Little Wonders

I made a new friend today, and she introduced me to the cute stationary store right across the street from where I work. It was really neat, and reminded me of Hobby Lobby because it had everything from craft supplies to planners. But the coolest thing about this place was the notebooks. 

It can be hit or miss, but the notebooks had so many cool quotes on them about life, love and happiness. I had to buy a few for my writing on the spot notebooks. 

It was a hidden jem among the hustle and bustle of the every day. 

A Beautiful Day at The Garden of Morning Calm

After going to Petite France, we discovered brochures that advertised this really pretty Botanic Garden, so we planned to go there after a few weeks. I was hoping to see lotus blossoms, since this is their time of year, but what I got was even better. 

We got there around ten, so it wasn't too crowded, and there was still a nice morning mist before the sun came out completely. It was like walking in a folktale. There were many gazebos and scenic views from the pagodas and bridgewalks. 

As we were walking around, some of the places looked familiar, and sure enough, a sign in the first exhibit explained that my favorite Korean Drama, You're Beautiful was filmed here years ago. 

The first spot I noticed was the center of the garden, where ANJEL does their photo shoot in episode 12.

But, the first time this area actually shows up is episode 9, when ANJEL shoots Go Mi Nam's first music video. The chapel is really pretty, and you can even go inside!

But the area I was determined to visit was the greenhouse where Go Mi Nyu gets dressed up for a brief moment, and she's allowed to be who she is for awhile. It's one of my favorite scenes from the drama, and we finally found it at the end of the road.

My friend Gabriela even played the theme song to the drama on her phone, since no one was around, and we had a truly awesome Kdrama moment! 

It was such a pleasant surprise to visit another memorable location, by pure chance! The garden was beautiful and inspirational. Now if only I could see the Korean actors every so often . . . 

"There and Back Again": A Tanabata Tale

                                   

       I first heard about Tanabata when I worked for Disneyland, and I discovered that one of the Disney Park Stores sold Tokyo Disney soundtracks. I looked it up, and saw Minnie and Mickey in gorgeous costumes on a picture dated in July. Naturally, I did some research, and I discovered that they were dressed up to celebrate a Japanese holiday: The Tanabata Festival on July 7th. Tanabata means "of the stars" and it was created in honor of a special Asian holiday based on a legend surrounding the two stars Altair and Vega. 

       This festival is celebrated in more countries than Japan. Korea calls this holiday Double Seventh Festival or Chilseok. China calls this holiday the Qixi Festival. 

This star festival celebrates the reunion of the two lovers Vega and Altair.

Vega's names in the mythology are Orihime (Japanese), Jiknyeo (Korean) and Zhinu (Chinese). Altair's names are Hikoboshi (Japanese), Gyeonwu (Korean) and Niulang (Chinese). The legend originated in China, and like most fairytales, the stories have different details. In the Japanese version, Orihime is a princess. In the Korean tale, she is the Jade Emperor's daughter. In the Chinese tale, she is a fairy. But in every version of the story, Vega is a weaver who falls in love with the cowherd of the heavens. Altair watches over the cows that make the Milky Way. They fell in love at first sight, and abandoned their duties. When Vega's father discovers that the stars are no longer in balance, he forbids Vega and Altair from seeing each other, and separates them with the Milky Way. But Vega persuades her father to allow one day every year if both work hard and continue to keep the heavens in order. 

It's a cool myth, and I love the ties to Astronomy. 

                                        

        The festival is celebrated by writing a wish on a piece of paper and tying it to a bamboo tree. It is said that if you make a wish during the star festival, it will come true.

Tokyo Disney started celebrating this about twenty years ago, and because the festival was so popular, it has continued ever since! Mickey and Minnie dress as the two lovers and perform the story, asking the audience to make a wish with them. After the show, you can go to the special wishing spot where Disney Cast members give you a Mickey Mouse shaped piece of paper to write your wish on. And of course there is merchandise. The festival is performed at both Tokyo Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Sea, so I chose Disney Sea. 

         For five years I told myself that I would go to Tokyo Disney one day and celebrate Tanabata, and I was finally able to make that happen! 

          This trip was an adventure in itself, being my second international flight, and my first trip alone since I arrived in Korea. It was an amazing experience, and I met so many kind and understanding Japanese people who helped me find my way to the hotel and the airport. 

I took a bus directly from the airport to the park, and my adventure began. The ticket teller was really impressed that I knew about Tanabata (probably because I was foreign) and she gave me a bonus Japanese map with all the Tanabata information on it. 

          I arrived just in time to see a very well known show at Tokyo Disney Sea: The Legend of Mythica. The theme of Disney Sea is stories and myth, and in the show, you help Mickey unlock the magic and secrets of Mythica. It was one incredible float after another. From dragons, to unicorns and the extra kites and fireworks in the sky.

                                        

 I highly recommend this show to anyone that loves the Disney parks.

