South Korean Adventures - Week #4

안녕하세요! Mrs. Sloan and Little Loo here. This past week as been amazing and we're approaching our last week in this beautiful country. I'm going to miss it so much...but I don't feel like South Korea and I are finished yet. There's no way that I'm going to never come back here, it's just too wonderful. I do miss home though. There's nothing like seeing land without any buildings on it. :) Alrighty, let's jump into the week starting with...

Korean Costco/한국어 코스트코:

Going into Korean Costco was pretty insane. On the way there, the traffic in Daegu was so horrible, two cars bumped into each other and the male owners of the car stepped out...to slap each other. Cause, ya know, you can slap as much as you want here...but no balled fists, or you go to jail. So they slapped each other in turn for a while until the wives dragged them back into their respective cars. Oh yeah, and they stopped their cars in the middle of traffic with their FLASHERS on. -sigh-

 We weren't in Costco for long either when we got there, finally. It was five stories tall with the first two floors in the basement being the physical store itself. The other three stores (going up) were parking. If you thought Costco was big in the States think again. Every few inches there were vendors with samples. You had to push and shove to get to them as they were being made. I had a sample taken out of my hands by Korean kids and adults many times. 

There seemed to be a "flow of traffic" in the store. You started at a certain point and just kept going down each aisle. Everyone understood this but us silly Americans who kept pushing our cart through a sea of people. You literally couldn't move...so we left. I hope we can go back in the early morning before I leave. 


Star Kebab & Bubble Tea/스타 케밥 & 버블 차:

 After the trip to Costco. We went out to eat at this authentic Turkish restaurant called "Star Kebab". Oh my goodness...it was amazing. Afterwards we grabbed some "Bubble Tea" next door. It was...interesting to say the least. The iced tea was wonderful but the tapioca balls at the bottom of the drink were chewy and...strange. 

Mt. Apsan - Half-Way:

So, hiking up Apsan was amazing. We only got up about half-way (this time) but it was still a blast. 

This is so awesome, it must be told in picture form.

The hike up Apsan was beautiful. Fall was very much in the air.

Trying to figure out where we were going...

Looking down into Daegu from the Trolly.

Yeah...on the Trolly. It's as far down as it looks.

See the things we had to climb over?

Daegu looks so small...

 

It was so windy that day, it could take away your breath.

Han's Bakery:

Oh, Han's Bakery...I could devour everything inside. It's just not fair. When you walk in, you are greeted by an older man and woman who seem constantly busy bringing out new baked goods to cool. Everyone wants some of the yumminess. They have trays of samples out as well to devour...

Solemia:

This has to be one of my favorite eating places in South Korea. This is located in Waegwan, although just recently I have seen one in Daegu above the train station as well, next to TGI Fridays. Oh boy, this place could make me a porker.

It's located on the second floor of a building in a quiet part of Waegwan. The interior...is very feminine, and I love it. Plush seating, flowers, wicker, wine...and pasta. Served in a bread bowl. With cream cheese and mushrooms. Does it get any better?

Adventures in South Korea - Week #3

안녕하세요! It's me again, rocking skirts and tzitzit in a far away land! I know, two posts back to back, but I forgot to post last week's post last week...so week two and three are on top of each other. Ah well! Let's get on with it. :D


Busan Aquarium:

 We kicked off the week on 1st Day (Sunday) by going to Busan Aquarium in....Busan! Somehow, after walking a few blocks from the parking to the aquarium, we forgot a key item in our travels (money) in the car, so while my father and brother went back to get it, my mother, my son and I checked out the beach. 

The Sea of Japan (or the Eastern Sea, as the Koreans call it, you know, because they hate Japan) was beautiful...it was raining just slightly and it was overcast...so beautiful. I think that might have been my favorite part, just walking up to the edge of the ocean and touching the sea. :)


Inside the aquarium was amazing as well...so many things to see: feeding the penguins and sharks..jellyfish, giant crabs, and fish I have never seen before. My son adored it!

My son looking at the sharks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Beef & Leaf/The Nakdong River Bridge:

Beef and leaf...yum, yum, yum! I could go on about this forever. It's availible on just about any street in South Korea. In the middle of your table there is a deep cooking area in which you cook beef, veggies, and mushrooms to wrap up in either a lettuce leaf or a mint leaf...and of course, you MUST dip it in sesame oil and salt. You can eat it in one bite..and it is so, so good.

