The 5th World Folktale Reading/Performance Competition @ our neighborhood

It's 01.15 pm and the show's started. We got to register first before entering the BRICs Hall at our university, HUFS. Eyra signed up and wrote down something on guest book. 

The event was held at BRICs Hall, HUFS. This year we did not participate since we already did last year...and became the first winner.!!! 

The hall accommodated about 300 people and it's full-house, not to mention those who had to stand in the back rows and alleys. 

The show was held by Pureun Community Center, a multicultural Center in our (previous) neighborhood in cooperation with Modu Children's Library. 

Participants were families, students, wives, husbands, kids from different countries or simply..anyone with multicultural background who are currently residing in our neighborhood. 

Japan, Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Thailand, Iran, and Korea, of course. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to participate again since we did win the competition last year. ^^ 

We were shown on the clips on the intermission break. I was Green Ogre (Buto Ijo) last year.^^ what a great time that was!!!^-^  Read our story HERE.

Then, as the final act was the collaborative project telling a folktale from Vietnam. The mothers (wives) of international marriage residing in the neighborhood came up together to bring the story alive. 

It's nice. 

The children loved it since they did live up to their expectation of delivering props and action and stuffs to stir up their imagination. 

In fact, the story that they were bringing up was the one that's been read for the children on a regular basis at the library.  

Then came the winner announcement. Most of them got appraisal certificate to appreciate their participation. Look at the kids, babies who also took part in the event. 

Mongolia team ( a whole family from grandmother to a granddaughter) became the first winner of this competition.

Congratulations.!!!

Bowling with International Friends (2)

I had to take Eyra and Freya with me to the bowling center since their Mom was in Ansan to attend a meeting. Hmm..a weekend with two kids-minus their Mom. 

Ok..let's take a pose, first.
Although the bowling arena did not provide kid-friendly bowling facility, it did not hamper Eyra to take pride for being her Daddy's supporter. 

Yeaaach...let's smile!! 

They loved seeing me play the bowling match with other fellows. 

Amateur..are we! So much so, we were relieved that we could finish the 10-round (?) game...+ another 10 round. 

Yippieee...I was one of the top scorer. So, I joined other mates from Vietnam, Thailand, and Bangladesh to beat other team. 

Nice job! I was alarmed and surprised at my own achievement, considering that it was only my 2nd time playing it. 

So..with a smile on our face, we were ready to jam and immerse ourselves in the Finale. ^^

Yes...it is a great time, indeed. 

Bowling with International Friends (1)

Me and my friends from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. 

We live in the same neighborhood. Some of us study and some others work in Korea. 

We have something in common: being members of multicultural neighborhood in Seoul. More precisely: we take pride in taking part in Pureun Multicultural Organization.  

One of today's activities is going to the bowling alley and having fun together.

Well, we can spot and find bowling alleys in most areas in Seoul so..we picked one near the neighborhood.

We are one team and we got to compete with 7 other teams. 

There were 8 teams with each team consisted of international friends.

We loved the fact that we come from different countries, and yet we could be one like this. 

First attempt by our group. Oh, what a great afternoon it was. 

Well spent.

Om Wawan was trying his first string of luck. Yes, most of us are first-timers and amateur  in action. 

But, that did not hinder us from taking this seriously simply we knew that we could win a prize should we be number one. *-* aha!! 

Most of us gazed on the monitor....what the scores were...and how many we missed and how many we led the scores for each team...

Wait...I thought they were....

learning Korean at the Pureun Multicultural Center. But..how come that I found this footage?

It looks like they were in some kind of parks...

I just learned that these Moms were having their time learning Korean at the park while of course chattering other stuffs.

One from Philippines, one from Vietnam, one from China, two from Indonesia.

Except the ones from Indonesia, the rest are Moms of multicultural families in Korea. 

Oh, there were others, too. I should've known.

Looks like they sure had a time of their life. 

Exposed themselves to Korean life and adapted themselves to other cultures brought by their peer friends Moms.

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.

multicultural families trip

Most of us were multicultural families living in Korea. Most of us. Saturday morning we met up at Children Grand Park to bring all of the children to the park. We let them play and experience lots of stuffs.

Lunch? We just ate what we brought from home. 

Kimbab, chobab, fruits, snacks, fried rice, and all kinds of food were available. No, of course.

Say Cheese! Kimchiiiiiii!

Most of the kids were multicultural kids since either their Mom or Dad was Korean. 

The best thing about it was that...we could sort of exchange ideas and views on how to experience and enjoy life in Korea to the fullest. What better way to do this than going out together and have some great time while at the same time chatting or exchanging views informally. 

This activity was conducted by the Purun Community Center in our neighborhood. 

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