I have learned....

It is Sunday, early afternoon peaceful and slow. It had been raining earlier, but is now somewhat cool and cloudy. This is a relief from the constant heat and humidity. I know I have shared with you many photographs as I try to portray what I am experiencing. Today I thought I would share my perspectives.

I am learning to pace myself according to the weather. I no longer wonder why people stroll slowly along the street or decide to sit on the curb in the shade.
I am learning to live without a clothes dryer, having to wait two days before I can wear something.
I have learned how to take a bus, a cab, how to use a TCard on the subway and how to recharge my card with the vending machines. We live 45 minutes by bus from Seoul. The transit system is extremely efficient, with a bus coming every fifteen minutes. They are air conditioned and appointed like tour buses with headrests, armrests and curtains.
I have learned that Koreans are more helpful than any other in my experience. This has allowed me to venture further than I might have otherwise.
I have learned that I can navigate and find my way even better than Al. I know most of you will not believe this, but Al has even learned to listen to my suggestions when we are trying to get our bearings.
I have learned it is impossible to hail a cab in the streets.
I have learned that you have to bring your own bags when you go shopping. Some stores will sell you bags but others won’t.
Regardless of where you are, there will be some sort of restaurant five minutes away.
I have learned there is no tipping in Korea.
I have learned that our eating habits are very similar to Korean cuisine, and some have been surprised how quickly we have adapted to the various dishes. Although I must confess I will never be a fan of octopus.
I have not learned much Korean except for hello and thank-you.
Finding a hair stylist with experience working with a foreigner’s hair will apparently be a challenge here in Paju.
Korean toothpaste tastes like the old Listerine flavour.
Seoul is the second largest municipal area in the world, its population is around 11 million people.

I am looking forward to learning more each day.

First Glimpses of Seoul

Exotic food
Theatre
Politics
Canadian Embassy
Local Art

New and Old Culture side by side

Korean Barbeque

Here I am at a Korean barbeque restaurant. The waitress was very kind assisting us because there was no English menu and no pictures.

What is interesting here is you walk into a butcher shop where you choose the cuts of beef you want for dinner, you also choose the vegetables that will be included in your meal apart from the standard side dishes that are served. A pot of hot charcoal is placed in the middle of the table with a wire grill on top. The beef is cut with scissors rather than a knife.

Beef is expensive, but the meal was delicious! We have yet to try soju, perhaps next time.

Cooking in Korea

Given the limited utensils, no oven, but a gas stove top with two elements (I love cooking with gas!) and limited food supplies, I did manage to cook dinner last night.

The menu consisted of 1) mung bean pancakes to which I added shrimp and green onions 2) Soy Glazed Chicken with rice.
The beverage served was Heinekin beer.
Although I think I would make the pancakes thinner next time, Al agreed the meal turned out pretty well.

The pancakes were from a mix, but I can give you the recipe for the chicken:

SOY HONEY GLAZE
1/2 c soy sauce
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c honey
1 tsp olive oil

Cut 3 chicken breasts into bite size pieces and mix with 3 cloves chopped garlic
Marinate in 1 cup glaze for 20 minutes then simmer for another 20 minutes
I added chopped green pepper as my own preference

Enjoy!!

Grocery Shopping

Qurie, this issue is with you in mind. I know your primary interest is food.

Here is the local grocery store I go to almost daily, it is a 30 minute walk from our apartment.
It is modern but fairly limited in terms of western foods. Tried to give you and idea of the different dried foods.

Quarantine

Things are a bit slow here right now. Earlier this week a couple of students became ill with flu symptoms. In response to this, all students were sent home, the school has shut down and we have been put under a form of quarantine. Staff are to limit their movements and stay in their apartments as much as possible. We are requested to wear masks outside. Temperature checks are done daily as well as when leaving the campus. Everyone who wishes to leave the campus is required to report into administration, advising where, for what reason and length of time we will be away. We are then given a pass which must be given to the security guards at the gate. The good thing is that this will be over Aug.28. Because of this, my wanderings have been limited, however I do have some photos I could share.

The Neighbourhood

This is the cafe across the street from our campus located in the Heyri Village which is the artist's community.



Here is an artist's version of a bicycle which I am sure most of you would appreciate!!


Next is a car wash. I couldn't believe how small it was, even trucks will go through. They use almost no water, all you see is a mild mist.

Some of the architecture in the artist's village is quite unique.

In case some of you were wondering.... we have a golf course right next to our campus. Too bad we don't play golf.

The Neighbourhood

As I went for my daily trek to the local grocery, I came across a neighbourhood park area where the children can play and the adults can work out on the weight machines.
























The last two pictures are of a nearby ancient tomb which is very well maintained.

Points of Interest

View of our kitchen








Back entrance to our apartment block

















I thought it was amazing how they moved furniture with conveyer belts....beats hauling everything up the stairs













You can see how they dry peppers on sidewalks and people just walk around












This is the atriun on campus which has exotic birds as well.

.

Acclimatizing

We managed to take some pictures of the building we live in (behind the fountain), and some surrounding areas. I will learn how to organize them better next time so I can better explain what you are looking at.

