Mon 26 Jan 2009
Anyeong Haseyo!
Happy New Year!! Maybe it’s just cause I’m getting older, or have a baby, but time seems to be going faster and faster these days. It’s already 2009, and our last year in Korea! Things here are certainly settling down a little more with Ruby, and I’m finding more time for emailing again.
End of V-School Term/Winter English Camp
Will completed our third term of V-School in December, and it was another successful term, filled with essay writing, learning about and discussing the news, and the other regular English, Bible and Logic classes, as well as developing relationships with the students. The younger students also enjoyed another Winter Camp, during which Will tested their listening skills with English oldies, completing the week with sledding at the local patch of ice. Similar to the mini sleds at the Fish Festival we attended last year, Will (as well as the kids!) enjoyed sliding around on the ice on one of those.
Ruby’s 100-Day Celebration
It is a Korean tradition to celebration a baby’s 100th day, and this celebration usually involves a family gathering with lots of food. In the aftermath of the Korean war, we are told, children often did not live to 100 days, and so if a baby did survive that long, it was seen as an important benchmark. So, when observing this tradition, families remember that and celebrate. Since we don’t have actual family here, the closest thing we have to that is our cell group, so we treated them to Ginseng Dakgalbi, which we, as well as the other members, had never tried before. It was actually quite delicious (although I will admit, I was tempted to reach in and take out the ginseng root when no one was looking, before it got cooked in–yes,yes, I need to be more open to try new things). Ruby even received gifts, which was unexpected!
From L to R: Owner of restaurant holding Ruby;The group over supper; The group from the other side; Ruby with her gifts; Ruby excited about her party
Korean Baby 1-Year Birthday Party Tradition
Korean babies are very lucky to get 2 parties in their first year of life. Too bad they won’t remember it! Aside from the 100-day Party, babies get a huge 1-year birthday party, at which the parents and baby dress in traditional outfits, rent a large hall and pay for an all-you-can-eat buffet for friends and family. The particular party we went to, for a baby from church, there was a huge banner made for the baby, a special cake, and even a special cake cutting ceremony. Reminded us of a wedding reception. There was even a “thanks for coming” gift for everyone. At this event, we rarely saw Ruby, as she was passed from person to person, friend to waiter to stranger. We’ll just have to get used to this!
From L to R: The display table at the entrance to the hall; The couple with the birthday girl; The banner and cake display
Other things
After a 3-month “maternity leave” from Korean lessons (although he really only stopped cause his tutor was busy, but it happened to be at the same time as Ruby’s arrival), Will is back full-force with a new tutor. He is excited to get back into it, and is already exercising his abilities on Korean-only phone calls and writing text messages. I have gotten into the habit of passing the phone over to him if I feel my Korean abilities are inadequate for a phone call. He also is working more regularly in Seoul, doing more KAC work. Other than that, we are in the midst of our winter vacation, and Ruby and I are becoming more socialized again, going out to dinner with friends, and attending gatherings more regularly, which we think is more beneficial to our friends than us (people just LOVE seeing Ruby). Also, Ruby has gotten quite a bit fatter, which we are ecstatic about, but I think she has exceeded the average body weight of Korean babies her age, because a few church friends seemed surprised at her size: “My baby wasn’t that big at her age!”
From L to R: At a traditional house restaurant; The couple that treated us for supper; Ruby at church with some friends
That’s all for now, folks!