Chuseok Anybody?

Chuseok is the Korean Thanksgiving. Pretty much everything closes down for 3 days. It is common to see the children wearing Hanboks (Traditional Dress).

The Korean people visit their families for 3 days. This usually involves visiting their ancestral sites and give their respect for their dead. The 2nd day of Chuseok coinsides with the harvest moon. This is a day of much celebration and much eating. Since everyone is traveling, the roads and interstates are even worse than normal. Chuseok is comparable to Dia De Los Muertos for Latin countries. I could smell (I mean, tell) that it was coming. Since you don't want to have to cook and prepare meals during Chuseok, it is all prepared the week before. I know some of you have had Kimche before so you know what I'm talking about. Those of you who haven't had it, you're lucky! Kinche is fermented vegetables. Most often you will see cabbage, but I have also seen cucumbers, radishes, and onions. I'm sure there are even more than that.

Fun In the Sun?

Have you ever had something planned, and then when you wake up, it's pouring? That happens a lot here. But the lucky thing is, is that the Korean people DO NOT like the rain. What's a little water, when you have a park and zoo all to yourself?

Nobody likes to sit inside on a holiday. So, we broke out the umbrellas and braved the rain. It really wasn't too bad. By the time we got to the park, it was just drizzling. And when it started raining, it only lasted for a few minutes until it was a drizzle again.

The last time we went to the park, we noticed a stream that kids were playing in, so we told the kids to put on their swimsuits and we would let them play in the stream even though it was raining. When we got to the stream, there was no water flowing. Apparently, they only turn it on at certain times. The kids had fun, so I guess that's what really counts.