A Pretty Nice Little Saturday

Let me start by saying how much I enjoy Korean food. When I first arrived in Korea over two years ago, it took me longer than the average person to get used to Korean food. Maybe this is because I'm a country girl who comes from a place where the most exotic food you can get is Canadian Chinese buffet. Maybe because I had yet to wrap my mind around the concept of eating seaweed as a snack, or marinated roots (aside from the obvious root of choice in Canada, the potato). Or maybe, it's because I had never travelled abroad before coming to Korea. In any case, I think it took about six months for me to really begin to enjoy and look forward to eating Korean food- even galbi (a foreigner's lifeblood in Korea). You know what I really think it was? Sesame oil. We never use sesame oil in our food back home, so it took me awhile to get used to the strong aroma and flavour.

Anyway, what's past is past. I love Korean food. But that doesn't mean I don't miss food from home immensely. I missed lobster season for nearly the third time this year, which is a special time of year for any Cape Bretoner. My Mom's pizza has been calling my name for months now (I just can't get my dough to taste like hers, even though I use the same recipe), and during the summer I can't help but miss the nightly beer and BBQ on the deck with my Dad. Maybe I just miss my family...

I like to go to Itaewon to eat, sometimes, is the point I'm trying to get at. Sorry for going so off topic. Usually it's a Mexican food fix that needs delivering, but sometimes I like to go for some Italian or the fare at Wolfhound's Irish Pub. I knew that there was a Greek restaurant somewhere, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out exactly where it was. We tried to find it last year for my birthday dinner but never thought to venture out behind the Hamilton Hotel (where, duh, all the great restaurants are located) and it wasn't until I ventured out to Scrooge's Pub with the rugby people that I finally found it. Santorini's!

Alternately, I could have just gone to Seoul Eats and read their review. It would have told me exactly where to go. Such a great website; why am I always forgetting to check it out for restaurant reviews?

This tiny place can easily be missed, except for the massive sign and it's excellent reputation among foreigners and Koreans alike for fantastic and authentic Greek fare (did I mention Greek is my second favourite ethnic food? Right after Indian...). The prices are a bit high, with the average entree coming in at around 19,000 won, but the house wine is nice and they give you extremely large portions. You definitely get what you pay for. The souvlaki is pretty much heaven on a plate. And the tzatziki! Ohhhh, the tzatziki.

That was my Saturday, and it was bliss. After dinner we went to the Bungalow where we drank the equivalent of six drinks each... for free! They were having a bit of an anniversary, I think. After enjoying the cocktails we went home, full and happy. I could probably eat at Santorini's seven days a week and never tire of the place. The next time I go, I'm splurging for dessert, and I suggest you do the same...

Touch Rugby in Seoul

Well, the Suwon Stormers are happily making their way through their second season of Touch Rugby in Korea. Two weekends ago, they played their second tournament of the season and came away with the Plate once again!

Note* If you're dumb about rugby, like me, then you should know that the Plate is for the team that wins the losers round... or something. In any case, they won some cash that bought many beers later that night at Scrooge's in Itaewon.

Next weekend the boys (and Sara) should be hosting their own tournament in Suwon! Hopefully they get a good turnout, but I know that even if they don't everyone will have a good time.

Over the past year I've looked on as bonds were formed between the different teams from different regions (mostly expat, but some Korean!). Touch rugby has been a great way to bring the international community together, and while the Stormers and their posse are all, mostly, young and largely unattached, it's really great to see the other team's out with their families- even watching the little expat kids play tough rugby with each other. Hell- even the Mom's are learning how to play (one gave me a black eye last year during my one and only attempt at playing )

In a way, I look forward to these tournies as much as the team, just because I know some good, old fashioned rowdy fun is going to occur at any time. And the BBQ is always welcome- and the kebabs!

Hope to see you all during the rest of this season!

A Sunny Day During Monsoon Season

And a field trip to boot!

Well... more like a camp for "1st Graders" (10th graders if you're a canuck). A few days ago the head of the language department at school asked me to prepare an hour long presentation for the girls about Canada. The only problem is, I have been teaching these girls for over a week now and they already know everything about Canada (what? they're fast learners). So what do I write about?

