Finally it was time to resume my job as an academy teacher. I, myself, felt like I was back in grade school, anxious and giddy for my first day back. I preoccupied the hours prior by taking a trip to the grocery store inside Hyundai Department center in search of popcorn. I can safely assume that anyone who is reading this and has lived in Seoul is palming their foreheads and wondering why on Earth I would choose to pay 3x as much at the rich person's grocery store as opposed to the regular super market. The desperate craving for air-popped popcorn was demanding I find kernels by the end of the day, which is not an easy task in Korea.
And so, I put on my best rich-halfie-married-to-a-spiffy-korean-business-man-and-yes-I-can-afford-your-over-priced-bananas act as I strutted through the produce aisle. I noticed the bananas were on sale, and, having not eaten breakfast, thought it would save me a trip to the convenient store. They were priced by weight at only 550 원, so I figured it seemed reasonable. After a very intense search for kernels, I gave in and settled for just the bananas. I approached the cashiers and tried not to let my act falter as I read right past their greetings and beady smiles. Then they scanned the bananas.
Oh, boy. Did they scan the bananas.
At 7,500 원.
That's SEVEN DOLLARS FOR BANANAS.
It took everything in me to let rich-girl-Jessica not quake in her shoes. I simply smiled and handed over my card.
And then cried on the walk home.
After the whole banana fiasco, it was time to go to work. I took the train to 마포구청역 (Mapo Office Station), beaming as I approached the cutesy owl sign indicating the entrance for MU:M English. Upstairs, I was welcome by my boss, Jenny, and all of the students. I couldn't help but nearly explode with happiness at seeing both former and new students so welcoming to me. In Korea, generally the students are taught to be very cautious towards their teachers and respectful. It is always my goal that my students see me as a friend as well, so for them to be so open towards me was incredibly honoring.
As I greeted the students, I felt something brush against my feet. Something fuzzy.
JELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jello is Jenny's dog and my former roommate. Last summer, Jenny had gone to the Philippines for her daughter's graduation while I was living in her house. She returned with a dog. And when Jenny and her family would be out all day, I stayed home and became best friends with the old fur ball, who did little more than sleep all day.
Well it seemed the little sweater adorned monster remembered me, since he refused to leave my side throughout all of my lessons.
After a successful day back at work, I ventured through the World Cup Street Market for my kernels. I had survived in 마포구청역 for over a year... I knew EXACTLY where to find them.
Two bags of kernels and a box of almond milk later, I met 윤도 at 신도림역 (Sindorim Station) for coffee at A Twosome Place. I couldn't help but laugh when he ordered a cold brew tonic and was unable to drink it. It is literally cold brew coffee mixed with tonic water and lemon. It's good but only if you have the right taste buds for it. And 윤도's a weenie so.
Yundo was returning to his hometown, which is far away from Seoul and doesn't have much of anything. Both of us were missing the taste of 쥬씨 and we agreed it was vital to go before he got on the train for home. As we approached the take out juice stand, 윤도 spotted a small booth out of the corner of his eye. A photo booth. He inched towards it curiously, stepping inside. I couldn't believe my eyes... 윤도 HATES pictures. I have never gotten him to take one with me that isn't blurry or of him hiding his face. But here he was suggesting permanent evidence that he WANTED to take a picture. So we did.
And it made him so happy you'd think someone just bought him a Lamborghini.
After juice, we walked back to the station and finally said our goodbyes, promising to meet in spring.
Back in 신촌, I joined Caillean and Ava for dinner at 마녀주방 (Witch's Kitchen). We had seen the eerily decorated entry in passing the day before, our curiosity (and our stomachs) getting the best of us. The underground restaurant was dimly lit, hues of red illuminating a spacious dinning area adorned in gothic ornaments. Above the tables, witches hats hung from the ceiling and appeared to be floating on their own.
A metal rod accompanied each table, which we soon learned the purpose for.
Blood bag cocktails.
And the best of them. We sucked on rose cranberry potions while waiting for our meals.
All of us ordered risottos, Ava with mushroom, Caillean with kimchi, and me with squid ink. Each dish was wittily crafted, proving to not only be instagram worthy but heavenly in taste as well.
With an equally rated location in 홍대 (Hongdae) as well, I highly recommend visiting 마녀주밥.
Once again having a successful meal, the three of us sunk in for the night with a bowl of popcorn.
