Korea entdeckt

I have been, for the past few days, discovering beautiful, chaotic South Korea. It's gotten way to cold here today to spend too much time outside (although I did explore the Namdaemun (남대문) market which right next to the gate which burned down last year --it's still being repaired). I'll try to put lots of observations here, but no promises :P. And pictures are here:

Seoul and Geojedo, South Korea

My original purpose for coming to Korea was in fact the wedding of two friends from the Institute. The wedding was last Saturday and was wonderful from a personal but also cultural level. The beginning was a traditional western wedding including white dress, rings, and cake--and even some very European food. However, after the friends left and the bride's family dispersed, the groom's family (and luckily us too) went back to the grandparents' home in Seoul for a traditional Korean ceremony. The groom's family is rather traditional (especially the grandfather), so it was 1. unusual to have a traditional ceremony, 2. very surprising for us to be able to see this ceremony as foreigners and therefore 3. probably a once in a lifetime experience (and I am so thankful, because I know there were a lot of people closer to the newlyweds who weren't able/allowed to see this ceremony.

There were a number of traditional gifts from/to the family including (here) fruit, nuts, dried meat, rice cakes, and tons of other interesting things:

From Seoul and Geojedo, South Korea

(The three of us from the Institute with the newlyweds in their traditional garb.) The backdrop here was amazing and has significant numbers of animals and plants that represent health and longevity. The rest of the ceremony was very neat too, with lots of ceremony and deference payed to the elders of the family.

After a relaxing stay in the Shilla hotel--one of the best in Seoul--we spend the day around Seoul (eating!) and then headed out to Geoje Island to the hometown of the bride. The hotel we stayed in that night was also amazingly well furnished and, after a late night of karaoke in the town, a morning trip to the basement sauna and a big traditional Korean breakfast were in order. Then we had a wonderful tour of the island and another big meal (way too much to eat, in fact) including some interesting things: raw fish (what I think was sole), sea snails, raw oysters and mussels, conch, and lettuce, seaweed, and pickled cabbage for making wraps. And of couse, all meals are accompanied by gimchi (often spelled kimchi, but pronounced with a g!), rice, and fun spicy/garlicy things to add flavor:

From Seoul and Geojedo, South Korea

After our intense eating experience, we had a nice surprise trip out on a fishing boat owned by the restaurant owners. The people here are amazingly nice, did I mention that? I have some movies that are better than the pictures.

I'm breaking. Back with part two soon!

Reise in Korea

I'm doing fine here, but I don't really feel like writing anything right now--there is just too much to say. Instead, take a look at the pictures I've uploaded and maybe I'll get to writing about this amazing trip sometime soon!

Seoul and Geojedo, South Korea

In Korea

I made it :D. Now to get a nice 8-10 hours of sleep so I can be alive tomorrow...

Abfahrt kommt bald

Eek! I'm leaving for Korea in less than 2 days!

I'm pretty excited, but also a little freaked out as I don't know exactly where I'll be staying the first night. Or what I'm getting the couple whose wedding I'm going to. Or how I'm going to survive in a country where I don't know the language. Lots of other 'ors' too.

Fortunately I talked to a collegue here from Korea who told me not to worry about learning Korean--apparently I shouldn't even try to speak it lest I want to be laughed at. And most of Seoul should have English around. Also, I am apparently not allowed to talk at all about Japan! There is still a lot of tension between Korea and Japan because of some of the atrocities of the second World War and the fact that Japan never apologized. Apparently even small comments about Japan can really get you in trouble--like beaten-up trouble. And China isn't really a good topic either. Apparently Koreans are a bit defensive about Chinese claims to some of their traditions. So yes, I will be on the defensive :P.

But I'm excited!

Eine kleine Post

Just a quick post from mid December:

I took this on the most amazing day--probably the last day of autumn. It was cool enough to warrant gloves, but not so cold as to prevent comforatble biking. I found this little hill in Bovenden, about 5 km to the north of Göttingen. It was totally surrounded by brush, but a steep little path led up to the top where there were a couple of graves, trees, and a bench. With the sun shining, the wind blowing, and countryside around me, it was the perfect way to end fall and get ready for the long, cold winter that is now upon us. I've decided that when March comes around I'm coming back here to enjoy the first day of Spring.