Spoiler alert: The following contains bits of truth entwined in a string of fabrications. Or is it the other way around? You determine what is true and what is not.
One week before my wedding, my mom visited Korea and we went to Jeonju city. Upon arrival, we went to the hotel, which was a small traditional house. The room was very small, with no additional room to the right or to the left. My mom, surprised, looked around and said "There isn't even a bed! How can all three of us sleep in such a small room?" After we spread out the thick padded sleeping pads and blanket, she slowly began to understand, but it was clear that we needed to explain some more. After explaining traditional Korean lifestyle, she tried it firsthand.
나는 결혼 하기 일주전에 내 어머니가 방한중에 (방문) 같이 전주시에 갔다. 숙소는 전통집으로 한 방을 빌렸는데 서관도 없었고 동관도 없어서 어머니는 깜짝 놀으셨다. "침대도 없는데 우리 셋이 어떻게 이런 조금한 방에서 잘 수 있어?" 라고 물어보셨다. 우리 요랑 이블이 펴지는 순간에 어머니 얼굴에 극적인 표정이 나타났다. 이해 하실 수 있도록 한국에 전통적인 의식주문화 교육 절차를 밟은 후 직접 체험을 하셨더.
Traditional Korean Lifestyle:
한국의 전통적인 의식주문화:
I explained that during the Three Kingdom period in Korea, the area around Jeonju belonged to the Baekjae Kingdom. Compared to Shilla and Gogurya Kingdoms, Baekjae was a lot smaller, but because of the western coastline, trade with China, Thailand, and much farther countries thrived and Baekjae was much wealthier than its larger neighbors. The western sea was so important to Baekjae that every night before they went to sleep, the citizens would bow to the west and lye down facing east, in order to see the first rays of light the next day. On the first day of every year, in order to show their wealth, the citizens would take beautiful pottery and earnestly throw it at the east wall of their homes where they would shatter into tiny pieces. This is what I explained to my mom.
나는 삼국시대에 전랴도가 백제의 지역이였다고 설명했다. 백제는 신라와 고구려 보다 활씬 더 작았는데 서해 옆에 있어서 중국, 태국, 그리고 더 먼 나라하고 무역이 잘 돼서 주변 보다 아주 부유한 나라였다. 서해는 그들에게 아주 중요하기 때문에 밤마다 자기전 서해쪽에 절을 하고 다음 날 해가 뜨는 것을 볼 수 있게 누웠다. 그리고 새해 첫일출때, 풍부한 부를 보여주기 위해 도자기를 간절히 동쪽 벽에 던지고부서뜨렸다고 어머니에게 설명을 했다.
The next morning the owner of the home brought us breakfast. On a very small table were many different kinds of side dishes, such as grilled fish, radish kimchi, kimchi, beans, peanuts, bean sprouts, etc. etc. Each side dish was in its individual porcelain plate. Suddenly, remembering the lesson from yesterday, my mom took the bean sprout dish and threw it hard at the wall. The dish shattered and the wall was stained with bean sprout juice. It was such a dramatic scene that I, my girlfriend, and the home owner were all shocked into silence. But when my mom, with a beaming smile on her face, bent down to reach for the kimchi plate, we all moved at the same time to stop her from throwing it. The side dishes on the table were scattered everywhere. Of course, the owner of the house was furious with us. After I appologized profusely, and my girlfriend explained everything to her, there was a long pause and then suddenly, the woman burst out laughing.
다음날 아침에 집주인이 아침밥을 가져오셨다. 조금한 식탁에 갈치조림, 무김치, 콩, 전, 콩나물, 등등이 있었고 각각예쁜 접시에 담아 있었다. 급작스럽게 전날밤 설명을 따라서 내 어머니콩나물을 담은 접시를 잡으시고 벽에 던지셨다. 접시가 부서졌고 벽이 콩나물로 얼룩지게 됐다.너무 극적인 상황이라서 처음에는 나, 내 여자친구, 그리고 집주인 3이다 충격을 받았다. 하지만 밝은 얼굴을 가지신 내 어머니는 김치를 담은 접시를 잡으시려고 허리를 굽히셨을때 던지지 못 하시게 우리 3이 다 동시에 뛰었다. 우리 사이에 있었던 음식이 흩어지게 되었다. 물론 집주인은 우리에게 너무 격분하셨다. 내가 사과를 한 후에 여자친구는 아줌마한테 급하게 설명을 한후에 아줌마는 갑자기 까르르 웃음을 터뜨렸다.
Nowadays, any time we feel like going on vacation, and have no plans, we make sure to buy a pretty dish and head to Jeonju.
만약에 어느 주말에 계획을 없는데 여행을 가고 싶으면 예쁜 접시를 사고 전주시로 간다.
The above story is purely practice in using the following vocabulary:
서관 west wing
동관 east wing
극적 dramatic
절차를 밟다 follow procedures
간절히 earnestly
흩어지다 to scatter
Additional vocabulary learned:
까르르 웃음을 터뜨렸다 burst out laughing
격분하다 to be furious
굽히다 to bend over
부유하다 wealthy
풍부하다 abundant
의식주 문화 (clothes, food, home) lifestyle culture
