We have been here for 11 days and it has been a semi eventful 11 days. Since we don't speak any Korean, we are very unsure of our selves in public situations like ordering food, how to buy some things, and how to get around in both Cheonan (where we live) and other cities in Korea. So we have not traveled much out side of the #12 bus route, which is the only bus we know and where it goes.
Last week we had orientation. We saw our schools, we are both teaching in the elementary schools but different ones. David's school is about 2 miles away from the KNU campus and he can easily walk or take the subway. My school is about 15-20 minutes away by bus but they say that people have walked to school before when the weather is nice. Last week, we also had our physical examination, which consisted of an eye test, someone looking at our teeth, an xray of our lungs to make sure we don't have TB (I guess) and a blood test. All in all, the exam was ok but slightly odd. We also got our bus cards and ate at native restaurant.
Which brings me to the title for this blog entry. FOOD! I am not sure how many people are actually reading this thing and how many people know that I have Celiac Disease but having Celiac makes it very difficult for me to eat anything, especially when wheat is in a lot of food and even things you wouldn't think it would be like shampoo. When you add that to being in a foreign country where I don't know the language and am unsure of what anything is made out of and it makes me very leery of try anything. But thankfully we have not gone out to eat with out being with someone who is Korea or can at least understand Korea. So they have helped me out and taught me what I can and can't have and so far I have been ok with the food, except once but we ate at an American type restaurant and well it wasn't Korean food. To sum it all up, I was very worried that I would waste away here but it looks like I will be ok with the food. I can't eat everything I want but it is no more difficult than in America.
Also Korean food. It is either spicy or sweet. Every meal consists of Kimchi, a yellow radish, fish bread and a broth. At some restaurants you get more but that is the basis for most places. Then you get your main dish, which is some sort of meat, beef, pork, fish/seafood and most of the time David and I can share one meal (it's that big). For a meal we spend around 7-10 won(Korean money) for the both of us... So do the math and that around $6-8 per meal. I don't think we have ever eaten for so little in the states and been able to get so much for the price. And we both like the food, which helps a lot. I think if we didn't like the food, it would make the adjustment much harder.
This week, we had one day of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), which was basically an introduction day. TESOL is like taking a college course, with home work and everything. We will also have to prepare and present lessons in front of our peers. I am excited for it but they said it was also a lot of work. Then yesterday began the Lunar New Year holiday. So everyone is off from Wednesday through Sunday. The Lunar New Year is a lot of things compressed into one holiday. First it's the beginning of the well new year, it is also a time to celebrate family and third it is everyone's birthday. I will explain because even to me, it's a little weird. In Korea when you are born you are 1, then when the new year comes around you turn 2. Everyone in Korea is 2 years older than they really are, I am 25 in America but here in Korea I would be 27. After your first "New Year" birthday your birthday then falls on the "New Year" every holiday after the first. So today as everyone gathers with their families, they are celebrating everyone's birthday. Interesting, huh? Since everything is closed today, us Americans are having our own Lunar New Year, with junk food and games.
We do have funny Korea stories to tell but I think I will save them and put them all together.... Some day. As some people who have been here for a while say, 'Oh, Korea,' and shake their heads.
Happy Lunar New Year and the year of the rabbit.
David and Lisa
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