Healing Love

Chapter 30

Go Doo Shim has no classes on Wednesday. Usually, she will use this mid weekday to recharge and do some grocery shopping. It is less crowded in the supermarket on weekdays. Since her granddaughter's family came down to visit this week, Go Doo Shim decided to spend time today with her great-grandson. She offered to babysit him while giving Jin Ah and Jung Hyuk a chance to explore the town and enjoy some other activities.

"Halmeoni, are you sure you can look after Jae Wook alone? I feel bad to make you 'work' on your off day," Jung Hyuk asked Prof Go for the ~nth time when the elder lady said she will look after Jae Wook.

"Aigoo, gwenchana. I am still capable and strong. Don't worry. Furthermore, this munchkin is not a fussy baby," she pinched Jae Wook's chubby cheeks.

"I know you want to be nice to let me rest, but don't worry about me, Jung Hyuk ah. I am more than happy to spend my time with this little boy. Just go on a date and have fun, both of you," she continued. Jin Ah secretly touched Jung Hyuk's lap under the table and assured him that it should be fine. He does not have to worry too much.

Luckily, Jung Hyuk can understand her signal this time. He finally agreed to let halmeoni spending time with Jae Wook while he and Jin Ah go out to get some souvenirs to bring home.

"Halmeoni, what is nice to get for my mother in law?" Jin Ah planned to get something for her mother in law, but she has no idea what to give her, so she's asking for some suggestions from her grandmother.

"Why don't you buy her some of our local products. Yachimun Pottery or Ryukyu Glass sounds like a good idea, or maybe something made of Bingata or Kijoka-Bashofu fabrics like bags or clutches. That sounds good too," Go Doo Shim suggested.

As someone living in Okinawa for years, she loves to buy Okinawan product as souvenirs whenever she goes back to Korea. Aside from introducing Ryukyu Island's culture, she also loves the uniqueness of Okinawan products, and she thinks it's totally fit as a gift.

Jin Ah nod understands her halmeoni's suggestion. "Oppa, does eomonim loves pottery or glass products?" she asked her husband.

Jung Hyuk does not really know of his mother's interest, but he at least, he can tell that his mother collects tablewares, "I think she would love it. Eomma has a lot of ceramic and glasses collections."

"Should we get that for her?" Jung Hyuk nodded to her suggestion.

After breakfast, the husband and wife headed to Tsuboya Yachimun Street to shop for some local pottery known as Yachimun for Kim Sung Ryung. Yachimun plates, bowls, and cups are used in most Okinawan houses. Tourists usually take home a set or two as a souvenir. Since Jung Hyuk said his mother loves tableware, Jin Ah thinks it's a great idea to buy her a collection of the local pottery.

They strolled along the tranquil, cobble stone-paved street, which houses so many workshops, galleries and craft shops of the traditional earthenware. From afar, smoke can be seen from some of the kilns. Although most workshops use the modern smoke incineration method, some still keep the traditional way to bake the pottery, making Yachimun earthenware rare. They entered one by one of the shops and browse for the best set that they could buy. Jung Hyuk saw a workshop that provides a pottery making experience as they were browsing, and he became interested in trying it.

"Jagiya, why don't we try this?" he showed Jin Ah the poster pasted in front of the workshop.

Jin Ah read on the dual-language Japanese-English poster and look back at her husband, "Are you interested in this?"

Jung Hyuk nodded, "It's not every day we can make pottery. Let's have some fun with the clay."

His eyes are brimming with excitement that Jin Ah feels terrible to say no. Since this is his first time on this island, it's good to let him totally experienced the Okinawan culture.