Field Trip With the GLP

Today is the Korean SAT, an interesting event in Korea. It is a BIG deal here! It is the day that decides the students' future. A good score can basically set the course of her future life. So everyone takes it serious. Government officials leave for work later in the day to free up morning traffic. Airplanes are rerouted to avoid school zones. The police are out in full force to aid traffic. A late student will be escorted by police to school with sirens blasting. We did experience the last two personally today. The student jumped out of the police car and ran to write his future.  At the entrance of the school, the community comes out in full force to cheer on the seniors.

Since our students do not participate in the Korean SAT, we had to be off campus for the test time 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. So we went on a field trip.



Our first stop: A pagoda famous for being created out of stone. It also has some historical significance. I think has to do with a famous general who created the turtle ship. Don't quote me on that though; I heard a student talking about the general and so I connected the place to the story. 

On the same location as the pagoda there is a cool museum (Buyeo National Museum) with artifacts from ancient Korean civilizations. The following are some beautiful stone tile carvings.

This was one of the highlights of the museum. It is a Hoja. One lucky servant got to carry this baby around, so his patron could "go" where and when he pleased. Apparently it is designed to look like a tiger because peeing into the mouth of a tiger is good luck. Korea you are awesome!

This is an assortment of stone swords used well into the bronze age. Bronze swords were to costly to provide for the average warriors. The warriors were relegated to using the stone variety. 

The museum had a collection of many historically relevant tools that would dampen an anthropologist's undergarments. The progression of technology is so interesting and alive in the museums of Korea.

Next we had lunch and, typical to Korean field trips, we went on a hike.  Hiking in Korea is not the same as in North America. Here you will see many people on the path and there might even be a paved road that leads up the mountain. I think we hiked around Busosanseong Fortress of Buyeo. After the hiking up and down the other side, we took a boat back to our buses.



Getting on our ride back to town.

Our last stop... a palace. The place was large, but not as significant as Gyeongbokgung Palace. They did have a large drum you could pound though and the students enjoyed making music.



A rare view of the drum sans student musician.

Good times had by all.

Cheers, JaM's