Folk Village : Suwon

It's been super crazy at work, so it's been hard to update the ol' blog. Last weekend we went on a day trip to Suwon, which really isn't too far out of Seoul, but with traffic, everything seems much farther.

The folk village in Suwon is a restored village full of cultural trademarks and even the chance to try somethings for yourself. The day was kinda gloomy, but it just made everything seem more theatrical. The smell of roasting chestnuts and tea was really strong and if I could bottle it up, I definitely would.

tying a wish onto the sacred rope makes your wishes and prayers heard

We walked through the small huts and it really was like going back in time a bit. The art work and the furniture were so intricate...I'm a furniture junkie. Dried flowers and chilies hung from every hut and Korean men and women weaved mats and ground spices without notice of me and my camera.

villager weaving a mat


non-villager acting a fool

A band with drumming dancers performed. They flipped all over the place and their ability to spin these long ribbons with just a twist of their necks was really cool to watch.

The tight rope walking grandpa was...well, interesting. He bounces up and down on a tight rope, ON HIS CROTCH. Sure he hopped on one foot, walked backwards, and sat Indian style on the rope. But props to grandpa! That can't feel too good.

We also got to see a traditional Korean wedding....well, traditional minus the huge audience.

Farm houses, communal kitchens, the doctors office, and wild chickens were a nice break from the shoulder to shoulder war I play everyday on the subway. Watching the "adjumas" (Korean for grandmother or old lady) sit around the fire and drink tea really made me wish I knew more Korean than "adjuma". That wouldn't go over well with them. Korean culture is so closely knit that it makes me upset that it's not exactly the same back in the states. Children don't even move out of the house until they are married, which is usually late 20's or early 30's. Children don't even get a job until their late 20s. So the family circle is tight and probably a bit overbearing, but I think it's better than only seeing each other a dozen times a year. (PS- really missing my fam right now. HI MOM!).


When I make it out of the city, it's actually possible to see Korean culture. Korean culture in the city is a hodge podge of every other. When it's like this, the only culture I notice is the bad...like being treated like crap by my boss because I'm a woman ( I quote "I'm not saying men are better than women, but i believe they have different roles and should know where they belong). Seriously? Someone send me a dartboard. Stat.


I'm way off track now...but anyways, it was such a relief to be surrounded by sounds of a village, smell clean air, and take in what I'll consider the foundation of Korean culture. There was also a museum that was one of the more interesting I've seen in Seoul. Maybe because I've witnessed more holidays and customs so I understand it, or maybe because there were more things written in English.


I'm realllllly excited about this upcoming month. This weekend is the Korean cooking class, then St. Patty's celebration, my mother is turning the fabulous 50, a trip to an island, and a trip to the DMZ. It's going on 9 months in Seoul. Can't believe how much I've accomplished and how fast time is flying.


Wonder where I'll be this time next year...


Days go by...I can feel them flying like a hand out the window in the wine~~~~~ C