Yunhee-dong was beautiful today. It was in the low 30s, warmer than it has been in weeks, and it started snowing in the late morning By the time I went out in the afternoon, there was enough snow on the ground for the Marshall School system to call school off (haha) and more falling from the sky. It was so serene and beautiful. While I was walking around enjoying the snow, I couldn't help but notice a couple peculiar habits that the snow brought out in the Korean people.
First, Korean people break out their umbrellas, not only for the rain, but also for the snow. Yes, as I walked down the street this afternoon, the majority of Korean people I passed were carrying umbrellas to keep the snow from getting on them, I guess. I even had a little old Korean man walk up to me and, in Korean, chastise me for not having an umbrella or wearing a hat while there was snow falling (Of course, I could only guess what he was saying since I don't speak Korean. But his tone and hand gestures got the point across to me). Perhaps this umbrella in the snow thins is something that people in the big cities of the States do, but it's something I've never seen before, and it just really cracked me up today.
Secondly, Korean people use these like plastic bristled brooms to sweep the snow away from their store fronts. Brooms instead of snow shovels. I'm still trying to figure this out. From the time the snow begins to fall, you can see people outside numerous shops, restaurants, etc sweeping the snow away from their doors. And they continue to do it until the snow stops with few breaks. I understand clearing the snow from the front of one's business, although the whole using a broom to do it is a little weird to me. But the thing that really gets me is that the sidewalks in Korea are not concrete like in the States. They are a cross of concrete and granite...I don't really know what it is. Whatever it is, it is super slick when wet. I can't count the number of times I have slipped and almost completely busted my butt on these sidewalks. So when all these Korean people are removing the snow from their store fronts, they actually are making it more slippery and more difficult to walk. It's a conundrum to me. Of course, I fell twice today attempting to walk around on this stupid slick sidewalk material, which I feel I wouldn't have done had they left the snow where God intended it to fall. So yeah...a couple observations about Korea. I really enjoy still noticing these little differences between what I'm used to and the way things are done in Korea. It really gets one thinking about the environment one has been raised in.
I was super, crazy busy last week with my teacher observations/reviews and class and progress reports. The next couple weeks should be a lot calmer as school wraps up, and I really hope to write more frequently. I know I've been pretty MIA recently. My deepest apologies to all of you for that. I hope things are going well for all of you! I miss you and love you all!
It's All About Him,
KendallCooke
P.S.-How did I forget to mention this? I found out a couple days ago that Kristy and Rudy are expecting a little baby girl in June. The Kash family, myself included, could not be more excited! Yay to you, Kristy and Rudy! I'm counting down the days!
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