BEDM Challenge: Day 22 Korea Makes Me Happy

It's day 22 of the blog every day challenge and today's prompt was a mixed bag for me. Here's the prompt that opened the door for me to be snarky:

Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)

Hmmmmm....the possibilities are endless for all kinds of sarcastic quips and good 'ol fashioned soapbox preaching! My husband will tell you that I enjoy an opportunity for righteous anger and he isn't wrong because sometimes a good rant can feel wonderful, but I wasn't really feeling ranty today. Actually, I feel down right chipper! I just got done with my very first K-Pop dance class so all of the bubbly dance moves are most likely responsible for my happy attitude. I'm even whistling, yes whistling a happy little ditty.

So, here's what I'm going do instead of ranting I'll share some Korean things that make me really happy.

When I walk into 7-11 and see a glorious display of Samgak Kimbap. You didn't know it, but all the 7-11s went to South Korea to live and prosper.

Gwangjang Market's never ending food selection. I want to eat everything...TWICE.

Taekwondo because it let's me hone my jumping-off-the-wall-while-aiming-a-kick-at-a-burgler's-head in a practical manner.

These cuties.  JUST LOOK AT THOSE FACES!

Ridiculous Korean camera taking poses with friends.

And my new current favorite, K-Pop dance classes! 

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this little post and while I strayed from the blog prompt I couldn't help it. Nothing to get indignant or snarky about when you are whistling a ditty! What are some of your favorite things?

Out of place, but completely at home

Celebrating Chuseok with the Heo family. You can read more about our fun Korean holiday, here.

Today I wanted to share a little realization that bonked me on the head since I have started to get things in line for returning to America for graduate school.

I don't want to leave South Korea.

Ever.

Say, what? 

Yea, that was my reaction, my friend's reaction back home, and my even my husband's reaction. Somewhere along the way South Korea stopped being where I live and turned into my home. I don't even know when it happened. I love the city, country, culture, and people of South Korea so much that when I sat down and thought of leaving everything in just a few short months I couldn't imagine my life after South Korea.

When I saw this picture of Julia Childs cooking in her Paris apartment I burst out laughing because this is how I feel in Korea. I have bumped my head on more than one door way, mistaken my gym towel for a tea towel, and have nearly fallen out of a changing room with my pants down more times that I can count. Oh, Julia you know my plight, and like this woman I fell in love with my host country.

When I first moved to South Korea, I had no idea how happy I would come to be while living in the peninsula. In those first couple months I remember being so frustrated with the language barrier and cultural differences that I felt isolated and alone, which is an easy thing to feel in such a homogenous country. Little-by-little and day-by-day the city and country charmed me. I learned the language, made friends, and ate everything at least twice. I stopped looking at Seoul as a pit stop before I was allowed to resume my normal life in America, and that was the key to loving South Korea.

Even though I am out of place I feel completely at home. Even the too small bathrooms and changing rooms have become dear to me. Although, I will never get over the fact that there are never any shoes to fit my feet and it is a grudge that I will bear until my death. A GRUDGE.

Anyhow, back on track! I love this country and I am saddened to have to leave it. I hope that I will be able to come back and show my future children the country that won my heart.

Rich and I at the lantern festival on the Cheonggyecheon stream.

한국은 나는 사랑 해요!

(My best attempt at saying Korea, I love you)

Staying warm with Genmaicha!

The weather has been pretty unpredictable in Seoul lately; shifting from rain, sunshine, and even snow in the course of a few hours. To stay warm I have resorted back to an old favorite of mine: Genmaicha, or green tea with roasted brown rice.

I know it may sound a little odd, but this tea is absolutely delicious and it reminds of when I first arrived in South Korea. Rich and I moved to Seoul at the end of January and it was absolutely FREEZING! Genmaicha was actually the very first hot beverage that I had in Korea. I know it has Japanese origins, but nothing says Korea to me like a hot cup of Genmaicha (except for maybe Kimchi). Every time I smell the tea I am instantly transported back to the very first night that Rich and I stumbled into a restaurant jet-lagged, freezing, and starving. We were definitely out of sorts and I remember how we stood in the doorway desperately trying to figure out how to go about getting a table and food.

And then the most darling Adjumma (older Korean woman) came to the rescue, and Korea started to win my heart. She spoke absolutely no English and the best I could manage at the time was a Hello and Thank You, but it was not needed under the motherly attentions of the older woman. The Adjumma whisked us to a table, started fussing over how cold I was, and set a cup of tea in front of me. Instantly the smell of the tea hit me and I remember just cupping my hands over it and breathing deep because I had never smelled anything like it before. I can't really describe the tea's smell, but it has a beautifully savory smell from the brown rice and it is so delicate that you want to keep breathing it in on a cold day. During the colder months Korean restaurants will have big kettles of the tea boiling away on huge burners throughout the restaurant just waiting to warm you up!

Today we experienced snow flurries and I immediately went for my tea kettle with only one tea in mind: Genmaicha!! I hope everyone is having a great day and my day has been brightened a bit more since having a cup of tea (3 cups actually)with such special memories attached to it.

My favorite brand, Yamamotoyama  is really inexpensive and a box of it only costs a couple of dollars if you are wanting to check out a tea that is dear to my heart.

Have a beautiful day! I know that I am on the right track with a cup of Genmaicha in hand!

A Warm Weather Adventure: The DMZ

It has been snowy, icy, windy, and downright teeth-chattering weather in Seoul over the past few weeks. I have spent more time indoors, and have been missing the hot and humid days of summer that used to leave me soaking minutes after leaving the subway. 

