My host family was wonderful. The really made me feel like home and broaden my knowledge on modern Korean culture. Jeans and I have a lot in common because we both like to do outdoors activities, but also go out on the town with friends to dance, play arcade games and be silly. Jean's Mother created all of her wall decorations. She has a passion for interior design. While Jean and I were out messing around at the park her mother cooked us a delicious dinner, with calm soup, veggies, pork and rice. While we were hanging out at the park Jean is really good at inline skating, me not to sure about. After dinner Jean and I went to Bupyeong to hang out in the hotspots she likes to chill. I had a great time eating bugs, tasting mangula, dancing, taking pictures at the photo booth, and just hanging out with Jean in her element. I really hope Jeans will be able to come to the States so I will be able to return the favor and show her around my hometown. I had a blast and wish I had more time too spend with them. This experience was so much fun!
Today we went on a tour of Central Park, which was actually a museum about how the city of Incheon has grown over the years. Seeing the city build up is amazing to think they did this a few years. After we finished with our tour of the museum we walked around the outside of the building to see more fascinating infrastructure before we went on the tour of the river. It is really cool that Central Park is inside and outside. On the River we found some really interesting pieces of Art and people exercising along the banks. Next we went to lunch that was across the from Central Park. I had a chicken quesadilla with a salad on the side, it was very delicious! Next we went back to Incheon University to move our luggage and get changed for our meeting with the president. While everyone was getting changed I went with one of the students to grab some cold medicine for Melanie and I. She gave me a green pill (throat) and red pill (nose). She said that you take one a day and only if you have the symptoms. Apparently in Korea they only take medicine when it is absolute necessary.
At the meeting with the President of Incheon University, we had a few good laughs and many pictures. It was really nice to sit in the meeting and listening to what everyone had to say.
Now we are about to meet our Host Family. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I hope they do not get worried about my allergies when my eye starts water. I hope this medicine will make it go away. Tell you guys much more later!
We learned how to cook two traditional Korean dishes from a famous Korean cook and how to make rice cookies. Normally on cooking shows in America there is always butter and salt on the table of ingredients, but today there wasn't. Our instructor used honey, soil sauce and other spice. She said the veggies will give the dish more of the flavor. The Group I was barely used if add any extra sauces or spice on our dish and I think it came our decent. You could taste all the natural flavors of the main ingredients. Some of the other groups added a lot of soy sauce and used honey to counteract the taste. There dishes were not bad. They were more adventurous then we were, but I do not think my stomach could have handle the extra flavor while eating it for lunch since it was still being sensitive today.
While we were waiting on the rice to cook, so we could make our cookies we explored the rest of the building. Through out the building there were facts about the ingredients used in Korean food and traditional cultural facts. There were two rooms that had Korean Traditional clothing for kings and queens, so Kiera, Emily , Greg, and TJ played dress up. It was like a photo session they all had glamor shots and group pictures taken. It was a lot of fun!
Once the rice was cooked, we went back up to the kitchen washed our hands again to make cookies! Inside each cookie we placed a brown of white ball of dough. This what gave the cookie its flavor. These cookies were sweeter than sugar cookies, but they were bad. I had more fun making the cookies, than eating one. Maybe if my stomach wasn't being sensitive today I would have enjoyed the cookies more.
After learning how to make Korean Cuisine, we toured the park around where we cooked. It was beautiful! They had many beautiful sceneries like water falls, gardens, house with a pond around them and mock villages. In the mock village we saw where the wife would do chores and the back packs they would wear to carry crops back to there hopes. On our tour Melanie, Greg, Dr. Lopes, and I played dress up in Royal Korean Traditional clothing. The hair piece was really heavy, Melanie and I barely could most our heads with it on. These girls must have had really strong necks to how the hair pieces up. At least I know I would look funny if I died my hair black. Once we were done with our photo-shoot we stumbled upon what look like a see-saw that you jump on and try to knock the other person off. It did not seem very safe so we used it as a balancing scale. If I stand on the edge and one of the male teachers stand close to the middle of the see-saw then we are balanced! :-)
Next we traveled to China Town in Korea. What are the odds they had a China Town. I wonder if the restaurants had holes in the floors for toilettes and you need to provide tissue for yourself.... It every interesting how there is a catholic church in China Town, when China does not have a religious denomination, but Korean are interested in Christianity and other religions. After walking through China town we walked up hill to Jayu Park. This park had people playing chess beautiful flowers and historical statues for their war. Then we walked to Shinpo Street Market, where Mr. Constant, TJ, Emily, Greg and I purchased some spicy Chicken and chowed down on it. It was really good, but not when it gets in your eye. ;-)
After walking up hill everywhere we drove to the Fish Market. The founder there was bigger than I have ever seen caught in the Charleston Harbor. Also, it was entertaining to watch one of the octopus try to escape and knock of the basket sitting in its tank. I am so thankful my noise was stuffy because everyone complained about the smell except me because I could not smell anything ha-ha. I hope one day I will be able to catch fish as big as the fish we saw today!
