And you thought America was obssesed about the swine flu

When we checked into the hotel we received a thermometer with our room key. I thought that was strange but didnt really think about it. I found out why when I got an email that said I (as well as all the other teachers) was required to email my health status twice a day until I have my medical exam on Monday which we are required to wear a medical mask to. They suggested that we limit our contact with the general public and to wear a mask when we venture out. They really dont like the swine, they also had signs for it all over the airport.

Contrary to the email's suggestions Louis and I ventured out into the city without masks and stumbled upon a Food show (we were on our way to Coex which is Asia's largest underground mall). The show was primarily for food industry people (buyers, sellers, restaurants, food machine manufacturers, farmers, you name it it was there). We paid our 3000 won ($2.50) for entry and were bombarded by everything the show had to offer: kimchi, soju, sake, tea, coffee, all kinds of gogi gui (Korean bbq), rice cakes, soups, pine tree juice (that was really good) and lots of kitchen machinery, oh and an incubator with chickens and ducks hatching . Sharing all the food samples with lots of people im sure is exactly what they meant in the email. I even got a free packet of Kimchi from one vendor, I think it was because I am American.




They even had a performance of Pungmul which is a traditional Korean folk music focused around drumming and dancing.



On the walk back to the hotel we stopped in Samneung Park were an old Korean King and Queen are buried from the 1400's. Seoul is full of parks integrated into the city with lots of outdoor activities.





The Korean people are supposed to be quite outdoorsy and I look forward to taking advantage of the outdoor activities when it warms up. It was in the 20's this morning and moved up to the mid 30's but never the less the day was nice and sunny without a cloud in the sky. It wasn't windy so the temperature didnt feel that bad, that and knowing that the hotel has heated floors and a heated toilet I think ill be alright.