Dinner with a Korean Cutie Patootie

We had dinner last night with Yeo Jung and of course, her parents. I had to miss her first birthday party but Curt (hubby) took some incredible pictures. Her daddy works with Curt and I've been wanting to do dinner with them for a long time. They both speak English very well. I even got to hold Yeo Jung.



Here's a picture with Curt. I didn't want to give her back.



She provided the entertainment at dinner. Her parents came well prepared with plenty of toys to play with and food.



Here mama, look what I found.


She was playing peek a boo. They have a Korean name for it but the game is still the same.

I wish I would have thought to bring the video camera. Mom starting humming one of the "Wonder Girls" songs and she was dancing around to it. The "Wonder Girls" are a very popular girl's group in South Korea. She also knows how to bow which she performed to our delight.

I found out a few more things about Korean babies. You don't start them on kimchi until they are about three years old. It is too spicy for a baby. I agree. The grandparents live in Seoul and the weekends are spent with them. Grandma makes sure her daughter goes home with enough food for the week so mama doesn't have to cook. Wow, I'm liking Korea more and more. I have to say that even now when my mom comes to visit she brings food. There is nothing like mom's cooking.

We had the best time and will definitely do it again.

A new mandu (dumpling) shop opened up near the yoga studio. I asked my yoga buddy if he'd tried it yet and he said "No, but let's go now." So we did. He wouldn't let me pay but I couldn't believe how cheap it was, 1000 WON for six ($1.00 US). He bought 18 and I was stuffed when I left. It was delicious and melted in your mouth.

Here is the menu.

I won't be posting for a few days. We leave tomorrow for Jeju Island for a mini vacation. It is only about a 40 minute flight. We will be taking a lot of pictures so stay tuned. I am so far behind in maedeup that I will be bringing it along.

New Store or Restaurant Openings in Suwon. South Korea

Every time a new store or restaurant opens here in Suwon, you will find displays of flowers lining the entrance. These are bought by family members and friends to show their support. This display happens to be in front of a new clothes store but we have also seen them when a restaurant opens.

The tall flower displays remind me so much of funeral flowers. Typically back in the States, I would only see this type of display at a funeral so that's what I think of when I see them.

I have a funny maedeup class story that shows another instance of cultural differences between the U.S. and South Korea. A few weeks ago at class I was really getting stressed working on a knot and I developed a headache. Always having some Advil in my purse, I reached down and grabbed my purse. I opened the bottle as discreetly as possible and tapped a few pills into my hand. My girlfriends asked me what I was doing (no secrets in Korea) and I told them about my headache. They looked at each other kinda shocked and I went to get some water.

By the time I returned, the entire class knew the American had a headache and needed DRUGS. My teacher was really worried about me the rest of the class. I tried to convince them that it was no big deal and I get headaches occasionally mostly allergy related. I thought their concern was funny and I forget about the incident.

Last week at class we had another particularly difficult knot and I was really struggling with it. The teacher was really being overly attentive towards me and finally I asked the girls why the teacher seemed so worried about me. They told me that she was really worried I would get another headache and she didn't want that to happen. She was upset that I had needed to take medication something Koreans rarely do. I didn't know that.

Today at yoga class I asked my 72 year old yoga buddy about it. He said Koreans NEVER take drugs for anything. He said for a headache to press hard and rub my temples and the headache will go away. No drugs. So I asked him what do Koreans do for a stomach ache. He took my hand and pressed into the flesh between by thumb and forefinger. He said that would cure a stomach ache.

I told him in America we take a pill for everything: if you have a headache, if you have a stomach ache, if you are sad, if you want to sleep... We expect a pill to cure everything and anything. We also expect immediate relief to any ailment. I know I do.

So now I'm waiting to get a headache and a stomach ache to see if these things work. It would be a much healthier way for me to live. I love Eastern medicine practices. No more drugs!!

I want to thank my dear friend Holly for awarding me the Gratitude with Attitude Award. She was my first producer at The Carol Duvall Show and we became instant best friends. It was like I had met my sister and we have been close ever since. She also knows ALL the great food places in Los Angeles. She also is a talented bead maker and was the one to turn me on to lampwork beadmaking. I had to leave it all back home while we are here in Korea but I'll be dusting it off when we return home.

