28

Remember the soup? We had some this morning with our eggs. It had soaked up the broth and the dumplings fell apart from sitting all day and night. But it still tasted good!

Jane and I took the morning to rest from our already busy week, and upcoming busy weekend.

 But today I joined her for her English class at the nearby private school. The students were so cute, but unruly. It was Friday after all. Schooling here is so emphasized. Parents start kids as young as 2 and 3 with tutors and textbooks. And school is all day long, with extra classes and tutors (like into the evening). Jane's students today were aged 7-9, and were speaking English very well. Jane introduced me and their first question - how old are you? They were shocked at the answer!
Actually in Korea I'm considered a year older, they give you a year when you're born. And everyone is a year older on Jan 1, you don't wait until your birthday. (which ironically it is my birthday. But I am not 29!)



















For the evening we had a special show to attend! It's one of Korea's longest running and most popular attraction. But first we took the train to get there! This is a brand new line, and it's privately owned. It's so clean and bright!

The train is open the whole way down from the front car to the last car. And at the front is a big window. No driver, it's automatic. But the railway tunnel is illuminated and it's neat to watch. So we specifically jumped on the front to watch out the window, and most people who are daily passengers just grabbed a seat.

One man, felt like an antagonist today I guess, and stood right in front of the window .... to read his newspaper. Fine, dude, you'll be in the picture. He knew it too, and wouldn't move, just turned his back. At no point was he looking out the window, he even opened his newspaper so wide it was blocking the entire view.  Sheesh.

We agreed to try again on our train ride back.

Here are some views of the city as we were walking to the show. There are a lot of walkways that go over the street, I like them, I feel safer.

view from the overpass

hey guys, wait up!

Minho out-numbered on the steps
(see the overpass up ahead?)

looking stylish in the plaza
(the theater is the building behind us)

Finally the show: Nanta! We actually made it on time, too ;) We got a great deal on tickets, and sat on the upper level with like 10 other people - it wasn't a full house. There was no filming or photography during the show, so this blurry pic of me in the theater will have to satisfy your curiosity. (Hmm, curious, that was the word Jane taught the kids in class today!)






The show was great! Really entertaining and funny. It's four chefs cooking a wedding feast, and the headmaster brings in his favored nephew to cook too, and of course he mixes it up. But it was a little bit dancing, lots of drumming and chopping, some comedy bits, even a little love story. They included audience members in parts, and tossed stuff out to the audience, that's always fun.


At one point they were chopping carrots and cucumbers and cabbage and its was just flying all over the stage, and another one tossed an onion into the air and it exploded when he hit it with his knife. The plate tossing scene was neat too. There was very little dialogue, they "mimed" out most things, so it's enjoyable even if you don't understand Korean.

Oh we were so sleepy and hungry when it was over! We decided it was a night for fried chicken! haha
So far I've eaten more like an American than Korean. Haven't even opened the Pepto yet! Today I had eggs for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and now fried chicken. But it's sooo yummy!

But first we had to get home - to the train! And this time it was less crowded and we had the best view. Along the track is a part lit up with colors and special effects - now that's my kind of train tunnel!
Again a man crowded us at the window, but he was taking pictures too. He heard us speaking English and was so excited to talk to us and practice his English. Jane says it's a Korean thing. He asked where we are from, Jane explained she's Korean-American and I said I was too. His face was priceless. It took him a moment to come up with the best word, and finally he said, "Frankly, are you Korean?" haha, no.

This one is for you, Jenn!

I love it when you read to me in the train station