February 2016

 This museum was fascinating to learn about the war time struggles and the burial customs of the kings/rulers. There were so many clay pots and iron tools and armor buried with the body of the royals. The burial process was more complicated than I imagined.  There was a children’s section for costumes to be tried on (Ben in the king costume with Dad in the soldier costume headdress the breastplate was too small to put on).

On Friday Sister Lee along with her daughter, Sumi, and Sister George and I attended the yoga class Sister Lee attends. Just so you know, I have attended a yoga class just one other time in my life (that was with Dad and we came away from it thinking we would never attend another yoga class EVER! I felt the effects of that class a few hours later and did the same with this class). But here is the back storyŠ  Last week we actually tried to attend this yoga class but as we were walking to the community center where the class is held we came across Brother Goo (Sister Lee’s husband). We were surprised and said “Hello” to him but through conversation snippets we realized he had just been hit by a car as he was riding his scooter, and he was somewhat in a daze as he wondered around. The police were there and they started asking questions, etc. It turns out we did not go to yoga but helped get Sister Lee and her family in the taxi to travel down to the police station. Sister George and I walked back (it was just at the corner by the nearest corner market near our home) to tell Dad about the accident, so he could notify the office elders. Dad and I walked back to the corner to retrieve Brother Goo’s scooter. It wasn’t until nighttime that we heard from Sister Lee how Brother Goo was doing. The doctors said he had a concussion, but sent him home because of the Seollal Holiday (New Year), with them watching after him.  So this past Friday as we were walking to the yoga class I asked Sumi how her father was doing. She said he was ok. She drove him to the doctor on Wednesday where they discovered he had a broken leg, and they put a cast on it!! Sumi told me that she got her drivers license on Thursday (because it was scary driving on Wednesday without a license so she decided to try to get it on Thursday--Sister Lee does not have a license)!  Those in the picture: Sumi, me, the instructor, Sister George, Sister Lee, and some lady who Sister Lee doesn’t know (Koreans love to get their picture taken so they jump into any picture they can).

We traveled some distance to attend the Ulsan District Conference which entailed Dad speaking at the Saturday afternoon Priesthood Leadership Meeting, the Saturday evening adult session, and the Sunday morning general session. I spoke at just the Sunday morning session.  I don’t know if you remember the Priedeman family from the Sugar Land 2nd ward, back home. Their oldest child, Jonathan, is a couple of months younger than Alex and is studying Mechanical Engineering at BYU now. I think he will graduate this next December, but stay to do a masters. So the Priedeman family invited us to stay overnight at their home Saturday night, which was wonderful. Dad always has people asking for interviews with him after each meeting, and this way we did not have to drive back home late at night and turn around early the next morning to return.   Sunday as I stood to begin my talk I mentioned that I had forgotten to wear red or or pink for Valentine’s Day. I thought of sending a picture of red balloons, but couldn’t figure it out. I wish I had made cookies or cake or even construction paper hearts, like in years past. I will just have to go with feelings and memories.  After the Sunday session of conference Dad had three missionaries to set apart before they serve their missions. He had other interviews to conduct and eventually he joined us for lunch provided by these sweet sisters: Sister Lee KonShi (the district president’s wife), Sister Lee YoungHwa (stake Relief Society president)(our birthdays are very near each other), Sister Son SoonHui (1st counselor), and Sister Kim YoungEui (2nd counselor)(very musical usually leads a special musical number).

 

I forgot to mention some of the holidays in South Korea. The 14th of each month is designated for lovers or couples (our Korean Assistant recently explained all this to me).

January 14—Diary Day/Candle Day. Now I know why I have seen so many Yankee Candle stores around Korea.

February 14—Valentine’s Day. Women buy gifts, usually chocolate, for men (not necessarily romantic—like a boss or relative or friend). It kind of indicates a man’s popularity.

March 14—White Day. A man reciprocates by giving a woman candy—usually non chocolate like hard candies and lollipops (though women prefer chocolate). Though it is more of a romantic holiday than Valentine’s Day.

April 14—Black Day. Focuses on those who did not receive anything on February 14 or March 14 go to a Chinese-Korean restaurant to eat black noodles (jajangmyeon) wishing they had a love interest.

May 14—Yellow Day/Rose Day. People dress in yellow and give each other roses. If they don’t have a love interest they eat yellow curry to “spice up” their love life.

June 14—Kiss Day. Confess a crush or start a new relationship.

July 14—Silver Day. Introduce loved one to parents or exchange silver rings and make future plans for marriage.

August 14—Green Day. A romantic walk in the woods.

September 14—Photo Day/Music Day.

October 14—Wine Day. For singles to drown their sorrows.

November 11—Pocky/Pepero Day or Bbeabbearo Day (different pronunciation). Young couples give each other Pepero or Pocky brand cookies which resemble the long shape of the cookie so it is ’11/11’. This holiday is written like our name Barrow/especially like Ben Barrow! Some of our missionaries have given us the Pepero cookies.

November 14—Movie Day. Couples go to the movies or rent chick flicks/love stories.

December 14—Hug Day. Wrap up the year with a long hug!