(7-18~7-21)
I left early afternoon to first meet a friend, Jeong, who I met during the leadership camp. We met at Gangnam and went to Kyobo Tower and wandered around the bookstore for a few hours. Around 5pm we were both hungry so we found a restaurant and had a good meal of 닭볶음 (A sort of chicken stir fry). After dinner we stopped by a Dunkin' Doughnuts and grabbed a cup of coffee and talked about each others lives in America. (Jeong is a college student in Texas) At around 8pm Jeong had to leave so we finished our coffee and went our own ways. I headed to Seoul Station to catch a train to the airport where I would meet Marco.
Marco is a part of a Korean traditional drumming group (갯마당 Getmadang) from Sokcho and came to Minnesota in February to teach a workshop to our drumming group, Shinparam, and really inspired everyone to practice drumming more. I got to the airport at around 10pm and waited about 20 minutes for Marco to get through customs. After meeting Marco we walked to his car and began the three hour drive east. We stopped at a rest stop on the way and had a quick mid-night snack of ramen and 소고기국수 (beef soup). After the quick bite we continued the rest of the drive to Sokcho.
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| Point A to Point B |
We arrived in Sokcho at around 2:30am and was greeted by Marco's wife at their apartment. I showered and was in bed at 3:30am.
(7-19)
I woke up at around 7:45am had a quick breakfast and then went with Marco to the elementary school that he teaches at. We arrived at Marco's first school at 10am sharp and went to the first class of first graders who were filled with energy and excited to have an hour of playing games. At the end of the first class we Marco and I moved to the second classroom of third graders also excited to have an hour of playtime. The third and final class was a class of sixth graders who found it intriguing that I was from America and could speak English. Marco finished the classes at around noon we had lunch in the school cafeteria and then went to the second school.
The second school was also another elementary school but at this school Marco teaches his speciality, Korean drumming. Because of the weather the students drummed inside for a little bit but then cleared up and so they strapped on their drums and headed outside to practice their dancing. I was amazed at the coordination that the elementary school students were capable of, however there were a few stragglers but as a whole they were obedient to the leaders and followed directions very well. Marco made them practice until they had everything perfect and good order and by the end of the class everyone was hot and wanting to go indoors. At the end of the lesson the school administration came around with ice cream to refresh after a hot practice.
When Marco finished up at his second school we went to visit one of his friend's who is a hair stylist. We hung around the saloon for a few hours and then had a mid afternoon snack of 냉면 (Cold noodles) and then left to go see Marco's son perform in his school's talent show. We picked Marco's wife and his daughter up and went to his son's school. The talent show started at 7pm and consisted of each grade performing together. One was with a type of yo-yo on a long string to spinning plates on a stick. It was all very well done for elementary school students. At the end of the show we all moved out to the exercise field where they prepared a big campfire. The fire was lit from the top of the school with a ball of fire sliding down a string straight into the fire which lit in seconds, it kind of reminded me of the Olympics. During the campfire the families played games with their students and had a good time. Because it was the day before the summer break the students were going to have a camp out in their meeting hall so we left Marco's son and then headed to a 고기집 (Restaurant that specials in various kinds of meat). We ordered some 갈비 (beef slices) and grilled them in the in-table grill. It was really tasty. Marco as he was cooking the meat constantly dozed off because of his jet lag so he stopped and went to the car to sleep while we finished up eating. We finished and then went back to Marco's apartment we I slept fast because of the small amount of sleep the night before.
(7-20)
I woke up at 8am had breakfast and then headed out again with Marco to another school that he teaches at. It was the last day of school before the summer break so the students took it easy through the whole day playing games and preparing for their performance that afternoon. At 11:30 there was an assembly to give awards to the students' performance academically and within the community. At the end of the ceremony we began to set chairs up for the afternoon performance. As we were setting up chairs Marco introduced me to the students who instantly we amazed that I was from America and more dumbfounded that my English was so good. Instant celebrity moment.....
Anyways, after setting up Marco and I had lunch with the second graders. During lunch we had a pepper eating contest to see who could eat the hottest pepper. I tried two one was not too bad but the second one made my eyes water and my mouth was in flames. Each of the students in the class tried a piece of the pepper and one by one got up and ran to the sink and put their mouths under the water to cool off their mouths. It was a fun time and I was more amazed that such little kids had the courage to try such a thing.
Shortly after lunch it was time for me to leave so Marco called Hye-yoon to come pick me up from the school and take me to the bus terminal. I caught the 2:40pm bus back to Seoul and arrived at 5:30pm and then went immediately to Lotte where I was to meet Kami (same school and grade), Jin (acquaintance) and Lisa (same school freshman). We all met on the 11th floor of the department store and had dinner at an Indian restaurant. After dinner we went downstairs and had some frozen yougurt for desert. Once we finished our desert it was closing time so the workers told us that we had to leave so we went to the subway entrance to say goodbye to Kami. When Kami left Jin, Lisa, and I walked to Sincheon to enjoy the nightlife the turned around to head to where Lisa stays. Lisa left at around 10 and then it was Jin and I. We took the subway back to Sincheon had a mid-night snack of 갈비 (beef) over the table grill and then went to Jin's apartment where I stayed the night because it was too late for me to go back home.
(7-20)
After staying the night at Jin's place I left at around noon and headed back home. I made it home back mid-afternoon and stayed in the rest of the day to relax and prepare for camp the next week.
I had a good trip to Sokcho and I hope to go back for a longer time once camp ends.
-SeoulFinder
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| The View of the East Sea |
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| Elementary School Marco Teaches At |
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