Everyday things

We're setting up our students with American penpals from The Learning Community School in Black Mountain (where Ethan will forever be known as "Mr. Ethan.")I have found all of their letters to be so very amusing and also informational. I have learned quite a bit about Korea from their letters. So, I thought I would share some of it with you. Almost every letter said something about how Koreans' favorite food is Kimchi. Did you know that it is the world's healthiest national food? Kimchi is a traditional food eaten with every meal here. It is made of fermented cabbage with some sauce made from (well really I don't have any idea but I think some tiny shrimp are in the mix somehow). Traditionally women make it once a year in giant clay pots that they would bury underground. Nowadays people still make it for themselves, but others just buy it at the supermarket. Beware, it is SPICY, and to the common westerner...strange tasting. It comes in all different types, like different kinds of cabbage, different ages, etc. The longer it ages, the spicier. At any given meal, there are usually at least 3 different types of kimchi. I'm a bit jealous of Ethan (but happy for him at the same time) because just the other day, Ethan found his taste for kimchi. He likes it. I'm still working on it. I'm sure if I keep trying, I'll develop one too. In case your wondering how to find kimchi back in the States, I happen to know that Publix sells it in the produce section, in a jar. Try it yourself!

I'm letting one of my middle school classes (a class full of giggly girls...my favorite kind) teach me one new word a day at the end of class a day. So far, the most important word they have come up with to teach me is pronounced something like "sok-so" it means "trash smile." In other words, it's a smile on only one side of the mouth. Genius, we need a word in English for that...don't you think? I should be starting a Korean class Saturday. Ethan isn't taking it, but I'm looking forward to adding some more new Korean words to my repertoire. Most of all I'm looking forward to meeting some new people I can speak fluently with.

Check out this link for pictures from Halloween at my school. Get ready....we look SCARY! http://www.talkingclub.co.kr/center/event/halloween-20071026/main_view.asp?pkid=34&page=1&stype=&sword

This video is actually from last Saturday. We saw this guy singing on top of the mountain just after hiking and just before eating a whole chicken.