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Scrubbing Down the Ages |
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Strange Ages
The interesting sliding way to look at age. Kelly, one of my students, is American age 9. I say American age, because the way that Koreans count their age is very different from how we do in the west. In Korea she is either 11 or 10 depending upon when or how you ask her. If you just say how old are you, she says, 11. but, if you delve at all she says, well Im really 10 but I went on the fast track and started school early, so since I am in 4th grade, I am 11. Strange, I know, but not as strange as how they get their ages to begin with and when they change it.
In the western world we start out this life at zero and go up from there, changing age every year on our birthdays. Here in asia, kids are born as 1 year olds and no matter when their birthday is, they gain a year at Lunar New Year which usually falls some time in January or February. So, following this logic, a child born in December is immediately one years old. Then a month later at lunar New Year they turn two years old, when in the western world they are only one month. It is baffling to say the least.
Public Baths
One of the best things about Korea are the public baths. For the bargain price of about $3 you can lounge in hot pools filled with salt water, green tea, ginger, or other assorted clays. You also get to scrub every nook and cranny of your body, or have someone do it for you; lay in a sauna filled with fragrant ginger; lay in a steam room; or rub salt all over your body and sit in a heated room and let it soak out all the impurities, or whatever it is that the salt does. There are cold pools and scrubbing stations. It is exactly what I imagine the Romans had at their baths. It is the epitome of relaxation and cleanliness all rolled into one!
Koreans go to the baths as a family affair. In fact, Sundays are packed on both the mens and the womens sides. If the boys are small enough they can go with moms, but is they are older, they go on the mens side. Moms sit and scrub their little kids and themselves raw. In fact, I was talking to my students about going to the baths and one of my girls said that she doesnt like going. I asked her why and she said because her mom scrubs her so much that she gets completely red! the dads do the same to the boys on their sides.
I love it completely and aside from the alien feeling of walking around naked with everyone else. The first time I went it was a little unnerving, especially since I look so totally different from them. apart form obvious differences, I am head and shoulders above almost everyone. And boy, do they stare. But, now I just go about my business and focus on my total relaxation.
Just last night we went again after a day of climbing and wonderful Bulgogi dinner (the meat cooked in front of you that I told you about in earlier articles). With tired and sore muscles and a full stomach, it was the perfect end to a perfect day.
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