I consider myself a pretty simple girl (yes, yes, don't we all...) but it really doesn't take much to make me happy. Things like great coffee, rainy days, or being the last person in line at a closing check-out counter are among my favourites. It's not much, but I know how valuable it can be to recognize and appreciate the little things in life.
One of my favourite things to do here in Korea is 'spread the gospel' to my kids at school... help them start (or add to) their own little list of things to love. Today I had the greatest moment with one of my kids, Karen (she's seven) as I described one of my favourite desserts from when I was little.
Karen and I got to chatting about breakfast foods. I couldn't believe she had never heard of Eggo waffles - sacrilege! I knew what I had to do. I quietly called her over to my desk while the rest of the class worked busily, and asked if she wanted my Mum's top secret Eggo waffle ice-cream sandwich recipe... i.e. two toasted Eggo waffles with a scoop of chocolate ice cream sandwiched between them.
I drew her a detailed picture recipe, explained each step in careful English, and instructed her to return home tonight with a serious request that her Mum purchase Eggo waffles (or the closest Korean substitute) as soon as possible. Her eyes grew so wide I thought they would pop out of her head. She nodded excitedly, tucked my note firmly in her pocket and whispered, "Thank you! And it's OK... I won't tell!"
Hahaha...aw. Sometimes this job makes me forget I'm not a kid person.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tis' the Season
With Christmas around the bend, Busan is busy preparing in typical 'go big or go home' Korean fashion. I'm so relieved. One of my major concerns when first moving to Korea was that, by leaving Canada for a year, I would somehow 'miss' Christmas. I'm happy to report that this place is very into the holiday season.
Christmas music, decorations and lights are out in full force around the city, reminding me that I'm overdue for a trip down to the Haeundae boardwalk this weekend to check out the nighttime view. I'd bet my paycheck it's decked out to the max.
School's been a barrel full of crazy the past few weeks, as the kids prepare for their annual Christmas show next Wednesday night at the Busan Design Centre, a massive performance stage in the heart of Centum City. The BDC hosts various professional ballet and orchestra concerts throughout the year; naturally, Sally felt it was an appropriate venue for a bunch of runny-nosed kindergarteners' Christmas show. Lol...sorry...I know I've been knocking Sally so often lately, it's just that there's so much material to work with, I almost can't help myself. I'll try to cut down.
Anyway. Christmas show preparations are most hilarious because the Korean staff has the kids performing wildly inapporpriate songs and scenes from plays like Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Romeo and Juliet. Precisely how any of those dramatic selections relate to Christmas, I do not know.
I, on the other hand, am counting down the days to Christmas vacation! I'll be kickin around Busan for Christmas and New Years, so I'm in the midst of compiling a list of recommended restaurants and places in the city that I have yet to see (i.e. the Busan Aquarium, Beamosa Temple, the seafood & soju tent down by the water, which supposedly serves the world's greatest fresh scallops). I am sooo looking forward to nine solid kid-free days. The sound of silence shall be the greatest Christmas gift of all :)
Christmas music, decorations and lights are out in full force around the city, reminding me that I'm overdue for a trip down to the Haeundae boardwalk this weekend to check out the nighttime view. I'd bet my paycheck it's decked out to the max.
School's been a barrel full of crazy the past few weeks, as the kids prepare for their annual Christmas show next Wednesday night at the Busan Design Centre, a massive performance stage in the heart of Centum City. The BDC hosts various professional ballet and orchestra concerts throughout the year; naturally, Sally felt it was an appropriate venue for a bunch of runny-nosed kindergarteners' Christmas show. Lol...sorry...I know I've been knocking Sally so often lately, it's just that there's so much material to work with, I almost can't help myself. I'll try to cut down.
Anyway. Christmas show preparations are most hilarious because the Korean staff has the kids performing wildly inapporpriate songs and scenes from plays like Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Romeo and Juliet. Precisely how any of those dramatic selections relate to Christmas, I do not know.
I, on the other hand, am counting down the days to Christmas vacation! I'll be kickin around Busan for Christmas and New Years, so I'm in the midst of compiling a list of recommended restaurants and places in the city that I have yet to see (i.e. the Busan Aquarium, Beamosa Temple, the seafood & soju tent down by the water, which supposedly serves the world's greatest fresh scallops). I am sooo looking forward to nine solid kid-free days. The sound of silence shall be the greatest Christmas gift of all :)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
I'll Have What She's Having
Tuesday was one of my friends' last days at school. With her contract complete, she's on her way home to Michigan this morning. Naturally, she's been partying every night this week and taking every opportunity to remind everyone that - she doesn't have to work tomorrow! I'm jealous, but happy that she'll make it home for Christmas this year. After teaching in Korea for the past 2 years, and planning to returning in January, she's overdue for some family time.
