Stop calling that a sandwich.

My work provides food fairly regularly for us teachers (usually during mid-terms and finals when the Korean teachers are working extra hard). About once a week one of these shows up on my desk:

Yes, this may appear to be a sandwich, and even may technically qualify as one, but I assure you, it is not a sandwich. Let me describe what we have here: slice of white bread (comparable to Wonder Bread), slice of Kraft cheese, scrambled egg (in the shape of a square, with CORN kernels mixed in), shredded cabbage, sweet pickles, a slice of ham, and another slice of bread. Served hot. As you can see, I've taken out the ham and eaten half the sandwich. I will not be making this mistake again.

I want to be perfectly clear here. This. Is. Not. A. Sandwich.

Riding bikes.

Scott and I both have bikes that we sometimes ride around. This ride was especially enjoyable because we rode through the country side a bit and it was beautiful. The only downsides were sweating like crazy (it wasn't really that hot, but it was so humid) and riding past our first dog "farm." Now, currently, I'm a meat eater and before seeing (and smelling) this dog farm I thought I might like to try eating dog while here in Korea. Logically, it seemed no different from eating a cow or pig... they are all just animals and if I'm going to eat one, I didn't know why I wouldn't eat another. Well, now I can't try dog. It was like a big long chicken coop, only full of barking dogs. And it smelt terrible. It was actually really disturbing. I didn't take a photo because I wanted to get out of there asap. On a side note, I've been toying with idea of going vegetarian for a while now... and just haven't because I like the taste of meat too much. We'll see what happens.

Here we are in the middle of tons of rice fields. Harvest time is a comin'!

Scott wanted me to look at the map and help figure out where the heck we were going, but I just wanted to take his cute picture.

I definitely saw and heard something fishy going on in this ditch! Get it? Fishy?!

Korea grows some big bugs. The end.

An ode to Black Out Korea

So, there is a blog called Black Out Korea and it is pure genius. Basically, the creator just collects photos of Koreans that have blacked out. It is definitely worth a look (http://blackoutkorea.blogspot.com). Anyway, we've seen some blacked out Koreans ourselves, but none as hilarious as this:

It was pretty clear what had happened... he had himself some drinks, tried to ride his bike home, and couldn't quite make it. He was OUT...

The obvious thing to do in this kind of situation is take pictures with the completely blacked out stranger. At first, I was slightly concerned that he might wake up, but then I heard his deep breathing and saw that despite our sniggering he wasn't stirring (in the least).

As many of you may know, pure and absolute joy do not often overtake Scott. This photo is proof that it does sometimes happen. He was so elated. It was hilarious.

Recent happenings.

One day we drove to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which is very near Busan. It was kind of rainy, but that didn't detract from the good times.

Here I am with a giant chicken man.

Most Korean temples were built in the mountains, but this one was on the ocean. It was unusual. Also, take note of the lady taking a photo behind me. An accidental photo of someone taking a photo! We're reaching whole new levels.

Those giant pointy rock nipples are made out of stacked rocks. Really, feel free to contact me with any questions about Buddhist architecture, I'm sure I'll be able to give you a completely satisfying answer.

A dragon and a bazillion little tiny statues of Buddha. I think I read somewhere that people put the little statues there - facing in the direction of their home. Some of these were directly facing the ocean though, so don't quote me on that.

I think the statues with little tiny Buddha glasses are funny.

This was a huge golden Buddha. He's always so happy. I would be too if I were made of gold. (Cause I'm living in a material world and I'm a material girl.)

Where's Waldo? And by Waldo, I mean Scott! Oh, there he is, on that bridge, right near the middle, wearing a light blue shirt. I devised this genius plan in which he went over to that bridge and stood in the middle, and then when I raised my hand, he would see that, raise his hand, and then I would take the picture. It worked perfectly.

One of my nearest and dearest friends from high school (and her husband) recently moved to Korea. We were so excited to see them that we drove to see them (three hours north) after work one Friday. We spent the weekend exploring their city (Daejeon) and just celebrating their presence. Hooray! Missy and Clint are in Korea!

Daejeon was pretty cool. It is much, much bigger than our town, thus has a lot more to see.

Like this lady, just taking an afternoon siesta, on some crates, in the middle of a crowded market.

Clint "enjoying" some street food. Ooooh, Scott and I love ddeok boki! It consists of these little cylinder shape rice cakes, flat fish cakes (which I don't eat), and some spicy sauce. And it is really cheap (about a dollar per serving).

This was a sweet area of the city. I don't have any idea what it was called. I could probably figure it out if I tried, but it doesn't really seem worth the effort.

Remember when we first moved into our bigger apartment and I told you we had cockroaches? Well, we eventually got rid of them. It was a tough battle, but we came out on top. So, all of the cockroaches are gone from inside our apartment...

But this son of gun was outside, near the apartment building entrance. He was huge! I'm not worried that he or his kin will find their way to our apartment again, but I still wanted to smash him with a rock. There weren't any rocks around though, so I took a photo instead.

Speaking of gross bugs, Koreans eat bundegi (boiled silk worm larva). Some came with our dinner just the other night! And no, I haven't tried them and don't think I ever really need to.

We were practicing our flashcards the other day and Maria had the brilliant idea to do this with the 'hat' card. Kids are funny.

