Me, some tourist, and a very long subway ride.

When you first come to Korea, the first thing you will realize is that Koreans don't speak English. They study for many years but they never really learn anything( Public School at it's best). So instead, the learn to speak Korean English. "Well, isn't Korean English called Konglish?" HAHAHA no...Konglish is like the word "Computer". In Korea, it's is simply said with a Korean accent.

No , Korean English is like the incorrect and over use of the words such as"It's Okay." or "Is it okay?" It takes a few months of being in the country to learn to understand and interact with it naturally.
So of course, when I saw a pair of very lost tourist interacting with Koreans on the Subway, the southern-help-everyone-girl in me kicked in. And thus began my journey on last Saturday.


Coming back from Christimas Play rehersal in Noksapyeong , I enter the subway with a pair of french men on my right. They have the subway map you get at the tourist center and 3 huge suitcases and a korean trying to help them using Korean English.

Since being in Korea, I download a subway app to my phone. Honestly, I don't really need it anymore but for situations like this it comes in handy. So, I approach them and offer to use my phone to help them. As I try to explain how to make their TWO connections, it occurs to me that it's about 30 minutes away and I can just take them to their destination. The only thing I had to do was go take pictures in Naedaemun before dark.

So, I dutifully begin my escort. After all "What would Jesus Do?" As we make the first connection, they older french man ( 40's) keeps saying "thank you" . I'm american, french accents are very hard to understand. So when the other younger french man(20's) begins to talk to me at the same time..I started getting lost.

Anyway, let me go back. The younger french men is dressed in a black tank, saggy pants, a gold chain , and bright red undies. Yes.... it was funny every time he lost control of the luggage. Again, I ignore this for two reasons. 1. Though his appearance is a bit off putting it's nothing I haven't seen before and 2. WWJD

Let's continue, so being the American woman I am I offer to take one luggage. I grab it and they are like "woah..no it's too heavy" but I take it anyway and begin walking down the stairs the older man hurries to catch the other end. It was quite hilarious because the bag was fine. I think I was a bit to American for him.

Well we make our first connection, and on the younger  man felt the need to thank me by giving me a travel size container of perfume( Christian Dior according to the label). I thank him and say it's not necessary but he insist that I take it.  I accept the gift even though it's a bit weird for me. ( again, WWJD). Anyway, we get to talking about Koreans and why they didn't take a taxi. Apparently, they really couldn't communicate with the Koreans and were very frustrated. A friend of theirs told them to get on the subway. They had the hand written directions just not the subway riding know how.

So, it's time for the next connection to line 1. This line is the worse line to take any day of the week because it is always packed like a can of sardines. I do my best to explain to them  that no matter which train we take it will always be like this. So, they decided to get on the one that was coming. We were the last ones on, so guess who the doors caught. No... not me, hahaha the younger man got smashed by the door but it's ok old women get smashed by them daily. It's quite normal.

So finally we get off and I suggest taking the elevator. Now, all korean subways especially the more traveled lines have a smell. I've been here so long , I don't notice it anymore. But the French men notice it, and so they apologize for the smell because it is unsuitable for a lady. Then proceed to spray perfume in the elevator. Of course, other people are on the elevator it's Korea nothing goes anywhere with out the maximum number of people on or in it. So the other koreans, are looking dumbstruck by this. All I can do at this point try not to laugh.

On the korean subway, you use something called a T-money card. You are suppose to it swipe to get on and off the subway. So, I had to swiped mine when I got on the subway thus my trip was already paid for. Not knowing this, the older French man tries to stop me from swiping it on our way out and offers to pay for my trip. I politely explain the system to them and then so them the machines that they should use the next time they want to get on.

So we exit the subway at their destination, I escort them to the place to purchase trains to leave Seoul because their friend doesn't stay in Seoul. They call him  so he can translate for them.

