Another Monday Morning

Here we go again

I have another 2 weeks of desk warming (yay!) and no Co in sight, which is a blessing and a curse. Blessing because I don't have to hang out with him and make awkward conversation, curse because I wanted to talk to him this week about taking the last 2 days of my leave at the end of the month. Oh well, maybe I will see him tomorrow. 

I didn't manage to get out of the area last Thursday or Friday, I ended up just drinking and hanging out with friends here. Although Heather and I did have a non eventful trip to Seoul on Saturday but I got us seriously lost so we didn't make it to Gyeongbukgung Palace like we wanted to. Totally my bad. 

The highlight of my weekend was going with HeeJin to Jessie and Sangwon's wedding photo shoot. Let me explain a little of how weddings take place here in Korea. 

Korean Weddings

My beautiful friend Jess is marrying her Korean boyfriend in March, and they have been together pretty much since she arrived in Korea a few years ago to teach. They are planning on staying here in Korea for the time being, and the whole wedding and getting married thing seemed to happen really quickly - well, to me anyway. They are adorable together and I am so happy for them :)

She went home to visit her family over Christmas and gave them the good news that they were getting married in March. So her family are heading out for the big day, except... They are already married on paper. And... All the photos will be done. Its really just the ceremony and party time to go!

So generally what happens is this: A couple will decide to get married and they will go and do all their paper work first so they are legally married. Then the photos will be done (more about this soon) and then finally they will have the ceremony for friends and family to attend. 

Anyone can go to the wedding, and the guests all give some money to the couple. The amount you give is dependent on your relationship with the couple. Generally people don't give wedding presents. 

Traditionally, the husband will buy the house or apartment and the wife will furnish it. You don't get old furniture from people, your new home should have all new stuff in it. 

You don't need to organise things like flowers, food, tables etc all of that is done by the wedding hall. So once its booked, the bride picks her dress, chooses some decorations and flowers and the wedding hall does the rest. Its a serious no-stress event. I think they even organise the invitations (I will need to check this one).

Some wedding halls might do 5 or so weddings a day. Its like a bride conveyor belt. I am pretty sure the food is all buffet style, hopefully not all Korean food but we shall see!

After the ceremony the couple may have a party for all their friends to gather around and be merry. I guess like a reception??? Then the couple will go on their honeymoon and the day is done.

Jess invited myself and HeeJin to come on Sunday into Cheongju to help her pick dresses for the photos and for some girl fun. Poor Sangwon had to put up with us all day but he was a good sport and looked very handsome all dressed up. 

HeeJin and I caught the bus from Pyeongtaek into Cheongju, which was something like 4200won and took an hour. The bus leaves from the Pyeongtaek bus terminal if anyone is looking to go to Cheongju...

Anyway we arrived and we all headed into the studio where we sat and were able to look at a heap of photos and dresses on the directors I-Pad. From the photos Jess picked out I think 5 different dresses and together her and Sangwon chose a few different 'concepts' for their pics. 

Here are a few amazing pics curtesy of myself - 

And then me and Heejin spent a fair bit of time fooling around too...

We got there around 1pm and left I think around 9. It was a huge day and the couple did so well with their photos. Jess was beautiful (as you can see) and Sangwon very handsome. And the people who worked at the studio were super nice and took some amazing pictures. They were all very professional. The company was called Olivia Wedding and they are located in Cheongju. We ate plenty of crappy food and I got to wander around Cheongju a little bit. It's actually a huge town and has a university and all that so on the night of the actual wedding we all want to go out on the scene. Heejin went to uni there so she has some friends still living in the area and she knows some fun places. 

We will be going out this Saturday night to Suwon for her Hen's Night and I am SUPER excited for it!!! Gonna get dressed up and everything, and have a fun night! 

Anyway I am actually so tired right now, I still haven't fully recovered from the weekend so I might have a nap seeing as there is no one here and no one cares if I am here or not. 

North Korea in the news

Some people have asked me if everything is ok over here, what with all the nuclear talk coming from the North... Everything is business as usual for us, I know plenty of guys in the Army and Airforce who I am sure would tell me if there was an imminent attack or anything like that. So people, please don't worry we are all fine.

Except for Robert who we are yet to hear from... He went to visit North Korea at the end of his contract and I don't know when he was due home :/

Anyway peace out peeps I am sure I will blog again tomorrow with something rubbishy!

xoxox