Maedeup This Week

Hey, I am definitely seeing improvement in my maedeup. This is what we did in class last week. It is a really fun craft to do and I'm enjoying it immensely. This is all in preparation for the certification test.

I just had to let you see what my cleaning lady looked like so I took this picture of her waiting for me to buzz her in.

I also have a weird thing I've noticed in yoga class. Before and after class we go into a small room (more like a closet) and change in and out of our yoga uniforms. We all wear a t-shirt under our yoga tops and I've noticed that all the women wear their bras outside of their t-shirt. I'm the only one who wears mine under the t-shirt. I also noticed (not that I look a whole lot) that the bras are really fancy with lots of lace and ribbon flowers. The uniform top completely covers the t-shirt.

I've never taken yoga before so I don't know if this is a yoga thing or a Korean thing. I can't imagine American women doing this but maybe it's the "yoga" way to wear a bra. I haven't asked my Korean girlfriends about it but they think I've already had enough strange Korean experiences.

More Observations from South Korea

I saw this t-shirt on a rack at my local Home Plus store and it really made me laugh. I thought the t-shirt should be green or maybe the letters, something. But I am thankful for the heads up. My wardrobe is seriously lacking in green.



This photo is also a shelve in Home Plus. Sesame seeds in all kinds of brands and colors. I have no idea what the Koreans do with sesame seeds. One of the many mysteries I must solve during our stay here in South Korea.



I had two sleepovers last week. This is a picture of the girls from my apartment security camera. We always have a great time and I learn so many things about Korean culture. Here's a few of the recent discoveries:

1. Playing basketball makes you taller. All the jumping involved in basketball stretches your muscles and bones. I didn't comment that didn't the reverse happen when you land back on the ground. Koreans want to be taller.
2. Boyfriends are VERY attentive to their girlfriends until 100 days of dating. Making it to 100 days is something to celebrate. They are still pretty much the perfect boyfriend but maybe a little less attentive until they become your husband. Work and friends will become the priority along with their mother and you will be a distant third or is that fourth.
3. Divorce is still pretty uncommon but the number is growing. One big reason is the husband gets custody of the children. The reason is the children have his name and therefore must be raised by his family. When a woman marries in Korea, they retain their maiden name. You can get custody of the children but then the husband is not required to pay you any support so basically you are on your own which would be difficult for most women.
4. Another reason Koreans do not like cats. I'm told Korean cats can put a spell on a family that will bring you constant bad luck. Yikes!
5. It was against the law up until a few years ago for a woman to smoke outside. The law required women to smoke with a roof overhead otherwise it was illegal. I have yet to see a woman smoke. The girls said that is was still kinda taboo and would give a girl a bad reputation.



Kids playing on the roof of a building across the street from our apartment. They were have a blast and their laughs were heard all the way up to our 10th floor.

Another favorite song of mine from the past.

Maedeup - The Latest

I finished up this knot which is a combination of many maedeups. It was fun to do but pretty time consuming.



This was the teacher's example of what we were to do in class. Working in the thinner diameter cording is so difficult.



This is what we were to make and it took the entire five hours for me to complete it. Pretty cool.

A fellow student had a baby a few months ago and she stopped in to say hello to our class. I kept asking where the baby was and my Korean girlfriends thought I was hilarious. Apparently, in Korea, a baby is not allowed outside except for doctor appointments until they are 100 days old. I wanted to see the baby!

I also found out some interesting customs that made me wish I had my babies in Korea. After birth, the mother's bones are so weak and loose that she is not even allowed to hold the baby. My girlfriends told me that the joints of a Korean woman actually separate and become very loose. Usually your mother or mother-in-law stays with you for three months until you recover your strength. All you have to worry about is feeding the baby (if you choose to breastfeed) and the baby is brought to you and gaining your strength back. No housework, no cooking, no cleaning, no nothing. You have to eat seaweed soup every day which will also help you to recover.

If you haven't a family member to take care of you during this time, the government provides live in help to provide this service.

Korean women also cannot carry a baby on their hip like we Americans do. I need to get a picture of this but Korean women carry their children on the small of their backs. It looks painful to me and I've seen a few times where I thought the child was going to fall out. They are tie with a blanket or store bought baby back carrier.

Taking the Long Way Home

On my way back from shopping at Home Plus (Korea's version of Target), I decided to take the long way home through the back streets. It is so different from our neighborhood back in the States.



You also see outdoor video games with children playing them.


