Cooking class

We used 3 weeks to learn cooking Korean food
- Bibim noodle
- Cucumber kimchi
- Kimbab
- Nalchi-ar-bibimbap

Most of the time we had too many students and not all of us had the chance to cook, but in kimbab class 5 of us attended only and all of us made as many as 3 kimbabs! :P

Kind teacher with hard-learning students

Well-served bibim-noodle (quite hot for the Philippine ladies)

Look delicious - yet really yummy - kimbab!

Anyway, since it is free to learn, why not join the center that is the nearest to you?

Living in Korea (for ladies who got married with Korean men) - 1

After these few months I joined program in the multicultural family support center of Gwangjin-gu (the area where I live), I found the information they provide is very useful for us, the immigrant ladies. Also, I hope this information will help those who are coming over here to stay.

The case of the Vietnamese girl, (naver search 베트남신부살해사건 to get more information) who was only 20 years old, was killed by the husband who is almost double of her age, in only less than 10 days she entered the country. The husband is diagnosed with mental problem. What a sad news... so the awareness of the government and the married ladies are both important. This type of case is not the first time, so we ladies should know our rights and get the useful living tips to live happily in this foreign country.

This booklet was given by the multicultural family support center. It is provided in different languages, while I got the English version. My Vietnamese friends got the Vietnamese version, Chinese got Chinese version and others.

Publisher: Korean Government
Planning: The Cenral Office for Multicultural Family Support Centers
This book was publised under the sponsorship of Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs 보건복지가족부,  Ministry of Public Administration and Security 행정안전부 and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism문화체육관광부.
However, the contents of thi book are also available through the multicultural famil support portal site (http://www.liveinkorea.go.kr/)

Contents:

1. Introduction to the Republic of Korea
2. Foreign Resident Support Services
3. Residence and Naturalization
4. Korean Culture and Life
5. Pregnancy and Childcare
6. Education of Children
7. Health and Healthcare
8. Social Security System
9. Employment and Labor
10. Enjoy Korea!
11. Reference

Get one copy for yourself is not a bad idea - as you can get a lot of information to ask in daily life (with useful website references and telephone numbers provided)

This mini booklet was also given by the center for married couples (printed by Seoul Family Support Center http://family.seoul.go.kr/ ). It was printed in Dec 2009, so there are lots of latest useful information (we're expecting our first baby in this coming Nov), especially there is the support from the government from pregnancy to the children education, health and others.
There is also a table listed out the congratulation-rewards for those who give birth of babies - from 1 baby to more than 5 babies. (Seoul governmnt encourages the residents to have babies)

More to come...

Baseball game

View from Jamsil Baseball Sports Complex to Sports Complex

Korea is famous of its baseball team, especially in the Olympic Games 2008. They won the gold medal. However, they were crazy for the sports, even before that. In Malaysia, we do not play this sports, thus actually I don't have much idea how to play the sports.

We have a friend who works at LG company and his company provided some free tickets when LG play in the tournament. On 25th May, we got the chance to watch the game LG vs KIA. It's very lucky for us that LG won that game. The result was 5:4. But actually LG lose in the early stage, but because of homerun, and later they worked hard and they won the game.

Oh ya! I finally got the chance to see Home Run! But the ball didn't come to our side.

My ticket!

I don't know about the guy in the ticket but my friend told me he is a good player (though that night he was not the star).

The game started 6.30pm and the sun still brightly shining. I like summer.

There were already thousand over people there in the sports complex. We missed the chance to see the celebrity who started the game with either throwing or hitting a ball. We were looking for the ticket booth because we got free tickets and so we were late to enter the stadium. :(

This picture just to show you that... we sit far away from the field.

The players are so tiny, right? See from TV is clearer.

Another one is, the seats opposite of us is KIA supporters.

Our side is LG supporters.

When any of the team hit the ball, the cheerleader led the supporters to sing, to shout and the cheerleading team danced. Wow! I like the Korean supporters!

But... since I'm pregnant, I felt so exhausted easily and left earlier.

This photo was taken at 7:52pm

Round 6 (if I'm not mistaken)

It's getting dark but ... the cheering sound didn't stop.

They used these balloons to make sound.

Let's see some videos, not very clear, but hope you can enjoy the live performance as we were.

There were also free stuff to give away in the middle of the show, like kissing couple, lucky number, etc. The big screen showed the audience in the supporter zone randomly then they can get free gifts. It is such a good marketing way.

Dallae's Story

Doll Performance

I got the free tickets from Korea4expats.com to have a chance to watch the doll performance - Dallae's Story. My friend and I watched it on 19th May, Wednesday.
Because of the remembrance of war, for the education purpose, this performace was held in the National Theatre of Korea from 14th May to 22th May 2010.