Well, ever since I started teaching here I have never been more aware of the differences between Canada and Korea. In a hagwon, you are slowly transitioned into Korean culture and mannerisms- it's almost like you don't even notice you're becoming acclimatized. In my new school, many of the students have never met a foreinger before. They're curious about what is normal in Canada- normal fashion, normal passtimes, normal behaviour... and the more I think about it, the more polar opposite the two countries appear! So strange how these things creep up on you.

Anyway, I made up a *very long* slide show describing the differences between Canada and Korea. Like Canada, Korea is automatically compared to the bigger countries surrounding it (Japan, China) by Westerners. Likewise, Canada is often considered the same as the US by Asians. It's been a great learning experience these past few weeks, let me tell you.

Here are a few of the materials I'm using in my presentation:





Korea's capital city- vibrant, crazy, awesome Seoul.



Laid back, chilled out, and, compared to Seoul, very tiny: Ottawa



Considered by many (but not by me) to be a national hero: Wayne Gretsky



Every girl in Korea looks up to figure skating champion Kim Yu Na. She's in a lot of commercials here. Like, all of them.



Korea's not-so-loveable president: Lee Myung Bak



Canada's not-so-loveable Prime Minister: Stevo Harper



Canada's "funny guy": Jim Carrey



Korea's "funny guy": No Hong Cheol (he's on every TV show known to man)



Canada's favourite (?) food: Poutine! Yum!



Korea's national food: Kimchi, obviously! Yum. Yummmmmmmm.



The Rockies in Canada...



And Bekdusan in Korea (note: although every Korean person considers Bekdusan the most beautiful and famous mountain in Korea, it is actually located in North Korea- therefore, the South Koreans cannot climb it. Although they would very much like to. Oh! Also, this is the famed mountain that the trickster himself, Kim Jong Il, told the people of North Korea he was born on. And there was an iceberg in the lake. And the night he was born, a bolt of lightning struck the iceberg and broke it in two. And that's why he's god. And the poor people of North Korea know better, but they have to agree with him. Gah!)



Ugh- we have Avril...



And Korea has Rain (비). Hey Korea... wanna switch? I love Rain.



Finally! Korea's badass national animal!




...And then there's Canada's beaver. *Cough, cough*

Once Upon a Time, I went to Namsan Tower

This happened... a long time ago. Like, November. Tristan, who lives in Seoul, called me up to see if Pat and I wanted to do something "touristy" in Seoul. We haven't really done a lot of touristy things, to be honest. I have enough fun without doing the touristy things for the most part. But we decided to go into the city and meet up with Tristan, as we hadn't seen him for awhile.

We found him in Gangnam, Lonely Planet Korea in hand, and he informed us that we would be going to check out Namsan Tower. This actually didn't seem like a bad idea, as I have always admired Namsan from afar and always wanted to see it close up. At night in Seoul, when it's all lit up, it's a gorgeous sight. In fact, the very first time I went to Seoul, a year and a half ago, I was mesmerized by it as we drove by in a taxi.


To get there: head to Myeongdong (on the light blue line) and then walk up the hill. There are two ways up- hiking, or taking a cable car. We opted for the latter and I went of my very first (terrifying) cable car ride. It didn't take very long.

... but it sure was a long way down.

It wouldn't have been a terrible hike, though.

At the top it's a typical Korean tourist attraction- and there are vendors everywhere selling dried squid.

The Tower.

View from the top... Seoul is so huge. It stretches as far as the eye can see in every direction.

Nice view of the Han River.

The only part of the city I recognized: Itaewon (that's just sad).

I was feeling a little dizzy, hence the stunned look on my face.

Afterwards we decided to walk back down. Only we ended up on the other side of the mountain. We went down a shady alleyway and then accidentally found ourselves smack dab in the middle of Namdaemun Market! I love markets so much.

Mmmmmmm my favourite kind of food. Street food.

Christmas had officially thrown up on the place (Namdaemun is rumoured to be overrun with the Russian Mafia).

My 24th Birthday Celebration!

