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Published: March 19th 2008
Hey Everyone,
I really don't have a whole lot to talk about today, but I'm just having one of those moments where I am so happy to be here, and so thankful for this awesome opportunity that I just have to share with someone! I know these days are long, and sometimes I am gone for 13 hours a day (between the hour commute to work each way) but it's just such a great feeling to have this freedom to come live in this country and experience all I can while I am here.
On Sunday I went with Dan to Camp Stanley where he had to check in and do formation. After he finished he came to the library (where I had my nose in a book) and we went and got some dinner with a guy he has made friends with who will also be stationed at Camp Casey. We decided to go off base to some of the bars- and just a few steps (literally) outside the gate you are just overwhelmed with bars, small restaurants (though not like you would expect, they are just small rooms with a grill and apparently don't have the same
health and safety standards- one restaurant had a dog sitting on a chair at the table) and street vendors. Since it was Sunday (and Stanley is the most desolate of Camps) there was no one out but us. We went to a bar called Amazing. The Koreans choose very strange names for their establishments because they try to be very happy about everything. It sounds odd to me. For example, I saw a grocery store advertised and "Fast, Friends, Fun!" I have never really thought of my grocery shopping experience as "fun" but who knows, maybe they have trained monkeys stocking the shelves.
Anyways, this bar is known as one of the "juicy" bars, which means girls work there who try to get men to buy them very expensive drinks (made up of only juice). For about $20 this drink will buy their conversation for a little while. These girls can be very convincing, as they are scantily clad, very beautiful, and charming. If you refuse to buy them drinks they will simply leave you alone (but you might find the bartender to have a lighter hand as she pours your drinks). The girls are working to pay off
Street Vendor
You can see that there are chairs to sit and relax as you eat your (no clue how to spell this:) Dukbogi, a tightly pressed rice roll with spicy saucetheir contracts with the bar's owner, who will sometimes buy the girls from their poor families (mostly from the Phillipines) or who will simply take their visa until they bring in a certain amount of money. The establishments that are proven to be working in the human trafficking business are off limits to U.S. soldiers, as the Army is very concerned about the bad publicity. Any soldier caught in a bar that is off limits can get in a lot of trouble.
At Amazing we had what is known as a "kettle". It is a tupperware container filled with ice, one bottle of Soju (basically a rice vodka), and kool-aide. The mixture can be deadly, as it is so easy to drink and yet really potent. Dan and I shared two kettles and played some pool. The pool tables here have all been free, which is nice change from having to scrounge up quarters to play.
Yesterday was a normal day at school, although I found that Korean children to not like- get this- Twizzlers! Can you believe it?? For snack time I gave each of my second graders one Twizzler and you should have seen the looks
Streetside Produce
There are always plenty of food stands at which to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and even fish! on their faces! They had never heard of or seen them before! Two girls even threw theirs out. I was shocked. A few minutes later the lunch ladies delivered their real snack (which is a very tightly pressed roll of rice in a spicy red sauce) and they were much happier. I noticed that here the children (and adults) often eat off the same plate. It seems like germs are not really an issue for them.
After school, while getting on the bus to go home, I wasn't paying attention and got on the wrong one. I looked up from my book after about 15 minutes and realized that I had no idea where I was (not that I do normally, but nothing seemed familiar). So I jumped off at the next stop and decided that, since I was lost anyways, I might as well wander around and see this part of the city. The best way to explain the way it was... like Times Square in NYC, but with everything in Korean and the huge TV screens were not as huge. There was music coming from the various shops and lots of street vendors selling everything from (fake)
Parade Dragons
Dragons appear in Korean celebrations to scare away evil spirits with their dances and bring good luck to the people Coach purses, to roasted seeds and nuts, to fried spicy chicken. It was great- and the smells made me hungry so I found myself a cute little restaurant and decided to go in. I asked the mait'r d to pick something for me and (since he spoke some English) he brought me a wonderful ceramic bowl of beef broth with scallions, noodles, and beef slices. I also got a small bowl of sticky rice, some red pepper paste, and kimchi (which I think is served with EVERY meal here). I took my time, enjoyed my meal, read my book, and watched the people walking by on the street.
I had to find my way back to the Chang Dong train station so I found a bus stop and got on the one that said it was heading to Chang Dong. Only it wasn't. I only realized this when the bus stopped, the engine turned off and the last few riders got off. I asked the bus driver "Chang Dong?" and after a few minutes of motioning, shoulder-shrugging, and confused looks he took me off the bus and walked me down the street to another bus (which was the
same number bus) and explained to the driver my situation. He didn't make me pay, and when the bus finally got to my stop, the driver let me know. Once again, the Korean people have gone above and beyond in regards to their kindess and hospitality. I cannot imagine a NYC bus driver walking me to the right bus line, and then insisting that I don't have to pay for the ride. Can you?
I was so relieved to be back in familiar territory that I treated myself to some street food dessert. It was a very sweet and thin pita-like bread, which was filled with cinnamon, sugar and sesame seeds, then toasted. SO GOOD. And it only cost $0.50 for one!
Well, I guess I had alot more to write about than I thought. My second session students will be here soon, so I have to run!
-Erin
P.S. We found out our stuff is here from the states! Yay! It gets delivered on Monday- I'm looking forward to a change of clothes and a game of Risk! Wooo hooo!
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Namenmeister
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Food names
Your beef broth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seolleongtang (try shin-son chain. they are good.) pita-like snack: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho-tteok Enjoy!