Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Holt Children's Services Video
Here is a video made by Holt Korea which gives an overview of what they do and their ministry to care for orphaned children.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Special orders in time for Christmas!
We have decided to do special orders on these 2 Oxford sets. They are compatible with Legos and look very much like Legos. We are taking deposits for those that are interested. Please go to Little Seouls for more information.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Little Seouls Store Back Online
Our server is working now. Our site is now up and running. We apologize for the inconvenience earlier.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Cutest Baby Picture of the Month
Only 1 more week before we announce the winner! To turn in a photo of your child, please email it to contest@littleseouls.com and specify it's for the Cutest Baby Picture contest. Also, please state that you give us permission to post your child's picture on the website. The winner will receive a prize from our store. We will announce the winner on November 1st.
Korean Desserts
As you probably know, Pinkberry was started by a Korean couple. The yogurt's tart flavor has been around a long time as a yogurt drink (aka Yogurut). Apparently Red Mango was the first to have such a store in Korea. Well whoever came up with it doesn't matter to me...I just love it! The funny thing is I never liked the Yogurut drinks growing up and I still don't.
The tart flavor does take some getting use to but after a couple of tries, you'll be addicted. Don't forget to add the mochi. Although it defeats the purpose of eating non-fat yogurt, the mochi tastes so good with the yogurt.
Here is a picture of my very adorable nephew who's half Korean and half Taiwanese eating his Red Mango yogurt. Can you tell he's loving it?
Another popular Korean dessert is the Pat Bing Soo. It's a combination of shaved ice with sweet red beans, condensed milk, ice cream, fruit, syrup, cereal, dduk (rice cake) and anything else you want on it. You can find this at most Korean bakeries or cafes.
If you ever have a chance to go to a Korean bakery, try their Cream Bread called Cream Pang. This is my son's favorite. It's got custard inside and it's so good. Actually all of it's good. The difference between Korean and American bakeries are that Korean ones are not as sweet as American pastries. Korean pastries are very light and fluffy. My favorite bakery is Paris Baguette. They have locations in California, NY and NJ.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Learn Korean with Han gul ee Yah Hoe
Here is a clip of our best-selling Korean language DVD! Although it's all in Korean, it teaches Korean words and spelling. I highly recommend it!
Please be patient as it will take time to download.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Poong Poongie "The Farting Character"
Poong Poongie is Korea's most popular cartoon character among toddlers and young children. Its funny that this character also loves to fart. I can't imagine this character being popular in the US..... leave it to Korea to develop a character like Poong Poongie. And he is SO POPULAR too! So, if you were wondering who is Poong Poongie and why we sell the doll and videos, watch below to see him in action.
More Korean families make sacrifice to send kids to study in the U.S.
Photo by MICHAEL MULVEY/DMN
By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
Kevin Yoo began high school four years ago by saying goodbye to his parents in South Korea and moving to the United States alone.
Kevin Yoo, a 19-year-old senior at Arlington's Pantego Christian Academy, came to the U.S. four years ago to study. Increasingly large numbers of South Korean youths are moving to English-speaking countries to study. Academic competition in Korea is one factor.
Kevin moved in with an American family, complete with a boy his age. He dropped his Korean name, Jihoon. He played football, soccer and ran track at Arlington's Pantego Christian Academy, where he is a senior on track to graduate this year.
Increasingly large numbers of Korean youths are moving to English-speaking countries to study. Almost 18,000 people of Korean descent live in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties, according to the 2000 census.
"In Korea, they get out of school really late, like 9 or 10 p.m., and it's so hard to get into good colleges," said Kevin, 19. "Here I can study and I can play sports, and there's so much opportunity to go to good colleges."
Older students such as Kevin often come alone on student visas. But growing numbers of elementary school-age children are moving with their mothers, while their fathers remain in Korea to work. The divided families are known as kirogi, or "wild geese."
Many Korean parents believe their children must become fluent in English to achieve career success in a globalized economy. The intense academic pressure in Korean schools and the dearth of slots at top universities motivate their decisions, especially if their children are not top students.