At this point I really must get back on the subway because I'm too far from my destination. As I try to leave, the older man shakes my hands thanks me and kiss my cheek. I'm American. I mentally freaked out. The old guy was in my person bubble and I don't know him. However, being in korea long enough and realizing that this may be a cultural difference. Also, the motto of this trip is WWJD. I remain calm but try to leave again. At this point he tries to feed me at a cafe. I politely decline because I really must head toward Naedaemun. So he takes me to the subway gates and thanks me the whole time. Then proceeds to shake me hand and kiss my check again. The American in me wants to karate chop him but something(I'm assuming it was Jesus) tells me not to but to get on the subway.

I get on the subway and I message my friend who is from Europe and she tells me that the kiss on check means thank you. It's just french culture and I shouldn't freak out.

I continue my trip to Naedaemun. I have some street food and head to myeongdeong. In myeongdeong, I pass another pair of lost tourist. Do I stop? Well...no. WWJD motto was worn out that day. It was myeongdeong it's crowded and tourist helpers  everywhere, I figured they'd find one. They wear bright red vests. So I kept walking and hope they weren't colorblind.

Maybe , I'll be of more help next weekend. Who knows?

Exploring Korean Food #2: Hottoek

So, today I will talk about street food in Korea. Or at least my favorite street food Hottoek. It is a fried bread with honey and walnut or veggies on the inside. It is very good and pleasant to eat. Take a look at my pictures below. I'm addicted to them in Naemdaemun it coast $1 because it is the tourist area and also it taste the best there. Near my school and Hongdae the cost is $.50-.70. but they are not as good.

Exploring Korean Food #1: Korean Barbeque

Since a lot of students are leaving this semester , the international students have been spending Friday nights together.

Last Friday, we went to the Konkuk University area. This is another young college district. Korean women don't like it because it's the area where the club doormen grab and pull them in...yes, it really does exist.

(Directions: When you come to the station you take Exit 2 and go to your left. and go two streets until you are almost in from of this building.( you'll be closer than this picture) Then you take a left and the restaurant will be toward a left angle street)

the restaurant

You'll see this first. I forget who he is.

 We decided to have Korean barbecue at  a famous shop because the staff speaks English. The menu is half English as well so it's easy to order. Don't forget to ask for the big plastic bag to put your things in because your clothes will smell like barbeque.

side dish: Lettuce and vinaigrette

soup and salt

soy and onion

lunch box: kimichi and rice with seaweed and sunny side up egg on top.

thick pork belly and egg and onion. The barbeque is cooked on charcoals

the hood sucks up the smoke.

Made in Korea Episode #1: The Rice Burger

Korea loves to "Korean-ize" everything. And I do mean everything. So, of course, they could not resist Korean-izing the burger. In fact in Korea, it comes in health and less greasy even at the McDonald's. But the rice burger is just beyond what you can imagine. I bet you think it's a meat patty with rice in it... yeah that's what I thought. But no, I hate to tell it's doesn't even have to have meat in it. Rice burger is a burger that is surrounded by rice instead of a bun. And since it's Korea, it comes in Kimichi flavor.

Check out the pics below: This is of a Spicy Chicken with Egg Rice Burger.

bonus pic of Korean smart bread

Me, hanbok, and a break from pop culture

Being in Korea, I have really like exploring the parts of Korean culture that made me want to take a trip here. But every now and then, it's important to explore the heart and tradition of Korean culture.

Once a month you can try on Hanbok at the Korean Tourism Organization Headquarters center in Jong-no for free. So my roommate and I went this month. Also  at the center they have every brochure you could possibly need to explore Korea.

Here is the link:  http://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng/overview/facilities.kto


Side note: At the center they also have a Kpop Music center but it's pricey.

Check out the pictures below:

yes, that hand gesture is contagious

Me, a really big smile and Bumkey

One of the best things about being in Korea is being able too see your favorite Korean artist live. If you have followed my blog then you know that I went to a GD concert and got MFBTY's autographs
(screams a little).  I make a point to follow my favorite artists' social pages because many of the artists I like aren't that mainstream, so you can see them in pretty small settings.

