Down the Hill We Go

I have fond memories of dragging my soaped up sled to the top of the Harding Memorial hill and sliding down through the trees and countless other children. So when my sister-in-law and her boyfriend invited us sledding I could not wait. In anticipation of the cold and wet adventure, we spent hours picking out the correct clothes to wear the next day. They were taking us to some mountains located in the Gimpo area.

I should have done a better job at realizing that my expectations were set to high when they came to pick us up over an hour late. But even sitting in the living room all bundled up and hungry did not affect my kid like excitement. Then there was the bumper to bumper traffic to get there and the meal full of the one Korean ingredient that I cannot stand, sesame leaves. However, I was like a hawk watching its prey. Nothing was going to get in my way of an enjoyable sledding experience.

Then we got there. We paid for parking and then paid to get in. Wow, this was turning out to be nothing like the care free sledding I remember. One thing was definitely the same, the kids. Literally hundreds of kids ran up the hill. Now back to my disappointment. There were two hills one with man-made snow and the other with plastic strips to sled down on. And I cannot forget the lines.  I stood at the top of the hill in a line that rivals Universal Studio to wait for a worker at the top to let us go down on his command. The sleds were small plastic and not exactly new.

After a couple of rides down the hill, we decide to go inside and get some food. I thought I had taken a step into an elementary cafeteria from the 80’s. So we decide not to eat and just sled a couple more times. Then we left.

You have probably figured out that this experience did not live up to my high expectations. I will admit that my expectations were set a little high. Now for the icing on the cake. On the way out I slipped while taking a picture and fell flat on my back on the side of the road. Sorry, I did not lay there long enough for them to take pictures.

So if you want to go sledding in Korea. Find your own hill and leave the fake snow and long lines for the children.

So would I do it again.  Of course!!  Spending good times with your family and friends is what life is all about.