Octopus and Feet

Hello from Korea!

So we have had a busy week this week. I guess first off, I should let you all know that I have a small fracture of my sesamoid bone. For all those non-doctors in the house, its one of the bones in your foot, more like the ball of your foot. After doing some research I think it might be more like a severe case of sesimoditis, but if I don't rest it could become worse. Take a look the picture:

I hurt it a few months ago when I was playing soccer and running everyday. I went to the hospital back then, but the doctors couldn't find anything. So I rested and just started exercising full force last week. Well it started hurting again and I went back to the hospital.

Needless to say I freaked out the ER doctor because he's English wasn't that wonderful, so he was super nervous talking to me. He thought it was just a severe case of sesamoiditis. Luckily, the nurses paged one of the orthopedic surgeons (who was not nervous around me) and he looked at my X-Rays and noticed the small crack. So for now I'm in a ghetto walking cast for two to three weeks (hence sesamoiditis versus a fractured bone--if it was really fractured I would be in a straight up cast). The doctor did say to me several times "Jennifer, please please please no more soccer," so I guess I just have to rest for now.

In other news, Ed and I were invited to one of his student's houses for dinner last night. Her English ability is growing, so a lot does get lost in translation. I guess she asked Ed if we eat 'manuel' (which we thought meant garlic) so he said yes. Well he obviously mis-heard/mis understood her because when we arrived, there was no garlic in sight. It was more like octopus, oysters, and fish for dinner.

It was a night of firsts for both of us. In order not to be rude, we had to try everything that was offered and while some of the dishes were pretty common place, others were not.

Yes there was live octopus offered. And yes, we both ate it. There was cooked octopus offered. And yes, we both ate it. Steamed oysters were offered. And we both ate it. There was even raw crab brains offered. And despite trying to cover up our rice bowls, we both had to eat it. And finally cooked octopus head (yes brains, eyes, nose; the head) was offered. Only Ed ate that one.

Overall it was a very educational evening. I ate things that I never wanted to eat. Just so you all know, live octopus tastes just like cooked octopus, tough and chewy, except it moves a bit in your mouth.

Ed said cooked octopus head isn't actually that bad if you don't think you are eating an octopus's head. He said it tasted like a giant oyster.

Raw crab brains tastes like you would think it would taste like. Vomit. It made us wonder who in their right mind ever thought to eat that, then label it a delicacy.

Oysters were very good.

I can't say that I'll be running out to eat some more octopus live or dead, and I definitely won't be eating raw crab ever again, if I can help it. Oysters on the other hand I will try again.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

Ed and I wish you all the best of days...eat lots of food, drink lots of wine, and sneak in an extra piece of pie (or cookies) for us!!

Thanksgiving here in Korea is pretty low key. We both had to work--which takes the celebration out of things--but we were able to cook a Thanksgiving-ish type meal tonight. Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, and a quasi-apple crumble. Not bad for Korea, I'd say!

Anyways--hope your days are full of love and thanks...I know that we are sending our love and thanks your way!

PS: I was finally able to update our pictures-our new computer/camera has granted me that wish! Look to the right of the page and you will find the new pictures. Enjoy!

Happy Veterans Day....I mean Pepero Day!

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to give a huge shout out to our Veterans, those old and new. Ed and I certainly appreciate the job that you have done for us and we are very glad that the country takes a moment or two to fully recognize your commitment for our country. If you ask me, we need more moments like today to happen.

So once again, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you a million times over.

And on a ridiculous side note, while most of the world (okay Canada and America) celebrates its veterans, Korea celebrates something entirely different, the Pepero.

You may remember Peperos from last year, but just in case you don't, Pepero Day is a completely commercialized based holidays where companies sell massive amounts of chocolate covered bread sticks and pretzels. Why??

Simple silly. November 11th, or 11/11 can be made completely with these stick like snacks.

Let's just sum it up by saying that most teachers get a gazillion Peperos because students love them so much. See below:
However our students only love Ed and I a little bit. I got two dinky packages and Ed didn't get any--sheesh!! All joking aside, this day is used as one illustration of Korea and its sometimes nonsensical thinking!

Yup its official. I'm a wuss...

First of all...this poor cow!

.....Food Poisoning??

Really?

Up until now, my stomach has been rock hard and accepting to most Korean offerings. But not any more. This weekend, the infection of my intestine decided to proceed, making my life awesome for a few days. Fever, chills, severe stomach cramps, and not to mention the other fun stuff you can imagine that goes along with intestine infection.

And I've decided, this is the worst pain in the world. Call me a wuss if you may; I say you've never really had food poisoning then. If you've had food poisoning, you know what I'm talking about; you would understand. If you haven't, pray you never do get it after eating that piece of chicken or meat.

Good news though, I'm on medication and will recover (thankfully--I know how worried you all are). And through out all of this, I did learn a great lesson: I've learned never to call in sick with 'food poisoning' again (which I kind of did for every job I've ever had in the states at least once) because that means you have to be out of commission for at least three days. Or on second thought....

Spoon Fed

Last night, Ed, Wendy, Megan, Dave and I went out for drinks. Ed and I found a 'new' bar that we want to convert into the next foreigner experience. I'm not sure it will happen because of two reasons:

1. Its far from downtown; but not that far


2. I'm not entirely convinced they want a whole bunch of rowdy, drunk waygookins hanging out there.

What I am sure of is that there are plenty of food places near by that LOVE waygooks (us). After drinking a few rounds, we decided that we were pretty hungry. So we went looking for some food. In that area there is mainly seafood restaurants, but there are some sam gyup sal (bbq) places located here and there. Dave and Ed were the main deciders of where we should have our midnight snack; and boy did they choose well.

I don't know what the place was called, but I'll go back at any point just because the ajuma (or emu--older sister which is what she preferred to be called) was sooo completely nice. Our meal consisted of some nice side dishes, a lot of 'pancakes' and some delicious, spicy as all hell, chicken soup dish. It was amazing, all for 25,000 won--which is cheap for what we ate, trust me!

The best part of the evening, however, was not the food, but rather how we ate the food. The woman fed us. I'm not talking Korean 'fed' where they cook the food for you. I'm talking fed us, as in put the food in our mouths. It was wonderful. It reminded me that of why Koreans are so wonderful. I mean, do you know any American restaurants that will feed you, unless your a baby? Well here, we are the babies. I can't say that I mind that much. It is a wonderful feeling, sometimes, to give up all 'power' to be fed. And did I mention that she fed us oysters??? Oh yeah. I'm in love with Korean restaurants.