2017 12 01 SIWA Discovery

December 2017 / January 2018

Gone Fishin’

Stay Warm at Escape Seoul’s Best Saunas to Miami

Winter

Philanthropy Project: The Two Finalists

S E O U L I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N Enhancing lives through Friendship, Enrichment and Charity

WINTER President’s Message

Winter in .. Miami

Now that the weather in Seoul is getting cold, I can’t help but think about a warm place with clear skies and sunshine. Living on the East Coast of the United States, the Caribbean islands are ideal and easy winter getaways. But nothing is as easy as going to Miami, Florida, to take a break from the cold weather. They don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing.

My other favorite places of beautiful beaches and endless sunshine-- Dana Point and Laguna Beach in Southern California-are six-hour flights, with a threehour time zone difference. Miami is only 2 hours away from Washington, D.C. Even better, no passport and immigration/ customs clearance are required.

In the winter months when I land at Miami International Airport (MIA), I hurriedly stuff away my winter jacket while stripping away the layers from D.C. I smile ear to ear in anticipation of soaking in the sun. It is a great feeling to walk out to the gorgeous and perfect 80-degree weather.

Miami is a very dynamic city with amazing restaurants, shopping, culture and beautiful beaches.

It is a place of carefree relaxation. Cuban influence is felt everywhere you go, from incredible cuisine to music and lifestyle. South Beach offers every-

thing that is Miami, eclectic, decadent yet consumable. Key Biscayne, across the Rickenbacker Causeway, has my favorite Ritz-Carlton where the staff always give impeccable service and where I can find reprieve from a fun day at South Beach.

Some residents in Key Biscayne drive around in golf carts, a further indicator of the relaxed lifestyle. At the Ritz, my family and I can sit at the beach and talk while enjoying a nice cold beverage. Crandon Park and Bill Baggs State Park offer sheltered beaches and tropical forests where I can go for a nice ecological walk.

There is always a breeze in Miami, even in the middle of August. Even during the hurricane season, when thunderstorms come and go throughout the day, there is sunshine. Miami is on my mind.

Will Smith’s 1998 hit “Miami” says it all!

--Anne Choe December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

3

WINTER r

Editor’s Message

Let It Snow?

Despite growing up in the Michigan, the Midwestern part of the United States, I’ve never gotten used to the ice and snow. As a kid who often walked to and from school in the brutal winters, I remember cold toes, cold fingertips and boys who threw cold snowballs both at me and the passing city buses.

Winter still isn’t my favorite season, but these days, I dress in layers and try to embrace winter for the beautiful season that it is. In recent years, I have gone dogsledding and snowmobiling in northern Norway, attended the ice festival in Montreal, ice skated in New York’s Rockefeller Center and chased the Northern Lights and hiked a glacier in Iceland.

In Korea, I spend as much time as possible soaking in its plentiful and cheap jjimjilbang ( Korean bathhouses), skating near City Hall, or planning to meet a friend for chimaek (chicken and beer) indoors.

This winter, I’m working in PyeongChang, gearing up for the Olympic Games, where athletes from around the world will converge to compete in 15 sports in February. (I’m rooting for the Nigerian bobsleigh team. Who are you rooting for?) I’m also looking forward to joining the team that will volunteer at the Paralympic Games.

Before the Games begin, however, I’m planning

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December 2017 - January 2018

to attend the PyeongChang Trout Festival in the town of Jinbu, where barehand fishing is common.

Trout farming first started in PyeongChang due to its cold, clear waters. There’s also 4-wheel ATVs, snow rafting, sleigh trains at the festival, so I’m grabbing a friend to try it out.

The winter solstice is perfect for constellationspotting in PyeongChang, so at night I’m keeping an eye out for the Square of Pegasus, the Big Dipper and the Auriga.

Also on my bucket list for this winter are taking a few turns around the rinks at Lotte World Ice Skating Rink and the Grand Hyatt Ice Skating Rink, taking photos amid an illuminated winter backdrop at the DDP LED Rose Garden, heading for the slopes over at Alpensia Ski Resort, and rooting on one of the teams in the Women’s Korea Basketball League (WKBL).

What’s on your bucket list for the winter?

--Monica Williams

CONTENTS

Editor: Monica Williams Editorial Team: Robin Carney, Anne Choe, Michelle Morrison, Greta Tonnon Contributors: Mhyla Borkowski, Sunghwa Han, Veronica Koon, Blanca Madrigal, Veronica O’Connor, Lisa Panopoulos, Sandhya Ramabadran, Robbie Schuldt, Neeti Virmani Art Director: Georgia Scott Photographers who donate photos for SIWA’s use retain the rights to their photos.

Contributions Welcomed!

Discovery is published bimonthly (six issues per year) by SIWA, with articles and content written by our members and associations. It is distributed exclusively for SIWA members and sponsors. All opinions expressed in these articles are those of the respective authors and may not reflect the official position of SIWA. All rights reserved SIWA 2017. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of SIWA. For submissions and questions, email discoveryeditor@siwakorea.com. To advertise in Discovery, email sponsorsiwa@siwakorea.com About the Cover: “Snowman Encounter,” the snowman of the everyday man, was shot by our new Photo Club Coordinator, Blanca Madrigal, who lived in California, Mexico and France before moving to South Korea, a country whose winters are a little chillier than in her previous homes.

Seoul International Women’s Association Seoul Finance Center Level 21, 136 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea 04520 www.siwakorea.com

Stay connected:

SIWA News

Winter

Meet SIWA’s New Leaders

The Seasons of December

Bazaar Highlights

Wonderful Winter

SIWA’s Baby Boom

Get Steamy and Sweaty at a Jjimjilbang

6 8

10

12

18

19

20

The Philanthropy Project: Our Two Finalists

16

The Winter Luncheon

27

Help Wanted: How You Can Make SIWA Stronger

28

24

Winter Korean Lesson

25

Gone Fishing

Interest Group Highlights

30

Tours Highlights

Sponsors Premium Platinum

Platinum

Gold

SIWA NEWS

Meet SIWA’s Newest Leaders

Lois Allore Membership Chair

Virginia Chelliah Facebook Manager

Alexa Dodson Social Media Manager

Lois joined SIWA in March after moving to Seoul in December 2016. Initially, she volunteered with the USO for several months.

