Just a couple of tour guides in Korea: May 13-23, 2013

Trying to fully convey life in Korea through skype dates and emails is almost impossible. There are countless incidences throughout the day that add to the whole experience, but that are simply too hard to fully explain in words. That's why having my family come visit for around 2 weeks was incredible! They were able to experience all the "only-in-Korea" moments first hand. I feel very fortunate that my parents, aunt, uncle, and cousin were all able to enter our Korean bubble and tour around this country. After living here for around 9 months, Ian and I were feeling confident in touring them around and making recommendations for the times when we would be at school.

So the gang (and with five of them visiting, it really was a gang) arrived Monday May 13th in the afternoon, and luckily that day my principal let me leave work early to go and meet them at the airport. All day, I was excited for them to land. I tried to explain to my students that my family was coming to Korea, but every time I began, no joke, they busted out singing Psy's new song. I am not sure if this song is popular in Canada, but we hear all the time in Korea. It was hilarious how at the point when I would tell my students who was actually coming, I would list "my mother, father,.." and then all the students would yell "Gentleman!" (the new Psy song) and start to sing it. Anyways, fast forward to the afternoon, my family was able to easily spot me at the airport as I was holding a giant, neon sign. This reunion was great! That night, they had their first subway experience, toured around our tiny apartment, and we all went out for none other than Korean BBQ - samgapsal with a side of kimchi stew!

Reunion at the airport!

Throughout their trip, most nights Ian and I would either go into Seoul or they would come meet to us in Incheon. These are the highlights! The photos are a mix of mine, tato's, mama's, and teta's.

- Tuesday May 14th, we went out for dinner and had dak galbi (stir fried chicken and veggies cooked in front of us, also one of my favourite meals here) in Myeong-Dong before walking over to see Miso, a traditional musical performance. Unfortunately, Ian had a last minute mandatory staff dinner he was told about that day, so he could only join us after dinner for the show. I didn't know what to expect going into the theater, but my co-teacher, Jiyoon recommended it, and it was absolutely amazing! The costumes, dancing, set, and music were all fantastic! My cousin, Adrian was even called up on stage to play a traditional Korean game called Paengichigi, which basically consists of spinning a plate on top of a stick.

Dak galbi dinner before the show.

Miso performance. Adi was called up on stage!

- Wednesday May 15th, the gang went on a tour to the DMZ, and since the tour ended late, we didn't meet up with them after.

Mama and teta at the DMZ.

- Thursday May 16th, since it was Buddha's birthday on Friday, Ian and I had the day off work. We decided to take advantage of the long weekend and went on a trip. We took my family to Sokcho, a small town on the east coast of Korea. Ian and I went to Sokcho during Korean Thanksgiving in October, and we loved it there. After school, Ian and I met up with my family and after a quick bite, we made the trek eastbound. We chose Sokcho, so that they would get a feel for a smaller, more rural town, to see the exotic fish markets, and to go hiking in Seoraksan National Park.

Many Koreans asked Tato to be in photos with them. 

Tato now posing with a few Koreans. This is the new 'it' pose over here.

Mama and tato in the secret garden in the palace near their place in Seoul. We called it the C palace (Changdeokgung Palace). 

Bruce and Adi walking around Insadong.  

- Friday May 17th, we spent the day hiking and taking in the beautiful views of Seoraksan National Park. We wished happy birthday to the giant Buddha in the park and toured around the temples. It was so nice to see the paths and temples decorated with colourful lanterns. We also wrote a message on a tile that will be used to make a roof. We did two big hikes and took many photos. Thanks Buddha for the great long weekend! Our first dinner in Sokcho was also quite the experience. We went to the recommended BBQ buffet restaurant and met one of the grumpiest waitresses. Maybe it was the language barrier, or other cultural difference, or maybe she was just having a bad day, but whatever it was, it was hilarious watching her shuffle around the restaurant with fully done makeup and a scowl, getting upset at me for not holding tin foil properly, and taking the cabbage away from teta. We all had a good laugh about dinner. Adi, Ian and I later went out for drinks and played Korean drink roulette - which we play when the drink menu is entirely in Korean. We all take turns randomly pointing at an item and drinking whatever they bring out, which certainly makes for an interesting order.

