Nivard at the hospital

One of my co-workers Nivard had to go to the hospital to have surgery done. She spent three days and two nights in hospital and I stayed with her the first night. It was a very interesting experience, I think the pictures will say it all. The first picture is of Niva in her room with me. By the way this was an 'expensive' room.

Andrea's birthday

We went to a very tasty fish restaurant for one of my co-workers birthday. The meal was delicious as well as the cake afterward.

English village cont'

English Village is very picturesque...It is owned by the Korean government but run by the SDAs. One of the famous Korean soap operas is filmed there "Ggot poda namja" (Boys over flowers) dont ask me why the weird title. While we were there there were filming a scene and the korean guy is one of the actors in that movie. The other people are friends

English Village

Last weekend over 300 hundred foreign teachers that are teaching for SDA Language Institiutes all over Korea got together at Yangpyeong English Village for a weekend retreat. It was great fun although the days were long with training sessions. The talent show was awesome!!!

These were the grounds of the Kyoungbuk Palace, and the Folk Museum. We couldn't take pictures inside so these are some of the interesting things outside. This first one is kind of an altar, people pass by and add stones big or small to the mound. They then pray and hope that it is granted. The poles next to it is to keep away evil spirits. Since I was born in the year of the rooster, I took a pic with one, isn't it cute.

Insadong...traditional korean shopping area

After shopping in this really cool area we wer hungry and decided to find a restaurant to eat lunch. You don't get much more traditional than this. We were walking through some really tiny alleys that I would have never gone by myself. I was just following my students. While walking I spotted some fish heads hanging and greens drying outside one of the restaurants to be used later in soups and stews. When we got to our restaurant I had to ask if this was it, because it seemed like someones house and we were entering her kitchen. Apparently people do this all the time, open their houses for this kind of thing. I was hoping that it was at least not going to make me sick. It actually turned out to be a very delicious meal, we had lots of side dishes, and all was well. Another interesting day in Korea.

Interesting foods

Some other intersting dishes...this first one is some kind of shellfish in soy sauce, the next supposed to be chicken curry with rice(korean/indian style), the third is beef being cooked at our table, then another curry dish and other side dishes. I wish you all were here to see, smell and try these different foods. Of course those of you that know my eating habits know I don't try very many of them.