Lois is from North Carolina in the United States and worked for 18 years as an office administrator for a large real estate firm. Prior to that, she operated a home day care for nine years while raising her four children.

Virginia serves as Facebook Manager. She is an American citizen who has a professional background in project management and financial services. In addition, she has served as a docent at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and as a board member at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville, Maryland.

Alexa is taking on the role of Social Media Manager to help us better coordinate our communications across different social media platforms. She continues as Digital Media Producer.

Lois enjoys volunteering with children and soup kitchens, both in the U.S. and in Seoul. Her hobbies include cooking, walking and traveling.

She and her family relocated to South Korea in the summer.

Her hobbies include reading, blogging, and collecting Lego Marvel and DC Comics mini figures.

A Los Angeles native, Alexa graduated from the University of Southern California and worked for several Hollywood-based studios in television production and international film distribution.

Since arriving in Seoul, Alexa has been an active SIWA member.

In her spare time, she also is an artist and designer specializing in watercolor illustration.

Caitlin Steiner u Marketing Manager Caitlin is originally from Connecticut, in the United States but has spent the last 10 years living in New York City, where she met her husband Travis. In Manhattan, she was Marketing Director for a hospitality group and has worked in the hospitality sector for a decade. She attended LIM College in New York, where she majored in Visual Merchandising.

Caitlin relocated to Seoul in January 2017 after her husband became Executive Director with the PGA Tour. She has an adorable Maltese puppy and her hobbies include karaoke, traveling, attending live music shows, fashion, art and food.

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December 2017 - January 2018

SIWA NEWS

Johanna Widmann Tours & Interest Groups Chair

Ammu Bhadra Panikkar Relationship Manager

Kari Royden Newsletter Manager

Johanna joined SIWA in 2016 and took over as Membership Chair in 2017. A German born and raised in the Black Forest, Johanna worked in the educational sector for several years before relocating to Seoul in 2016. She has always been passionate about foreign languages and takes Korean classes and is learning about Korean culture and society. Johanna enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her husband, her son (Vincent, 3) and her daughter (Helen, who was born in September.).

Ammu hails from Kerala, India. A graduate with a master’s degree in business administration from Christ University in Bangalore, she worked for more than eight years with leading global brands such as Citibank and Vodafone. A passionate cook, Ammu loves to dabble in the culinary arts and photography in her spare time.

She moved to Seoul with her husband in April and is excited to travel the globe!

Kari is from Liverpool in the United Kingdom but has lived in East Asia for more than 20 years.

She has worked for the British Council in Tokyo and Seoul and now works as a freelance teacher. These days ,she spends her free time cycling and learning calligraphy.

Sejung Jang u Sponsorship Chair Sejung Jang, a Korean, earned a master’s degree in piano studies from Folkwang Musikhochschule in Essen (Germany) after graduating from college.

She has played in many concerts and served as a university lecturer. Sejung joined SIWA in 2015 and loves to travel, meet new people and doesn’t hesitate to try new experiences.

Yoo Jin Kwon u Bazaar Manager Yoo Jin Kwon, a Korean citizen, spent a good part of her youth in Belgium and in Africa and is an experienced lifestyle designer by profession. Currently, she is a “play-at-home mom” to her two sons, designing a play environment and approaches to facilitate effective learning and growth. She’s also active in church activities, and created and managed a play curriculum for her congregation for more than three years. She speaks Korean and English and loves all sports, especially tennis.

Blanca Madrigal Photo Club Coordinator Blanca Madrigal is a mother and photographer, specializing in people and corporate photography. She has lived in California, Mexico, France and now South Korea. She has also done event, family, creative, and commercial photography. As a photographer she tries to capture the authentic self but of course the self is multilayered, so how will you express yourself through her camera?

Let’s try and see.

December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

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SIWA NEWS

The Season’s Biggest Expat Event:

the Bazaar

Photos by Youngsang Cho

More than 30 embassies, several clubs, local businesses, sponsors, welfare organizations and volunteers joined the 2017 Bazaar, SIWA’s 55th. As always, embassies imported goods from their own countries; restaurants, charities, local clubs and businesses displayed their food and goods; and donated prizes for raffles–both small and great.

Our grand-prize raffle winner won an all-expenses-paid trip for two.

For full coverage of the bazaar, please see our February/March 2018 issue of Discovery.

--Monica Williams

SIWA NEWS Member Benefits

SIWA Membership has Privileges!

A growing number of businesses in Seoul offer discounts to SIWA members. Do you have your membership sticker? Attach it to the back of your credit card and show it at participating merchants for a discount. For more information, email membership@siwakorea.com or see our website at https://www.siwakorea.com/discount-program/.

Brera Jung-gu, Seoul 10% Discount on food and beverages.

Dr. Sung’s Clinic Hannam-dong, Seou 10% Discount on skin care, OB/GYN and other selected services. Excludes skin care products and dietary supplements.

Eden Pottery Itaewon 10% Discount on everything.

Chakraa Hannam-dong, Seoul 10% Discount on food.

Excludes buffet and lunch special menu.

The Halal Guys, Itaewon 10% off all food items High Street Market Itaewon, Seoul 10% Discount off any purchase.

Excludes damaged label wines and special offers.

Create Wellness Itaewon, Seoul 10% Discount on massage treatments.

DDP i-Play Kids Cafe Jung-gu, Seoul 20% Discount on admission for children ages 1-7 years old and adults. Free coffee or tea for each adult.

X NEW

Hus-hu Dermatology Clinic Apgujeong station, Seoul 10% discount on any dermatological procedures.

JP Hair Haebangchon, Seoul 20% Discount off any service except for hair cuts.

L’Empreinte Bistro Hongdae, Seoul 10% Discount on food and retail items.

Excludes special menu items.

Marley Coffee Itaewon, Seoul 20% Discount for all beverages and dessert menu. Excludes drip coffee and alcoholic drinks.

New York Wholistic Care Itaewon, Seoul 10% Discount for any treatment, including 1-month Group Pilates classes. Free consultation for SIWA Members who register with NYWC at SIWA Coffee Mornings.

