Last weekend we went with a group of people from school to a pottery festival in a little village on the outskirts of Taejon. The village would get extra points for foreigners coming to their festival which meant money from the government or something like that. There were probably about 30 of us, adults and children who ventured out on this randomly cold and rainy day in spring. Zachary was so excited to get to ride a bus that he didn't really care where he was going. OK so we passed the World Cup Stadium on the way there and he really wanted to stop and play soccer but we couldn't do that. 
At the entrance to the village- art made from broken pieces of pottery
When we arrived, there were ladies and men making duk the old fashioned way. Duk is a chewy rice cake that is made a variety of ways. It is made into balls or small patties and put in soup, or rolled into hot dog shape and covered in hot sauce or the chewy kind that they were making has something mixed in like nuts or kim (seaweed) in this case and is a chewy snack. Most duk these days is made by machine but the old fashioned way is on a large piece of wood and beaten with large wooden hammers. The women would fold and knead the duk and men would pound it out. It was quite interesting to watch. We got to sample it. Patrick liked it but with the kim in it, I wasn't too excited. I like the kind with the fruit and nuts mixed in. 
The street was lined with vendors selling their beautiful pottery. It was amazing to see how each potter had their old style and technique. Below is the kiln where they fire their pots. 
We got to watch the potter form the clay into a beautiful pot and be reminded of our Lord who molds our lives into His beautiful creation. The pot made by this human potter had its imperfections just as we do but in God's eyes we are perfectly designed and each imperfection is a trial to be faced or a lesson learned. I'm so thankful that my Heavenly Potter is not through with me yet and continues to mold me into His beautiful creation to be used for His glory. 
We were up in the mountains around Taejon. It was a very cold and wet day but the landscape was still beautiful.
Lunch was purchased at a tent where they were cooking outdoors and even washing the dishes outside with the hose and tub of water. Ellen and Patrick enjoyed a warm bowl of kuksu, a rice noodle soup with vegetables, for their lunch. I enjoyed my peanut butter crackers :). I tried the kuksu but once again it had kim in it which turned me off.
We enjoyed our outdoor meal and chuckled when we found the napkins. The bathrooms were actually inside a building but it wouldn't surprise me if people used the napkins out and about in the area.
When we arrived, there were ladies and men making duk the old fashioned way. Duk is a chewy rice cake that is made a variety of ways. It is made into balls or small patties and put in soup, or rolled into hot dog shape and covered in hot sauce or the chewy kind that they were making has something mixed in like nuts or kim (seaweed) in this case and is a chewy snack. Most duk these days is made by machine but the old fashioned way is on a large piece of wood and beaten with large wooden hammers. The women would fold and knead the duk and men would pound it out. It was quite interesting to watch. We got to sample it. Patrick liked it but with the kim in it, I wasn't too excited. I like the kind with the fruit and nuts mixed in. The street was lined with vendors selling their beautiful pottery. It was amazing to see how each potter had their old style and technique. Below is the kiln where they fire their pots. We got to watch the potter form the clay into a beautiful pot and be reminded of our Lord who molds our lives into His beautiful creation. The pot made by this human potter had its imperfections just as we do but in God's eyes we are perfectly designed and each imperfection is a trial to be faced or a lesson learned. I'm so thankful that my Heavenly Potter is not through with me yet and continues to mold me into His beautiful creation to be used for His glory. 
We were up in the mountains around Taejon. It was a very cold and wet day but the landscape was still beautiful.
Lunch was purchased at a tent where they were cooking outdoors and even washing the dishes outside with the hose and tub of water. Ellen and Patrick enjoyed a warm bowl of kuksu, a rice noodle soup with vegetables, for their lunch. I enjoyed my peanut butter crackers :). I tried the kuksu but once again it had kim in it which turned me off.
We enjoyed our outdoor meal and chuckled when we found the napkins. The bathrooms were actually inside a building but it wouldn't surprise me if people used the napkins out and about in the area. Zachary also had a way too often occurrence happen while we were at the village. We are somewhat of a 'celebrity' in Korea or at least that's what it feels like when you are followed everywhere we go, yelled at in whatever little English people know, and often patted or touched. This lady wanted her picture taken with Zachary. You can tell by Zachary's face that he was not quite pleased. Zachary has really starting withdrawing from people around us and will not respond to people even in the TCIS community as he just seems too tired of being the center of attention. We can't wait to get back to America where we blend in like everyone else.
No comments:
Post a Comment