In honor of my cabin fever and summer-lust I have been looking over photos from adventures in Korea that I had during the warmer months and here is one that I wanted to share.

The DMZ.

Even in South Korea the DMZ is made into a cute and adorable place.

When the weather was nicer I hopped on a bus around 8 am and took the 2 1/2 hour bus ride out to the DMZ to see why my husband and I were stationed here for 2 years. If most of you don't know my husband is a blackhawk pilot in the Army and I am his perfectly out-of-place Army wife. We really love living in South Korea and have done our best to embrace the culture and language of the peninsula. I took the trip to the DMZ because I felt like I had to go to the DMZ to actually understand why my husband does what he does and why we moved halfway around the world.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I went to the DMZ so I went with an open mind and heart. Our guide for the day was extremely well informed and I was not let down by the experience. 

What struck me the most was the hope and preparation for unification between the North and the South. The Freedom Building at the JSA (Joint Security Area), which was built to host reunification meetings between families split between North and South, was so big and so empty. At the time that the group I was with went through the building, we were the only people in the entire place and the desolateness of it was heart-wrenching. You could only hear the sound of footsteps echoing through the enormous building where families were meant to be hugging and smiling.  Another place that the emptiness really struck me was Dorasan Station, the very last station in South Korea before the DMZ. The station is empty and stands waiting for passengers from the North that never come. The only people who visit are tourists like myself.


The next most striking thing to me was the stand-off between the South and North Korean Army. It was heavy and intense with plenty of looks to kill. 

 
Here is the conference room that is shared by both North and South Korea for negotiations and meetings. The room is equally controlled by each country's soldiers and R.O.K. Army guards were in place to make sure that no one in our group got the defect fever. (At least that is what our guide told us ;))

The experience was educational and made the reason for leaving home for 2 years more tangible. I mean, I knew why we were here and had spoken to many Korean friends and acquaintances about it. Many of my favorite Ajusshis and Adjumas have shared stories with me about the war and divide that have left me tearful with a heavy heart. Living in such a bustling and vibrant city as Seoul it is very easy to forget about what happened and turn a blind-eye to the suffering. Going to the DMZ was worthwhile, I am glad to have done it, and I am eager to take friends so that they too can understand and really see a different side of South Korea.

If you ever have the chance visit the DMZ remember to go with an open heart.

Things I love : Seoul

Things have been very hectic with paper revisions, school applications, teaching, taekwondo, and still trying to get new inventory for the store, all the while making sure not to neglect my personal relationships. Because the flurry of activity I have not had the expected time I wanted to create the string of blog posts that have been dancing around in my head, so here is a quickie!

Here is a small collection of candid shots from my ever constant hunt for new vintage finds. Seoul is an amazing city, and you can't help but love it once you have gotten to know it.  I couldn't be happier about moving to Seoul and I look forward to each new day that I get to spend in South Korea!

Next on the list of blog posts:a lovely little post on how to DIY your own sewing kit, and reviews on an amazing blog designer, and Clinique's lip chubby stick!

*All photos are my property. Please request permission prior to their use. 

Language Time: Hangul

I have had a few readers ask me if the language is difficult, what books I am using, how much I study, ect. so I decided to make a blog post covering to answer these questions. ;)

At first glance, Hangul can be a very intimidating language, but you shouldn't be scared away! I won't lie because Hangul is certainly not a walk in the park by any means, but with time and effort, you can make the language work for you!

I have a background with languages, growing up in a bilingual home with Spanish spoken at home, and I also studied and minored in Russian while at University. That being said, Hangul absolutely baffled me! Hangul is far more tonal of a language than I have ever studied and it takes a finesse that is bit frustrating, but is oh so gratifying when you are able to communicate efficiently and correctly.

Here is a photo of the three books that I have used to begin my education of the language, and a photo of my FAVORITE WORD in Hangul. ELEPHANT/ Kokkari (which also means eskimo kiss) I love this word so much and I have taken to yelling it out when I am excited about something as a victory word, which my Korean friends think is hilarious. :)

Books:
1) Korean at a Glance : Barron's
2) Your first 100 words in Korean : Jane Wightwick
3) Korean through English: Hollym/ Seoul Natl. University

I love all 3 books for entirely different reasons.

I love how Korean at a Glance fits in my purse and I can whip it out quickly. Korean at a Glance doubles as a useful dictionary and phrasebook, and has the added bonus of having a subway map! (very useful if you are phoneless)

Your first 100 words is fabulous because it has so many hands on activities which give you an opportunity to read, write and problem solve. More activities = more opportunities for your brain to make connections! The book also has great cut out words which you can use as flashcards. I took the opportunity to tape my flashcards to various objects around the house to give me an extra chance to become familiar with the word.

Korean through English is by far the more comprehensive book of the 3, and is great for giving you a way to hear, speak, and write in Hangul. I love how each section consists of all 3 methods of learning, which is once again a great opportunity for your brain to make connections.

I am enjoying my foray into learning Hangul, and I am becoming quite proficient at communicating and understanding the Koreans around me. If you are moving to South Korea, please take the time to learn some Hangul! It isn't impossible, just difficult, but knowing the language will give you so much more understanding of the country and its people. I know that learning Hangul has enriched my experience in South Korea like nothing else could have, and for that I am grateful!

I hope that if I continue my current regime of about 30 minutes a day, that I will become fully fluent before my time in Korea comes to an end. As my time here goes on, and I move on to new books and materials I will make sure to do an update post!