Today is HOT AND HUMID!!!!!! By three o’clock in the afternoon I had already taken two showers!!! Al and I managed to find our way back to the market this morning as we continue to buy the bare necessities. We also found a great little Mexican place called el Patio where Al had some pretty good paella (although he wasn’t too keen on the squid), and I had enchiladas. We even got to use knives and forks. Al had a bit of a misadventure when he mistakenly ate a hot pepper thinking it was a pickle. He is still paying the price!

Today I was told my name is very easy to pronounce in Korean, but they have a lot of trouble with Al. The people are friendly and extremely helpful. If you even look confused they will go out of their way to help you. My only problem is that I often look confused!! We live across the road from an artist’s village called Heyri Village. Only well- established and financially successful people of the arts are allowed to reside there. The buildings will include their studios, some sort of shop, restaurant or museum and then their apartment. It is a very posh area.

This evening we went shopping at E Mart for groceries, coffee maker, a fan (because we found out the air conditioning can be expensive}, an iron and a toaster oven. It is not difficult to shop because there ore often pictures or English markings on the packages. The only tricky thing is directions, for example, we can’t find the mute button on the remote.


Some interesting things about Korea:
- Red traffic lights are just recommendations
- Recycling is mandated by law
- Jeju Island is the Hawaii of Korea
- There are no old vehicles here
- Korean women can walk anywhere with stiletto heels
- Costco just opened up here
- There are no land lines in apartments anymore, everyone has cell phones
- Everyone CONSTANTLY takes pictures of themselves, friends and even the food they eat
- If you have a shoe size bigger than a size 8 you will go barefoot
- It is cheaper to buy Soju (similar to vodka) than water


Cheers until next time. Heidie

Arrival

It is ten o'clock Friday night and the first moment I have had to take a moment and think.......We arrived in Toronto no problem. However our time there was fairly frustrating overall. We took a $135 return cab return to the Korean Consulate for a two minute interview consisting of four questions: what is your name, what is your address, what is your birthdate, what do you plan on doing in Korea. Thank goodness Al was able to answer correctly. The cab driver was quite a character, he decided to turn off his meter and take us on a tour of the very elite neighbourhoods of Toronto.

We had two bags that succeeded the weight restriction and had to pay $200 in Winnipeg and another $200 in Toronto. The Toronto airport remains unfriendly and offers little help. After following the directions and signs on the wall terminals we discovered they were incorrect and we had to go to another gate. We were also given two different views regarding overweight luggage and had to redistribute the weight of two bags before they were accepted in Toronto (after having been accepted in Winnipeg). The flight from Toronto to Seoul is direct with a short stopover in Vancouver. I didn't mind because it gives you a chance to walk after sitting for 5 hours and then for another 12 hours. The flight was uneventful. Al does not like airline food so he ate and drank almost nothing for the duration. The airport in Incheon is very modern, clean and well organized. Going through customs was very straight forward. We all had to fill out health questionaires and have temperatures checked before leaving the airport.

We were met at the airport and driven to the English Village (1.5 hour ride). From there we were greeted by a fellow from human resources and shown our accomodations. Our apartment is a one bedroom with a queen size bed and two closets; a bathroom (the tub is about four feet long) with a shower; a kitchen-dining area with a dining table and chairs, gas stove top, microwave and fridge. There is also a living room area with a television, couch and desk, coffee tables and bookshelves. There is air conditioning and a washing machine but no dryer (they use clothes hangers), We are on the second floor, there are no elevators. Our building has four apartments two of which are occupied at the moment.

Because it was already late evening when we arrived and we were tired we decided to try out the local English pub for a late supper. They were near closing time and the only thing left was one hamburger which we shared. The next morning Al couldn't eat anything because he had an appointment for a complete physical. We were then taken out for lunch at a small Korean restaurant where we ate something like tuna sushi and a bowl of rice, vegetables and a fried egg which you then mix with your chop sticks. With each meal you are always served a side dish of pickled cabbage, pickled radishes and often dill pickles. The Korean chopsticks are metal and very thin. You are also given a spoon to eat your rice. The food was delicious!

We were then taken on a tour of the english village, to the bank to open accounts and to the main office where Al was finger printed. Apparently he has to clock in via fingerprint imaging in and out of each work day and will lose a days pay if late more than three times. We were also taken out for dinner by another group to a very New York style restaurant where I had duck. The food in Korea is very good and very reasonably priced. Most of the staff here eat out because it is cheaper than cooking. The cost of fruits and vegetables however are very expensive. Most of the Koreans will plant gardens wherever there is space rather than grass.

The weather right now is UNBELIEVABLY hot and humid. It is like walking in to a wall when you arrive. It is not unusual to change your clothes twice a day. The people are young, pleasant, and very friendly. So far we have met people from Texas, Boston, New York and South Africa. Did I say they were YOUNG?

I will start taking pictures soon and learn how to download them onto my blog. I initially thought I would have no problem with jet lag but found mysel sleeping for three hours this afternoon and now I am wide awake. I will however try to go to bed and try to adjust to the time change. We are 14 hours ahead here.

Until next time, cheers, Heidie