July 2009
In my room is possibly the coolest alarm clock I have ever seen. I can’t chalk it up to Korean technology because I bet there is something like this in the US, but why the Hell isn’t it in my bedroom? So there are alarm 1 and alarm 2 settings, where you can have two preset times, but then there is a nap button. Also, unlike the air conditioner and the fancy toilet, the clock has English buttons. Saturday afternoon, I moved the nap timer from 30 minutes to 40 minutes, while everyone else took naps for most of the afternoon.
During my nap time, YK and Hyun’s brother Keun came and we all headed to B2 in the building, the food court, for dinner. No one knew a good restaurant nearby and the idea of searching for one in the rain was not appetizing. We enjoyed our tofu soup in stone bowls.
Sunday was a slow morning. Most of the household are sleeping very funny hours due to the long naps of Saturday afternoon. I seem to be right on schedule (for now) and up at 9. After waking up, and helping myself to a cup of coffee and breakfast PBJ, I surfed the interweb, showered, and then it was time for lunch. The weather was hot, but at least it wasn’t raining. We walked to a little alley to a hole in the wall restaurant to have chicken and duck stuffed with rice, ginseng, garlic, etc. In fact, during most of the meal, the matriarch of the establishment was stuffing raw chickens right next to us. The food was great, but YK commented that if the restaurant was given a grade like the ones in LA, it would be a S, for Special.
After saying goodbye to Keun, we came home for naps (now a household custom), and after we woke up, we all headed out to Insadong. Seoul is very interesting because neighborhoods sell usually one type of goods. When we took the bus to the apartment, we passed by the wedding area (near the women’s college, my dad pointed out) and we can see the lamp area from our window. We are staying in the jewelry area near the plant, chair, and flooring areas. Insadong is an art area. There are tons of stores selling art goods and many different art galleries. It also has a 3rd Street Promenade kinda feel with street vendors and some performers. After watching a man do soccerball tricks, and after getting kicked out of a closing gallery, we had dinner at Koong “a Korean traditional restaurant which does delicious dumplings very well.” (written on the bookmark I picked up on the way out). I agree, the dumplings were delicious.
After dinner, we shopped. Insadong is a great place for souvenirs. I bought some gifts as well as a pair of shoes I hope will work better in the rain. I packed flip flops, sneakers, and going out shoes, so I was in desperate need of something that would work in a downpour. YK and Dad got this amazingly odd Turkish ice cream and Kathy got the honey candy that was kind of a performance art. (Street Food)
Today is Monday. After another lovely lazy morning, we took the subway to Itaewon for lunch and shopping. We had Thai for lunch (mmm green curry) and then began shopping. Itaewon has changed a lot in three years. When we were here last, there were tons of little shops selling knock-off purses and cheap clothes. It was always known as a place where Americans go shopping. Now, it seems most of those old shops have become Western shops, and not the cowboy kind. There was a Crocks store, New Balance store, Puma, Reebock, Nike etc. stores. Not to mention a McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Starbucks and all the rest of the “comforts” from home. I bought some Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and Jasmine got some sandals and headbands, and we headed home a tad disappointed. I did see this sign though.
On the way home via the subway, I befriended an elderly Korean man. I was standing up in the subway, when an elderly woman beckoned me over and insisted I sit beside her on the subway. I soon realized that this was the “elderly and disabled” section. An elderly man walking through the trains of the subway came over to our section and I offered him my seat. On a side note, the only English TV channel is AFN (Armed Forces Network) and almost all the commercials are about not being rude Americans, reporting sexual assaults, getting help for alcoholism, or PTSD. One of the former commercials was of a man in fatigues and that would not give up his seat in the elderly and handicapped seating section to an elderly lady. I didn’t want to be that rude American, so I offered him my seat. He said, in pretty good, but a little broken English, that he was getting off on the next stop. He eventually sat down across from me and told me a little about himself. He was involved in the military, and he mentioned his battalion and fighting in China or against the Chinese (I didn’t understand that part). He then asked me what country I was from. I said the United States, California in particular. He said, and I quote, “I have a friend in Oklahoma. (pause) He died. (pause) 45 years ago.” He also was talking to all the other people in our section in Korean, including the original lady that insisted I sit in the seat. He said “Yakkity yak, yakkity yak, all these old people do is talk talk talk.” He was awesome. When we both finally got off (at the same stop) he shook my hand and I said it was a pleasure talking to him. He said “take it easy”. He made my day.
Small Wide World 