Feeding Fish the Korea Way

Last weekend May 27-29 I went to Seoul with Jenny. We stayed at her friends house for the two nights. On Saturday we met up with several of the other TaLK scholars from Jeonbuk province. We were all invited to a wedding! One of the scholars in my area who we all got to know pretty well during Orientation invited us all because none of his friends from the states could come. The wedding was spectacular! It was half American and half Korean.

 There was a complementary shuttle bus from the subway terminal to the restaurant where the wedding took place. The restaurant was called Secret Garden and it was actually floating on the Han river.

 This sign in the lobby says "Groom Steven Mortinson and Bride Jinny Park"







 Here are Steven's parents. Both of the mothers wore the traditional Korean hanbok and both father's wore American suits. Steven's mom was so happy with the hanbok. She told us that a woman had to help her into it and it took 15 minutes. She loved showing off her "elvish" shoes.

 
 We were very close to the front of the ceremony. There were two tables reserved for us as the Groom's friends.

Steven didn't seem nervous at all, even when the band was practicing playing the wedding march.

 A traditional part of Korean weddings is the couple bowing to each set of parents and then the audience. Steven did all three complete bows with great enthusiasm. When he bowed to his mother, Jenny and I started crying because it was so sweet.

 After all the photos and everyone had eaten (except the bride and groom of course), the cake was brought out. The knife they used to cut it was almost a sword. Steven looked very happy holding it. All of the scholars at my table started laughing because we could tell Steven was asking Jinny if they could to the tradition of feeding each other cake. She vehemently refused. Poor Steven looked disapointed.

 That evening we went to the spa cafe. You order a drink and if you pay an extra $2 you get to do Dr. Fish. It is also called Garra rufa. These are fish that eat all the dead skin from you feet. It tickled so much, but was incredably fun! Anyone who has the opportunity has to do it. The fish seem to like some people's feet more than others. Sometimes they would swarm a specific person. Because all the girls had been wearing nice shoes for the wedding, this was like heaven. When you were finished you even got lotion to put on your feet!

 Her you can see Jessica about to put her feet in. It's intimidating because the fish know you're coming and start circling below your feet. These big fish feel like they are sucking on your feet with a slight scratching feeling. Each new place they went seemed to tickle more than the spot before. I thought the bottom of my feet would be worst, but the top of you foot, heel, ankle and toes tickle just as much!

 There are also small fish which are more common as Dr. Fish in Seoul. They feel like little vibrators all over your feet. They love crawling up your calf or shin and going between your toes. Compared to the big fish these aren't really ticklish. I suggest doing the big fish first because going from small to big is more of a shock than big to small.

Here is a video Chris took of us when we first got in. Please enjoy our hilarious agony!