The Korean government is fighting the exodus of young people by expanding English education in that country. But the strategy hasn't worked yet. According to the Korean Educational Development Institute, 29,511 students in elementary through high school left the country in 2006 for study abroad, a number that has nearly tripled over five years.
But many Koreans worry that the separation from family exacts a high emotional cost. Some students don't get along with their host families or relatives, and opt to live on their own. Others turn to drugs and alcohol. Or they end up preferring life in the United States and resist returning to their country.
Kevin has lived with the same host family for four years.
"He feels like a brother to me by now," said 18-year-old Tyler Walker, one of Kevin's American "family" members.
Tyler traveled to South Korea one summer. And Kevin's family pays Tyler's tuition as part of an exchange program.
Wayne Walker, Tyler's dad, said the relationship with Kevin is working well. But he sometimes questions why a family would send their child halfway around the world.
"They want the English so bad, they're willing to make the sacrifice," he said. "We'd never do that with our child. But I say that because I'm coming from our culture."
Like many other Korean students, Kevin attends the Korean Central United Methodist Church of Dallas. Christina Kim, an energetic youth pastor, said many affluent families send their kids abroad when they struggle in school and have no chance of entering one of Korea's top three universities.
"They don't have hope in Korea, so they say, 'What the heck, I'll go,' " she said.
She's seen some young people prosper and perform well and go on to college in the United States, and others drop out.
University of Texas at Arlington social work professor Sung Seek Moon understands why Korean families send their children abroad, but thinks it comes at a high cost.
"They are paying a big price," he said. "It's a big social issue in Korea. Some children are struggling emotionally even though their grades are good in school."
Yong Min Kwon, 18, graduated from Pantego and now attends the University of North Texas in Denton.
He recalled that his own struggles in Korea prompted his parents to send him to the U.S. three years ago.
"I was starting to make wrong choices and to hang out with the wrong crowd, to drink and smoke," he said. "They didn't know what to do. They asked me if I wanted to go to the States."
Arriving in the U.S. alone and meeting his host family was difficult.
"I couldn't sleep," he said. "I had a language barrier. I had nobody to talk to. I almost got depression."
His thick accent frustrates him. He wants to speak better English like the Korean-Americans he knows.
"I really want to be like them, like speaking perfect English," he said. "The purpose of I'm being here is to speak perfect English for my future so I can have an international business."
Because the older students struggle to pick up fluent English, Korean families are opting to send younger children abroad because they more easily absorb a new language.
Eunmi Lee moved to the area on her own four years ago with her children, now 17 and 14. Her daughter's best friend moved to Canada to study.
She likes that there are more extracurricular activities here. Her son, a Carroll High School freshman, plays football. Her daughter enjoys art.
But like the other students, her family faces difficult decisions about how long they will stay.
"My husband wants us to go back next year," she said. "My son doesn't want to go back."
Monday, October 20, 2008
Korean Dolls
We have been searching high and low in Korea for a cute Korean doll for Little Seouls. After much searching, we have come to the conclusion that Korea does not make "asian-looking" dolls. They have traditional Barbie type dolls in hanboks but we wanted to carry something more toddler-friendly. Most of the dolls in Korea are very caucasian-looking. They have some other dolls called Ddung, which are really cute but it's more of a collectible and it's pricey. We also found out that kids in Korea are really into stuffed animals more so than dolls.
With that said, we discovered these asian dolls made by a US company and added them to our store. We thought these would be great for your little ones to play with. They have a rag doll look about them that we find charming.
The top 2 dolls are educational dress up dolls where they teach your kids how to zip zippers, tie laces, and use buttons.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Korean Brangelina
In February, Actors Shin Ae-ra and Cha In-pyo, who fell in love on the set of the TV Drama “Love in Your Heart,” have adopted a second daughter , Ye-jin. She joins two siblings, adopted daughter Ye-eun, aged 2, and biological son Jeong-min, aged 10. The couple are enthusiastic supporters of Compassion, an international organization that assists needy children.
