Sunday, November 30, 2008
Quick Entry
Last Friday I came down with some sort of stomach virus and was pretty sick. Unfortunately David and Arlene got it as well. Arlene has mostly recovered but David is still having trouble keeping food down for more than a few hours so we will take him to the doctor soon. He should be ok. Please keep us all in your prayers. I should put up a real update next week. God bless!
Friday, November 21, 2008
This week's happenings
We have had a pretty good week. I was able to get to the office several times and do a lot of work. I had my Korean final on Monday and did well enough on it to progress to the next level. On Thursday we had our first dissertation support group meeting. It went well and I learned a lot. However, we made the mistake of doing it to late in the evening. I had trouble getting home and didn't make it back until about 12 (I usually go to bed between 9 and 10)! On Friday we had a "Fulbright Forum". A senior scholar gave a talk on the move from the Articles of the Conferedartion ot the US constitution. It was pretty interesting as he talked about the influence of John Locke and the lack of influence of Thomas Hobbes. He also argued that Jefforson was a kind of plagiarist (though he did so in a rather light hearted manner, it wasn't meant to be a serious charge).
This week we received a lot of kindness. One of our neighbors came by and gave Arlene some pants and Na Tata (Arlene's Filipino friend here) gave us a lot of things, including another pair of pants. Yoori also dropped by and loaned us the toys that her daughter no longer plays with and gave us a lot of food. Here's a picture of Yoori, David, and one of the toys she gave him.
The weather is getting colder so we can't take David out as much as we would like. Her timing was perfect. He really loves with this toy and is even playing with it as I write this post!
This week we received a lot of kindness. One of our neighbors came by and gave Arlene some pants and Na Tata (Arlene's Filipino friend here) gave us a lot of things, including another pair of pants. Yoori also dropped by and loaned us the toys that her daughter no longer plays with and gave us a lot of food. Here's a picture of Yoori, David, and one of the toys she gave him.
The weather is getting colder so we can't take David out as much as we would like. Her timing was perfect. He really loves with this toy and is even playing with it as I write this post!
Korea University
Last Sunday Arlene, David and myself went to Korea University. We had a look at the museum, the underground shopping centre, and some of the buildins. We enjoyed looking at the fall leaves.
Arlene in front of the "Main Building"
Arlene and David in front of the underground shopping center. The dining room of Popeye's is visible.
I love you in Arlene's verses.
My adviser emailed me to check to see if the grammar was correct for this poster.
Arlene in front of a statue.
Arlene and me!
At this restaurant the waitresses asked to take David's picture so we took a picture of one of them with David.Saturday, November 15, 2008
Pepero day
This was an eventful week in Korea. First, November 11th (Veterans Day/Remembrance Day in North America) is Pepero day. On that day you buy pepero (a kind of pretzel covered in chocolate) and give it to your sweetie. I bought some from Arlene. The thing is you can give them to other people as well so in the morning of the 11th we found that the executive assistant, who lives next door to us, put three boxes on our door!
On the 13th is the big day for college examinations (the ones taken by high school students that do much to determine their future lives). On that day people live for work late--making the traffic less congested so the kids can get to the tests on time. Things are also arranged so that there are no airplane flights near the test center the students won't be disturbed. Really serious stuff!
My partner and I finished our part of our translation so that was a big relief. Monday is the final for my Korean class, then I get two weeks off before class begins again.
On Friday we went to buy Arlene a jacket at Hyundae department store. David likes getting attention from the clerks and often reaches out his arms so they will pick him up. He had his picture taken three times by them!
On the 13th is the big day for college examinations (the ones taken by high school students that do much to determine their future lives). On that day people live for work late--making the traffic less congested so the kids can get to the tests on time. Things are also arranged so that there are no airplane flights near the test center the students won't be disturbed. Really serious stuff!
My partner and I finished our part of our translation so that was a big relief. Monday is the final for my Korean class, then I get two weeks off before class begins again.
On Friday we went to buy Arlene a jacket at Hyundae department store. David likes getting attention from the clerks and often reaches out his arms so they will pick him up. He had his picture taken three times by them!
Choldusan
A couple of weeks ago we went to mass at Choldusan shrine. It's right on the Han river.
This is a tunnel for the subway train when it passes over the Han river. A lot of Catholics were killed here (it was convenient to dispose of their bodies in the river) in the 19th century. I think that's why there is a crucifix painted on the tunnel.
The Chinese characters for Choldusan. Translated it literally reads "Cutting head mountain". So I think we could translate it as "Decapitation Hill" or something like that.
There is a museum but you can't take pictures there. These are some outdoor exhibits which you can photograph. These show some of the various devices used to torture people. The Catholics were often tortured with these things.
The mass we attended was outdoors. The statue is a rather large one of Father Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean priest. There are mats and the people just sit on the ground.