I like it very much because the dolls are really well made, it is sweet though the storyline is quite sad. The story was started with a happy family, performing in 4 seasons, but later on war came and everything changed. The dad died and left the mum and the child toy.

It is a non-verbal performance, and thus with the music background and puppets, toys, and the light effect, it became an amazing show. It can even help the children to know the actions  of  dolls - just like the animation on TV, it was originally moved by human action by action. It's not easy to move the doll by hand.

I think my baby inside of me enjoyed the show too. :)

I found a website which have the short movie of the performance. Click here.

After we watched the show, we found this mini house was shown outside the hall.

Cherry Flower blossom

This year it comes late, but still as beautiful as before. I planned to go other places to have different scenery but the weather stopped me. So, I just go to the place where I always go - and the one I like the most - Children Grand Park.

Guui entrance
on Wednesday

twinkle twinkle little star

close up

soon to blossom

too beautiful to shine

Did you get to see some around you? The cherry flowers bloom out earlier in our housing area, but the park later, and even Walker Hill area does not yet bloom out yet! Weather is strange and the flowers come out late too.

Enjoy the spring!

Free Korean Language class at Gwangjin area

I just moved to Gwangjin area and I found out that Gwangjang Social Welfare Center offers free Korean language class for immigrant women. So I called up and they informed me that there will be class starts in Mac/April.

I went to the orientation on last Friday, and there were only 4 ladies attended there. Anyway, from the photos in the center catalog, I think there are some other members who already studied here before. We may meet in the class opening ceremony on 31st March.
They also introduced us about the functions of the welfare center and the multicultural family support center.

The class is offered:
in 1-1 style 1 teacher and 1 student,
the time you choose to suit your own time,
also you can ask any questions in other resources you are using in the moment.

If you live in this area, please call them up and join  the class.
website of 광장종합사회복지관 Gwangjang Social welfare center
tel: 02-2201-1333

There is another department in the same building also offers free Korean languge class, but only in beginner stage. 광진구 다문화가족지원센터 Gwangjin-gu Multicultural Family Support center.
Tel: 02-458-0665
They also offer other helps like counseling and programs for multi-cultural family.

In this March, there are 2 programs offered:

• To know about the happy marriage life

경혼과 가족의 이해 '행복한 결혼생황 알아가기
20 people
30th March
1 - 4 pm
free
광장종합사회지관 2층 강당 Gwangjang welfare center 2nf floor, seminar room
register before 26th March 6pm
tel: 02-458-0666
Computer class

• Computer class

10 seats
only for immigrants of Gwangjin residents
computer room of Gwangjin office 광진구청 컴푸터실
period: 23th March - 13th May (Tues, Thurs 10-12am)
free
register before 19th March 6pm
tel: 02-458-0666

Long time no see... long time no eat

I haven't updated my blog lately, busy of house moving after I returned back from Malaysia, and finally almost settled everything, and now I have the time to blog again. There is also another reason that we have only 1 notebook that 2 of us share, and hubby is going to buy me a new laptop soon... yet, must save hard after buying that.

Anyway, the topic today is that: we ordered chicken today... long time no eat, though we're learning to be vegetarian lately.

I checked online that which fried chicken branches at our new area, Guui-3-dong, and the list is long in Naver search website. The rates given by the customers  was my consideration since it was hard to choose. And I found this new brand - Home Chicken - baked chicken shop.

The difference from other shop is:
the chicken is not fried,
pickles and radish provided do not add in chemical ingredients.

The price is also reasonable too.
We ordered sweet lemon chicken this time - 15,800 won for 1 bucket.

It came with lemon sauce and black spicy sauce.
Also, it came with a mini box of vegetables! Special! I love it!

not the normal salad with dressing, it's just nice - raw vege!

We had this with rice and it made us so full!
It is different from the chicken style of lemon chicken.

This shop promotes home chicken campaign. The price range is as follows:
Baked wings:
Black spicy wings, Hawaiian Teriyaki Wings, Original Garlic Wings, Sweet Lemon Wings, Barbecue 17 Wings, Chinese Chili Baked Wings.
   1/2 basket: 8,200 won
   1 basket: 16,400 won
Plain Baked Wings
   1/2 basket: 7,900 won
   1 basket: 15,800 won

Baked Chicken  (original garlic chicken, spicy garlic chicken, plain chicken)
  15,800 won

new menu:
herb garden chicken 15,000 won per basket
wings & chops 15,800 won per basket

side menu:
baked chops, spicy chops 7,800 won
meat sauce potatoes 5,200 won
baked wedge potato 3,200 won
baked tortila 1000 won
french biscuit 1,900 won
mexican side 1000 won
soft drinks 1000 won

Coupons are given too for the next order.

Website is here.
Tel: 1588-5111

Heavy Snow Storm 4th Jan 2010

A new Monday in the year of 2010 started with heavy snow in Seoul!
When we went out at 5.40am it was already snowing...

