Today's Lunch Menu: Stinky feet soup...

Today I didn't eat breakfast because I woke up late...the teachers at my school (assumed I ate breakfast) gave me: rice cake, sweet potato, pear, and warm bread ALL before lunch!  One of the teachers told me that Koreans have 2 stomachs: 1 for meals and 1 for snacks. 

The clock struck 12pm...lunchtime!!! We walked into the teachers' lunch room...it smelled like stinky feet...I was like "Um...what are we having for lunch?" They told me: "traditioanl soy bean soup."  It was really hard to enjoy my meal because the whole room smelled like a boy's locker room...and on top of that...I had a bowl of it sitting in front of my face...The teachers told me, "Tastes better than it smells."  I tried a spoonful and concluded that the teachers' statement is not necessarily a true statement.

After we left the lunch room, I asked one of my co-teachers: "why does it smell like that?" She said: "Its because of the soybeans."  I was like "Soybeans normally don't smell like that..." She replied: "Its like aged cheese." I googled it...its called cheonggukjang...FERMENTED SOYBEANS. 

I need to brush my teeth a few times...

Busan International Fireworks Festival

This weekend my friends and I decided to go to the 6th Busan International Fireworks Festival at Gwangalli Beach (surprisingly the same plans as many other people in Korea).  The fireworks were by far the best ones I've ever seen in my life (even compared to the ones I've seen at Mount Rushmore...on the Fourth of July)!  I tried uploading the video of them, but after waiting 2 hours I decided to quit...these pictures do not do them justice...what a shame.

 

While waiting for the fireworks extravaganza, we were entertained by magicians (the men sitting next to me)...after showing us multiple pocket magic tricks, he proceeded to show us pictures on his gold camera phone of "his girlfriends" (college girls at a car show)...ABRACADABRA...*POOF* the conversation ended.  We decided to watch the fireworks standing up...and 10 feet away.

And the aftermath of it all...

Am I really an ENGLISH teacher?

Growing up, my parents always told me I didn't speak English; I spoke "Mandanese".  "Mandanese" was my own dialect of English.  Only close family members and friends could understand the language.  Basically, I would talk to people as if they knew my thoughts, and I didn't practice censorship ("D"of mouth). I can still remember my mom saying, "Manda, you need to think before you talk."

Throughout my years of schooling, I've pretty much sqaushed Mandanese (on a rare occasion it comes out when I'm tired). Recently, I have not been able to form complete sentences...has Mandanese come back into my life?  The symptoms are unfamiliar...

SYMPTOMS:

• act out each sentence or phrase (as if I'm playing charades)
• talk like a cave woman.  "I go to park."

I hope there is a cure...

My favorite Korean invention...

So here is a small Korean bathroom (this is actually the one I shared at Jeonju University during my orientation week).  Notice there is no separation between the shower and the rest of the bathroom...super easy to clean, but may be inconvenient at times if you are used to Western style bathrooms.

Example: When I first took at shower...my towel got soaked...actually everything got soaked. 

This is by far my favorite invention I've come across while living in Korea...GENIUS! 

 I appreciate anything that encourages multitasking.

Busan or Bust! PART 3 (last part)

"Busan or Bust-Part II" told you of my food adventures in Busan.  This post will conclude the trilogy of "Busan or Bust"...

We had heard it was suppose to rain, so when we woke up to beautiful clear skies, we decided to venture to the beach!  This was at about 10am...

 The water was a perfect temperature.  As soon as I jumped into the ocean, I wanted nothing more than to be transformed into a mermaid...needless to say it didn't happen, but I swam as much as I could.  I almost got run over by a jet ski. I dove under a wave...when I bobbed up for air, a jet ski zoomed by my head (my friends were watching with their mouths open).  I suppose jet skis and people are suppose to swim harmoniously in the ocean.  We left the beach at around 4pm-ish.  We went back to the hostel to rest.  Later that night when we were getting ready, we all agreed we had been severely sunburned...a couple of us probably had 3rd degree burns...trying to coordinate your outfit with "red sunburn" can be annoying sometimes...

Later that night, we decided to walk to Gwangalli Beach (10min walk from our hostel)...the picture does not do justice to the breath taking view...

 

While walking around in Busan, we came across a couple business signs we just had to take pictures of...

So in conclusion, I love Busan and I may want to move to a beach some day...

24 years ago...I was born...

24 years ago...I was born...in Korea...in Seoul.  Today is my birthday!  In Korean years, I'd be 25...definitely not ready for that number yet.  Having moved from California to Korea, the whole 16 hour time difference has caused some confusion amongst my friends and family.  For example, my friend messaged me: "happy early birthday"  Instead of arguing, I just reply, "I live in the future."

