Jeonju Hanok Village - 전주한옥마을

The Jeonju Hanok Village is located in the city of Jeonju, in Jeonbuk Province. What makes this village unique is that it is home to more than 700 traditional style Hanok houses, while the modern city has closed in around it. While you may think that since it is a traditional village you will feel like you've went back in time, I am not sure this is the case. Yes, the housing is traditional in style, complete with ondol style heating in the floors, the upturned/tiled rooftops, and its architectural style, but everything else about the village is very modern.

During my visit the village was filled to the brim with locals and foreigners alike; there were shops in every possible space available and everything from food, gifts, and traditional items were being sold. The village was especially popular for those who wished to rent and wear hanbok (traditional clothing) for a period of time. Everywhere you looked you could see young, old, couples, and entire families in traditional dress of the utmost beauty. Overall the village was teeming with people and energy, vendors, street food, and trinkets. Another noticeable thing on the streets were the hair clips that are currently in fashion, which are very simple, but different.

Basically they consist of a simple clip with some random plant, insect, or object glued to it, usually that sticks up high in the air. The most common hair clip of the day was a heart attached to a spring. The heart would therefore bob and sway around in the air above your head. Many many people were wearing these clips, children, couples, and even the elderly, so naturally they became popular with the tourists that were there as well.

There are also several foods that this area is known for. Bibimbap (비빔밥), which literally means mixed rice, is a common Korean food that is popular here and that is quite simple to make. At the village there is a building made specifically for cultural experiences in cooking, where you can prepare your own bibimbap. Here I was able to learn how to cook and prepare my own bibimbap meal. It is a simple dish that consists of rice, egg, pepper paste, and typically 8 different vegetables of various colors, all of which have symbolic meaning.

Ultimately however, the vegetables used is up to the makers preference and taste. This dish is unique in that not only the commoners, but also royalty would traditionally eat it. Simply put, preparing the dish mostly consists of frying the vegetables you use individually in salt, soy sauce, sesame oil, or a mixture of these and arranging them in the bowl. 

There also are choco-pies sold in Jeonju that you cannot buy anywhere else in Korea. These are the bomb. The one I tried was a chocolate cake with something similar to marshmallow creme and jelly on the inside, while the cake itself was coated in hard chocolate. Eating these could spoil cheaper choco-pies for you, as you will prefer them to those you find in convenience stores. Lastly, there were some really neat cotton candy vendors here as well. They took cotton candy to the next level, making characters and animals out of the treat. There were huge also, which made for some very happy children, and a very happy me. :)   The cotton candy was so large that my entire head disappeared behind it.  Check it out!

The surrounding area is enchanting as well, with mountains surrounding the entire area in the distance. There are many areas to hike in these mountains that are great for getting some fresh air outside of the city. Exploring some mountains is on my to-do list for the future.

Address: 29, Eojin-jil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do
전라북도 전주시 완산구 어진길 29 일대  

For more information click here.

Taekwondo ~ 태권도

Tae - to kick or jump
Kwon - fist or hand
Do - the way          
"The way of the hand and foot"

This is what I learned and experienced for the first time recently. I found the whole experience enriching. I learned that taekwondo consists of four steps: the basics, patterns, sparring, and breaking. In my first introductory class I learned only the beginning of the basics, but it was enough for me to certainly consider trying it again. I also learned that my body has a long way to go before it is flexible enough to preform some of the warm up stretches used prior to practicing...

I learned the term Kihap - 기합 or "spirited shouting" which literally means "to gather ones energy." This is the sound that we were taught to make as we punched or kicked. At first yelling felt strangely out of place and awkward, but after becoming accustomed to it I found it to be rather stress relieving and fun.

We had fantastic instructors who came to work with us all. They seemed to really enjoy taekwondo as as a hobby and lifestyle and had a fun time teaching foreigners how it was done. They put a lot of enthusiasm and energy into their demonstrations and instructions. So I would like to thank the people of Arirang Taekwondo for their hard work and instruction. I would definitely recommend them for interested learners.

Click here for more information on the history and tactics of Taekwondo

Cultural Exposure and Weekend Tourism - Daegu & Goryeong

After a week of study, lecture, and learning my first weekend since training began finally had come.

View from Haany University, Daegu.

During my initial arrival to orientation prior to training our group had participated in one cultural experience day. During this time we toured the campus in which we were staying, Daegu Haany University or 대구한의대학교. My first experience was during personal exploration prior to our planned events, where a group of my fellow classmates and I discovered this bell tower at the highest point on campus. It had a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside, and with the sun shining the bell tower itself was quite nice to look at. The sun shone on the tower and made the colors of the paint really stand out. Since it is still winter the grass was all yellow and dead, but it was warm out nevertheless and it was enjoyable.