Later after the Fish Market we went to dinner. It was delicious. Madame Dorsey and I had the same dish with noodles, mushrooms, chicken, greens and a kick of spiciness. I really enjoyed. While we were waiting on the food they gave us bread, Kimchee, and pickles. I do not know if it was because I was starving, but all three were very delicious!! The bread just melted in your mouth when you ate it!!!! Mmm Mmm good! ;-)
While walking back from dinner to the bus stop we saw a guitar shop and a statue of a girl playing violin that reminded me of some of my friends back at home, so I had to take pictures of them to share on the blog. I miss you guys!!
After a long night and a couple hour nap TJ, Melanie, Kiera, and I went shopping with Jinny in the Bupyeoung underground Subway station. At first we thought we were so late when we arrived to the station we missed Jinny, but thankfully she found us shopping because we were all worried we missed her. At the underground shopping area we found some great deals 5 dollar shirts and dresses, you can not pass up that sale! I bought a white dress, pair of black "flats", earrings and a t-shirt. Poor TJ had to shop me with us girls on his free day. While we were shopping we found some interesting sites. The first picture is graffiti. I bet you can guess where we found the second picture....any guesses??? Well it was at an earing stand ha-ha how would you feel if you this was the knew baby doll "Peirce me Sally Doll". TJ and I needed some munchies to hold us over till dinner while the other girls were still shopping so we went out to a dollar tree and we found SPAM in KOREA!!!!! I was so shocked because I thought they did not eat processed meat. I wonder if I ate it if it would taste the same... Hmmm... I am not that daring today to taste it sorry I can't tell you if it tasted the same or not.
After everyone was done shopping Jinny showed us a local Korean BBQ place to eat. It was a buffet of meats that we chose from and brought back to our table to cook! While we were waiting on the meats to cook we snacked on fried dumplings and fruit. After the meat was done cooking Jinny showed us how they eat Korean BBQ. They grab a leaf and place the meat inside with a veggie roll it up and eat it. It was like eating a lettuce taco even though I am not sure if that was a lettuce leaf, it was yummy!
Today we are headed to the DMZ. We had plenty of nap time on the buses because it took a couple of hours for us to meet up with our tour guide since Koreans are not allows to visit the DMZ, which I do not know the reason behind it but I think it might be because what is going on between North and South Korea. While we were waiting for our tour guided bus to depart I went with Madame Dorsey and TJ to Starbucks for them to get coffee and I split half a sticky bun. It hit the spot. The first picture on the left shows the uniforms that the parking attendance have to wear while working at this agency. Below that picture is our tour guide for the DMZ. Yes, he is Korean but he is a very lucky Korean because he was able to surpass going to the military at age 23 like the rest of the male Koreans do because he had to help take care of his mother and now works the tours at the DMZ.
Always back to the trip, on the way to the DMZ we stop to see the bridge of no return where people were able to across over, but never return to there home. Next to the bridge there were fences of ribbons with the people's names who crossed over when the bridge was open. Next we ate lunch and this was the first place we have had to take our shoes off. I am glad I have socks on! Lunch was really interesting. I love the bean sprout looking veggies and the mushrooms. I am not sure about the Kimchee; it shocked me because I thought it was a noodle not a veggie flavor. Maybe next time I try it, it wont scare me.
Now finally we arrived at the DMZ, the tour guides went over the rules and explained to us what is going to happen while we were there. After the first passport check we listened to a presentation given by a member of the United States Army explaining us the foundation of this area. Next we were able to see the first Checkpoint before North Korea fired there missiles into the ocean. I don't know how South Korean Soldiers are able to look at North Korean Soldiers all day long with out starting a fight. Thank goodness they can wear sunglasses to avoid direct eye contact.
After our adventures today, Kiera, Melanie, Emily, TJ and I went to Seoul with Jinny to go clubbing. The peak time the clubs here get popping was at 12 am. its seems like in America you normally see people hitting there limit at that time. In Korea people party from 12 am to 6 am, but in South Carolina it seems like the party start popping at 10 pm and goes to 2 am. Before we got to the club we had dinner at KFC where I had the most amazing chicken wrap. The clubs we went to were so much fun especially because we got in for free! THANK YOU JINNY FOR THE HOOK UP!! I think tonight we danced off all the food that we have eaten the entire trip because the music was so good you just could stop dancing and also there was not any chill out music it was all up beat dance music. The local there were so much fun, I really like the fact people dance next to each other, but in Korea the locals do not bump and grind. Its GREAT!!! After the club we went to Taco Bell to grab a bite to eat since we could not find a waffle. Tonight was so much fun. I think we all need a night to unwind and relax. Now s
