Asian Immersion

Blogging for ice cream

asianimmersion — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:36:57 +0000

A group of us gathered together for my send-off from Yeosu-si. We ate delicious Vietnamese for dinner and after wards, the brave few set out to conquer a challenge I proposed.

The Challenge: To try all 31 flavors of Baskin Robbins ice cream.

The Troops: 5 of us ate our way through 20 scoops of ice cream and decided to stop since we contracted adult on-set contact diabetes.

Round 1: 6 scoops, first bites

Round 2: 6 scoops

Round 3: 8 scoops

The End Results: It was a challenge to eat 20 scoops of ice cream, split between 5 adults. Perhaps it would have been better to go in on an empty stomach, as opposed to eating a full meal just 30 minutes prior.

Well done, Team BR and even though we didn’t plow through all 31 flavors we did our best, and that’s what matters!

Chuseok National Holiday

asianimmersion — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:40:21 +0000

Chuseok (September 21 – 23, 2010)
During the official holidays, offices and banks are closed but palaces, museums, most restaurants and department stores remain open. Chuseok is one of the most important traditional holidays for Koreans, along with Seollal (a formal bow of respect to their elders as a New Year’s greeting).
Chuseok is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Chuseok is often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving Day. It is a celebration of the harvest and giving thanks for the bounty of the earth. Family members travel to visit their hometowns and their ancestral homes. Returning to school after the holiday, I asked my students about their weekend plans, and about half of the students families participated in this traditional giving of thanks. The other half celebrated with their families in a more modern way. Most of the children said they had dinner with their grandparents, or a small family gathering. During the day a few went to the movies or hiking with their friends and family. 2010 seemed to bring about some changes to traditional South Korea lifestyle. I live in Yeosu-si, which is a very small country town, down in the southern province of the country, so I can imagine the families living in larger cities foregoing the traditional celebratory styles and adopting a more contemporary approach for their much needed break from work and school.

The children are wearing the traditional dress for Chuseok and doing so beautifully.

Dong-A Ilbo 2010 Gyeongju International Marathon
(Sunday, October 17, 2010) The Marathon was held at Hwangsung Park, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea
Marathon(42.195km), Half Marathon(21.0975km), 10km, 5km
I recently ran the 5km, while Becky and Chad trained and ran the Half Marathon. We traveled to Gyeongju for the run and had a great weekend; we visited temples and ate delicious traditional Korean food! It was a beautiful weekend!

Here we are after the run, drinking Makgeolli (pronounced, Mock-o-lee and referred to in English as “Korean rice wine.” It is an alcoholic beverage native to Korea. It is made from a mixture of wheat and rice which gives it a milky, off-white color, and sweetness. It is made by fermenting a mixture of boiled rice, wheat and water, and is about 6.5–7% alcohol by volume) and eating kimchi! GO KOREA, serving up some traditional Korean drink a quarter after 12:00 Hey, “It’s 5:00 somewhere!”

Becky and Chad after accomplishing the Half Marathon!!!

Mt. Wolchulsan National Park

asianimmersion — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:46:50 +0000

Mt. Wolchulsan National Park is located in Jeollanam-do. Wolchulsan was designated Korea’s 20th national park in 1988, and is South Korea’s smallest national park. The name Wolchulsan denotes “mountain where the moon rises”. The “Cloud Bridge” (구름다리) is a 52-meter-long suspension bridge, 120 meters high. The five of us hiked to the Cheonhwangbong Peak (809m above sea level) which is located at the center. The entire area was filled with rocky mountains and breathtaking peaks. There were narrow and beautiful waterfalls along the way, unusually shaped rocks, rugged terrain and steel stairways (52m steel bridge spanning two ridges) that practically led up to heaven. It was a challenging strenuous and worthwhile climb! The only thing that would have made this day reach perfection is bungee jumping off that amazing orange bridge.

Korean campground. The tents were set up on, what looked like large platforms. The nature trail was 10 feet away from the grounds.

