Ruth's Korean Adventure: Piercings, Fish Pedicures and Lots of Good Food

Photo cred: Ruth

So much happened this week.  Buckle your seatbelt for (kind of watered down) explanations of our day to day...

Monday:  After school (Charades!), our group assembled for Chinese food at the Chinese place in the Gwangj.  We ordered all the good stuff and got ice cream afterwards.  Par for the course, people.  Then, we went to our favorite noraebang.  We payed for two hours.  How long did we stay?  Three and a half hours.  No big deal.

Tuesday:  After school, we headed for Seoul.  Ruth wanted to get her ears pierced, so I took her to my favorite shop, The Crow, in Hongdae.  Afterwards, we had an awesome dinner at a real cool basement Indian restaurant in the same neighborhood.  The food was soooo good and the company wasn't too terrible either :)

Wednesday:  We went with the Husteds to Namhansansang Fortress for dinner after school.  What a delightful meal we shared!  We all love mountain food and Ruth even said that this was probably her favorite Korean meal.  No big deal :) Afterwards, we went back to the Husteds to sample some of Scott's homemade soju concoctions.  YUM.

Thursday:  After school (Friendship bracelets!), it was fish pedicure time.  First, we arrived to the cafe and had our obligatory cafe drinks, plus some honey bread.  Then, it was fish time.  We opted for the little guys (Ruth's tickle tolerance is, apparently, low) and, true to form, Ruth giggled like a little girl.  Not long after we got started, a Korean couple also came to the fish tubs.  They were shrieking and giggling and making a general raucous about the big fish, so we invited them over to the little fish tub to share with us.  They were reluctant, but came over anyway and spent much of the time trying to figure out if Ruth and I were a couple.  So, that was fun :)

Friday:  This was the last day of Winter Camp.  We made trifles and did a review game.  After it was all over, Mr. Shin gave some closing remarks, some involving thanking Ruth for coming to help.  He asked her to give a few remarks about her time here and by the end, homegirl cried.  Precious.  Everyone loved having Ruth at school - one student drew a picture of her and several other students gave her letters.  She was a hit.  After camp was over, we went out to dinner with Mr. Shin, Vice Principal Choi and another teacher from school.  We had SUCH a good time!  Usually those teacher dinners are all business (and by all business, I mean, we eat and talk a little, but mostly eat, and then leave), but this dinner lasted for such a long time.  We talked and talked and laughed and laughed.  The food was delicious, of course, but the company was so, so refreshing and fun!

Then, after a serious amount of cajoling (I was soo tired!), I agreed to take Ruth out for a drink at the famed Cafe Swalo.  What was supposed to be one drink turned into two bottles of wine with our new Korean friend Brad (he likes Brad Pitt because he has the distinct privilege of being married to Angelina Jolie, who has nice lips.) who wanted to practice his English.  He and Ruth pinky-promised to be pen pals (he fiiiiiiinally e-mailed her today!!) and we learned all about his very Korean girlfriend who was at home sleeping.  As if providing us with wine during this delightful two and a half hour conversation wasn't awesome enough, he bought us a bottle to take home with us too.  In a satin lined box.  Homeboy didn't mess.

Saturday:  Saturday was real chill.  We walked around the Gwangj, finished up some souvenir shopping, walked around the traditional market, got some Korean pizza and packed for our impending trip to Japan.  Ruth's favorite pizza featured spaghetti.  Some things can't be explained with logic, like, why there was spaghetti on this pizza.  But, trust me when I tell you, it's delicious in the weirdest way.

Next post: JAPAN.  Get excited.