Korean Dance Phenomenon!

Boy bands and girl bands are HUGE in Korea; huge in 2 ways: 1) They are extremely popular, and 2) they are literally huge, sometimes with 10-12 members!  The more the merrier apparently, and they can ALL dance!

Korean boy and girl band music videos are jam packed with dance moves, and pretty much every Korean between the ages of 5 and 25 knows them!   My students break out into the dance moves on a daily basis, and whenever I've gone to a dance club, all of the Koreans do the dance moves from the videos when the songs come on!

Jess actually found this kid on youtube, reinacting the dance moves from a boy band called Shinee.  I loved it and had to share!!  

The REAL VIDEO

The KIDDO 

The Fruit Store

I purchase at least 95% of my fruit and vegetables from carts like this! Old Korean men wheel these around the busy markets, repeating the prices over and over again,"Sam chunun... Sam chunun" like a broken tape recorder. Can you imagine being in your 70's and pushing around a heavy cart of fruit all day? Korean's level of physical and mental strength is second to none!


While I would never hope to be a fruit cart owner when I'm his age, I do hope I can push something that heavy! Better keep doing my nightly push-ups!

Louis Vuitton

Who knew Louis Vuitton made scooters!  Gotta love the black market around here!

A Nazi in Korea?!

At first glance, this man's ring looks like the Nazi symbol... but here's a piece of history for ya: 

The Swastica symbol dates back to the 5th Millennium BC.  To Buddhists in Korea, the symbol represents dharma, universal harmony, and the balance of opposites.  

Did you know the swastika symbol was popular as a good luck or religious/spiritual symbol in the United States before its association with Nazi Germany?  The symbol is actually still on a bunch of historic buildings, including sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

So, long story short, Hitler adopted this symbol from the Buddhist, who have used it for years and flipped the symbol in the opposite direction and called it his own!  So, this man, who I spotted on the bus this afternoon, is not a Nazi at all, but rather a Buddhist... one who likes GIANT GOLD RINGS!

WOW, That Was a Close Call!

Yesterday, I was waiting for a taxi, outside my school, when 2 older Korean women came up to me with huge smiles! They bowed to me and said "Younga sun seng neim. Kamsamnida!" (English teacher, thank you!) I'm guessing they were probably grandmothers of some of my students.

Anyhow, they were carrying about 10 of these huge drink bottles, so I asked what they were. Since they couldn't explain in English, they simply offered me two! It looked disgusting, and I felt bad taking them, because I knew I wouldn't be able to drink all of it, but I figured I could take it to school, and someone at school was bound to have been a fan of this yucky looking brown drink! So, I thanked them profusely and said goodbye.


When I got in the taxi, I took one of the bottles out of the bag, and noticed there was a pamphlet inside the bag, explaining what the drink was.

Low and behold, IT WASN'T A DRINK!! It was cleaning detergent!! Talk about a close call... I was going to drink it, and share it with the people at my school! Yikes, huh?!

Kimbap Class!

Remember when I went to Stella's Saturday class and learned how to make kimbap with her 6th grade students?  Well, today, I got my kimbap making lesson # 2 from my Vice Principal and his wife! I met them at the local grocery store, to learn where I could find each kimbap ingredient!

I'm including these pictures so you can see what the nice indoor grocery store by my house looks like!

This is my Vice Principal and his wife picking out the O'dang (fish).

Choosing just the right package of radish and wood root (Yes, we eat wood in kimbap) is important!

... and last, but certainly not least, my Vice Principal's wife, picking out a package of kim (dried seaweed).

Finally, we had all of our supplies and were ready to check out.  When we got to the front of the line, they insisted I put my wallet away and allow them to pay!  I was very thankful, of course!

We then walked back to my apartment and got started!  Since this was kind of like a class for me, I think it's only fair that I teach you how to make kimbap too, so you can eat it in the US!

How to host a successful Korean Kimbap Lunch Party!

Make sure to have some fresh O'dang (fish).  You'll need this for your appetizers and for your kimbap.  You can buy it in Korean stores in a package.  Cut it into strips and triangles, then throw it in a pan with 2 table spoons of canola oil, 1 spoonfull of soy sauce, and a tablespoon of sugar.  Then let it cook until it browns.

Take the imitation crab sticks out of the bag and cut them in 1/2, lengthwise.

If you want ground beef in your kimbap, which we did, cook some ground beef on the stove with oil.

Cut a cucumber into thin strips.

Remember to entertain your male guests while you cook, by turning on the TV and handing them the remote. Remember, if you are a woman, you will be in the kitchen the entire night, and if you are a man, you DO NOT COOK!  It's the culture!

Oh, and never forget to have anju (appetizers) and drinks for your male guest, while they wait.  Yes, this is alcohol, and yes this was lunchtime, and yes, this is VERY NORMAL around here!

When you have taken care of your guests, continue preparing your kimbap ingredients.  Stir 2 raw eggs in a bowl, adding salt and pepper as you stir, and fry it on the stove.  Then cut the "egg pancake" into strips.

Then put 1 can of tuna in a bowl and add mayonaise, salt, and pepper...

Don't forget to make rice! That's an ingredient that can no be left out.  When you cook it, add 2 tablespoons of oil, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar.  This will help it to have the right about of stickiness. 

When the rice it done, lay out a bamboo mat and place 1 piece of kim on it.  Then, spread the rice onto the kim, lightly... don't smoosh it.  And if you can find a smooth plastic spatchula to do this step, that would be best!

Then add the ingedients:  This kimbap had one slice of fried egg, fish, radish, cucumber, and crab meat.

