Weekend of October 15th/16th was the weekend of the KOTESOL conference in Seoul at Sukmyoung Women's University. Clare was the Oxfort University Press presenter and she did a wonderful job of it. I listened to a couple of other presentations that were good and one that was a total waste of time. After the conference we (Clare, Debbie, Jen, Sean) headed to Insadong, followed by OKtoberfest Oxford UP party, followed by allnight dacning in Hongdae where among other colourful characters I encountered a Korean guy in absolute awe of big breasts and a cute Canadian boy who pretended to be gay ( I guess it's easier to get a woman to relax if you say you're gay). My buddies for the night were Penny and Michael, a handsome bearded typus from Arizona. What a night it was. I came home when birds were chirping and greeting the rising sun. I didn't see any sun until 2:30 that afternoon.  

Jiwon, seeing all those sausages made me think of your "sausage factory" expression. Here's smiling at you, baby.  

After the KOTESOL conference, we all headed to Insa-dong where we first downed two bowls of dongdongju with most excellent tubu kimchi, then we crawled to the Oktoberfest bar for the Oxfort University Press party. Everyone was entitled to 2 pints of great beer and some sausages. Their forks were humungous! 

Three blondes, Debbie and two Miss Brewsky.  

The mood at Gecko's was great. I can't remember who took this photo? Debbie,perhaps.  

whisperers: Clare and her colleague Melanie at Melanie's b-day party, Gecko's.  

Uncle Mark and me. One day we'll have that love child...  

A lonely man needs a lot of colour to cheer him up. An ajoshi having a late night barbecue in Hongdae.  

Did Cinderella leave her pumpkin-turned-coach here and someone uses it now as an underwear shop? Spotted at hongdae.  

And this is its name: Angel's wing 

Penny and I and soju instead of coffee in the early am hours.  

A lovely American (I know, I know, it's an oxymoron, but in his case it's true). Having breakfast of sea-weed soup and some clear clam broth). In Hongdae after a night of dancing.  

Saturday, October 8th, I was invited to a wedding. My friend Regina's friend, Eunju, whom I also met on several ocassions was getting married. She met her husband in her apartment building. He lived above her. She had a loud party once and she took a plate of food up to him in lieu of apology. It started there: he'd spot her out with her dog and come to walk it with here. Soon they were living together and they crowned their affair with an overblown Korean style wedding. Eunju was every inch a blushing bride with eyes downcast. They are quite a nice couple and it's obvious that they love each other and are very comfortable with each other. First they had the western-style ceremony complete with a white wedding gown and the groom wearing tuxedo. Then, they had the Korean traditional wedding ceremony, followed by a lunch. That's it. No more, no lavish reception, no dancing. The traditional ceremony includes the bride bowing to the groom twice and he bows back once, then they repeat the whole process; drinking from the same cup; then bowing to the parents; throwing of chestnuts and jujubes onto bride's sash.  

Two good-looking people among the wedding guests. Clare and Chris 

Regina looked lovely in her China-dress covered in huge butterflies.  

Eunju and Hwayoung  

A part of the wedding hall. Enormous chandeliers, white chairs and an overflow of flowers is an absolute must.  

All married people in Korea must have a picture like this. This picture is a good illustration of a Korean wedding that is an awkward mix of Western and Eastern traditions. Western elements are overblown: most brides look the same (similar hairdos, princess dresses); halls are crowded with flowers, white chairs, enormous chandeliers. At some weddings (Derek and Jisan's) they would have bubble- making machines, huge swords that cut 7-tier wedding cake with only the one on the top being the real deal.  

With Eunju and her husband Hwayoung at the wedding reception.  

Family members wearing Korean traditional costume, hanbok.  

Eunju's shoes.  

The bridegroom's parents throw jujebes and chestnuts onto Eunju's emroidered sash. The number of nuts remaining there preditcs the number of children they will have.  

Eunju pours some liquor for Hwayoung  

Then they drink in a manner knows as the love shot, with thei r arms crossed.  

Hwayoung is feeding Eunju a jujebe. She takes into her mouth and then she gives it back to him in a sort of a kiss