In a previous interview after adopting the first daughter, Ms. Shin shared that she had talked with her dying mother about adopting a daughter, and her mother gave her support. In the interview linked above, Ms. Shin talks about the reactions of family members to the second adoption, which she and her husband were already planning when they chose Ye-eun, whom they met while volunteering at an orphanage. Their son, who worried that his mom didn’t love him when she brought home Ye-eun, readily agreed to the second adoption. Mr. Cha’s mother expressed concerns about the burden of raising an additional child but did not oppose the couple’s wish.
In the interview, Ms. Shin also shared that she had an initial difficulty bonding with her new daughter. At home, Ms. Shin would sleep with the elder daughter while a nanny took care of the new baby. “She was like an ice princess,” admitted Ms. Shin. The infant rejected her mother for the more familiar embrace of her nanny. The problem resolved when Ye-eun was sent off the preschool, freeing up Mom to spend time with her new daughter.
Cynics might dismiss Shin and Cha’s adoptions as publicity stunts, but in interviews, Ms. Shin’s enthusiasm for being a mom and love of her children shine through. Their first daughter’s name, Ye-eun, means “Jesus’ blessing,” and their second daughter’s name, Ye-jin, means “Jesus’ truth.”
By sharing with the public their adoption experiences, Ms. Shin and Mr. Cha are clearly trying to inspire Koreans to open their minds and hearts and accept adopted children as real family members.
Written by Sonagi
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Katherine Heigl to adopt a Korean baby?
Rumors are spreading that Actress Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh Kellie are looking into adopting a Korean baby. Reports state that she decided on South Korea due to the fact that her older sister Meg was also adopted form Korea. Whether or not the rumors are true, we wish her the best!
picture by:
Todd Williamson/WireImage.com
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
What makes our play mats different?
Please click on pictures to read. These play mats are perfect for those that live in apartments. Since majority of Koreans live in apartments, they had to come up with something to help with the sound absorption for the neighbors below them! It's also great for those that have hardwood/tile floors...especially when babies are still in the crawling phase. These mats are really good quality...they have like a memory foam feeling. Please note, the play mats described here are for the bigger ones we have for sale...the other smaller ones are not cushioned. The smaller ones are perfect for the park or even to use as a diaper changing pad.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Dosirak
Dosirak means lunchbox in Korean (or bento in Japanese). The food is nicely packaged in little boxes...it's usually an assortment of items. I saw this picture of a Japanese bento and thought...what kid wouldn't love eating this? I wanna eat it! Except I don't know what those "finger-looking" things are in the pink box...kinda creepy. Other than that, looks like a healthy fun meal for a kid!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A Korean lady found another use for a podaegi!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Jon & Kate Plus 8
Jon & Kate Plus 8 follows the lives of Jon and Kate Gosselin, parents of twin girls and sextuplets. Jon is half Korean and therefore his kids are 25% Korean. It amazes me that their kids look very "asian." You would expect with Kate's fair skin and hair, one of the kids would be more "caucasian" looking. I believe Jon's mom said to Kate before her kids were born that the Korean gene is very dominant. She was right.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Cutest Baby Picture of the Month
Come on viewers, please share a picture of your cutie with us! You will be entered into our monthly prize contest for the Cutest Baby Picture of the Month. Email the picture to contest@littleseouls.com and please specify that it is for the "Cutest Baby Picture of the Month" and also give us your consent to post the picture. Thank you!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Star "Love Exhibition" on Display this week
13th annual Pusan Film Festival is going on and Holt's Star "Love Exhbition" is displayed once again. Pictures displayed are of Korean celebrities and Holt children. This year they also had a campaign to promote special needs adoption by having celebrities take photos with children with various medical issues. The beautiful photos on display were taken by Gina Jung.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
NEWS: Korea Aims To End Stigma of Adoption and Stop "Exporting Babies"
Today in the New York Times, this article by Norimitsu Onishi was published. Pictures taken by Seokyong Lee. It will give you an idea of the hurdles the Korean government has to go through to promote domestic adoption in Korea.
