Han River, Seoul, South Korea

While I was teaching overseas, I moved all over and I returned to Seoul, South Korea to teach on the USA Army Post (Yongsan) several times.   The last time that I lived there, I was in a fairly new high-rise apartment building, that was only about 4 years old, that was very close to the base.   I selected it because, there were many 'traffic lights' on the route that I would drive to get to the base/to work.  This made it a 'safe' driving route and I also lived close enough that I could walk to work in 30 minutes if I needed to do so.

That is very important in Seoul, South Korea.  I was also only about 1 1/2- 2 blocks away from a subway stop, lots of places to eat, and I have a lovely view from all windows of the Han River.  

This is the long hallway of my apartment building.   The open door at the far end of the hallway, straight back, was a guest bedroom and there was another one on the right hand side (can't really see it in this photo).   The guest bathroom is the door frame on the left side at the far end of the hallway-

The door frame on the left side (closest to the viewer) was the little entrance area to my bedroom. 

The 'no doorway' entrance, far back, on the left AFTER the standing open door... was the open area to the doorway to the lobby.   You stepped down into this tiny room.   My favorite part was the floor to ceiling storage cabinets (lovely woodwork) that was floor to ceiling shoe storage!   In Asia, you take your outside shoes off at the entrance to the door (or usually outside the apartment door in the hallway) they are not worn in the house/apartment.  You could tell if someone had lots of company or a party- there would be lots of shoes in the hallway outside their doorway.

 If shoes are needed inside- there are 'inside' only shoes to wear.  I also used these shelves for holiday storage/etc.  This area was big enough that I had a small bench along one wall.  

The door that you see on the far right (closest to the viewer) went to the dining room/kitchen area.  It was a huge room.   The areas that you don't see was the entrance to the master bedroom/bath/walk in closet area and the living room. 

I had bamboo floors throughout the apartment.   The key was a magnetic key that you scanned at the outside door panel or you could impute a code and the door could be opened that way.   Some apartment buildings had 'fingerprints' used for entrance.  My favorite part of the apartment were the views and the HEATED FLOORS throughout the entire apartment.   The underground parking and fast elevators were nice too.

This was the view out the laundry room off the kitchen. The following are views out the living room windows (my bedroom views were just a little further to the right of this photo). This is a rare clear day.  I thought that this was a nice photo of the sunrays.   The US Army helicopter is a nice touch. There was a big park area right below my apartment building.  You can see some of the green park at the bottom of this photo. You can see the effects of the air pollution here.   Many days, the air pollution (mostly from China's uncontrolled air pollution) made it impossible to see any of these buildings. To the far right of the buildings on the right side of the photo was a huge 6-8 lane interstate looking highway.   Lots of traffic.   My apartment complex was owned by the LG Corporation.   There were 10 buildings in our apartment complex, beautiful grounds, and it was very quiet. Across from my building was a building that was fairly close to me- not so close that you could see the residents inside.   Most of the newer apartments in Seoul have balconies that are actually along the outside glass walls.   It helps keep the cold and heat out- because, they are about 6-8 feet wide and big enough that you could use them for storage, a small office, a laundry room (that's where my laundry room was located off the kitchen in one of the balcony areas.)  It also keeps people from looking directly into your apartment.   Yet, while you are in the apartment- you have a clear view of outside since everything is glass.   You could keep the sliding glass doors to your balcony open to add extra space to the actual inside living areas if you wanted to do so.  The building that was the closest to me, had an apartment that was about 42-3 stories below my apartment and I would often see a Korean man working with a lamp, in the early morning hours, on his 'balcony turned into an office'... I also had a private balcony off all of the bedrooms.   The actual glass windows would slide open for air breezes on the balconies - but, they were tilted outwards for safety.   The rooms had floor to ceiling glass which gave you great views.   I did sew some 'light blocking' curtains for my bedroom that closed off the master bedroom balcony- I didn't want the sunlight to wake me up on the weekends when I could sleep in a little later than on school/work days. No problem finding the fabric because all I had to do was go to the 5 story fabric building in Tondaemun Market.     I enjoyed every location that I lived in while I was teaching overseas for 27 years.  I always enjoyed being in Seoul, South Korea.   I was there, I think 4 different times? I made many good friends, dated some really nice military men, taught wonderful students, and the shopping was always great.   It was also fun and challenging to live in a city of 16 million people.   I enjoyed the subways and I knew my way around markets very well.     It was quite an adventure living there.   I think also because it was SO DIFFERENT from the states- that it helped forge bonds of friendship with other Americans associated with the base?  The base also did a great job with activities for those deployed there.   I have many good memories of being there.   I will continue to add photos from my time in Seoul off and on.     Farewell, Seoul, South Korea...  you and my friends, from my time there, will always be in my heart.

