Although many of the days were taken up with lectures and Korean lessons, they were very kind to us one Sunday and we went on a field trip! We were taken to a Cultural Centre in Jeonju where we learned many different traditional Korean arts. Firstly, we were taught a basic Korean ‘Mask Dance’. Clearly my competitive nature came out and the guy decided that I was rather good and made me dance in front of everybody else! Some people also got to dance under a large Korean dragon.
Me with Nicole, Jarrod and Kevin.
For the day, a whole new class was formed and we were chosen to be part of 'Mike's Superstars'. We felt very special for the day.
Dancing with scarves in the traditional mask dance.
Jarrod and Trevor doing the dragon dance (or playing the train game?)
Me with the instructor for the mask dance.
Garry in his monkey mask!
We then were involved in a traditional Korean wedding – Garry got to be best man and I got to be mother of the bride. Garry did not know what his costume was to be before he volunteered for this role! Pretty does not even cover it.
A traditional Korean wedding with Garry as best man and me as mother-of-the-bride.
Finally we learned how to play a traditional drum which was great fun for me – not so much fun for the rhythmically challenged Garry Burns. We were served a lunch of ‘Bibimbap’ – this is a large bowl with rice and many other vegetables which sometimes has an egg placed on top. You mix all the ingredients together in your bowl along with some spicy red paste and munch away!
Learning to play a traditional Korean drum.
The ever present kimchi.
After lunch we were set free on a Traditional Folk Village which was really very beautiful and finally showed us a side of Korea that appealed to me much more than the multi story apartment blocks and large assortment of restaurants, corner shops and general disarray. We walked around the narrow streets, saw some traditional Korean homes and visited little boutique style shops. Garry and our new friend Albertus, from South Africa decided this was the best time to try a Korean delicacy – the silk worm. It looks like a tiny little cockroach and is roasted. On the count of three they both stuck the little blighter in their mouths and I so wish I had taken pictures of the following events! Both started off trying to pretend that it wasn’t that bad but soon their faces turned south and they were smacking their jaws trying to get rid of the “gritty” texture. They agreed that it was a once in a lifetime experience not to be repeated.
Rather large Korean gate.
Our friend Albertus and a big black teddy bear.
Cute Korean kids.
Garry and Albertus smiling after the silkworm munching.
Japanese writing on a slate pillar.
Before we headed back to the University, we also learned how to use traditional Korean paper to make a photo frame in the shape of a love heart – it was very funny seeing a whole group of 20+ males sitting around carefully cutting out little bits of paper and using tiny little glue brushes to make their little heart-shaped frames. Bless.
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