          After the show, I had some time before the Tanabata greeting, so I went souvenir shopping. All the Tanabata merchandise was on a special display, and they had Tanabata specials in some of the restaurants and food stands. There were more shops than I could count, and with the theme being Mediterranean, there were many neat decorations and hidden Mickeys. One of my favorites was in Donald's Venetian shop, where a Donald statue is staring up at a painted Daisy. Outside the shop were gondola rides, and a scenic bridge that lead to a good view for the show. I waited with many eager locals and spotted a Duffy bear dressed as Belle in the crowd. 

        Before I knew it, a Japanese and English announcement announced the Tanabata Greeting, and Mickey and Minnie appeared, riding on a celestial boat that looked like a cloud! So, I knew Tanabata was based on wishes, but I didn't know that they would play the actual song "Wishes" from a much beloved fireworks show I went to see every night when I worked for Disney. (I'll admit that I got choked up from the nostalgia.)

         

         After the show was over, I headed to the wishing place, where I wrote my wish in both English and Japanese. 

         

          To be honest, this was as far as my plan went, so I just decided to wander instead of look at the map and pick a place to go. Their version of the Tower of Terror was a very cool looking building.

I took a lot of pictures of the details in each land, and since I was by myself, I was able to ride the roller coasters very quickly.  (The single riders line was magic I discovered at the Disney College Program) The Indiana Jones ride was different, and the story line revolved around the Crystal Skull. After that I settled on more exploring and got a signature Disney churro (which took a while to find). Atlantica was just around the corner, and I discovered that you could actually go inside the palace, which was a water playground where kids were jumping and splashing. Next up was the Arabian coast, where Aladdin's Magic Carpets could be seen by the bridge and Genie's Lamp theatre stood to welcome you. In Agrabah you could play a game and either win an Arabian Stitch or Angel, but if you lost you got a pin. It started getting late, and I decided to grab the Tanabata drink and be on my way, but I was hungry too. While I ate dinner, Fantasmic started, and I had a good view from where I was sitting. It was a beautiful show, and it reminded me of World of Color with the lights dancing on clouds of mist.      By that time my phone had barely any battery life and I still didn't know how to get to my hotel from the park. 

Well, being me, I panicked, and as the happy guests were leaving the park, I frantically ran to the gift shop and grabbed my itinerary papers from my backpack. Luckily, a very nice Disney Cast member helped me find the best way, which was by Tokyo Metro, and after writing down instructions in Japanese he walked me to the Disney Train Station, where I showed them to the next cast member. I think she panicked more than I did, and I felt bad, because I didn't know enough Japanese to explain the situation, but she found another Disney cast member who walked me to the bus station and there, I met a very nice Japanese couple who guided me to the Tokyo metro and helped me buy my ticket, explaining my next stop. We chatted for a while about Disney, languages and life goals, and I promised to stay in touch and let them know when I return to Japan. 

So at the end of the day, I loved celebrating Tanabata Days at the Disney Parks. I'm glad I went on this adventure, made my wish, and I will be planning another adventure in Japan soon ^_^ 

Little Town . . .

Yesterday was a celebration of France. My friends and I ventured to Gapyeong to see Le Petite France, a cute theme park inspired by the classic children's book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 

This area is well known for its cameos in Korean Dramas. It is featured most recently in My Love from the Star, but it has also been in Secret Garden and Beethoven's Virus. They even had a poster with all the Korean Dramas it had been featured in, as well as photo spots that were filmed in Korean Dramas featuring the characters! There was also a TV playing behind the scenes footage of the famous kiss scene in My Love from the Star. I also discovered that you can stay here in a hotel and see the place at night, which I plan to do next weekend, along with a trip to Nami island (another Kdrama hotspot). 

The colorful houses were modeled after common structures in Europe, from Germany to the Mediterranean, and the gardens feature European statues and works of art. There are a few shops and stands, including one that serves Belgian waffles. One of the houses is a museum dedicated to The Little Prince, and it chronicles Antoine de Saint-Exupery's travels with many displays. One room had an entire wall of all the different languages that The Little Prince had been published in. 

The Little Prince is really popular here, perhaps because the story is a reflection of life's travels and what you learn from them. They even made The Little Prince comic book and TV show where the prince travels around the universe helping aliens in need. Other fairytales were displayed in the village including Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Pinocchio. 

We walked around the village and took lots of pictures of the paintings, scenery and gardens. I found a gift shop in the fountain plaza that sold lots of The Little Prince merchandise, but it also sold antique dolls and some Studio Ghibli figurines. 

All in all it was a fun place to see, and just as pretty as I had expected from its cameos in Korean Dramas. 

A note on getting there: According to the website, you can buy a tour that features Petite France (but they're a tad pricy for a backbacker) I recommend taking the subway or ITX to Gapyeong station, then taking the bus (which runs from 8:30 to 5:30 pm) which costs 5,000 won (but you have the ticket for the whole day). The bus can also take you to Nami Island and The Garden of Morning Calm if you want to go to all three. 

The ticket price is 8,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for kids. 

After our tour of Petite France, we decided to watch La Belle et La Bete so it was truly a French experience :) We were just missing actual crepes! 

Adjustments

Hello! I'm still alive, and yes I realize that I haven't blogged in quite awhile. Here's my excuse: adjustments. I've been adjusting to the time difference, my new schedule, a new culture and a new mindset. That's a lot to get used to! But the point is, I'm still enjoying it here. 