It became like this at 8.30am! Anyway, it was  my first time to view such a heavy snow! I like the view so much! It was beautiful... but my Korean friends told  me, nice to see, not nice to go out!

So we went home after we were known that the road is not in good situation to drive.

View from our car - hard to drive, hard to walk.

And on the way home, we were stucked at a turning place - and I took this  photo inside the car - even walking is a tough job!
It took us 2 hours plus to arrive Guri from Guui area, Seoul which normally only takes 15 minutes.

Can you see the thickness of the snow on the road - after car passed by, and the snow gathered besides the tree?
From the news, this year the snow was abnormal, and 10 years only once... 10 inches (26 cm)!!!
Gimpo and Incheon International Airport was forced to stop the flight in the morning... and even the subway had the same situation in the morning 7 sth (Line 1 and 2). There are someone who was unconscious in the subway too.

Playing with the snow - kids,
cleaning the snow - shop owners, road keepers, apartment councils... they had to sweep away the snow
and... the kids also helped to clean the parents' car (actually just a reason playing with  the snow).

have you tried something like her?
the snow is so soft!!!

 When we reached home about 4pm, it was terrible!
Erm... we stay at Namyangju area, more snow than Seoul.
We stucked at a little slope when we turned in a little junction. It was because there was a man who walked in the middle of the road and didn't stay aside when we drove through the road. When you drive slow, it will only makes the car stuck in the snow. It was scary for me... the car's tyres couldn't move forward. There was a car parked besides the road too.
Thanks God that there was a good Samaritan - he taught us and helped us to move the car slowly. He and his wife, and I pushed the car while husband slowly drove forward. I'm thankful also because our car is Tico, the smallest car.

And then it was a problem to park the car too. It was because the parking was full of snow. Hubby wiped away the snow. Later, with the help of our neighbour hubby parked the car safely. Phew....

 You will not miss stepping in  the snow, right?
It was a smart choice that I wore my boots out today. :P

The snow doesn't look nice here...

Anyway, for your information, it will not be safe to drive today and tomorrow. Take care for those who stays at Korea!

I said, "It must be lucky if someone travel to Korea at this time!"
Hubby said, "Ya, it is  lucky because he or she cannot go anyway!"
:O

Children Grand Park - new areas

Every year the Children Grand Park of Seoul (Subway line 7 exit 1 to main entrance, line 5 Achasan station exit 4 to back entrance) will have new renovation and improve their facilities for the benefit of the visitors.

This time the bird park has new changes after the bird flu. There are not many birds as last time but the benefit is we can enter the bird park and touch the little yellow birds - parrot village 앵무마을. It opens from 10am to 5pm, 1st April to 31st Oct annually. You are freely to touch the birds if they fly over to you. You can buy the food in the food machine for 500 won.


parrots' mini houses

 they're so beautiful and cute!


the best moment for parents and children!


When I visited the park last Monday, I accidentally met the family from my hometown. They come to Korea every year to visit the parents. I miss the Malay words they speak. :)

Another area I would like to introduce to you is the Korean folk tales' village. The popular stories are shown here with the characters made and shown here.


mini water fountain decorated with traditional pots


famous story - fairy lady with wood cutter


a sample of traditional house - traditional kimchi pots and a cow.


Also, you can touch the real traditional soil-made wall. My friend who is pregnant is my best model.

There is also a new football field, and this park is a very good place for jogging and walking.

Autumn red-yellow-brown-golden moment

Last Monday we went to the Grand Children Park to have a walk as I knew that the leaves started to change colors. These two days the temperature suddenly dropped down so fast - below zero - that stopped me to visit the park . :(
Anyway, I snapped some photos for my 2009 autumn collections. I will join a photographing session on next Saturday with a Korean photographing club in order to learn some basic photographig skill from them.

The beautiful yellow+green+brown  tall grand trees welcomed me from the Guui entrance to the park.

Walking on the jogging route - slightly change color of the trees.

We found here beautiful and we took a group photo together.

a  lot of small roads link here and there

Red leaf on the floor is always my target.

I still remember this view - last year I was  here and there was a graduation photo session of a kindergarten.

Which one do you like? Portrait or landscape?

Yellow ginkyo trees - the first to shine in the autumn

It's hard to take photo for this tree as they are to bright- but it turns out good and it looks like a postcard for me!

 Erm... this red is not shining, yet it tells me that... they are coming soon!

Have you seen the beautiful autumn scenery this year? Go out and have a  look. Despite the swine flu, wear a mask and make sure you drink lots  of water and intake vitamin c, and the most, do exercise or have sports, to make your body healthy. The long and cold winter is coming  - I think the  best precaution is have exercise regularly. Take care! Hope you enjoy the photos!