After dinner, we went down the road to the Nakdong River to walk across the re-built bridge that was destroyed by the Americans to keep the North Korean from crossing into Gumi/Daegu during the Korean War. Since then, some adjustments have been made, such as building it out of metal and lighting it up at night. My brother and I sprinted about a fourth of the bridge just for the fun of it...just reminds me of how much I love being in shape. 

 

 

 

Beef and leaf!

Footbridge across the Nakdong River.

Buddist Temple on Hill 303/Jagosan:
While I have no interest in pagan Buddhism, I really wanted to see the temple on the side of Hill 303/Mt. Jagosan myself. So my mother, my son and I hiked the way. This particular route cuts through some farm land, passes a bunch of thousand year old graves to the temple. It was really a spectacular hike. We didn't stay long in the temple, just enough to snap a few pictures and leave...but I think my favorite part had to be the stream running down from the mountain. You could drink from it...ahh, it was delicous! This was only about 1/4 of the way up the mountain.

Drinking from the mountain stream.

"I am Yahuah your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. You have no other mighty ones against My face. You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the havens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, Yahuah your Elohim am a jealous El..." - Shemoth 20:1-5

We Made It - Mt. Jagosan!

So, finally, we decided to climb to the top of Hill 303/Mt. Jagosan. And we made it! Hoo boy...I'm just going to tell this story in pictures.

Only about fifteen minutes on the hike and Waegwan is barely visible through the fog when you look through the trees.

Looking down...hoo boy.

We needed to get to that peak.

This stretch of the hike was in between the two hills...so so so nice. A great breather for my legs...they were burning!

Getting closer to the peak! That's the Nakdong River, closer to Gumi. Waegwan is on the OTHER side of the mountain, where we came from.

Wearing jeans...I know, but my jean skirt was in the wash from the previous hike. But still rocking those tzitzit! Makes you wonder if tzitzit have ever been on that mountain before. Sobering thought.

From the tippy top of the mountain! It was so foggy...

We did it! With 27lbs on my back...big boy!

Can't wait to go back up on a sunnier day!

 

South Korean Adventures - Week #2

안녕하세요! Mrs. Sloan and Little Loo (almost one year old!) here in Waegwan, South Korea. We're really having the time of our lives here...so much to talk about! I'll be writing in short blurbs again this time, you know, because my brain is so frazzled trying to remember everything we've done here, and in order, so I'm just going to jump into our comings and goings here in asian country! Enjoy!


Seomun Market/서문시장:

Seomun Market...where to I begin with this one? Getting there was quite the adventure. It was my first time taking a subway anywhere...and my mother's first time going to Seomun Market by herself via subway! We hopped on the train from Waegwan to Daegu and then from Daegu we jumped on the subway to Seomun...if only it was that easy, right? Well, we had a little trouble trying to figure out the whole "connecting lines" thing in Korean, but we got there eventually.

This market has everything you can possibly think of -- herbs, fish, clothes, purses, shoes, you name it, Seomun Market has it. There was no way we could have traversed the entire thing in an afternoon, especially with a baby in tow, but we had fun! I picked up a shirt for Mr. Loo that says, "Keep Calm and Gangnam Style", for those of you that are familiar with Psy's "Gangnam Style" song and dance that is sweeping the world at the moment. You can't walk down the street without hearing that song. :)

I really enjoyed this one particular drink that was handed to me while walking through the narrow streets of the market -- it was a ginseng/rice milk drink. It was hot...but it was so, so good. It kind of tasted like a mixture of cornflakes and butterfinger...but it's just ginseng!

Dear mother had me try this very...interesting food while we were in the market. It was congealed acorn on a stick dipped in hot sauce. And of course, determined to try anything (within the Law), I put the entire thing in my mouth. 

Dear God...it was disgusting. And the vendor lady was staring at me trying to gauge my reaction on this food she made...and I just couldn't spit it out in front of her. So I swallowed it. And just about cried. It was oh so nasty. I shudder to think of it.


Kimbap & Dukbokki/ 김밥 & 떡볶이:

So, on the topic of food, this time good food, I would like to talk a little bit about my two favorite foods here: kimbap and dukbokki. 

Let's start with kimbap. Kimbap is a combination of kim, being seaweed, and bap, being rice! Most Americans would look at this and think "sushi", but it something entirely different. It's usually filled with bulgogi (beef), picked radish, rice, carrots and brushed with sesame oil. It's so flipping delicious. 

