eat, sleep, teach, play

My first week here in Geoje I've experienced some weird foods, awkward sleep patterns, extended silences and genuine understanding.

My first bi bim bop meal was everything I'd expected. Rice, veggies, variety of hot bean pastes and fried egg. Kimchi on the side, as is custom for every meal enjoyed in Korea, and some twists of the chopsticks later my first big meal in town left me satisfied and wanting more. The unexpectedly delicious gamja jeon, or korean potato pancakes, has stolen my heart as my favorite korean dish to-date. Something oddly familiar yet completely foreign drew me to the crunching and soft pastry and I learned how to cut with chopsticks, helpful added bonus!

Not the one I ate but looks just like the one I did. YUM

After a few days of strictly Korean cuisine I needed a break. While I'd deeply enjoyed my Korean school lunches of soup, rice, kimchi and whatever else they served me that I have no idea the name, I needed something American. Some comfort food if you will. My new apartment building happens to be literally 5 steps away from Geoje's "best american pizza." Or at least best according to the foreigners. 

I left J's pizza with my dinner in hand on a Friday night. I attempted a conversation with the owner and shop lady, telling her where I was from, where I am working here, that I live just across the street and more. When I returned 10 minutes later to pick up my veggie pizza, the lady gave me a free coke. A welcome gift to Korea, to J's pizza and to a new friendship. I knew it'd be easy to make friends. 

 

Wrapped pizza with a bow. Free coke (notice the pics on the coke bottle: hamburger, pizza, fried chicken)

Nothing says a well deserved break after a week of adjustment to foods, sleeping schedule oddities and a hearty dinner. After dinner I joined some of the foreigners at the German bar in town. In the basement of what looks like a coffee shop on top, the brews were made on location with German recipes. The waiters wore authentic German gear, but the place maintained some classic Korean night out staples, full band, tvs for karaoke and drinks a plenty. A few pints later with some Irish and Brits the conversation came easily and I was surprised with plates of french fries and bowls of curry popcorn. This was my kind of place. Upon leaving at 4:30 a.m. we made it to the street where I noticed other bars and clubs were still fully active, bright colorful lights and loud music billowing out of the other clubs, I'm going to be very happy going out here.