Kimchi School

Many have wondered, but few have tried to create their own Kimchi dish. Kimchi is seemingly a must-have in every Korean meal – be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

Kimchi has an abundance of anti-acidification elements such as Vitamin C. Garlic, ginger, and chilli powder is effective for anti-aging after natural fermentation. The constitution of chilli also helps to enhance metabolism, burn up extra fat, and reduce weight.

 Hard at work making kimchi (Photo by Elyss Tai)

There are actually over 200 different kinds of Kimchi served all over the world. The most common kinds are cabbage and pickled radish. There are also many others, such as the seafood Kimchi, which is fermented chilli paste with squid. However, these are also the less commonly made ones as they can only have a shelf life of up to six months, compared to the others that have a shelf life of up to one year.

Success (Photo by Elyss Tai)

Although we did not get to eat the Kimchi that we made, we found out that the Kimchi will be donated to charities and churches nearby the school. 

After the hands-on experience of making our very own Kimchi, we then proceeded to try on Hanboks (traditional Korean costumes). Ms. Anita Kuan also joined in the fun and looked stunning in a red and cream coloured Hanbok!

The basics of Hanbok are similar to the basic clothing of the northern horse-riding nomadic tribes. It was developed to be suitable for a cold climate and a nomadic life. The clothing culture of Korea was influenced by new clothing cultures throughout the multiple invasions from foreign countries, but its basic structure has been well-preserved in history.

Korean traditional costumes in a beautiful array of colours (Photo by Tiffany Chow)

Hanboks come in many different colours and designs. Historically, the plainly coloured ones are designated for the lower classes and common people. In contrast, the richer colours such as gold and purple are for the royals. 

The girls tried on Hanboks that were suited for brides, princesses and commoners. The guys, on the hand, tried on magistrates, generals and kings’ outfits. These days, however, Hanboks can be customised to a person’s preferences. 

FMS students donned hanbok for a change (Photo by Tiffany Chow)

We had a great time at the Kimchi School this afternoon. It was definitely a memorable experience that each of us would hold dearly. 

Written by Abigail Lee and Jodenia Chan

Videography and Editing by Charlyn Chua & Sabrina Poon
A production by Baegopayo!