Here's the article below:
SEOUL, South Korea — Daunted by the stigma surrounding adoption here, Cho Joong-bae and Kim In-soon delayed expanding their family for years. When they finally did six years ago, Mr. Cho chose to tell his elderly parents that the child was the result of an affair, rather than admit she was adopted.
Babies awaited adoptive parents in Seoul, at Holt International, the leading adoption agency in South Korea.
“My parents later died believing that I’d had an affair,” said Mr. Cho, 48, a civil engineer who has since adopted a second daughter.
Now, with South Korea becoming more accepting of adoptive families, Mr. Cho and Ms. Kim feel they can be more open, with relatives and nonrelatives alike. Ms. Kim, 49, attributed the change partly to the growth of other nontraditional families, like those headed by single parents or including foreign spouses.
“We feel attitudes have changed,” she said.
Just how much, though, is the critical question as the South Korean government is pushing aggressively to increase adoptions by South Koreans and decrease what officials consider the shameful act of sending babies overseas for adoption. Since the 1950s, tens of thousands of South Korean children have been adopted by foreigners, mostly Americans, because of South Koreans’ traditional emphasis on family bloodlines and reluctance to adopt.
But last year, for the first time, more babies here were adopted by South Koreans than foreigners, as the government announced recently with great fanfare: 1,388 local adoptions compared with 1,264 foreign ones. What is more, South Korea — which still is one of the top countries from which Americans adopt — has set a goal of eliminating foreign adoptions altogether by 2012.
“South Korea is the world’s 12th largest economy and is now almost an advanced country, so we would like to rid ourselves of the international stigma or disgrace of being a baby-exporting country,” Kim Dong-won, who oversees adoptions at the Ministry of Health, said in an interview. “It’s embarrassing.”
To bolster domestic adoptions, the government last year began offering $90 monthly allowances per child for those who adopt children up to 12 years old, as well as more generous health benefits for the children. Even greater health benefits are now given to adopted disabled children.
The government also made it easier for South Koreans to adopt. Single people can now qualify, as well as older ones. Until last year, prospective adoptive parents could be no more than 50 years older than the child; now the age gap has been increased to 60 years. In addition, the government has made foreign adoptions more difficult by imposing a five-month waiting period before children can even be considered for overseas adoption. It also increased payments to foster parents to try to keep children inside South Korea longer and increase their chances of being adopted domestically.
The government’s goal has received much media attention and popular support here. But adoption agencies and some adoptive parents and experts say the government’s new policies are concerned less with the children’s welfare than with saving face. Increasing the age gap and allowing singles to adopt have lowered the standards for domestic adoptions in a way that could be detrimental to the children, they say, even as the government has created unnecessary obstacles to foreign ones.
“The government is hung up on numbers and on South Korea’s image,” said Lee Mira, who oversees domestic adoptions at Social Welfare Society, a private, nonprofit organization that is the second largest adoption agency in South Korea. “When North Korea taunts South Korea by saying we’re selling Korean babies to foreigners, it hurts the pride of South Korea.”
Since 1958, when South Korea began keeping track of adoptions, 230,635 children have been adopted. About 30 percent were adopted by South Koreans, while 70 percent found homes overseas. Two-thirds of all foreign adoptees ended up in the United States.
While orphans made up a majority of adopted children in the two decades following the Korean War, children born to unwed mothers have accounted for the largest numbers since then.
South Koreans who did adopt tended to hide their children’s origins from the children and others.
In recent years, adoption agencies have conducted campaigns — some featuring movie and TV stars — urging adoptive parents to tell people about how their families were formed in the hopes that more openness would lead to less prejudice. The government’s efforts got a boost when some celebrities adopted and went public with the news.
Still, many adoptive parents choose not to share how their families were formed, according to adoption agencies, with some engaging in elaborate ruses to pass off the children as their biological sons or daughters.
