Sunday was weird.
I set out at eight in the morning-the art gallery opened at ten and I wanted to give myself time in case I managed to get lost. I really have to start giving myself more credit because I always end up being hours early for everything and I've yet to get lost(although I have been very confused as to where I was on several occasions). The gallery was on the orange subway line and I wasn't to sure where my transfer stop was. I must have looked bewildered because a sweet elderly Korean man asked me if I needed help. After explaining to him where it was I wanted to go, he exclaimed "Oh that's my stop too! I'll show you where to transfer!".
The gallery was still about twenty minutes away at this point but conversation between myself and Mr. Pa flowed relatively easily. He was delighted to practice his English and even more delighted to find out the I was from the Island. He's been to PEI several times(small world syndrome) and he sells solar panels to a few companies on Canada's East Coast. When it became time to transfer he insisted on introducing me to his daughter and his granddaughter who were waiting at the subway station for him. She was as lovely as he was and insisted that I come to breakfast with them. Feeling like I would hurt there feelings by refusing I agreed and was practically force fed an amazing Western style brunch.
I've never been so happy to see whole wheat bread.
We had a great time together and they are eager to show me their favorite places in Seoul. They've invited me for a personal tour next weekend. After brunch they dropped me off at the gallery. The exhibit was amazing-but was even more wonderful was the arts center itself. It had everything; a maze garden, sculpture gallery, an opera house, ballet theater, and a center for musical theater. I picked up a program and was delighted to find out that a traveling troupe
from Broadway will be Phantom of the Opera all throughout July. Which makes that the best possible birthday present I will probably ever give myself!
After exploring for hours I jumped on a train to Insadong where I had made plans to meet up with other expat Islanders. Five minutes into the ride the train lurched forward and screeched to a halt between stations. An anxious voice came over the loudspeaker and because my Hangul still sucks I had no idea what was going on. Everyone around me was starting to look freaked out, so I began to worry that there was a fire. I wondered from cab to cab trying to find someone who spoke English. Finally one Korean girl removed her i-pod from her ears and said rather nonchantly "Oh someone's committed suicide on the tracks, we should be going again in twenty minutes".
I didn't really know what to so at this point so I called Dave and explained that I was going to be late(he was awed by the randomness), and then after letting him go I pulled out Manchester Park and began reading, feeling like a jerk. The train started up again after thirty minutes and I found Dave and Kelly in Insadong.
We spent the afternnoon watching street performers, small parades, and attempting to make our our paper lotus lanterns for the parade. Dave and Kelly made pretty lanterns but after twenty minutes I only made a giant mess and was covered in gross thick glue-so I bought one instead. We also stuffed out faces with the amazing street food. Street food here is either delicous or bordering on insane and possibly illiegal. People regularly knaw on octpi tenacles and giant legs of uncooked pork which worries me especially in light of Swine flu! Insect larvae is another gross one-people pop these gross things into their mouths and it releases a yellow pus. I can't understand the appeal.
We then met up with more friends and watched the world's biggest parade. It was totally different than a Western parade and featured thousands of orange robed monks carrying lanterns, floats made of paper that breathed real fire, and beautiful women performing traditional dances.
All in all it wasn't a day that I'll forget anytime soon.
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