Wishing Buddha a happy birthday. (Adi, Nadia, Ian)

Wishes to Buddha on future roof tiles.

Tato and I in front of the giant Buddha. 

Adi looking out on the beautiful view of Seoraksan National Park.

Tato and mama on the hike.

Scaring mama

Hike #2 - Ulsan Bawi

Adi and Ian on the final stretch of 800 stairs!

so many stairs....

Made it to the peak!

BBQ dinner at the restaurant with the grumpiest waitress. Yes that is toilet paper on the wall, the napkins for the table.

Signed the wall at the restaurant.

- Saturday May 18th, all of us went to Naksamsa Temple, located along the sea just thirty minutes south of Sokcho. The temple was beautiful, but it had actually been destroyed five times either by invaders or fire, so there was not a lot remaining from the original structure. It was still nice to walk around the grounds and to grab a delicious seafood pancake (Pajeon) lunch along the water. That afternoon was spent walking around Sokcho and the fish markets. We decided to steer clear of any grumpy waitresses that night so we picked up various foods from the market and ate at our hostel.

Naksamsan Temple

We did take the path of making a dream come true - and our dreams did come true! Adi, Ian, and I got ice cream at the other end :)

Disco Buddha

So many Buddhas...

The gang in front of another Buddha.

In the land of women with visors, teta and mama just had to try it out.

 - Sunday May 19th, this was the only rainy day of their whole trip. After walking around the coast and up the lighthouse, we took a bus back to Incheon. That night my co teacher, Michelle wanted to take us out for dinner with her family. We were a group of ten including her husband and her daughter, so she made a reservation at a Korean BBQ place, where we sat on the floor and had a delicious duck meal! Later on, her and and her husband invited us back to their place for tea and dessert. It was so nice of them to host all of us.

Up on the lighthouse in Sokcho.

Group shot in front of the restaurant after the dinner with my co-teacher, Michelle and her family.

Back at Michelle's place, her daughter, Daisy wrote us a such a sweet note.

 - Monday May 20th, Ian and I met up with the gang at Myeong-Dong for a dumpling and noodles dinner, followed by a short trip to a dog cafe, before heading to see a Korean cooking comedy show. Again, I didn't know what to expect with the show, but it ended up being a very fun evening! It is the longest running show in Korea and it tours internationally. Nanta has performed in 282 cities in 45 countries.

At the dog cafe, before the show I played with this cute little guy! 

- Tuesday May 21st, after school we met up at Incheon Munhak Stadium to watch a Wyverns baseball game. Baseball games are very different in Korea, as they include cheer leaders, dancing, and organized cheers. All our cheering paid off, the Wyverns won 6-2! Teta and my mama seem to have really enjoyed the cheering, even if it was all in Korean, they just made up their own lyrics to go along.

Wyverns baseball game!

Adrian, Ian and I with our friend Steve, who we met back in orientation. 

Standing and sitting crowds.

- Wednesday May 22nd was their last night in Korea, so I decided a dinner up on the Seoul N tower would be a nice end to the trip. After taking a cable car to the base of the tower, we walked around for a while looking at all the love locks. We then ate at Hancook Neo Korean restaurant and it was delicious! It was my first time being at the tower at night, and I really liked overlooking the city and the way the tower was lit up.

Looking up at the lit up N Tower.

- Thursday May 23rd, my mama, tato, and teta came to visit me at school. Minutes after arriving and giving a tour of my office, we were told the principal and vice principal wanted to have tea with us. After the meeting with the principal which consisted of mostly smiling and nodding, we had some time to walk around the school and chat with a few of my students. On Thursdays, I usually teach an after school class that focuses on conversation, so this week's class was turned into a talk show with three guest stars. It was a great activity, having my students brainstorm questions and then taking turns asking my family using a chopstick as a mic. After the interview, we left and headed for the airport. It was sad saying goodbye, but this time I know I will be seeing them again soonish.

I am so happy that they came to Korea and I was able to travel around with them. Thanks for making the trip! We miss having you guys in Korea! For now, I have hung up my tour guiding hat, since they were our last visitors, but just to put it out there, we still have an open invitation! We love having visitors :)