I'm trying not to beat myself up when I make mistakes, (I am human after all) and I'm starting to understand the school system. 

So, before I made this blog, I made a rule. No complaining! This rule keeps me focused on the good, and it reminds me to avoid any bad things that would usually haunt my mind. (My new mindset.)

For the past week, I've gotten to know my students better, and I'm getting to know the area. Chuncheon is lovely. It reminds me of Colorado and Kentucky all at once. The mountains surround the city, but there are large rivers and lakes that compliment the tall buildings and highways. I went to the park last weekend, along with many other foreign teachers, and I've decided that I may bike there once I set my schedule straight. The park features a wavy bridge, and they even have swan paddle boats! We went to a pancake place on one of the docks, and we drank rice wine from bowls! 

Most of my schedule revolves around teaching English, and since I have had little teaching experience, it's a process. Like any class, some students are well behaved, while others really test your patience. I'm learning the system, and adjusting to the enviornment of the classroom and the teaching life slowly but surely. I tried explaining smores the other day to one class, because the topic was camping, but it was hard to describe graham crackers.

 I haven't really experienced too much culture shock yet. In fact, I'm enjoying a lot of the day to day details that I wouldn't find in America. 

For example, on the way to work, one shop blasts music that I actually own on my ipod. They play Kpop hits and Kdrama soundtracks. Also, on nearly every corner is a convinent store or CVC. They have really cheap iced coffee, (my new best friend) and they carry many cool Korean snacks, including a dark chocolate version of cocoa puffs shaped like stars. They also have Oreos of every flavor, and really good hamburgers with pinapple slices. Tables and chairs are set up outside, and they stay open really late. If I have a break at work, the CVC is my favorite place to grab a snack and write. 

I'm currently in a language swap with two of my fellow teachers. We meet at Cafe Bene, a cafe that has book shelves, on Fridays at noon and practice speaking. I haven't made a list of all the places I want to go yet, but once I get used to my surroundings, I will start exploring more. 

My most recent find was the bookstore across the street from work. They had many popular US books in Korean, and classics that are famous around the world! I found The Hobbit, Pride and Prejudice, Sherlock Holmes and Jane Eyre. They also sell Disney books, teen books and novels that have inspired Korean drama! I was lucky to find The Moon That Embraces the Sun, a Korean novel that inspired the T.V. drama of the same name. I don't know if my Korean will ever be that advanced, but I plan on buying it while I'm here. 

Aside from my discoveries, I've also noticed that some things that are popular in America are really popular here too! My students love Frozen, to the point where they will burst into one of the songs randomly (usually Let it Go). The Little Prince is a big deal here too. They have a comic book, T.V show and of course the theme park that I plan to visit soon. I've also seen stickers, stationary and toys based on the Little Prince. The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones are also a big deal. They had a display for each in the book store, and they sold several different versions. 

My adventure here has only just begun, but I have much more to do and see before I will feel adjusted. This is my first major step away from home, so my reaction to the time difference is common and normal, still I look forward to the days that I won't feel so tired and I can explore more of this city and country. 

Palace of Wonder and Garden of Dreams

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The Changdeokgung Palace is a step back in time. From the imperial gate to the secret garden, it has been the movie set for many historical Korean dramas. The picturesque view and the artistic atmosphere draws in tourist after tourist. But for me, it's more than that. Once I arrived, it was like walking in a Korean fairytale. I could see the crown prince running along the game field. I saw the servants walking through the gate quickly with laundry to the great well next to the public garden. And of course, the minute I walked over the Geumcheongyo (stone bridge) I could see the crown princess with her ladies in waiting, and the procession that followed. 

This palace also has a forbidden garden, that we were lucky enough to grab tickets for, right before it sold out. (I reccomend geting them as soon as possible- they sell out fast) The great pavillion was a private resort for the royal family and a few selected noblility. The garden itself was a quiet retreat for tea, and it even has it's own area for the rice only eaten by the royal family. 

The area was beautiful, and reminded me of many Korean myths and legends. 

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find books about Korean folklore, but their history begins with a myth, and slowly turns into facts. The Kingdom of the Four Winds begins Korea's tale, and from then on, the history unfolds. But actually walking around the regal and beautiful buildings gives you a taste of what life was like whne men feared Gumihos, women were chosen to be the crown princess, and the great school of Sungkyunkwan was the most promising school in the country. 

This area of Korea, preserved in the Joseon period is inspirational and its own work of art. 

Some of the Korean Dramas filmed here include The Moon that Embraces the Sun, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Gu Family Book, Goong, Goong S and of course Queen Inhyeon's Man. 

The Mime Festival in South Korea

Last night I pulled my first ever, fun all-nighter. The Mime Festival is a big deal here in South Korea, and it's dedicated to many cool forms of art. It was one incredible show after another, from rock concerts to interpretive dance. The festival started at 10 pm and ended at 4am, but it was worth it. It's so amazing that this festival exists, and it celebrates a variety of art.