Priscilla's blog: January 2006

Happy Lunar New Year!

This weekend is Seolnal, Lunar New Year.It is one of the country's biggest holidays.People leave the cities to visit with families,(often stuck in traffic for 8 hours for a trip that usually takes 2 hours) pay respects to those who have passed on and feast on wonderful food.The most important food to eat is Tokkgook,a rice noodle soup-quite delicious.You also turn a year older.This is a long one to explain-later.
With Seolnal, comes gifts,just like Christmas.However, the gifts given here are of a practical nature.One look at the stores in the weeks prior to today, you could see pre-packaged gifts.Ordinary things like, 9 cans of tuna or a box set of three coffee jars or a set of cooking oil.The hot favorite is what I'd call the "wash up!" gift.It contains a bottle of shampoo,conditioner,4 bars of soap, hand lotion, body lotion and the 2 or 4 bamboo flavored toothpaste tubes in a large box.The best one is the Dove set.This year I received one very expensive gift from a student.It's the snack/rice cake box.See for yourself.
Long life and happiness to all in the year of the Dog.

The gift was wrapped in a cloth, with a website address printed on it.

The goods in a basket box.

Enough to last until next year.

The round cakes are called Dasik.Very expensive.

Puffy rice cakes in various colors and coatings.

All made of rice flour, pine nuts and sesame seeds.

Halloween,2005.

I mentioned that I have pictures that weren't posted.This was Halloween weekend, last year.Our band had a performance in between the activities for the evening.It was a great night, a lot of people dressed up. After so many months,yes,I forgot some people's names.Who cares? They all look fabulous!
Some more, (December) pics to come....later.