And this is dukbokki. Rice cakes and fish cakes with spicy gochujang, a fermented sauce made from red pepper, rice, soybeans and salt. It will make your eyes water and your lips burn...but it's oh so worth it.


Daegu Arboretum:

The visit to the Arboretum in Daegu was...interesting. Don't get me wrong, it was absolutely beautiful, especially because they were having a chrysanthemum festival there, but getting there was...taxing. When we got to Camp Walker in Daegu to get on a taxi there to go to this event, the taxi driver didn't know what we were talking about when we said "Arboretum" or "chrysanthemum festival"...so we had to pull the address up on Google so he could get us there. It ended up costing my sister $10 there and $10 back. 

On the bright side, we did a photoshoot with my son and I (my sister is a photographer) and it turned out wonderful! But, on the other hand, we lost the strap to my baby carrier and we had to buy another one. :(

Getting back was hard...especially since the taxi guys on the phone couldn't understand "Arboretum" as well, so we had to walk all the way down to the main road in Daegu and hail a taxi there. Hoo boy. But all in all, it was a great experience, even down to the getting lost. :)

 

Yahweh Supports Nose Rings!

While I was in Korea, (still there by the way), I got my nose pierced! And, of course, since piercing your nose definitely has a stigma surrounding it, I have received many questions about my choice, especially as a Believer.

My beautiful new nose ring! :)

So, before anyone else decides to give me flack about piercing my nose, here's some scriptural basis for piercing your nose. :)

Ezekiel 16:12: And I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 

That was Yahuah speaking to Yisreal, figuratively, as his Bride. Why would He even mention putting a ring in 'her' nose if it was frowned upon? 

Secondly, look at Genesis 24:47!

"And I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.' Then I put a ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms."

Rebekkah wore a nose ring! And no body thought anything of it, because it was normal, as it should still be now. 

Many ask, "Well, what about in Torah where it says not to make cuts in your skin or have tattoos?"

Tattoos are one thing, since they are pagan in origin. As far as cuts in the skin, think more along the lines of self-mutilation. Pagan priests to Baal "slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom until their blood flowed." (1 Kings 18:28)

I don't think that piercing my nose falls under that category. 

A few versions of the 'Bible' show the word "nose" as "forehead". Later translations have corrected this mistake.

On that note, knowing Scripture doesn't contradict itself, and Yahuah, Elohim of the Universe, seems to be okay...then why not! I think that married women, especially within the Covenant, should go for it! Personally, I think they are elegant, especially when very small and shiny. ;)


Shalom!

South Korean Adventures - Week #1

Annyong haseyo! So, I'm finally here in South Korea visiting my parents with my son, who is almost a year old. :)

I'm going to write this in short bits, since I'm so tired from the trip and everything I've been doing. So, let's begin!

The Flight:

I had never flown before in my life, so traveling twenty hours to the other side of the world was a rather large undertaking with a baby in tow, but we managed to survive. We flew from Augusta to Atlanta, Atlanta to Washington DC, from Washington to the Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea.

My son was amazingly well behaved  and cooperative. I got lots of complements about his good behavior. He had his tired, I want to get down moments, but he didn't scream and cry like other babies did at various parts of the trip.

Seoul, South Korea: 

The airport in Seoul was amazingly huge, with more people than I could have ever imagined. Everything was in Korean and English. It took me a while to find my parents, but when I did find them, I came up behind them with my luggage cart to surprise them.

In the parking lot, all of the cars were different. Their trucks are called "bongos", with beds that can lie flat on all sides for easier loading. Planes were taking off and landing everywhere...Incheon Airport was a whirlwind of excitement. But of course, we had a four hour drive ahead of us to Waegwan. 


The Drive: 

It was getting dark as we were getting back to the apartment, but you could still see the outline of the mountains in the distance. We drove over a bridge that was several miles long, going over part of the ocean. The fog was pretty dense, but you could see more when we got closer to the city. The toll gates were quite interesting, as I had never been through one before. 

The rest stops are really strange...they're right off of the "IC" or Interchange (Highway/Interstate). They consist of several stores, eateries, coffee shops as well as a gas station, bathrooms, and a room specifically to nurse your babies! You don't see any Korean formula here. 


The Apartment: 


My mom, dad, sister and brother live in these cute five story apartments near downtown Waegwan. There are two apartments on every floor...and no elevators. That's a lot of steps with a 26lb child on your back! There's a special room in which you took your shoes off when you entered the house. The windows and doors were very different from those in the states. The doors to the balcony/clothes drying/gardening area were almost like a puzzle the way they slid to open. Standing on the roof of the apartment was to die for; the panorama view of the mountains was absolutely breath taking when we went up there in the morning.


