I guess that the first impression is the most important one, but i just stepped out the plane without 36hours of sleep. Not really how a new son in law should behave. The night before I have met Tim, a friend from my howntown who has been backing in Japan and Korea for over 5 months now. We went out in Shibuya and stayed up whole night, seeing Shibuya, the busiest place on earth, transfore after midnight from a hip place for young people into a desolated place for disorientated foreigners, losers, taxi drivers and drunk people. Around four o'clock we find ourselfs total alone at Shibuya crossing, at day photographed due to the masses of people at this crossing! A quick shave and some deodarant should fix me up a little and hopefully i will remember the greeting i have practised: An-jeung-ha-se yo; Wilbertjan Im-ni-da, Pang Kap sum ni da
Luckily i am being welcomed with a warm and kind heart. Su Youngs parents seem very pleased to meet me. Only the family dog barks and growls a little bit when he sees me for the first time. My father in law (in korean Jang in-eu-run) has made a big banner saying "welcome mr Wilbertjan" It is hanging in the middle of the living room. My mother in law (korean Jang mo num) spoils me even more than my own mother. She makes an incredible big breakfast every morning (korean ofcourse). My sister in law (in korean Cheo Jey), who is a schoolteacher in middle school, gives me the 'good boy' sticker, she usely gives to children that has done their homework. And even the dog comes one day later into my bedroom to seek my company. From that moment on, i am Jan-Seo-bang (Jan son in law) and i feel at home in my new family.
The first week is scheduled with all the necesary preparations for our wedding, meeting family, buying clothes, choosing our hang-bok (traditional clothes), meet our wedding company and meet more efamily. But first we have to check our health and go to the chinese doctor. This doctor is quiet different than ours, by only grabbing you wrist he knows immediatly what is wrong with you. Surprisingly he tells me to avoid wheatproducts, mmmm maybe this guy is not the witchdoctor i think he is. One second later i wished he would have stopped at that point, but the doctor goes on: telling me to avoid raw fish, sauna, spicy food, alcohol and coffee. I am getting in a slight panic, coffee is the biggest addiction i have, i cant live without a good black cup of coffee in the morning. I am in Korea, how the hell i am going to avoid spicy food? Before i came here i joked that i was going to eat Hoe (korean sushi), drink DongDongju (slight alcolohol and sweet drink) and will go to the jimjillbang (kind of sauna just simple hot rooms where you can relax) every day, because it is the best Korea has to offer! Now i have to avoid all these things? I am glad he didn't know anything about my chocolate and icecream addiction, there are still some sins i can have. A few hours late.r we pick up two heavy bags with a disgusting medicine we have to drink three times a day. My mother in law gards us that we take it on time at that wilbertjan doesnt drink anymore coffee. Two days later when SuYoung, my mother in law and me eating popping-ju (a delicious icecream with red beans), my mother in law admits that the doctor also has forbidden her to eat icecream but she rarely listens to him. Pfff i am of the hook here and 5 minutes later i order later i order the biggest dark black cup of coffee they have (it might be my last)
We are home!
having first family dinner, duck bulgogi, with my new parents and sister.
going to the chinese doctor: avoid coffee, raw fish, spicy food, jumjillbang and dongdongju.
luckily he forgot to mention icecream and chocolate.
But this might be my last cup of coffee for the next weeks.
Dinner with Su Youngs uncle and family.
At the wedding event company. They look if my weddingdress fit, it is a little bit to big for me.
The grandparents of Su Young (mother side).
They are posing in front of their old house, which is used now for storage.
Su Youngs mother and her two brothers and sister has been brought up here.
10 years ago they built a new house next to the old house.
The house is surrounded by a garden, which still supplies the family with herbs, fruits and vegtables.
It is a pitty that in the time su Young mobed to the netherlands they get rid of their cow.
The grandmother gave us money to buy a fancy suit, which we did the day before.
This will be my suit for the wedding in the netherlands.
The same day we had a ritual for the ancestors (fartherside).
In a familyhouse, specially made for family gatherings, we announced to
the ancestors we were getting married.
Here the family is waiting, as you can see, merely woman.
This pretty girl is also waiting to start the ritual.
The ritual is performed by Su Youngs father and some of his cousins.
Busans local televisons, KNN, is making an documantery about lost habits and rituals in Korea.
They have chosen our wedding (!) to report about the traditional korean wedding.
Soon we will be famous amoung 3,4 million people.
Su Youngs father is explaining them what this ritual was about.
At night blowing of steam at the Busan City Punk Day. 7 bands playing each
20 minutes makes hardly a day, but it was great dancing with the wild punks of Busan.
The last band played 'i fought the law' by the Clash, we all sang along. We didn't get enough of it, so we called our matchmaker Sunghee to join us to the noreabang (karaoke) . Next day the song 'The Sign' (Ace of Bace) and 'beat it' is still stuck in my head.
We called Sunghee our matchmaker, because she introduced us to eachother (see first posting).
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