Dining Solo

I am excited that I can use the barter system here in Korea. I love that my native speaking ability is a commodity and can be traded for tennis lessons. I think I will bring my coach and apple next time too. Food goes a long way. But anyway, after taking lessons with Kim Kyu-min sii (**sii- this is the honorific suffix that would translate into me saying, 'Mr. Kim Kyu-min") the hunger pangs in my stomach were too loud to ignore.

I walked around the Gyongsang university campus area. First, I followed three boys and tried to take pictures of their clothes and their satchels without being noticed, but the light wasn't right. It's interesting when you know you are being creepy and you continue to do it anyway.

I didn't have any particular craving, so I decided to let the restaurant appearance and clientele dictate my decision. The only problem was, I was nervous to enter any place alone. I wanted a nice atmosphere but I had nobody to dine with. If I walked into a place full of varying groups of Koreans, I would become the foreign outcast.

Finally, I got over my fear and did like most creepy feeling people would do. I walked into a restaurant that had two other couples and sat as far away as I could. I purposely sat near the window to show the outside world that, YES, I am foreign and, YES, I am proud to eat alone! I can't let these Koreans hold me back. Who's with me?!? Ok, Ok, Ok... I didn't rally any troops nor did any foreigners come in and give me the awkward high five. But I had a good meal. Look at the pics:

The picture on the far left is what was given to me after I placed my order. Some pork-rind looking bowl of edible circles and peppery soup with strips of tofu. The other picture was a seafood soup with browned rice. Forgive me for the lack of clarity. I didn't want to bring even more attention to myself with my camera. In honoring being creepy, I took a picture when no one was looking.

It was set on fire in front of my face and I saw it come to a boil. A really beautiful display. The squares of rice were excellent. It looked like many replicas of SpongeBobSquarePants were floating in the broth. And again, creepily that brought a smile to my face. So just picture me smiling at boiling soup ALONE!

This next delicacy is a what I can describe only as a cheese danish. What a delectable morsel. As you can see I took a nibble first. In my mind, after the explosion of flavor was fully realized, I wanted to commit to every second of my dessert; to the cheese leaving no space between my front teeth unfilled. Yet, I failed. The time lapse of the two images was about 8 seconds. It was simply too Masitseoyo 'delicious'. Hold on, after seeing the picture I need to go finish it now. Like my friend Jeff once said after I explained that you should pace yourself when eating because it takes 20 minutes for your brain to realize you are full, "I always try to eat as much as I can. I'll just have to race brain, so I can beat...myself." Yes Jeff, that is the American way. Don't stop until your bowl is empty and you have either licked or sucked every crumb from every place you see one. :)

The woman at the bakery where I bought my treat gave me another treat just because I spoke a little English. I basically feel like a celebrity. I am just given presents all the time. Another lady nearKon-myeong middle school bought me a drink with bits of Aloe in it. She said nothing. She just handed it to me. RIDICULOUS, but super satisfying.