This past weekend the foreign teachers in town went on a Cultural Excursion. Since I had been in South Korea for about 2 months now, I was excited to get some culture shoved at me!
So we got our schedules and headed off...
FIRST STOP..Hanok Village! This village houses traditional Korean Style Houses. The houses are on stilts, and the "village" also houses a copy of a portrait of one of their beloved Kings. I would say which one it is, but I didn't write it down so I don't remember :(
BUT while the village hosts the copy of the portrait, the ORIGINAL was also on display while we were there (it's only on display for 15 days!).
While in the village, we also learned about the crazy "naked, tickle tree" I don't know what it is scientifically called, but that's what I named it. It is a tree with no bark, so it is slippery. They also appear in Japan and that Japanese name translates to "Monkey fall down tree" tree - since it is slippery the monkeys can't climb on it. A really weird/unique thing? You can tickle the tree! Yes, like a "tickle-me-elmo" but a tree! If you rub the white spots of the trees, the branches will shake. Now, it's not like when you PUSH a tree and it wiggles. I mean, if you scratch the spot, the branches shake. It is CRAZY!
Inside the portrait museum in the village we were able to see some of the history of South Korea, and sit in a "King's Chair". We learned interesting facts such as the background that can ONLY be painted in the King's portraits, and how you can look at the armor of the higher class members and determine if they are a Prince, King, etc. (Spoiler - its all about the dragon claws!)
After Hanok Village we had lunch and then it was ARTS & CRAFTS!! We made jewelry boxes out of Rice Paper and Seaweed glue.
While we waited for our crafts to dry, we headed off to learn how to make traditional Bibimbap - MY FAVORITE!!! We watched the teachers make it, and then they let us loose to do it ourselves. We split into 2 groups and got to it! Afterwards, we all scarfed it down and it was DE-LISH-OUS!!!
Then we were off to get some more culture...WEDDING TIME!!! We learned about a traditional Korean wedding, and even got to act it out!
Here's are some traditional wedding traditions:
1) Before the wedding, the Groom gives the Bride a wild goose. If a wild goose can't be found, a duck will do.
2) During the wedding, a chicken is placed in the North and South areas of the ceremony. The heads of the chickens look like they are wearing a hat like a person of power would wear.
3) When the Bride and Groom see each other at the beginning of the ceremony, the Groom faces the West, and the Bride faces the East (they are facing each other).
4) The wedding has 3 parts...
Part 1 - The bridesmaid and groomsmen fill a cup of alcohol and the Bride/Groom raises it to the heavens, and the earth, and then dumps it on the floor.
Part 2 - The bridesmaids/groomsmen fill a cup of alcohol and the Bride/Groom take a sip and then they switch and finish it. This shows that they CAN finish the drink, but choose to share it instead.
Part 3 - The bridesmaids/groomsmen pour alcohol into a cup that is split in two with a red/blue ribbon attached. The red/blue ribbon is tied at the end to the other color to connect the cup. Red - women, Blue - men. The Bride/Groom take a sip and then switch it again. Then they join the cup back into one cup. This shows that men and women started as one, then were divided, and are now whole again.
Then the wedding is completed!!!
Since we had an actual couple in the group, we had them "get married" in the Traditional Korean way.
After the wedding, we all were given different Korean clothing to wear to see what it was like. Of course, I LOVED this!
Once the modeling was over...the day was done. It was time to head back to Jinan...but what a great day!
Ghamsamnida,
Apes :)
So we got our schedules and headed off...
 |
| Hmm...what are we doing today? |
FIRST STOP..Hanok Village! This village houses traditional Korean Style Houses. The houses are on stilts, and the "village" also houses a copy of a portrait of one of their beloved Kings. I would say which one it is, but I didn't write it down so I don't remember :(
BUT while the village hosts the copy of the portrait, the ORIGINAL was also on display while we were there (it's only on display for 15 days!).
 |
| You are here...Hanok Village |
 |
| Tickle Tickle! |
 |
| Queen Apes - you can tell by the background that I'm royalty |
 |
| Raw materials.... |
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| Look what I can make!!! |
While we waited for our crafts to dry, we headed off to learn how to make traditional Bibimbap - MY FAVORITE!!! We watched the teachers make it, and then they let us loose to do it ourselves. We split into 2 groups and got to it! Afterwards, we all scarfed it down and it was DE-LISH-OUS!!!
 | |||
| Traditional Bibimbap....Love added by Apes |
Here's are some traditional wedding traditions:
1) Before the wedding, the Groom gives the Bride a wild goose. If a wild goose can't be found, a duck will do.
2) During the wedding, a chicken is placed in the North and South areas of the ceremony. The heads of the chickens look like they are wearing a hat like a person of power would wear.
3) When the Bride and Groom see each other at the beginning of the ceremony, the Groom faces the West, and the Bride faces the East (they are facing each other).
4) The wedding has 3 parts...
Part 1 - The bridesmaid and groomsmen fill a cup of alcohol and the Bride/Groom raises it to the heavens, and the earth, and then dumps it on the floor.
Part 2 - The bridesmaids/groomsmen fill a cup of alcohol and the Bride/Groom take a sip and then they switch and finish it. This shows that they CAN finish the drink, but choose to share it instead.
Part 3 - The bridesmaids/groomsmen pour alcohol into a cup that is split in two with a red/blue ribbon attached. The red/blue ribbon is tied at the end to the other color to connect the cup. Red - women, Blue - men. The Bride/Groom take a sip and then switch it again. Then they join the cup back into one cup. This shows that men and women started as one, then were divided, and are now whole again.
Then the wedding is completed!!!
Since we had an actual couple in the group, we had them "get married" in the Traditional Korean way.
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| Newlyweds!!! |
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| Sending love your way....Korean style! |
Once the modeling was over...the day was done. It was time to head back to Jinan...but what a great day!
Ghamsamnida,
Apes :)
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