We did it!

Kindergarten Performs
Edu Best kindergarten classes perform mini-dramas twice a year. Last year my students performed an “Under the Sea” themed skit, while this year a new set of students performed “The Lion King!” The kids had a great time rehearsing and performing and of course I was so very proud of them for their efforts and showing off their natural talents! Here they are wearing their lion king headbands.

Paul was so proud to represent Pumbaa

I’m going to miss my favorite students when I leave.

Love,

Heather

Typhoon Kompasu

asianimmersion — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:12:49 +0000

Direct message from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul:

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul is transmitting the following information through the Embassy’s Warden System as a public service to all U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea. Please disseminate this message broadly to U.S. citizens.

This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens residing or traveling in the Republic of Korea that the Korea Meteorological Administration has issued alerts for a Category 3 storm, Typhoon Kompasu. As of 1230 (local time) on Wednesday, September 1, Typhoon Kompasu was located approximately 263 kilometers or 163 miles southwest of Cheju island and traveling north at 33 km/h (20 mph). It is expected to turn in a northeast direction and pass very near Seoul at approximately 1500 (local time) on Thursday, September 2.

The Korea Meteorological Administration reports that the maximum sustained wind speed in the storm is 157 km/h (98 mph). While Typhoon Kompasu’s winds are expected to decrease over the next 36 hours, sustained maximum winds when the storm reaches Seoul are still predicted to be as high as 150 Km/h (93 mph).

There is currently a Typhoon Alert for Cheju Island.

At 0800 on September 1, US Forces Korea issued a Tropical Cyclone Condition Of Readiness (TCCOR) 1 alert for the southern part of Korea, including Gwangju, Kunsan, Busan, and Daegu, meaning that winds of 50 knots (58 mph) or greater are occurring or are forecast to affect these areas within the next 12 hours. US Forces Korea also issued a Tropical Cyclone Condition Of Readiness (TCCOR) 2 alert for the rest of the Republic of Korea, including Seoul, Suwon, Incheon, and Osan, meaning that winds of 50 knots (58 mph) or greater are occurring or are forecast to affect these areas within the next 24 hours.

Expected rainfall throughout the affected regions is predicted to be as much as 6 inches. You should remove or secure all outside items, stock up on emergency supplies of food, water, and cash in case of storm-related power outages.

For further details, see either of the following websites: Korea Meteorological Administration: http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/index.jsp or the U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s Tropical Cyclone Warning: http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc10/WPAC/08W.KOMPASU/ssmi/gif/full/Latest.html You should also monitor the typhoon’s track by listening to the radio, watching television, or monitoring AFN radio at 102.7 FM in Seoul and 88.5 FM and 88.3 FM in other parts of Korea.

We will continue to monitor Typhoon Kompasu’s track and will issue updated messages as appropriate.

Be sure to locate shelter, monitor media reports, and follow all official instructions. Carry your travel documents at all times (e.g., U.S. Passport, birth certificate, photo ID’s, etc.) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. You should also contact friends and family in the United States with updates about your whereabouts.

travel.state.gov/travel

The 12th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival

asianimmersion — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:43:56 +0000

cocoon

colorful empty cocoons strung out like lights

Beautiful artwork

A dad was pulling his son in his stroller by a remote control car, it was pretty cool to watch and the kiddo seemed to like it!

Shark Diving in Busan

asianimmersion — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:13:28 +0000

Busan Aquarium is located directly on Haeundae Beach in Busan.
We were able to get up close and personal with blacktip reef sharks, sand tiger sharks, Queensland GIANT groupers, short-tail stingrays and spotted eagle rays. The shark dive was conducted by a fully insured PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. The shark dive took place in a 3 million liter, 5 meter deep main aquarium.

Here are a few underwater pictures of us posing for our rented camera:
Tess and I saying, “Everything is okay” with our proud instructor in the background.

The grouper fish was almost just as large as the sand tiger sharks.

