Indonesian Day at our Neighborhood Library

Moodoo Library, a multicultural library at Imundong, Seoul that provides everyone from all backgrounds and countries varied books and a place to share their lives in Korea. Today we had an Indonesian Day to introduce Indonesia to other members of society in our neighborhood in Seoul.

And we taught Indonesian songs and other Indonesia-related experiences.
All Credits go to ibu-ibu Indonesia yg tiap minggu belajar bhs Korea di sini. 

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 (4)

푸른시민연대 -pureun simin yeondae - (a multicultural activities-oriented NGO type) is an organization that unites us in this neighborhood. 

So, a question like "You live in the area?" "Where d'you come from?" "Do you happen to know...?" "So, you learn Korean language, too?" "Where? at Pureun?"

These sorts of questions....lead us to things like bumping into each other or meeting into each other in the neighborhood and ...or..

"having a gathering like this one: let's do some bowling!".

A group photo session after completing the full-routine bowling experience for most of us. Yes, we are foreign students and foreign workers who share common interests, i.e. bowling. ** (a bit exaggeration is okay, right?) 

"Kimchi, everyone"

We loved the fact that we could re-create the middle earth like dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd...(oh no..I was so sleepy when I wrote this entry..and this is what happened.^^)

Thank you, guys.

I did enjoy spending afternoon with you, guys.

So, when we'll bump into each other, again?

Bowling with International Friends (3)

Now I will take pride in my sequences of actions captured by Om Wawan who was kind enough to take the moment in camera. 

I looooved it soo much whenever I could create a straight strike!! 

It's so cool and so great. The feeling of excitement and contentment overwhelmed me when I did make the strike!! 

Of course, other friends of mine were also making some strikes!

At first we would just come and have fun in a light manner without any ideas of what-was-the-point-of-making-the-fuzz-such-as--competing against each other.. 

But when other friends were taking it seriously in trying to make the Strike impression... 

Others would heed on and tag along in doing their best to make a strike! 

Me, too. Me, too. I tried hard to score the strike. 

Sometimes I did and sometimes I missed it.

But the fact that we won the amateur-for-fun bowling game... 

I was simply ecstatic!!!

This whole bowling experience with other friends of mine...

has awakened me that there are endless ways to celebrate differences among us--Korean and foreigners alike. 

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. 

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.

Sock-Kittens...

not only kittens actually, mice, dwarfs, and other animals are also there for the sake of sheer pleasure of making them and contributing them to kids' activities at Multicultural Center. 

Yes, those cute little sock-plush-animals are made of socks (new ones, of course) by the ladies, female students, mothers or anyone whose kids, friends, niece, or .... are the the regular visitors to the Moodo Children Library 모두 어린이 도서관 at our neighborhood. 

I guess this kind of activity would surely give a good impact on the relationship among he ladies and of course it is good to incite the sense of 'togetherness'.

*my wife finds it exciting to be involved herself in most (if not all) activities carried out at this children library.

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?

Sleep Over @ the Library

도서관에서의 하룻밤 or a program where kids had a chance to sleep over for one night at the library. What? Yes....it's designed for kids up to 12 y.o.who would like to experience something different during winter night. Our neighborhood Moodo Children Library organized this event for the kids in the neighborhood.

They brought along their sleeping bag and stuffs they needed. I think it was such a good program for the kids. Eyra participated in this program since she wanted it in the first place. I am sure she got along well enough with other kids who were mostly from multicultural background. 

They made their own dinner, made up their own bed and...other stuffs. 

Dolls for Free!!!!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013....the kids were prepared for the first-come-first-served event of dolls for free held by our neighborhood Modoo Children Library . 

I got a text informing about the event two days earlier and for sure I would not let the kids miss the chance of getting the dolls that they wanted.

Freya and Eyra were all ready for the best time ever..^^. It turned out that they were not allowed to pick the ones they liked, instead, they were given a lottery and the kinds of doll they would get was written inside the rolled paper.

Eyra got her all-she-ever-wanted (in)famous Brownie doggy. 

Freya got a 'Muuuuach -I-love-you' saying doll a.k.a. dutch pillow-shaped bear.

So, did you have a good time, dear? " Yeaaaaachhh'

I heard from my wife that a bunch of kids showed up at the first day event scheduled to be held until January 10, 2013. So...I assume.....there are still more dolls left.^^

Going out for a picnic @ Zoo & Children Park

The day finally came. The kid's been waiting for the day we went to the zoo and the grand park for the first time. It was the first week of Summer vacation for me^^ so I could take the kids out. After all, it was Saturday so Eyra, too, was having her day-off.

Taking the line 7 subway to the Children Grand Park took only about 45 minutes from where we live in Imundong.

As soon as we got off the train, a very interesting mosaic or sort-of-mural or sort-of-painting on each step leading to the exit was visible. It was a picture of a tiger. Intriguing enough to stir our curiosity.

The kids finally got on the steps vanishing into the light^^

Waiting for the other families (multicultural families) to join us on the trip that day.

The trip was conducted by the multicultural families center at our neighborhood. 

So, we were expecting to meet lots  of other international families coming from different countries with their own kids.

Gonna be fun, and it was, indeed.