A middle-aged couple now living in a suburb of Seoul learned long ago that the husband was sterile. But he was reluctant to consider adopting, unwilling to accept his condition and afraid of the lingering prejudice against adopted children. In a Confucian society that still values bloodlines, where many people keep detailed records of their ancestors, he was worried that adopted children might face difficulties in their careers or with marriage prospects.
So when the couple decided to adopt three years ago, they chose to fake a pregnancy, as many adoptive parents here do. The couple moved, and the husband, now 43 and a real estate agent, switched jobs.
The wife, an employee at a telecommunications company, began wearing maternity clothes over a special pillow, made by a company recommended by the couple’s adoption agency.
All was going well until a colleague the woman had confided in spilled the secret to a supervisor.
“I was so hurt and embarrassed by that experience,” she said. “I would like to adopt a second child, if only to go through the experience in a proper manner this time.”
Given the bias against adoptions, some couples who are initially open become more guarded as their children grow older.
Yoo Hae-yon, 48, has told relatives and neighbors that his two sons, now 4 years old and 18 months, were adopted. But he has since become worried that the boys will suffer in a society where television shows typically portray adopted children negatively, as schemers who end up damaging families.
“My sons haven’t been teased yet, but that will be a possibility in elementary school,” Mr. Yoo said. “So once they start school, we won’t disclose their adoptions. And in junior high school or later on, we’ll let them decide.”
Holt International, a private American adoption agency that has long been South Korea’s leading agency, welcomed the government’s new financial incentives for families but said that trying to curb foreign adoptions would risk hurting the children least likely to be adopted by South Koreans: older ones; the disabled, who still face severe discrimination; and boys, who, once preferred by South Koreans, are now considered by many to be less devoted to their parents than daughters.
“The changes could end up postponing the adoption process of those children,” said Lee Jin-hee, who oversees domestic adoptions at Holt here.
And Huh Nam-soon, dean of the social welfare department at Hallym University outside Seoul, said changing the standards for domestic adoptions could cause serious problems in the future.
“How many of those adopted children will end up in orphanages because of broken adoptions?” she said.
Ms. Huh, who has researched the history of South Korean children adopted by Americans, said that, in general, they had found good homes in the United States, even though some struggled with their identities.
Mr. Kim, the Health Ministry official, acknowledged that the history of American adoption had been largely positive. But he said that the government believed that South Korean children would be happier if adopted by South Koreans and that it would stick to its goal of phasing out foreign adoptions in four years.
Agencies and adoptive parents said the goal was unrealistic, if only because very few disabled children had been adopted here. Last year, only 40 disabled children were adopted domestically, while 500 went abroad.
“We wouldn’t feel confident adopting a disabled child since we even felt overwhelmed adopting a healthy one,” said Kim Chang-shik, 37, who, with his wife, Yoon Yeo-rim, 38, adopted a daughter four years ago, after the birth of their biological son. “I don’t know whether it’s because I’m Korean, but I’m grateful that foreigners are willing to adopt children who can’t find homes here.”
Korea Adoption Video to Promote Domestic Adoption
Check out this video that promotes adoption in Korea. Korea has increased its efforts in the past few years to promote domestic adoption, as their goal is to eventually end international adoption. I heard rumors that they plan to stop international adoption of their children within 5 years.
I am very passionate about adoption so whenever I find videos related to adoption, I will post them here. :)
Aren't the babies so ADORABLE! The babies featured are from Social Welfare Society Adoption Agency in Korea.
I am very passionate about adoption so whenever I find videos related to adoption, I will post them here. :)
Aren't the babies so ADORABLE! The babies featured are from Social Welfare Society Adoption Agency in Korea.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Look what I saw at Whole Foods today
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Korean theme parks in the Fall
Now that the hot summer is over, the best season to visit Korea has arrived. The clear blue skies and the cool evening nights make the fall weather the best time to go. Another reason to go is three major theme parks in Seoul have begun their fall festivities.