Adorable little kids... are everywhere...

I was going through some of my old photos and I found this one that I had taken when I lived in Seoul, South Korea.   This is a school group at some public place- a museum or park.   Aren't they adorable in their school uniforms?  They appeared to be about 5 years old to me.  Whenever, you'd be out and about (as an American) and the little school groups would see you- they'd be so excited and start saying:  "HELLO!"  "HOW ARE YOU?"  in English.   Of course, that was usually all that they knew- but, it was adorable.   I love the little girl in the middle of the group with her hand on her forehead in that classic ... "Can you believe what the SILLY boys are doing?" gesture.  ha ha  

And, want to know what else amazed me?   These school groups would usually only have one or at the most 2 adults with a group of at least 25-35 young students.   We (my American school on the military base) would instead have 1 adult (teacher or parent volunteer for our field trips out on the local economy) for every 3 or 5 children.

Wah! I miss Yangjae Flower Market in Seoul, South Korea

Even if it was a subway ride with 2 transfers (meaning: lots of stairs and walking) that took me across the Han River and once out of the subway entrance to street level- then I had to take a taxi the next 2 miles to get to the flower market buildings... trust me it is always fun to get in a taxi and tell someone where to take you.. when you both don't speak each other's languages!


This market was amazing.. 5 enormous buildings and just full of flowers. This building was my favorite one. It was where the orchids were sold. If you look carefully, you'll see the signs with numbers? They each represent a different person's 'flower shop'.. I loved going to this place. The air was moist and smelled heavenly of flowers. It was like going to a Botantical Garden. The aisles were wide and no one was shoving and pushing- which is an unfortunate result of living in a city of 16 million. The shop owners were so nice and friendly- I don't think that many Americans were part of their regular customer base.

I have lived in Seoul three different times and in times past.. one of the shop keepers was near one of the exits and made a point to stop at her place last- Even though she and we/I didn't speak each other's language.. all it took was a gesture to our ear like we were using a phone and say "TAXI" and she would always call us a taxi and let us keep our bags of purchases in her shop so that we could make the rest of our purchases.. She sold fresh herb plants and I always planted herbs in a window box.

Here's a view of a couple of the aisles.



*Trust me, you'll want to click on the photos for a better view.
Here are just a few of amazing orchids that they sold...





















Needless, to say.. I always had orchids blooming in my apartment in Seoul.

There are only a few types of orchids for sale here.. the normal colors: white, that pinky purple color, and I have seen a few yellow ones for sale.. but, those are the basic orchids sold any place that sells orchids.

They are also twice the cost of the more exotic orchids found in the Yangjae Flower Market. I would make a Saturday morning outing of the flower market every couple of months. It was well worth the long subway journey to get there too.


There are always experiences, foods, views, and local experiences and cultures that you miss when you move from one place to another... even if it is just to a new house with a different view. I am missing Yangjae.

On the other hand, I have a yard, trees, and my own window boxes filled with new flowers ready to greet myself, my friends, and my neighbors.

I'm excited to be moving to a new location...

but, there are also some things that I'll miss about Korea...

The Tea Houses in Isadong... there are many, but...

The one that I visit is down a winding alley, up old steep, creaky wooden stairs, adorned with beautiful waterlilies floating in containers. As you walk up the steps, you eventually make your way to the final step, turn to the right, and enter into a room lit with only natural daylight streaming through the cracks in the aged wooden shutters.


You stand for a minute, waiting for your outside eyes to adjust to the room's soothing natural light, take a deep breath of the various spices in the air, and you can sense the serenity, the water fountain gently babbles water, musical chirping birds- flying free in the room add the finishing touch. It is a place of gentle repose, rest, and peace. You feel refreshed and reminded of a simpler time - when people took the time to just 'sit, watch, think' and sip tea.





I hope we all find quiet soothing places to calm our inner spirit- no matter where it is. Do you have a such a place?

I grew up on a lake and I know that no matter what had happened or was bothering me-Just riding my bike or walking to the lake helped so much. I'd sit and listen to the gentle waves and the wind drowning out my everyday life and I always felt better.
Watching the sunset works too. Did you know that in Okinawa- that it was very typical to see people stop and watch the sunset? It's a tradition there to say goodbye and respect to the day.


PS.. I am happy to report that someone from IOWA visited the blog... way to go! Now, only 10 more states to go!!

We've all been there....