This year my birthday was a little low key. Dinner with friends, traipsing around Itaewon and partying in the streets of Hongdae. Actually, maybe low key isn't quite the word I'm looking for... maybe... scrumtralescent? My birthday was totally scrumtralescent. Enjoy the (at times, embarassing) photos:



Patrick and Kerri at Taco Amigo in Itaewon, where we had dinner. It was really yummy- chicken burrito, lightly flavoured with cilantro, black beans, nachos and rice on the side with plenty of freshly made guacamole and salsa. Oh, and one can't forget the frosty bottles of corona with a nice wedge of fresh lime... I can go on about the food here... you should all go to this joint.

Allison and Jeremy, avoiding my camera at all costs.

Birthday girl party hat; courtesy of Ms. Kerri Fletcher. New camera; courtesy of my wonderful boyfriend. Corona? Courtesy of Mexico. Life doesn't get much better than this.

After dinner we strolled around Itaewon for awhile, taking in all the scantily clad ladies, the overly drunk American soldiers, and one very cute German Shepard I ran into. You never know what you'll find in Itaewon!

On our way to Hooker Hill, where one can find a quality soju cocktail establishment. I believe Hooker Hill's name is self explanatory.

Polly's Kettle! This stuff will seriously get you wasted (not that I did that, Mom- it's just a possibility).

They serve you the soj' in taseful cut-up pop bottles. It tastes delicious- the liquor is undetectable. That's why it's so dangerous.

After some embarassing Noraebang we ran into some friends from Suwon on their way to Hongdae. What a surprise! We were also on our way to Hongdae! Someone had the bright idea of sharing a cab.

When we arrived in Hongdae, this is how I found my friend Tristan. Don't ask questions; just go with it.

Of course I still had my party hat on. It was on all night!

But after seeing Tristan's hat I felt inadequate (sorry Kerri; it was a lovely hat, really).

Tristan just looked so debonair! And this hat was so versatile.

See? Ice cream cone.

Riding a motorcycle.

Riding a bicycle? We're running out of ideas.

In the end, I threw my purse and Kerri's inadequate (but lovely!) party hat in the street...

and that's when I really started to celebrate. Then the bar owner who also happened to own the massive cone came outside and took it back where it belonged. Happy birthday, me.

Prepare Yourself.

If you recall my last few rugby experiences, you will agree that I am not the sportiest of ladies- yes? Me too.

So why the hell did I join a touch rugby team?

Actually, there were numerous reasons I was attracted to join this particluar team. Time for a list!

1. It is an all girls team, but also an all girls team made up of girls who have (for the most part) never played the game.
2. My friends created it after tiring of hearing all of our guy friends (and Grace) talk about rugby nonstop. It got boring just listening.
3. Our team is the girliest touch rugby team, possibly in the history of the game. We like sparkles and puppies. And lip gloss. And shoes. Our uniforms are tie dyed.
4. I needed the exercise.

So, my lady friends and I trained for about three weeks, learned the gist of the game and then participated in an international touch tournament in Seoul where we played against really good teams. We tried our best, but against these girls your best is not good enough. However; if they were ever planning on giving out "cutest outfit" awards or "most sunshiney attitude" awards we would have definitely cleaned up. Here are some pics:


While the real rugby players watched, I wolfed down an egg mcmuffin and hash brown for breakfast. It's not my fault that our hotel was on top of a McDonald's, ok?

And Rachael just couldn't imagine getting through her day of sports without some Starbucks. So we enjoy the comforts of home.

During the games, the guys tend to get really intense (angry). They spend a lot of time "discussing things" but by the end of the game they are still best friends. That's the nice thing about boys.

Coolest shirt ever. Go Dani.

My nails needed some pizazz before the game, so I painted them pink of course!

Our beautiful team of sparkly princesses.

My running shoes. Duh.

After we lost all our games (and I got a black eye) we had some free beer and wine and cheered on our guys, who made it through to the next round!

Jeremy and this guy from a Korean team had a dance off before the game, natch.

And we continued to drink and shout encouragement...

Then the guys won the plate! Again!

And Pat got, like, five tri's or something awesome like that.

And here are the Stormers and the Sunshiners! BFFAA.


And in true Suwon style we made our way to the wine tent.

And we celebrated Grace and Rachael's birthday! Happy birthday!

It was raining and we were all pretty soaked.

After the tournie we went to Scrooge's in Itaewon for the awards ceremony and a free dinner. It was yummy. The guys got a trophy!

And promptly used it to drink beer. The end.