Superbowl XLV

This morning, the alarm was set for 7:30 am and although I kept hitting the snooze button and I said "I'm just going to sleep," Colin reminded me that my team was playing and I should probably just get up already. So, around 9 am I finally headed over to Red Rock, the foreigner bar in Iksan. The crowd consisted of Moe the bartender, 5 Americans, an Englishman, and an Irishman. (Please note that the Irishman only came because when he arrived to work they said "Oh, you don't have to come in at all this week." Really. Must. Get. Public. School. Job.) Moe was streaming the game on his flat screen TV. After the 3rd quarter, we decided we were hungry and had McDonald's delivered to the bar. Love it. Although the Steelers lost, it was very funny waking up so early to catch the game and being at Red Rock so early in the morning (not after a night out).

I would also like to add that Moe was rooting for the Steelers because Hines Ward is half Korean. And I actually enjoyed the half time show :)

Colorful Daegu

When Colin's dad was in Graduate School, he met a life-long friend, Chang, from Korea. Chang is a very kind and interesting man. He studied at the University of Florida, Ohio State, and lived in California for a year! We were fortunate enough to be invited to his family's home in Daegu this past weekend. His lovely wife cooked a big lunch for us, he took us to Apsan Park, and then out for a delicious Korean Fusion dinner. We were given our own little private room and the dishes just kept coming and coming! That evening, his two daughters showed us some Tae-Kwon-Do moves and his wife brought out wine and more food for us. I got to sleep on the heated traditional bed on the floor! The next morning, his wife made a big breakfast of rice cake soup, dumplings, and kimchi. Although I was still very full from dinner the night before, I did my best to eat as much as I could! I'm pretty sure I gained 10 pounds in a 24 hour time span. Chang then drove us to Haeinsa Temple, which was absolutely beautiful. (And a lot faster by car!) Haeinsa holds the Tripitaka Koreana, more than 81,000 wooden blocks of Buddhist Scriptures! This year the Blocks will be 1,000 years old! Truly Amazing. Chang also lived in a Temple nearby for 6 months at one point in his life which we were able to see. I am incredibly grateful for the experience this weekend with a Korean family and listening to Chang talk about Korea. I hope to see Chang and his wife again!

Seolnal

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

This past Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Korea celebrated the Lunar New Year! On Wednesday they prepared food, ddeok guk (rice cake soup) being the main food. On Thursday they presented the food to their ancestors and honored those who have passed. The children also do bows for their parents and grandparents. After the bows, the children receive money...which to be honest, all of my students were extremely excited about! Because we had a 5 day weekend, Colin's parenst came to visit! We showed them around Iksan and introduced them to our friends. Then we headed up to Seoul to do some sightseeing.

We played screen golf

We visited Gyeongbok Palace where many families were out and about, and playing traditional games and enjoying winter festivities. Also, I think the picture of the man is awesome. He reminds me of the Korean Godfather.

Most children were dressed in the traditional outfits

We visited Deoksu Palace

We watched 'Nanta,' the longest running show in Korea. I got pulled up on stage, was asked to eat a bowl of soup while wearing an apron and a funny hat, and before I knew it, wedding music was playing and rice was being thrown and I was "married" to other guy who had been pulled up on stage!! I highly recommend this show to anyone visiting Seoul!