The Been Briefing

sunday adventures

i think in the past 3 weeks i've had three or four people ask me if i was feeling sick. to these concerns i have replied, "oh, i'm fine! i just need SUN." indeed, this winter seemed to last forever

as emily has said, "welcome to korea, where it's always grey, the sun never shines, and your skin will surely stay white forever."

and i, who have always looked down on tanning beds, serious began thinking i needed to find one. but then, there AREN'T ANY here... koreans hide from the sun like you wouldn't believe. the past few days - with the sun shining - women are decked out in long pants, sleeves, and sweaters. lol.

but finally it seems that spring has arrived...and possibly summer is close on its heels. the cherry blossoms and magnolias are gone, but the azaleas and lilacs' scents are wafting through the air... along with the delightful whiff of the sewer. and let me tell you, it is the most tragic combination of scents i have ever experienced.

on sunday after church i joined a bunch of other teachers from church (and friends of their friends, etc) in insaedong for the Lotus Lantern Festival. it was a great day with exhibits, free crafts, face painting, games, and a long parade in the evening. it was packed with koreans and a TON of foreigners.

the scene upon our arrival in insaedong.

the lotus lantern making tent
brittany (w/ the brown hair) and thea busy making their lanterns

i am so proud of my lantern. can you tell? (now it's hanging up in my apartment. woohoo!)

katie, susan, stefanie, and me: showing off our lanterns.

in the picture-taking booth: thea, brittany, me, stefanie.

thea und ich

the festival

a korean man teaching stefanie and susan a game with little square blocks. you throw one up in the air and try to pick up another at the same time - without letting that one hit the ground. then you throw those two up and try to pick up another, etc etc.

another child's toy. the grandmother and mother are teaching this little one how to keep the circle from falling!

some of the crowd

near a buddhist temple

buddhist temple door

stefanie and brittany, lookin' good ;)

the parade began around dusk and continued well into the night. the whole crew of us got a good view.these lanterns were beautifully lit all along the streets. i wish the pictures had turned out better for you to see. after the parade brit, stef, thea and i went to baskin robbins and got ice cream. i have settled on a new favorite flavor: Love Potion #30.. it has heart chocolates with raspberry filling, and it's to die for.

hence the reason i am meeting the girls tomorrow morning at 7:30 at the Y.

and that's my story of this sunday's festivities. the end.