Repatriate Me!

Today is parents day in Korea and our kids did a really great job surprising us. They really prepared a lot of special things for us including several letters and pictures. When they woke up this morning they hid their envelopes in the living room and told us to go hunting for them. The kids had a lot of fun watching us look for their surprises.

They also did a really good job writing in both Korean and English – Veronica’s (9 years) English has really come a long way – she helped Calvin (5 years) with his letter by writing it down first for him and then he copied what she wrote. Good job guys.

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Yesterday I met my good friend Duane for dinner, but before meeting him I walked around Yonsei University doing some photography. This is part of my series of photo sets on flickr of University Campuses – You can see the whole Yonsei University set here. I’m also including a few of my favorite shots from that set.

In any case as I was walking around I was approached by someone I hadn’t met before but knew me from this blog. I was surprised to find out that I actually have readers who aren’t on my facebook friends list. I talked to Michael Kealey for a several minutes and he seems like a great guy. Was really nice to meet a reader and I hope he enjoys the photos here.

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Just started thinking about food since it’s lunch time here. Here in Korea I don’t even think twice about eating out. It’s so easy to get a good meal for less than $7 and probably closer to $4.5 – $5 as long as your willing to eat Korean food. One can even go as low as $1.50 and have a roll of kimbap, but I don’t find that particularly tasty though some people do.

Good examples of food that one can get for less than $7 and include a number of side dishes include:

1. various jiggaes
   1. doenjang jiggae (eat this at home all the time)
   2. kimchee jiggae
   3. soondubu jiggae
2. bibimbap
3. dolsot bibimbap
4. don kassu
5. Japchae (available at Chinese restaurants)
6. Jajang myeon (available at Chinese restaurants and in an earlier post)
7. Mapa Dubu (available at Chinese restaurants and in an earlier post)
8. Kalkuksu
9. Naeng myun (I personally don’t like this one)
10. Samgye tang
11. Galbi Tang
12. Seolleong Tang
13. Bulgogi

There are of course many more to choose from at this price point. If i upped the price to about $10 then I could add a ton more. And don’t forget this is the total you pay, there is no added tax and none of that insanely stupid North American practice of tipping. Really eating out in Korea is a pleasure and incredibly cheap.

This past weekend was a 5 day weekend here in Korea and most of Asia due to it being the Lunar New Year. I believe most people in Canada refer to it as Chinese New Year. In any case this is the second biggest holiday in Korea following Chusok and the driving is usually just as horrendous – see this post for details. This year we had the best traffic we ever did and that includes regular weekends. Both ways the drive was about 3 hours and very stress free. Lucky us.

We haven’t done much regarding the move to Canada lately, but I’ve been thinking about it alot. One thing that I’m not too keen on is arriving without a credit card as I’ll have to cancel my Korean card before i go and I don’t have a Canadian one. Don’t really want to walk around with wads of cash as I go and buy things like a cellphone, TV, car, and other various big ticket items. Actually one thing I’m wondering is whether it’s possible to rent a car without a credit card. I’ll be landing at 10am and would like to rent a car to drive to whatever accomadations I’ve arranged and then be able to get around for the first couple of days until I buy a car.

Also keep thinking about employment and my less than spectacular business. Do have a couple of contacts that will potentially lead to some p/t outsourcing work for agencies but the thing is nothing is guaranteed. Queue worried look as I contemplate hemmoraging my savings while looking for work.

In other news I’m really enjoying photography a lot and have been keeping up with my photo a day at my photoblog site. More pictures can be seen at my flickr page I’ll also add a few shots from my recent trip to the countryside below or you can view the complete Chungchungbuk do set.

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A while ago I noticed a new coffeeshop, Coffine Gurunaru Gurunaru, which had opened up across from a movie theater (Artreon) a short walk from my home. I’ve been planning to go there but didn’t have time until Sunday.

At first I thought it was an independent coffee shop but after looking at their web site it looks like it’s another Chain. Just what Seoul needs in an already over crowded coffee shop market. It’s already pretty much impossible to walk more than five minutes without running into one of the eight major chain coffee shops in Seoul and in some areas there’s a different shop every 25-30 meters for as far as the eye can see.

In any case I went in ordered my coffee and found a seat near one of the several electrical outlets and turned on my laptop. The wifi is free but required a password which the clerk told me was 12345678. I don’t know why they have a password if it’s that easy. The coffee itself was on par with the other major chains including Caffe Bene, Coffee Bean and Starbucks. It was definitely better than Tom n Toms, Angel-in-us and far beyond the budget coffee chains of Ediya and Rosebud.

Interestingly Coffine bills itself as a coffee and wine place. This location had a wine corner and it there’s a selection of wine on the menu. Since I don’t drink much I’m not interested in that, and wouldn’t know a $200 bottle of wine from a $3 bottle, but others may be.

Interior photos in the extended entry.

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