My Boyfriend's Best Friend's Wedding

As you know last weekend was my one year anniversary with JH. We had something special planned but set it out for Sunday, since Saturday was his best friend's wedding.

If you haven't read about or been to a Korean wedding than boy are you missing out! They certainly are an entertaining and fascinating ritual to observe. For one they aren't what you would assume done in a traditional Asian style. Their full of flashing lights, loud music and a crowd of people who tend to not even pay attention.

I have been to a few Korean weddings so far and found this one to be the most sentimental. I guess mostly because I knew the bride and groom well, but also since there were a few personal touches added in. All right, well let's get to the pictures shall we.

I started taking pictures around the time when the bride and groom were getting ready to walk down the aisle. It took them a little while, because the flower girls weren't paying much attention.

The audience was waiting for the moment to get started.

What a cute couple!

Usually at the wedding hall there are staff members who make sure everything goes smoothly. Practically, whenever the bride made a move someone was behind her to smooth out her dress trail.

Finally, they walked down the aisle and even through a large heart shaped thing.

When they got to the end the priest talked a lot and I assume the two said "I do." But for the most part the audience was talking through it. The seated members seemed to be the most quiet, but there was a large crowd in the back that was chatty. When I first went to a wedding ceremony in Korea I couldn't grasp that people were talking and treating it like some big social event. Sure you socialize after the ceremony, but not during. Ah well, since everyone seemed okay with it, including the bride and groom I have come to the conclusion that it's just a part of it.

Then after the priest was finished speaking the couple's friends came up onto a stage and sang two songs for them. It was fun and a little silly but also very endearing. 

I put together this little video as en example of this moment.

After the singing the couple then proceeded with some traditional rituals such as bowing to the parents and cutting cake. Then finally they were finished and they walked back down the aisle, where friends and family were awaiting with poppers. 

We then sat around and relaxed while it was picture taking time. First, all the family members took a picture with the bride and groom, and then it was the friends and work associates. At that time JH and all his buddies left to participate. I stayed behind and admired the view.

After the pictures it was finally time for the buffet. Another typical aspect of Korean weddings is the buffet dinner afterward. I didn't get any pictures (oops!). But just imagine a buffet with a lot of Korean food, cakes and sushi. Yep you got it! The couple pays around 45,000 Won for each person who participates. Yet they get that money back because it is mandatory to make a money donation to their new life. 

The couple is now in the Philippines on their honeymoon and probably having a great time. They certainly had a lovely wedding and I wish them the best of luck in their new life together.

After School Dinner Party

This week is proving to be very social. On Monday, one of my new coteachers offered to cook dinner for us. I had a good time and the food was really delicious. Also it was nice being welcomed into a Korean's house.

Yesterday after work (Wednesday) all the teachers attended a dinner party. We were taken out into the boonies to eat at a barbeque duck restaurant. Let me just tell you it was very good. Although since on my walk to work I see the ducks in the river I felt a little guilty.

Ah ~ well.

It was snowing that afternoon. The restaurant's walls were clear vinyl but sealed up tight around the foundation. At the back was a large heater and the floor was heated as well.

This is the duck meat waiting to be barbecued.

These are the side dishes.

It's a fun experience these social gatherings for the school, you know. Because more and more people show up and more and more food gets put on your table. 

We got to cooking our duck meat and the Principal greeted everyone and said some welcoming words.

 

That is me next to the coteacher who served us dinner Monday. The picture below (on the right) is my other foreign coworker and on the left is another coteacher (I don't teach with her) who is more like the English coordinator. Both are fun to work with.

Time pressed on and eventually it turned dark outside, soju got passed around (I didn't have any), people gave their bows and it was time to go home.

Compared to the after school dinners I experienced at my other public school this was a lot more friendly and yummy. We mostly ate sashimi at my old school, where this one seems open to different tastes. Also my new Principal is a really warm and nice guy, all of which makes things seem to fit together nicely.

2S2 January Wrap Up

2S2 (2nd Saturday at 2pm Community Meet Up) was a Smash Hit!

First you had the option of joining up with the Seoul Eats crowd for Tteok Mandu guk. As we ate some good food and got to know each other it was fun to be around enthusiastic folks. We met up first outside Anguk station exit 1 and waited for the group to gather.

Afterward we followed Dan Gray to the Koong Restaurant which is tucked in one of the alleys in Insadong.

 

 

I only got Mandu soup...no tteok (rice cakes). It was fairly good where as the broth was tasty and the mandu were well seasoned. I also enjoyed the chopped up scallions inside the soup.

It was time to go and so we all got up and pitched in some money for the bill and headed out the door.

We followed Dan around some more as he looked for the Hotteok street vendor. I got one (like a donut) and it was a great warm winter treat.

Then it was nearing 2pm so we headed to the Twosome Cafe near Anguk station to meet up with the 2S2 crowd. Some of the folks from the Seoul Eats crowd were interested in this group so they came along to check it out.

With more than 10 showing up we took over the far corner of the cafe. After introductions we followed with the book exchange. I was surprised how many books showed up, courtesy of Chris's girlfriend.

I took home a short story compilation book that I have been reading and enjoying very much.

Soon enough people started schmoozing and getting to know one another. A training session of GoStop was started with some folks.

 

Then we decided to get up and go somewhere else. Rob knew of a spiced wine place in Samcheondong, but when we got there the place had turned into a purse shop. The shock on Rob's face was hiliarious. As was the sight of all of us staring at the purse shop and laughing at it.

We trucked on and ended up at a traditional tea house called In Ooo In.

On the way though we spotted a few distractions.

There were some ice sculptures on display leading to an ice sculpture museum.

It was a bit chilly so we moved on to the tea cafe. Inside we warmed up and talked about many things revolving around life in Korea.

On the left is Yuzu tea, which is very delicious and on the right is jujube tea which was not very delicious. Guess which one I had?

This is buckwheat tea which is.....delicious!

Again it was time to take off. Some of us were ready to head home or to other venues, while others were hungry. For those hungry ones we headed over to a SoonDubu (tofu) place that was also conveniently nearby.

And then as all things have a beginning this 2S2 meetup finally met its end. I needed to find the bus back to my neck of the woods so I said my thankyous and goodbyes and took off.

It is my hope that those who attended this session of 2S2 will come out to more. Also I still hope to start one in my area someday. Finally if any of you want to contact 2S2 with suggestions or questions go to the blog, allright.