Traditional Korean Family Life

Imagine winding down narrow alleys on cobblestone streets with traditional Korean houses (called hanok).  You step through a narrow doorway into a tiny courtyard.  The house is raised about 2 feet from the ground so that coal can be placed under the floor to warm the house (this traditional style of heating floors is called ondul).  You are invited to take off your shoes, don your clean socks, and enter the hanok.  There, you are initiated into the ancient rites of the tea ceremony - who serves, how to serve, how to hold your tea, how long to allow it to steep, etc.  

This was our introduction to "Yoo's Family" - a guest house in Bukchon where we participated in the tea ceremony and were then invited to adorn ourselves by wearing traditional Korean clothing, called hanbok. 

 After practicing how to correctly wear the hanbok we were given instruction on traditional greetings, including the kneeling bow similar to Chinese kowtow.  Then we were given a lesson in making prints from a wood block carving.

 Afterwards we learned how to make Korean kimchi pancakes.  A trip back through the winding alleyways brought us back to the 21st century and reality.