If you ever go to Asia, one of the first challenges you face it telling people apart. Everyone here has dark eyes and dark hair. People also have similar hair cuts to match the current fashion. It takes a while to figure out how to tell people apart. You would think it would be easier for them to tell Westerners apart since we have a variety of hair colors and eye colors, but they feel the same way about us as we do about them. Everyone with brown hair looks like they are related.
This makes for interesting conversation. In Korea, couples looking alike is a good thing (I don't really know why, their standards of beauty are very uniform). People say Riley and I look alike all the time, and they don't seem to realize its not really a good thing since it implies we are related.
By Korean standards I am beautiful because: my nose has a bridge, my eyes are wide, and I have blue eyes. They would be surprised to know that in the US I am not considered a "beautiful person."
Koreans tend to call the odd things foreigners do as "cute" which is why lots of Koreans told me my dad was very cute (they call Riley cute too).
A Chinese friend told us that my mom sounded British, but my dad didn't. We were also told that my parents were very calm people. I was confused until I remembered this person used to live in New York City.
One other thing someone said, and I haven't had the chance to get her to explain more, it that she was very surprised to see how proud my parents are of Riley and I. She said that Korean parents would never tell people they were proud of their children.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Traditional Korean Wedding
Last weekend Riley and I got invited to a wedding for a friend of ours. She is from China and she married a Korean guy. We had heard the Korean weddings were strange combinations of Eastern and Western culture, but our friend insisted on a traditional Asian wedding.
The beginning and ending of our journey was a long bus ride full of Chinese students. It was strange not understanding a word anymore. Not that we know Korean, but we can pick up words.
Once we got to Seoul, we drove into the War Museum parking deck. We were very confused until we realized the wedding was going to take place in the War Museum courtyard. They had everything set up for traditional weddings near all the missiles and tanks parked outside. Luckily we got there early so Riley and I could look around the yard some at the tanks, airplanes, and boats.
Our friend had decided on a Royal wedding where the bride and groom were dressed as the prince and princess of Korea. The dress was really elaborate. The groom's hat kept getting in his eyes.
The first part was getting the bride and groom into chairs to be wheeled to the top of the aisle. This took a long time for the bride since it meant getting her headdress off and on again. Then the bride walked down the aisle first. There was lots of yelling in Korean and drumming. Then the groom joined her with more yelling and drumming. They also brought the two wooden ducks down the aisle and set them on a table. Speaking of tables, there were tables of fruits, candles, and incense arranged at the front.
After the drumming and yelling (translated "Congratulations" "May you live a thousand years") they walked back down the aisle. Then they came back and took a lot of pictures.
We then went to an all you can eat buffet with sushi, fried mushrooms, fish, potato salad, and ice cream. The bride and groom came back in more comfortable looking traditional Korean clothes (Hanbok) and greeting everyone.
It was really interesting, but the odd part was all the attendants were from the wedding set-up. They were basically actors helping the couple through the ceremony. They had really neat outfits, but I think I would prefer knowing the people who helped me get married.
I loved the colors, though, everything was really bright! It was a beautiful wedding, and the couple looked really happy (especially when the groom got to change his hat).
The beginning and ending of our journey was a long bus ride full of Chinese students. It was strange not understanding a word anymore. Not that we know Korean, but we can pick up words.
Once we got to Seoul, we drove into the War Museum parking deck. We were very confused until we realized the wedding was going to take place in the War Museum courtyard. They had everything set up for traditional weddings near all the missiles and tanks parked outside. Luckily we got there early so Riley and I could look around the yard some at the tanks, airplanes, and boats.
Our friend had decided on a Royal wedding where the bride and groom were dressed as the prince and princess of Korea. The dress was really elaborate. The groom's hat kept getting in his eyes.
 |
| The bride and groom. The colors of Korea are red, blue and yellow. |
The first part was getting the bride and groom into chairs to be wheeled to the top of the aisle. This took a long time for the bride since it meant getting her headdress off and on again. Then the bride walked down the aisle first. There was lots of yelling in Korean and drumming. Then the groom joined her with more yelling and drumming. They also brought the two wooden ducks down the aisle and set them on a table. Speaking of tables, there were tables of fruits, candles, and incense arranged at the front.
After the drumming and yelling (translated "Congratulations" "May you live a thousand years") they walked back down the aisle. Then they came back and took a lot of pictures.
We then went to an all you can eat buffet with sushi, fried mushrooms, fish, potato salad, and ice cream. The bride and groom came back in more comfortable looking traditional Korean clothes (Hanbok) and greeting everyone.
It was really interesting, but the odd part was all the attendants were from the wedding set-up. They were basically actors helping the couple through the ceremony. They had really neat outfits, but I think I would prefer knowing the people who helped me get married.
I loved the colors, though, everything was really bright! It was a beautiful wedding, and the couple looked really happy (especially when the groom got to change his hat).
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Mom and Dad's Trip Concluded
After a whirlwind 10 day tour of Riley and Margaret's favorite places in Korea, Mom and Dad made it safely back home.
We took them to see our work place and what a traditional market looks like. The we took them for Sam Gap Sal that evening, but I think they were too jet lagged to enjoy it too much. The next day was rainy, so we went to the Natural Science Museum so I could show them the Korean wildlife and how to make Kimchi. Then we went to the Arboretum to see Korean plants.
The next few day we went to Gyeongju. This is a town that used to be the capital of one of the three kingdoms, and it has huge tombs for the kings and queens. There is also a famous temple and many famous Buddhas. We climbed a mountain that was very steep and rocky, but the views were worth it.
Back in Daejeon, we visited the nearby national park for some hiking and souvenirs before heading back to get ready to have our bible study.
We then visited Gong-ju to see the old fortress and some more museums.
The next day we went to lunch at a Korean household. The guy who had us over is our small group leader for our mission training classes. It was delicious! They even had cheesy pasta!
The rest of the time was just visiting and packing. It was a great visit! We didn't even have time to get to Seoul. They wore Riley and I out!
We took them to see our work place and what a traditional market looks like. The we took them for Sam Gap Sal that evening, but I think they were too jet lagged to enjoy it too much. The next day was rainy, so we went to the Natural Science Museum so I could show them the Korean wildlife and how to make Kimchi. Then we went to the Arboretum to see Korean plants.
The next few day we went to Gyeongju. This is a town that used to be the capital of one of the three kingdoms, and it has huge tombs for the kings and queens. There is also a famous temple and many famous Buddhas. We climbed a mountain that was very steep and rocky, but the views were worth it.
 |
| Mom and Dad on top of Namsan |
Back in Daejeon, we visited the nearby national park for some hiking and souvenirs before heading back to get ready to have our bible study.
We then visited Gong-ju to see the old fortress and some more museums.
The next day we went to lunch at a Korean household. The guy who had us over is our small group leader for our mission training classes. It was delicious! They even had cheesy pasta!
The rest of the time was just visiting and packing. It was a great visit! We didn't even have time to get to Seoul. They wore Riley and I out!
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