Exploring Daegu & Andong

Since Chu-Seok fell on a Sunday this year we had Monday off of school and I didn't have to work Saturday,  so that meant a three day weekend! We decided to spend our three day weekend exploring the country with a few of our expat friends. Saturday morning we rushed to catch the 8:00 am (we got there with only 2 minuets to spare) train to Andong. Like the other times we traveled around the country, we found ourselves staring out the windows at the passing rice fields, luscious green mountains and the curves of the river. Once we arrived in in the small city of 167,000 in Andong we had to rush to yet another bus to go visit the Andong Hahoe Folk Village an hour and a half away. The village is one of the only places in Korea that maintains the old architectural styles that have either been lost in the war or because of the rapid modernization of South Korea. 

Rice 

We heard loud drumming from across the village and once we found where the noise was coming from we were surprised it was these two little women making that much of a racket.  

While in the village our friend Matt, Bobby, and I got very hungry. We decided to find some pajeon and makgeolli. We saw some Korean men washing a car and asked them if they knew where we could get some food. He yelled something in Korean and then a little Korean women stuck her head out a small window (much like Matt and Bobby above) and yelled something back. Then he brought us to this small room, brought in a small table and  brought us some delicious pajeon and makgeolli. 

Before we left on this trip I knew I wanted to find a traditional mask, without spending too much money. While at the village we saw many mass produced masks probably made in China. Then we saw this mask in a small hut. Bobby and I both really liked to and it was in our price range and made in the village. We thought about waiting until we went to the International Mask/Dance Festival, which we were going to that night, but decided we really liked this one. So now this is new art for our apartment in Busan and future home in the States.  

After our beautiful trip to the Folk Village we made our way to the International Mask/Dance Festival. We ended up getting there too late to actually see the dances, but we were able to look at the booths with the gorgeous handmade masks from around the world and even try on some silly masks.

 This is the group we went with on our trip.

The next day we found our way to the largest Buddha in Korea. It was a stunning view and a perfect fall day for a light hike.

-Jestine and Bobby

Chu-Seok 2012

Happy Chu-Seok from Korea!

September 30th was Chu-Seok in Korea, which is similar to our Thanksgiving. 

On the Monday before the official Chu-Seok day, we celebrated with the Kindergarteners and other foreigners at our school. We all arrived early to get dressed in the traditional Han-Bok. After all the kids arrived (all wearing their Han-Boks), we started the celebration by making Songpyeon, which is a type of rice cake that is wrapped around a mixture of  sweet beans and sesame seeds. After all the kids finished making them they were sent off to be steamed. Next, the kids (and teachers) played games including tug-o-war. It was a very fun day. 

Two of the other English teachers dressed in their Han-Bok.

Bobby (Robert Teacher) with the youngest Kindergarten class, Lion Class.

This is Aadi, the only non-Korean student at our school. Look at those beautiful eyes!

This is Sophie-one of my favorite students. Everyday she is smiling and happy.

-Jestine and Bobby

Seokbulsa Temple

A few weeks ago we hiked to Seokbulsa, a temple famous for its grandiose statues. Along the way we enjoyed the beautiful scenery, crisp air, good company from our friends Pascale and Eric, and even a couple games of Jokju halfway up mountain.

As we attempted to find the temple, which is not an easy task with the complexity of trails and lack of English on Geumjeongsan, we delightfully stumbled upon a group of locals playing Jokju. The game is like a mix between volleyball and soccer with a cup of makgeolli between each round. We were quickly invited to join in. Even more quickly we learned these elders were fierce competition.

After being humbled by our new friends we continued on our goal to find the temple. With a little help from several other hikers and a bit of backtracking, we were nearing our destination

Here's a view of Busan from the summit.

What makes Seokbulsa so special is that it is not a temple made of stone placed on top of a mountain (which we have had a pleasure visiting on several different occasions). Instead, the temple is the mountain. Enormous buddhist figures are carved into stone walls over 100 feet tall. It truly was an astonishing and worthwhile trip.

This is one of many hikes around Busan. We are so lucky to be living in a city that is surrounded by mountains and beautiful hikes every direction we turn.

-Jestine and Bobby