Korea revisited...

This is one of the more serious blog entries that I will make during this trip, but today was probably one of the most moving days that I had in a long time and feel that it would be appropriate. Today, after breakfast, we decided to go visit the last home that we lived in before we came to US (located in Hyojadong, 효자동). For those of you who know me well, know that my parents decided to move our family to the US in 1988 (when I was 10) for the American dream because our life in Korea was so extremely hard with no means for my parents (and in turn for me and my brother) to escape out of the unspoken class division that is extremely hard and difficult to escape from in Korea.

We were extremely poor and rented a room to live in. This was literally, a ONE room, where we ate, slept, watched TV, etc. My parents both worked all the time and did everything they could to provide for my brother and me. We rarely had expensive food to eat like meats and had no “luxuries” of any kind, including our own bathroom or kitchen (we had a outhouse like bathrooms and propane lit fuse to cook our meals). Simply put, we were poor and my brother and I were most likely headed down the same path until my parents decided to immigrate to US.

We decided to have the taxi drop us off down the road from our former home so we can walk and revisit the neighborhood. Like much of the entire nation, the town has changed DRAMATICALLY over the past two and a half decades. I didn’t recognize a lot of it because there were so many new building and roads. But before I knew it, BAM, there it was and I staring at my old house. The place was extremely smaller than I had remembered and a lot more downtrodden…I suppose you don’t really think about these things too much when you’re only 9. We walked around the house a bit taking pictures and remembering the past. After a bit, I could no longer hold back the tears because I thought about my parents’ struggle, their sacrifice, and how hard things must have been for them. But even more than the feelings of sorrow, I was overwhelmed with how PROUD I am of my parents and how thankful I am of them. They basically had to restart their lives from nothing but still achieve huge success with their company. This is why my parents are and forever will be my heroes and the most inspiring individuals in my life.

This was our home in Korea. If you follow the white wall to the right, you come to a small framed window...this was the window for our one room home

Entrance to our home. We didn't use the main entrance because that was for the owner of the home. For awhile, the owners were buddhist monks, who were very nice to us

As fate would have it, right at the entrance to the road that led to our home, this cafe bar was built after we left! Ha!

My brother and I visiting our old school...the whole school went through a renovation, it wasn't as new when we went there

As we walked back to catch a taxi, I thought to myself; If my parents did what they did with their lives with THIS, then I should be able to do ANYTHING with all that I have been blessed with in my life. I made a promise to myself (that I HOPE to keep!) that I need to work even harder and dream even bigger if not for myself, in honor of my parents. I also need to be more thankful for everything I have and not take it for granted. I walked around the rest of the day with the biggest lump in my throat and am getting that lump back even as I recall the day for this blog.

OK…now on to something more FUN, and of course, THE FOOD! THE FOOOOOOOD! :)

To catch up the past couple of days, on Friday, we hit couple of the outdoor markets. Outdoor markets are a HUGE part of Seoul, the two biggest being MyungDong (명동) and Namndaemoon (남대문). We hit these two places on Friday and the crowd was NUTS! I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve described parts of Seoul as Manhattan on CRACK and these markets serve as examples. At these outdoor markets you can literally buy anything and everything you want for relatively good prices…and of course, TONS of places to eat!

Saturday was spent starting to do a little bit of gift shopping, visiting the Korean king’s palace, and then bonding time with another one of my uncles who took us out to an observatory close to the DMZ and to dinner. Will report about the DMZ in another post!

This is like General Tso's pork (탕수욕), excepts, it's the REAL thing. Breaded pork prepared in sweet and sour sauce prepared with peppers, onions, and other vegetables

My brother's lunch, JamBong (짬뽕), noodles prepared in spicy pepper broth prepared with mixed vegetables and mixed seafood

My lunch, JaJangMeon (짜장면), noodles prepared in black bean paste with pork meat and vegetables

Got new glasses at Nyumdaemoon (남대문)...2 pairs for $60! BAM!

Bro and I hanging in MyungDong (명동)

This picture gives you a good perspective of the crowds at Myungdong...really look down the crowd, you can see it doesn't end!

My father used to run a bar in Myungdong at this location

Again, as fate would have it, RIGHT next to where my dad had his store was this AMAZING sheet music store that literally had ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. It was amazing...didn't buy anything because the price for music at this store was ridiculous, but still, amazing!

The latest craze...fried swirled potato chips

MyungDong

Lunch Saturday...for appetizer, steam dumplings (만두) stuffed with meats, noodles, and vegetables

My lunch, Korean short rib soup (갈비탕)...Short Ribs prepared in it's own broth topped with green onions

Entrance to the king's palace

Walking around inside the palace

King's sleeping quarter

The king's "office"

The queen's room

Yes, we know...we're in Korea...

Where the King had his meals

Mom standing in front of the queen's room

More walking around...if you look carefully in the distance, you can see the current Korean presidential palace