New Adventures and new food

I have many updates - we have been busy so haven't had a chance to write, so this one might be a bit longer than usual! School is going well, but still adjusting to the Korean culture and the extreme language barrier. We have picked up a few new words, but at times still struggle with simple tasks - like buying food. I am sure it will get easier!

This past weekend was eventful and was a nice introduction to Korea. Dan and I wanted to go to dinner after classes, so we took a taxi to the new part of downtown (nicer, cleaner and more modern than the other downtown I wrote about last time - people were actually out and there were cafes and restaurants!). We wandered into a pizza restaurant - typical, right? - and enjoyed a delicious pizza that made us a little ill. We either ate too much, or it was loaded with MSG. We're blaming it on the MSG and not our inability to control ourselves when food is involved. Afterwards, we needed a walk, so we took a side street that was loaded with bars and places to eat. We noticed a western bar - and ventured inside. It was embarrassingly hilarious. Loud rap music, lots of military men (there is a base nearby), and Korean bartenders blowing up balloon animals. Seriously - it was like they were monkeys dressed up to dance and entertain the Westerners. It was like Reggie's or Jimmy's in Korea. They even did a fire show with alcohol and a blow torch.

Anyway - we actually met some really nice men from the military, who took us under their care and bought us drinks and brought us around the area until about 5 AM. We had a great time! It is such a small world - one of them was from New Orleans! He grew up in Old Metairie, went to St. Catherine, etc...we reminisced about the days of old, the Who Dat Nation, and all things that are New Orleans. They took us to an area called A-Town, a disgusting and Westernized part of Gunsan that is constructed for the guys in the military. But more on that later. We were just excited to speak with other people in English about their experiences in Korea - and I am sure we will be meeting up with them again soon!

And finally - last night...we went to a restaurant at the bottom of our apartment complex. It is a traditional Korea restaurant where you cook your own meat in the middle of your table and get loads of sauces and vegetables to put with it. You also sit on the floor and only eat with chopsticks. Only when we sat down, the woman gave us a fork as well. I guess we looked pathetic. It was very delicious...except for the maggot looking potato chips they gave to us. I have attached a picture. What are they? Your guess is as good as mine...but they were not pleasant. I won't be having those again. The pictures will do it more justice than my words.

I hope all is well in America and in England. We love you all and miss you!


The full meal from last night. The pan is in the middle. Lots of little bowls of food to enjoy with your meat. After it is cooked, you wrap up everything in a lettuce leaf and enjoy.


Bugs? Maggots? Looks like a meal for Timon and Pumba if you ask me. I ate one and almost gagged. Dan ate one...and then ate another one...I guess he couldn't make up his mind. They leave a bad aftertaste though.


This is an example of what happens in A-Town. We are at a "Juicy Bar" and this woman is called "Mama". She takes unsuspecting men into her claws and tries to give them kisses and forces herself onto their laps. As you can see, Dan is the unsuspecting male. He is not impressed. She then demands that you owe her 10,000 won. Unbelievable.


Our friend from New Orleans! We are in a Korean bar with a very bizarre green neon light. Each of the tables was refrigerated and had cup holders to keep your beer cold. Delicious, icy beer.


The group of the guys we met. We are at a bar in A-Town.