Loving the view of the mountains in this area

 Following my exploring our group went to the cultural center of the campus and this is where we painted traditional fans, followed through with our very own tea ceremony, and were able to try on Korean traditional dress, also known as Hanbok ( 한복 ). I thought that these were fun experiences for the first day. The fan painting went well. I learned that it only takes the slightest drop of water to make your colors bold once painted. Some of the people I sat near were real artists with their fans and I think they turned out very impressive. Mine I figured was about average. There were two choices of fans to decorate. The first was one of a tiger, which is considered a guardian that keeps away evil spirits and brings good fortune. The second fan, which I chose, depicted a magpie and lotus flowers. The magpie is believed to be the deliverer of good luck.

 The tea ceremony was very historical in feel. We were all dressed to traditional custom, learned how to sit, to bow properly (which for females is the right hand over the left, hands in your lap), and how to make tea the traditional way. We prepared green tea during our lesson and it tasted fairly good once we had finished even though my partner and I spilled a little by accident.








For the following weekend we went on a cultural trip to Goryeong and saw the Daegaya Museum and Tourist Park. We also were able to take part in the activities of making our own traditional taffy, bracelet making, and rice cake production. The museum, which we visited first, was filled with historical artifacts discovered nearby from the tombs of long since passed rulers and noblemen from the Baekje period ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baekje -for more information). In the tombs, the deceased ruler would be buried along with their belongings, including livestock and living servants for the journey to the afterlife. Among the relics unearthed in this area were shoes, jewelry, armor, horse tack, tools and pottery, and crowns. It was impressive the substantial amount of pottery that seems to have survived from this period, and the craftsmanship that went into creating it.

Ancient Pottery

Chicken Shaped Pottery

Solider Uniform

Gilt-Bronze shoes

Kayagum 가야금
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayageum

Earrings

Crown

These tombs can be recognized as large dome shaped mounds most often up in the mountains in this area. Just the vast number of mounds visible spotting the mountainside goes to provide an impressive view, along with a powerful message of loyalty, power, and the influence those people must have held.

A look on the inside of a typical tomb

All the round domes across the landscape are tombs.

Following the tomb exhibit I was able to eat some great food, see some fun exhibits at the tourist park, interact with some locals, and do more traditional activities. The theme park, which was located across the street from the tomb exhibit, held a large supply of interesting exhibits on Korean culture and history. At one point a friend of mine and I were able to take a nice family photo for a Korean family who was also visiting the park that day. It made me feel great to be able to do something for them, regardless of the language barrier between us. We also had a touch and go conversation with one of the elderly women working at the park when she saw the group I was in swooning over the cardboard cut out of Kim Soo-Hyun which was in the park. She seemed to be surprised that people from the USA knew and recognized the famous actor and asked us about where we were from and what brought us to Korea.

Lunch :)

 This is the process of making Korean taffy...first it is a very sticky substance that you must pull with a partner and stretch. It will eventually become thicker and change to a lighter color. Once it reaches this lighter, smooth color and becomes long when pulled it is then laid out on a sheet like seen here. Then after several minutes it will harden, and when struck, will then break  into small bite-sized pieces of taffy. Now personally, I think that taffy is tasty, but at the same time I find it to have a fairly plain taste. It certainly isn't like any taffy you would find being made where I am from. It is less sweet, less flavor-filled, but still good in the traditional hand-made sense.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeot

 This here is the traditional style bracelet that I tied. It took a very patient woman to teach me the correct way to knot it, but I eventually caught on. Then when she returned I understood most of her remarks of... "Oooh, I like it. Very good. Pretty~" as she tied the final knot for me and fastened it to my wrist, even though she spoke in Korean. I was the first at my table to finish, so I was proud of myself.

Here is the process of preparing the rice cakes we made. The glutinous rice mixture is placed on a moistened wooden platform, where it is beaten with a mallet until it reaches the appropriate consistency. Then it is cut into strips, rolled in soy powder and eaten. It is tasty, but can be considered somewhat plain compared to other foods that I have tried. Watching my group members compete to beat the dough was very entertaining also.

Following the field trip, I went back into downtown Daegu later that evening with a large group of people to sight see. I also managed two firsts that night. My first Korean club and my first overnight Jimjilbang ( 찜질방  ). The club was fun indeed. I had never been to a club before, even in the USA, so seeing one in Korea was exciting with all the lights, dancing, and napkins being thrown in the air like confetti. I didn't even need to drink to have a blast. We ended up being out until nearly 5 am that morning.

Second Hotel - Daegu

That's when we practically crawled into the Jimjilbang, changed into the provided clothing, got out mats and went to the communal sleeping room. We were so exhausted we skipped the spa part, all of us not ready to embrace the naked policy of the spa quite yet, even if genders are separated. We crashed on our mats on the floor and passed out within minutes, only to be up three and a half hours later to get breakfast, shop, and wander the town for the remainder of the day.

