Christmas Dinner 2010

My friend and I cooked up a nice spread--and fairly healthy too--for Christmas dinner.

FYI: Vid

Those of you who have the link to my video sharing site, I uploaded a short vid of last night's live music . . . it's very dark, but the sound is good.

Student Posters

A couple of my young advanced students finished their Christmas posters . . .

Playing Pool

A few pics from a Korean pool hall.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Grilled meat, Korean style--a favorite:)

Gangneung Market

Some pics from the marketplace . . . a place that sells side dishes, and another that sells 'kim', or dried seaweed (also sometimes called 'laver')

Wow--cool! We found a way to upload my pics to my friend's computer, so I can do something constructive (in a sense) on the Christmas afternoon while he is preparing some food. It's really too cold to go outside.

Anyway, here are some shots from a Korean luncheon place where we ate yesterday before shopping at the market. I had pork cutlet while he had bibimbap (mixed rice and veggies).

These types of places are common in Korea and serve up a good, filling meal for about $5 a person. I love them:)

Btw, the ketchup and mayo "dressing" on my salad is something of a joke, but I've gotten used to it . . .

Christmas

I am spending this Christmas in Gangneung (Kangnung), South Korea, with a friend (even if he is Canadian:). I did the same last year; the difference is that his lovely Korean wife is off in England this year, studying for her Master's in English.

So Ken and I are stuck alone, but we are making the best of it. He had to teach yesterday--Friday--but in the morning we went to the downtown market and did a bit of shopping.

(I'll post pics of this stuff once I get back home.)

Last night we ate at a great grilled meat place, then played some pool. Then we went to a super (very small) live blues music joint.

Today we are going to cook, somthing we both like to do. It's facilitated by an oven (a rarity in Korea).

I wish his wife, Hyun-ju, was here, as I wish I could see my family, but that's ok because I can send my wishes out for a peaceful and happy Christmas:)

Cheers!

Students Making Christmas Cards--The Cards

A fifth grade student came to me at the beginning of class and said, "Teacher, this is for you!"

She held up a McDonald's bag that had a delicious smell.

I was impressed. "Thanks!" I said.

Then another student from the class came in, a boy, looking confused. "Where's my food?" he asked.

The girl laughed, and I accused her of being a food thief. She thought it was quite funny, while I was amazed that she had the nerve to pull off such a stunt. But I give her credit for it, and maybe it was payback, as it happened the class after I joked about her sprained finger, saying she had a fight with her little sister (whom we teach and is very cute) and her sister won.

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Speaking of sisters, it seems like every two weeks or so I find out that one of the students I teach also has a brother or sister whom I also teach. This "discovery" process has been going on for a long time, so I now am aware that I teach quite a few borther-sister pairs.

I should do a poll to find out how many, only it would take away some of the surprise effect. I kind of enjoy thinking, "Oh yeah, why didn't I see the facial resemblance before?" or "He's as ADD as his sister is!".

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I have taken to buying fake Korean money in this little kids' package and giving the bills out to students. Of course, they all clamour for the big bills (50,000 won).

A student in a young class--inspired, I think, by this--gave me a gift the other day of a package of American money stickers, which I redistributed to the class.

What are you doing?

Here's what happens when I leave whiteboard markers in the classroom:)

At least they are writing (mostly) English, and it's all spontaneous. I'm actually glad they did this, and might find a way to encourage more of it.

(The one line that says "Monkey buger" is meant to be spelled "Monkey burger", as this is one of the things I jokingly tell them I like to eat.)

Cute Snack

Different-flavored chocolate pieces--found them on sale.

Triangle Kimbap

Triangle kimbap!

Loosely translated, "kim" = seaweed and "bap" = rice, so a seaweed wrapped rice triangle.

Healthy, cheap, portable. Different flavors/fillings. Cleverly packaged to stay fresh in the fridge for a day or so. Ummm . . . and cheap!:)

Give Me My Blog Back

Somebody, or something, is denying me viewership of my blog. As you can see, I can access it, but I can't view it. Very frustrating. Do you think it has something to do with writing about North Korea? Oops, I said it again.

South Korea Sausage

Sundae (pronounced "soon-dae") is commonly described as a "noodle and vegetable" sausage, though it has different forms in different places. In Sokcho, for example, a city on the east coast where I lived for about 5 months, it incorporates squid.

I usually refer to this type of sausage as "blood sausage", since that is what it looks like.

The pictures here are of a North Korean variety of the sausage, which has rice in it (never happens in South Korea that I know of) and therefore has a softer texture. It is, however, spicier.

We were able to sample this type of sausage through the generosity of some of the North Korean immigrants who live in the Seoul area.

1st Snow in the Seoul Area

It snowed for the first time today. I was told that heavy snow was forecast, though it hasn't yet materialized. There was only about a 1/4 inch of slush on the ground when I left work, though more snow may come overnight. It was good to have something new to talk about in class, and I taught my students that rain + snow = "sleet". It might be a bit dangerously icy tomorrow morning.

More Restaurant Pics

My fellow teachers and I ate a a newly "discovered" Mexican restaurant tonight, not too far from where we live (two subway stops). The food was pretty good, the prices reasonable (for Western food in Korea), and they had real sour cream and cheese. We were pleasantly surprised, and I will go back for more . . .

Playing Pool (Pocket Ball)

I played--or attempted to play--some pool last weekend. These types of no-frills pool halls are very common in South Korea. Pay by-the-hour. Cheap. Mostly a younger male crowd at this one.

My Strange Dinners

What you see is salmon, carrots (cooked with the salmon), tomato, tofu, kimchi, and anchovies in mildly spicy marinade. I love mixed meals, but if you had told me ten years ago I would be eating this (delicious) mix I would have signed the petition for you to be committed.

Duck Restaurant

My friend Ken and I ate at a duck restaurant that I went to years ago. The meat is roasted on a spit at the table, an automatic turner that grills the meat. Delicious! At the end of the meal, the leftover bones (from the duck you bought) are made into a soup . . .

$40 for two--quite expensive for a dinner in Korea, but worth it. The meat it a bit fatty but good, and the side dishes are a nice variety. Not a place to eat at every night, but once in a while it is a speacial treat.

Gangneung Beach Pics