Portrait of the Artist as a Middle Aged Woman

One thing I know to be true about myself is that I can have fun doing pretty much anything. So, this weekend when I was trying to decide what to do I saw a lot of good reviews for the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. Although I’m not really good at understanding art, I wanted to check it out. The building is very interesting from the outside and they go into great detail about the 3 architects who built it and why they did it that way. Basically it’s 3 distinct buildings with an exhibit in each, one dedicated to children.

The first gallery is of traditional Korean art. There was different are on 4 floors: celadon (green pottery), porcelain, calligraphy, and Buddhist artifacts. Some of these pieces dated back to the 5^th century! I couldn’t believe the history I was surrounded by. On each floor there is 1 or 2 modern pieces of Korean art for contrast.

I thought this was a tea set. Nope - it's burial items. 

A map of Korea which is made up of tiny little people.

Crown from the 5th century

Windy staircase up and down

Top of the staircase looking down

I planned on getting there around 1:30 and staying for the English tour at 3:00 but I ended up getting there around 12:30 and was just too tired to stay for the tour so ended up leaving before that. I probably would have learned a lot more but I needed a nap! Problem is I napped on the subway on the way home so when I got home I didn’t need a nap anymore.

I still have a head cold which has lasted for 2 weeks. Some of the teachers here swear by this Chinese doctor nearby so I decided to go there on Saturday morning before the museum. He prescribes lots of herbal medicines and does acupuncture or other things like that. One small problem: I went to the wrong doctor. In Korea, everything is built up. There may be a 7 storey building and on each floor something different: store, restaurant, office, restaurant, store, office, office. So, I walked upstairs and when I saw a doctor’s office on the 2^nd floor I went in. I gave the card I needed to make an appointment and sat down. The man at the front desk spoke very little English even though the teachers told me they spoke very good English. But for some reason that didn’t faze me. When I sat down I saw a sign on a door that said “injection room” but I just thought that was one of many rooms. After about 10 mins I was called into the office where the doctor was and a nurse. He asked me in very broken English what my problem was. I told him I have a cold, coughing, sore throat, and head congestion that comes in and out. Some days I feel fine and then it is really bad the next. I can’t seem to shake it. He sort of understood what I meant. He looked down my throat and took my temperature. He said he will prescribe me some pills for 3 days then looked at me in all sincerity and asked if I wanted an injection. You know me. . . . I kind of looked at him and said: of what? And where? (Thinking: In my throat?)  I think at that moment we both realized I was in the wrong spot but none of us wanted to acknowledge the awkwardness. He printed out a prescription, I paid the front desk the equivalent of about $5 and went to the pharmacy below to fill my prescription which is 6 pills, none of which I know what it is. Today, (Monday), is my last day of the pills. I feel a bit better, so we will see. I may end up going to the Chinese doctor on the 3^rd floor if this doesn’t work out.

I can’t stop laughing at this. Later when I was video chatting with mom about my week we were both crying laughing. She said: you are going to have so many interesting stories when you come back! On my way out of the office I texted the teachers and asked if it’s on the 2^nd floor. They said no! 3^rd floor. Who knows what kind of doctor that was? All I know is everyone else in the waiting room walked with a cane or was very old – I think maybe he does cortisone shots. I love that he just offered me an injection of something for having a cold.

On Sunday I was planning on meeting up with my first Korean friend!  But, that was later in the day so I decided to see Beauty and the Beast in the morning. Yes, they have morning movies here which is so up my alley. The movies here are in English with Korean subtitles. I loved so much about this movie theatre. The snacks are still a bit expensive, but not outrageous like in North America. You can only enter the theatre 5 mins before the show starts. And it is spotless. I mean spotless. Because Koreans are very orderly people – which agrees with me. No one leaves garbage for someone else to clean up – at restaurants or theatres. You bring it with you as you leave. Why can’t everyone be more like this!!!???

Beauty and the Beast is very good. The opening song with Belle walking through her town is exactly what you want. The changes they made to the movie are really cool and I like that she is a bit more strong willed. Emma Watson is a perfect fit.

My Korean friend, Doohyun, invited me to a photography exhibit at a different art museum. I felt very shmancy. Doohyum is an architect who designs very famous shopping malls here in Korea and branching out to other places in the world. He travels to Vietnam every month for business. His English is excellent - so we have no problem communicating. (You are thinking: bag this guy Alli. Not sure if that will happen but we will see.I can literally hear Heather's voice in my ear going: ALLI! ) He is a typical Korean who works very long hours and is very stressed. He works 10-12 hr days, 6 days a week in marketing so has to drink a lot of alcohol when with clients (he told me he wants to stop drinking so much but he can't because of his job and doesn't want to quit his job) and he goes to graduate school two nights a week. I'm exhausted just typing that. He told me mutliple times yesterday that he is so stressed and tired. I didn't know what to do! I want to help him but he feels stuck. I asked him why Koreans work so hard and keep pushing like that. He said you have to be competitive because there are so many of us. 

I liked his short rolled up jeans and boots. Am I creepy? Yes.

Anyways, we went to the Daelim Museum to see a photography exhibit by Nick Knight. Each floor had a different theme of photos. One was skinheads, then portraits, then more abstract photos combined with paint. As I said, I have no idea about art but some of it was really cool. Here are some of my favourites. 

This is Naomi Campbell but the head looks like Oprah to me. 

My fav

Skinhead exhibit 

He did a whole set with Kate Moss. 

After the exhibit we decided we weren't hungry yet so went shopping for him to get new glasses. We went to the 10th floor of a giant shopping mall and he tried on multiple pairs, none of which fit his face properly. I sure liked helping choose some for him try on, though! Afterwards we went to an Indian/Nepal restaurant called Everst. It was delicious! 

Altogether a good weekend. It is definitely Spring here. I saw people planing flowers in the city square and they put water in the fountains! 

I am looking forward to this week for multiple reasons: today is another field trip to a fire station, Tuesday I am having a lady come in and clean my apartment (mold is a big problem here and that might be why I am sick and I don't feel like scrubbing mold.), and this weekend coming up I am doing a temple stay. Leave early on Saturday morning and come back Sunday evening, staying over at a Buddhist temple that is also on an apple orchard where we will make apple pie and taste apple wine. Should be very interesting! 

Lots of love,

Alli