Eating Out

Lazy Sunday's- gotta love them! After Friday night's hookah bar, Saturday's amusement park, I awoke to rain drizzling down in Daegu.

What a better way to start the mid afternoon than hitting up a home-style breakfast joint. A little taste of home! Hami Mami's is nestled close to Camp Walker (one of three US army bases). It serves all day breakfast- just the way we're used to: eggs, bacon, bagels, french toast and home fries.

After fueling up on some delicious all American breakfast, we hit up a public bath (more on this to follow), had a real pedi, did some shopping, and before you know it it was time to eat again!

Eating out in Korea has been quite the experience. Unless you're eating "American" eating Korean food is quite the challenge. Unless of course, you had had the opportunity to buckle down and learn the language or befriend a Korean.

My girlfriend and I decided to take a chance and indulge in some Korean food for dinner. One- it's way cheaper and two- if we're gonna be here another 11 months, we better learn to eat it! After eliminating several options, we decided the heck with it, and walked into a random place. Here's a recap:

Step 1) Enter restaurant
Step 2) Randomly select options from the pictures on the walls
Step 3) Alert waitress, and sign language that we have no idea what we are doing
Step 4) Scour the joint and try and catch a peek at what everyone else is eating
Step 5) Sign to the waitress that she ought to suggest a dish or make a recommendation
Step 6) Smile and Nod and agree to whatever she has suggested
Step 7) Laugh out loud and pray you're not about to sit down to devour Cow intestine
Step 8) Wait for the meal to arrive
Step 9) Quietly watch how everyone else is eating the meal
Step 10) Just dig in!

For 9,000 won we ate like Queens; had a few laughs and will never ever be able to remember what we ate!

Pampering

Every now and then we could all use a little pampering. What's better than a little lunch, some shopping and a pedicure??

This experience wasn't quite what we were used to: the whole pick your polish; sit back in one of those over size massage chairs; have feet scrubbed, scaled and seduced while you catch up on gossip with your girlfriends. This was a completely different kinda thing.

It's called Dr. Fish Zone. Let me explain: It's cafe, bookstore and pedi place all in one. For a measly 6,000 won (roughly 6 $) you are greeted with warm fresh rolls butter and jam, and a choice of coffee, juice or tea (unlimited). You can have a chat with friends, watch some television, play X-box or read some books and of course you can have the opportunity to have fish eat your feet if you are so inclined.

The place is quite classy, and once ready you're asked to rinse your feet in warm water. Once completed, you then plunge your feet into a cold aquarium style case embedded into the floor. No sand, no fancy backgrounds. A box filled with about 10 inches of water, and an average of 20-30- fish.

They are by no means underfed ( we noted a stash of fish food neatly tucked under a cabinet) and as soon as your feet are immersed under water, the feeding frenzy begins.

For 15 minutes the fish suction, nibble and nab at your toes. Initially uncomfortable and ticklish, you soon give in to the experience. The three of us sat there, squirming-- trying to understand the logic of this kinda treatment! I only had a few nibbles at my feet, the lot of them were much more interested in my friend's soles. (I was quite relieved actually!)

It really didn't do much, and I would much prefer a conventional pedi- complete with having my toes polished and primed- but at least we gave it a go.

If the shoe fits...

When first planning my trip to Korea, I was a tad apprehensive about some of the food dishes I know I would be introduced to and/or obliged to eat. One disadvantage is that I refuse to eat fish and seafood. Just don't like it. Korea is known for their seafood dishes, and they sneak fish into just about everything. There is an upside to this though- this is going to be great for my figure.

Eating less and walking just about where has me crossing my fingers for a few less pounds! Week 4, and I've lost 5 pounds already! Korea has been great for my body image!

I decided to celebrate the lighter me and crack down on some shopping. Daegu is known for it's shopping districts- and so off I went.

Bombarded with neon signs, rows of clothing boutiques and hundreds of shoe stores I was in heaven. That is... until I tried to figure out the sizing.

(insert record scratching here). After twenty minutes of trying to figure out the size numbers (in Korean), trying on arm full of stylish tops and trying to inch my feet into every adorable pair of heels I could find... I finally figured out my perfect size in Korea.

Dress size: 95
Shoe size: 255

I haven't even attempted to look at the pants around here. Most of them look like they will fit around my thigh. I'm not so sure Korea is going to be the place where my ego soars... but as they say- as long as the shoe fits...

Home Sweet Home

Home these days is a tiny studio apartment big enough just for me. I am constantly banging parts of myself on the walls, scarce furniture and and french doors which separate the living space. I often wonder if this apartment is bigger than those in New York City. At least my bed doesn't fold down and detach itself from the wall!

The bedroom/living room/tv room/computer station/microwave area:

It's a little bare for now, but with a few plants and maybe some wall art- I think it will do just fine. I am however still getting used to the whole single bed thing again- I almost fell out last night, just trying to get a good stretch in as I settled to sleep.

The bathroom/shower/toilet/sink area:

The bathroom is a another story. It's one of those things- you just have to learn to get used to! As my girlfriend put it- you can pee, shave your legs and brush your teeth all at the same time. Complete efficiency.

The kitchen:

A little on the cramped side. You can't open the fridge without banging your behind on the doors, and you can't wash a dish with out squeezing your body in between the sink and fridge. With no counter space, chopping, cutting and peeling are some what of an art form! The two stove burner is a real gem to master- but I've scaled down on my cooking...


The best thing about this apartment is that it is all mine. I just need to dress it up a little!

Home Stay

In Korea, one should expect the unexpected. I think it should be the unofficial motto around here. I arrived safely in the city they call, "colorful Daegu". I was introduced to teachers, the vice principal and principal. of my school. The introductions were mostly filled with me smiling and nodding. Them talking and smiling back at me. One thing is for sure, the school was very excited to greet me.

Within minutes of my first exchanges, I was informed that all of the teachers would be dining out together, and that I was invited to come along for a meal. Exhausted from my the long bus ride in, this sounded delightful. I quickly accepted the offer, and smiled at the thought of finishing up and being shown to my new apartment. It would be so great to unpack, unwind and settle in to my new digs. Dreams of solitude, rest and comfort were interrupted within the next several minutes. Apparently, my apartment would not be ready for a few days and that as their guest teacher, I would be staying with one of my fellow colleagues and her family. Initially stunned by the news, alone, cranky and tired I practically bursted into tears. Home stay?!!

After re-packing yet another bag and regaining most of my composure, I was on my way. At first I was afraid. My colleague knew little English and I of course knew little Korean! I was to stay with this family for four days until my apartment was ready.

I was greeted my thew two most curious creatures. My colleague's two children, were the cutest darn children I had ever seen. They jumped with excitement upon my arrival, and I quickly decided that this may not be so bad at all.

My home stay showed me one of the true ways of Korean life. I learned many new things about Korean culture and shared some of my own. I was shown how to (properly) use chop sticks by a six year old, privy to authentic Korean cooking three times a day (I'm still not sure how they stay so thin), climbed on, read to and jumped on some more. I was taken on a field trip to Pagyesa Temple and treated to Korean Duck Grill.

Four days later I was the charades champion of Korean-English conversations. Plus, the kids have this great electronic dictionary.

What I can tell you is that Koreans are one of the most generous and kind people I have ever met. As a guest in someones home, you are fed, showered with smiles and affection. They will do anything to ensure your stay is comfortable and acceptable. They are a culture of sharing, giving, and harmony.

I hope that all of us here in this country can take home some of these wonderful cultural values learned in Korea. It amazes me how far love and kindness can really take you.