Everland’s “Happy Halloween” [Sept.8 ~ Nov.5]
Everland, the land of festivals and adventures, is having a “Happy Halloween” festival from Sept. 8 (Fri) to Nov. 5 (Sun) for a total of 60 days.
For the second edition of its kind at Everland, a 2.5 meter high jack-o’-lantern installment is set up at the entrance along with various holiday related items displayed at 23 different locations around the entire park. Popular monsters and ghosts such as Dracula and Frankenstein await visitors. The highlight of this festival is the “Happy Halloween Party,” a parade featuring 4 floats, 6 air shot carts, 4 sugar carts, and more. The parade is 400m long, and lasts for 30 minutes. The streets are filled with 58 performers, and thousands of Halloween sponge balls flying into the air.
The floats feature pumpkin fairies, a pipe organ, Dracula’s castle, graveyards, and more. Also, magic shows and Halloween bands perform at the European Court everyday.
Lotte World’s “October Fest” [Sept. 8 ~ Oct.22]
The nation's biggest indoor amusement park Lotte World, in Chamsil, Seoul, is now holding its own version of the traditional German beer festival Oktoberfest, which originated from Munich, Germany. “Oktoberfest,” starting from Sept. 8 (Fri) to Oct. 22 (Sun) offers ethnic culinary Germany food, German folk music and German unlimited draft beer. The festival features parades and street performances that reenact the atmosphere of Munich, which visitors can get a taste of what German culture is like.
Oktoberfest originated as a horse race, part of the celebration of the marriage of the crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Theresa von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. This wedding will be reenacted as an “October Parade” at Lotte World. Also featured are the musical puppet play “Hansel & Gretel”, a Germany’s folk music performance by German Band, the Accordion Ensemble, and more. Everywhere you turn, you will be able to immerse yourself in German culture.
Visitors can participate in competitions such as “The Fastest Beer Drinker,” or “The Fastest Sausage Eater” and “The Driving Nails in a Log” contests. You can also try your chance at winning a trip to Germany by participating in the “Rock, Scissors, Paper Contest”. Lotte World has prepared a rich variety of entertainment to make your time here the best possible. You can also enjoy a video show showing images from the actual Oktoberfest in Germany as well as watch a mini concert by a yodeling club, or look around a picture exhibition.
Seoul Land’s “Chrysanthemum Festival” & “Halloween Festival” [Sept.9 ~ Oct.29]
150 species of chrysanthemums decorate Seoul Land from the World Plaza and spreads out all over the theme park. The chrysanthemums bloom in various colors, shapes, and sizes, and the various sculptures made of chrysanthemums provide beautiful sceneries for you to walk amongst and enjoy.
Along with the Chrysanthemum Festival, Seoul Land is also preparing various performances and events to add to your fun. Comic clowns and jugglers put on a European Show every weekend at the Event Hall. And the finale ends with an exciting aerial acrobat performance.
Also at Seoul Land is a “Halloween Festival,” which provides scary fun for children during the month of October. The Halloween Street Performance offers surprise entrances of the world’s scariest horror characters near the main entrance and east entrance to give you a fun scare fit for the Halloween season. On a portable stage, various Halloween characters hold street performances. You can also take souvenir pictures with the characters to help you remember this fun autumn festival at Seoul Land.
Post from visitkorea.or.kr
Everland’s “Happy Halloween” [Sept.8 ~ Nov.5]
Everland, the land of festivals and adventures, is having a “Happy Halloween” festival from Sept. 8 (Fri) to Nov. 5 (Sun) for a total of 60 days.
For the second edition of its kind at Everland, a 2.5 meter high jack-o’-lantern installment is set up at the entrance along with various holiday related items displayed at 23 different locations around the entire park. Popular monsters and ghosts such as Dracula and Frankenstein await visitors. The highlight of this festival is the “Happy Halloween Party,” a parade featuring 4 floats, 6 air shot carts, 4 sugar carts, and more. The parade is 400m long, and lasts for 30 minutes. The streets are filled with 58 performers, and thousands of Halloween sponge balls flying into the air.
