This Saturday I attended a wedding. No, it wasn't mine. It was the wedding of one of the sixth grade teachers here at Dong Mak Elementary School. The ceremony took place in a conference center devoted solely to wedding ceremonies. Walking through the building, I saw several weddings going on at once in various rooms - each of which was open in the back so that you could look in on the proceedings. I arrived late with a group of teachers, waded through the standing room only crowd in the back, and was able to watch the second half of the ceremony. After the short service, as pictures were being taken, they did one of the bride and groom with all of the teacher's from the grooms school. So, I will be in one of their wedding pictures!
At the lunch which was held after the ceremony I was trying all kinds of new foods - baby octupus, shrimp with the head still on, etc. One of my safety dishes was made from beef and looked pretty good. I had two large bites before I realized I was eating raw beef. It probably would have been much harder to try it if I had known what I was eating. That said, I don't think I will be eating much more of it.
4 comments:
Food sounds interesting - I'm jealous. What was your favorite?
In addition to the stranger foods that I mentioned in the post, there was also the most extensive sushi spread I have ever scene. I can't identify one favorite, but I can say that there was a lot of seafood that I really enjoyed.
About a month ago, I had an opportunity to attend American wedding in Virginia. It was the first time for my family to see/attend American wedding. We became to know the wedding culture is much different between the countries and it was interesting experience as an Korean who lives in America. I believe it was interesting for you too about the experience as an American who lives in Korea.
It seems like American wedding is more family oriented (with friends) and celebrating/enjoying altogether longer time than Korean wedding.
In Korea, not only direct family and the best friends, but also many people with various relationship attend wedding, for example, wider range of relatives, school alumni of groom and bride, freinds and neighbors of parents, company collegues, etc. Actually, in my wedding about 13 years ago, I remember 600~700 people came to the wedding.
In other words, that mean I or my parents had to attend many weddings as a guest. I remember I was pretty busy in weekends to attend the weddings when my friends were good age to marry.
Actually funeral culture in Korea about attendee is almost same to the wedding. Many people attend the funeral too. If I'm in Korea now, my age would be busy to attend funeral of freinds' parents.
A good thing of this culture is to provide opportunites for the guests to meet frequently. They can meet old friends, alumni, collegues in the previous company there and drink and talk together. ACtually I think the culture is one of driving force to make closer communication in Korea.
Too long comments.... Keeping healthy would be very important to live alone in foreign country. Food is one of most component to keep health per my foreign experience. Trying various foreign food is good thing of course but you will need 'American food'. I hope you could find good American restaurant or supermarket to sell various American foods. Take care.
SK, I just found this comment and I think the insight is very valuable. You do a great job at explaining the differences between American and Korean wedding ceremonies. From my one experience, I can definitely agree that a wide range oif acquantances attend Korean wedding ceremonies.
And as far as food is concerned, I have been trying many new foods. I have been pleased to discover that I enjoy most of the foods that I have had the opportunity to sample.
Thanks for the comment!
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