bits of good food are showing up!

So I figured out food is not all that great here, but I've managed to have some pretty decent things--thank goodness they have peanut butter and cheese for sandwiches! :)

On Friday our boss paid for all of us to go out for a traditional Korean barbecue. He never managed to show up, but we had a great time! Here is everyone we work with, including the 5 Korean ladies on the right who work at the front desk (like the secretaries I guess). We had to sit shoe-less on floor cushions and the metal table had these round holes cut out and they would pull those long metal tubes you see down to ventilate the smoke, and put a grate over hot coals in the hole, and cook the meat on there. Think it was pork or something. Anyway those of you who know me well, know my take on meat--but it was delicious! As was the many side dishes and beers that accompanied us-which is shown in the next photo! :) Actually known here as mek-ju.

The first Korean food I tried that I was pretty sure I'd like was Gimbop. Pretty much their take on sushi rolls without any raw fish--right up my alley! Some have tunafish in them (like straight out of the can--not actual spicy tuna). I usually get them sans tuna, but they are just as good. The rest of the stuff is just veggies. You can get usually between 12-24 rolls for only $3.00 so it's a good, cheap meal!




The next authentic dish I had was Bibimbap. The kind I like comes in a scorching hot pot-bowl filled with rice that's cooking on the bottom of the pot, all kinds of veggies like peppers, bean sprouts, cabbage, and topped off with an egg (kinda random but they put egg on EVERYTHING) and a splat of this spicy hot chili sauce...which is also the spice they put on everything. When all mixed up it tastes great!






This here is the ever famous Kimchi. The look of it leaves a bit to be desired, but it's just pickled cabbage and red peppers. It's the staple side dish, but can be made numerous different ways. (I know it looks like squares of raw meat, but it's just big squares of cabbage!)







And finally the most popular, biggest seller of them all: ramyan...or also known as every college kid's diet: raamen noodles. Still cheap and delicious and extremely un-healthy!

I'm sure I'll have much more I'd like to try while I'm here, but when I come home 40 lbs. lighter, you'll all know why! Oh yeah and I'm like Mr.Miyagi with the chop sticks now...I could totally catch flies!

The Comfort Zone

On Saturday we decided to do something new for the weekend, and traveled to a cute little area called Hyehwa that's about a 15 minute walk from my house. It's a great place to go get coffee or go out to dinner (lots of American restaurants there). This particular night there was a DJ at what seemed to be a giant house disguised as a bar. It was either called, or that night dubbed, "The Comfort Zone". Anyway, it was a packed night full of drunk foreigners, great people watching opportunities, and $2.00 jager shots. Good times had by all! Pics include: group shot where we're not actually looking at the camera, but you can see my giant orange purse. Kelli is next to me, and the guy in black behind her, throwing up the "peace sign" is Simon-another co-worker (from New Zealand). The next one is me with Ana, Kelli's roommate, then Kelli and Cieren-an Irish bloke we met here!

Kelli and me out in Iteawon

So far my nights out have only gone so far as the small town of Iteawon-where the American military base is located. This is both good and bad for several reasons. The boys there have made a bad name for American guys, and are pretty wild. However, most of the restaurants and shops in that area speak English, so it's a good place to go shopping and to get groceries from.

A girl I work with, Kelli, lives there and has a spare bedroom, so it comes in handy late at night when I don't want to take the 45 minute subway ride back to my place! On this night we were out at a few clubs, including an Irish pub that's quickly becoming a favorite-prob. has something to do with the pool table, dart board, and numerous board games they have there! Also included are 2 English blokes who accompany us out most of the time-Kelli's boyfriend, Chris, and his mate, Martin.

clear up the confusion...

OK I know my bathroom looks reeeeeal scary, but those 2 nozzles you see in the other picture are NOT my shower....(Despite my initial thought.) Here is what my "shower" looks like....sans actual walls...

Flip-flops and sandwiches

As previously mentioned, it's no secret that I am a foreigner here, but the other day it was a bit out of control obvious! Even though I'm not into their fashion here, I didn't think I was TOO out of it. I have been wondering why everyone stares at my feet constantly as I'm walking around, since naturally I'm in jeans/Capri's/a skirt and of course flip-flops. Come to find out, it's just that NO ONE wears them here! First thought was that it was offensive in some way, but nothing against my feet showing, just that they are all prob. wondering why I am even wearing them. (Told to me by a Korean-Australian who also "fancies her thongs".)
Next, I'm sitting by myself at the mall eating, (which is also very uncommon), and I skip by all the crowded noodle and rice restaurants, and choose an Italian sandwich shop. As I sit waiting in the empty cafe, I realize how I must look, and a Dave Chappelle skit quickly comes to mind. He mentions how he feels strange when he's somewhere eating fried chicken, and it seems like everyone is looking at him thinking "of course he's eating fried chicken. Black guys love their fried chicken!" He explains that he doesn't love chicken because he's black, but loves it because it's delicious! That is exactly how I felt at that time- everyone walking by saying "look at that white girl sitting there in her flip-flops eating sandwiches".....but mmmmmm are they delicious!~