Coming this week….The Great Chuseok Adventure!!
Starring Brooke, Tina, and Mobs…
Featuring…
Train rides
Sparklers
Clams on the half shell
Ajumma’s with Roman Candles
Ferry rides to nowhere
Island Pastors
Naked Mud Spas
Introducing…Little Germany
Do you ever feel like you’re not in Korea?
On Sunday nights I try to make it to Trivia Night at Metropolis Bar in Nowon, that’s in north Seoul and only 7 stops from my apartment. It’s pretty divey and frequented by foreigners.
Nowon Station exit 1
If you’ve been reading, you might remember my post on the elusive amaretto sour .
My favorite drink. Ever. I'm a priss, deal with it.
Metropolis is where I found one. They also serve Western style food. You can get cheeseburgers, wings and quesadillas. They even have real ranch dressing.
Best quesadilla this side of the Brazos.
What I like best about Metropolis is that for a few hours I can forget where I am.
People are talking about how if they could do it over again “They’d vote Hillary” and laughing about how Ron Paul is just a figment of our imagination. Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift are thrown into the music rotation. I just know that I’m going to find me a guy who’ll country swing with me there someday. (I’m really in dire need of some 2 steppin’ action.)
If you find yourself in Seoul, don’t just hang out in dirty Itaewon or trendy Hongdae. There are other places just as pleasing.
This country girl has been majorly homesick and a friendly game of trivia and darts, country music and political debates make me feel just a little better….
From Korea, with love.
And homesickness.
You like Banana Milk too?
Three times a week I teach the brightest of the bright in my school. 5 students and 3 of them have an almost perfect accent when speaking English. Because of this I like to make our class time as un-class time as possible. We get our assignments done, but I let them tell me about whatever story they can come up with, I let them read, or read to them and have them tell me about the story afterwards.
But on Friday I do something almost unheard of with the Korean teachers. I bring the kids treats. It is usually something that goes along with the article we read every Friday. Last week I brought them ice cream. The first time I brought them anything was about 2 months ago. A street vendor was selling cookies, so I bought enough for each kid. They didn’t want to take a cookie at first. I was shocked. “For us??” “You brought us a present?!?!” They all but shrieked.
This week we had beat our Ice Cream newspaper article to death so I bought 5 banana milks from the GS25 (7/11 like store) and a box of cookie things. They look like moon pies. Which I think is hilarious. Of course I bought them.
- Korean Moon Pies.
Banana milk is just what it sounds like; and actually delicious. I was very skeptical, I don’t like banana flavored things. You take the little straw and stab the foil top. No spills, it’s the Korean way.
- Banana Milk
These boys act more like cousins then friends. They call each other out when need be and help each other too. I love them.
- The 3 Amigos drinking up that banana milk.
The one on the left was shocked that I too liked banana milk and drank some with them. He also likes to give me Korean lessons.
From Korea, with love.
You like sport?
As I’ve mentioned in a few other posts, Korea is forcing me to lose weight. And by forcing, I mean sweet talking me with amaretto sours all night and waltzing me out into the sunset. It’s a beautiful romance. One that I didn’t think would happen this easily. So in true Brooke fashion I decided to take it up a notch. I can’t leave anything well and good enough alone.
I’ve joined a gym…
There is a gym half way between my apartment and my work. Perfect!! Seriously. It’s perfect. Yesterday I walked in and told the man I wanted a membership. I didn’t care how much. This was the only gym I knew of and with it so close it’s all just kismet right? They were all so sweet to the foreigner who knows next to nothing Korean.
I found out that with a membership comes a personal trainer, access to all classes including spinning and yoga and even a few dance classes, plus the obvious access to gym-things. I was pumped!!
It all cost me about $300 US for 11 months. It was actually cheaper to get the 11 month package then go by monthly and since I’m taking this seriously I thought what the hell.