This is a tunnel for the subway train when it passes over the Han river. A lot of Catholics were killed here (it was convenient to dispose of their bodies in the river) in the 19th century. I think that's why there is a crucifix painted on the tunnel.
The Chinese characters for Choldusan. Translated it literally reads "Cutting head mountain". So I think we could translate it as "Decapitation Hill" or something like that.
There is a museum but you can't take pictures there. These are some outdoor exhibits which you can photograph. These show some of the various devices used to torture people. The Catholics were often tortured with these things.
The mass we attended was outdoors. The statue is a rather large one of Father Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean priest. There are mats and the people just sit on the ground.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Translation and Shopping
We have had another good but busy week. I'm preparing for my Korean language tests which will occur next week and the week after that. I'm also working on a translation with a friend of mine which should be finished by the end of next. It's a pretty interesting article on the memory of the Kisaeng (a kind of Korean geisha) named Nongae who is said to have killed a Japanese general by embracing him and jumping from a wall into the river (this happened during the Hideyoshi invasion, probably around 1593). I also just finished submitting an article which will be published in mid-december in "Acta Koreana".
David and Arlene are doing well. We went out on Friday to Hyundae department store to do some shopping. We bought David some socks, pajamas, and a jacket.
So we are in good shape, hopefully things will slow down a bit before too long.
David and Arlene are doing well. We went out on Friday to Hyundae department store to do some shopping. We bought David some socks, pajamas, and a jacket.
So we are in good shape, hopefully things will slow down a bit before too long.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Misc Adventures
Our friend Nikki came by to visit. She was an English teacher on Jeju island (where Korean newlyweds often go for their honeymoons). She is now the executive assistant at Fulbright and has helped us a lot.
We accidentally stumbled on a festival at the nearby park. This mime on stilts kindly made a balloon sword for David. He loved it but managed to break it within ten minutes of coming home.
Our friend Yoori. This picture was taken at Costo. She picked us up and drove us there and then drove us back. She helped us out a ot. We ate lunch there and they had the most delicious (and greasy!) pizza possible.Pilgrimmage 2
Often Catholic pilgrammages in Korea include going to secular sites--I think mostly for practical reasons. There are often interesting secular sites right next to the pilgrim sites and if you are going to ride a bus for several hours you might as well see them too.
These are costumes from mask dance. The one on the left is a Buddhist priest and the one next to him is an official from the magistrates office. He's there because the little park we visited includes the grounds of the old yamen. Some Catholics were executed there in the 1866 persecution (its called the 1866 persecution but it continued on for several years beyond that).
We went to a park where a great minister under King Sejong used to come to relax. It was very beautiful. This is the sort of pavilion where people used to go and drink wine and write poetry. I don't think they write much poetry nowadays but they do the drinking!
The grave of the great philosopher Yi I and his mom.
The graves of Yi I's ancestors looking down from his grave. At this time they buried descendents above their ancestors. The order was reversed later on.
Rice in the fields.
These are costumes from mask dance. The one on the left is a Buddhist priest and the one next to him is an official from the magistrates office. He's there because the little park we visited includes the grounds of the old yamen. Some Catholics were executed there in the 1866 persecution (its called the 1866 persecution but it continued on for several years beyond that).
We went to a park where a great minister under King Sejong used to come to relax. It was very beautiful. This is the sort of pavilion where people used to go and drink wine and write poetry. I don't think they write much poetry nowadays but they do the drinking!
The grave of the great philosopher Yi I and his mom.
The graves of Yi I's ancestors looking down from his grave. At this time they buried descendents above their ancestors. The order was reversed later on.
Rice in the fields. Pilgrimmage 1
A couple of weeks ago I went on a pilgrimmage with the Church History Institute. It was very ineresting and I learned a lot. It was a one day affair that about 60 or so people took part in.
This is the tomb of Hwang Sayong, one of the people I am studying.
Here I am next to the stele that identifies the tome as belonging to Hwang
This is the outside of a little mission station where we had mass.
Merry Christmas!
The inside of the mission station where we had mass. It's a lovely little church.
This is the tomb of Hwang Sayong, one of the people I am studying.
Here I am next to the stele that identifies the tome as belonging to Hwang
This is the outside of a little mission station where we had mass.
Merry Christmas!
The inside of the mission station where we had mass. It's a lovely little church. Update
Things are still busy but fortunately I have recovered my health for the most part. I'm still working on a translation for one of my professors and on a presentation in Korean for my adviser here. In two weeks we will have finals for my Korean language class. Though things are busy my research is coming together. My Korean is also improving and i'm a lot more comfortable using it. I hope that it will continue to improve. David is developing a lot and now will come and bang on my door if he wants in my room. He also will come running when I come in the door. So we are all doing well. I'll post some pictures shortly. Please keep us all in your prayers!
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