This one had two mint leaves and some tuna.... I added some egg, cucumber, ground beef, and crab meat after this picture was taken.  This one was D-licious!!!

Keep adding as many ingredients as you want!   The more creative, the better!  You can try steaming carrots and putting those in, mushrooms, turkey, cheese, tomato, etc... Whatever you think sounds good!

Then wrap it up... or as they say "chak, chak, loll."

And wala... you're finished and ready to try your delicious korean kimbap creation!  If you want to eat it like a Korean, have someone else feed you!  Yes, this is common!  Just go with it... 

Then, give your friends a big arm hug and enjoy your kimbap lunch party!

Making a list... and checking it twice!

Well, Christmas is here, and I stuck to accomplishing my Christmas to do list, and did it! ENJOY! I know I did!!!

1. Go Ice Skating!
There's no picture, because I haven't gone yet! (I know, I know... I just said I accomplished everything... I lied - a little.) But don't worry, Jess, Carlos, Aaron and I have already planned an ice skating adventure for New Years Eve at Yeongdo-Island! ... pictures to come!!

2. Watch It's a Wonderful Life!

It took me 3 nights to get through this movie; not because I didn't like it, but because I was wrapped up in a blanket each night... and if you know me well, you know that once I'm cuddled up with a blanket, there's no turning back - I'm out for the night!

3. Exchange gifts with someone!

My best friend Aaron and I exchanged gifts this year! We didn't realize how many care packages we would each receive from family and friends leading up to Christmas and thought we might only have each others presents to open on Christmas morning, which is why there are so many gifts! :)

4. Make and mail Christmas cards!

I handmade 10 to be exact! :)

5. Download one new Christmas Album!

I didn't end up downloading an album this year. I actually bought a CD instead! Does anyone do that anymore?! It's actually a Korean-English Christmas CD that I heard playing in a store near my place! I figure it'll be a fun thing to bring back to America to listen to, to remember my Christmas in Korea!


6. Make hot chocolate and marshmallows!


7. Host a Christmas Eve Dinner Party!

Jess, Carlos, and Aaron (my Korean family) came over for Christmas Eve dinner! We each had our own part in the food! Jess made an awesome pumpkin, squash, sweet potato thingy, I made regular mashed poatoes and steamed some vegetables, Aaron brought an entire WHOLE fried chicken, and Carlos made fried banana desert!

After dinner, things quickly turned into a dance party!!


8. Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards!
My walls are cement, so hanging a ribbon sash was unfortunately, not an option. So, I scratched the idea and taped everything to my fridge instead! These were all cards and letters sent from family and friends from the US! :)

9. Give my apartment manager a present!

Soap is one of the most common gifts given for Christmas. So, I wrapped up a box of 6 lavendar soaps and some sweet popcorn! She loved it!

10. Put up a Christmas Tree
It's small, but it does the job! :)


11. Make a Gingerbread house!

My aunt Barb is awesome! She sent me a box of gingerbread cookie mix, but I couldn't find anyone with an oven... :( So, I had to resort to making a graham cracker house instead! Oh, and I couldn't find any frosting, or powdered sugar to make some, so I used peanut butter instead! I'm getting used to improvising around here!

Tah-dah!!

12. Make a popcorn garland!

I didn't end up making a garland this year. Instead, Jess came over and we made sweet popcorn (butter, sugar, salt, and cinnamon) for our coworkers as little Christmas gifts! mmmmm

13. Read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

While I didn't get around to reading the book, I did watch this clip on http://www.youtube.com/ that counts, right?!

14. Sing (or listen) to my favorite Christmas songs!

Diana Krall's Christmas album was my favorite this year... Mariah Carey's came in at a close 2nd, and the lovely Taylor Swift was 3rd in my book this year!

15. Go out and see public light displays !
These are the Christmas decorations in Nampodong, my favorite outdoor market in Busan!


16. Read the Christmas story from the Bible (or from my laptop, to be exact)!

It was the first thing I did Christmas morning, even before eating breakfast or opening presents under my tree!


17. Sew a stocking and fill it with candy!

Jess came over and we hand sewed stockings together! I made 4. One for me, Jess, Mayo (Carlos), and Aaron. The 4 of us are like 4 peas in a pod and are always together... so I made one for each of us! (The plaid fabric was cut from a skirt I bought for the equivalent of $1.5o at a thrift store in Gukje Market!)

18. Go to a seasonal movie!
Aaron, Me, Jess, and Mayo all went to a DVD Bang in Nampodong and watched "Polar Express." I definitely wouldn't recommend it! The look on Mayo's face pretty much sums up how boring it was! Despite the boring plot, Jess and I were still really glad we all went to see a christmas movie together!

19. Host a Christmas Anju (appetizer) party!
My friends from work: Stella, Josh, Lisa, and George, came over and had anju (Korean appetizers and drinks) at my place! We turned the Christmas lights on and listened to Christmas music all night! It was awesome!

20. Write out a Christ-centered goal for the New Year!

"To love God through my actions and continue to live out the teachings of Jesus... To be patient and give of my time more freely, and to always show forgiveness and grace."

21. Have a full traditional breakfast while listening to Christmas music with friends!

Jess and Carlos spent the night and Aaron came over in the morning for a Sunday morning Christmas breakfast in early December! We made potatoes, pancakes, fruit, eggs, bacon, etc! It was absolutely delicious! Diana Krall serenaded us all morning with her Christmas album!

I hope you got out and did some fun things this Christmas season as well... and that you remembered the TRUE reason why we celebrate this season! Happy birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas!

Peace. Love. Joy.

From Korea,

Jillers!