A Week of Celebrations

Happy last few days of November, everyone. It's really feeling like winter here in Goheung, marked by temperatures that hover around freezing, and dry sunny days. Many friends living farther north have even posted live videos of the snow coming down in Seoul. As for Jeonnam, though, we're just enjoying our 온돌 (floor heater) and that super sweet Korean coffee.

It was great to message and Skype so many people this week for Thanksgiving. We have had a lot to celebrate in the last few days, not the least of which was my friend 혜란's decision to close her bakery. While I'll miss having such a cozy space to study Korean and enjoy her sweet treats, it is definitely the best move for her, and we celebrated the best way we knew how, by putting that shop to work in it's last days. We made bulk 유자 (citron) tea, preserved in a number of jars to give to friends and stock up our homes for the winter. The best part was knowing that the 유자 fruit came fresh from our friend 성미's garden. I then used the oven at the bakery to make biscuits for the first time since arriving in Korea. It was so nice to have a taste of home and treat the girls to some American pastries. Cooking together has easily become one of the simplest and most fun ways to bond, and, the look on our faces when we sink our teeth into something delicious breaks the language barrier for that moment in such a sweet way. The girls took some pictures while my hands were all sticky, so you can see the process.

Then, of course, there was Thanksgiving day itself. Jamie had to work of course, since the holiday isn't observed in Korea, but we made the most of it when he got home. For dinner we had mashed potatoes, rosemary chicken, mozzarella, and dried cranberries on toast, and what is essentially a Little Debbie snack that was called "Fresh Baked Apple Pie." We washed it all down with a bottle of wine, and set the mood with a candle to really get that Thanksgiving feel. All in all, the meal was delicious, and it felt good to mark the occasion, even wasn't the traditional style we are used to.

Then this weekend, we gathered with the rest of the foreign teachers for a party at  성미's house. Though I have been to a few family's homes here in Korea, they have all either been condos, apartments, or modern style homes downtown. 성미's house was the first traditional style Korean home I have ever been to, and a few things are of note from that experience. First of all, Koreans are, by and large, shorter than Westerners (especially older generations). As such, doorways in traditional homes are mostly too short for even me to walk through without bending over. The ceilings inside are tall enough for me, but notably shorter than the standard 8ft. ceiling of a modern western home. Old wood beams frame the structure of the house, including several across the roof which was a traditional, curved Asian shape of roof. The feature that added the most character to the style of the house indoors was that the doors between rooms are made of many small wood frames, and backed in paper. They hold in no heat, and are simply meant as a visual block, rather than a sound or temperature seal. I didn't take photos, as it seemed rude in the context, but I would suggest googling traditional Korean home interiors to get a better idea of what I am describing here. It was very different than I am used to, and seemed both beautiful and difficult to live in for various reasons. The party itself, was held in a separate 2-room building on the property, one with heating and more modern features, including higher ceilings. We had a traditional Korean meal, and celebrated at the end of the night with Scotch and chocolate cake "for thanksgiving" according to the Koreans that hosted us. It was a really sweet gesture, a fantastic cultural experience, and a great opportunity to be surrounded with people on a holiday weekend that many of us weren't prepared to be alone.

p.s. in the photo above, 혜란 is the one lighting the cake, and is also the one who made that beautiful, delicious, polka-dotted creation there! And the lovely lady beside her in the striped sweater is our wonderful host, 성미. 💓

Last but not least, was the celebration of the end of the semester for many students in Korea. A performance at the cultural center let them showcase all sorts of dances, songs, and stories they've been working on. It was a treat for me to see a traditional drum number, and traditional song in particular. Check it out!

As the week of celebrations wraps up, I'm looking forward to the next holidays on our agenda, the Solstice, and Christmas! I've even started crafting decorations (can you guess what these few supplies will turn into?)!

Have a great end of November, stay warm, and as always, you can post comments here on the blog with any questions you have and we will get back to you.
Cheers,
K