To Cats, Kimchi and Life

While Gilad and I are trying to keep up with all the events of Korean life, it can be difficult sometimes to stay on top of social media postings (well maybe it just is for me). There are many things that happen on a day to day basis that we just don't get a chance to share. Like how our friend at work, who speaks minimal English but loves to say what she knows, now calls me Dunkin Dawna - like Dunkin Donut - get it? Or how Gilad has become the go-to guy aka technological master for all computer related projects with PSCORE. We haven't yet discussed the fascinating (and strange) world of Love Motels, nor did we mention the stray dog with the painted on eyebrows.

Life in Korea, on a normal day, can be very interesting (and sometimes strange). On a special day, as a foreigner, you can never really predict what you may get. In the next few paragraphs you are going to get a small slice of our life in Korea over the past few days.

Cats:

Who doesn't love cats? Ok, Gilad, for one, HATES them, but that is besides the point. I love cats, and thankfully so does a friend from work. Why thankfully you ask? Because on a day when things were starting to go awry due to some major communication issues, we stumbled upon this glorious cat haven. A cat cafe to be exact. A place where you can bring your cat, or just yourself, and enjoy a clean and bright cat-dom. There is a dog equivalent to one of these, that I briefly visited, but it wasn't quite as nice and I was alone and felt creepy just staring at other people's dogs. It is so much better to be creepy alongside another. I digress, in any case, check out a few of the pictures that show the scenery you might enjoy while drinking a delicious latte.

You have big, small, fluffy, smooshed faces and the token kitty shirt. On the downside of it all, the cats were all super mellow - and I am unsure if whether they had been sedated or not.














Kimchi:

This post isn't really about kimchi per-say, although anyone who has experienced Korean culture understands that this is the foundation to the country (exaggeration? I think not). Therefore, for the past three weeks, our meals have consisted of Kimchi + (insert dish here) - three times a day.

A while back our friend posed this on fb:

Dinner...for one. Sigh.


Bryson's Dinner.


I would like to rival you sir, with a dinner for one, Korean style.


My Dinner.


Close Up.

On our front left we have the poor man's food of ramien (instant noodles) and on our front right, a tupperware of assorted kimchi. To our back left we have a $4 Korean bottle of wine and on our back right a candle to help fight the pungent odor of the fermented cabbage (aka kimchi). Note the use of wooden chopstick and the lack of table (or even floor mats).

On a brighter note - the kimchi was made by a woman at work who makes fantastic potato, mushroom and radish kimchi (North Korean style). It is real, and it is spectacular.

Life:

If there is one thing Koreans love to do, it is eat kimchi, laugh with their hands covering their mouths, and clap (ok so that is more than one and slightly stereotypical). Anywhoo, what could be better for a baby that has just turned 1 year than to have live entertainment (similar to being on the set of a game show) and a buffet? Nothing, that's what. We didn't get a good video as we were too into what was happening before us, but alas here is a small taste of a baby's first birthday party (every child celebrates their 1 year mark in this or a similar way).



Side-note 1 - as you can see in the video, our friend Jung was greatly admiring a raquet. We won that for being from the furthest place wooo! Most people had to earn their prize with a dance, we thank god were spared that torture.

Side-note 2 - a funny little game that they play is that they place a mallet, a money bill, a pencil, and a microphone in front of the child. The mallet = judge, money = accountant, pencil = scholar, and microphone = entertainer. (am I missing one?) Everyone places their guess as to which item the baby will pick up. Whichever one the baby chooses, those that guess right get a prize. This is to symbolize what the child will be when he or she is older.

Finally - in breaking news, I have just been informed (by Gilad) that I am not actually turning 27, but rather 26! This means that I am currently 25 and not 26 like I have believed for who knows how long now. It feels good to gain a year of your life back :) Although, it may appear early signs of dementia are setting in.

- Dawna