Tuesday, July 24, 2007

As seen on TV.
Mr. and Mrs. Korea (Bodybuilder)

As seen in the classroom.
"I'll have a cafe mocha vodka valium latte to go."
She's 11.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Our apartment.
Our refrigerator.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Jennifer, Boryeong Mud Festival Mascot, Mike, Sara and two twice fried sugar and ketchup laden corn dogs.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

All these images are courtesy of Sam Gray. Thank you!! This is our second mudfest weekent at Boryeong Mud Festival and this time, the boys brought out their tanks (i.e. old digital cameras) to get sludged with both mud and sand. This time, we camped! Our 50,000 won ($50.00) tent did not make it past day one. The zipper already malfunctioned and the so called 2-3 man tent is SOOO not 3 men, unless you are 1) Korean babies or 2) sardines.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Please notice the name of the Hagwon (academy) in blue and white. Do you want to go to a school called B.A.D. school?
Well.... maybe.
Street vendor in Seohyeon.
Times Squarish?
Sean's going away galbi party.
Danny doing the breathalizer test.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Talking about the Mona Lisa--"She has not eyebrows."

This day is dedicated to schoolish things. This is one
of my old student's drawings. Then we have a classic
essay mispelling (in Korean, the sound of 'L' is similar
to the sound of 'R'). Lastly, where it all happens!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

These are definately not the most alluring photos, but I'm thinking that when I'm far away from South Korea, or even far away from Bundang, there will be some images that I'll want to remember. For instance, on Wednesday nights I have a on-going sauna date with one of my friends. Lately we've been going to Ori which has the biggest sauna in Bundang, I hear. On my walk home, I pass these flower planters that line the bridge over the Tancheon. The Tancheon is a little river that flows down from the Han River into Bundang.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

"Today was the "plan to eat dog soup number 2" day. And we did it as evidenced here. The top photo shows Mike (L) and Sam (R) with a large pot of boshintang (doggie soup). YUM! Again, it has the consistency of a pot of roast beef with a little tangier flavor or gamier flavor. They sprinkle these powdery ground up nuts on top and also put in some big turnip/radish slices and green onions of some sort. There's also a plethora of kimchi at this spread. This joint was much more expensive than our first taste at Moran Market, which is purportedly on some animal rights websites. It is said to be "good for the man" which like many things in Korea, enhance men's vitality! Mike felt a bit weak after the last time we ate it, maybe that's because all we had to eat that day were a few strips of meat in a broth and a more than our fair shares of soju (Korean liquor similar to vodka, but really, really poor quality. It's so cheap that the restaurant owners are often seen pouring the remainder on tables to disinfect them after the diners have left). I believe one serving of Boshintang at this joint ran anywhere from 15-35,000 won ($15-35).

The second photo is Sam, Sean (recently relocated to San Fran for the time being) and Mike on the Bundang subway line trying to look like a bunch of punks.

Monday, July 16, 2007

As I was walking home today, it was raining. I bought a new umbrella because it had been raining all day and the umbrellas here come and go like bums in the middle of central park. It was nearing 11 pm on the end of my daily commute. I was tired and bummed out. I thought, "OH NO!--I didn't take my blog picture today! Oh well, I can skip one day. " And then I looked up to see the Korean flag waving in the rain. My crosswalk had already turned and it was time to go home. I turned around and shot some stuff, and here's one of them. I decided I have to dedicate myself to at least one constant activity. This will be it for at least the next five months of my stay in Korea. It is difficult for me to keep a regular schedule with the later working hours.

Saturday and Sunday, July 14 & 15, 2007

This weekend we headed to mudfest! We got up at 530am to head to Yongsan by subway. Then we got on the Korail train out west to go to Dacheon. We arrived there after napping three hours and were just a taxi cab away from Boryeong and the beach! Mud, shellfish, tons of idiot foreigners, Korean beer, and a few friends. What more could you ask for?This guy passed out on the beach just in time for his friends to turn him into a racecar. Then he demolished it like the incredible hulk when he woke from his stupor.

A marigold sunset surprise.

LOOK! It's Kenny G like a jedi in front of the ocean! Let's eat there!

