Korean Street Food and More....
2nd Week in Korea
It has been almost 2 weeks now since I arrived in Korea.  It has been an energizing and exploration filled days meeting family members, taking more drumming lessons, shopping and of course, eating delicious and fabulous Korean Street Food and more!

My love for Korean food started with various street foods and snack foods in Korea.  There is an abundance of street food in the streets of Seoul and surrounding neighborhoods.  It is almost too much at times, but I realize how important food and eating meals is, especially eating with family and friends and enjoying good food.  All my meetings and gatherings with family and friends revolved around meeting for lunch or dinner and everyone took so much time and thought to figure out places to host me.
Mrs. Baik drove me to Bukhansan area, the northern most mountains in Seoul and treated me to a fabulous Korean traditional BBQ lunch with lots of traditional and pickled vegetables.
My uncles and aunts always asked me what I like to eat and what I prefer, whether it is meat dishes or noodles, or Chinese food or Korean cuisine, etc.
I have been spoiled and treated so well here....and of course, I have explored on my own to taste different types of snacks and food along the crowded and dynamic streets.
I hope you enjoy some of the photos of the deliciousness!

Initial days in Korea 2018

May 21, 2018
Settling into Korea, Reunited with relatives and fantastic cultural opportunities!

It is already Sunday night in Seoul, Korea. Actually I am staying in a suburb of Seoul, called Jeong-Ja Dong, in Bundang district of Sungnam City.  I have done a lot the past few days and boy has it been busy and a bit exhausting.  I was not feeling well even before I left the States but thanks to some quick and efficient doctor’s office visits, I feel better.

The weather is beautiful in Korea right now and not too hot yet.
I am glad it is not too hot yet and not quite Monsoon season yet!

First order of business was meeting my dear, sweet Uncle Sil, who is my dad’s younger brother.  We also met with his daughter Yumin and enjoyed catching up and learning about the latest family news.

The last two days were super busy...doctor’s appointments, getting over jet lag and taking classes on cooking and drumming.

On Saturday the 19th, I took the subway to Insadong area and found my Temple Food Cooking Class about Buddhist pickling traditions.  It was interesting to meet the Nun who is also a master chef of Temple Foods and fun to hear her perspective and teach us with lots of humor and wit.  Her name is Ji Gyun Nun.
The class was about pickling with soy sauce and spicy chili paste, Kochujang using root vegetables called Gajuk and GomChi.  What a wonderful opportunity for me to learn more about country’s cooking tradition and something that I was not quite familiar with.  Now I will be able to share with all of the students in my classes about Korean Temple Food!

After my cooking class, I rushed to meet a drum teacher and a wonderful performer, Teacher Noh Su Hwan, who I found through the internet before I came to Korea.  His educational center is called Synmiong Nanum, Spreading Cheer Together, and housed in a small performance theater space called Space Maruchae.  What an honor to meet and connect with him and his drumming group!  Wow....he sat me down and asked that I start drumming so he could review my drumming skills and teach me more!  Actually he taught me a WHOLE lot...it turns out my posture was not quite right when drumming, hence the hip and back pain, etc.  He was humble but very focused on teaching correctly and emphasized hitting the drum correctly with good posture and technique rather than hitting hard, louder, and faster.  After a mini lesson with him, I watched the 4 female drummers from one group perform various Jangdan, rhythms, dance and sing. I realized how much more work and practice I need to accomplish to keep becoming a better, more experienced and skilled Janggu player.  This was a very productive day for sure!!!

Hello everyone! 
I am leaving for South Korea tonight and cannot wait to write about my adventures in Seoul and Jeonju.  I was busy packing and pretty stressed about leaving the kids and Marc behind as well as Momo our sweet but high energy husky!

I hope to recharge while I visit for 3 weeks.  The main purpose is to take some educational classes on Korean drumming and cooking as well as joining a group of US students and professors to learn about traditional Korean arts and culture.

I will write more as soon as I get over jet lag and settle in Seoul!

Bye for now!

Saehee