Mi Jeong and Bohye invited me to experience celebrating the Lunar New Year the Korean way.

Though the version in Edinburgh was a bit distorted, I still managed to enjoy myself.

The Korean Society of Edi Uni threw the event with help from the Korean Church committee member.

Mi Jeong told me the flow of the Lunar New Year is very much different from what we were witnessing at the moment.

Friends

Donations to Oxfam

The event was divided into two parts.

The first part had a review of what the Korean clubs/societies in Edi Uni have been up to, then there was a promotion about the newly established Korean school in Edinburgh (supported by their embassy), classical music performance (something out of Nodame Cantabile), and singing. There were even intermissions for quiz time. :P Very much mirroring the pub quiz moment.

The MC for the night

Everyone starting to take their seats

 Young talented boy playing Nocturne – full of feeling.

By the time the first part was over, MJ, BH and I were starving. Luckily dinner was next on the itinerary. I had Kim Bap, Glass Noodles, Kim Chi, Fried Vege, small omelette – superb. 잘먹었습니다

The 2^nd part was playing game time – arm-wrestling and chicken hop (you hop on one leg and try to make your opponent fall with your bended knee).

Jinah (from our TESOL group) won the first place for arm-wrestling. She took back 10kgs of rice. I won the chicken hop game – got a bottle of shower cream!

The event made me realize no matter how far away you are from home, as long as there is a group to support you; it will make life a bit bearable. There were families with small children (all looking adorable in their hanbok). Friends helping out. It might not be home but it is the best next thing.

This little kid stole MJ's heart

Adorable children in hanbok. Couldn't get the vivid colors of their hanbok because of the heating lights. Thus the red colour.

Sometimes a bit of a separation is good for you because the saying ‘out of sight, close at heart’ does really help strengthen bonds between families and friends.

The MEd TESOL family celebrated Burn’s  Supper on the 21^st Jan 2009 at Old Paul’s Church.

This supper celebrates Scotland’s famous son – the poet Robert Burns.

There is one poem by Burns which has been translated into more than 30 languages – Auld Lang Syne.

The event had an international flavor despite it being a very Scottish event.

We were expecting around 75 guests so food needs to be sufficient for 75 people.

Rosemary and I went shopping at TESCO for the ingredients. Haggis, chicken, leeks, onions, etc.

Then prep and cooking started at 1530. We were wrestling with the 25kgs of potatoes, 10 huge turnips, leeks, chicken, 10kgs of carrots etc.

Tetsuya lent his strength in peeling the turnips. I have never seen such huge turnips in my life except the ones I read in EB’s storybooks. It is not simple peeling such monstrous turnips.

Sarah oversaw the cooking – she did the Cock-a-Leekie soup, the haggis, the neeps and tatties.

Eventhough the fare might look simple but it’s not when you are cooking for 75 people.

Janet (who is in SDM) rehearsed for the performance tonight with Sergi putting up the great decorations.

It was an astounding collaborative effort. We followed the Burn’s Supper protocol – with saying grace, then the march in of the haggis, followed by the address to the haggis and we had performance from the team (tutors - Aileen Irvine and Richard Easton and students). There were singing, dancing, bag piping, role play, drum playing, poem recitation and networking. Check out the pictures in my facebook to see the event unfolding before your eyes. The only thing I regretted was not being able to record it though I know Satoshi did something that night with a VideoCam. Might harass him for the video.  

An amazing night. For more information for Burns Supper, Wikipedia is a good source.   

I truly enjoyed myself though the protocol did deviate slightly. Check out the pictures here and here.

Guess which one is Highland and the other is Arthur Seat?

Updates in random order: -

(a)  Completed all my assignments.

(b)  Attended my first “authentic” Catholic midnight mass for Christmas.

(c)   Became sous chef for Ida for her first pre-Christmas dinner.

(d)  Went on a one day tour to the Highlands with hubby. :P

(e)  Finally reach the summit of Arthur Seat with hubby. No he didn’t carry me. :P (was wishing though).

(f)    Watched my first ballet – Sleeping Beauty. Ballets are not entirely made up tu-tus and frou-frou.

(g)  Attended Hogmanay. Fireworks were splendid – though I spoil all my pictures. :(

(h)  Spend New Year’s with SC, Glo, Leah, TY, MJ, Scott, and Hubs. Something amazing happened that night.

(i)    Will be celebrating pre-CNY with the Taiwanese.

(j)    Will be attending Burn’s Supper.

(k)  Miss home much.

Check out the pictures in facebook – Highland trip and Arthur Seat.