Unlimited wine for 3 bucks? Yup! @samapple1

Unlimited wine for 3 bucks? Yup! @samapple1

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Missing comforts of home in Korea

Here's another one I've already read about in a ton of blogs: around the 3 month mark of your time in Korea you'll really start missing the comforts of home.  It's my own fault.  I should have sent myself a care package.  I should have learned more Korean.  I should have brought a friend or boyfriend with me.  I should suck it up and deal with it.  This one gets a little sappy - be forewarned that I'm not actually upset just went down a rabbit hole of memories.  I'm missing the comforts of home.

Most of these have to do with food (and the "Canadian" foods I miss), so if you're hungry then this might not be the time.

1. I can't place a proper order.

I don't speak Korean.  I can get by at lunchbox places (Hansot) and Kimbap (Kim Seon Saeng), I can terrify my students by telling them to STOP IT, or that I don't understand, or that I know they're talking about me in Korean (Way-goo-gin Seon-Saeng-Nim - literally Foreigner Teacher) - seriously they are so impressed when I say ANYTHING in Korean at all.  It's amazing!  Restaurant staff on the other hand?  They either make fun of me (I pointed at pictures on the Hansot Menu my first week before practicing the Korean from the menu and trying my luck - it was only when I spoke Hangul that they started chirping me!) or they get irritated and I end up having to pull out the translator on my phone or simply leave because they make no attempt to help me understand.  I know it's my own fault.  It's not easy.  When I was in Europe I could kind of figure it out having studied French, Italian, German, and Spanish, but this is an entirely different ballgame.

(Photo c/o Crayon Pop - go check it out!)

2. Cheetos and Doritos are a lie and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The Cheetos here are either sweet BBQ flavoured, honey butter, or tomato and onion.  They lack the bite that proper CHEESE Cheetos should have.  I found some cheese puffs/ balls that are supposed to be camembert-flavoured.  Also a lie.  The flavours are muted and sometimes when I just want a savoury snack I am SOL.

 <-- If you want Doritos then get these instead!

The Doritos here are Sweet Ranch flavoured, or mild cheese flavour, or a bomb of different heats including the overwhelming taste of wasabi.  There are a couple of others but realistically the actual chip just tastes like they're gluten-free - you know...like cardboard with powder on it.

3. Koreans think foreigners can't handle the heat.

When I order something spicy I get raised eyebrows and sauce on the side.  Usually it's just a sweet sauce without much kick.  I bought jalapenos, hot salsa, Louisiana Hot Sauce, tons of chili flakes and decided to cook my spicy goodness at home.  Jin Ramen (HOT) ain't got a thing on this gal.

4. EVERYTHING is sweet.
The chips...they're sweet.  The bread...it's sweet.  The meat...is sweet.  The cheese...is sweet.  The pizza...is sweet.  I just want something salty and delicious.  Please guys.  I'm begging you - make something basic and savoury.

5. If you're not in a couple or a party then you're not enjoying a restaurant meal.  

Korean food is designed for sharing.  I'm dying to go to many of the awesome-looking Korean BBQ spots a block away from my place.  I saw a chef carving beef today and want to go to there ASAP but if your crew wants to get dukgalbi then that's where you're going.  If they want pork? Then group consensus wins.  If you're alone?  No dice - you're sad and there's nothing here for you.  Go to Lotteria or head home and get McDelivery (which I have now set up and ordered from twice - danger, danger).  I miss having my close-knit gal pals from Toronto who were always down to try anything once if good food, good wine, or a good story was involved.

6. I miss the International Foods available in my hometown of Toronto.

I want real pizza (not a crepe topped with "cheese" - the cheese here is not the kind of quality we get back home).  I miss good quality cheese (and wine, and champagne!).  I want tortellini.  There is Indian food here but man, is it ever far from Hwamyeong.  I want sushi - tonight I went to the local sushi restaurant and was told that all they served was sashimi and croquettes.  I want Thai food and only know of one Pan-Asian "Fusion" spot in Seomyeon to get my curry on.  I want to order chicken and not have to pay $18 for a box of chicken that could feed a large family but will go bad by morning.  I miss order-it and just-eat.  I don't want to talk to anyone I just want to order my multicultural food from the comfort of my bed in my jammies and have nobody question my decisions or get confused.

Most of all I miss having 3 incredible chefs and their teams cooking for me and explaining each individual ingredient with great detail (and then encouraging hefty bourbon shots).  I miss my mornings with Des and Kat with real talk (and unreal scrambled eggs), Julian's creations surprising me at every turn (don't get me started on the mushroom poutine - I could go for poutine right now too...), Ryan's counter culture and supportive spirit (that goes for Rob too), and my afternoons with Sandy Sanderson and AR (I wasn't talking to you).  Man, I miss you all and your incredible passion and zest for life.

