Medic For Hire

Multiple fractures on the fourth and fifth digits of the left foot and a laceration of the fifth digit approximately 2cms deep. Injury sustained while practicing TaeKwon Do. Patient does not speak local language and hopes that his toe doesn't fall off.
Diagnostic :

5.18 Citizen's Park

Gwangju's flagship landmark, the Citizens Democracy park commemorates the death of civilians dedicated to free Korea of tyrannical rule. On May 5th, 1981 more than 100 students and citizens of Gwangju were killed during protest of the, then, overbearing Korean government. The landmark cements the powerful ideals of the citizens of Gwangju and thus is revered as a sacred place.

Our visit however, was less than reverent.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to Chris and Amanda Dufour and Jenelle McKee we where able to have a thanksgiving dinner: Stuffing, mash potatoes, scallop potatoes, gravy, rolls, pork, and cider.

Food Expo

Jolene made a cake

Its really a cake

Flower Festival

Dam Yeong

It Snowed!

Bit early for us but it was definitely cold enough to snow. Just for the record, three inches of snow lasts two days in Korea...in November

Fall Colors

Halloween

Salt and pepper wigs, black eye shadow and a few well chosen garments help complete the transformation of Americans in Korea celebrating an American holiday posing as Koreans. October 31st has new meaning for us now as we spent this year's Hallowed Eve trying to explain why American families give candy to people who are dressed up as the undead. If two light-haired Californians aren't enough to draw attention from Koreans, two costumed Californians definitely are. Despite the new awkward glances during our walk through the neighborhood, we were able to impart our favorite Halloween traditions to our Korean students and listen to a few of their own...

Teacher:"Why do we have Halloween?"

Student:"Halloween is for people who like to be scary, and to get scared. I don't like to get scared. If I see scary, they will appear in my dreams." (She cried when I walked into the room (David))

Teacher: "What is Halloween?"

Student: "Halloween is when the American ghosts come over to Korea and have a big fight with the Korean ghosts."

October In Korea

Gwangju (the city we live in - the down town river)



Green Tea Plantation

Kimchee Festival


Turtle Boat Festival


Pungumdong the neighborhood we live in

Crazy Cow

Since our arrival in Korea, we have received multiple warnings from the local restaurants to national advertisements on T.V. cautioning from the certain death followed by eating American beef. Although, technically Mad Cow disease has less than a .001% chance of infecting Koreans and will only show symptoms ten years after consuming infected meat, the Koreans are certain that not only has Mad Cow disease infected their president who contracted with the “Crazy Americans and their cows’, but also every product imported from the States. As a result beef products have decreased in price as Koreans refuse to “jeopardize their future” for a piece of meat. We would have liked to take advantage of this fortunate skepticism but beef prices still hang around $12 U.S. dollars a pound. While this crisis has cause restaurants to post “Australian and New Zealand beef” signs at most places (including McDonalds and Burger King), it has been for the most part just an exercise in pandemic fear and a bit of anti U.S. spirit. Example, Conversation with my students:
Me :“Japan took over Korea and put many men into prison.”
Student: “Yes, they did awful things to them in prison. They hurt them and killed them. Japan is bad.”
Me: “Yes, some people from Japan were bad at that time. That’s why U.S.A. came over to help the Korean be free from Japan.”
Student:”Ah, yes… Americans are good.”
I am smiling, thinking I have done my patriotic duty of slanting Korean history for a ten-year-old when he replies.
Student:”But teacher… Crazy Cow… Americans are bad.”
I have no reply. But who knows may be the Koreans did eat some of the beef.

Jinju Lantern Festival

This trip was probably the best surprise since we've arrived in Korea. On our way to Oedo in search of an adventure we stopped in a city (Jinju) to change busses. By sheer stupidity discovered that the number one festival (at least that's what they said) in all of Korea was happening there, "The Jinju Lantern Festival". So we followed the huddled masses down to the city center and to the bed of a most decorated river. There were more than 1000 lanterns on and off the river. We soon discovered that this lantern festival is based in historical lore. Legend has it, that while under attack from the invading Japanese army Korean troops signaled each other by putting lanterns on the water. As the war went on the Koreans were able to fend off the Japanese largely through this hidden means of "lantern" communication. Now these lanterns are a symbol of hope and represent the courage of the Korean Spirit. Lanterns are hung and "floated" on the river as a remembrance of the ancient war and as a sign of the enduring Korean spirit.

I must say we were very impressed by the variety of events and activities they had there. While the festival originated through Korean tradition I must say it had a very modern if not Western aspect to it. On Saturday we saw a Bullfight. We were hoping for the "ole!" kind but it was only Bull vs. Bull, not Man vs. Bull. Of course there was the traditional plays and singing in the ancient palace grounds and a full-blown parade down their "main street". While we were treated to a spectacular Korean parade it was quite a spectacle seeing the Korean police scramble while cars are still going down the street as the parade is starting. We laughed as the whole parade stopped to wait for a car that had refused to turn around try to weave its way through the crowd honking the whole time. Good fun. In fact we had so much fun that we stayed out till 1 A.M and forgot that every motel turns off its vacancy signs during that weekend. We tried about a dozen places including ones that visably wouldn't make the A or B rating in the US. But we had no luck. Finally we found a street buzzing with the Korean "Open" signs. I was regaining hope until Jolene pointed out the hooker heels and the painted woman just inside the entrance. I thought they were just friendly but apparently we had found the Korean "red-light" district. But in a last desperation found an open sign next door to one of the active brothels and coaxed an un-sober Korean to let us stay. We hunkered down for the night trying to ignore the "sounds of the night", But what else can we say... authentic Korean experience. *Smile

The Lantern festival was beautiful after the sun set, as it was the best way to appreciate the whole effect. Lanterns, as the new tradition goes, are really more like giant parade floats, lit up, and literally "floating" on the water. Jolene and I got to taste some traditional Korean food from the outside venders, tried on the royal garments from ancient times, watched 150+ floats light up on the water and made our own mini lantern as an official "Miguk" (American) contribution.

I cannot describe the excitement in the air or the feeling of seeing thousands of Korean walking through and among thousands of lanterns but it was very impressive. Jolene thought it was romantic, but at times the crowds were a bit much for her and and I. Still this festival, despite its drawbacks, served us an almost "timeless" bridge connecting the traditional Korean past with the Westernized Korean present.