Sunday Seniors and Singers

On Sunday just as I was getting ready to go  out for a walk/exploring,  Angela called me.  She said their church was having a musical presentation and would I like to attend, she would meet me for lunch.  Almost just like that...I think the question was more rhetorical.  I changed into the only nice dress I brought with me and met her for lunch.  We went to a cute little restaurant that was once a house but had been renovated into a restaurant (two stories), and had seating outdoors underneath their old growth trees.  We shared a pot of verbena tea (delicious), and two sandwiches, then rushed off to the church.

Their church has a congregation of about 2,000, but this past Sunday, they invited all the seniors from their area, as well as their own parishoners, to attend a special musical presentation.  Although there were several grandchildren, I was one of the youngest ones in attendance (just to give you an idea of who was there).

The first group played Korean folk music which at first sounds quite cacophanous, but the more you listen, the better it sounds.  They all appeared to be older than me, but they sat cross-legged on the floor.  It was really spirited and sounded good by the end (maybe I was just getting tired).  The second group of four women who came out all dressed in red, each played two drums with drumsticks the size of small closet rods.  They were pounding the drums and had some special moves choreographed in their presentation.  It looked like a lot of work to me.  There was a musician who had some really great magic tricks and even asked for audience participation.  Then started the singers mimicking famous vocal artists from past eras.  Apparently, it was MANY past eras.  The seniors seemed to enjoy it alot.  The last of the vocalists looked like a Korean Elvis...it was funny.  They had five volunteers from the audience come up and sing songs (karaoake style) There was a group of folks who played accordions...yes, they sounded just like the accordions we've heard before.  In fact, the music they played sounded like polka (oopah oopah).  At some point after the drums and before the Korean Elvis, I was fighting off sleep...maybe because it was all in Korean, or maybe because the music was not very good sometimes.  LOL

One of the things that Koreans do is to give presents to whomever attends special events or meetings.  The gifts of "choice" are small folding umbrellas, loaves of "bread" (similar to pound cake), towels (the bath towels here are the size of hand towels...maybe that's why people need so many), toothpaste, tissues, soap, and almost always carnations.  Angela said she has a large box of towels, and usually ends up donating many of them.  She also told me not to buy toothpaste or soap if I ran out.  Funny, huh?

We went back to the house and I changed into more casual clothes and decided to walk around my neighborhood.  I wanded past an area where a live concert was going on.  The lead singer is pictured in his red pants...which are the skinny jeans, but because he was jumping around so much...they were nearly falling off.  Not a good look.  The guitarist was a fantastic musician!  The neighborhood is full of wonderful little shops and cafes.  It's very popular and usually overrun with people.  On Sunday afternoon the crowd was moderate, and the weather was such that everyone was really enjoying being outside.

Later that evening, after dinner, I met my friend for dessert.  While waiting for her, I snapped a few "fashion" pictures for the reader's benefit.  The styles here are unusual.  The skinny jeans are really in style...but some of the wearers are SOOOO skinny...that it accentuates their thinness.  Many of the girls wear very tall high heels...I've seen them wearing high heels while we were hiking too.  It's crazy.  And guys carry bags.  Not the normal messenger-type bag, but what looks like a girl's bag.  And then on top of that, the new thing is to have your "boyfriend" carry your purse.  So, you often see men carrying purses and toting their own man bag as well.  Funny stuff!

I sent an e-mail and already received an e-mail response from a representative at KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), one of the largest television stations in Seoul.  I had contacted them regarding their live program where Korean adoptees will go on television and tell what they know about their birth, and then viewers will call in if the pictures and/or the stories match.  It's a great opportunity for me, although I will definitely have to take an interpreter with me.  Will share updates as they arrive.