Today when I came for my first appointment with my trainer lol I was a little nervous. But it all turned out great. She just wanted to talk to me and find out what my goals were. She started asking me if I had ever lifted weights before or had ever played a sport. When I told her that I could play basketball, softball, volleyball, golf, tennis, she cut me off. Looked at me funny and said “oh you a sport girl, very cool” But actually no I’m not a “sport girl”. I suck at sports, and the only one I’m good at is basketball. You don’t really play sports in Korea. You go to a Soccer academy after about 5 other academies. So they kids aren’t taught a multitude of different sports like we are in the US. I never valued my PE class until just now.
So after about 20 minutes chit chatting over things she put me on a treadmill and told me to go. She had set the speed and the timer and I wasn’t allowed to touch it. She left so I honestly could have slowed down, but I didn’t. My legs felt like they might fall off, but I did it.
I have to see her again tomorrow….I don’t know how I feel about that.
From Korea, with love
Some Enchanted Forest…
This past Monday a few friends and I decided mid-afternoon to go find the Seoul Forest.
After a quick subway transfer and a “brief” 15 minute walk down a distillate street we found the forest of Seoul.
It turns out to be more of a cute park on ‘roids. I had envisioned this “forest” with dense trees and squirrels. And while I did find trees, there was not a squirrel in sight. There were however loads of Koreans. As Monday was Liberation Day in Korea. It celebrates the day that the Allied forces liberated Korea from Japan in 1945. I wonder if that was the same day the US dropped the Atomic bomb? So much they don’t teach us in school. Like the metric system! I’ll write a post on that soon I promise, cause it drives me crazy!
In Seoul Forest we saw some pretty neat sculptures.
Would you like to hold my hand?
This dude is called a Grandfather, and he is from Jeju-do Island. The Hawa’ii of Korea.
All I know that this is a bear. Sums up the oddness that is Korealand.
There was even a water fountain portion to the park…oh I mean Forest. The kids were loving it!
It was a pretty good afternoon/evening in Korea.
But lest you forget where you are. Korea will always remind you.
From Korea, with love!
GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLL
Last night I had my first soccer experience. I was a little iffy on the idea. But I LOVE sporting events, and since I’d never been to a game ever. Not even in high school. Soccer is a pretty big deal where I’m from, but I always had other important things to follow back then.
I asked Charlet what colors to wear….Red or black. I’m not a big wearing red fan. But that’s for a different post entirely……
I donned a black shirt and out we went for the half hour subway ride to World Cup Stadium. Get on the escalator and you can hear the fans. I get goosebumps. I’m telling you I love sporting events!! The noise and excitement. The rush you get when your team scores. LOVE IT!
Tickets are only 10,000 won, which is about $10. And you get this piece of plastic you fold into a fan so you make as much obnoxious noise as possible. Heck yes! We had great seats too. Or I thought so at least. Fairly close to the field and close to the “ultras”. The mega fans. They have huge flags and vuvuzelas. I need one of those!
Then Charlet took us newbies to get the obligatory hot dogge. 
If a hot dog and corn dog had a baby this would be it.
Then we walk into the stadium…..people are going crazy. I hear “FC SEOUL FC SEOUL FC SEOUL” and something else in Korean I don’t understand. I learn later that they are chanting “Seoul is coming, Seoul is coming”. I see the guys with the mega flags and know I’ve found a new favorite past time.
I guess the game was a slow one. But honestly I figured a soccer game would be pretty slow. I mean it’s soccer, what’s so exciting about that? Then they started to shot the ball more and miss. People are going nuts. They have these guys that keep the crowd going. And every time our team got close to scoring these guys would start another chant.
We finally scored in the last minute or so. That is what sealed the deal for me. The fans erupted. The people I was with jump into each others arms. Hugging all round.
I can’t wait for my next football game.
With love, from Korea.
Powder River Let ‘er Buck!!
