Insadong Street

Insadong Street, which is located in Seoul, Korea, is one of the things I miss since I came to USA. When I lived in my country, I used to go to Insadong often. The Insadong Street is so unique and interesting; it is like Soho in New York. If you go there, you can enjoy three things; shopping, viewing art gallery, and enjoying Korean food.

If you go to Insadong, you can see many small and large shops. They display and sell traditional folk-craft such as ceramics, masks, and paper and wooden craft. You can also look at traditional costumes. They sell traditional style costumes or redesigned costumes. However, I recommend that you should just look around or take a picture because clothing stores in Insadong sell those costumes for expensive price. However, if you want to buy souvenir, Insadong is the best place. Because many foreigners visit Insadong, the stores prepare lots of souvenirs for good price.

Art gallery is one of the major attractions. There are more than small and large famous art galleries gathered in the street. They exhibit modern art and traditional art such as sculpture, painting, and oriental style ceramics. Sometimes they sell artists’ works, so if you want to buy them, you can ask them. One of the most important things is that viewing is free. You just go there and enjoy art, and move to another one and so on….



After you shop and take tour to the galleries, you may feel hungry. Don’t go too far. Just look around the street, you will find many Korean traditional restaurants. You just choose what you want to eat. Some restaurants serve Korean home-style dishes. If you choose well, for example, avoiding hot and spicy food, you may enjoy delicious food. Moreover, some restaurants still have traditional Korean style house and decoration. So you can often enjoy good food and unique Korean interior and atmosphere. On the street, you also find small street vendors, which sell snacks or light food. They show you how to make their food and sell it right away. Now, these vendor become one of the famous attractions in Insadong. I hope you visit this place and enjoy Korean culture someday.

New Chancellor of Vanderbilt University

Yesterday, I went to the new chancellor inauguration of Vanderbilt University. My writing classmates and I went to the student center, where the ceremony was held, with my teacher. The front of center was decorated with balloon. When we entered in the center, it was crowded already. The inauguration room was not big as we expected, but there were many people who people who really welcome new chancellor. There was prepared some food and played music by a band.

The new chancellor, Nicholas S. Zeppos, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the University of Wisconsin, Zeppos studied history and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in 1976. Three years later, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He married to Lydia Ann Howarth, who is a writer and editor. They have two sons, Benjamin, 21, and Nicholas, 18. Zeppos joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 1987 as an assistant professor in the law school. He likes playing golf and listening to classical music.

Marsa Ingram, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, said that he knows Vanderbilt’s strengths, traditions and the challenges to make this university so special because he work for more than 20 years at Vanderbilt University. Also she said that he has the vision and the demonstrated ability to work across all disciplines to make Vanderbilt a global leader in higher education. The new chancellor said in his inauguration that a university is the most vital institution in society because it is built on timeless values of truth, knowledge, discovery and healing. In addition, he said that Vanderbilt has so much to offer society, and he look forward to working with his colleagues on campus, in the community and around the world to continue this university's mission of excellence and service.

I heard from my writing teacher that previous chancellor worked very well to make Vanderbilt so famous. He also said that the new chancellor is expected to provide an excellent leadership for future of Vanderbilt University. Even though I don’t know the new chancellor and Vanderbilt University well, I hope he will become good leader, and Vanderbilt University also become prosperous and excellent.

My Beautiful Wedding Day

I think that my wedding was an important event in my life. I got married 4 days before I came here, the March first 2007. The wedding day was very busy. I woke up at 6 am because I must arrive at the beauty shop at 7:30 am. I was in hurry up to go there, and as soon as I arrived I got my make up and hairdressing. When I wore my wedding dress, I couldn’t believe that I looked so beautiful. Meanwhile, my husband also got make up and wore a tuxedo.

My husband and I went to wedding hall when we were ready. A lot of guests came there already. We got so many wedding presents and congratulations. My wedding progressed quite and earnestly, and then all the people were happy and pleased. After our wedding finished, we changed our clothes with traditional Korean wedding dress. Then, we made a deep bow of thanks to our parents and the relatives. Also, we took pictures with friends and our colleagues. I am still grateful for those who congratulated us with joy in our wedding when every time I look at my wedding album.

One thing we missed, we didn’t have honeymoon because we had busy schedule to come to US. Our friends and parents also missed that. However, I don’t think it is bad, because I have the honeymoon here everyday, and I can travel anytime with my husband.

Coming March first is the first our wedding anniversary. We are planning special event now. Maybe we will have shot trip to somewhere like Memphis, Atlanta, or Smoky Mountain. We will have a good time and good memories in this trip. I hope my husband and I always live happy and healthy like now.

