Korean Wedding

A friend from my church, Insik, got married on October 6. This was a big deal, as he is the lone son of 6 children. His family is very dear to me; I go to movies with his older sister, Inok, and I go to the fruit market or have dinner with Insun and Inson and their children. Insun tells me which fruits are in season and which are not, and she tells me what is a good deal and what is not at the market. Of course, every time I see them, they hand me a bag full of apples, mandarins, and Asian pears or persimmons!

Last Lunar New Year, I spent a weekend at their parents' home in the countryside. They made me feel like a member of the family - and they really enjoyed the apple pie I contributed to the feasting! Not typical food for them. They remind me a lot of my family - they sit and talk and laugh together.

Nikole and I attended the wedding with other Korean friends from our church.

Steps to attending a Korean wedding:
1) Enter the door of the wedding hall (where often more than one wedding is taking place at once, in different rooms) and go to the counter for your wedding party. Hand over your envelope of money and receive your meal ticket.

2) Enter the large dining hall with your ticket, and line up for the LONG buffet line that includes all kinds of meats, sushi, several kimchis, salad, soups (rice porridge and pumpkin soup, normally), and desserts (rice cakes and fruit). Sit down at a table, usually next to people you don't know, who are guests of another wedding party.

3) Eat your food before the wedding begins.

4) Try to get a seat, or just stand at the back of the hall and chat during the ceremony.

5) Listen to the recorded fanfare as the groom, then the bride with her husband, enter.

6) Parents are seated at either side of the bride and groom as witnesses to the wedding

7) Smoke, bubbles, or colored lights may initiate at various moments of the ceremony

8) Bride attempts to not smile, and she keeps her gaze down so as to not run the risk of giving birth to a girl instead of a boy as the first child.

9) Opt to leave before the ceremony ends, if you have other pressing engagements, or want to eat more food

10) Couple bows to both parents

11) Pictures ensue after the ceremony - families, then all friends. A female friend is "chosen" to catch the bride's bouquet for the picture. She stands in front of the group of friends, with everyone looking on (Hint: choose a friend that can catch so several photos do not have to be taken)

12) Everyone leaves

Somewhat cookie-cutter and procedural, but to me still just as special to see a good friend get married. Hurray!

Check out the pictures!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4zp3vcn.bbfp1pi7&x=0&y=434ynt

Chuseok in Okinawa, Sept. 24-28, 2007

I finally made it to Okinawa, one of the southernmost islands of Japan, to visit my cousin, Shannon, who has now lived there for... 3-4 years with her husband and family. I was blessed to spend time with her and her newest son, Sammy, then only about 3 weeks old, and her 2-year-old son, Caleb. Shannon took me on a few outings, but the best part of the visit was just chatting with her and playing with Caleb. We had some good chats, didn't we, Shannon!

She also took me to the PX, where it was exciting to buy things like scented candles, greeting cards, and Cherry Coke! Yes, it's the little things.

Check out pictures from my trip. (I forgot to get a picture of Shannon and me! Tsk-tsk!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=4zp3vcn.2ywr5yzj&x=0&y=77z9qv