't think it was sour at all; only super goodness in my stomach :-)  We also ate 되장국 dweh-jahng-gook which was pretty good even though it's not my favorite. 

양동 Yang-dong on a rainy day

양동 Yang-dong!  Photo Credit given to Rachael Caldwell.  Is that gorgeous or what??

Outside the 총손's house.  It was pretty cold because of the rain.

총손 Chong-sohn

Drinking 매실 mae-shil :-)

천국장  :-)

After a wonderful lunch, we visited this elderly couple in another house in the village.  Dr. Peterson knew them because this elderly couple allowed the 1999 study abroad group to stay in their home for the study abroad experience.  What was really cool when we visited them is that the man was a 양반 yang-ban which means his anscestors were Korean aristocrats.  When we visited the couple, the man was in the middle of writing a letter to his grand nephew's fiance's parents.  양반 Yang-bans would write letters of proposals and the family would send a letter of correspondence.  This man was sending a thank you letter in response to their acceptance.  That was so neat and cute!  The elderly couple was so sweet.  They gave us these citrus fiber drinks which were so delicious! 

Elderly couple that was so sweet to us

After our fieldtrips, we headed home except for me, Rachael, and Michelle.  On Wednesdays, a few of us rotate to go to members' homes to eat and practice Korean.  However, it was super stressful at first.  We were already late coming back from the field trips that the family decided to reschedule the appointment.  Dr. Peterson wanted us 3 girls to practice finding addresses in Korea by taxing a taxi.  2 words:  epic fail.  The taxi was supposed to drop us off at the church which is next to a fire station but he took us to the wrong fire station and we were on the other side of town and had no idea where we were except that there was a lot of shopping going on.  I kept trying to call Dr. Peterson but he didn't answer his phone.  We took a taxi back to where we were because Dr. Peterson wasn't answering his phone so we went back to ask for better directions.  He felt bad that we got lost so he took us to the church.  We were supposed to have dinner with the branch president's family.  The branch president sent his son to come find us but the son never showed up.  We waited forever until a sister from the branch showed up.  She took us to the home and finally after hours of being lost, we were able to eat with the branch president's family and practice Korean.  The taxi fiasco was so annoying but getting to practice Korean in the end with delicious Korean food was worth it.  :-)