Wednesday, May 23rd - Halmoni Protest/Nakji/Baseball

As the May 16^th post stated, that day we were suppose to attend the Wednesday Demonstration of the Halmonis but were unable to find the Japanese Embassy in time for the protest. After being able to tour the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum, our group understood more about the history of the comfort women. Today, we had planned accordingly and left earlier to make our way to the protest, in which was a very moving experience. Once we walked up to the protest, we noticed the Japanese Embassy; the same building that was pictured in the museum, and four of the Halmonis sitting in observance at the front of the crowd. One speaker at a time was talking to the crowd using speakers, either talking about their organization that they would like the crowd to get fight for, or speaking to introduce another person. After another organization was announced and talked about, a man was introduced whom would play music. It was at the moment when this flautist played that recollection and history of the War and Women’s Human Rights Museum flooded everyone’s minds. The protest was loud enough for the Japanese Embassy to hear; yet all but two windows were closed, and no one entered or exited the building during the hour-long protest. As soon as the protest was over, our group wanted to meet the Halmonis, so we found our way through the crowd and asked the ladies for a picture with them; they said yes!

Four of the Halmonis

Speakers at the Wednesday Demonstration

Japanese Embassy

Flautist

Pyeonghwa-bi (Peace Monument)

 (a picture of our group with two of the Halmonis - coming soon!)

After eating our lunch for the day, our group headed to the Norangjin Seafood Market. Upon exiting the Metro (subway) the lovely smells of the seafood were present, and as we walked closer, the smells of course were stronger. Some people, unlike others, could handle the smells, but what a sight there was to see! So much different seafood to buy, and many of the crabs, squids, and fish were larger than you’d think, taking over an entire tank’s width. There were rows upon rows of merchants selling their seafood. As many of the group members requested, we searched for a merchant to sell us a live octopus so that they could try the delicacy of nakji (live octopus). After finding a merchant, the lady tried to sell us three octopi for a cheaper price, but three was way too many for the brave souls that wanted to just try it; we were finally able to buy one. We then asked the lady where a restaurant was located so that it would be chopped up for serving; as she led us to the restaurant those who were not trying the nakji debated on who would go into the restaurant to video tape and take picture – the debate ended with our whole group sitting in on the excitement that was to happen! J Nothing really more can be said – this video will say it all.

Soon after all the excitement of watching our group members eat live octopus (nakji), a few of us made our way to Jamsil Stadium to watch a baseball game, the LG Giants against the Nexen Heroes. We at first took the wrong Metro subway stop and got of at Jamsil, thinking we would find Jamsil Stadium upon exiting the subway, yet after all of our snack buying, we talked to a lady at the information center and realized we needed to get off the Metro at the Sports-Complex subway stop, oops! On our way back into the subway we made sure that we would get off at the correct stop. Finally we arrived to Jamsil Stadium, and we were sure this time with all of the thunder sticks we saw people carrying around. Not sure which line to choose in order to purchase our tickets, we chose one hoping to be the right one, only figuring out that it wasn’t the “cash” line, but the “credit card” line; they let us buy our tickets anyway, but we won’t ask what the cashiers were thinking of us, ha! Finding food and our seats was not that much of a challenge, and neither the excitement. The LG Giants side of the stadium seemed to be more energetic, but our group, being on the Nexen Heroes side, showed just as much excitement for the game. We all sang along with the cheers and songs – although we did not know the words, but who cared when everyone was yelling anyway! J Our group very much enjoyed the new experience of the Korean baseball game along with the atmosphere and excitement that it brought!

Thank you for reading! :)