Pictures from April 26th

Photos from April 25th - Independence Hall

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Tour Bus to Mint

After breakfast with our new families, we boarded a fancy tour bus and drove a long distance to a money mint museum. We watched a video and obtained English translation tapes and ear phones. We listened to the history of money in Korea, as well as the rest of the world while touring the Komsco Mint Museum. Komsco makes passports and identification badges, as well as money. The company is very proud of its high level of technology and reputation for superb security.
Following a luncheon at the museum, our bus took us to a factory where alcoholic beverages are produced, packaged and delivered to distributors. At the end of the tour, we were allowed to sample the product, too, in a festive atmosphere!
Next, our bus took us to a museum dedicated to the excavation of the tomb of King Muryeong. It was the first known royal tomb in the world that identified its occupants. Muryeong became king at the age of 40 and ruled until his death at age 62. The tomb is about 1400 to 1500 years old and was excavated in 1971. It reveals an advanced civilization with outstanding artists.
Our last destination for the day was the Institute of Traditonal Korean Cultural Studies. It celebrates Korean culture and offers workshops for students and professionals. It teaches people to lead their lives as the owners of their lives. "Be a man doing good to others and the world, reigned by the truth. All people are linked together as one; you see energy flowing together. " These quotes were explained to us by our tour guide at the institute.
Following a delicious feast, we met with our new home stay families and went to their homes for refreshment and thanks for yet another fine day. A million thanks to our wonderful, generous home stay families!

Our final night (May 3rd)

So it's our final night and we've come full circle. Our first day at Hwalan's house is now our last day. We're all here together writing our final blog. We missed a few days and planned on catching up on this today but it's already 11:40 and there's no time so we'll have to fill in the blanks from home. Today was our first day where we weren't on the go. There was no pali pali (hurry hurry) and we were able to sleep in. A place which once felt foreign to us now feels like home. We woke up and made French toast just like our first morning. After breakfast, we helped Hwalan and Soho weed grass clumps, till, and plant grass. It was the least we could do after everything she has done for us. Hwalan is the Korean's GSE Coordinator and if it were not for her careful planning, this trip would not have been so smooth. It was like a game of Tetris packing our belongings after 29 days of living out of our bags. We had our final barbeque dinner in Hwalan's greenhouse with our previous homestay families. Just as we thought we couldn't eat anymore kimchi...we discovered our favorite. All of us plan on keeping in touch with each other and all of the people we have met along this adventure. We would like to thank all of our homestays, the Rotarians, and our interpretors for making this an unforgettable life changing experience.

Monday April 26, 2010 Cheonan Continued

After the bond market and shopping, we went to a center for mentally challenged adults and elderly people who are unable to care for themselves. The Rotary donated their van and donated many volunteer hours to the facility. Once again we sat in the board room, exchanged business cards, had coffee and took notes while a Rotarian told us about the facility. We took a tour and had a great time with the folks living there.
Later we visited the elegant Kim gyeng suk Hanbok store where traditional Korean hanbok clothing is purchased and/or rented. Val's homestay family invited the entire GSE team and our interpreter Christina to try on the gorgeous clothing and to pose for photographs. We had a delighful time. Hanbok is still used for formal times such as weddings. We also met VIPs at the Rotary District 3620 Convention wearing hanbok. We are deeply grateful to the Lee family and especially to Kim gyeng suk for the experience of wearing the hanbok. A million thanks!

Monday April 26, 2010~ Tour of Cheonan

We began the day with a formal meeting at the huge, new City Hall of Cheonan. At these formal meetings, we exchange business cards, have coffee and take notes while guides tell us about the facility. It was built in 2002. There are about 5.6 million people in Cheonan and the city has forty-one Rotary Clubs. There are 101 Rotary Clubs in District 3620 with a total of
2,300 Rotarians. 80% are men; 20% are women. Most of the women are in separate female clubs.
The Samsung Headquarters are in Cheonan and the city is thriving. Christina acted as our interpreter. Many Korean ships have city names; the name of the ship that sank on March 11, 2010 was the Cheonan. The sailors on that ship had enjoyed a special relationaship with the folks of Cheonan. On this day of our visit, many sailors and military were coming to the magnificent front hall of the Cheonan City Hall to pay their respects at a memorial set up in honor of the departed sailors. The memorial featured photographs of the deceased sailors, as well as a replica of the ship. Needless to say, there was a somber, respectful feeling throughout the entire building.
Later we ventured to the new nearby sports center which is a state-of-the-art facility. It houses an enormous stadium. At the facility, we met our GSE Korean friend, Sunny. She works at the sports complex and will be part of the Korean Rotary GSE team that visits us later this month. Sunny joined us for lunch at a fancy restaurant. After an elegant luncheon, we went to the bond market where bonds are purchased and sold. Once again, we sat in the board room and exchanged business cards and enjoyed coffee while a Rotarian who works there told us about the bond market. Next we walked the Arario Design Center. We shopped for a pet cage for a homestay present and some luggage because our luggage is bulging at the seams.

Sunday April 11, 2010 Dangin~ Family Day

Although we posted photos earlier, we have yet to write about April 11th in Dangin. We began the day by visiting a female temple. The female monks gave us a dignified formal tea ceremony. The temple was elegant in the traditional style. There was a kindergarten school nearby. Host families brought their children along for the day, so it was a delightful day with cheerful, well- behaved children. Next, we toured a winery where rice wine called makali is made. We were given samples to take with us for the farewell dinner. Our next stop was at a pear tree farm. We toured the farm and dyed t-shirts and a handkerchief with orange clay. Next we took a hot sauna in a room with a heated floor. Later we had a large, festive Rotarian farewell dinner where we all toasted one another. We thanked our home stay families for yet one more magnificant time in Korea.