Heather, Julie and Tess made it out alive!

Diving in Busan’s underwater aquarium, with no previous diving experience, left me feeling exhilarated for more. I walked out of the tank with memories, shark teeth and a yearning to get certified as an open water diver!

Land of the Morning Calm

asianimmersion — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:36:08 +0000

I am charmed by the rain falling heavy and hard on the sloping uneven rooftops as I trek to work. The slow rising sun peeking itself up from the lush green mountain top only to be hidden two hours later by the darkening circling clouds. The green sun shade umbrellas outside of my favorite fruit stand warn me not to come any closer. The whipping wind howls, giving me a slight push to walk at a faster pace, it then blows my checkered umbrella inside out. My feet and legs are immediately soaked (no thanks to my third handy umbrella over the span of 9 months) as if I just stepped in and out of a puddle up to my knees. Is this what it’s like to live outside of sunny southern California? This must be what the other states complain about, the kind of weather that I prayed for while at home I am now getting in full force. I should be grateful for four seasons, and I am. I absolutely love the rain! I love waking up to the sound of thunder booming and cracking and catching a glimpse of lightning. I love falling asleep to the patter and trickle of water heading down the drain pipes outside my bedroom window. I love twirling my umbrella and splashing in the mud puddles, all the while Gene Kelly and I are singing, “Singin’ in the Rain” and we are in perfect harmony. I am seduced by the fresh and clean, almost minty smell. The world seems to be at peace after a heavy rain fall, bright and vibrant and full of potential. I love everything about the rain. I keep a window open at night just to listen to the wind make love to the rain as I fall asleep.

And with that said, pasted below is a direct quote from a Korean website and listed below are 4 sites to peruse over on the 2010 Pacific storm watch:

“Waves hit the harbor in South Korea’s southernmost island of Jeju, South Korea, 10 August 2010. With typhoon Dianmu advancing northward, Jeju and the southern coastal area will see up to 200 mm of rain by late 10 August 2010, and the center and other parts of the country strong winds and torrential rain, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.”

travel.state.gov/travel

Pacific typhoon season

Pacific hurricane season

Tropical Cyclones

Random Korea

asianimmersion — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:44:51 +0000

A beautiful spring day spent at the beach.

A very colorful group of Korean women (ajumahs).

Traditional Korean attire for men.

It is perfectly acceptable to pass out on the streets in Korea, this is considered the norm, but for some reason the victims of alcohol always seem to pass out curbside. I find this odd.

Restaurant in Busan is covered from floor to ceiling in colorful post-it notes.

Fresh river eel is my new favorite – can’t get enough of these yummy eats!

Side dishes are served with every meal. It is customary and you may have as many sides as you want.

Cheers!

A Sunday in Spring

asianimmersion — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:42:41 +0000

Boseong Green Tea Fields
The forecast called for rain in Boseong on Sunday afternoon; we went forth expecting to be showered. We were showered, not by rain but rather by the beauty of the slanted green tea fields. They were luscious, vibrant and stunning. The rolling fields were filled with mist, color and sunlight that day. We were sprinkled with a light mist for a short while and even though the wetness remained for hours, due to the moisture in the air, our spirits were not dampened. I was amazed at the beauty of this day. The beauty of the fields and of the friends I was with.

A Sunday afternoon in Spring was spent tasting green tea ice cream, playing on the steps of a tree house made for adults and taking in this creation. I walked away not only with a green tea scrub for my body but also a sense of amazement and wonder. Thank you for a refreshing day Korea.

My two hour stroll to the beach in Yeosu…

Konglish (Korean and English)

China: Part III

asianimmersion — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 05:58:40 +0000

Beijing through a foreigner’s eye.

The shirtless men of Beijing walk the streets and steps in the cities harsh climate. The humidity, heat and smog may make a foreigner weak but these men walk for hours, shuffling their broken sandals but not broken spirits. The men are all smiles as soon as eye contact is made, ready to pose for the camera and take a break from their construction job.

