Second Week in Korea

This is our second week in Korea.  On Thursday, 12/17, Michael had an interesting experience at work.  The Korean workers held a Safety Prayer Ceremony.  It was held on the job site under a large canopy [tent with no sides].   Initially, everyone remained outside the tent.  Inside the tent was an alter with candles, an artificial pig's head, bananas and rice cakes.  In front of alter was a place for incense.  They lit the candles, then the incense, then they had a group prayer.  After that, small groups of Koreans removed their shoes, went inside, bowed 3 times, then prayed.  Next, the members of a work group each drank a sip of an alcoholic drink made of rice and poured some on the ground, put money in the pig's ears, nose or mouth, usually in the mouth, and exited the tent.  This repeated until all work groups had finished.  Then they had another group prayer.  After the group prayer everyone took some of the food for home and the US workers were given a sip of rice wine.  Michael was given rice cakes to take home.  These are two pictures of the rice cakes.

The rice cakes have a mild flavor.  The topping looks like cocoa or chocolate, but is actually made of beans.

That evening we enjoyed a show by Tops in Blue, the Air Force's Expeditionary Entertainers, at the Osan air base. Our wonderful sponsors, Mark and Sandy, picked us up and took us to the show. It was snowing while we were on the way to Osan and it was snowing in Osan. It didn't snow here in Pyeongtaek and yesterday's snow is nearly gone.

On Friday I finally decorated our little suite at the Humphreys Lodge.  When we left Atlanta for our flights to Korea, the items we couldn't fit in our suitcases would not arrive until after Christmas.  That being the case, I brought some Christmas decorations with me in my luggage!  The decorations added quite a bit of weight and volume to my suitcases.  I had purchased a large cheap suitcase for the flight and it actually split open during my travel to Korea!  But it was worth it to have the decorations.

I had to improvise quite a bit.   We have no tree stand, but the tree is shoved down into a bucket of water.  The the bulk of the lower branches are keeping the tree from falling over!   A floral arrangement is in the room's ice bucket and the wreath on the front door is rigged up using the door closer, ribbon and foam tape.

Friday night Sandy and I went Christmas Caroling with a group of people from the chapel.  We sang at the PX, Commissary, Community Center and married housing.   It was *cold* but fun.  It reminded me of the times we went Christmas Caroling with our church in New Jersey, Hydewood Park Baptist Church, when I was a kid.  I always loved going caroling and there was always snow on the ground when we went caroling.  I have many times fondly remembered those times.  There was a bit of snow on the ground this time as well, although less than an inch.  

As you can see, Sandy is helping me keep very busy, and having a lot of fun.  She is a great person to have fun with!   She has been helping me not to be such a slacker when it comes to working out.

After eating at Chilis, we went to the Osan shopping district which is right outside of the Osan AFB gate.  The district has a large number of shops that sell a variety of merchandise.  There were several handbag shops that had knock-offs of Coach and DB bags.

Although the stores had some Obama related merchandise, I thought I'd snap this picture of Obama Realty for our friend, Peter.  I think he'll like it.