Last week was County Fair time in Johnson County, where the fairgrounds are over run with kids with free rein, drunk Basqos, and the earthy smell of cow shit. I would have been on the first flight home if I could be there.
Rural summer would be something I knew I’d really miss when I boarded that plan in Seattle 3 months ago.
Buffalo, Wyoming. A place that has become my hometown. My parents finally bought the house we’ve lived in for 8 years. We moved in a month before I left for college. It sits on the foot of the Big Horns. It’s my home. Spruce trees and lilac bushes. Nosy neighbors who would no doubt report if I ever had a party. Don’t worry, that’s not my style.
But back to this place in the wild wild west. I love it when people ask me where I’m from and I throw up the west side gang sign ( make a “W” with my fingers) and say Wyoming! Home of Chris LeDoux, The Johnson County Cattle War, Basques, and the fabled Powder River.
The only state whiter than Wyo is Utah. We have more sheep than people, and if you ask anyone, we’re sure as shit fine with that fact.
I even brought Steam Boat with me to Korea. He’s the Wyoming bucking horse. And he lives on my wall.
And of course mine has glitter on it…
The State sport is Rodeo and the state song is Home on the Range.
Dick Cheney is a Wyomingite, and yes we’ll all shoot you in the face if need be.
And no I didn’t photoshop this.
I recently met a girl in Korea from Arizona. When I told her where I’m from, she said ” oh I’ve met someone from there before! She was so nice!” I’m probably the only person in Korea from Wyoming.
Wyoming is where I drank my first beer, Coors Light. Sitting around a bon fire, made from palettes stolen from a lumber yard, along the Platte River in Junior College. That’s how we do in Wyo.
It’s where I learned to drive a stick shift real quick, and where I became a legend when I told another girl to F off one cold morning in the Ag Shop, while I was in high school.
Wyoming still holds a wildness you can only find in the west.
I used to wake up and look out my window and see snow covered mountains….
There is a phrase we say in Wyoming…..Powder River, Let ‘r Buck!!
When something starts to head south, or starts to get a little hairy. I say this phrase. I’m not 100 % sure why this phrase even exists. And I really don’t care.
It’s a battle cry, a party starter.
I miss the crisp morning air laced with sage brush. Seeing horse trailers getting pulled up the mountain and dirty cowboys getting down on some Dash Inn (the best burger place in the state).
If you’re ever in Wyoming I highly recommend you stop in Buffalo. You’ll more than likely drive through it anyway. Since 2 of the 3 interstates in the state meet there. Get a dashburger at Dash Inn and eat with the locals. Be sure to drive within the speed limit if you have out of state tags. Then head over to the Ice Cream Parlor for some Huckleberry ice cream and stroll down historic main street. Walk through the Occidental Salon (with real bullet holes and ghosts of cowboys and fallen women). If it’s Thursday, stay for the jam session.
Wyoming will always be my home, and I’m proud to say I’m from there. With its wind and winters that last all year. It snowed on the high school graduation day.
I dare you to drive through Crazy Woman Canyon and not fall in love….
See ya soon Buff!
Shout out…
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Just wanting to say a quick little thanks to all of you who have been reading.
THANKS!!!!
I was so surprised and honored with all of your sweet and encouraging comments that you’ve left me in various places.
I’m glad that you’re liking what I’m writing and you’ve made it so that I can’t just stop writing now. I have to keep it up!
To me it’s crazy who is reading. Please don’t stop.
When I’m breaking 50 views a day it feels incredible that so many people are caring about what I’m doing over here.
I’d love to have visitors too….hint hint 😉
With love, from Korea…
Some of my favorite things…
Not a lot has been going on that deserves a posting.
Just lots of working and sleeping; with some running and facebook creepin’ thrown in the mix.
I wanted to share some of my favorite things here lately.
This grape popsicle is killer!!
This is Vicky, and she thinks my hair smells awesome. Now my favorite. yea it’s that easy.
Kimbop….It’s fast, cheap and easy.
Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!!!