Daegu, South Korea:

The next day, we hit the ground running as we headed to the train station to buy tickets for the train, which is about 2000 won or $2.00. While we waited on the train, we went across the street to a cafe called Yogger Presso! This is the home of the world's best cream cheese stuffed pretzel. After consuming this delicious bit of food, we boarded the train and zipped over to Daegu, the second largest city in South Korea. 

The streets were packed with people all dressed in almost a business casual as their street clothes -- no baggy jeans and revealing clothing here! Everywhere you looked you saw several story McDonalds (which delivered), multi-story Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts. Even their Dollar Stores were multi-storied with amazing prices on anything you could imagine. We went to a resturaunt called "Italy Italy" in which you could pretty much design your own pizza (shape included...my sister and I had ours made into a heart). 

Even with the jet-lag, my son and I made it through the entire day. At about 6:00pm (5:00am state-side) we crashed for the night. 


Home Plus:


A few days later, after acquiring my base-pass, we traveled back to Daegu via car to visit a store called Home Plus. It's essentially the Korean equivelant of a Target or a Walmart, except it's several stories tall and much larger. You have to pay 100 won (or 10 cent) to get a buggy/cart. This cart also is a pedometer which tracks your steps. 

The escalator was flat, as in it didn't have any steps, but it was magnetized so your cart couldn't move. Escalators were essential in navigating this store, since there was just so much to see, you could get tired from just walking around one floor. 

The inventory included baby ware, groceries, clothes, quilts, music...you name it, they had it. My sister introduced me to a popular fast-food restaurant inside of Home Plus (although you can find it outside as well) called Lotteria. I didn't partake of the fast food itself, but their pop-rocks milk shake is absolutely delicious. My son wanted more and more...the pop-rocks in his mouth fascinated him.
 

Waegwan Market:


Two days later, we visited Waegwan Market. It wasn't an official "market day", but there were certainly lots of vendors lined up to sell various fish, fruit, vegetables, and sweets. You could find various foods, such as dried eel and squid (don't worry...didn't eat or touch!), sticky rice balls with brown sugar and peanuts inside, chicken hearts and kimchi, the nation's staple food item besides kim (seaweed) and bap (rice). 


Post-Sabbath Nose Piercing and Zombie Attack: 


A strange heading, I know, but after the sun went down to end the Sabbath day, my sister and I went to downtown Daegu to get my nose pierced! I've wanted to do that for a long time, especially since nose piercings are spoken of positively in Scripture and looked upon favorably by Yahuah (contrary to popular belief). 

The shop itself was small but well lit and very clean. I was quite impressed by the difference between this small shop and the various piercing places back in the states. The Persian man running the shop directed me to several small diamond-esque studs that he recomended. He gave me a green "diamond" to put in for the piercing and a white one as a back-up.

As I sat down in the chair, I looked up at the man who was donning gloves and opening the nose-ring packet. I asked him what it would feel like. He didn't say anything as he was rubbing the skin cleaning solution onto my nose. 


Then he pushed the nose stud clear through my nose. 

"Kind of like that," he said, smiling, as he secured the stud.

It bled. And hurt. But then it was over and I absolutely adored it! 

Oh. And then there's the zombie attack. As we were heading back to the train station, we were crossing under the street to get to the other side. We rounded the corner and lo and behold...there were fifty to sixty people in full zombie attire, blood, guts and all, staggering and moaning and reaching out of us. I was scared out of my wits for just a moment and then realized.....this is an ACTUAL zombie walk! My sister and I began taking pictures immediately. 


The first week was absolutely amazing, and I'm sure I've left something out, but this about sums it up. Seeing as it's rather late here, I'm going to wrap this post up by saying annyong haseyo and wishing you a great week! Shalom! More to come soon. :D

I'm Glad I Married Young

Ahh, marriage. The most perfect, sacred, wonderful union between a man and a woman, instituted by Yahuah Himself. 

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." - Bereshith (Genesis) 2:24

By today's standards, it is looked upon most favorably when young women finish college, date around, get married, invest in a career and then have maybe two or three children.

What about those of us who decide to get married young and not wait until we're 25-30 to get married? Yeah, we're not really liked very much.