For Christmas, my little sister had sewn me a microwave popcorn bag. You simply throw the kernels in and turn on the radiation. I had used it before, so I wasn't worried about the safety of microwaving the fabric.
But apparently I should have been.
I noticed it smelled rather burn-y as the popcorn pop, pop, popped. The smarter half of me chose to stop it and check to make sure all was 관찮 (gwanchanh... short for 관찮아 which means okay. Do not use this term. No one says it.)....
But all was not 관찮.
The corner of the bag had crusted into a black, smoldering as a waft of smoke encapsulated the room. I dumped the popcorn into a bowl and quickly threw the bag under cold water. I silently prayed that we did not ave smoke detectors. I do not think we do.
Safe from a SECOND FIRE, we snuggled into bed for the night, excited for the next day's adventures.
And so, I put on my best rich-halfie-married-to-a-spiffy-korean-business-man-and-yes-I-can-afford-your-over-priced-bananas act as I strutted through the produce aisle. I noticed the bananas were on sale, and, having not eaten breakfast, thought it would save me a trip to the convenient store. They were priced by weight at only 550 원, so I figured it seemed reasonable. After a very intense search for kernels, I gave in and settled for just the bananas. I approached the cashiers and tried not to let my act falter as I read right past their greetings and beady smiles. Then they scanned the bananas.
Oh, boy. Did they scan the bananas.
At 7,500 원.
That's SEVEN DOLLARS FOR BANANAS.
It took everything in me to let rich-girl-Jessica not quake in her shoes. I simply smiled and handed over my card.
And then cried on the walk home.
After the whole banana fiasco, it was time to go to work. I took the train to 마포구청역 (Mapo Office Station), beaming as I approached the cutesy owl sign indicating the entrance for MU:M English. Upstairs, I was welcome by my boss, Jenny, and all of the students. I couldn't help but nearly explode with happiness at seeing both former and new students so welcoming to me. In Korea, generally the students are taught to be very cautious towards their teachers and respectful. It is always my goal that my students see me as a friend as well, so for them to be so open towards me was incredibly honoring.
As I greeted the students, I felt something brush against my feet. Something fuzzy.
JELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jello is Jenny's dog and my former roommate. Last summer, Jenny had gone to the Philippines for her daughter's graduation while I was living in her house. She returned with a dog. And when Jenny and her family would be out all day, I stayed home and became best friends with the old fur ball, who did little more than sleep all day.
Well it seemed the little sweater adorned monster remembered me, since he refused to leave my side throughout all of my lessons.
After a successful day back at work, I ventured through the World Cup Street Market for my kernels. I had survived in 마포구청역 for over a year... I knew EXACTLY where to find them.
Two bags of kernels and a box of almond milk later, I met 윤도 at 신도림역 (Sindorim Station) for coffee at A Twosome Place. I couldn't help but laugh when he ordered a cold brew tonic and was unable to drink it. It is literally cold brew coffee mixed with tonic water and lemon. It's good but only if you have the right taste buds for it. And 윤도's a weenie so.
After juice, we walked back to the station and finally said our goodbyes, promising to meet in spring.
Back in 신촌, I joined Caillean and Ava for dinner at 마녀주방 (Witch's Kitchen). We had seen the eerily decorated entry in passing the day before, our curiosity (and our stomachs) getting the best of us. The underground restaurant was dimly lit, hues of red illuminating a spacious dinning area adorned in gothic ornaments. Above the tables, witches hats hung from the ceiling and appeared to be floating on their own.
Blood bag cocktails.
And the best of them. We sucked on rose cranberry potions while waiting for our meals.
Once again having a successful meal, the three of us sunk in for the night with a bowl of popcorn.
But apparently I should have been.
I noticed it smelled rather burn-y as the popcorn pop, pop, popped. The smarter half of me chose to stop it and check to make sure all was 관찮 (gwanchanh... short for 관찮아 which means okay. Do not use this term. No one says it.)....
But all was not 관찮.
The corner of the bag had crusted into a black, smoldering as a waft of smoke encapsulated the room. I dumped the popcorn into a bowl and quickly threw the bag under cold water. I silently prayed that we did not ave smoke detectors. I do not think we do.
Safe from a SECOND FIRE, we snuggled into bed for the night, excited for the next day's adventures.
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