Aaron and I have made a list of the things we'd like to do/accomplish before leaving Korea. Among them is eat insurmountable amounts of barbecue, visit the northernmost province of South Korea, stay at a temple for a weekend, and learn the art of serving tea. Last Friday night we began our tea journey and learned the ceremony for serving green tea. It's an involved process where fluidity and finesse reign and there's not much room for my impatience or Aaron's eagerness. Ms. Park (the "tea lady" as I have come to call her) ever so gently told me "slowly, slowly" and advised Aaron "quietly, quietly!" Needless to say, we've got a lot practicing to do, but it's something we really would like to share with friends and family back in the US.
The entire process is so much more than the tea, however. It's about hospitality, respect, community, patience, and breathing in the moment together. Hopefully the more we practice, the more we'll be able to transpose this process to other areas of our lives.
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Our new teapot (needed for the ceremony) and tea warmer! All the pottery
is handmade and naturally colored by clay, wind, and fire. |
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We've only purchased 3 of these items: the 2 teapots and one bowl.
Ms. Park has graciously given us all of the rest of the pottery
and tea supplies as gifts. We never leave there empty handed.
We feel so lucky to have such a wonderful way to remember
our time in Korea. |
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