2015년 07월 26일
I was a little bit nervous on Sunday, to say the least. I was supposed to be meeting Hyunwoo's family for lunch - his mother, father, and older brother. I was nervous not only for the meeting itself (I'm always worried when I have to meet new people), but also because I knew going into this that Hyunwoo's father and mother didn't speak a lot of English. Therefore, I would have to rely on my fundamental Korean (which, of course, my speaking abilities are very poor) and Hyunwoo's translation skills (which I didn't want to do, but often had no choice...)
We went out early that morning to try and find gifts for his parents. While I had planned on buying flowers for his mother, it seemed that every flower shop in town was closed on Sunday... So, we bought a package of treats (similar to Pizelle cookies) for the family to share and enjoy.
His parents met us back at the hotel to pick us up and right away I was welcomed so kindly! Although I felt a little awkward at first, not sure how to start a conversation or how to respond to questions, I felt more comfortable once we had gotten to the restaurant and sat down. I was so nervous about the meeting that I often found myself struggling with basic Korean and often had to turn to Hyunwoo for help. At first, I felt so embarrassed and inadequate, but his family was so kind and generous that they insisted that I should just be comfortable.
I learned a lot about his family and they learned a lot about me, asking questions about my interest in Korea and what I planned to do after graduating from college.
After the delicious lunch of pajeon, Hyunwoo mentioned that the two of us had intended to visit
신세개 백화졈 (Shinsegae department store, one of the largest shopping malls in Korea) after the lunch. His family didn't hesitate to join us on our adventures and I found that so refreshing. It provided us with the opportunity to talk and get to know one another some more!
I was constantly amazed by how kind his family was and how they strived to take care of me and show me a wonderful time in Busan. They were such down-to-earth people who I could tell were genuinely kind. They even brought Hyunwoo and I to the train station after our mall adventures, waiting with us until it was almost time for me to leave.
Then, Hyunwoo saw me to the train and waited until it left...
After a wonderful day with the family, and a spectacular weekend in Busan, I was off to Seoul once again...
I was a little bit nervous on Sunday, to say the least. I was supposed to be meeting Hyunwoo's family for lunch - his mother, father, and older brother. I was nervous not only for the meeting itself (I'm always worried when I have to meet new people), but also because I knew going into this that Hyunwoo's father and mother didn't speak a lot of English. Therefore, I would have to rely on my fundamental Korean (which, of course, my speaking abilities are very poor) and Hyunwoo's translation skills (which I didn't want to do, but often had no choice...)
We went out early that morning to try and find gifts for his parents. While I had planned on buying flowers for his mother, it seemed that every flower shop in town was closed on Sunday... So, we bought a package of treats (similar to Pizelle cookies) for the family to share and enjoy.
His parents met us back at the hotel to pick us up and right away I was welcomed so kindly! Although I felt a little awkward at first, not sure how to start a conversation or how to respond to questions, I felt more comfortable once we had gotten to the restaurant and sat down. I was so nervous about the meeting that I often found myself struggling with basic Korean and often had to turn to Hyunwoo for help. At first, I felt so embarrassed and inadequate, but his family was so kind and generous that they insisted that I should just be comfortable.
I learned a lot about his family and they learned a lot about me, asking questions about my interest in Korea and what I planned to do after graduating from college.
After the delicious lunch of pajeon, Hyunwoo mentioned that the two of us had intended to visit
신세개 백화졈 (Shinsegae department store, one of the largest shopping malls in Korea) after the lunch. His family didn't hesitate to join us on our adventures and I found that so refreshing. It provided us with the opportunity to talk and get to know one another some more!
I was constantly amazed by how kind his family was and how they strived to take care of me and show me a wonderful time in Busan. They were such down-to-earth people who I could tell were genuinely kind. They even brought Hyunwoo and I to the train station after our mall adventures, waiting with us until it was almost time for me to leave.
Then, Hyunwoo saw me to the train and waited until it left...
After a wonderful day with the family, and a spectacular weekend in Busan, I was off to Seoul once again...