Korea: Homestay

The best way to get to know a culture is through interacting with the locals. I did this in Romania, Malaysia, and South Africa, and now in Korea and Japan as well. A couple weeks ago I went on a homestay with a Korean family here in Seoul. The family consisted of a mother, father, daughter, and son. They were really nice and welcoming, and very interested in America and improving their English.

I arrived on Friday night, and first thing was dinner. It was just the mom, daughter, and myself as the father was at work and the son was at a sports activity. The mom made 불고기 (bulgogi) which is thinly sliced beef marinated in a secret Korean marinade (I suppose I could just google it, but why ruin the illusion?). Anyways, bulgogi is really really delicious (almost as good as 만두, mandu!).

Meals in Korea are often served communal family style. As in, all of the food is served on the table and everyone eats directly out of the dishes the food is served in. There are some exceptions; generally rice is served in portions or meals with rice (like 비빔밥, bibimbap, rice topped with veggies, meat, egg, and chili sauce). What I found interesting, though, is that even drinks were communal. I guess it’s a way of not being wasteful.

After that we just relaxed for a while until it was time to go to bed.

The next day was children’s day. We started with a family breakfast. Everyone was there, the mom, dad, daughter, son, and myself. Breakfast was half Korean, half American. Going with the not wasting theme, the left over bulgogi made another appearance along with rice and other typical Korean dishes, croissants, cheese, and jam (I happily had some American and some Korean food for breakfast)

Cultural note: Asian cultures don’t differentiate between meals the way Western cultures do. It is completely normal to find savory dishes like rice, noodles, or bulgogi at breakfast. Rice is typically served with every meal. I have found this to be true in 3 Asian countries now.

After breakfast we went to the Seoul Museum of History. There were games set up outside and special shows inside in honors of Children’s Day.

The son trying  his luck at ring toss, he makes it, too!

Kids running through the fountain at the Seoul History Museum on Children's
Day, with a moon bounce set up in the background. Oh to be a kid again!

After the museum we made our way towards the city hall area for lunch and a stroll along the river. Currently there is an even called Hi Seoul going on which is a big internaitonal event in connection with the World’s Fair. As such, there was an international fair near the river that day. I got to see the booths of some of my favorite countries, but couldn’t find the US booth.

The Paraguay booth at the Hi Seoul Festival, 5/5/2012

<3 Malaysia!

Outside the South African booth at the Hi Seoul Festival, 5/5/2012

Boerewors, yummm! (But it made me miss SA!)

Ach! Dis 'n faantastiese braai! (This is a fantastic braai) (A braai is a South
African barbeque)

Seoul is a really beautiful city. For such a metropolis, there is a lot of greenery. Down by the rivers this is especially true.

Balloons over the river to make it festive for Children's Day and Hi Seoul

I think he is famous?

The daughter and son looking at the decorations

The son leaves a message on one of the mirrors along the
wall of the river.

The shadow cast by the decorations over the river

A tiger head poking out from under the bridge

So beautiful, and right in the heart of the city!

Under one of the bridges that crosses the river

The whole family!

We walked along for a while and then got on the subway to head to the father’s parents house to celebrate Mother’s Day which was the following week. The whole family was there: the grandmother, grandfather, dad, mom, dad’s 2 sisters, their husbands, and I believe brother, and a whole bunch of grandchildren. It felt like Sundays back home with my own family!

As is traditional in Korea, we sat on the floor. One of the aunts cut up watermelon. She gave me two slices. Then, as Koreans will do, as soon as I started eating my second slice gave me two more. It is a matter of honor. You continue to be fed until you stop eating. This was one of those cultural things I had to get used to. If you want to stop eating you must leave food in your bowl or on your plate, otherwise it just keeps coming. Also, it is rude to turn down food or drink, so  if you finish and are offered more you have to take it.

Anyways, then the children got out a Korean board game, Yut. Each person or team has four tokens to move around the board. The board is a 6 x 6 square, with X through the middle. The diagonals are 7 spots each. If you land exactly at an intersection (a corner of the very middle of the board) you can take a short cut. Four Yut sticks are used to determine how far you move on your turn. The sticks are split so that there is one flat side and three rounded sides. The sticks are flipped in the air and the number of flat sides up determines how many spaces you move. The first person to clear all of their tokens off the board wins. 

That’s a simplified explanation.

After the game we all put our shoes on (shoes off as you enter a Korean/East Asian home; don’t forget to bring slippers if you visit!) and went to dinner.

We had meat that is cooked at the table, lots of panchan (Korean side dishes that are never ending), and, for those still hungry at the end, naengmyeong. I was too full for naengmyeong.

On the way back to the house after dinner the mom asked me what my favorite Korean food was. I, naturally, answered 만두 (mandu, Korean style dumplings). She smiled and then pulled out a package of mandu from the bag she was holding. I returned her smile as she said they were for breakfast the next day.

I went to bed happy and exhausted after a long day of eating and walking outside.

My third and final day I woke up to a mound of mandu for breakfast. There were two types: 물만두(mul mandu, steamed dumplings) and 감치군만두 (kimchi kun mandu, fried mandu filled with kimchi). Both were absolutely delicious (says the girl obsessed with mandu).

