Day 12

Day 12 already!! This has been a wonderful journey for us all. We depart tomorrow afternoon. I think it will be a bittersweet departure...the kids all miss their homes and the things they are accustomed to, but they also will miss Korea and all the things they've learned to love.

Today was very enjoyable. We were presented at the Gunpo City Council. During the question and answer time our students asked a lot of very questions-I was quite proud. We presented the City Council with a framed piece of petrified wood from the Saddle Mountains.



One of the most enjoyable things about the day today was just hanging out around Gunpo with our new friends. Korean ice cream shops are the best!!



In the afternoon, we had a fabulous calligraphy lesson. The teacher explained to us that to become an expert at Korean calligraphy, one must study for 10 years! The kids really enjoyed themselves and will all have souveniers to share. There were lots of smiles and laughter during this activity.























At the end of the day, we had our farewell dinner with Mayor Ro. It was nice to meet him. His greeting spoke of the bond between Grant County and Gunpo and how much he values it. We hope to see Mayor Ro and his delegation in Grant County very soon!



See you all again next week when the Gunpo delegation visits Grant County!!

Day 9

Friday brought us some very warm temperatures and high humidity. We kind of lazily went through our day to beat the heat. We ended the day with the bus breaking down! It wasn't a big deal as we were close to Gunpo and were picked up in a jiffy.

We started the day visiing Suwon city and the palace there. We were able to see an excellent military demonstratioin.


This is just one of the acts to the demonstation that we saw. Very impressive!





Tricia and her student share a moment of laughter in the shade at the palace.



After touring around Suwon's famous wall, we went to a beautiful restaraunt for dinner. It has wonderful grounds with gardens, a wedding chappel, and this quaint water wheel and pond.

This weekend, the kids are all doing various activities with their home-stay families. It should be a lot of fun for them!

Day 8

To begin, I want to give you all a link to a really nice article printed about us in the Columbia Basin Herald.
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/07/25/news/news02.txt

We started today by attending a small folk village in Seoul called Namsamgol Traditional Folk Village. http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/seoul/110
Here, we were blessed with the opportunity to try on cultural Korean costumes, as well as learn about the different parts of the costumes, how to sit and stand properly, how to properly hold our hands, and how to properly bow. The girl's bow was quite tricky and if one had too long of legs, it was difficult to not tip over! It was a really rewarding experience.





















Next, we had a lesson on traditional drums. Yes, even those of us who are musically challenged were able to carry a tune! The teacher was excellent and had us sounding great in just a short time. We were even doing the body movements while playing!



After lunch, we were treated to a fun afternoon and evening at Lotte World Amusement Park. Even though the lines were a little long, the kids had a good time hanging out together. The parade was fabulous! http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/403

The theme park is actually near the Olympic Stadium and village. That was neat to see in person.

Day 7

What an exhausting, but great day! We began this morning a little earlier than usual and headed into Seoul for a tour of the Gyeongbok Palace. Here is a link for you to read a little history about the palace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyeongbok_Palace

Our tour guide talked about the different sections of the palace, including the King's house, the Queen's house, and the King's mother's house. Upon arrival, you might think it's just a small site with one or two buildings, but in reality there are layer upon layer of beautiful buildings and statues.


The King's Throne


The tour guide explained that this pavillion was used by the officers for parties and other social events.


Apparently after crossing through this archway, one never grows old and never dies.


I like this picture because it shows just how large the palace buildings are.

After the palace tour, we visited the Insa-dong culture street shopping area. This district is very much an artists haven. Many of the shops catered to the artists and there were even artists on the street doing caligraphy. Mostly though, this is a great place for people to find the things that will most remind us of Korea and at a good price. We had a wonderful time here!


We had a short rest on the bus and headed to the Myung-dong market area. This is a fascinating place where there are a mix of street vendors and regular shops. It is a lively, vibrant area and a fun place to shop.


We had a treat on the way home and rode the subway back to Gunpo.

Day 6

There are no pictures to post today...we went to a HUGE waterpark, and I promised the girls I would not take pictures of them in their swimsuits.

The park was very intersting. The kids had a first-hand view of how immodest this culture is in a spa or locker room!! Always a learning experience wherever we go.

Day 5

Yesterday, Sunday, was a day with our homestay families. The kids did various things. Some stayed close to Gunpo and shopped or went to a movie, and others traveled into Seoul. Some of us were treated to a trip to the Seoul Tower. Here is the Wikipedia link if any of you are interested in seeing it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul_Tower

Today, we began by visiting the Sanbon Technical High School. First, we were able to see a sampling of what they call "English Camp". This is a free summer offering to children in Gunpo where they can come for about 10 days of English lessons. The class we observed had children in about the third grade, many who were experiencing English for the first time.







Next, we were taken on a tour by around the high school. Sanbon Technical High School gives kids who choose to not go the route of college prep an opportunity to learn a skill or a trade. When they graduate, the students receive a certification for their chosen field. (Students can still go on to college if they choose.) They are most proud of their automotive section. 100% of the kids trained in Sanbon's program get a job offer. The students also compete with others from around the world for excelence in their particular fields. The Sanbon staff was very proud to show us their various awards. It was a look into a different perspective on education. Very intersting!



After lunch, we traveled a short distance to the Yongin Folk Village. Our guide told us that the exhibits in the museum were gathered from all over Korea. Entire homes were moved in to create this great place! We learned about the different types of homes between the northern and southern parts of Korea, and about how they heated and cooled the homes. We were also able to see homes of commoners and those of wealthy people. One exhibit showed the crockery used to make kimchee. At the end of the day, we watched different kinds of demonstrations-musical, equestrian, acrobatics, and even a traditional wedding. I think we all learned a lot about the early days of Korea.


Here, Joey is hoisting buckets that were used on olden days to carry fertilizer to the fields. Can any of you guess what the fertilizer was?


We were able to see a Buddhist Temple. It was beautiful!


Emily and Lacey happily demonstrate a flogging at the justice display.


Military Arts Demonstration

Mud Festival Redo

I finally have things working again! Here are the Mud Festival pictures for your enjoyment...