Close, But So Far

Do you know the difference of South Korea and North Korea? Two countries are the Korean race, but everything is different. South Korea and North Korea were the same country and still also the same country. Nowadays many people think difference of two countries is just a political thought. South Korea and North Korea have a lot of difference even though they are the same country.

The first difference between South Korea and North Korea is the political structure. In 1945, the United States and Soviet Union helped the southern and northern halves of the country respectively. Then South Korea follows the capitalism. South Korea citizens have the right to vote for the president. The government of South Korea is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative. South Korea citizens can compete with others for their better life and keep their property. In contrast, a political structure of North Korea is the communism. North Korea has a centralized government under the rigid control of the communist. North Korea citizens just have to follow their leader and pursue the common benefit.

The second difference between South Korea and North Korea is the language. South Korea and North Korea are still use the same language Korean. However, different thing is South Koreans make a lot of new coined word almost everyday. South Korea accepts the loanword and change for using easily. Also, South Korea tries to keep traditional forms of Korean. On the other hand, North Korea does not make and accept the new coined word or loanword. They just change other language in own language Korean. After long time, some word meaning also changed, so South Korea and North Korea can not understand each other’s language easily even though they speak the same language.

The last difference between South Korea and North Korea is the culture. South Korea shares the traditional culture with North Korea, but the two Koreas have developed distinct contemporary forms of culture. South Korea accepts other countries’ culture and tries to make a new culture. Those are affected the clothes, the food, and the life of South Korea citizens. In contrast, the culture of North Korea is of protected by the North Korean government. North Korea citizens respect their old leader Il Sung Kim and new leader Jung Il Kim. They are affected by North Korea's literature, popular music, theater, and film.

South Korea and North Korea are located each other very closely, but also very far. Long time ago, they had a lot of same things, but it is changed. It means they have a big racial problem. It is so misfortune to each country. They do not try to fix up that quickly. They have to arrange peacefully and slowly.

One of My Precious People

For my life until now, I have many precious people. They was always helpful to me when I had difficult situations. So I have to keep memory with their in my heart still now. A person who I will talk about is one of the mothers of my students when I was teacher at a special education school. Her daughter, Naeun, was a six years old girl, and she couldn’t walk well by herself. When I left the school, Naeun’s mother missed me so much. I also missed them, Naeun and her mother, because I wanted to see how Naeun is growing up and how she is doing. So we comminute still now by e-mail. I would like to introduce some our mails.

- Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Dear teacher.
Yesterday was teacher’s day here. I ‘m sorry for not sending e-mail often…
I met other mothers yesterday. They said missed you. Are you happy now? I so miss you. Naeun again practice urination recently, so she changes clothes 15 times a day everyday. Maybe next time, I will tell you Naeun can do urination by herself. Take care~
- From Naeun mom

- Saturday, May 19, 2007
Dear Naeun mother
Thank you for your e-mail. I appreciated. I also missed my students and their mothers. So sometimes I visited SunJin school website, and I looked at their pictures. My students looked healthy and growing up. So I was happy. Do Naeun again practice urination? That’s great! I hope she will do it by herself soon. Well…. Could you tell other moms my regard? Also I hope you and your family are happy and healthy. Thank you so much!!
- From Hyoyun.

- Thursday, July 26, 2007
Dear my teacher
Now, it is so hot on Korea…. How about there? How are you?
I have good news!!! Naeun walk 8 steps by herself!!! She is so great, isn’t she? And also she understands what we are saying. The last year was tough… Do you remember?
Well…. Now I will go to pick up Naeun … so I talk to you later. I so miss you.
Oh, I attached Naeun’s pictures, I hope you enjoy.
- From Naeun mom.

- Saturday, July 28, 2007
Oh, my God!!! I was so exciting and happy when I look at your e-mail~ I’m so proud of her. Maybe she has grown up~~ thank you so much for great news and her pictures. Could you send me picture of walking Naeun? I want to see her walk with my eyes, but I can’t do that. So I want to see instead her picture. Have a wonderful day with your family in hot summer~
- From Hyoyun

- Sunday, Feb 10, 2008
Happy New Year, teacher!! How are you?
Naeun and I were so busy. We moved new house, so we spent time to get used to it.
Also Naeun began horseback riding for rehabilitation. First time, she was crying, but now she ride a horse by herself. It’s amazing!! However, also I have bad news. She shows symptoms of seizure… so she was check up in hospital for one week. Now I’m taking closer look at her. Hopefully, she is getting much better… Next time, I will send you good news. Bye..
- From Naeun mom.

