Two Kids
That's what it feels like Kristofer and I are: two sad kids without our mommy. Gloria left to go back to the states yesterday, and even though Kristofer and I had fun yesterday finding records, visiting sugary-cute stationary stores, and eating crepes --we no doubt miss mommy.
It's no wonder we miss her with all that we did: enjoy first class service at the Mokpo Adam and Eve motel (free internet, double beds, jacuzzi tub, free laundry service, full amenities), eat our way through the delicious food in Mokpo (chicken kal kuk su, mandu kuk, bossam, kalbi), ride bikes along the boulevard, meet little kids fascinated with Gloria and her curly hair, get oogly-eyed by random men, serviced with free bread at the bakery or a gift from the taxi driver (Kristofer was enjoying his Korean funk cd in the car so the driver gave it to him), explore the Buddhist temple at Jirisan while dodging the odd locals (it felt like the Twilight Zone down there), strip down in the public Korean bathhouse/sauna, and finally chillax for the last night VIP style at the Hyatt.
Kristofer and Gloria said they loved my little south-western city, Mokpo, much more Seoul. That the food was delicious and people much more down-to-earth and warm in Mokpo. It was nice to hear that especially after all the Koreans in Seoul or outside of my region look down on Mokpo even though they don't know anything about it. Since it was their first time visiting East Asia, never mind their first time visiting Korea, they had so many questions and interesting or funny observations, that they helped me to see Korea with new eyes again.
"Why do Koreans give and receive with two hands?"
"Who are the old men on the currency?"
"What kinds of crops and fields are those?" (while looking out the train window)
"Why are their graves round mounds?"
Those were just a few questions whose answers I just sort of let slide myself. They had so many more questions about the history that I hadn't thought about. It kind of woke me up to what I should be investigating and seeking out while I'm here. Perhaps I had been letting work become the better portion of my time here. I've been lucky to visit other countries, see Koreans in all of those other places (apparently there's even a decent-sized community of Koreans in the town over from Accra in Ghana), and then to bring people who are close to me back here.
Anyway, there is so much to write. I also have lots of pictures to post, but it is 4:30 pm and Kristofer and I still have not moved from our hostel room. We're in Seoul, and like I said, were tired and a bit sad Gloria left. I've also been sick with lots of nausea. It could be side effects from my anti-malarials or just anxiety about going back to teaching, but it's hard to tell because the anti-malarial side effects cause anxiety as well. When I am better I will post more...
It's no wonder we miss her with all that we did: enjoy first class service at the Mokpo Adam and Eve motel (free internet, double beds, jacuzzi tub, free laundry service, full amenities), eat our way through the delicious food in Mokpo (chicken kal kuk su, mandu kuk, bossam, kalbi), ride bikes along the boulevard, meet little kids fascinated with Gloria and her curly hair, get oogly-eyed by random men, serviced with free bread at the bakery or a gift from the taxi driver (Kristofer was enjoying his Korean funk cd in the car so the driver gave it to him), explore the Buddhist temple at Jirisan while dodging the odd locals (it felt like the Twilight Zone down there), strip down in the public Korean bathhouse/sauna, and finally chillax for the last night VIP style at the Hyatt.
Kristofer and Gloria said they loved my little south-western city, Mokpo, much more Seoul. That the food was delicious and people much more down-to-earth and warm in Mokpo. It was nice to hear that especially after all the Koreans in Seoul or outside of my region look down on Mokpo even though they don't know anything about it. Since it was their first time visiting East Asia, never mind their first time visiting Korea, they had so many questions and interesting or funny observations, that they helped me to see Korea with new eyes again.
"Why do Koreans give and receive with two hands?"
"Who are the old men on the currency?"
"What kinds of crops and fields are those?" (while looking out the train window)
"Why are their graves round mounds?"
Those were just a few questions whose answers I just sort of let slide myself. They had so many more questions about the history that I hadn't thought about. It kind of woke me up to what I should be investigating and seeking out while I'm here. Perhaps I had been letting work become the better portion of my time here. I've been lucky to visit other countries, see Koreans in all of those other places (apparently there's even a decent-sized community of Koreans in the town over from Accra in Ghana), and then to bring people who are close to me back here.
Anyway, there is so much to write. I also have lots of pictures to post, but it is 4:30 pm and Kristofer and I still have not moved from our hostel room. We're in Seoul, and like I said, were tired and a bit sad Gloria left. I've also been sick with lots of nausea. It could be side effects from my anti-malarials or just anxiety about going back to teaching, but it's hard to tell because the anti-malarial side effects cause anxiety as well. When I am better I will post more...
posted by jacquelina at 3:53 PM
1 comments
