Exchange delegates in Korea get a taste of Korean culture, food and shopping

We were treated to a delightful day of sightseeing around the city of Seoul today. Boarding the Seoul city tour bus, we traveled throughout downtown Seoul with opportunities to get off at various places along the way. Our tour included a very brief swing by the Presidential Palace (called the Blue House by the locals), the National Museum, and of course, a popular shopping and eating district where we were given the opportunity to refine our chopstick expertise. I still have much to learn. Once again, our hosts went beyond grace to provide us with the experience of real Korean cuisine. (We were running so late in our schedule the previous night that we were relegated to the tastes of Korea found in a McDonald's restaurant.) The shopping and food district where we stopped is popular among Americans, located near the 8th Army headquarters base in Seoul where American dollars are gladly accepted. English is spoken in every shop. I bought some souvenir chopsticks for friends.
The bus tour included a stop at the Seoul Tower, overlooking the city with a sweeping view. I declined the offer to go up the tower, because of my uneasiness with heights. (Which has little to do with my recent, semi-tragic fall from grace from the rungs of a ladder.)
The highlight of the day was attending an original Korean music and dance theater production in Seoul's cultural hub, the renowned Chongdong Theater. The performance featured vivid costumes and choreography. The production, called "Miso" means Beautiful Smile. While photography was prohibited during the performance, the actors and dancers made themselves available for photographs afterwords, creating some fund remembrances.
Today we worship together with our friends. I'll be preaching at my host pastor's church.