Saman Dance @ Multicultural Center Fiesta

An annual event in our previous neighborhood: 다문화축제  (Multicultural Festival). This is our 2nd time participating in the event. Being foreigners in Imundong where lots of foreigners reside, we feel obliged to 'get in touch' and know where we live. 

So, we end up associating ourselves in Pureun Multicultural Center where lots of activities to cater the needs of those both Korean and foreign nationals to mingle and understand each other's cultures. 

Indonesian team teamed up with our Korean counterparts performed Saman Dance (a traditional dance originated from Aceh, Sumatra). It took my wife and Ulfa..let's see..hardly a month to teach other Korean friends to be able to perform the energetic and no-mistake-or-we-are-doomed-:-D)-kind-of-dance. 

It was a relief that we did excel beyond our expectation...

and 'Encore! 'Encore!' exclamation sort of acknowledged our efforts to put in on the show.

Iranian Day at our Multicultural Center

Indian Day, Bangladesh Day, Indonesian Day, Philippines Day, Nepalese Day, Iranian Day....well..we have numerous festive days held at our neighborhood Multicultural Center.

Last week we held "Iran Day" 

Sure, lots of people ranging from kids to adults and even halmeonies were there.With the looming spring is coming, this kind of festivity was held to celebrate the cultural diversities we have right on the very spot of our neighborhood. 

As we are also the member of the community, we surely did not miss this chance of getting to know what Iranian people do in their daily lives: it was through this endeavor that we learn and respect about others.

So, what's next in our agenda: which country?

Seollal 설날 with Multicultural Family in Korea (part 1)

we had a class on Chinese language and culture, too.

ok..let me get it straight..first. we were having a meeting on Saturday Feb. 2nd 

Thanks to Kyobo Foundation, we could arrange the class and this activity at Kyobo Building at Shinseoldong. 

Eyra and Freya were having the best time, too...learning Chinese language. ^^ 

I never thought that the decorations on the ceiling were brought in from China directly. hmm...that's something. Well..I got to admit that they were pretty.

The kids had to cut and paste a map of China full of information on the names of each province along side with its geographical sketch.

a closer look at the ceiling decoration. 

This is the paper we used to learn Chinese expressions. 

We were preparing to play some yutnori: one of the must-have traditional games played during Seollal.

Back to the class activity.

Then...a personal information is needed on a piece of paper for others to know who we are. Eyra is writing hers on a piece of paper...in Korean language, of course.

Wait..not ready, yet.

Some of us.

Gangnam Style .....an indispensable time-killing dance..^^

Introduction of each family....

more and more...

The kids were just actively moving around the small class where they could get along with others.

Another...family on the go.

INternational food fista

 Fiesta? Indeed it was.

I should have posted these pictures in my previous blog about the Purun Community Center's anniversary today. But, at least I could point out that Korean food, Indian food, Vietnamese Food, Indonesian food , and others could come on one table and we simply mixed everything up so as to make it like a bibimbap^^: the true essence of multicultural community that the Purun organization supports.  We have tteok and tteokpukki with all of their variants, of course. then Biryani rice! hmm  I love Indian Biryani rice. Then we have tahu isi, tempe goreng, tahu campur, and krupuk!!!

gosh...what am I doing?

The prolonged lunch had finally arrived. DiG iN!!!!

MUlticultural Center in Korea

There are lots of multicultural center in Korea. what I mean by multicultural center or in Korean 다문화센터 or sometimes 다문화가정센터 ( multicultural family center) is a place usually set up by non-profit organization to arrange and organize all-purpose center for every foreigners residing in Korea--especially those who are either working or living in Korea. They may come from different backgrounds and reasons as to why they come to Korea in the first place. First, of course, is that..they are simply migrant workers, the others could be simply because they are married to Koreans, which thus...either make them Korean by nationalities (after several years) or simply  (still, yet) foreigners who happen to marry Korean nationals. That's the simple way of putting down what a center is and who the members are.
..My wife who happens to be living in Korea accompanying me while I am studying here is also taking the best of her time here by joining or at least participating in this center.
She takes Korean class three times a day. That is supposed to be her prior motive of joining the activities right here. But then..as more friends come and we got to know each other, it turns out that lots of activities are laid out for all of us.
Both Koreans and other nationalities are the hosts of the center. None is higher or lower in status. We come and stand in equal. That's the beauty of it all.

Friends from Indonesia: United.

Today is the anniversary of Purun Citizen Community which orientates itself as a local community for volunteering participation of local residents. I think it works best since this Purun Community aims to build a healthier democratic society as well. I could feel ( the first impression) how freedom, justice, human rights, and welfare are fully guaranteed right here. Well, I do hope that it goes on and on.
--

Friends from Vietnam: Splendid!

So, today..I witnessed an anniversary where lots of friends from Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Japan, and America blended in together celebrating today's occasion, Of course, what an anniversary would it be without singing and dancing.
So here comes the the parade of national songs: Gebyar Merah Putih from Indonesia, then came along friends from Vietnam with their Vietnamese songs, then friends from India highlighted the day with their rendering of 3 Idiot's theme-song: All is Well, then Kuch-Kuchi Hota Hai, then the most favorite of them all is....Chaya-Chaya song. All of them are (still) very much popular in Indonesia.

Friends from India: hilarious!

So, I guess .....today's fiesta did show off our unity in diversity. It is true that song is a universal language where people of different languages and races could easily overcome their language barrier and simply got themselves mesmerized by the sheer audacity of a song as simple as "Chaya-Chaya"
--
then...the fiesta of its true-ness: Food of all nationalities attending today's fiesta.
Gosh..so many things to choose and eat...that we just could not get enough. ^^
What a splendid day to spend the day. ^^
*oh, for anyone interested in learning more about Purun: just go to  www.epurun.org