I Digress...

I promise I will finish writing about the excitement of China. But there are a few things I want to get off my chest today!

You Know You Teach in South Korea When...
1. A Sweet Potato Latte after dinner starts to sound logical.
2. You have been hit by a delivery man on a scooter at least once.
3. Only two of your fellow foreign teachers actually plans to teach when they go home.
4. You know that the barbershop on the third floor isn't just a barbershop.
5. The Internet has become a lifeline.
6. You feel that kernels of corn go on any food at any time. As long as pickles come as a side dish!
7. The "English Speaking Teller" at your bank does not, in fact speak English, but he can read it if you write your requests down.
8. Anyone old enough to remember the Korean war is super nice to you!
9. You begin to feel that you need, and not just want, frequent manicures, no matter what your gender.
10. You aren't sure what to be when you grow up! :)

Seeing Korea With New Eyes? -part 2

I wanted to love the Forbidden City. The nine tiny dragons on the edge of the rooftops. The huge stone slabs, floated from Northern China on rivers and carried miles by workers, that were fashioned by deft craftsmen into stunning reliefs. The huge, sapphire (as well as the sparkling emeralds and rubies) displayed in the Hall of Treasures. The ancient stories and philosophies that had dictated the many palaces construction. The opulence that impressed us, enfolded us, yet that never made us feel the Yankee disdain that I'd felt at walking through the gaudier parts of Versailles in Paris. The serene rock gardens and dragon mosaics placed throughout the Forbidden City spoke to the spiritual role that the emporer seemed to play in Chinese society before the communist revolution there. Yet the riches of the emporer were not meant for the eyes of the common man, no less the common woman!
I felt the sheer weight of the Chinese emporer in Asian history. Certainly the final emporer, going from running the country, if only at a ceremonial level, to working as a gardener, lived a fascinating life! And beauty abounded-from the halls for visiting with foreign dignitaries, to the myriad chambers of gorgeous sandalwood. The rare, perfectly carved wood, was more in demand, more "valuable than gold," as our Guide, B. kept reminding us. It struck me a city of a thousand stories, and there was no way that we could learn them in one day. Even with a knowledgable guide, our visit felt rushed. Unfortunately, we were also dogged by omnipresent tour groups! One large Chinese tour group, striding around in matching red baseball caps, was especially hard to shake. The chase became almost comical. :) Also, one supposedly impressive pavillion was closed for renovations so that it would be in perfect shape for the influx of touisits expected for the Summer Olympics.
So, from what I'd read in my beloved Lonely Planet Guide, and the stunning Speilberg film I'd seen, I wanted to love the Forbidden City.
However, The Temple of Heaven attracted me in a way that the Forbidden City didn't. One never knows.

Seeing Korea With New Eyes-part I

It's bittersweet to be back in Korea. Nice to have the comforts of "home," but I miss the varied, well spiced Cantonese food and exciting sights I enjoyed on my recent trip to China.
The contrasts and energy of Beijing won me over right away. Truth be told, I flew out of Incheon tired and a bit dispirited. Also, my growing ovarian cyst had been causing me occasional discomfort in December. Bless my beau Steve's heart, he created a wonderful Christmas celebration (that man can COOK!). But the second Christmas in a row away from my sisters, parents, and high energy nephews and niece saddened me.

Then the positive momentum of Beijing hit me! This is China's time, and Beijing know it!! From our first day, when we ate yummy lamb from North-west China, and went to see the Dowager's Summer Palace in the biting wind, Beijing awakened my dulled senses. No more grey buildings. No more faces whitened by make-up. No more pork, pork, pork....For example, consider the Summer Palace.The emperor built it for his mother. It's not as ancient as some of the other palaces and temples in Beijing, but it's on a pretty lake. It boasts it's own mini-opera house and a rugged hill side temple.We enjoyed it despite the cold! A gorgeous temple stands behind it, positioned on a man-made hill facing the lake for ideal Feng Shui (spelling?) harmony. There was a distinct air of peace at the temple. It had been ravaged by the "Western Allies," with gold details and ceremonial ceramic Buddha's heads taken by English navy sailors as souvenirs. In Korea, Buddhist temples were, historically, often looted by the Japanese invaders. It felt awkward that, this time, the aggressors defiling the temples were white men, British and french sailors supported by American munitions an supplies....

Ancient tradition and frenetic construction met our eyes simultaneously as we drove through Beijing with our guide. Frankly, I would never have hired a guide had Steve not suggested it on the recommendation of some veteran traveler friends. I usually like to go my own, left of center way, armed with my Lonely Planet guide book. But, this time, I must say that splurging on the expense of an experienced Chinese speaking guide to Beijing (he was one of the managers of our travel agency) was worth it. As you, the reader, can tell from my barrage of run-on sentences, so much was occurring around us that Barry, our guide, helped us select which experiences to focus on in our limited time in the city to get the most for our money...

Now that I actually have the energy and drive to revive my blog, I have a lot of idea that I want to express! So, don't worry, there will be more details about my trip to China forthcoming in a few days. Thanks for reading...