Sprout Seoul 10% off vegan dishes for weekly or one-time delivery or scheduled pickup.

Mention SIWA in the referral section of the online order form.

Suji’s Deli Coex Gangnam, Seoul 10% Discount on food and beverage during weekdays.

Excludes new menu items, lunch specials and weekend brunch.

Trick Eye Museum Mapo-gu, Seoul 35% off Trick Eye + Love Museum entry or 25 % off admission to the Love Museum. Discount applies to a maximum of 4 people, adults only. Bring a printout of screen capture of the SIWA discount page along with your membership card or sticker.

December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

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SIWA NEWS

Hannes

Helen Elizabeth

Mikaela

Welcome, New SIWA Babies!!

The SIWA family welcomed two babies to the fold, within days of each other.

Instagram Manager Theresa Penzel (far left) gave birth to a son, Hannes, on Sept. 9. Her first child, he weighed 3.8 kilograms and was 50 centimeters long.

Board member Johanna Widmann (second from left) gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Helen Elizabeth, on Sept. 11, but not before attending the Tours Team meeting that afternoon

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December 2017 - January 2018

and then assisting Dawn Blackwell, who had lost her password. As Johanna put it, “it was a busy day.” Baby Helen already has attended her first SIWA board meeting.

The two have made fast friends with Lison, daughter of member Aurélie Noullez (third from left), who was born at the end of July, and other Seoul mates.

Also on the baby front, member Galia Sharapova gave birth to a girl, Mikaela, on June 6.

2018

International

Women’s Day

SIWA

ESSAY CONTEST #PressforProgress March 8 is International Women’s Day, a time to commemorate the movement for women’s rights around the world. In celebration of that day, Seoul International Women’s Association is asking middle and high school students to submit their thoughts on this year’s theme, #PressforProgress.

Our International Women’s Day essay competition for students in grades 7-12, will reflect on gender equality and progress. SIWA will donate in the winners’ names to a SIWA-vetted charity of their choice. These winners will be invited to SIWA’s International Women’s Day celebration on March 22. The top winning essays also will be published in Discovery, the digital magazine of SIWA. Essay word limit: 1,500 words Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 at Asia Pacific International School, Korea International School, Seoul Foreign School and Seoul Foreign British School, Chadwick International and Dwight School Seoul.

ESSAY TOPICS For Juniors (grades 7-8, or British School years 8-9): What woman – dead or alive- inspires you to press for progress?

Why? For Seniors (grades 9-12, or British School years 10-13): CHOOSE ONE 1. Women worldwide still face many challenges today. What can we do to press for progress? What part can you play?

2. Women are an essential part of our past, present and future.

Help us honor them by writing a letter to a notable woman in history, describing what feminism means to you.

For more information go to www.siwakorea.com/womens-day or email essaycontest@siwakorea.com.

WINTER

SIWA’s Philanthropy Project In 2015, SIWA launched a Philanthropy Project to take a more proactive approach to giving. We picked multicultural education as the social issue to address, with a goal to donate 20 million won to one school.

We started the process with six top performing

problem assessment

innovation and creativity

schools selected by the Ministry of Education. Over the course of the project, the Welfare Committee interviewed school leaders, conducted site visits and evaluated each school. It asked hard questions and made an assessment of the following criteria:

social change model

potential growth; scalability

impact measurement

focus on priorities

clarity on how funds will be spent

vision for the future

organizational stability fiscal stability

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December 2017 - January 2018

The Asia Community School and the All Love School were the two finalists for the Philanthropy Project. Members will have the chance to hear from the headmaster of the winning school -- All Love School -- at the Feb. 28 Coffee Morning.

Read more about the finalists:

leadership

Asia Community School

By Neeti Virmani Multicultural families are rising steadily. According to recent statistics, international unions account for 10 percent of marriages a year in Korea. The number of children from multicultural families in elementary, middle and high school amounts to 43,000, of which 36,000 attend public schools. The remaining 7,000, or 17 percent, stay out of school for diverse reasons.

Even those children who attend school face difficulties adapting there because they lack Korean language ability or basic learning skills, or are bullied because of their appearance. Â Governmental and civic groups are jointly offering customized education programs or one-on-one mentoring for children of multicultural families.

The government is supporting education in Korean language and other subjects at about 60 elementary schools across the country, with many children from multicultural families.

This year, SIWA decided to support multicultural student education as a social cause.

Among many other schools on our list, our journey took us to a school in Busan, Asia Community. On Oct. 13, four of us boarded the KTX train to Busan

from Seoul to visit this school.

While I was on the train at 9 a.m., I had anxiety along with many thoughts running in my mind. I was looking forward to visiting and knowing about a school that is imparting education to about 73 multicultural students from all over the world.

Once we reached the school, Mr. Park Hyo Seok, along with his two students, took us through each aspect of the school including showing us through every corner of his school and making us meet his students. The school building not only reflected the strength of the infrastructure supporting the education but also held many stories.

My favourite place in the school was the art room where I saw children from different countries making art work in

their own creativity and language. The students were happy to see us, especially one of the Indian students who was 9 years old. He was particularly excited to see me, someone from his country who could speak his language. He also was fluent in Korean. We saw series of classes focusing on educating Korean students so that they could coexist not only with Koreans but also students from other countries. They were all connected through Korean and English.

The best thing I liked was the fact that they were encouraged to learn their native language so that they wouldn’t forget it.

There were children from Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Nepal, Russia, China and India. Programs that have helped them create a high impact on the students include Art Therapy, the World Ghost Festival, computer classes, urban agriculture, music classes and various field trips. They not only have helped them develop skills but they also have been an important catalyst Continued on page 14 December 2017 - January 2018

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All Love School

By Sunghwa Han Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you’ve got to let it grow…

John Lennon There is something special about All Love School (ALS).

The building is not large or fancy, however there is a strong feeling of warmth and brightness that emanates from every corner. There is a beautiful spirit of diversity and multiculturalism everywhere, and it is easy to spot the colorful multilingual welcome banner near the entrance of the hallway. The walls are decorated with students’ art work, poems and written pieces. There are displays of handmade pottery in different shapes and forms that seem to tell the unique stories of their students.

