Whirlwind weekend: Korea 6

Oh my goodness I don't even know where to begin with the last 48 hours.

Saturday was quite busy: we took a field trip to Deoksugung Palace where we got a guided tour from Dr. Yuh, one of the program directors. We made it just in time to witness the changing of the guards as well.

After the palace, we headed off for a quick tour of the surrounding area and some lunch. We were then left to our own devices by the program directors. We ended up wandering through Namdaemun Market. We stopped along the way for several different kinds of Korean street food, which we shared as a group. There's a kind of candy that you can get here that's pretty much pure sugar. The really fun part is that there's a shape somewhat stamped in the middle. If you manage to eat the candy without damaging the shape, then you can bring the shape part back and receive a free candy. Despite our best efforts, no one in the group managed to pull it off. I couldn't get through a whole candy--they were way too much sugar for me.

 After a crazy night that involved lots of new friends, a taste of the nightlife in Apgujeong and baked goods on the rooftop garden at 4 AM, I took a much needed lazy morning. When in Seoul, a girl can only be so lazy so I was up and out the door in the afternoon in search of groceries. While I was initially quite concerned about wandering around Seoul solo, after a few days here I've discovered that I can explore just as freely here as I did in Rome. I started with a small excursion: a trip to a department store in Namdaemun Market that also contained a grocery store. I meticulously mapped my route prior to leaving (I still got lost). While I made it there without any difficulty, getting back was another story. Luckily, it turns out old Korean women really like me. One old woman cleared space in the special section of the subway (reserved for pregnant women, disabled people & the elderly) for me to sit down. She babbled away at me in Korean. I stared blankly, nodding at what seemed to be the appropriate intervals. Maybe greeting her in Korean wasn't the best idea. Once off the subway I lugged my heavy groceries along. At a stop light along the way yet another old Korean woman took concern for my well being, ushering me into the shade and telling me to put my bag down. At least I think that's what she told me to do. She ushered me across the street when the light changed as well, stopping to look over her shoulder to check on me.

I have so much more to tell (don't let me forget about my dinner adventure) but alas that's all for tonight. More tomorrow lovelies!