The Subway

Today I decided to see if I could navigate the subway. I got a transit card from Ms. Seol, and added some won to it and then I was on my way. The ticket machines offer English, and the lights blink where you're supposed to insert things like the card or the money. It was Ticketing for Dummies. I wasn't quite sure where to put the card to get through the gate, so I stepped back to watch how the two women in front of me (older than me) would get through...they simply crawled under the turnstile. It was so funny. Obviously, I had to just figure it out on my own.

I decided to see if I could find the royal palace. I got off on the right stop and then looked for signs. I wandered all around and ended up in a FedEx/Kinkos store to get directions to the palace. The palace is nothing like Versailles that I visited in December. It's beautiful Korean architecture, many colors, lots of wood...very few sculptures. I arrived just as they were demonstrating the changing of the guard...the men in colorful costumes, marching to a beat of a drum. It was fascinating and beautiful. I wandered through the maze of buildings and pathways. The pathways have roughly hewn large, limestone stepping stones and fine gravel...it was very primitive. No spectacular gardens. No amazing sculptures...very simple. The brickwork does have some ornate areas and the rooftops have some decorations.

At the far end of the palace is the entrance of the Korean Folk Art Museum. The museum is made up of three galleries, and was fascinating. Best of all it was free today. My camera died shortly after the changing of the guards, so I used my phone camera. I'll transfer pictures and add them later. Some of the items on display at the museum reminded me of things my dad brought home with him...brass rice bowls with lids, brass spoons, incense burners, skinny ladies' slippers (not for skinny ladies...just very narrow), ornate chopsticks...I still have most of these things. They are a treasure to me.

It's so funny to be in the country of my birth and not understand most of what people are saying. As I was leaving the palace, I asked a man who looked like an American if he would take my picture. As it happens, he was from Michigan, accompanying his brother (also from Michigan). They are here to pick up their adoptive son from Holt! He is two years old and they will be getting him on Monday. What a small world, indeed. We talked a bit and exchanged blog names.

I came back to the guest house (didn't even get lost), and went to see the children that are being housed here. There are 10...five above six months old and five under six months old. A group of young college-aged girls arrive to help and play with the babies. They put on aprons, feed the babies, rock them...generally care for them. One of the baby girls is deaf, although, she is the only one who is scheduled to be adopted. Apparently, several groups of girls come here to help 2-3 days each week. It's great that they are doing that.

I met another adoptee today that is participating in the same program as I am. His name is Thomas and he lived in Chicago, but grew up in Vermont. Ms. Seol asked me to accompany him to his job interview (for another teaching position), which was a little awkward, but was good to talk to someone who is already doing what I will be doing...teaching English. We will talk again soon, I'm sure.

When I got back to the guest house, Kilsun from Belgium, another adoptee I've met through Facebook, had just arrived. So we got to have dinner (went out for Vietnamese food) and visit one of the shopping districts. It's so interesting to get an adoptee's perspective and hear their stories. We commented that how for once in our lives, it's the white people who are the minority and stick out. LOL

Today was beautiful and sunny...not too warm. The evening brought in some cold winds and it was predicted to go down in to the high 20s...brrr. I was glad I brought my down jacket. (Pictures are yet to come.)