Today, I came to school thinking my birthday would go unannounced (plus more than half the school is gone on a camping trip)...right after lunch, my co-teacher asked me to go to the women's "rest" room (its literally a room where the women teachers can rest and nap) to discuss something.  I thought I was getting in trouble for g-chatting all day, but NO! All the English teachers plus 1 math teacher (I sit next to her) surprised me with a cake (had a couple random tomatoes on it), roses (below) and sang happy birthday to me...in English! They are so generous!  I got other random gifts, like apple jam, cards, food, etc. from different teachers.  I am very appreciative and grateful to my school...I lucked out.

Busan or Bust-Part II

Looking at my blog post from yesterday, I realized that I need to change the time on my laptop...it currently has Pacific Standard Time on it...

So where was I...Oh yes I showed a pic of Chuseok dinner...charming...I think I shall speak about the food...This segment is a mix between Bourdain's "No Reservations" and Zimmerman's "Bizarre Foods."

NOTE: May not be in chronilogical order...just providing a summary since I have some catching up to do...

Chuseok dinner was composed of Chapchae, Rice, Kimchi, Curry pancakes, and Yakgwa (traditional Korean cookie). Not included in the free meal was Soju and Makgeolli (provided by hostel-mates).

On our way to Haeundae Beach, we crossed paths with Haeundae Market (SHOCKING I KNOW)...Unfortunately, it was bascially closed. I use "basically" because there were a few vendors/stores open, but those are the vendors/stores that would be open during the apocalypse...

Even the eels were not working...what a bunch of lazy losers...

Busan is right by the ocean...so naturally there'd be beef...

We ate at this random restaurant on Gwangalli Beach...I looked over at one of the tables and saw this "nacho chicken salad" and instantly wanted it...impulse ordering is never a good thing....little did I knw I would be eating tortilla chips and lettuce because the chicken mixture was SO incredibly spicy it was unedible...   

Lastly, we went to the Busan's famous fish market! AND IT WAS OPEN! 



Here I am fake smiling in front of one of the many "pick your poison" fish vendors...we didn't end up eating there...we heard from our hostel-mates that they paid about $40 per person...um no thanks, maybe next time...definitely paying for experience...if I'm going to pay $40 for fresh fish, it better do somersaults or something (while dead)...

This little jerky stand is just outside the fish market...I believe they're dried manta rays...maybe sting rays...either way, as long as they are not under my feet in the ocean, I'm happy...

We left the fish market and went across the street to check out the shopping area (consumer goods)...while  being bumped around like cattle, we broke away from herd and stopped to get some street food...cheap and gets the job done...not sure what their health inspection score is, but I'm alive today to tell the story...

This concludes the food segment...

Busan or Bust!

Quicky, I'd like to apologize for not blogging in awhile...My priorities haven't been in the most productive order...

In Korea, they celebrate a traditional holiday called Chuseok, which is similar to the American Thanksgiving...MINUS the Native Americans, Piligrims, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, football, turkey, and Black Friday.  So basically Chuseok is not even close to Thanksgiving.  Well, anyways...what I gathered from talking to other teachers at my school is Chuseok is a week long and they visit family. They go to their in-laws house for a couple days, then to their own family's house for a couple days, and for the remaining time they relax.  Since I am not married and I don't have family out here, (that I know of) my friends and I decided to go on a little vacation to Busan...some say "Pusan" but I prefer the "B" over the "P."

I'm going to post a little right now and a little later...can't sum up a whole week with one post...wouldn't be right...

So anyways...a couple of us had to teach on Monday, so we reserved tickets for later in the evening.  Um yeah...we all arrive at Dongdaegu Station around 8:30ish-8:45ish...just to find out we're at the wrong station and we're not on KTX (fastest train in Korea).  We frantically rush to Daegu Station (correct station) and we get the some stairs...SOME STAIRS=3 flights of stairs.  I bolted up the stairs looking like a crazed quasimoto (hunched over because of my heavy backpack).  While running, my eyes were tearing up, I was yelling and laughing all at the same time...it was frightening!  We had 2 minutes to spare. Needless to say the trip was not starting out right...but at least we made it.

So after our arrival, we hopped in cab and headed toward our hostel...

Keep in mind, I've never been to a hostel in my life. The word itself brings back not so pleasant memories of when I watched the movie "Hostel" and had nightmares for weeks...I still believe there is some truth to that movie... 

Here is our beloved hostel...

Staying there, felt a lot like camping.   I have to admit, despite the communal aspect of the bathrooms, I loved the fact I got to take a hot shower (didn't know how to turn on my hot water in my apartment up until a week ago)...

Anyways, Mr. Lee, the host, surprised everyone in the hostel by cooking us a traditional meal for Chuseok!
Although we weren't with our families, we were all able to share in the same experience...

Here's the link if you're ever in Busan: http://www.actourist.com/ko/
note: can't guarantee you a free meal and Mr. Lee did not pay me to advertise his hostel (not opposed to it)

Busan or Bust...to be continued...