HCAS Korea Trip 11/21 - 11/25/2018

KOOZA is a return to the origins of  Cirque du Soleil : It combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor. KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.  The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog. Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement. -------------------------------------------------------- The Cirque Du Soleil show is the most important activity of this trip and students were all ...

EWHA Woman’s University  A Green-Roofed Constructed Canyon in Seoul EWHA Woman's University  in Seoul is part building, part green space and part sculpture.  The campus complex is a large-scale underground structure consisting of approximately 66,000 sq m of floor area with a total of 6 levels below the ground. Glass facades on either sides of the building allow natural daylight to penetrate even though the buildings are technically underground. The rooftop gardens are part landscape and part sculpture and provide extra green space for the university. The central canyon gently slopes down and then steeply ramps up with a broad staircase and serves multiple purposes for the complex. This large plaza provides access to several departments and it also serves as a place for outdoor gatherings, lecture areas, dining, exhibition space. ----------------------------------------------------- This afternoon we went to the infamous Ewha Womans University to view ...

Gyeongbokgung Palace Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful, and remains the largest of the five main palaces. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Japanese Invasions. However, all of the palace buildings were later restored during the reign of King Gojong (1852-1919).  Royal  Guard - Changing Ceremony During the Joseon Dynasty, the royal palace guards were responsible for guarding and patrolling the gates of the capital city and the royal palaces.They were in charge of opening and closing the palace gates, inspecting all visitors, and maintaining a close surveillance of the palace. They were divided into day and night shifts, and the Changing of the Guard ceremony took place whenever the shifts changed over.  ----------------------------------------------------- This morning we arrived at Gwanghwamun Gate outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, ready to see the Royal Guard changing ceremony which takes plac...

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park At Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, traditional buildings and cutting-edge modern cultural facilities come together harmoniously. Seoul Fortress, Yigansumun Water Gate, Dongdaemun History Museum 1398, Dongdaemun Excavation Site Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial, an event hall, and design gallery can all be found within the park. Dongdaemun Design Plaza The Dongdaemun Design Plaza, also called the DDP, is a major urban development landmark in Seoul, South Korea designed by Zaha Hadid and Samoo, with a distinctively neo-futuristic design characterized by the "powerful, curving forms of elongated structures". The landmark is the centerpiece of South Korea's fashion hub and popular tourist destination, Dongdaemun, featuring a walkable park on its roofs, large global exhibition spaces, futuristic retail stores and restored parts of the Seoul fortress. -------------------------------------------------- ...

Changdeokgung Palace For 270 years, Changdeokgung Palace was the longest-serving royal residential palace to many Joseon Dynasty kings. Compared to other palaces, it is well-preserved and still has many of its original features. The palace's rear garden, Huwon, is considered an excellent example of Korean garden design; in 1997, Changdeokgung Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Secret Garden & Maple Leaf  The Rear Garden (Secret Garden) covers 60% of Changdeokgung Palace and is one of the most popular maple leaf sightseeing location in Seoul.  ----------------------------------------------------- This morning we arrived at the Changdeokgung Palace where we have reserved a guided tour to the Secret Garden. We looked at the beautiful  pavilions and fountains that occupy the garden. The most  exciting  part is  definitely  viewing the fall leafs.  We talked about key elements...

Happy Thanksgiving~ It's the first day of the holidays, and also the exciting departure day for HCAS's Art & Design field trip to Seoul! For many students this is their first time to Korea, and everything just seems fresh and exciting.  After a 2.5 hour flight we finally arrived at Seoul, Korea. Our huge group with suitcases surely drew some attention as we rode the subway with the locals, nonetheless it didn't affect our enthusiasm.  Since we arrived in the evening, after having delicious Korean BBQ and fried chicken for dinner, everyone just headed to bed early to get ready for tomorrow's adventure.

Hello, this is Ms. Joanna, the art teacher at HCAS. Welcome to this blog! I'd love to give you a little bit background of this trip before we head into the exciting journey. This field trip is initated by the Art & Design Club students who are interested to explore more about arts in a different cultural background. They have proactively planned and organized the whole schedule and it's my pleasure to be invited to host this trip. Utilizing the Thanksgiving break, we wanted to find a nearby location and since many students have been to Japan, we decided to explore Korea this time. During the 5 days trip, students will visit various artistic venues and iconic architecture. Since some students are taking dance classes, they also invited our dance teacher Ms. Sabung to join us, who will guide us through the shows we watch and lead a dance activity towards the end of  the trip. Mr. Ma at the math department is also invited to be the male champerone since he teaches...