I was able to get up close and watch this little guy playing a fighting game. He was really into it.

I think this was his sister. She just kept watching him while twirling her jump rope. It also reminded me that I have yet to see a little girl NOT wearing pink.

Kinda scary but another example of English here in South Korea.

Springtime in Suwon, South Korea

It was a beautiful day on Sunday and I decided to take a walk to Hwaseong Fortress. Cherry blossoms were everywhere, snowing down on you as you walked. Children were trying to catch the petals as they fell to the ground.



My picture taking skills have improved immensely. No, I didn't get a new camera. I decided to listen to what my husband has been telling me for months. The pictures turn out better if you keep you elbows down while taking them. He's right. I didn't have a blurry picture among all that I took. I should listen to him more often.

I wasn't the only one taking advantage of the gorgeous day.

I have never seen cherry blossoms in person and they were truly breathtaking.

"Downtown" by Petula Clark always gets me going when I need it. I found this version on YouTube. I really got a kick out of the dancing dudes. Enjoy!

Another Sleepover

The girls slept over again Friday night. These are Hellena's shoes. No tennis shoes for her.

They brought some Krispy Kreme donuts (my favorite), strawberries and a Korean snack. We ordered delivery for dinner. We had a great time again.

Below is a favorite video of mine from the 80's, Tracy Ullman's "They Don't Know."

Yogahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I really thought with two months of yoga under my belt I would:

1. Be able to sit cross-legged for more than 3 minutes (sometimes I can go 5 minutes).
2. I would be able to do the lay on your back with shaking your hand and legs in the air exercise for 20 minutes like the other 70+ year old Koreans. I can last about 10 minutes tops.
3. Be able to tolerate being smacked on my back for 5 minutes. No, I have my 72 year old buddy help me out and he is very gentle.
4. Be able to walk triumphantly home, ready to take on the rest of my day. Instead, I hobble or stumble home and immediately lay on the couch for a good hour to recoup.
5. Tolerate pain better. Nope, I'm still a wuss when it comes to pain.
6. Be able to twist and turn all the ways a Korean can. Now I truly think we are just built differently. I don't think I ever do some of the moves I see in yoga. Don't get me wrong, I try but my body just doesn't bend that way.

Thursday's yoga had me wiped out for most of the day. One of the day's exercises was standing in place with your arms and head swaying listening to drums chanting. This exercise lasted about 20 minutes. I was really worn out by then end of class and ready to drink my cup of tea and exit when one of the main instructors grabbed my hand and put me in another room. Oh no, there would be more today.

She had me lay down on a cushioned mat and then proceeded to press into certain points all over my body. Some of the places felt like a knife going in and she wouldn't stop even when I tried to get her to. This went on for about 45 minutes (a lifetime) and finally she ended with taking her hands and running them parallel to my body about 4 inches above my body. She said this was taking out all the toxins.

I don't know how I got home, I was in pain all over. But I must admit after a few hours, I felt better than I have felt in a long time. I don't know if this will be occurring regularly but maybe they are trying to build up my pain tolerance. Who knows. Now I understand the saying "No pain, no gain."

I am really curious now what yoga in the U.S. is like. I've never taken yoga before but I will continue when we return to the States.

The Korean Cleaning Lady

My cleaning lady comes every Tuesday with a bright smile on her face and dressed to kill. No old, sloppy sweatshirt and sweats for her. Her makeup and hair are always impeccable. Her English is limited to "Hello, how are you?" These are some of the shoes she has worn to my apartment.

This shoe is very typical to what Korean women are wearing. High heels and designed to get noticed. How they run without falling I don't know. I could barely walk in them.


In comparison, these are my shoes. I'm on my way to yoga today wearing a t-shirt and jeans. My hair is combed, not styled. I do put makeup on but just a touch. I'm definitely an American.

Hellena

Hellena. She is kind, thoughtful, caring, considerate... There aren't enough words in English to describe her and I feel so lucky that she came into my life. We will be friends forever. This is her last Tuesday as we worked on our maedeup in a coffee shop in Seoul.


She spent weeks on this belt for our maedeup class and gave it to me as a present. I tried not to accept it, knowing all the work she put into it but she insisted. This is her wearing the belt.

The Final Frontier in Maedeup

This final session of maedeup is preparing us for the test. We are taking all the knots we have learned, perfecting them and incorporating them into larger, more complex knots like these three knots. The one above we did started in class on Saturday and I finished it today.



