Sabbatical Day 180 (11.4.16) - Seoul Kim Jang Festival

I learned that the Fall is the time to make Kim chi. Every year, Seoul has a large Kim chi making festival. The process of making Kim Chi is called Kim Jang. On Friday our school volunteered to go make Kim Chi at this festival and boy, I had no clue what I was in for. City Hall was very festival with a giant stage, a huge Kim Chi inflatable pot and rows and rows of tables with trays of cabbage. Each volunteer was given a giant plastic bag which had an apron, a head cover, a pair of cloth gloves, rubber gloves, a face mask, shoe covers, and a hand warmer.

The funniest part of the festival was that it was a huge theatrical production. No one was allowed to start until the sponsors of the event were introduced and there was a lot of talking that I didn't understand. There were several dances that happened on stage but there were no instructions on how exactly to make Kim Chi. 

Luckily, we had ajummas at our table that taught us how to make the Kim Chi. However, these ajummas didn't abide by the rule of the festival and just started making Kim Chi immediately. We of course followed because we didn't know, and were scolded by the table next to us and told to stop. 

I also don't know who will receive all of the goodies, but hoping it goes to some homeless, hungry folks.