Just Another Day

I really feel like we see something new everyday. It's usually something small or insignificant,

but for the most part you know you'll see something you haven't seen before. So this post is really just documenting a normal day in Daegu. Also, it's a chance to post some pictures I like.

The Cell Phone Store Robots

These things are posted up in front of about half of all the cell phone stores here, (which by the way would outnumber Starbucks in the States by about 10 to 1. They are EVERYWHERE). They are weird and awkward, and have various heads on them. This one greets us when we get off the subway downtown. I caught this kid being pulled away from it. The thing creeps me out, I can't imagine why anyone would be inclined to enter a store with this in front of it.

Paper Lanterns

Buddha's Birthday is approaching, and all these beautiful paper lanterns have been appearing all over town. This grouping was hanging outside a small Buddhist school. I thought the polka-dot shadows were nice.

Construction

Things are being torn down and built up at an alarming rate here. An empty storefront can become a new functioning business in 2 days. It's not uncommon to see stuff like this in the back alleys.

A Little Market Stroll

The markets are one of the best things about this country. You just see so much interesting stuff.

There is a big alley where you see fruit distribution. Watermelons are really popular and abundant here. They are just coming back into season.

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but this is a vat of boiling bones. I have no idea what they are making here, or if this is just some sort of broth. Regardless, it's super neat-o.

There's an old tradition here that if you open a new business you put a pigs head in front of it to display. People then stuff money in the mouth and ears of the pig to help the beginning business. Our boss told us that everyone knows about this tradition but it isn't practiced anymore. Apparently some people do because there is a whole street dedicated to these heads.

Fishcake strips are on the sticks, they are simmering in a pot of boiling crabs.

Power polls are a mess here. I think people are stealing power, tapping into the source and not paying for it. This is just speculation though, it could just be that the area has grown so fast they haven't had time to make proper adjustments.

Gloves anyone?

Popcorn anyone?

The Threat

I know I posted the Y2K one on facebook, but it needs to be in as many places as possible. The others are strange storefronts I've found. Enjoy.

Things I Didn't Know

You see stuff like this all the time here. I'll post more as I find 'em.

Time on our hands

There are many things about Korea we love, but one of the best things about living here is time. Because we work less than 30 hours a week, we have time to do the things we love. Something I dabbled with before, but was never able to really put time into, was sewing. So a few weeks ago I decided to invest in a toy sized sewing machine that cost me less than $30 and was delivered to my house the day after I ordered it. And now, almost 4 years after I took my first sewing class, I have finally succeeded in sewing the top of a quilt. I still have to add batting and backing, but I'm thrilled to officially be able to call myself a quilter! Here are some pictures of the process.



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Shake It

As you might guess, there are hundreds of electronic stores here. Each one is usually 3 stories, and carries everything from 3D televisions down to rice cookers. They are shiny and sterile inside, and the prices are average, or a little expensive.

So what would get you into these places, since there are hundreds of them? Most weekends, this job is put on the shoulders of two teenage (?) girls.

Any electronics store that is worth it's salt has a pair of dancing queens in front of it on most weekends. They get going around noon and don't stop until after sunset. Speakers are blaring as their synchronized moves lure customers in. I think.

I post this now because Spring has finally appeared here, and these girls go into hibernation during the winter months. Their replacement is a couple of sad tubes full of hot air and a really wimpy boombox. I'm glad its spring again!

Babies in Korea

We have been fortunate to have built strong relationships with our director, Kim Yong Jin, and his wife Kim Myeong Seok. They are wonderful people and they treat us like family. We were especially touched when we were invited to visit the hospital not long after their first child was born. Just like everything here, it was a fascinating experience. I expected to visit their room and hold their beautiful baby girl, but none of that happened. Instead we were in a waiting room that surrounds the nursery of the hospital, where all of the newborn babies stay. The nursery walls were glass so that everyone could crowd around and see the babies.

After a baby is born, the baby stays in the nursery until the mom is released from the hospital. Mom and Dad don't actually get to hold or feed or take care of thier baby until mom is discharged. Twice a day the hospital has 30 minute viewings of the babies. This is what we attended. There were about 25 babies all in the little hospital beds behind the panes of glass. It honestly reminded me of an aquarium.

The family is given one ticket per viewing. At the viewing, they can flash that ticket when their family is ready, and one of the nurses will hold up the baby so everyone can see her. This lasts for 2-3 minutes at the most. Then the baby goes back into the crib. Finished. The family doesn't get another baby encounter till the next viewing that day when they'll be given another card that gets them another couple of minutes of time. When we were there yesterday, Mrs. Kim saw her daughter for the first time (almost 48 hours after the delivery). She didn't have the strength to come downstairs before that point (she had a c-section as most of the women here have). We witnessed her laying eyes on her daughter for the first time and it was a beautiful moment, but there was glass between them. It was so strange.

Not long after that, the visiting time was over. The curtains were pulled and the babies disappeared again. It was clear that the babies in the nursery are well taken care of and loved. There were several nurses constantly walking around checking each of the cribs and sometimes picking up a baby to feed or just to hold.

I know this isn't the only way to have a baby in Korea. Our friends Lindsay and Whit had a wonderful hospital experience and their beautiful baby boy Finn stayed in their room with them. But our director was surprised when I was asking so many questions. He said that this procedure was typical for all of the hospitals he knew of, big hospitals like the one they used and small ones alike. Now Mr. and Mrs. Kim are home with their sweet baby girl. They are enjoying holding and loving her. But they say their still trying to decide on a name. What do you think?

Weekly Fish

There is a small market that comes once a week to a small street near us. We buy fresh vegetables and fruit every week for our meals at home. For a long time we would walk by and see lots of fish, wondering how everyone knew how to cut and gut them. Our director finally told us that you need not know this, you just point to the fish you want and they do that work for you. We buy fresh mackerel every week for about $4. It is delicious.