KOREA, MY SECOND HOME
Mrs. Joanne Sharp
As I look back over my time in Korea, I can scarcely believe I have been here for almost 19 months. The American expression “Time flies when you’re having fun” really applies here and comes to my mind often when I lament how quickly the days go by. It seems like only yesterday we were landing at Inchon airport. (The airport, by the way, is a dead giveaway to Americans that this is not “your father’s Korea”.)
The drive to Yongsan was much as I remembered it being 13 years ago when we were here for our first tour, too much traffic and lots of aggressive driving (similar to my home in New York!).
I quickly became caught up in a flurry of activities. I found my Korean hosts were more than eager to show me their country and their customs and I was only too eager to join in.
My husband and I had often lamented the fact that while here on our first tour, we had not taken advantage of the opportunities for cultural exchange and had spent too much time on Yongsan.
We decided this time things would be different and we would take advantage of our situation and travel throughout Korea getting to know more of its people and places.
Our first trip locally involved my son and me. We took a subway from Seoul to Bukhanson . Nowhere in my experience, can you catch a train in a big, bustling city and 90 minutes later be in the forest in a National park. We were the only Westerners on the mountain and were greeted with smiles and hellos all the way from the top to the bottom.
We marveled over the magnificent temples. We also enjoyed the beautiful scenery and realized the Koreans really know how to relax when we saw them resting with their shoes off, napping, eating delicious looking food and thoroughly enjoying what nature has to offer (we were a little ashamed of our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!)
Our first trip to Jeju–do was a memorable one. We took a sail boat cruise along the shore and drank in the sweet smell of the salt air; the scenery was breath taking. I found the tangerines so sweet and delicious, the Teddy Bear museum so clever, and the famous female sea divers fascinating. I have never eaten such fresh seafood as that caught by the haenyo divers of Jeju.
Pusan is another area we have been fortunate enough to visit twice. A beautiful day in May on the beach in Pusan was filled with so many people of different ethnic backgrounds; I was reminded of the famous Coney Island beach in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York.
The sight that I will remember the most is looking out the window from our hotel room, very early in the morning just at the first light of dawn and seeing swimmers, like little black dots, gliding through the sea with the beautiful orange sun in the background.
On this same trip we got to visit the Hyundai shipyard in neighboring Ulsan. We were so impressed with the whole operation!
Summer is my favorite time of the year in Korea. I, unlike most Americans, love the heat. It was surprising to me therefore, that I enjoyed my visit so much to the ski resort of Yongpyong in Gangwon Province.
I found the Korean skiers to be very courteous and in control and I liked the idea that there were “traffic cops” on the slopes telling speeding skiers to slow down. I felt very comfortable and at ease. I also enjoyed taking a fast paced, warm gondola to the top. I so hope Yongpyong is successful in its bid for the 2018 Olympics!
I also enjoy the fall season and I was fortunate to go on a rice harvesting trip to Walchon, Goyang city in the Gyeunggi province. Since I am a city girl I had no idea how rice was harvested and had an enjoyable and informative day learning how rice goes from the rice paddy to the table.
I even got to do some of the harvesting myself with a sickle. I also enjoyed digging up some sweet potatoes and have discovered that they are very delicious and perfect for a healthful snack.
I enjoy too, the day to day things that I think many people take for granted. I like the Korean food very much especially Bibimbap, Ghimbap and Kimch’i. I enjoy taking a stroll off post out of one of the many gates and just looking at the sights.
Walking my dog on Yongsan is always fun as I look at the interesting architecture of some of the buildings. The trips on the subway with friends to Namdaemun and Dongdaemun are just daily adventures.
Recently I had an amusing trip Christmas shopping in Namdaemun. I purchased a hat and was trying to find out from the Korean lady shopkeeper what kind of fur it was made from. She kept saying what sounded to me and my friend like “turkey” and we kept laughing and telling her it couldn’t be turkey because they didn’t have fur but lots of feathers. We found out later she was saying t’okki which, of course in Korean is rabbit!
I also look forward to the spring when I will again start my hikes up to the Namsan tower. I miss the 6 am exercises at the top when everyone stops what they are doing to participate. The Korean ladies always seemed to love it when we stood in the circle with them and followed their lead and at the end, held hands and “talked” to each other in our own languages.
My husband’s position allows us to enjoy the most spectacular events. I have been serenaded by handsome Korean opera and pop singers. I have been a magician’s assistant, participated in traditional tea services, made Kimch’i and had lunch with the President and First Lady of Korea in the Blue House. I have come a long way from Brooklyn, New York!
I can honestly say this tour is the highlight of the 36 years I have spent with my husband traveling where the Army has sent us. At this time of year I do get a little teary eyed hearing the song, “I’ll be home for Christmas…if only in my dreams” but I wouldn’t trade this experience for all the tea in China (or should I say all the Kimch’i in Korea).
When I leave this place it will surely be with a heavy heart. I have found the Korean people to be the warmest and most generous I have ever met. They are hard working and ingenious and are very thankful for the US presence in their country. I am blessed to be in Korea and look forward to many more adventures.
