The Start of A New Semester

Date: August 19, 2011

So I woke up this morning at my normal time: 8.15.  I have to desk warm starting at 9 and it takes me 15 minutes to get to school, so this is my normal time.  At 8:18 I got a phone call.  It went like this: 

 "Hi Maggie, this is Sue from Oku middle School."  

"Hi Sue! Good morning." 

 "Good morning.  I wonder where you are..." 

 "Oh?  What?" 

 "I am at hospital" (Our designated pick up spot)  "When will you be here?"

"er... what?"

"When will you be ready to go to school?"

"Today?  But school doesn't start until Monday!" 

...Pause..."we start today.  When will you be ready?"

Needless to say, I apparently started school today.  My country school had forgotten to notify anyone at Seohyung or--hey, even me--and tell them that the first day of school was today.  So I took a super quick shower, threw on clothes and brushed my teeth and RAN to catch the next bus.  Sue said she would meet me at school and said to come as quickly as possible.  I had 30 minutes to the next bus and then it would be another hour wait.  

On the way, huffing it to the bus stop, I run across my American Neighbors The Lemons, and I yell at them, "Guess who wasn't told school started today?! By the way, I was going to call and see if you wanted to do coffee today...maybe tomorrow?  'K, bye!!!"

I make to the bus stop, have been standing for 30 seconds and the bus pulls up.  Well, I think it is the right bus.  I mean, I have been getting a ride for the last semester so the last time I took the bus TO school was in December.  So I get on, quickly asking, "Daeya?"  At the bus driver's nod, I drop some money and settle in for my hour ride to school.  On the way to school, I quickly finish up the powerpoint I was planning for the next week.  Luckily, it is almost finished--just some quick touch ups and spell check -- and I can chill for 5 minutes.  

I hop off, delighted that "hey! It is the right bus!" and walk to school...

Yeah for the beginning of a new semester!

Red Bean Ice Slivers CornFlake Dessert

Date: Aug 2, 2011


It is Summer....and it is hot!  Which means its time for a new round of Korean Foods that I am discovering.    One of my favorite foods Samgyetang (삼계탕) I discovered is usually only for the summer.  The Westerner in me has doubts about this because Samgyetang is a chicken soup and, to me, the best time to eat hot chicken soup is during the winter, preferably after a snowball fight.  The idea is that one will ingest hot foods and that it will make your body hotter on the inside and thus the outside won't seem as hot.  I think it is just delicious and people have made up an excuse to continue eating it in the summer.  I love it.


Another yummy dish that friends have shown me is Pat bingsu (팥빙수).  Patbingsu is very unique to Korea.  To Western ears, it does not sound very delicious, but I am discovering a taste for it during the hot summer. 


Here is a picture of me and friends having some patbingsu at a cute coffee shop: 

It is kind of a "everything and the kitchen sink" dessert.  Originally it was just ice flakes and sweetened red beans.  But now, it's turned into this extravagant creation of yumminess.  There's a ice flake base, topped with some frozen yogurt or ice cream.  Pour the red beans over that.  Then add anything you have in your kitchen.  Here, we have some fruit: kiwi, banana, cherries, and I think some pineapple.  Then some rice cakes.  Throw on some cereal corn flakes (yep, that's right, random cereal) and top with some chocolate sauce and maybe sweeten condensed milk.  


It is sweet and cold--perfect for a Korean Summer break!