Travel to Korea (part of the AEF in country visits)
Journal Entry Home stay in Seoul

Saturday 22 April ::: Seoul To Gyeongju

Woke at 5.30 and dozed till 6. My voice is still croaky. Miss Jung my host had breakfast ready. It was burnt rice soup made with burnt rice and water. (I was told it was a Korean delicacy). She had been saving it for my last breakfast. I actually had seen the burnt rice in a bowl uncovered all week. And now I know it has been fermenting up so it could be given to me on my last day. I wonder if Jung picked out the leftovers I had been throwing in all week. As I thought it was the ‘chook bucket’.

The burnt rice soup was accompanied by fried bean curd squares and the last of the pancake with the green stuff in it that we had on the first night. We were running late and Jung polished off the burnt rice soup in 30 seconds. Instead of the usual 90 seconds she took for breakfast. I always thought I was fast eater. Mr Kim, her husband joined us today also for breakfast but the kids were allowed to sleep in. Today was not one of the Saturday school days.

Closed my suitcase, I already have more than I came with (even though the kilos of teaching aids and presents for the school and hosts have been dispersed). The gifts from my family are beautiful and I have to carry the Celadon Vase I bought in the Flea market and the one Jung gave me on my back so they do not break. Said my goodbyes to the two children. Ye Pin was a little sad.

Last time down the 12 floors in the lift to the bottom. The robot vacuum cleaner was left to clean the floors. A remarkable thing, it zooms around the floor like a space ship and cleans. Took photos Jung and Kim and of the wall to wall apartments (or should I say sky to sky) It was really lovely week and home stays certainly give you an opportunity to 'experience' a city. They were a lovely couple and really went out of their way to make me happy. The apartment was very comfortable, polished wooden floors, 4 bedrooms with a lovely view of Seoul. Nights were magical with the lights and the hundreds of red crosses on the churches.

I also had a great time in Seoul and at Sunrin Internet High School. Seoul is an amazing place and our hosts did so much for us and we saw and did so much. The highlight would have to be a contemporary production of Romeo and Juliet in Korean. Miss Lee was quite a noted director and we had the best seats. An amazing stage performance!!!!

Each day we would leave the school at 11.30 after teaching a lesson to an English class to a thunderous applause (OK so they clapped) and then we would explore the city, museums and galleries. (I was lucky to be at Sunrin with another teacher Rosalie, an educator from Queensland) and we spent each day with each other and the nice people that helped us discover Seoul. Home by 10 30 pm.

Any way back to today…. . The station was 30 minutes away and traffic was heavy. Everything was very familiar. It will be good to come back again in a few days.

‘Miss Rosary’ arrived with ‘Miss Ree’. (Pronunciation as is, as Rosalie’s host, Miss Lee) It also has been so much fun with Rosalie we have had a ball and with me being sick (Ashma and Bronchitis) it was great to have Rosalie’s host as the school nurse. I can not begin to describe the doctors visits or the weird array of remedies and medicines.

The other Souel based teacher arrived with her host and family and it was time to go and everyone was crying. Miss Jung was composed as that is the way she was. She was a wonderful and thoughtfull host and I really loved my time in Seoul with her.

Lots of hugs and we were on the train and away. It was very sad looking at them outside the window. .

The train seats were comfortable and spacious; Jung has told me that everyone would be joining us. They all trooped on at Daejon and it was lovely to see all the smiles. Everyone just erupted and talked and talked. All of us were so happy and we had amazing experiences which will stay with us forever.

Arrived in Gyeongju, all struggling with our bags that we thought would be lighter. A large bus was waiting with a rather pushy student guide who organised us for the next two days. It was nice to see Nel again. (Tour leader)

Gyeongju is a beautiful small town and there were no walls of apartments. It was lovely to see dirt and grass. Gyeongju is called a ‘museum without walls’. The first stop was the Seokguram Grotto which was located near the top of Mnt Tohamsan. It was built by Silla King, Kim Dae Seong in 751 in honor of his parents. The road up was spectacular with the beautiful horizontal Pine trees.

Japanese maples dotted the hillside and were being to sprout the new green spring growth. Autumn would be beautiful. The grotto is encased in glass and contains a large seated granite Buddha. With ornately carved beams. Below the grotto is a sacred stream where people drink the water with ladles. (Talking about water, you seem to be able to drink form the tap in Seoul without any effects.)

Then on to the second of Gyeongju’s two World Heritage sites the massive Bulguksa Temple. Built by the same Silla King it is impressive, complete with ornate shrines, pagodas and halls all with evocative names such as the Pagoda of Many Treasures and the Hall of the No Discourse.

I have been looking forward so much to coming here as it is the view seen on many of the promotion material about Korea. I was slightly disappointed as I could not take the traditional photo of the Temple as it is Buddha’s Birthday in a week or so and large banners were erected for the event. Small coloured lanterns dotted the trees and the temples which actually made it very picturesque.

The gardens are beautiful and I wandered around and took heaps of great photos. It was so easy as every view was glorious. I love the dark red of the pillars and the soft grey of the roofs. The colours under the roofs are magical with greens, reds and pinks.

Back on the bus down past the fields of Canola where families and couples pose and frisk and have their photo taken in the yellow splendor. Then to a quaint little house for a ‘200 dish’ dinner. The table was littered with dishes when we had finished. The food was delicious with several new taste experiences.

Each of us spoke for 2 minutes on our Home stay. We were all very emotional but all of us have been bewitched by Korea. The Access Asia Program will have a boost in all these teachers’ schools. How lucky we all were.

Back to the Hotel to a lovely shower and to write this missive. What an amazing day it seemed more like several. I am very tired and we cannot turn the light off.

Barbara Jackson

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