Arghhhhhhh!
Ian, Michelle, and Patricia. Ian recently joined the blue man group.

I don't have anything clever to say. But isn't he just so cute? I love him.
Sam's been in Korea so long he's starting to look Asian.


Yowsa wow chicky wowow! I've been mudded!
It was so good we decided to go back next weekend
and take some friends that were out of town! Beware,
more scandalous pics to come....

Friday, July 13, 2007

I forgot to take photos yesterday, but I figure the mass amounts of photos on Tuesday will make up for it. This is our Mulgogi (water meat=fish). We adopted him from one of Sam's coworkers. We cleaned out the tank last Sunday. The water was so murky it looked like a pond. Additionally, the pump had stopped working and it was fairly new. I thought that maybe it broke but Sam ended up dismantling it and we cleaned out all the fishy poop. It resembled this Korean food made out of acorn starch and that is very hard to pick up with chopsticks. Anyhow, the Mulgogi is right in front of our window and the sound of the pump making bubbles is a really relaxing addition to our home.

On a sidenote, check out this awesome recipe I happened upon on accident tonite:

Title: FRENCH FRY SPAM CASSEROLE
Categories: Main dish
     Yield: 8 servings

     1 pk Frozen french fry potatoes,
          -thawed (20 oz)
     2 c  Shredded Cheddar cheese
     2 c  Sour cream
     1 cn Condensed cream of chicken
          -soup (10 3/4 oz)
     1 cn SPAM Luncheon Meat, cubed
          -(12 oz)
   1/2 c  Chopped red bell pepper
   1/2 c  Chopped green onion
   1/2 c  Finely crushed corn flakes

 Heat oven to 350'F. In large bowl, combine potatoes, cheese, sour
 cream, and soup. Stir in SPAM, bell pepper, and green onion. Spoon
 into 13x9″ baking dish. Sprinkle with crushed flakes. Bake 30-40
 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

This is a place in the same building as our old yoga seongsangnim (teacher). They serve some pretty rockin Sam Gye Tang (Chicken Herb Soup). It's just like my grandma makes with these little berries, pellets and roots. Except, they give you a whole tiny chicken stuffed with the herbs and rice in a little hot pot. Tasty! and for only 9,000 won ($9).

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Today marks our one year anniversary of living in South Korea. Many feelings have come and passed and continue to do so in regards to every aspect of my life. I feel I have grown alot and living in another country with the one I love has taught me many things. I am still learning.














This is one of our buddies, Joe (left) and our favorite galbi joint owner. Joe is a quiet fella most of the time and a deep thinker. The adjoshi is one of the jolliest fellows it seems. Joe is moving out tomorrow and heading back to Ohio on Thursday. He arrived on the same flight with us from Tokyo and will be missed. He's part of our family here. There were five of us that came to work for different campuses at Avalon in the same midnight bus taxi. Good luck to you Joe in your travels through out this life and others!



If you decide to visit Korea, just look out! If you need any explanation, please note the badasses in the photo below:




OUCH!




I stumbled upon this temple near my school campus with the hint of a co-worker. It is peaceful and there are hiking mountains in the back as well as fresh water. I am confused as to if you can just enter any of the buildings and meditate or if there needs to be a ' service.' I went in one and began, but I was sweating profusely as it was 3:30 p.m. on a really sunny day and I was also nervous someone might 'catch' me and start up a grand explanation in Korean.

Monday, July 9, 2007

This is a second-hand shop near my work. Need I say more? It's pretty much hilarious. They sell all the really crappy big america man sized clothes, for the most part. Second-hand stores seem to be fairly rare here, at least, more so than Kansas.

An ajumma and her night getting on the white horse in Migeum.

S.A. Gray
This poor dog. Yep, it's its real hair! There appears to be a boob in this photo.

One weekend ago...

These are to document one weekend ago. I spent it entirely hiking at a local hill and we stumbled upon a smallish feeling town. Here are some shots from it. The last one is of me and an old co-worker and friend, Amber. HAHAHA too hilarious. Not often that you see 'graffiti' in Bundang. Today is her birthday!