The floats feature pumpkin fairies, a pipe organ, Dracula’s castle, graveyards, and more. Also, magic shows and Halloween bands perform at the European Court everyday.
Lotte World’s “October Fest” [Sept. 8 ~ Oct.22]
The nation's biggest indoor amusement park Lotte World, in Chamsil, Seoul, is now holding its own version of the traditional German beer festival Oktoberfest, which originated from Munich, Germany. “Oktoberfest,” starting from Sept. 8 (Fri) to Oct. 22 (Sun) offers ethnic culinary Germany food, German folk music and German unlimited draft beer. The festival features parades and street performances that reenact the atmosphere of Munich, which visitors can get a taste of what German culture is like.
Oktoberfest originated as a horse race, part of the celebration of the marriage of the crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Theresa von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. This wedding will be reenacted as an “October Parade” at Lotte World. Also featured are the musical puppet play “Hansel & Gretel”, a Germany’s folk music performance by German Band, the Accordion Ensemble, and more. Everywhere you turn, you will be able to immerse yourself in German culture.
Visitors can participate in competitions such as “The Fastest Beer Drinker,” or “The Fastest Sausage Eater” and “The Driving Nails in a Log” contests. You can also try your chance at winning a trip to Germany by participating in the “Rock, Scissors, Paper Contest”. Lotte World has prepared a rich variety of entertainment to make your time here the best possible. You can also enjoy a video show showing images from the actual Oktoberfest in Germany as well as watch a mini concert by a yodeling club, or look around a picture exhibition.
Seoul Land’s “Chrysanthemum Festival” & “Halloween Festival” [Sept.9 ~ Oct.29]
150 species of chrysanthemums decorate Seoul Land from the World Plaza and spreads out all over the theme park. The chrysanthemums bloom in various colors, shapes, and sizes, and the various sculptures made of chrysanthemums provide beautiful sceneries for you to walk amongst and enjoy.
Along with the Chrysanthemum Festival, Seoul Land is also preparing various performances and events to add to your fun. Comic clowns and jugglers put on a European Show every weekend at the Event Hall. And the finale ends with an exciting aerial acrobat performance.
Also at Seoul Land is a “Halloween Festival,” which provides scary fun for children during the month of October. The Halloween Street Performance offers surprise entrances of the world’s scariest horror characters near the main entrance and east entrance to give you a fun scare fit for the Halloween season. On a portable stage, various Halloween characters hold street performances. You can also take souvenir pictures with the characters to help you remember this fun autumn festival at Seoul Land.
Post from visitkorea.or.kr
Friday, October 3, 2008
Cutest Baby Picture of the Month
Jook the ultimate comfort food
I remember my mom making jook, rice porridge, whenever I was sick. It was the chicken soup remedy for Koreans. Once I became a mom, I realized that it was given to babies as their first solid food. There are many online recipes available but I make mine the simple and easy way.
I get cooked rice and put it in a pan of half water and half chicken broth. Liquid should be about 3 to 4 inches above the rice. If I have chicken or meat, I cut it up small and add it to the mix. I then add carrots and peas (if I am in a hurry, I'll use frozen). Simmer for 1 hour or longer depending on how sticky and soft you want it. Most likely you will need to add more water and chicken broth as you cook, especially if you want more liquid in your jook. Add salt and soy sauce if you want more flavoring.
Or if you prefer to buy it pre-made, you can now find it in most Korean markets. I never knew they sold canned jook until recently. It takes quite flavorful.
According to my Chinese friends, jook is also given to Chinese babies as well.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Traditional Dol Gifts
Korean Podaegi for Dolls!
Isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen? Its so perfect for little girls who want to imitate everything their moms do. Now your daughter can wear her doll with a Korean Podaegi. And it's also Pororo design!
We just recently added these Doll Podaegis on our online store. Check it out at Little Seouls.