The classrooms and hallway are kept orderly, and students are respectful, well-mannered and polite – every student greeted us with friendly “hello” (spoken in Korean “ahn-nyung-hahsae-yo”). Peeking into the classrooms, I saw students immersed in their studies, having lively conversations with their teacher.

At times, I heard quiet laughter escaping the classroom into the hallway. It made me smile.

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Mr. Heeyong Lee, an educator and a formal geography teacher, founded ALS in 2011 with one mission in mind: He wanted to establish an alternative middle school for underserved students from multicultural families, where they could receive a proper education without prejudice and be nurtured to make a successful transition into Korean high school as competent and confident individuals.

ALS is a tuition-free, accredited middle school that is recognized by the Ministry of Education. It serves multicultural students who have difficulty adapting to Korean schools due to language barriers and different cultural backgrounds. Mr. Lee recog-

nizes the importance of proper academic education and emotional support for these children who often struggle with isolation, distress, bullying and low self-esteem. Most of the students are from less developed countries with not much financial or educational resources, and live in poor conditions with their parents (or a single parent) who work around the clock to make a living in Korea.

Currently, there are 39 middle school students, mostly from Seoul and Kyunggi province, and the school has 19 teachers – 5 full-time and 14 part-time.

Their comprehensive curriculum is designed to incorporate intellectual, practical and artistic education into their students’ daily lives; there’s also equal emphasis placed on the emotional well-being and growth of their students. ALS’s academic subjects are in alignment with Korean middle schools. The primary academic subjects being taught are Korean, English, math, sci-

Asia Community School Continued from page 12 in the students’ overall personal development. The aspect that caught our attention is that the events were planned by the students. They create an itinerary, solve problems and make decisions together, which helps them build life skills and become more independent.

Some of their students have moved from high school to college and been admitted to universities like Silla University and Pusan National University.

They’ve even gone into professions like modeling, tourism and hospitality. Thirty students in the last five years not only went to college but also picked up jobs in various professions.

Mr. Park not only has a vision but also extreme passion. His son went into journalism and was well supported by his father to pursue his dream. More important than his 12 years of experience in multicultural student education, is his passion, which is what I would always remember whenever I would think about Asia Community.

Mr. Park wishes to build on that vision. He plans to make these programmes larger in size.

He would like to establish a translation center and also renovate the school building. He is also looking at building help to obtain more part-time jobs for his students and more job opportunities post-college.

Later in the evening, as we were traveling back to Seoul, I

was feeling thankful for people like Mr. Park Hyo Seok, who are impacting underprivileged children’s development and providing for such an important cause like education, something I took for granted as a kid.

Neeti Virmani is chair of SIWA’s Welfare Committee.

All Love School Continued from page 13

ence, social studies and physical education. There are extra support lessons and classes to help them accelerate in their Korean language skills, and to acquire a better understanding of Korean culture. However, students are also encouraged to keep up with their mother tongue and learn about the culture of their home country.

Students often take field trips to companies and organizations to experience what working in different environments would feel like. Guest speakers are invited from various professional fields to give students opportunities for career counseling and mentoring. Most importantly, ALS strives to provide strong emotional support for their students and families. The students and their families rarely have opportunities to enjoy vacation or hobbies due to time and/ or money constraints, therefore ALS’s family camps and therapy sessions provide them invalu-

able opportunities for them to build stronger bond and establish closer, more loving and healthy relationships. It is evident that the general intent of ALS education focuses on a school culture that puts the child first and support each student to pursue their interest and dream.

Mr. Lee envisions Korea becoming more globalized. He recognizes the growing need for developing global leaders. He believes there is a great potential for his students to become effective leaders to act as the crucial bridge between Korea and other countries, if they overcome their disadvantaged status as immigrants through hard work, effective education, and by building on their multiculturalism with positivity and dignity. Mr. Lee reminded me that planting the seed of education, watered with much love and care, will produce beautiful fruits at the end. Ultimately, that is what he wishes for his students: becoming collaborative and compassionate citizens to share their experiences and love with others.

This journey has been very personal and emotional for me, because I was 11 years old when I left Korea with my family. It is my hope that the students and graduates of ALS will become change makers, who will continuously grow and become more resilient, and bring positive influences to others and the communities through leadership, service to others and collaboration.

December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

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WINTER

SIWA marked the close of one year and the coming of another with its festive annual Winter Luncheon. Members and friends feasted and raised glasses of bubbly at the Zest buffet restaurant at Conrad Seoul.

Those who attended the sold-out affair were treated to a

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December 2017 - January 2018

variety of food from around the world: sushi, sashimi, steak, Western dishes and Asian favorites, not to be outdone by the extensive and delectable dessert buffet.

A big THANK YOU to attendees, who raised 760,000 won by buying ornaments from the Giving Tree and

670,000 won from raffle ticket sales. You are the jolly Santa for 40 men ages 15-22 at the Seongnam Shelter for Adolescents. Father Vincenzo of Anna’s House, who operates the shelter, will take them shopping for their Christmas gift with the 1,430,000 won raised at the luncheon.

December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

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WINTER

The Seasons of December

All countries officially have four seasons, but the difference in temperature varies.

Close to the poles, there are varying degrees of cold all year. Close to the equator, there are varying degrees of hot all year.

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is December, January and February. But in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s June, July and August! So December is SUMMER in half the world!

By Robbie Schuldt

Let’s look at some of the things that happen in December in the Southern Hemisphere where it is now

Summer

Christmas Eve in Argentina Celebrated with an outdoor barbecue and fireworks.

Here are some fun facts about the Northern and Southern Hemispheres:

New Year’s Eve in Australia Celebrated on beaches, on boat cruises, and with outdoor parades.

world’s population lives in the Southern Hemisphere.

December Solstice Officially, Dec. 21 is the longest day of the year this year in the Southern Hemisphere. But in Antarctica, the sun is up 24 hours from Sept. 22 - March 23.

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December 2017 - January 2018

u Only 11 percent of the

u There are 13 countries that

are in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (i.e the Equator passes over their land): Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia, Kiribati, and Sao Tome and Principe.

u The most widely spoken

language in the Southern Hemisphere is Portuguese (due to Brazil). u The South Pole is coldest in July (about -80 degrees C) while the North Pole is coldest in February (about -50 degrees C).

