My Oma introduction

We often walk around, closed down and hearts zipped, and I must say that I'm grateful that I've never had an easy time of it. Something about starting a new adventure makes you see that every moment is part of the adventure, even the idle bits. There's no starting line, the race has begun and it moves on with or without your awareness. Two months ago I watched the California coast disappear from my sight and said goodbye for a year or more. I was met with a tear or two but mostly a calm stillness because I was stepping into my waking life. No food and with a bit of sleep I still managed to be as chit chatty as ever.

On my flight from Tokyo to Seoul, I found myself next to a lady, Mrs. Kim, who was eager to smile and ask me where I was from. Using my Lonely Planet translation pocket book we were able to converse for the two hour period. Enough was understood- she had a daughter, I was a new English teacher, I was a vegetarian, she wanted to make me kimchi and pumpkin soup. Done and done, she gave me her husband's email address and phone number.
So after a month of being in Seoul, attaining a handphone (cell phone) we attempted broken translation and her 10 year old daughter attempted to utilize her non-conversational English-so we could make plans to meet. "You come Daejeon station from Seoul station. Okay?" was about all I got but still didn't know if she was saying "DaeJeon" nor where that was. Made my way to Seoul station ( my second time navigating the Seoul Metro solo) and bought a ticket to DaeJeon on the speedy KTX train. I forgot my ipod but found myself quickly reminded of my love of trains and enjoyed being completely present to the rainy countryside passing by.



After a bit of confusion as to where I was supposed to meet them upon arriving, I grabbed the attention of a teenager and put them on the phone with the Kim family. They came and found me and then proceeded to take me into the mountains where we dined on traditional Korean food in a cliffside teahouse/restaurant/museum.
It was gorgeous and lavish. I didn't understand that I was spending the night and had nothing, not even a toothbrush. They prepared for me, evening giving me 10-year-old Sang Eun's bed. I certainly wasn't prepared for the shower pot, literally a pot, and squatting on cold tile with a bucket was a new experience to be sure.



The bathing experience of a lifetime, didn't get that zestfully clean feeling but it was certainly entertaining. Only recently have homes had running water and this is the traditional way of bathing- even in the jjimjilbangs.

Grandma Kim loves her plants and has about 45 pots filled with all sorts of greenery. I love this picture, I snapped it as we were leaving the house Sunday morning without them knowing.


The Kim family quickly became my family, and I was informed that their house was "your house, me house, ok?" Mrs. Kim asked me to be her daughter and that I call her Oma, she was so amazing. Strangers on a plane, no more. She showed me her craft, calligraphy, and taught me to write my name.
We went to museums, she made me ridiculously delicious pumpkin soup. She even sent me home with a care package of food and medicine (she could hear that I was getting sick). What blessings! I'll be seeing them soon for the Flower Blossom Festival, and I can't wait.

Sang Eun and I at King Muryeong's burial site, the tree blossoms were just beginning to bud and it was so cold. She's quite a character, this face sums her up quite well.

Need a hot soak for your footsies... pull over in the middle town, hike up your pants and have a go. Sang Eun was a bit surprised by a few funky toes, needless to say she didn't do the dip.

A bit tuckered out after so much sightseeing, a jam-packed day of ancient royal tombs, countryside, an overwhelming sushi lunch, and museums.