Photo challenge #20

Drinking tea in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. 

Photo challenge #8

Snow by night.

Currently listening to: Bon Iver, 22 A Million.

Hong Kong in pictures

Victoria Harbor

Victoria Harbor

New year’s eve at Victoria Harbour

Fireworks at Victoria Harbour

Hiking Dragon’s Back

Hiking Dragon’s Back

Sunset leaving Hong Kong

It’s a nice day for a Korean wedding

Last month, I had my first opportunity to attend a Korean wedding. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty excited.

My first protocol was, of course, to sort out what I was going to wear. In Ireland, people make a pretty big effort when they are going to a wedding. In fact, some guests make it their mission to look better than the bride and groom. Hats, fasteners, make up, eyelashes, nails, dress, shoes, handbags.

Essentially, the embodiment of Helen from Bridesmaids.

I posed the question about what an appropriate outfit was and received vastly difference titbits of information.

‘I’ve seen people go in camping clothes.’

‘Just don’t wear anything in light colours, I heard stories about brides who got deadly offended if one of the female guests wore even pink or beige outfit.’

‘It really depends on how close you are to the people who invited you. DO NOT go casual – people will gossip about you if you do and the bride and groom will be pleased if you make an effort – You might end up in their wedding photos (don’t want to be the only one in jeans right?). Wear something office smart or smart casual and don’t go too much above the knee if you wear a dress.’

It was like a wedding minefield. 

I decided on a simple dress. Not too casual, not too fancy, not too bright, not too dark. I felt like the Goldilocks of Korea.

The day arrived and we made our way to Gangnam. The groom worked for Samsung and so the wedding would take place in the Samsung event hall there. We had been informed, before we got there, that we should put money into an envelope for the bride and groom. We would arrive, sign our name, pass over the money and take a ticket for the dinner that would follow the ceremony. The amount of money you give, we were told, would be based on how close you were to the bride or groom.

We then made our way into the wedding hall. It was huge and not at all what I was expecting. It was not ‘traditionally’ Korean. I think I was expecting something along these lines.

What I found, though, was completely different.

This wedding was very modern and, from what I have since been told, this is becoming more and more common for Korean couples.

The only real ‘Korean’ aspect of the wedding was the hanboks worn by some members of the wedding party.

The only other traditions that this Korean wedding followed was the fact that it lasted around just 20 minutes, people talked quietly as it happened, a man in front of me answered his phone and once we ate our food, we all left and went to find our own fun. No rock the boat at this wedding.

The best part for me, however, was when a Korean couple stood up during the ceremony to sing ‘A Whole New World’.

Amazing.

Turning 28.

I had another birthday here in Korea. I turned 28, which officially makes me 29 in Korea. What a ridiculous country. Oh well, there are worse places I could celebrate turning another year older.

My beautiful 6th grade class got me a cake and sang happy birthday. Adorable.

My birthday also happens to fall on Pepero day. Here, you give pepero to your loved ones to make them tall and skinny. My students were being artistic.

Eating birthday cake with chopsticks. How else?

Such a cute birthday gift from one of my fifth grade students.

Enjoying the autumn colours of Bundang park.

Enjoying the beautiful autumn colours in Bundang park.

‘No! I don’t want to turn 28! Oh, ok then. Pass the tequila.’

Autumn colours, Korea 2016

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.

This September, we made a decision. The decision was that we would stay in Korea a little longer. We will return to the UK in July. The decision was giving me sleepless nights until it was hastily made. I keep the fortune I received in Tokyo in mind, if ever I have any doubts.

Jeju Island: Seogwipo

“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”

This September, three of some of my best friends paid me a visit. I hadn’t seen them in over a year. Here are some of the highlights of our jaunts through Seoul and Jeju.