While walking the streets of Beijing, I merely peeked at the lives of the locals, and the suits walking among them, behind my camera lens. I noticed between the humidity and smog, there is a mist of arrogant prosperity among the business seekers climbing the ladder to success. This is overly prevalent in such a large city. It is a city filled with clichés and shots of crushing poverty. Beijing, reminded me in many ways, of Thailand. Thailand is known as, The Land of Smiles and while both cultures have prominent stark contrasts, they are very much the same, with images of impoverished families living in rural shacks and begging for comfort with one child by their waist and the other dangling in their arms.

I experienced a few uncomfortable situations while walking through the hutongs and streets of Beijing and getting lost one night in Bangkok. My comfort level has been uneven since I moved from the warmth and safety net of my home country, only to realize these simple lives take pleasure in the color of their hand-woven cloth and honoring their ancestors. It calls into question the line between pleasure and want versus contentment and necessity.

My focus remains to seek adventure and visual stimulation. I shoot the faces of toothless smiles and tears, finding the richness on the faces who are welcoming and smile back.

Tian’an Men Guangchang (The Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace)
Tian’an Men Square is thoroughly synonymous with Beijing, but for centuries there was no square. There was only a main walkway leading to The Gate of Heavenly Peace and The Forbidden City. The area was cleared in the first 20th century, then quadrupled in size in 1959, allowing up to 1 million people to gather. That is exactly what it felt like on our trip to the square, drenched with sweat from heat and humidity, standing and waiting with the large crowds.

Tian’an Men Guangchang (The Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace) is a public plaza that is not very appealing on the eye. It is associated with death and the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is the center of modern life in Beijing, surrounded by national institutions.

Tian’an Men Square was our first day excursion.
The small garden, we thought, was the best part of the square.

Wangfujing’s Night Market – A nightly occurrence
A line up of 40 to 50 stalls both enticed and repulsed our senses. We walked by a good 10-15 stalls and stared in awe at what we saw being served on the open streets to brave passerby’s. Everything from flame-grilled snakes and scorpions to octopus and baby lobsters. I opted for sweet glazed goodness.. otherwise known as, fruit on a stick. This was a one time occurrence for mom and me. The smells were starting to get to her olfactory senses. We were too mesmerized to snap any photos, guess you will just have to go see and taste for yourselves!

A soft and fluffy bed for a week and beautiful Chinese money to spend! Life is good.

The Silk Market (Xiushui)
The Silk Market’s proper name is, Xiushui, this is the most infamous market in Beijing. It is the city’s third main tourist attraction after The Forbidden City and The Great Wall. It’s safe to say we did our fair share of shopping. See below.

Giving mom a laugh as she stepped out of the shower, by wearing only half of my purchases. We hit the markets 4 times in 8 days!

Taking a shopping break in a pub just outside the silk markets; we went here twice to unwind from the exhaustion bargaining brings.

Random China…

Helmets… anyone?

On our first day in the city, we went out walking looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant to eat in and we came across a traffic accident involving a bicyclist victim. From my view, I didn’t see her wearing her proper head-gear. The policemen, however, are wearing helmets.

Proof of our first authentic Chinese restaurant. Our recommendation out of 5 stars: ★
Our first and last bad meal in Beijing, the other meals were delicious!

The restaurant wrapped everything in plastic.. what a waste.

Fashion do or don’t? You decide!

How would you like to ride around in this tin can? The “safety first” rule, doesn’t apply in this country.

I’ll leave you with this lasting image… Oh Yeah!

Our trip to China was a success! We had an amazing time sightseeing Beijing and spending 8 days with each other. Sunday morning was a tear filled good-bye. I must say, it was a little difficult letting go of my mom’s warm embrace once again and head back to Korea, instead of taking the same flight home to the states.

I hope to find everyone is having a relaxing and fun-filled summer. Take care of the ones who love you.

Lots of love,

Heather