I saw a gathering across the street. So many people - so quiet... respecting the day with silence, just holding their flags high, and remembering.
2008년 3월 18일 화요일
Ending Japanese Rule of Korea
I was in the center of Seoul on the day when Koreans celebrate the end of Japanese rule over Korea. It was a Saturday. There were Korean flags everywhere, and there were people selling Korean flags everywhere.
I saw a gathering across the street. So many people - so quiet... respecting the day with silence, just holding their flags high, and remembering.
I saw a gathering across the street. So many people - so quiet... respecting the day with silence, just holding their flags high, and remembering.
My Korean Family
This is my Korean family. This is actually Ellie's family - but they are also my Korean family. They were so nice and took care of me and treated me like family. I miss them. And actually, my Korean grandmother isn't in these pictures. They're all so nice - I really am looking forward to seeing them again soon!
Directly behind me is Ellie, then from left to right is Ellie's aunt, her mom, and her dad.
Directly behind me is Ellie, then from left to right is Ellie's aunt, her mom, and her dad.
Doksu gong Palace
Nearing the end of my stay in Korea, I started visiting lots of places that I wanted to see before I left. There a few old palaces to visit. I went to two of them. The first one I went to was Doksugong Palace.
I went with 3 other people and we saw the royal changing of the guards. They do this every weekday. It's pretty interesting.
One thing I thought was funny that I had to snap a picture of was - when the guards were marching to the front gate of the palace... they had to march past a Dunkin Donuts. :) hahaha - it provided such a contrast between this ancient reenactment and a modern donut shop.
Traditional Korean buildings are pretty cool.
And it was also cool to look down and see the traditional buildings, then to look up and contrast that with the huge modern skyscrapers in the not-too-distant background.
These are the friends I went with! :) I miss them already
They took me outside the palace where we walked around the wall and they told me that in Korea, it's bad luck for couples to walk along this wall. It means they will break up. So I quickly snapped a picture of some people in front of me that I think were couples, in prediction of their coming break-ups.
The reason it's bad luck is because there used to be a divorce court somewhere down this outer wall - so couples walking together were usually walking to the divorce court. As we were walking... I spotted one of the Royal Guards! I caught him in normal clothes!
Anyway, we had a great time.
I went with 3 other people and we saw the royal changing of the guards. They do this every weekday. It's pretty interesting.
One thing I thought was funny that I had to snap a picture of was - when the guards were marching to the front gate of the palace... they had to march past a Dunkin Donuts. :) hahaha - it provided such a contrast between this ancient reenactment and a modern donut shop.
Traditional Korean buildings are pretty cool.
And it was also cool to look down and see the traditional buildings, then to look up and contrast that with the huge modern skyscrapers in the not-too-distant background.
These are the friends I went with! :) I miss them already
They took me outside the palace where we walked around the wall and they told me that in Korea, it's bad luck for couples to walk along this wall. It means they will break up. So I quickly snapped a picture of some people in front of me that I think were couples, in prediction of their coming break-ups.
The reason it's bad luck is because there used to be a divorce court somewhere down this outer wall - so couples walking together were usually walking to the divorce court. As we were walking... I spotted one of the Royal Guards! I caught him in normal clothes!
Anyway, we had a great time.
2008년 3월 14일 금요일
Multiple Gender Bathroom
After lunch one day at a restaurant, I followed some signs to the bathroom and this is what I ran into. Yikes! Normally in America when you find a bathroom for both genders, it's just a single toilet and you have to take turns... but not this time. How awkward! A large bathroom with a line of toilet stalls for men and women, and also some toilets just for men (for pee). I couldn't imagine using one of the special toilets for me and suddenly some ladies walk in... no thanks!
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