But that's okay, because I'm going to spell out exactly why I feel that it is best for women to marry and have children at a younger age than what the world tells us is acceptable!

1. "You Don't Know What You Want In A Husband So Young!"

Oh, really? I think Scripture makes it pretty clear what we are to look for in a husband. 

"Likewise, urge the young men to be sensible. Show yourself to them an example of good works in all matters. In teaching, so corruptness, seriousness, soundness of speech beyond reproach..." Titos (Titus) 2: 7 - 8

"In the same way, husbands, live understandingly together, giving respect to the wife, as to the weaker vessel..." Kepha Aleph (1 Peter) 3:7

Know what you want from your future husband before you begin dating. Keep your standards high, and you won't be heartbroken over and over again.

2. "You Should Experience Life First."

As a young wife and mother, I truly do feel like I am experiencing life. My life is given to the loving servitude of my family, not to selfish gratification of wasting my time in a government institution to get a degree I'm not even going to use. 

I have practical life experience, such as how to keep a home in order, how to keep my family healthy by providing nutritious meals three times a day, how to soothe a child in a loving manner, and how to be a responsible adult. 

I don't need to go out and party and "get it out of my system" before I "settle down". 

Read Proverbs 31 for an accurate description of how a young woman should behave, especially when it comes to living her life as a homemaker.


3. I Have More Energy For Various Things


Who wants to be 30 or older and only begin having children? Wouldn't you be tired? I'm so glad I have all of this energy to keep up with little ones. I am more muscular, balanced, calm, and flexible than I've ever been in my entire life.

And think about childbirth -- it's for the young! Your bodies are completely developed for childbearing at a young age, so why wait another ten years or so before actually using your body for what it's built for? Birthing was a breeze, and I attribute it to my youth.


4. I Have More Childbearing Years

I feel sorry for those women who have purposefully cut off their childbearing years. Those are some of the greatest years of your life. And the act of giving birth and nursing keeps you young! I thank Yah that I have a lot of time to bring more children into the world, for His glory. 

"Children are an inheritance from Yahuah, and the fruit of the womb is a reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of one's youth.Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They are not ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gates." - Tehillim (Psalms) 127:3 - 5 

5. I'm Not Set In My Ways 

As a younger adult, I am not bound in the way I think things should be. I get to grow with my husband, experience new things with him, and fail or succeed with him. We can communicate more openly. We learn from each other. It is truly a blessing. 


I don't feel like young women need to wait forever to get married and have children. Trust Yahuah. Trust your husband. Trust yourself, as a capable woman. The rest will fall into place. Other people have told me that when I get older, I'll regret having married young, but I don't see how anyone could do it any other way. :)

Sukkot: It's In Tents!

This week, my family and I are observing Sukkot, the last fall feast of the year. It's an eight day festival in which we dwell in tents and rejoice. It's a rememberance of the time the children of Yisre'al wandered in the desert as well as a foreshadowing of  a future time in which the Messiah will tabernacle with men upon His return.

Because of tight budgets for all parties, this year, instead of going off to a camp site to observe this wonderful feast, we are camping in the pasture adjacent to my husband's family's home.

On 1st Day (Sunday), it rained while the men were setting up the tents and us women-folk scurried around (myself with my son on my back) situating tables, chairs, beds and whatnot. Mattresses were scrubbed down, various food boxes hauled and bed-frames put together.

All was well, even if we were a bit soggy.

And then there were the ants.

At this moment, I probably have about twelve ant bites in various places all over my feet. Unknowingly, we situated the food tent right over various small ant piles. So, while standing around chatting, looking at the progress we made, we all got bit.

Thankfully, my husband is a professional bug-killer and within a day, all of the bugs were gone. But the bites weren't, which made for a very uncomfortable night.

The Sabbath has just started as I am typing this now. It's been a full week with two days and one night left of this wonderful feast.

Erev Shabbat (the day before Shabbat, "Friday"), we spent the entire day preparing. Four loaves of Challah, a beautiful Menorah-lit feast outside under the camoflauge, and a trip (mid-day) to the local thrift store. During the Sabbath meal, my three sister-in-laws, my mother-in-law and I sang the "Sabbath Song" by Zemer Levav. It was truly beautiful.

We enjoyed making kosher-smores over a roaring fire and gathered for coffee and conversation in the food tent every morning.

I'm so happy to have been able to share this special time with my family and my son. :)

For now, here are some additional pictures of our camp (more to come):



Our Food Tent/Coffee Station