I still have a long way to go until my knots are perfect but my teacher is thrilled that I've stuck with it and she is very proud of me.



This was the knot we did the first week of class.

I had a pretty uneventful ride into Seoul (not that I'm complaining) until the subway. Across from where I was sitting was a lone seat. At the next stop, a husband and wife entered the subway car. The wife immediately went for the empty seat only to be shoved out of the way by her husband. He took the seat and she stood in front of him without saying a word. I don't know what her expression was at that point, they were directly in front of me. After about 5 stops, the seat next to him opened up and she promptly sat down. I was then in clear view of the venomous looks directed at her husband. After another 4 stops, he got up and took her arm and they left the subway car.

I was so outraged for her and I'm glad that for once I kept my mouth shut and stayed out of it. If it were me ,I would have exited the next subway stop and left him on his own. Lucky for me, my husband would never treat me in that manner.

Love Korean Style

A common sight in South Korea which always makes me wistfully sigh. This leads me to an interesting fact about Korean dating. What's an important thing a Korean needs to know about a potentional boyfriend/girlfriend? What they do for a living? What do they enjoy doing? What kind of family do they come from?

Blood type! Every Korean knows their blood type and it's an important consideration when dating. Personality traits are matched with blood types. This is a concept that has it's origins in Japan. Rh factor plays no role and the Koreans I spoke to didn't even know their Rh factor.

Here are the characteristics for the blood types:

Type O: Outgoing, very social, energetic, confident, strong-willed, proud, dedicated, extroverted, realist, risk takers, stubborn, self centered, highly motivated, natural leaders and they do not like to take orders. They make friend easily. They have a short attention span. They start projects but have trouble finishing and give up easily. They always say what is on their mind and like to be the center attention.

Type A: Obedient, careful, sympathetic, polite, honest, loyal, self-sacrificing, tend to avoid confrontation and are uncomfortable around people. Shy, withdrawn and they never feel like they fit in. They are very considerate of everything, hesitant to change, can be indecisive. They are very creative and the most artistic.

Type B: Goal oriented, strong willed, cheerful, optimistic, active, sensitive, kind, forgetful, unorganized, energetic. They do not like restrictions nor do they care about social rules or customs. They tend to be workaholics and like to do things at their own pace. They have a strong personality and are adventurous. They also like to get their own way. They also tend to stick to a goal and follows it through to completion.

Type AB: This is considered the worst blood time. They are considered loose cannons. They can have personalities of both Type A and Type B. Social, easy-going, sympathetic, laid-back, unpredictable, flexible, artistic, moody and brooding. They can be both introverted and extroverted. They can be shy and sometimes bold. They are good at spotting problems and skirting them. They get bored easily. They never take things for granted. They make a good critic and analyst. They are good with money. Think with their head and not their heart. They can also be viewed as two-faced.

There was a time when companies divided their employees in work groups based on their blood type. No one would work with the AB group.

I know the character traits of my blood type hit pretty close to home. How about you?

Garbage Picking in South Korea

I was on my way to yoga class when I spotted this table in the garbage. I took a closer look and saw the workmanship. I had to get to class but I was hoping it was still there when I returned. After class, I rushed home and it was still there. I called Curt (hubby) and told him I wanted to take it. He didn't care but only worried where would we put it. Please, that was the least of my concerns. So I went up to the guard to make sure it was really meant for the garbage. He left his post and came down to the garbage area with me. I pointed to the table and he gestured that I could take it. Really!!! It wasn't as heavy as it was large. He saw me struggling to get a good grip on it and he just took it from me. He carried it all the way up and into my apartment. Can you believe it??!! It's 4 feet long by 32" inches deep. It sits close to the ground like normal Asian tables. It is a little beat up but well worth it.



This is a picture of the top. It is just gorgeous.


Close up.

This reminded me so much of my childhood when I would garbage pick with my sisters. That was back in the day when people didn't use plastic bags for their garbage so you could see what they were throwing out. My mom still has knick knacks that we garbage picked over the years. We also lived near a radio station and their garbage was amazing. Lots of 45's (remember them) and record albums. Also promotional posters. I wish I would have saved some of that stuff.

I'm going to keep my eye out now when I pass the garbage here in South Korea. You never know what treasure you might find.