Wonderful Winter

Greenland The sun will be up for only about four hours on Winter Solstice (December 21) this year, giving residents plenty of indoor time to make and eat reindeer soup.

Alaska The Iditarod dog race has taken place every year in March since 1973. 50 mushers compete with teams of 16 dogs each.

They race through blizzards and icy conditions for 8-15 days.

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Iceland Despite the country’s subArctic temperatures in the winter, people can be seen in Iceland wearing iconic lopapeysa sweaters (with a yoke design) and no jackets. Icelandic sweaters are made from the wool of Icelandic sheep which has two distinctive fibers - warm, soft, insulating fibers; and long, water-repellant fibers.

Even the sheep stay warm!

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Fun facts about cold countries:

WINTER

hjklzxcvbnmqw3457856 And some figures associated with cold and winter: u Snowflake Bentley

This American was the first to photograph a snowflake in 1885. He captured more than 5,000 images of snowflakes, and died of pneumonia after walking home six miles in a blizzard.

u Jean-Claude Killy

This stylish Frenchman dominated the sport of alpine ski racing in the late 1960s and was the most successful athlete of the 1968 Winter Olympics winning 3 gold medals.

u Abominable Snowman

This mythical creature is said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet, and is locally known as Yeti.

December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

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WINTER

Soaking in the Culture of Korea’’s Bathhouses

By Monica Williams I’m a jjimjilbang junkie, always craving the next opportunity to decompress and soak my weary bones in a pool of hot water. Jjimjilbang (roughly translates to “heated room”), or traditional Korean bathhouses, are a quintessential part of Korean culture. The public bathhouses aren’t just places for pampering; they’re used for frequent bathing, exercising and increasingly for socializing. You’ll see young couples and multigenerational families dressed in the same sauna-issued shorts and tees lying across the floor in the salt room or reclining on the marble in the

common area watching the latest Korean drama.

It’s not a bad idea, given that most visits run just 8,000 won to 13,000 won, depending on when you enter. They’re in every neighborhood in the country. Most have sauna rooms (salt, jade, clay), and hot and cold baths; the more luxurious ones have multiple floors, numerous baths, swimming pools, hair and nail salons, movie theaters, and singing and PC rooms. Since most are open 24 hours, you can take your time working your way through.

You can even stay overnight.

New to the jjimjilbang experience? Before you dip into the hot bath, shower before doing so. Ea-

gle-eyed (usually older) women will scream at you to do so or report you to the spa staff, so try to avoid their wrath!

Many foreigners –and some young Koreans—shy away from the bathhouses out of fear of stripping down in front of strangers. All visitors must be nude in the bath areas, which are separated by gender. (Sorry, no bathing suits.) If you’re uneasy, you can skip the bath area, shower and change into the bathhouseissued uniform and head to the coed common space.

It might be helpful to go to a bathhouse that is foreignerfriendly. Here are a few that I’d recommend:

Aquafififi field

Aquafield, operated mostly in the Starfield malls, are among the high-end grade of bathhouses and the luxury will cost you a bit more. The one at Starfield Hanam opened in 2016. The Goyang location is newer, which is why they’re likely still no crowds. You’ll find luxury here in nine themes.

At Hanam, you can also choose to indulge in the L-shaped infinity pool that offers views of the Han or slide the Sky Twister at the water park. Chill out in the salt room, intense heat room or charcoal

room.

Aquafield isn’t open 24 hours so plan ahead.

Starfield Hanam 3F-4F, 750, Misa-daero, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do; www.aquafield-ssg.co.kr (Korean only) Starfield Goyang Goyang Street, 4F, Deokyang-Gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 1955; 031-5173-4500. www.starfield.co.kr/goyang/entertainment/aquafield.do

Supsok Hanbang Land

At the one-of-a-kind Supsok Hanbang Land (Traditional Oriental Forest Land), you can relax among nature and even bake potatoes outdoors.

Supsok Hanbang Land 51, Bongwon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, www. hanbangland.co.kr 02-365-2700.

December 2017 - January 2018

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Hotel Prima Sauna The spa at Hotel Prima Sauna in Gangnam is also on the luxury spectrum, and a real bang for the buck. It’s twice the price of a typical sauna entry but still a bargain when compared with western counterparts. There is no coed section; men and women are separated in two different buildings.

Hotel Prima’s sauna is on the small side but it

has TVs over the baths so you can watch your favorite K-drama while you soak. Note: There’s no overnight option here.

Hotel Prima Sauna 536 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, 010-6006-9114. www.prima.co.kr/womenssauna

Spa Lei

The women-only Spa Lei, outside the city in Seochu-gu Jamwon-dong, is a classier facility with an eastern Europe vibe. It’s a great place to go if you aren’t comfortable relaxing in a coed space. Instead of the customary T-shirt and shorts, the spa issues you a robe. It can get crowded here at peak times. There’s a small boutique inside with jewelry and clothing.

Spa Lei ( 스파레이), 8-22, Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, 02-545-4002. www.spalei.co.kr/

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December 2017 - January 2018

SIWA Tour

SIWA will sponsor a tour to Dragon Hill Spa on Monday, Jan. 22. The spa provides a spa “outfit” (shorts and shirt), two small towels, and a numbered bracelet that is used to purchase optional services, food or drink. The dry areas are for men and women; everyone wears a spa outfit. The wet areas are separated for men and women, and there is no clothing in those areas.

To register, go to: www.siwakorea.com.

Dragon Hill Spa The Dragon Hill Spa & Resort is the most touristy, and perhaps the best place for first-timers. The Texas of jjimjilbang, this spa has eight floors with fitness areas, spas, pools and eateries, many in rooms of gold.

It even has a movie theater. Although crowded on weekends, this jjimjilbang is tops with foreign visitors.

Dragon Hill Spa & Resort 40-712 Hangangno 3(sam)-ga, Yongsan-gu, 02-792-0001. www.dragonhillspa.com. Open 24 hours.

Siloam Spa Not a far walk from Seoul Station, Siloam Spa attracts a number of tourists but it’s never too crowded.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside it’s one dreamy heated pool after another. I feel so relaxed at Siloam that I’ve fallen asleep here many, many times and have stayed overnight. Siloam has the best sleeping options among its counterparts, 300 bunk beds with separate rooms for those who snore.

