Saturday, January 9, 2010
All packed up!
Im all packed up and ready to go to Indonesia!! I have one more day of teaching (tomorrow) and by teaching, what I mean to say is: Ill be watching a movie with my 4 students and having a party for the last day of English winter camp!! Then I'll leave work at 12:30 and my flight leaves at 7:35pm!! My sudoku book is packed, my iPod is charged, and my rainbow flip flops are by the door! I'm ready to go! :)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Kendo Fighting
When I first got to Korea, I was walking up my street, to my apartment, when I noticed men yelling and banging what sounded like swords! I was intrigued, of course, and walked towards the sounds. Low and behold, I looked in a window, into a basement, where I saw men dressed in black robes, with hannibal style masks, sword fighting! It looked like a scene out of Hannibal meets Lord of the Rings! I couldn't believe people actually did this! I remember laughing and thinking, Wow, these guys are such losers. They probably play Dungeons and Dragons in their spare time! (Little did I know what I would soon learn about them.)
A couple days ago, I heard the fighting again, and intrigued, once again, I decided to open the door and ask if I could watch! I had no idea the teacher would be so inviting. He told me to come back in the morning and I could see the advanced students fighting in their full outfits!
So, I woke up nice and early, and walked over to the studio before work to check it out. Here's what I witnessed!
I learned a couple things while I was there. The fighting has a name... It's called Kendo or Kumdo, meaning "Way of the Sword"and it's a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship. Since the earliest Sumurai government in Japan, (1185-1333), sword fencing, together with horse riding and archery, were the main martial pursuits of the military clans. In this period kendo developed under the strong influence of Zen Buddhism, which is why, at the end of their practice, I watched them meditate for 5 minutes before they left to go home!
Apparently, there are about 6,000,000 people world-wide practicing Kendo, including the US! Who knew?! Kendo training is actually REALLY loud in comparison to other martial arts, because they shout to express their fighting spirit when striking. Like some other martial arts, they fight barefoot and stomp their front foot, when making a strike! It was a really awesome cultural experience!
Here's a video I found on youtube, so you can hear what it sounds like when they're fighting!
A couple days ago, I heard the fighting again, and intrigued, once again, I decided to open the door and ask if I could watch! I had no idea the teacher would be so inviting. He told me to come back in the morning and I could see the advanced students fighting in their full outfits!
So, I woke up nice and early, and walked over to the studio before work to check it out. Here's what I witnessed!
I learned a couple things while I was there. The fighting has a name... It's called Kendo or Kumdo, meaning "Way of the Sword"and it's a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship. Since the earliest Sumurai government in Japan, (1185-1333), sword fencing, together with horse riding and archery, were the main martial pursuits of the military clans. In this period kendo developed under the strong influence of Zen Buddhism, which is why, at the end of their practice, I watched them meditate for 5 minutes before they left to go home!
Apparently, there are about 6,000,000 people world-wide practicing Kendo, including the US! Who knew?! Kendo training is actually REALLY loud in comparison to other martial arts, because they shout to express their fighting spirit when striking. Like some other martial arts, they fight barefoot and stomp their front foot, when making a strike! It was a really awesome cultural experience!
Here's a video I found on youtube, so you can hear what it sounds like when they're fighting!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Kitty on a leash
I bought some groceries from a small market in Gukje yesterday, and noticed this cat, tied to a 3 foot rope/leash, sitting by the shop owner. What a life huh?!
Nobody steals...
Have you ever dreampt of living in a place with virtually no crime!?! Well, I'm telling you... Korea is that place! I mean, sure, there are some people who steal, or get in fights around here, but for the most part... this place is unbelievably safe! (as I'm knocking on wood) It's incredible.
I left a really nice un-opened bottle of wine on the sidewalk near my place one time because I didn't want to carry it around while I went shopping, and I didn't want to walk all the way up the 5 flights of stairs in my apartment building. When I came back 10 hours later, it was STILL THERE!!!
I walk up a dark alley everynight to get home, and I'm never afraid! There are usually always old Korean ajumas (ladies) sitting on their doorsteps, ready to greet me with their gold-tooth-filled smiles!
Literally, almost every store in my area puts product displays outside their doors all the time, with no one manning them. Here's an example. Could you imagine this happening in America?
I walked by a store the other day that had A SINGLE ROPE hanging from one side of the doorway to the other with a hand written sign that said they were closed for lunch and that they would be back in 30 minutes! Can you believe that?! I was shocked... and thrilled of course! I've never lived anywhere this safe or around people this trustworthy!!
I left a really nice un-opened bottle of wine on the sidewalk near my place one time because I didn't want to carry it around while I went shopping, and I didn't want to walk all the way up the 5 flights of stairs in my apartment building. When I came back 10 hours later, it was STILL THERE!!!
I walk up a dark alley everynight to get home, and I'm never afraid! There are usually always old Korean ajumas (ladies) sitting on their doorsteps, ready to greet me with their gold-tooth-filled smiles!
Literally, almost every store in my area puts product displays outside their doors all the time, with no one manning them. Here's an example. Could you imagine this happening in America?
I walked by a store the other day that had A SINGLE ROPE hanging from one side of the doorway to the other with a hand written sign that said they were closed for lunch and that they would be back in 30 minutes! Can you believe that?! I was shocked... and thrilled of course! I've never lived anywhere this safe or around people this trustworthy!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Thl me what turns you on
This is the T-shirt one of the ladies in our Administration Office wore yesterday! I guarantee she had NO IDEA what it said!!! WOW!
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