7. The owner of my gym treats me differently than the 3 Korean referrals I brought in who all signed up as members.

I have a real problem with this one.  My Korean friends paid the same as I did for the gym but they get access to lockers as well.  I was never told about the gym clothes as well but I've gone ahead and started using them.  When my colleague referred her friend she got a free month.  I brought in another friend less than a week later and all of a sudden the promotion was over and no dice for me (this was the 5th friend I had referred, and yes - he was well aware).

8.  Give me a good salad that won't cost me $10 (or more like $16).  I miss Quesada and Fresh.  Just give me some mixed greens, some veggies, and a protein and I'm happy.  Add cheese?  Thrilled.

9.  BACON - give me real bacon...please.  STEAK - I want a decent piece of meat that hasn't been cut with scissors right on the grill.  Ps. The above photos are from Rose and Sons.  Go there now.

I really just want the comforts of home.  Meeting a Korean who can speak even the tiniest bit of English makes me over the moon.  I found some no name nacho chips that have the crunch-factor I was looking for in the Doritos.  I miss real bacon.  I miss being able to buy meat at the grocery store without giving up my weekend party budget (meat here is PRICY - you're better off eating at a restaurant as it's actually cheaper).  I miss my Queen-sized bed.  Heck - I miss my Double bed from University.  Sleeping on an old single bed is doing my back no good.  I miss buying furniture and being able to hire a delivery service to get it home.  My apartment is not a reflection of me in the slightest as the walls are completely bare and the couch is...well...that's another story that probably won't be posted here.  Let's just say it came from a stairwell and caused a lot of grief.

When I'm sick I want my Mom - she provides cuddles, Vick's vapo-rub, and the kind of concern a girl just needs when she's on her own halfway around the world.  Shout out to the God-fam for the support and love as well (my family is pretty great-looking, right?).  Truly, I miss joking around with my Mom and my Dad.  I miss our romps around Toronto when they would come in for Indian Buffet on King Street (shout out Agra - miss you guys) and a trip around the Eaton Centre.  I miss our laughs - it's not the same on Skype (thought I'm incredibly thankful for such a service).  I miss my parents' cooking.  They always come up with innovative dishes but also know when to make my old favourites (I could SO go for pesto chicken pasta or Dad's famous Caesar salad right now).  I don't have an oven or a blender - I'm just here chillin' with a hot plate.

Realistically I'll be here for the next 2 years so if anyone from Canada/ USA wants any Korean treats please suggest we become penpals - I will send it alllllllll as long as you promise to send me some comforts of home in return.

I dream in Skyscanner part I

I want to see everything and go everywhere.  I've traveled pretty extensively throughout Europe, I've been fortunate enough to perform in China, England, The United States, and South Africa, and I still feel like I haven't even started to see the world!  Being in Korea just makes me want to jet set each and every week do a different dazzling locale, but it's much more expensive to travel from Korea than it is from Thailand or Vietnam.  Because my primary goal of coming to Korea was to pay off debt and get my savings account rocking I've had to choose some more frugal options when it comes to taking my vacation.  My vacation days came pre-selected by my employer, so I really only have long weekends here and there.  My longest vacations are Chuseok and New Years and even they aren't full weeks off so it doesn't really make sense to plan my trips to Thailand, Cambodia, or India - places I want to explore to the fullest. 

At the end of July I'm taking my first international trip since arriving in Korea.  I'm traveling with 3 people to Osaka, Japan!  Our hostel sounds incredible (apparently they plan activities for the guests) and I'm really excited to travel with this crew.

(Photo c/o 10 things to do in Osaka)

(Photo c/o St. Regis Starwood Hotels Website)

I've made a tentative schedule just to map out things I want to see and do.  I'm sure we'll do certain things together but that I'll also end up doing some of these things alone.  

Wednesday: Arrive in Osaka in the afternoon and head over to the St. Regis for afternoon tea.  Check in at the hostel and spend the evening in Dotonbori.

Thursday:  Universal Studios Express Pass – just to see Harry Potter World and check out some rides.  Potentially visit Umeda Sky Building & Floating Garden Observatory and Osaka Castle in the afternoon and Tsutstenkaku at night or back to Dotonbori.  Maybe check out a club just to see what the scene is like and get some dancing in (or save that until Friday – whichever works).

Friday:  Hit up the Temples and Shrines and then check out more of the local nightlife/ food in the evening.

Saturday: Kate flies back to Busan/ Gimhae but will probably have a little bit of time to do something in the morning (fingers crossed the Ferris Wheel!).

Areas of interest:

Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Umeda Sky Building & Floating Garden Observatory

The Drunken Clam – English Karaoke Bar in Osaka.  Ghost Ultra Bar, Club Picadilly (they have aerial artists)

Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi 

Universal Express Pass 5 – Harry Potter World 

Tsutenkaku area and tower at night

Dotonbori area at night 

St. Regis Hotel (afternoon tea $28 tax included– and the area is supposed to be like the Champs Elysees)

Shitennoji Temple

Sanko Shrine 

Namba Yasaka Shrine 

Have you been to Osaka?  Any suggestions for me?  Leave them in the comments!

