Before heading to Seoul, the Dents and the Warrens visited one final cultural attraction: The Korean Folk Village. It’s called THE Korean Folk Village, but I’ve heard there are many. The brochure says, “Happy coexistence with pleasant tradition!” Kind of the like the Korean version of Colonial Williamsburg, this village featured historical interpreters demonstrating what … Continue reading The Korean Folk Village brings Joseon Dynasty to life→
A short walk from the Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul stands the imposing War Memorial of Korea. The attraction provided us with an afternoon that was both solemn and ridiculous. First, the solemn part. Outside the building, we roamed through an exhibit of planes, tanks and other war vehicles from Korea and abroad. The building … Continue reading From the serious to the nonsensical: War Memorial of Korea→
My sisters both went to boarding school in Switzerland when my parents lived in Saudi Arabia, and Megan has maintained a friendship with her high school roommate, Sun. Now an actress in Seoul, Sun has met up with Meg a few times in Korea. Knowing how much I wanted to experience a Korean bathhouse (jjimjilbang), … Continue reading Naked in Korea (Jjimjilbang!)→
Hot on the heels of Vice President Joe Biden, Tony, Meg and I visited Korea’s Demilitarized Zone Saturday. Three weeks after Biden attended a ceremony for U.S. troops who died during the Korean War, we stood in the same spot as he did, surrounded on three sides by North Korea at the Joint Security Area. … Continue reading Korean Demilitarized Zone – the most militarized zone ever→
Just down the hill from my sister’s house in Korea sits a nondescript hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I can’t even tell you what’s it’s called. What I can tell you is that the food is delicious! Britt’s buddy Oliver – aka Slim (all the pilots have call signs) – is stationed here unaccompanied, but his wife, Heather, … Continue reading Beef on a Leaf – Korean Barbecue→
My sister Megan has been talking up the “Wine Train” for ages. She tried to sign us up for a tour, but it was cancelled. We think there was a train strike, but we’re not sure. The website Visit Korea describes the wine tour like this: Situated in Yeongdong (Chungcheongbuk-do), Wine Korea is the only … Continue reading Ain’t no Napa, but beggars can’t be choosers – Wine Korea→
When I told people we were heading to Korea for the semester break, well-wishers told us which sights to see, what food to eat, where to find the best skiing, how to get around on public transportation and so on. I smiled, nodded and thanked everyone for their tips. But there was really only one … Continue reading Christmas in Korea→
Korean children comprise about 30 percent of our elementary school’s student population, and quite a few of them study English as an additional language with me. They were excited to hear that Tony and I will travel to Korea for Christmas this year, and one little girl even made a one-page Korean phrasebook for me. … Continue reading Gotta love a gala: Korean National Ballet’s Gala in India→
As an EAL teacher, I spend a lot of time in the elementary classrooms helping kids who speak English as an Additional Language. Recently, I visited third grade, where students were writing narratives. The teacher had provided a framework, which students copied into their writing books: introduction, beginning event, resolution, conclusion. Next, children sketched an … Continue reading Korean math warriors→
Since starting my petsitting gig in August, I have been eager to share this experience with my family. My mom has been here a few times, and my sister, Megan, and her kids have visited, but I really wanted the whole gang here at once. Wendi, the farm owner, was traveling the week after Christmas, … Continue reading Funny Farm – Sharing My World with the Family→
