Two weeks.

My Korean cold remedy.

I have to be honest, this has been a challenging post to write. I have been in Korea for a little over two weeks now, and for most of those two weeks I have been sick. This will be the second time I have been sick in almost three years. Not a bad run, but whatever Korean germs are lurking here are having their way with me. Here are some random photos from my first two weeks. I am sure more themes will develop later when I am less heavily medicated. And yes, this lung/sinus assault is typical to the new teachers in my school.

Went out with some friends of mine (they have been in Seoul for almost 4 years now) to an 'Octopus Restaurant'. The main course is.... octopus! Its served in a soupy broth or in a spicy sauce. We were pretty excited until they brought the live octopus to our table,put the glass top on the pot and let us watch it slowly stop squirming. We were silent a few minutes and then we ate. Thanks octopus.


This same weekend I also made the mini version of a Korean paper lantern at the Buddhist temple... taking advantage of free decorating possibilities.


Dr. Fish.... not licensed in any way is still worth the $2. Here my friends are soaking there feet in some small tanks containing dozens of small fish who eat the dead skin off your feet. Its actually kind of nice, although I am not sure how effective it is.

There is a really lovely canal and park just two blocks behind my apartment. Koreans seem to really enjoy and make the most of their parks. Its were a lot of people go to walk and decompress in this society, aside from the Hof (beer) bars... they might be tied with the park in popularity, but they don't have cute ducks.

Enjoying a company meal with some new coworkers. Every time new employees arrive it also means someone else is leaving. At my school the director takes us all out for dinner and drinks at a Korean barbeque. I had the eel. There are still many Korean restaurants in which you sit on the
floor and eat at a low cooking table. You can see the pork and eel cooking in the middle of our table and as always an huge variety of side dishes.


Its the Nori Bong. No, not the bong you are thinking of, just the Korean name for Karaoke. The main difference from American Karaoke is that you rent private rooms by the hour for you and your friends to sing your hearts out. An average room comes with a couple mic's, a flat screen and some tambourines. I have already been to two since I arrived and I am sure there will be many more in my future.

Okay, so I realize that you may be thinking "Jessica sure did a lot in two weeks for being sick," and you're right, I did. Perhaps that is why I am still sick, but some opportunities I just couldn't say no to.