Sleepy People

Arrival/ Seoul

Preparing for my arrival to South Korea was a lengthy process to say the least. When you are moving abroad for a year, trying to figure out what to pack is difficult, especially when considering the seasons and the weather. A majority of the things that I packed were clothes, but I also brought along some cheap "American style" food like packaged noodles, Oreos, Combos, and Jif for those moments I am sure to miss home, as well as some comfort items like bedding and decor. I flew out of Chicago's O'hare International Airport and took a direct flight on Korean Air to Incheon International Airport. Personally, I love Korean Air. This was my second time using Korean Air to travel to Incheon and I find that their service is great and the stewards/stewardesses are very kind. The food the airline provides is tasty as well, and they typically offer about 3 different kinds of food for the various backgrounds of the passengers. For traveling Economy the flight was clean, comfortable, and easy. Arrival at the airport can be confusing if you are a foreigner; I personally ended up in the wrong immigration line and so it took me a little longer, but everything is pretty well marked. When in doubt, follow someone who seems to know what they are doing. https://youtu.be/TKTdCxaVb88 (Video of my landing).

 With the amazing transportation system in Korea, it is quite simple to get around as long as you can make sense of the maps. So naturally, being able to at least read Hangul is a big help. Another important amenity is a transportation card. You can reload money onto it and it works for the subway train, bus, and taxi. It is easy and quick to use, which is beneficial since the city runs at a fast pace.

닭갈비
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakgalbi
This link has more info on this dish.

My friends are saints and were waiting for me at the airport. They helped me with my luggage and we went out to eat. I cannot ever express how truly thankful I am to them for everything they do for me. My heroes.

This photo shows my first meal after arriving in Korea.  달갈비, Dakgalbi in English, is a hot dish of diced chicken, rice cakes, gochujang (red pepper paste) sauce, onions, and in my case, cheese. Lots of delicious melted cheese. This particular restaurant was located in Myeongdong.

My first day in Korea I visited some familiar places from my previous trip and walked along the Seoul City wall to Naksan Park for a breathtaking (double meaning...as it literally took away my breath to walk the hill...) view of the area. The walk may take some effort, but the view is definitely worth the energy. From the top there is an excellent view of the surrounding city as well as the mountains in the distance. Since I come from an area far from any mountains, I find them to be particularly amazing.  This picture below isn't taken from Naksan park, but rather from atop one of the buildings at Hansung University which several of my friends attend. However, the view is the same since they are right next to one another.

View of Seoul from Hansung University Campus

After the long walk, we of course ate. Seoul has such an abundance of restaurants and street vendors for reasonable prices that finding something tasty to try never takes long. For lunch we went out to eat near the university and had pork cutlets that were very crispy and flaky. The dipping sauces were also unique and delicious, with original, strawberry, and banana flavors. Personally, the banana sauce was my favorite. The slaw side with beet sauce was also quite delicious.

Udon and Pork Cutlet
맛있어요~

Of course, since I was visiting friends in Seoul all we seemed to do was walk around, visit and catch up with one another, and eat. There was lots of eating occurring. With that in mind...here are some of the mouthwatering things I ate on my second full day in Seoul...

Lunch: Sushi!

Sulbing - My all time favorite.
Green Tea and Chocolate Flavor

For dinner I had Ginseng Chicken Soup which was very warming and delicious. The chicken itself is stuffed full of rice, nuts, and seeds. There was also a nice warm broth which made it extra appealing since the weather was chilly. This particular restaurant was located near Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁 (Exit 2 from the subway station). It was a popular restaurant with many people. More traditional in style, it was a shoes off kind of restaurant where you sit on warm mats situated on the floor. This last photo shows the directions for the use and set up of all the bowls and sides that are served with the meal. Especially since I am a foreigner I found this guide to be helpful. Of course, that couldn't be the end of my food for the day. I truly believe Seoul is a city that never sleeps and so cafes and street vendors are naturally a must go stop for your after-dinner cravings. First I stopped at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate place for some dessert. I picked out some chocolates that piqued my interest. The roses I found especially beautiful, so I had to try them. A little chocolate can go a long way though. It was all very good, but too much chocolate left me more than a little thirsty. You would think that after all of that I would have had enough but no, not long after I found myself in a market nearby that was filled with vendors selling food. So of course when I saw some 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) I had to try a few. That pushed my limit, and I ended up being so stuffed with food I found myself regretting it later on that night. It was so good though...

Search Results

떡볶이 (tteokbokki)

Rocky Mountain Chocolate

For my final day in Seoul  I found myself eating...once again...with my friends as I said goodbye to them. This time the food was 안동찜닭 or Andong Jjimdak. This was another, naturally, delicious dish of food that I very much enjoyed. Basically it is made up of chicken, vegetables, and a soy based sauce. My particular dish also had dumplings and rice cakes in it, topped with sesame seeds.  

안동찜닭 - Andong Jjimdak
For more info...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andong_jjimdak

After the food I ended up in a  노래방, or a karaoke room, for some good ole singing with my friends. I like the karaoke rooms a lot since they are more private. You can choose your songs and sing alone or with a group. It is a great place for some good fashioned upbeat fun, or just to show off your singing skills, or lack of them. The remote control can be very confusing though since there are so many options, so it takes some time to figure out. Probably is best to memorize what the buttons are. After my final bash I had to take a bus to Gimpo Airport and take a 50 minute flight south to Gimhae Airport in Busan. From there I took a shuttle to Daegu to begin Orientation and training for the program I was accepted to for teaching EFL.