Elementary school students learning about Bhutan

Students in Korea are really curious about Bhutan. They hardly know anything about Bhutan. When I got to the class, the students asked me many questions such as " is there television in Bhutan?" Or " do Bhutanese people use smart phones?". The young generations are really smart. They know that Korea is one of the top 10 economy in the world. Therefore, they tend to think that countries which are less developed than Korea won't have access to technologies that they get access to. 

Through my class, I hope the young Koreans will be able to change their perceptions on least developed countries. In other words, I hope they don't make themselves look naive when they are adult by asking some questions with obvious answers.

Teaching Bhutanese Culture to Korean Elementary School Students

28 March and 4 April (2014)

Met a bunch of elementary school students over the last 2 weeks. The first school was called "Peace Elementary School" and it was indeed peaceful and the second school that I visited was called "Shinwha Elemetary School" which reminded me of my old favorite Korean singers "Shinwha". The students are excited as always. Enjoyed taking selfies with little girls. As you can see I wore a "gho"(dress for boys) to a boy and it was a little small for him so we can see his "kera" (belt). I didn't want to upset him by telling him that he was too big for the dress because he volunteered very very willing to participate. Sometimes the students make fun of the traditional clothes. But I guess that is just beings kids. May be that is how they show their excitement. 

Other that wearing "gho" and "kira", we also got some time to play games for both the classes. We played "Captain Roulette". So the class was divided into 2 teams and there will be 3 rounds. Nine students will represent each team (since there are 18 swords in total). Each student from different team will strike the barrel alternatively and whoever makes the head pop out of the barrel two times out of the three loses. The students were really competitive because of the prize: Bhutanese currency. 

At Peace Elementary School

Selfies with little girls 

Pronunciation of "Ngultrum" was quite hard for Korean kids

A cute student wearing "Gho" at Shinwha Elementary School

A handsome little boy from Shinwha Elementary School

Playing "Captain Roulette": Tough competition for Bhutan money

서울평화초등학교하고 서울신화초등학교를 다녀왔습니다. 초등학생들이 부탄에 대해서 많이 배울수록 많이 놀라운것같고 저도 만족감을 느낍니다. 한국에 온지 5년이 넘었는데 부탄에 대한 아는 대학생도 별로 만나지 못했어요. 작년부터 꾸준히 한국에 있는 고등학교 중학교 초등학교 그리고 유치원에서 한달에 3번정도 부탄문화수업을 서울시청통해서 가르치고 있습니다. 앞으로는 "부탄"하고 "북한"을 헷갈리지 않도록 한국에 미래인 어린이들을 연심히 부탄에 대해서 많이 가르치고 있습니다. 아자 아자 화이팅!!!

Teaching about Bhutan to Korean kids

21 March 2014

Got to meet 120 kindergarten kids in 2 hours and interact with them in Korean language. Teaching about Bhutan to 7 years old kids is one of the hardest thing to do but exciting as well. First, we made paper crowns  with Bhutanese flag theme, yellow and orange color. The kids look so cute wearing the crown and listening to me while talking to them in a foreign language-accent Korean language. Some of the kids got opportunity to wear Bhutanese traditional dress. Being with children really brought out the children in me and this is one of the most happiest experience. 

Coloring Bhutan flag

Selfie time

Korean kids in Bhutanese dress

Taekwondo 2-day Familiarity Tour

Taekwondo is a globally-recognized sport which was the main reason I applied for the taekwondo tour hosted by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation (TPF). Here is how the first day of the tour began. I met many friendly faces at the Sejong Center, the departing point, and two buses full of excited and anticipated students moved to Muju. We were welcomed with detailed presentation on the Taekwondowon, followed by a site tour to show us the under-construction site of taekwondowon. We were said that the taekwondo center will be operating from September, 2013 after being constructed. Towards the evening came Bandiland Tour where we were given an opportunity learn more about the fireflies. Even though we couldn’t see any fireflies at that moment, we were flourished with knowledge on fireflies, butterflies and other insects. We spent the night at warm and cozy Deogyusan Resort.

On the second day, we visited the Vision University of Jeonju. All the students were very excited to be given taekwondo uniforms. Especially students like me who got to wear the uniform looked thrilled and overwrought. After getting changed into taekwondo uniform, we sat in the hall to see dynamic, fun and lively taekwondo performance. There was a lot of “shouting” which added spice to the non-verbal performance. Various movements such as jabs and punches, kicks, mitt kicking, self-defense, breaking the wood, and sparring were demonstrated. 

Foreigner students looked really psyched after the performance by the local students. The performance really inspired the foreigners to kick higher, shout louder and punch harder with bare feet and hand; especially the girls did a good job for the first-timers. Taekwondo lesson was ended after a group-photo session.

So much of kicking and punching made many of us hungry that everyone seemed to enjoy the lunch. We explored around Jeonju Folk Village for an hour and the final experience was making traditional necklace. The lady and her daughter who was working at the jewelry-making place were very kind for helping us make necklace. The most interesting thing was guys made even prettier necklaces than girls did and we were allowed to take our own work home which was a wonderful souvenir. The manager of the TFT presented with a cup (with taekwondo prints on it) saying that he enjoyed the time he spent with us and wished us a merry Christmas in advance.

By the end of the day, I felt like the TFT team has done a great job by fulfilling their goals of triggering international students’ interest in taekwondo and to provide young foreigners with opportunities to practice and promote taekwondo. We said goodbye with a contented heart.