There’s free parking during the day for six hours and unlimited overnight.

Siloam Spa 49 Jungnim-ro, Jungnim-dong, Jung-gu.

December 2017 - January 2018

Winter Issue

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bom

yeoreum

ga-eul

gyeoul

봄 this winter, 여름 with these 가을 cool Korean 겨울 words Stay warm Stay warm this winter, 봄 with these 여름cool Korean 가을 words 겨울 bom yeoreum 봄 여름 bom yeoreum bom yeoreum 봄 여름 bom yeoreum 봄 여름 봄 Spring 여름 가을 Summer Autumn bom yeoreum bom yeoreum ga-eul Spring Summer Spring Summer Spring Summer nalssi 날씨 Spring Summer nalssi 날씨 gong-gi 공기 Spring Summer Spring 날씨 Summer Autumn nalssi nalssi 날씨 gong-gi 공기 nun 눈 gong-gi 공기 nalssi 날씨 gong-gi 공기 nun 눈 baram 바람 nun 눈 nalssi 날씨 nalssi 날씨 gong-gi 공기 nun 눈 baram 바람 baram 바람 gong-gi 공기 gong-gi 공기 nun 눈 baram 바람 nun 눈 . nun nalssiga ssalssalhada. 눈 날씨가 쌀쌀하다 baram 바람

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ga-eul gyeoul 가을 겨울 ga-eul gyeoul ga-eul gyeoul 가을 겨울 ga-eul gyeoul Compiled & designed by: 가을 겨울 겨울 Winter Sandhya Ramabadran ga-eul gyeoul gyeoul SIWA Treasurer & an eager learner of Korean Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Autumn Winter Weather Autumn Winter Weather Air Autumn Winter Winter Weather Weather Air Snow Air Weather Air Wind / BreezeSnow Snow Weather Weather Air Snow Wind / Breeze Wind Air / Breeze Air Snow Wind / Breeze The weather is Wind chilly. / Breeze Snow Snow

nalssiga weather is chilly. gong-giga The air is crispThe and . santteushago 날씨가 쌀쌀하다 baram ssalssalhada.

Wind / Breeze Wind / Breeze 바람 baram 바람공기가 산뜻하고 nalssiga ssalssalhada.

The weather is chilly. . seonseonhada. cool. 선선하다 . 날씨가 쌀쌀하다 nalssiga ssalssalhada.

The weather chilly. gong-giga santteushago air is crispis and 날씨가 산뜻하고 쌀쌀하다. 공기가 gong-giga santteushago The air is crisp and baram-i seoneulhada.

The wind is cool. 공기가 산뜻하고 . seonseonhada. cool. . 바람이 서늘하다 선선하다 nalssiga ssalssalhada. weather chilly. . gong-giga santteushago The is crispis and 날씨가 공기가 쌀쌀하다 산뜻하고 seonseonhada. cool.air . 선선하다 baram-i seoneulhada.

The wind is cool. seonseonhada. cool. . . 서늘하다 선선하다 gong-giga The air isisdry. . nalssiga 공기가 건조하다 nalssiga ssalssalhada. weather is and chilly. . geonjohada ssalssalhada.

The weather chilly. gong-giga santteushago The is crisp .바람이 날씨가 쌀쌀하다 날씨가 쌀쌀하다 공기가 baram-i seoneulhada.

The air wind is cool. 바람이 산뜻하고 서늘하다. seonseonhada. cool. . baram-i seoneulhada.

The wind is cool. .. 선선하다 바람이 서늘하다 gong-giga air is is crisp dry. 건조하다 gong-giga geonjohada santteushago The air and gong-giga The air is crisp and The 공기가 산뜻하고santteushago 공기가 산뜻하고 공기가 gong-giga geonjohada The air is dry. . 공기가 건조하다 seonseonhada. cool. baram-i seoneulhada.

The wind is cool. . seonseonhada. cool. 선선하다 바람이 서늘하다.. 선선하다 . gong-giga geonjohada The air is dry. 공기가 건조하다 gwiga sirida One’sis ears 귀가 시리다 .바람이 baram-i seoneulhada.

The wind is cool. baram-i seoneulhada.

The wind cool.areThe 서늘하다 바람이 서늘하다 gong-giga geonjohada air is dry. .. 공기가 건조하다 (achingly) cold. gwiga sirida One’s are 귀가 시리다 gong-giga geonjohada The air ears is dry. . gong-giga The air is dry. 건조하다geonjohada 공기가 건조하다.공기가 gwiga sirida One’s ears are son / bal i kkongkkong eolda One’s hands / feet are (achingly) cold. 손 /발 이 꽁꽁귀가 얼다시리다 gwiga sirida One’s earscold. are 귀가 시리다 (achingly) freezing. son / bal i kkongkkong eolda One’s hands / feet are (achingly) cold. 손 /발 이 꽁꽁 얼다 gwiga sirida One’s hands ears are 귀가 son / bal i kkongkkong One’s / feet are /발시리다 soreum-i Toeolda get goosebumps. 손 이 꽁꽁 얼다kkichida freezing. 소름이 끼치다 (achingly) cold. son / bal i kkongkkong eolda One’s hands / feet are 손 /발 이 꽁꽁 얼다 freezing. gwiga sirida One’s ears are gwiga sirida One’s ears are 귀가 시리다 귀가 시리다 soreum-i kkichida To get goosebumps. freezing. 소름이 끼치다 (achingly) cold. son / bal ikkichida kkongkkong eolda One’s / feet are (achingly) cold. To 손 /발 이 꽁꽁 얼다 soreum-i gethands goosebumps. 소름이 끼치다 freezing. soreum-i kkichida To get goosebumps. 소름이 끼치다 son /eolda bal i kkongkkong eolda /nun-i bal i얼다 kkongkkong One’sSnow hands / feet One’s are hands / feet are 손 /발son 이 꽁꽁 손 /발 이 내리다 꽁꽁 얼다 naerida is falling. 눈이 freezing. soreum-i kkichida To get goosebumps. freezing. 소름이 끼치다 Snow is falling. nun-i nogda nun-i naerida Snow is melting. 눈이 녹다 눈이 내리다 kkichidaTo get goosebumps.

