a fantastic weekend - incheon part 2
May 1st 2007 10:36
as we walked, the cherry blossoms flurried like a summer snow fall
not really knowing where i was, and not being able to find a map that was detailed enough, i thought the only thing for it was to jump on a bus and see where i ended up. i jumped on the 21 and headed toward the main bus terminal at where i had arrived the day before. after a few stops, this little man jumped on and walked towards me with a big smile. i smiled back and followed up with a 'annyonghaseyo', to which the man was very impressed. i then proceeded to have my first korean conversation, proving that my lessons are actually paying off....finally.
i then asked him if this was the bus to china town. after debating amongst himself for a while, and saying i would have to transfer, he said i will take you. i said he didn't have to but he insisted and was pleased to have a new western friend with him.
after a bus ride of about an hour (i certainly didn't think it would take that long), we arrived at the dongincheon train station, where we left the bus and started our walking track towards china town. it was pretty clear after a few comments by this little man, who said i could call him paul, he was my own personal tour guide and history teacher. we walked past the cultural center and then he started to tell me about the history of the place.
this area, and the people, are very much the memories of the japanese occupation and it rings very true that you can forgive but you can never forget. the area has been occupied by the japanes, the chinese, and used as a major support area by the americans and allied forces during the korean war. as we started our climb up freedom mountain, paul starts to tell me of the tragedies that occurred to him and his parents during the japanese occupation. his emotions were reflected through his knowledge of the area.
'that bridge there is made of chinese stone and was built by the japanese,'
'this is the memorial built for general macarthur after the battle was one',
'this is the memorial to commemorate a century of unison between south korea and america',
'this temple is from the time before hangul was invented when chinese characters were borrowed - it says, from right to left, nature, my person, this place,'
'this is where the city was split down the middle - japanese to the left, chinese to the right,'
'this lamp is japanese, that lamp is chinese,'
'china's version of socrates,'
so a day that started as one with nothing to do, turned into something that i will never forget. paul's wisdom, anguish, hurt, and good nature showed me the finer detail of a local area, something that could not be bought on any tour. after shouting him a chinese bun for his efforts, we bowed at each other and he disappeared wishing me all the best. koreans are a truly special race of people.
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Comment by Nina
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
yeah i suppose one nice person can always out do 100 bad people. i really felt like he made this place and not the place itself. it was a pretty cool day...
Comment by mytwocents
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
i've decided to start thinking with my feet for a while instead of my head. it just seems to work out better. pleased you could also enjoy.