I've also booked my flight to Shanghai for September.  Tell me what to do and where to go!

Photo

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When your friends leave Korea

Well, it happened.  Much earlier than I had anticipated, way earlier than I'd hoped, and so much earlier than I'm ready to understand.  It was bound to happen.  I had read many articles about it.  Most foreigner friends don't plan on staying in Korea for more than a couple of years, if that.  I just didn't expect my closest friend in Busan (in my neighbourhood, no less) to be leaving for good in 5 days.

So this (^^^) was my first my reaction when my confidante, cheerleader, and co-captain told me she was THINKING of leaving.  I can completely understand.  I won't go into detail on Hagwon horror stories, but I do encourage you to look them up if you're thinking of teaching here.  The Facebook groups are also a good way to see the dark side of working here.  I've been REALLY lucky and am really happy, but that's not always the case.  Vet your recruiter and the employer thoroughly before your arrival.

(This is how all of Hwammy feels about your news, by the way...)

My sad food isn't even good.  I went and got pasta (my go-to when I'm upset).  Tortellini isn't a thing here (too much expensive beef or cheese, I suppose) so I settled for "Cream Chicken Pasta".  I think the chicken may, in fact, have been creamed because the pieces were TINY.  The sauce was pathetic.  I tossed it in Pepper, Chili Flakes, and Frank's Red Hot to make it palatable.  

I'd like to go ahead and place the blame on Mercury in Retrograde: "Mercury Retrograde or Mercury in Retrograde started Monday, May 18, according to astrologers, and doesn't end until June 11. Astrologers who believe that planetary positions affect our everyday lives see Mercury in Retrograde as one of the few times a year when the planet Mercury rotates at a slower-than-usual pace, giving it the illusion that it's moving backwards. This backward-seeming illusion has its parallel in our lives, they say, creating problems in communication, travel and even technology, hence its reputation as the planetary troublemaker.

"Mercury in retrograde has became the default explanation of what’s wrong with our world," writes oneastrology debunker. "Don’t start a new job. Don’t close a deal. Avoid traveling. Don’t buy anything. Interestingly, Mercury’s retrograde is an illusion. This optical trick is a perfect metaphor for what astrology does to our brains: It gives order to a seemingly random universe. That doesn’t meant it’s real, however.""

I don't know if I'll feel this way when each friend finishes their contract and leaves, but if it doesn't get easier then this is going to be a brutal run.

I'll miss you.

xox

Hair did at Hwamiju

Most of my friends are aware that when I'm stressed, frustrated, or bored I change my hair.  My Mom does exactly the same thing, and it always seems to make me feel a lot better.  Better to change your hair than eat your feelings, right?

I had tried to get my hair done at Hwamiju in Hwamyeong back when I first arrived, but communication was difficult (I didn't have a proper translator on my phone) and I went on a Saturday when it was pretty busy.  After trying out a salon in Seomyeon, which was nice enough but didn't do what I wanted AT ALL, I decided to give Hwamiju another shot.  My hair was pretty dark and damaged from the Korean hair dye I used, and I wanted to lighten up my look.  I had a photo of Olivia Wilde (well...a few) and my stylist decided to do some lighter ombre and highlights.

Upon arrival price was discussed and agreed upon, my bag and coat were taken, and I was given a key to my locker.  I was escorted over to the waiting area and was told it would be about 15 minutes.  I had no appointment, so this was great news!

I was given really delicious coffee and some ginger snaps, which was great because I wandered into the salon on a whim after work and hadn't had dinner.

With the language barrier I was a little worried, but I had a Top Senior Stylist and the assistant (who actually spoke some English!) told me I had nothing to worry about and that she would do a great job.

I had two people working on my highlights and was brought a pillow and a Vogue (which came with an apology for not being in English.  I'm in Korea...all good!!).  My stylist checked out my highlights, had my hair washed, and then asked if she could pop in some more highlights (included in the price) and if she could trim my hair.  She also made sure to deep condition my hair so that I would leave with soft tresses.  Always the perfectionist, she also decided to use a straightener to add a "natural wave" to my hair.  All in all it took about 2.5 hours, and I'm very happy with the results.  I now know that I don't have to leave Hwamyeong to be properly pampered! 

For highlights, a trim, deep conditioning, coffee, and snacks from a Top Senior Stylist the total was KRW 77,000 ($85.61 Canadian).  I don't know of anywhere in Canada where I could get that wicked a deal!

Update: I went back to Hwamiju to get my roots touched up and freshen up the trim.  Never, ever, ever, use a coupon when getting your hair done here.  Root touch up and cut was supposed to be around KRW 40,000 (after the 50% off coupon), so I went in thinking that I'd get the same service.  I had a few people working on my hair and (like an idiot) assumed everything was going well.  How WRONG was I?...