St. Patrick's Day in Seoul

Honestly, it was the most white people I had seen in Seoul for a few weeks. There where literally dozens of us!

Finally!

Wow! The computers at work will not load blogger! (the application we use to post this blog) Well, Dani and I have a lot to share, but we are at an awesome cafe with some good espresso and free internet. Also it is on the cafe's computer so I don't have much time. But I will tell you that we are adapting well the the city life. This last week was a wirlwind, but we made it through. That is why we are at the "Restree" cafe. Good coffee and Dani is about to get a foot pedicure that involves sticking your feet in a pool of fish that nibble all the dead skin off. Gotta run!

we miss you all!

--Todd

Sardines in a Can

Today's idiom lesson is "like sardines in a can." This idiom is often used to describe situations where people are in a crowded place, usually full of people standing shoulder to shoulder.

I've been waiting to tell you all about our first commute to work! Well, you see, the first-first time was on a Saturday. Our helper-teacher showed us our apt and then how to get to work on the number 10 bus. It was about half full with old ladies and teenagers out for the afternoon. But Monday came quickly and all 10 million+ occupants of Seoul (including ourselves) came out of the little box-like apts to go to work all at the same time. So, as we entered the number 10 bus to Guro Middle School, Danielle and I found that the bus had not only the old ladies and teenagers but the business men and women, mothers, school kids, merchants, squid sellers and bums of the Guro district all in one little bus. After only 2 or three stops I could most likely lift both my feet off the ground and remain in the standing position by the mere force of bodies pressed against me. You see, here in Seoul personal space does not exist in the public transit environs.

While the oxygen level was rapitly decreasing, I remember hearing the radio station on the bus repeat the phrase, "...like sardines in a can...", about three or four times. All the rest of what they where saying was in Korean and so like simple background noise to me. But from what Dani and I could tell, that morning the English lesson for those listening to that station was "..like sardines in a can.." Yes, it was very appropriate.

Really, I believe that was our lesson for the day. As if the morning radio program was telling us, "Welcome to Seoul! Where you can truly feel like sardines in a can!"

--TO

More kim-chi please!

Hello friends and family!

Danielle and I are here in South Korea, just outside of the capitol city, Seoul. We are currently in the Hyundai Learning Center in a beautiful hilly area. But it has been quite foggy and rainy and snowy. But there are heated floors (the best invention yet!) and plenty of Korean food to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.

One of the things that we have to get used to is the staple food of Korea: Kim-Chi

It is a fermented cabbage dish that is very spicy and usually served cold. I know that most of you find this rather unappetizing, but I have grown quite fond of it. If you have no idea what I am talking about please watch this short video:

I (Danielle) haven't really gotten used to the kim-chi or spicy food but I'm learning. I really like the friendly people. All of our coordinators have been polite and helpful. I'm excited about the rest of the year!