To getisgoosebumps. soreum-i 소름이 끼치다 kkichida soreum-i 소름이 끼치다 눈이 nun-i naerida Snow falling. 내리다 naerida nun-i nogda Snow is falling. melting. cheos-nun First snow (of the 내리다 눈이 녹다 첫눈 nun-i nogda Snow is melting. 눈이 녹다 season) naerida is falling. nun-i nogda Snowsnow melting. 눈이 cheos-nun First (of the 녹다 첫눈 내리다 cheos-nun First snow (of the nunsaram Snowman 첫눈 season) 눈사람 naerida Snow is falling. is falling. nun-i naerida nun-i nogda Snowsnow melting. 눈이 눈이 내리다 cheos-nun First (of the 녹다 첫눈 내리다 season) nunsaram Snowman season) Snowflake 눈사람nun-inunsong-in 눈송인 nun-i nogda Snowsnow is melting.

Snow is melting. Snowman cheos-nun First (of the 눈이 녹다 nogda 눈이 녹다 첫눈 nunsaram 눈사람 season) nunsaram Snowman nunsong-in Snowflake 눈사람 눈송인 pog-seol snowfall cheos-nun First snow (of the First Heavy snow (of the Snowflake 첫눈 cheos-nun 첫눈폭설 nunsong-in 눈송인 season) nunsaram Snowman season) nunsong-in Snowflake 눈사람 눈송인 pog-seol Heavy snowfall 폭설 pog-seol Heavy snowfall 폭설 nunsaram Snowman nunsaram Snowman nunsong-in Snowflake 눈사람 눈사람 눈송인 pog-seol Heavy snowfall 폭설 dongjisnal-i chuwoya The winter solstice 동짓날이 추워야 nunsong-in Snowflake Snowflake 눈송인nunsong-in 눈송인 pog-seol Heavy snowfall 폭설 pungnyeon-i onda has to be cold in 풍년이 온다. dongjisnal-i chuwoya The winter solstice 동짓날이 추워야 order to have aHeavy pog-seol chuwoya snowfall pog-seol Heavy snowfall 폭설 폭설 dongjisnal-i The winter solstice 동짓날이 추워야 pungnyeon-i onda bumper harvest. has to be cold in . 풍년이 온다 dongjisnal-i chuwoya The winter solstice 동짓날이 추워야 pungnyeon-i onda has to be cold 풍년이 온다. order to have ain pungnyeon-i onda has toto behave cold ain 풍년이 온다. order bumper harvest. dongjisnal-i chuwoya The winter solstice 동짓날이 추워야 order to have a bumper pungnyeon-i onda has to beharvest. cold in 풍년이 온다. bumper harvest. dongjisnal-i chuwoya winter solstice dongjisnal-i The winter solsticeThe 추워야 chuwoya 동짓날이 추워야 동짓날이 order to have a pungnyeon-i onda has to be cold in . pungnyeon-i onda has to be cold in . 풍년이 온다 풍년이 온다 bumper harvest. order to have a order to have a December 2017 - January 2018 bumper&harvest. bumper harvest. Compiled Discovery designed by:

Gone Fishing

WINTER

By Veronica O’Connor Winters in Korea can be long and brutal. There’s no need to hibernate, thanks to fun events like the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.

Last year, in an attempt to embrace the cold and still have fun, I traveled about 90 minutes from Seoul to Hwacheon, the small town that hosts the annual ice festival. On its frozen river, more than a million people on average gather each year to fish sancheoneo mountain trout.

Fishing rod and bait in hand, I made my way to one of the premade holes on the frozen river.

It’s early on a Sunday, but already many of the holes are occupied. Talk about a return on an investment -- within just minutes, I’ve caught a few fish! For the truly intrepid, you can ditch the fishing pole and instead use your hands (yes, hands!) to

If you go: Jan. 6-28, 2018

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Gangwon-do www.narafestival.com catch fish in a small pool. There is a three-minute limit to prevent hypothermia.

With my catch in a festivalprovided plastic bag, I head off to one of the tents to have it grilled for just a few Korean won. Delicious!

Afterward, I take in some musical performances from the festival’s center stage, marvel at the

artistry of the ice sculptures on display, and try out an ice sled for a fun zip across the frozen river. There are a wide variety of activities for all ages and abilities. By now, a hot cup of coffee is calling my name. A quick walk into downtown Hwacheon offers many cafes and restaurants to warm up and enjoy the season.

December 2017 - January 2018

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Winter Libations

to Help Get You Through the Cold

By Monica Williams From a hard apple cider to a hot spiced wine, here are some hot drinks to enjoy when the numbers on the thermometer fall.

Of course, you can have a cocktail at any time of year, but there’s something nice about having a drink that’s designed to take the chill off.

Irish Coffee This coffee drink can typically be found at a bar or cafe in Ireland, where they add a bit of whiskey to the java. Add a bit of lemon juice in a mug, pour your choice of whiskey, add sugar and stir before adding hot coffee. Top it all off with a ton of whipped cream and a bit of cinnamon powder and enjoy it next to the fireplace on the second floor.

WHERE TO GET IT: Mix and Malt 3 Changgyeonggung-ro 29-gil, Myeongnyun 3(sam)ga-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. u 02-765-5945

A Martinez Remix This version is made with cranberries, spices and a touch of ruby port. Learn the way of the Red Crane this holiday season. Red Crane: London Dry Gin, Spiced Cranberry Vermouth, Ruby Port, Orange Bitters WHERE TO GET IT: Southside Parlor 4F, 218, Noksapyeong-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

02-749-9522

Chris’s Hard Apple Cider The guys know their cocktails at Blacklist, where whiskey is well-represented on the menu. But for cold nights, owner Chris Shin (formerly bartender at Libertine) recommends his hard apple cider, made from scratch. Made Pair it with his famous 12-ingredient homemade marinated spicy and salty beef jerky.