JUMP: Comic Martial Arts Performance

If you are wondering what JUMP is, its is a non-verbal performance of a crazy but fun family. It is based on the traditional movements of taekwondo, a Korean form of martial arts. This musical tells about an eccentric family who brags about their amazing martial art skills. 

Story line: The story has four episodes. First, "A visitor is coming! Who is the visitor?", second, "It is time to train! Who is the trainer?", third, "What a sweet and fun love story!" and finally, "Incredibly huge fight! Can the burglars survive?". The story begins with a man who's in love with the daughter of this family and visits their home in which the lady's grandfather, father, mother and uncle all live together and are all masters of martial arts. Since her grandfather loves to practice martial arts with all the family members ever day, the man has no choice but to join them. However, contrary to his weak appearance, he discovers that he is actually good at martial arts and the daughter begins to fall in love with him. One day, two thieves break into their house, but there is nothing for them to steal. All they could do is just run away before they get caught. 

JUMP continues to present endless comic martial arts with whole new feeling. The performers naturally makes the audience participate in the performance which can double the enjoyment. More information on transportation, reservation and contact information can be obtained from JUMP English. 

Nami Island: "Naminara Republic"

KBC group on a mission

Nami Island is an island that looks like a leaf floating on a lake. It was founded in 1966 as a "garden of culture and the arts". It is located 63 km from Seoul in the middle of the Han River. The island is full of wide open grassy areas suitable for picnics and recreation surrounded with chest nut trees and other trees. 

  

squirrel spotted 

The island is formed with pebbles and sands, there are no mountains on the island, instead there are tall trees which are tall enough to touch the sky. For most Korean and International visitors, the island is perfectly suitable for leisurely strolls or romantic dates. Nami Island also plays host to a variety of culture events, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. The island is also flourished with deer, ostriches, rabbits, squirrels, ducks and countless types of birds. Its an island where nature and human beings can coexist. 

Chestnut trees planted beautifully

I found out that the island was named after General Nami, a notable figure in Korean history who courageously fought in battles but died at the age of 26. In last decade, Nami Island became a popular location for the filming of movies and it even rose to international prominence with the re-broadcast of Korean television series "Winter Sonata" throughout Asia. 

Today, Nami Island is a place for the rest and relaxation, where nature and human beings live peacefully in harmony far away from city crowds and civilization. 

If you want to visit Nami Island, click on this link for more useful information. https://www.namisum.com/

 Busan Familiarity Tour

  

Busan Familiarity Tour Bus

Busan Familiarity Tour (from 2^nd to 4^th July, 2012) sponsored by Busan Convention & Visitors Bureau and 4^th Korea Brand Communicator (Presidential Council of Nation Branding). We started our super fast journey on the KTX from Seoul Station with 30 members from KBC. As we reached Busan station, we were greeted by a happy group of tour guides followed by group photos at the station.

BIFF

Right before lunch we reached BIFF Square which is named for the Busan International Film Festival and the hand-prints of many famous film festival in the previous years can be seen there. We visited many incredible spots in Busan such as Gwangalli, BIFF Plaza, Haeundae beach, Sinsegae Department Store Centum City, Gwangan Bridge, UN Memorial Ceremony, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, BEXCO, Jagalchi Fish Market and Yacht Convention and Tour. Our tour guide said that the BIFF Square into a multiplex space for the enjoyment of films, shopping and other recreational activities, with its youthful ambience contributing greatly to the revitalization of local businesses.

Yacht 

The highlight of the Busan tour is the Yacht Tour offered for the first time by BEXCO. This was my first time nestling on the sea on a yacht convention. Yacht Convention is a unique combination yacht and convention which brought us beautiful natural sceneries of Busan including Gwangan Bridge, Oryukdo, Haeundae, Nurimaru APEC and Dongbaek Island. I later found out on the yacht that the yacht was made was purely Korean made yacht, with the maximum capacity of 26 people, designed and constructed by local manufacturer in Busan. I enjoyed the beauties of sailing on the ocean and felt safety and comfort. Facilities and spaces such as kitchen, foot spa, bow deck, karaoke, salon, stern deck, bed room and event room. We took a lot of amazing photos of the on the yacht.

Madame Tussauds

On the first night of the tour, we spent the night at the Toyoko Inn which was amazingly furnished. On entering the lobby, the receptionist offered warm welcome and professional service. I had a single room for one night where I slept like a log very conveniently. I loved the location of the hotel since it was just a step away to Busan station and it was so close to the Haeundae beach. Haeundae sightseeing at night was so amazing. Haeundae beach is full of spa bathing, leisure activities, and the beauty of the sea. At night we sat on the beach enjoying some recreational activities (drop the Handkerchief) which was really fun and walking on the wet sand felt really refreshing.

Madame Tussauds

Sinsegae Department Store Centum City was said to be opened in 2009 and it is popular for being the largest department store in the world and made an appearance in the Guinness Book of Records as the “World’s Largest Department Store”. Shopping facilities, a spa, ice skating rink, indoor golf, bookstore, and a movie theatre and all such entertainment facilities can all be enjoyed in one location. Taking photos with the "popular celebrities" such as David Bechkham, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Johnney Depp, Micheal Jackson, Elvis Presley, Spiderman, etc at Madame Tussauds.

Busan Cinema Center

With the broad beach and breathtaking high-rise skyline, Busan is one of the best contemporary cities in the world.