Scott and I were eating an Asian pear the other day... it was really tasty (crunchy, juicy, sweet), much better than the Asian pear I vaguely remember eating in the States. Anyway, I looked away for a moment, and when I looked back this was happening:

He had taken off his glasses, put his shirt over his face, put his glasses back on, and started "chewing" a piece of the pear through his shirt. It was disturbing, entertaining, and ridiculous.

This seems like an appropriate time to end this post.

Munoz Family Visit Continued...

Let us continue...

We then drove to some place with little paths, a waterfall, and some Buddhist stuff (it wasn't a temple though). I can't remember what it was called or where it was. But, there was a chicken there.

And ducks. Those two photos are all blurry because it was so ding dang humid this day that the camera lens fogged up. I kind of like the effect.

This is the first shot in a series of four. (1) Scott enjoying himself, but not really paying attention to his surroundings.


(2) Immediately after Scott super-stubbed his toe on a rock.

(3) Assessing the damage: toenail completely busted out of the nail bed, but carefully laid back down (as to not have an exposed nail bed).

(4) Reeling with pain and shock. Mr. Sung fixed him up later that night... and surprisingly, since then the toenail somehow fused itself back on and doesn't look like it is going to turn black and fall off.

My dad's best Vanna White for some Chinese writing that we couldn't read.

Sisters.

Parents.

Lunch with Koreans is no laughing matter.

Korean dining etiquette and having to use chopsticks for slippery food makes you feel like this sometimes.

After lunch we drove to the bamboo forest in Damyang. There weren't any real pandas there (I'm not sure there ever were), but there were these two fake pandas.

The ladies: Jess Munoz, JA Han, Momma Munoz, Nicole Nydam-Park, AS, and JA & AS' friend whose name we never learned.

Family photo. I'm not sure why I was so front and center for both of these group shots.

Mr. Sung bought his hat that day and I think it was a great purchase.

Suffice it to say that the bamboo forest had A LOT of bamboo.

Later that night Mr. Sung made my parents some tea (the kids got to drink some too). We found out that that chunk of tea he's breaking up in the photo cost about $1,500. Goodness me.

The first sip was kind of bitter, but all subsequent sips were pretty good. 1,500 dollars good? I don't know. I don't know if there is any tea that good.

Korean breakfast the next morning. That lady is Mr. Sung's sister-in-law and she made delicious food.

*After our time at the summer house we came back to our little town. From there we visited Busan one last time.*

This is what happens when you let your dad and husband go out for some "man time." They come home silly and drunk.

Neither of them could stop laughing. It was pretty entertaining.

The only way to start a day in Busan is with some fish cake/rice cake on a stick.

And a corn dog.

Standing in line for the Busan Aquarium. It was hot. It was humid. And honestly, the best part of the aquarium was that it was air-conditioned. Otherwise it was kind of underwhelming.

We still had fun though!

This thing was really, really ugly.

This thing was really, really pretty.

Tons of people looking at tons of fish. I like the guy on the far right.

This photo is amazing because not one of the other 13,000 people visiting the aquarium that day are in it with us. Just us and some fish.

Regrouping after the aquarium.

Couples outfit! Faaaaabulous!

Haeundae Beach - the busiest beach I've ever seen. Tons of Koreans come here during summer vacation. And I mean tons. I bet if you piled them all up on a big scale, it would literally be tons.

This is the "beach."

SO many people!

This was hilarious because as you can see, this lady is wearing an old school life vest. The thing was - we were at least three blocks from the beach... (which she had obviously just come from) but she still found it necessary to keep the life vest on. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

After an action-packed day in Busan, we met Scott's uncle Miwon, his wife, grandpa, and grandma for dinner. We went to a great galbi house (barbecue meat on the table restaurant) near Haeundae Beach.


They give you these nice disposable bibs to wear while eating.

And this lady makes sure you aren't burning your meat or somehow ruining your dinner. She did a fine job.

Like all Korean meals, there were a gazillion courses... this one was meat and noodles cooked on the table. Those noodles were banging.

The fam and the food.

As if we hadn't eaten enough, they then took us out to dessert (which I'll never complain about). We had pat bing su, which is one of Scott and I's favorite things in Korea. It is shaved ice with sweet red beans, tons of little pieces of fruit, and sweetened condensed milk. Every place makes theirs different, so some places also include corn flakes, ice cream, or little jelly things. We've really enjoyed trying all the different variations! (The one this night was old school, it only had the shaved ice, sweet red bean, and sweetened condensed milk... pretty good.)

Getting in touch the in-laws. Family is such a strange thing.

So, I started this jigsaw a long time ago and never could bring myself to finish it. I made it my dad's mission to finish the beast before he left. He got pretty darn close.

Father/Son-in-law bonding time. Thank heavens they like each other.

He got so close, if only they could have stayed one more day... I think he could have finished it. And yes, in case your wondering, I still haven't finished it. But, I will.

On their last day here, Scott and I had to go to work, so after we'd left, but before my family caught a taxi to the airport, they took some photos on my camera. It was a great surprise :)

It was really hard saying goodbye.

I wanted them to stay another week.

My mom found our toy gun. She's a sharp shooter for sure.

Those toy guns were well worth the 1,000 won (80 cents) that we paid for them.

Don't mess with the best.

Bye family! We miss you. Come back soon :)

Well, that does it for the Munoz Family Trip, what a doozy, huh? As you may or may not be able to tell, these two posts were more for me... so that I could document and remember the time we had with my family. And maybe it will inspire everyone else to come visit us! Look how much fun it is!