Jin-yeong, South Korea~

Our town employs 5~7 expat teachers that we know of...

 hidden treasures

 The farming community flourishes in the land that used to be a rail line.

 Jinyeong has 2 parts: Old town & New town...

The following photos are from "old town"

Quite the contrast with Gwangju (our home last year).

 While walking through old town, Kyle and I were repeatedly surprised
to find that people still live in many of these abandoned looking slums... 

a HUGE disparity between small town and big city living.

To market, to market...

 Soy bean paste, anyone?

 gigantic veggies

 Pick your own crabs~ alive~ in sawdust~

 One squid wants to cuddle with the cuddle fish, hehe

 According to the group of smiling women around him, 

I'd guess he's the best (looking?) fish butcher in the market.

 What a job.

 A treat: "bondaegee" (silk worm larvae)

 Lotus Root

 Curious as a Clam 

 Eggs, anyone?

 grains, nuts, beans, and seeds galore.

Because eating rice for every meal simply isn't enough~ 

these chewy rice cakes are a favorite snack . . .

Understanding the Korean elderly culture:

There is no such thing as retirement.
Don't misunderstand me, VERY VERY few of them are homeless,
and they commonly get monthly pension money from any previous career.

 It is extremely common for "Adjumma's" (old ladies) and "Adjushi's" (old men) to be sitting on the sidewalk/street/wherever they feel like squatting... and selling random "goodies".

 Many of them look like they could use a day off from working, but they simply ...don't.

60. . . 70. . . 80. . . 90. . . years old
 often times, completely bent in half from serious spinal problems~

Sitting around aimlessly is not an option sought out by most elderly in Korea.

In my humble opinion, once this generation dies out, Korea will never be the same...

Traditions and manual laborers dissipate as westernization prevails.

After this crying kid wanted nothing to do with her puppy, 

I GOT TO HOLD IT! AND IT WAS GLORIOUS.