From Korea, with love. 😉
Drive-by? Get slapped!
The last 24 hours in the land of kimchi has been an entertaining one.
After work yesterday, I was dog tired and just wasn’t feeling like cooking myself anything. I went to get some of my new favorite food in the world, Bulgogi soup! It is delicious, filling, cheap and nutritious. 4 things that are must these days. I’m getting better at ordering food in Korean. My skill is limited, but when they have pictures I consider it a winning situation.
I point to the picture of a black bowl full of broth and yummy goodness, and look at the waitress with a smile. She smiles back at me and places my order, a short 6 or 7 minutes later a sizzling bowl is placed in front of me, along with a plate of kimchi and other sides(they are all free, and I can have as much as I want), and a stainless steel bowl full of rice.
I’m calmly eating and watching the people outside busily walking on the sidewalk, 7pm is a busy busy time in north Seoul. There are a few police men (traffic cops) out there doing their best to control the cars from plowing over an ajumma, or a Korean on their cell phone. (I’ve seen more than once an old man or a teenaged kid almost get smoked by a bus because they choose to ignore crosswalk signs.) Whatever, you want to get hit, be my guest.
….I digress……
As the group of traffic cops have a little traffic cop convention, mind you across the street from a Dunkin Donuts, hilarious I know! A McDonald’s delivery man on his moped/bike thing, is zooming down the street at a very high rate of speed. (Yes, McDonald’s delivers here!)…Wait for it……
…..POW!!! The McDonald’s delivery man smokes the cop!! The cop cuts a flip in the air and lands sitting down!! I choke on my soup holding back a laugh. The ladies in the kimbob restaurant are freaking out, screaming and crying. I have no idea what they are saying, but from the sound of it, a baby was just decapitated.
The Micky D’s guy never stopped, hell I wouldn’t either! The cops don’t carry guns (I’ve checked) but still. The other 15 bazillion policemen helped the guy up and I looked down at my soup.
I’m shaking from wanting to laugh!! I just saw some guy on a moped, a moped smoke a Korean cop, said cop flies through the air with the greatest of ease and moped man is never heard of again. I can’t make this stuff up!
Truly awesome Korea!!
Wait, it gets better!
Today in my last class of day, which also happens to be one of my favorite class, I witnessed another glorious moment!
The kids are maybe 11 or 12. Pretty cute, and always funny. I teach them words they’d never learn in a proper English class. Show them cool videos. They love me. I love them. We get along famously.
It happened during the game I let them play when I have nothing else to teach them. They stand in a circle and I write 4 words on the board, usually harder words. But today I used soccer, Optimus Prime and cheeseburger. It’s Friday, let ’em have some fun! One time they asked if I would write AK-47, and when I did they freaked out.
Anyway, in this class I have 6 girls and 2 boys. One of the boys I call Mr. Tickle, because he likes to wear a t-shirt with the words Mr. Tickle written on it. And the name fits the kid perfectly! He is sensitive, a little shy, smart and scrawny.
Mr. Tickle had just lost the game to the other boy, we’ll call him Sam (a bigger boy, who is always jolly). Mr. Tickle rares back and slaps the shit outta Sam across the face. I see it happen, feel a bubble of laughter and spin around. I hear “Broooooooooke Teachuh!!!!! Mr. Tickle slap Sam!!! He needs to chill, totally not cool!!! (I have taught them well!) I squeak out….”I…I saw…..Mr. Tickle we don’t slap our friends! ” “Sam are you ok” Sam looks at me with a huge grin…..”hahaha Mr. Tickle slap me hahaha”
Sam is just fine, and Mr. Tickle is now scared he is about to be in deep shit. I didn’t make a big deal out of it. Just told them that it’s not cool to slap or hit people. They all agree and go back to playing the game.
My job might make me tired, and I may need buckets of coffee to get through the day, but it’s moments like these that I’m loving life right now!
TravelingSassy 