Gyeongbokgung Palace-경복궁

So, I've decided that now that I've been here a year, it really is about time for me to go see all the touristy sights around Seoul.

I started with Gyeongbokgung, one of the big palaces in Seoul.

When you go out of the subway to get there you end up in a big median facing a statue of King Sejong. He invented the Korean alphabet and is just generally really well liked here.



To my right was the American Embassy, which I think I maybe wasn't actually allowed to take a picture of. It's not a very pretty building but I guess it's good that I finally know where it is!



Then we discovered that there is a massive "Story of King Sejong" museum beneath his statue. I actually didn't figure out much of his story from the museum but I did get to write my name in hangeul (the Korean alphabet) on a piece of rice paper. Tourism!



Then you have to cross a massive road to go through Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the palace.



When we were there, there were many people in what I assume were traditional costumes doing something with flags. I think it was maybe something like a changing of the guards.



We showed up too late for me to dress up in Hanbok and take pictures so I had to settle for this picture of me as a guard.



The grounds were really pretty. I especially liked all of the carp in this reflecting pond.



Most of the buildings looked more or less the same to me but I do really like the colors in Korean traditional architecture.



Here I am with my zodiac statue.



More reflecting pond action.



I liked this pagoda or whatever it is.



Evidence that I am in Asia!



And some more.



So now I've done something cultural in Korea. Mostly, I just wish I had done all of this when the weather was better and the scenery greener but oh well.

Happy One Year in Korea Anniversary to Me!

I made it a year!!! Great success.

Thanksgiving!

We celebrated American Thanksgiving in pretty high style at Heidi's. There was an impressive array of luxurious western food and beverage products.

Here is Heidi, the lovely hostess, preparing some delicious vegetarian chili.



Here is the spread. Fried chicken, vegetarian stuffing (made by me), red cabbage, pasta salad, vegetarian and meat gravies (made by me), mashed potatoes and homemade bread.



Kelly Katharine and Katie hitting the wine.



Marina, also on the wine.



Shane preparing a luxurious and pretty dangerous vodka redbull concoction.



Sarah getting the buffet ready.



Nicole and Jon chilling in the living room pre-meal with some luxury-style American snack products and Sarah's deviled eggs.



Continued chilling.



And some more.



The group finally enjoying the bounty.




And the night ended at the cave bar in Hongdae as usual.



Hooray for expat holidays!

Farm Field Trip

A few weeks ago we went with the kids on a field trip to a farm. We got to pick sweet potatoes and gather chestnuts. It was actually pretty fun.

Here is the entrance to the sweet potato farm.



Some of my kindergarteners digging up the potatoes.









On to the chestnut gathering grove.





We were pretty close to North Korea I think. There were guard posts disguised as trees all over.



Much barbed wire was to be seen.



Then we had lunch at some sort of statue park and the kids got to play in the leaves.

FC Seoul-World Cup Stadium

A few weeks ago I went to a soccer game at World Cup Stadium. FC Seoul won, so that was exciting. Mostly, though, I would say World Cup Stadium is noteworthy for the beautiful bits of nature that surround it.

The main entrance to World Cup Stadium.


It's really big. They said that there were 45,000 people there that day and it didn't seem particularly full.



The FC Seoul fan section. There were many fireworks. I feel like only in Korea is it considered reasonable to bring fireworks into soccer stadiums.



Fall!



More fall!



Getting to World Cup Stadium Park requires that you climb any number of stairs. But once you get to the top it looks just like the midwest at night! It was a markedly weird experience for me.

Happy Pepero Day!

So today, 11/11, rather than being Veterans Day, is a Korean holiday that vaguely resembles Valentines Day. What is weird about it is that the entire holiday is really just to celebrate one brand of chocolate covered cookie sticks. They aren't even that good really.

At school it was mostly just a big mess. Give an entire school full of children an unlimited supply of cookies and chocolate and of course it's a nightmare.

But no worries, Laura Teacher received plenty of Peperos to send to everyone for Christmas!


I really want one of these signs but don't really know how to ask for one.



The bounty from the kids at school.



There are massive stands of Pepero products at every convenience store.