WHERE TO GET IT: Blacklist, 66-2 Itaewon-dong, 3F, Youngsang-gu, Seoul. u 010-2437-1178

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December 2017 - January 2018

Vin Chaud Vin Chaud, or hot mulled wine infused with spices, is no longer an anomaly outside of France. Formerly a specialoccasion drink, it’s perfect for parties and has grown in popularity with the rise of winter sports.

WHERE TO GET IT: L’Empreinte Bistro Seoul 260-15 Yeonnam-dong, Geo-gu Building 2F, Seoul.

02-3144-2501.

Midnight Express La Marmite is not only known for its French cuisine but the restaurant’s cocktails get high marks. Try the Midnight Express, a seasonal hot cocktail, made with walnut Martell VSOP Cognac, Amaretto, French Press coffee, raw sugar and fresh cream.

WHERE TO GET IT: La Marmite 5-767, Yongsan-dong 2 ga, Yongsan-gun, Seoul.

010-4061-5571

SIWA NEWS

Join SIWA’s Leadership Team Seoul International Women’s Association is the largest and longestrunning international women’s organization in Korea. Since 1962, SIWA has been a place where women from around the world can meet, forge friendships, learn about Korea and other cultures, contribute their talents and ideas, and help improve the lives of those in need.

SIWA is strengthened by the dedication and work of its volunteers, the driving force behind the signature events, tours and operations. The SIWA team always needs help!

Would YOU like to write or take photos for Discovery?

Plan or work on our special events? Work with our sponsors? Get involved with one of our teams today!

Available positions include: • Hospitality Chair • Enrichment Coordinator • Website Manager (webmaster) • Welfare Committee members • Discovery writers

To join us, email Anne Choe at president@siwakorea.com December 2017 - January 2018

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SIWA NEWS

Recent Interest Group Highlights International Culinary Exchange: Making Mandu

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December 2017 - January 2018

SIWA NEWS

This ICE event, held for the Chuseok holiday, was designed to enhance an understanding of Korea’s holiday tradition. Traditionally, making mandu (Korean dumpling) is a family affair. Mandu can be made with either meat or vegetarian. Family members gather around to make mass quantities, while exchanging conversation, laughter and jokes. It’s a bonding process that brings the family together.

SIWA participants (men & women) enjoyed the process of making mandu and got a glimpse of a Korean holiday tradition through a hands-on experience. Since this event was on the weekend, couples were encouraged to attend.

Thank You and Fond Farewells Greta Tonnon, our Tours and Interest Groups Chair since 2015 will be relocating to China in February.

She also served as Tours Coordinator from 2013 to 2015. We thank her for her outstanding leadership and variety of great tours. She will be succeeded by Johanna Widmann.

SIWA also would like to thank Tour Coordinator Karin Stangeland for her time and effort in organising successful tours for members.

Since being part of the Tours Team, Karin has organized 14 tours. Karin, a longtime SIWA member, previously served as Hospitality Chair. We wish her well in her future endeavours as she returns to her home country of Norway.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Tour Coordinator Sujeon Shin for outstanding service from 2015-2017, and Community Service Coordinator Lydia Koh, who led our infant orphanage volunteer efforts from 2014-2017.

December 2017 - January 2018

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SIWA NEWS

SIWA Tour:

Namsam City Wall

By Veronica Koon Historically, walls were built to protect cities. On a sunny autumn day, we hiked along the old Seoul City Wall in Namsan. We were lucky to have Mr. H.K. Choi, the President and Chairman of the Korea Heritage Society, and his team be our tour guide.

I was amazed to learn that the entire Seoul City Wall, 18.6 kilometers in length, was built in only 98 days. Along the walk, we saw different stone compositions on the Wall. The Wall was first built in 1395,

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December 2017 - January 2018

during the reign of King Taejo.

In the early 15th century, during the reign of King Sejong, a large-scale refurbishment work was carried out. The top part of the Wall in the photo was refurbished during King Sukjong and Soonjong’s reigns in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Chinese characters were used to carve on the stones. They were mostly carved to tell where the stones were from, who inspected the construction, and how long was the construction so far, etc. Because I could read Chinese, I found it it interesting to spend some time checking out the inscriptions. I could feel the people who carved them.

A short break under Namsan Tower refreshed us. We had a small picnic at the pagoda. Our SIWA organizer, Lissa, brought a Korean traditional picnic cloth with her and we had a quick lunch there.

SIWA NEWS

Highlights from Recent SIWA Tours

s Gilsangsa Temple and Korean Furniture Museum Korean Antique Market Dapsimni t

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Namsan City Wall and Sungnye-mun t

WINTER

Upcoming Events Get more information on tours and events and register online at www.siwakorea.com Dec. 26 Community Service Soup Kitchen Volunteering.

Make a difference in someone else’s life at Anna’s House, where 500+ meals are served daily at the soup kitchen for the homeless . We participate every first and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Day Trip to Soyang Dam in Gangwon Province

Walk to the Grand Golden Buddha Statue

Jan. 12 I K-orientation: Emart and Points Card.

Non-Korean speakers may experience many challenges here. Our orientation series will help you learn vital skills to make your life easier in Korea. In this orientation we will focus on grocery shopping.

Jan. 12 Book Club.

This month’s selection is “The Calligrapher’s Daughter”

by Eugenia Kim.

Jan. 15 I Ice skating is not as easy as it looks, so let’s get up and try it ourselves.

Jan. 22 I Tour. Dragon Hill Korean Sauna.

Winter is a great time to visit a warm Korean bathhouse. Dragon Hill Spa has taken centuries of Korean traditional treatments and brought them under one roof.

Jan. 24 I SIWA Social Enrichment Showcase.

SIWA offers an enrichment program twice per year.

We will be featuring an Enrichment Showcase where members can share hobbies, skills and talents. This special coffee morning event is exclusive to SIWA Members only. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

March 22 I The March Coffee Morning celebrates International Women’s Day. More details coming soon.

April 7 I SIWA Gala.

An exciting evening of fun, sumptuous food, drinks, dancing, spectacular entertainment, raffle prizes, and much more await you at the SIWA Annual Charity Gala! Net proceeds from the evening support local charities in Korea.

December 2017 - January 2018

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Season’s Greetings

From the Discovery team of the Seoul International Women’s Association!

Photo credit: Lisa Panopoulos