Well, on of those setting was my university. Early this year, I missed seeing Beenzino( cries a little). I refused to miss another one. A Korean friend told me that Bumkey was coming to my campus, so I began looking for the poster. When I found it my other friend and I ran around trying to get a translation and tickets. It was happening that night and we weren't going to miss it.

Side note: I fainted , screamed, and died of happiness.

So we made posters and should up early to get really good seats. See the pictures below.( curtsy of my roommate. Thank you! She took pictures while I screamed and sang along. )

Side side note: The next day T.O.P came to my campus to film a tv show( I was in class and the teacher said not go, I cried a little). But my roommate show him, and fainted, screamed and died of happiness.

Bumkey does aegyo!!!!(screams)

Me, my camera and a really tall building

Last weekend, my friends and I went to go see the 63 building. It is the tallest building in Korea. It has and IMAX and a Sea World in it too.

Before we went to the observation deck to see the night view of Seoul, we walked along the Han River. Even though it was cold, it was really nice.

Side Story: This little Korean boy stops and stares at me while my friends and I are walking. So to add to his awe, I wave and say "Hi!" The little boy is so amazed that he says something in Korean and runs off. My Korean friend laughs and translates it as " Wow, she speaks English." My friends and I die laughing. Up until this point they really didn't believe that I amaze Korean children...sometimes I make the small ones cry....

Anyway, so we walked on the observation deck and had a lot of fun! Then we went out to to chicken and baby octopus. It's more delicious than you think. Take a look at my photos.

Outside of the 63 building

Night view from the observation room

If you look closely, I caught some of the sunset

Rich people can fly to their apartment

There was a fashion exhibit in the observation room

On the Han River

Me, korean food and the loss of picky-ness

When you journey abroad you quickly learn to stop doing things. For me, It was being picky. In Korea,  there are a lot of mom and pop restaurants, and a lot of food I've never seen. For the most part the food uses the same ingredients that we do in America but sometimes...they add some things. 

It took me about a month to realize I was eating squid. I thought it was an undercooked mushroom. There are so many varieties of rice cakes and it takes some time to get use to the taste, and there are even different juice than we are use to having. Orange juice is not the normal juice drank here.

 And one meal , I was even feed baby Octopus.With that being said,  I've learned to stop asking and to just eat what is provided for me.

In Korea, Strangers or small store owners have shared free food with me. It was told to me that they were showing love to me as a foreigner. This means that it would be rude to not accept and eat happily.

Also, in every office, there will be tea or coffee. It is impolite to not offer a drink to your guest in Korea. It's the first thing you do as the host in Korea, even if it's not a party.

If you ask my mom, she will tell you that I am the pickiest child she every had. I don't like the taste of certain foods all the time. She would buy something for me to eat one week, and the next week I would not touch it.

Being in Korea, has taking much of picky-ness away. I still hate ham with a passion but I've learn to eat what is provided for me. God works in mysterious ways. It amazes me that it took him sending me to a foreign country in order to break me of my un-thankful and picky heart and change it.

On this Thanksgiving, I ask that you think about this carefully. I'm not saving to " eat all of your food because children in Africa are starving". I'm saying think about this the Korean way. The food shared with is a representation of a form of  love. Don't reject the givers love or God's love.

So check out my Korean food picks! and have a great holiday.

Kimchi Kimbap

Golgi( meat)

I don't remember but it was delicious

Korean traditional rice cake but I for got the kind. That is peanut powder on top.

Korean traditional pancake called Jun. I love Jun! This the original kind it does come in seafood.

 

Me, art class, and KCDF Gallery

While in Korea, I have the pleasure of taking Textile Design class( in Korean). I'm not the best artist but I am really interested in Fashion and Culture.

So the class took a trip to the KCDF Gallery in Insa-dong. The gallery houses exhibits and demonstration of all of Koreas traditional crafts as well as display items to depict the quality of each craft. The tour was in Korean but I followed enough to know that Korean artist take pride in their work and upholding their countries traditions.

I've posted some pictures below so that you can take a look too. Some of the displays had ipads with videos showing you how to craft the items. It was really cool.