Exploring Cheonan

So on our first weekend, we decided to explore the city a bit, although we are in the hotel still, the area is fairly close to the school. One thing that really stands out so far is the crazy drivers and the guys on scooters that don't pay attention to the lights. Running a red light is a common occurrence! The people are very friendly, more so than expected. The neighbourhood is supposed to be really safe and very little crime. We have had a couple of experiences with korean food, its really interesting, they really love having tons of side dishes. Our first night we went out for dinner and the beef was cooked right in the middle of the table in front of us, the meat was called galbi.

Last night the whole staff was taken out for dinner, it was a Farewell/Welcome party for those who are new and those who are leaving. It was fun, all the newbies had to introduce themselves and sing a song, Robin and I were supposed to sing "There was a great big moose" together, but we found out we couldn't sing it as a duo, so she stole the song and I ended up doing twinkle twinkle little star in a jazzy poetic way. both performances were spectacular, as I'm sure you can imagine. Afterwords we went to a nori-bang and had our own karaoke room. It was a lot of fun, the staff here are great.

Here's a couple of photos from our adventure so far!

Us at the Airport with our welcome sign

 Part of Cheonan

 View from a pedestrian overpass

 Mountains in the background

In front of our hotel

Korean Food!

Bi Bim Bop - rice with salads and and a mixture of stuff all mixed together. You can also get bok im bop, which is the same just with kimchi.

kim bop - seaweed around rice with salads and vegetables inside it - kind of like sushi but without the fish

Shaboo Shaboo _ its a delicious meal, first its a broth that you cook at your table, it is full of spinach, mushrooms and potatoes. Once it is cooked, you add the meat. Once it is cooked you can eat some. You can add noodles to it, and then drink it like a soup. Once you are done they fry up an egg with rice and vegetables! Delicious!

Galbie - candy meat, Jenny calls it that. Which I totally agree with. You cook the beef in front of you and then eat it with lettuce, rice, kimchi, noodles, garlic and pumpkin. Your choice of what you eat it with!

Galbi

Mandoo - kind of like tortolini, but with pork spinach and garlic inside of it!

Mandoo

Dwoigee Galbi - Pork galbi, marinated and is delicious.

Duk Galbi - Chicken galbi, with duk, red pepper sauce, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. Definatly my favorite, and we have learned how to make it at home!

Duk Galbi

Pork Bone Soup - This is a fav of Jays'. It is a bone of pork with the meet on it, brewing in a broth. I usually like the brothe!








Ramen - Korea's version of Mr. Noodle. However less salty, still not great for you, you can get it everywhere! There are rows of it in the grocery stores! When I make it I usually put my own vegetables and crack an egg in it.

Kimchi Gigae - Kimchi soup really. Em LOVES it! I am not much of a fan, it has huge pieces of tofu in it and kimchi. Usually the broth is spicy.

Bulgogi - Beef eaither spicy of not. It is thinly shaved beef, cooked with vegetables. You eat over rice. Very yummy.

Jupjae - Stir fried vegetables over glass noodles. Quite oily. Also has sesame seeds!

Duk - It is eaten all the time. It is rice pasta, but very very thick. Kids eat it plain, I only like it when it is in something.

We are here!

We made it!

After our flight to JFK  (which was not pleasant at all) then from there to Korea (14 hours - which I slept most of the way!) to being picked up at the airport, yes with someone holding a sign which said "welcome to Korea Robin and Jason" then a 2 hour bus ride to Cheonen where we are working, then taken out for dinner, we have made it!

As soon as we got to our hotel, which, is actually called a "Love Motel" - Koreans do not move in with their boyfriend/girlfriend until they are married, so they are living at home until they are 27,28 etc. So to do their business, they rent a room at a Love Motel! EVERYTHING is provided, from shampoo, soap, cologne, toothpaste, perfume and sometimes condoms! I was told that our boss probably called before and told them not to have them their so he wouldn't be embarrassed! Hilarious! Anyways, we were taken out for dinner by Jenny and Josh, whose apartment we will be taking over and Jessi! REally great time, we had Korean BBQ! you make it all right in front of you! 

So we were given chop sticks.. and well they were really difficult to use, so I guess the waitress noticed how poorly I was using them, and brought me over a fork.. and laughed!

After dinner, Josh and Jenny walked us back to our Love motel and to the emart, much like a walmart but always open! 

Back at our hotel room, Jason figured we need to get some electronics going, since we will be staying here for 9 days. As soon as he plugged his adapter in and then his computer, big spark goes, a fizzle sound and ALL the power goes out! Greta First night in Korea, no one we know is with us, we don't have a phone, so Jason goes down and talks/mimes to the front desk. However he isn't going to tell them he caused it.. so they try everything in our room (in the complete darkness) and after 30 minutes give up and give us this beautiful room down the hall! Did we ever feel embarrassed, however they feel bad so they start hauling all of our stuff out of the room (in the dark) to our new room. I didn't care where they put anything I was so tired I went to bed. We set our alarms and off to sleep.

Well.. didn't Jason set the alarm for 8:30 pm, and I wanted to wake up for 8:30 am since I was getting picked up at 9:30. So, I didn't wake up until 9:20! Of course I would, first day, why not be late! Through myself together and got out the door, at 9:30 exactly! 

What a day, I met all 5 of my classes I will be teaching Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I met parents, co-workers, the bank people, the hotel people, my head is spinning. One lady stopped me on the street and kept moving her hands up and down over my dress I had on (which was completely respectful here) not knowing what she was saying, and she wouldn't let me leave, I kept bowing and saying "thank you". Jenny said that if she was smiling it was probably a good thing, which she was, but who knows!

I am back from my day of teaching, full of information, and ready to take on the next day! and hopefully wake up in time for tomorrow!

WE HAVE OUR FLIGHT!

So it is official, we leave MONDAY AUGUST 22!
We will be flying out of Toronto at 6:25 am Monday morning... to New York.
From there we will wait in New York (can I already smell shopping...) and leave at 1:00 pm and arrive in Incheon at 4:10 pm. It is only a 14 hour flight from New York to Incheon. However in Canadian time we will be arriving at 3:10 am..

I don't know if internet will be set up when we get there, once we do you will all know we arrived!

HERE WE GOO!!

Robinism!

So many of you may know, I say funny things at unexpected times. I find they make sense, but usually they do not in the context we are talking about! I figured since I am going to be teaching English to Kindergarteners,  I may have a few "Robinisms" as my family calls them!


I'll continuously update this page to let you know what "Robinisms" I have said.


1. foopla: As meant to be Faux Pas. Said to my dad when I was playing cards and made a mistake "that was such a foopla!"