Seollal; Korea’s lunar New Year’s day

February 7th is a Seollal, lunar New Year’s day, in Korea. Koreans usually celebrate two New Year’s days; One according to the solar calendar, and another according to the lunar calendar. Most people consider our traditional New Year day, Seollal, as a bigger holiday than the first of January by the solar calendar because we use lunar calendar from old times in my country. Many people return to their hometowns to celebrate and socialize together, so the government decided to make holidays including days before and after Seollal for 3 days.

In my country, there are a lot of events during Seollal holidays. First, on the Seollal morning, people get up early to wash on their ‘Seolbim (new clothes prepared for Seollal)’; we usually wear Hanboks (Korean traditional clothes). Then families perform ancestral rites. After the rites have been performed, everyone shares the holiday food together. We always eat Tteokguk on Seollal, which is made of thinly sliced Tteok (rice cake) cooked in beef soup. According to our tradition, eating Tteoguk on Seollal adds one year to your age.

Another event is ‘Seabae’. The younger people pay their respects to the elder of the family by bowing to them. The elder people offer ‘Deokdam (well-whishing remarks)’ such as ‘have a healthy year’ or ‘have a lot of lucks’. And then they usually give ‘Seabae-Don (New Year’s money)’ to younger people, so many children expect this day especially.


On the Seolla evening, the members of the family play traditional game, Yut-nori. It is a fun game and easy to learn, so we make two or three teams and play together with teamwork. In this game, it is hard to predict winner, so we can enjoy this game more interestingly. I will explain next time how to play.

Now, maybe my family is all together in my parent’s house, and they are busy to prepare Seollal food. I will call to my family tonight and say to all family members, “Have a healthy and happy new year”.

My embarrassing moment

Last week, I saw a happening at a parking lot. A woman opened the door of a car, but she couldn’t open the door. The same time, another woman came up to the car, and she cast a suspicious glance at her and told her “Excuse me…, I think this is my car…” At that moment, the first woman looked confused and embarrassed, and then she quickly looked around the parking lot. Suddenly, the first woman pointed a car and shouted “OH~~ that is my car!!” Her car was parked two cars away from the one she tried to open. Actually, two women’s cars were the same model and color. When I saw that situation, I remembered a similar experience of mine.

When I was working in my country, in one morning, I woke up one hour than usual. As soon as I opened my eyes, I was in hurry to be ready for going to work. Meanwhile, my father went out and waited for giving me a ride to subway station. A moment later, I ran out, and I got on the car. When I closed the car door and said “Let’s go, dad”, driver and I were totally surprised. The driver was not my father. Both of us were looking at each other confusedly for a moment. At that time, I heard a horn sound from behind. When I looked back, my father was waving his hand in his car. Oh, my god! I realized that I was in stranger’s car. I told him sorry, and I got off in a hurry from the stranger’s car. I look at the stranger’s car again, and it was the same model and color as my father’s car. A few days later, I knew that stranger’s car was a neighbor’s. After that happening, when I saw the neighbor’s car, I remembered that embarrassing moment, and I blushed with shame.

Have you been to “Genghis Grill”?

Do you like Mongolian style food? The last Saturday, I went to interesting and unique restaurant with my husband. They have so unique mood and system, and offer unique food for a low price. So I would like to introduce it to my friends. I hope you go there and enjoy their food with your friends or your family.

Where is Genghis Grill?

There are two Genghis Grill in Nashville area. The Genghis Grill, I went to, is located in Franklin, and the other one just opens in Hendersonville. You can find easily if you use addresses below.
* In Franklin
- 600B Frazier Dr. Suite #140 Franklin, TN 37067
* In Hendersonville
- 1050 Glenbrook way Suite #320 Hendersonville, TN 37075

How do they serve?

Genghis Grill has unique system. They consist of self service and serving. If you go there, they will take you a table first. And then, they give small steel bowl and ask you if you have been to here. If you answer no, they will explain how you can use there. Next, they will guide you to food bar where all ingredients are prepared already. After you choose the ingredients you like, they will stir fry your food. Be careful!! They just stir fry your ingredients. They don’t guarantee the taste of your food. It’s up to your choice what to choose!!

How can I do?

First time, if you stand food bar with your small steel bowl, you may be puzzled. I was. But don’t worry! If you choose some ingredients a little bit difficult or wonder how to make, their recipes will be helpful for you. First, you can choose some meat such as beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, or fish, and you can choose some veggies. Next, you choose a sauce and seasoning. They have many kinds of sauce and seasoning, so you should choose that after you taste it. After you choose rice or noodle, they start stir frying all your ingredients on the big grill. You just wait, and then you take your dish. The taste of your dish is the result of your choice.

How much?

I took just one bowl, which cost $8.99. (Tex is not include) But you can eat two bowl with $2 more. In addition, they have many kinds of drinks and desserts, but I don’t know the price because I have not tried them.

Enjoy the food!!!