The first part of the last instalment is dedicated to some food-related business.
My welcome cake. It’s quite a regular occurrence for foreign teachers to be given flowers and a cake when they arrive. I love the packaging – cakes come in fancy boxes, with candles, matches and a knife.
My life changed for the better when I discovered the convenience that is Gringos Burritos. Two guys saw a gap in the market and filled it with the most delicious quick meals… perfect for a lazy undomesticated Westerner.
Koreans love rice. This is a rice pudding dessert thing. They disguise the fact that it tastes like – you guessed it – rice, by decorating it. This one was given to me by the lady at the convenience store.
Save for milkshakes, you could find almost anything else here – granted you’re willing to shell out for it!
I only know what most of these things are because of the shape of the packaging.
Size is important! 🙂
Samgyetang (chicken soup with loaded up with ginseng). My co-teacher dropped this off at my apartment one evening after I’d been sick at work.
Success! This was one of the first times I managed to eat an entire meal with chopsticks. Solid, heavy, slippery metal chopsticks.
All these cans – every single, last one of them – are tuna. Lots and lots of tuna.
I just can’t get it over my heart to pay R80 for 4 apples.
R170 for a watermelon? I’ll pass, thanks.
And to end off, just some significant randomness:
Left-handed scissors in a right-handed world. Keep an eye out for my next blog entry about this very topic.
Prescription medication, Korean style. This was for a throat infection. I took 7 different tablets, 3 times a day. Each ‘serving’ is conveniently sealed in a packet. My friend Zelda refers to them as ‘lucky packets’. Apt.
Woohoo! My first hair appointment in Korea. I went to a very fancy schmancy salon, so I was spared the nerves of not knowing what I’d look like when I walked out of there.
The ‘after’ – yay for blonde!
Every time I see this pic, I get depressed. This is what I wanted to pack. In the end, I could fit less than half. I like variety. The last three months have been hell wardrobe-wise.
Korean currency. Makes me feel rich when I hold it. Oh wait, I am rich. 😀
I thought this only happened at Fruit & Veg back home.
I just LOVED putting together this gift for my sister. It’s worth a spot on the 100-list.
Love the decor.
I’m one of the fortunate few who gets to say I’ve had a bath in Korea (the newer apartments aren’t fitted with bathtubs). Back home, I hardly ever bathed. Here though, when you have the opportunity to sit back in a tub of bubbles, you take it!
“Home away from home” – the SA Embassy in Seoul
Icarus, King of the Universe and our mascot. He stays over when his servants embark on their travels. This is one of my favourite shots of him – check out the drool!
That’s his “Hey woman, you live across from a park and we’re stuck in here?” look. He’s got the confused head tilt and everything!
Well this has been fun. And time-consuming. Pro: reliving a few key moments. Con: trying not to use photos already plastered all over Facebook.
Here’s to keeping up the blogging!
Diary of an expat, teacher, comfort-zone seeker 
Our King is a gracious one, we must praise him with trips to the park and many snuggles.
You have a bathtub? When is the tub party?
Too bad The Zelda left. It was her tub. We can chill out at the pool outside my balcony though. The King can come too, and chase away the mosquitoes.
Wow ,all looks awesome have fun and take care love sharon your neighbour in PE xx
Thank you!