Then the mom’s little nieces joined us for a trip to watch the royal procession. It used to be for when a king passed away, but now it is cermonial. There were a lot of people there, so I would like to go back to get a better look, but I enjoyed watching the procession anyways.

The royal procession goes on for quite a while, this is just a selection of the
pictures I took that day!

Not sure what it is, but it seems important....

It should be noted that I once spent 2 weeks in Romania trying to get a picture
of a horse drawn carriage but never succeeded. Ever since it has been one of
easiest things to do.

He must be important...he gets carried (rolled) along

We walked around a little bit after the procession before heading back to the house for a 라먄 (ramyan, ramen) and 김밥 (kimbap, Korean sushi) lunch and board games. One of the older nieces was there at this point (about my age) and we played a version of kerplunk (the game with marbles and sticks that you try not letting the marbles fall) except with hanging monkeys instead of marbles. We got pretty good at transferring the monkeys so only the last person ended up with any.

Kimbab and Ramen lunch, yumm!

Trainer Minnie Mouse chopsticks!

To finish off my homestay we had more mandu for dinner (two meals of mandu, such a good day!), as well as eggs and salted ham (essentially spam, but I feel like it was different?). It was like breakfast for dinner, which pleased me very much.

Pokemon in Korea? I think yes!

Breakfast for dinner

With mounds of mandu :)

It was then time for me to go. The whole experience was wonderful. I liked seeing the way a Korean family operates from the inside. I think what will stay with me the most is the meal time experience. There is so much of Korean culture (and many other cultures) that revolves around the way meals are eaten. Particularly in Korea is the communal family style. The community focus is everywehere in Korean culture, so it is only fitting that it extends to meal time as well.

Well, I’ve now said a lot, so I’ll leave off here. Thanks for reading!

Japan: Off to Osaka

We concluded our day in Kyoto, said farewell to our tour guide, and boarded the bus for Osaka. First thing's first: a walking tour of Korea Town. All in all Korea Town in Osaka is essentially the same deal as China Town back in the states, except Korean, obviously Here is the photo tour version of the afternoon:

What's more naturla to see walking through
Japan than a Romanian flag? (^.^)

Thomas the Tank Engine on a subway sign (this one's for you,
Brady!)

Our Osaka tour guide...

...with his new friend that we found on the side of the road

My attempt at capturing the essence of Cherry Blossoms...

...through the gate, down the street, very pretty...

...Ok, I'll admit; iPod photos aren't the best. But
they're good enough for me.

Our guide's favorite temple

More of the temple

Around the world in 30 feet...Hawaii, Korea, Italy

Entering Korea Town!!

Notice the Korean styling on the side of the building

Street food, just like being back in Seoul!

Bicycles in Japan, naturally...and look! Cherry
Blossoms! How b-e-a-u-tiful <3

That evening, in honor of our friend Stephanie's 21st birthday, we went out to dinner. We tried to go somewhere super Japanesey, so we started with すし and てんぷら (sushi and tempura). Then we continued on to get ﾗｱﾒﾝ. To order, you go to a machine (pictured below), select your meal and put money in it, then the machine gives you a slip with your order and any change you need. You take that slip around the corner to the pickup window where you exchange it for a number. When they call your number you take your food and enjoy. SO much ﾗｱﾒﾝ!　おいしい！(Ramen! Delicious!)

We then went outside and there was a river boat coming towards the bridge we were on. They were having some kind of dinner party, playing what sounded like fun music. (Note to self, go on a river boat dinner party cruise with good music)

After hanging around as a group in the streets of Osaka for a little bit, about half the group went back to the hotel to get some rest/energy to go out later in the evening. The rest of us proceeded to walk around the area a little more. Here's what we discovered:

The Japanese idea of "American" food: Spaghetti, omelettes,
eggs & toast, parfaits. Okay Japan, okay. At least it's not every
unhealthy thing known to man!

It's like back in America!...

...except I'm pretty sure these would be a law suit
waiting to happen...

Advertisements in Japan

except I'm she's definitely NOT Japanese...

Everyone loves Christmas Elmo!

(These are for you, too, Brady)

After walking around for a bit we went back to the hotel. The others may have gone back out later, I'm really not sure. But I was exhausted after having traipsed around Japan for two full days on very little sleep (as a reminder, we left Yonsei at 5:30am, so I only got about 2hrs of sleep, and none on the plane, then breakfast this second day was at 7am). So I explored the SINGLE room I had in the hotel (two nights in Osaka in my own room, happy Katie was happy ^.^)

"Don't forget your BREAKFAST. It is very important for your
health. Japanese & Western style Buffet. 7am~10am, China
Table"...Japanese and Western food and CHINA table? Ok...

"DOCTOR: Touch #9. Please contact the front desk. FIRE:

Touch #9. Immediately contact the front desk if a fire should

break out in a room.

*In case of accidents such as a fire, announcement is made in

the entire building and our employees will guide you to the exit.

Follow their directions and move calmly. EMERGENCY EXIT:

The lication of emergency exit in case of emergency is indicated

at the inside of room door. Please confirm it when you first enter

the room"     

I just love foreign translations (^.~)

 Stay tuned for the next post: The Most EPIC Easter EVER!!!

Oh, and it should be noted that I wrote this post while listening to KPop. Crystal is really trying to get me into it.