PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SK

November 2015

Mountains, Memories, and Meaningful Traditions

There is a unique kind of magic in being an expat. You find yourself celebrating holidays that weren’t part of your childhood, in landscapes you never imagined you’d call home. One of my favourite memories from our time in South Korea was experiencing my very first American Thanksgiving.

My husband was working for an international school in Seoul, and when our American friends invited us for a weekend getaway in the mountains of Pyeongchang, we didn’t hesitate.

A Mountain Thanksgiving

The drive from our home to Pyeongchang was only a couple of hours, but it felt like entering a different world. The air in Gangwon Province was crisp and bitterly cold—the kind that turns your nose red and makes you crave warmth—but the atmosphere within our little school community was nothing short of cosy.

We gathered for a feast, a traditional holiday meal. It was interesting to see the similarities to the celebrations I grew up with back in Iran. Just as we gather for our New Year celebrations to mark new beginnings, there was a shared spirit of gratitude and community at this table. While the customs were distinct, the feeling—the joy of breaking bread together—was universal.

Looking back, I remember being a busy mama to my toddler, Ellah, trying to manage everything at once. If I could go back, I’d slow down a little more, learn even more about the history of the holiday, and definitely take an extra helping of that delicious feast!

South Korea

South Korea

South Korea

South Korea

The Beauty of the In-Between

That weekend in Pyeongchang sparked something in me. Travelling hasn't just shown me new cities; it has opened my eyes to the beautiful tapestry of human culture.

Everywhere we travel, I find myself naturally comparing the local traditions to the ones I grew up with. It’s fascinating to see how two different cultures can have traditions that appear similar on the surface, yet carry entirely different meanings and perspectives. Whether it’s an American Thanksgiving or a Persian celebration, the true core remains the same: it’s about coming together as a community, regardless of language or background. It’s a beautiful reminder that our differences are what make the human experience so rich and vibrant.

Wishing Upon a Stone

One of my favourite discoveries in the Korean mountains was the tradition of dol-taps—those little stone stacks you see scattered along the hiking trails.

Some say they are a defence against bad luck, others use them as altars for prayer, and many believe that if you stack your stones with care, your wishes might just come true. The beauty of these stacks is that their meaning is entirely up to you. My family and I spent a quiet moment adding our own stones to a stack, making a wish for the future.

Whether the stones hold power or are simply a reflection of the hiker's intent, the act of pausing, stacking, and wishing felt like the perfect way to honour the journey.

Cheers to diversity, inclusivity, and the beauty of celebrating our differences! Do you have a favourite holiday tradition that connects you to people from other cultures? Let’s talk about it in the comments!