This past weekend we got a nice 4-day vacation! It was Chuseok, which is basically Korean Thanksgiving. It is one of the biggest holidays of the year. We both got gifts from our work, Avalon. They LOVE to give gift sets here. One of the most popular gift sets is a huge box of multiple cans of Spam. Koreans love Spam. While we didn't receive a Spam gift box, we did get pretty exciting gifts.
I got a Unilever gift set.
It was full of wonderful Dove/Vaseline soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion! This should last us for the rest of our year in Korea (if we use it sparingly :).
Michael, on the other hand, got a gift I could definitely have lived without...
A Dong Won Tuna gift set!
It had 22 assorted cans of tuna...as you can see, Michael had already eaten 5 cans by the time I took this photo (we got our gifts the week before Chuseok actually).
I hate the smell of tuna, but I will have to live with it for the next few weeks. Mmm...hot pepper and vegetable tuna!!
We did have a nice weekend, though. We went to the largest amusement park here in Korea, Everland, on Friday with several of Michael's co-workers and rode the steepest wooden roller coaster in the world, the T Express!! It was a ton of fun. Not quite Disneyland or Six Flags, but still pretty awesome in it's own right.
On Saturday I relaxed and finished reading my sci-fi book, The Host by Stephenie Meyer...excellent read by the way. Michael went to a baseball game in Jamsil with most of the guys from work and had a good time. Sunday we had church and relaxed, went over to some friends from church's apartment that night and played a game with them, and then Monday we went to a church Chuseok party at the new coffee shop, Mosaic, that our pastor Jack and his wife Jenny just recently opened up in Jeongja, Bundang. We played games, drank yummy coffee, had a barbecue (YUM), and socialized. After that, I got to go experience my first Noraebang (literally singing room) with some fun girlfriends. You pay about W20,000 for an hour and basically get your own room equipped with 2 microphones, neon/disco lights, and a whole surround sound karaoke room! It was tons of fun. I have posted photos on my Facebook page if you want to see us in action. :)
Here we are--me with some new friends...Amy, Ji Yun (정지연 or Jung Jee Yeon), and Naomi. They rocked it out! We will definitely have to do it again.Thus concludes our first Chuseok in Korea. Maybe next year we'll take a trip somewhere like Japan or something. :)
In a few short hours we have to wake up and head to the airport for a very quick trip to the U.S. of A.! My brother, Karl, and his fiancee, Amy, are getting married on Sunday in Lyons, CO. We're flying to Denver for about 2 1/2 days! haha Yes, we are insane, but I think it will be worth it. We're excited for the wedding and to be able to see some family and friends for a short time. I'll post when we get back and of course will most likely have more photos.
Anyeong haseyo!!
~Leslie