With one teacher gone, so another one arrives to take her place. Which means, I'm no longer the newbie at my school! So on Wednesday night the Korean and Foreign staff at my school enjoyed a going away/welcome dinner on Sally...and it was nothing less than amazing.
We went to a awesome doenjang restaurant about 5 minutes from my apartment in Haeundae. The place was illuminated by mini waterfalls flowing around an outdoor patio, I made a mental note to return during warmer weather. Doenjang is essentially fermented soybean paste - a staple dish here in Korea. It doesn't sound (or smell!) appetizing, but it makes for one amazing meal. It can be eaten raw as a condiment, or cooked in a variety of ways.
This restaurant specialized in doenjang jigae, a type of bean paste stew cooked with a variety of vegetables and tofu. We spooned ours onto multigrain rice, and mixed with condiments and other veg dishes like seasoned eggplant and fiddlehead. It's one of my favorite things about Korean dining, every meal includes at least 5 or 6 side dishes...so much colour and variety, always a rainbow on your table. And absolutely everything is eaten 'family style'.
Before the doenjang jigae, we feasted on several massive platters of roasted pork tenderloin with vegetables. You place the meat and veg in sesame bud leaves, season them with garlic, hot paste, or sweet sauce, and wrap them into bite sized pieces to pop in your mouth. Pork is the most widely eaten meat here (beef is super expensive) and I'm not usually a fan - I would rather eat seafood or chicken - but this stuff was really, really good.
When the mounds of food first arrived to the table I thought, there is no way we will get through even half of it. I found out a half hour later it was only the first course. Typical Korean, just when you think your dinner is over and you can't physically eat another bite, more food arrives. No wonder meals here last several hours.
All in all, it was a successful night, and really great to spend time with the Korean staff outside of work. It's amazing how well you can manage to communicate with someone who speaks a completely different language. Perhaps my favorite part was grilling Sally about her college days. She spent 1 year studying on exchange in New York City (hands down, my favorite place in the world) so naturally, I had to ask about it. She said it had been a dream of hers ever since seeing the movie When Harry Met Sally. "Actually," she shared, "that is where I chose my English name - I wanted to be Sally".
I nodded in enthousiastic approval, "Excellent choice."
With one teacher gone, so another one arrives to take her place. Which means, I'm no longer the newbie at my school! So on Wednesday night the Korean and Foreign staff at my school enjoyed a going away/welcome dinner on Sally...and it was nothing less than amazing.
We went to a awesome doenjang restaurant about 5 minutes from my apartment in Haeundae. The place was illuminated by mini waterfalls flowing around an outdoor patio, I made a mental note to return during warmer weather. Doenjang is essentially fermented soybean paste - a staple dish here in Korea. It doesn't sound (or smell!) appetizing, but it makes for one amazing meal. It can be eaten raw as a condiment, or cooked in a variety of ways.
This restaurant specialized in doenjang jigae, a type of bean paste stew cooked with a variety of vegetables and tofu. We spooned ours onto multigrain rice, and mixed with condiments and other veg dishes like seasoned eggplant and fiddlehead. It's one of my favorite things about Korean dining, every meal includes at least 5 or 6 side dishes...so much colour and variety, always a rainbow on your table. And absolutely everything is eaten 'family style'.
Before the doenjang jigae, we feasted on several massive platters of roasted pork tenderloin with vegetables. You place the meat and veg in sesame bud leaves, season them with garlic, hot paste, or sweet sauce, and wrap them into bite sized pieces to pop in your mouth. Pork is the most widely eaten meat here (beef is super expensive) and I'm not usually a fan - I would rather eat seafood or chicken - but this stuff was really, really good.
When the mounds of food first arrived to the table I thought, there is no way we will get through even half of it. I found out a half hour later it was only the first course. Typical Korean, just when you think your dinner is over and you can't physically eat another bite, more food arrives. No wonder meals here last several hours.
All in all, it was a successful night, and really great to spend time with the Korean staff outside of work. It's amazing how well you can manage to communicate with someone who speaks a completely different language. Perhaps my favorite part was grilling Sally about her college days. She spent 1 year studying on exchange in New York City (hands down, my favorite place in the world) so naturally, I had to ask about it. She said it had been a dream of hers ever since seeing the movie When Harry Met Sally. "Actually," she shared, "that is where I chose my English name - I wanted to be Sally".
I nodded in enthousiastic approval, "Excellent choice."
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