Fed up, maybe a despair so strong that you just want to curl up into a ball and hide... but, rarely do we let our anguish be known publicly.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I had gone on the subway and as the train pulled into the station- we noticed that the car that had stopped right in front of us-had some empty seats- not a real common event. We walked in and immediately noticed that some 'personal items' were strew about along the bench seat taking up the space that would be taken up by 4people. First of all this was pretty unusual since the subway cars are always clean and fairly quiet. Then, I looked at the items and noticed that there were some books, papers, a few toiletries/etc. I just gently shoved them to one end so that my friend and I had enough room to sit down. I then looked around and noticed that there was a weird 'vibe' in the area.

A man to my right suddenly started yelling and screaming in Korean, and then started throwing things from his backpack into the floor. This was extremely unusual and I had never encountered anything of this nature in all of the years that I had lived in Seoul. He was clearly upset and everyone in the car, except for the two 'non-Korean speaking' Americans were avoiding all eye contact.

Soon, he gets up and grabs some of the items that I had shoved to one side on the subway bench and tossed them to the floor. Then, he started tearing some things apart. I kept trying to make 'eye contact' with someone to see if I could figure out what was going on. I figured that even if I didn't speak Korean, that maybe their body language would give me a hint or a warning. Of course, we didn't dare get up and move--- we didn't want to do anything to draw any more attention to us as we were already sitting right by his abandoned possessions, that I had moved out of the way, and I was sitting right beside him too.

I was finally able to catch the lady sitting directly across from me... and raised my eyebrows, leaned my head towards him and then made the universal sign for 'crazy'... you know the one... the fingers twirling around in a circle. She nodded and quickly looked away.

When the train pulled into the next station, he got off and left his visual message on the floor. A few people got on the car and just stepped over the items in the floor, and at the next stop... a subway employee came into our car. I could tell he was asking everyone things like; "Who did this?" "Does this belong to anyone?" "What happened?" He kept posing his various questions to the small seated group.

I was so surprised that no one would answer him. Finally, and elderly Korean lady.. spoke up and gave him an explanation. The subway employee began picking up the 'useless reminders of someones pain' and no one else helped him. All averted their eyes... only the elderly lady and I offered him any assistance.





I thought about this man in such pain, distress, anger, and sorrow for days. I wondered what had caused this open display that is so unseen in the Korean culture. I wondered if he'd been fired?, Had there been a tragic unfair loss in his life?, Had he been jilted by his one true love? Had he lost his money in the stock-market? Was he mad at God because of something horrible that had happened? (There did appear to be a bible and several pages that he tore from the book.)

Upon closer inspection- there appeared to be work ID's (the little booklets that look like passports), documents of some sort, and several books. He had even tossed his comb, shampoo, and other mundane everyday items to the floor.

Whatever it was, he wanted nothing to remind him and voiced his pain and anquish, and left all reminders of his past life behind him.

How do you know you've bought enough?

When they have to tape your bag shut and form a handle out of the tape for you!



Or maybe it's when you can't carry anything more and you know that you need to be able to carry all that you purchase for the subway ride, and a few blocks walk to your apartment?

The motto of shopping here.. you stop buying when you can't carry it all in one load . *Since, there is no 'let's go put this in the car' and continue shopping plan here.

This is not a city of parking lots, traffic is everywhere but.. parking is very limited. So, I always walk, take the subway, or a taxi.. depending on where I'm going and how far away it is.

PS.. Update on the transfer round.. we 'might' know by the end of this week. Maybe I should do another poll for everyone to guess which day they send out the annoucements of who got a transfer? :D

Nothing exciting to report

So, here's something that I saw on the side of the road here in Korea.




I like the addition of the blooming Morning Glories. :D

No word about the transfer either- the latest info that we have said, "Maybe next week."...

Some days are like that..

ever feel like you are swimming upstream, trying to make a point but your voice.. is drowned out by life's events???

*click on photos for a larger view...

I saw this poor little 'fish' at a local grocery store here in Seoul.. and the poor little fella looked he was trying to warn the other fish or maybe he was saying: "I have just begun to fight!" or even "Lassie, quick go get Timmy!"

and he just made me a little sad...

**The little fella at the bottom looks like he is regretting 'swimming towards the bright shiny' object.. which turned out to be a lure and a trap.

Here's a better view of the fish group:

I need a new coat.. but, WHAT COLOR? Maybe I should see what seems to be the most popular color?

WELL.. what do you think? Do you think that 'maybe' BLACK is the most popular color? Or do you think there is a law about 'coat colors' that I don't know about?


Maybe it was written in Korean on that custom's form that I signed when I entered the country: "I, _____________ promise to wear a black coat during the winter months while I am in Korea." :D