KOREA, MY SECOND HOME
Mrs. Joanne Sharp
As I look back over my time in Korea, I can scarcely believe I have been here for almost 19 months. The American expression “Time flies when you’re having fun” really applies here and comes to my mind often when I lament how quickly the days go by. It seems like only yesterday we were landing at Inchon airport. (The airport, by the way, is a dead giveaway to Americans that this is not “your father’s Korea”.)
The drive to Yongsan was much as I remembered it being 13 years ago when we were here for our first tour, too much traffic and lots of aggressive driving (similar to my home in New York!).
I quickly became caught up in a flurry of activities. I found my Korean hosts were more than eager to show me their country and their customs and I was only too eager to join in.
My husband and I had often lamented the fact that while here on our first tour, we had not taken advantage of the opportunities for cultural exchange and had spent too much time on Yongsan.
We decided this time things would be different and we would take advantage of our situation and travel throughout Korea getting to know more of its people and places.
Our first trip locally involved my son and me. We took a subway from Seoul to Bukhanson . Nowhere in my experience, can you catch a train in a big, bustling city and 90 minutes later be in the forest in a National park. We were the only Westerners on the mountain and were greeted with smiles and hellos all the way from the top to the bottom.
We marveled over the magnificent temples. We also enjoyed the beautiful scenery and realized the Koreans really know how to relax when we saw them resting with their shoes off, napping, eating delicious looking food and thoroughly enjoying what nature has to offer (we were a little ashamed of our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!)
Our first trip to Jeju–do was a memorable one. We took a sail boat cruise along the shore and drank in the sweet smell of the salt air; the scenery was breath taking. I found the tangerines so sweet and delicious, the Teddy Bear museum so clever, and the famous female sea divers fascinating. I have never eaten such fresh seafood as that caught by the haenyo divers of Jeju.
Pusan is another area we have been fortunate enough to visit twice. A beautiful day in May on the beach in Pusan was filled with so many people of different ethnic backgrounds; I was reminded of the famous Coney Island beach in my hometown of Brooklyn, New York.
The sight that I will remember the most is looking out the window from our hotel room, very early in the morning just at the first light of dawn and seeing swimmers, like little black dots, gliding through the sea with the beautiful orange sun in the background.
On this same trip we got to visit the Hyundai shipyard in neighboring Ulsan. We were so impressed with the whole operation!
Summer is my favorite time of the year in Korea. I, unlike most Americans, love the heat. It was surprising to me therefore, that I enjoyed my visit so much to the ski resort of Yongpyong in Gangwon Province.
I found the Korean skiers to be very courteous and in control and I liked the idea that there were “traffic cops” on the slopes telling speeding skiers to slow down. I felt very comfortable and at ease. I also enjoyed taking a fast paced, warm gondola to the top. I so hope Yongpyong is successful in its bid for the 2018 Olympics!
I also enjoy the fall season and I was fortunate to go on a rice harvesting trip to Walchon, Goyang city in the Gyeunggi province. Since I am a city girl I had no idea how rice was harvested and had an enjoyable and informative day learning how rice goes from the rice paddy to the table.
I even got to do some of the harvesting myself with a sickle. I also enjoyed digging up some sweet potatoes and have discovered that they are very delicious and perfect for a healthful snack.
I enjoy too, the day to day things that I think many people take for granted. I like the Korean food very much especially Bibimbap, Ghimbap and Kimch’i. I enjoy taking a stroll off post out of one of the many gates and just looking at the sights.
Walking my dog on Yongsan is always fun as I look at the interesting architecture of some of the buildings. The trips on the subway with friends to Namdaemun and Dongdaemun are just daily adventures.
Recently I had an amusing trip Christmas shopping in Namdaemun. I purchased a hat and was trying to find out from the Korean lady shopkeeper what kind of fur it was made from. She kept saying what sounded to me and my friend like “turkey” and we kept laughing and telling her it couldn’t be turkey because they didn’t have fur but lots of feathers. We found out later she was saying t’okki which, of course in Korean is rabbit!
I also look forward to the spring when I will again start my hikes up to the Namsan tower. I miss the 6 am exercises at the top when everyone stops what they are doing to participate. The Korean ladies always seemed to love it when we stood in the circle with them and followed their lead and at the end, held hands and “talked” to each other in our own languages.
My husband’s position allows us to enjoy the most spectacular events. I have been serenaded by handsome Korean opera and pop singers. I have been a magician’s assistant, participated in traditional tea services, made Kimch’i and had lunch with the President and First Lady of Korea in the Blue House. I have come a long way from Brooklyn, New York!
I can honestly say this tour is the highlight of the 36 years I have spent with my husband traveling where the Army has sent us. At this time of year I do get a little teary eyed hearing the song, “I’ll be home for Christmas…if only in my dreams” but I wouldn’t trade this experience for all the tea in China (or should I say all the Kimch’i in Korea).
When I leave this place it will surely be with a heavy heart. I have found the Korean people to be the warmest and most generous I have ever met. They are hard working and ingenious and are very thankful for the US presence in their country. I am blessed to be in Korea and look forward to many more adventures.