Ajummas and Ajusshis

I live in Gunpo city, Sanbon neighborhood. I am about 40 minutes by subway outside of downtown Seoul. One of the advantages of living a little outside of Seoul is that I live right next to a Surisan Mountain.

The weather is warming up nicely and Saturday had a promising forecast of sun and 75. I decided to take advantage of this and make my first trek up Suri. Surisan could be compared to Mt. Si in the Seattle area. It is a small mountain with popular trails. I set off Saturday morning around 11 am. I took the subway one stop up and followed the other hikers because I had no idea where the trail head was. The other hikers were mostly Ajummas and Ajusshis.

Ajumma is the Korean word for "married woman". You would NEVER refer to a 30 year old woman who is married as an Ajumma though. This word is reserved for women over 50, or specifically grandmothers. Ajusshis are Korean grandpas. These terms are very versatile. The "security" in my building is a troop old 65 year old men who patrol the garbage area and the front doors. It is appropriate to address them as Ajusshi. People are often referred to by their title in Korea.

Anyways, Ajummas and Ajusshis LOVE hiking! I was one of probably 5 people UNDER 50 years old on the trail. Ajummas and Ajusshis are serious about hiking, too. Every single one of them was decked out in North Face gear head to toe. They all had those obnoxious hiking stick things, too. You get the idea.

It was a nice hike. It was so hilarious to watch all the Ajummas and Ajusshis trek up in these big troops. Once they get to the top they set up an elaborate picnic. They drink soju and eat gimbap (Korean style sushi rolls) and are fabulously funny to watch. I loved it.

I made it to the top in about 45 minutes then I decided to walk along the peak for a while until I found a place to sit and eat my lunch.

Then I see this little troop:

This is an Ajusshi with his grandchildren. They are eating too. The Ajusshi is enjoying the PERFECT post hike snack: a cigarette and some Soju! I laughed out loud when I realized what he was consuming! Cigarettes, alcohol, totally normal on a Korean hiking trail. I had to take a photo!

The children spotted me and next thing I know they were coming my way!

Don't hike over there!
The girls came up to me and said hello. They also asked to take a photo with me. I asked for the same from them. Then they gave me a banana. They were really sweet kids.

Just before I found my way off the mountain I came across this! Lounge chairs in the "forest." I definitely took a little rest on one. Love it!
I found my way to the end of the trail and I realized I was no where near where I started my hike. Luckily I found a map and figured out how to get back to a main city. I had to walk down this road for about 2 miles to reach the city.

As I was walking I started to talk to an Ajusshi who I saw on the trail. He told me what city I was in and once we reached it (Anyang) and he lead me to the bus stop and told me what number to take to get back to Sanbon!

I am glad I got lost because I found a few new trail and this beautiful park!

Then I got home and found a desk in the dumpster! My desk was falling apart so I had been on the prowl for quite sometime. All of my friends were out of the building so one of the Ajusshi security guards helped me take it up to my apartment.

I love Ajummas and Ajusshis! What a wonderful day!