Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:49 AM
Terrible cartoon drawing by Marie Webb, hilarious Korean culture courtesy of Korea.
Korea can be a very difficult place to meet friends, mainly because Koreans do not find it socially acceptable to talk to strangers. Yes, sometimes working for a smaller company in Korea can lead to feeling isolated from other expats. The language barrier can also attribute to this factor, especially if you are not living in a large city like Seoul. If you take away one point from this Q&A it is this: remember that you are a foreigner, and just because something like talking to strangers is not accepted by Korean society, doesn't...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:57 AM
You can also read this post at www.seoulfoodgirl.com
Bargaining for your live octopus at Noryangjin is half the fun.
Eating live octopus in Korea is a delightfully scary and delicious experience. The best place to experience eating raw fish (sannakji hoe), and especially raw live octopus (낙지) is none other than the famous Noryangjin Seafood Market in Seoul.
Noryangjin is one of Korea's largest fish markets with a raw fish market operating 24 hours a day 365 days a year. After arriving at the Noryangjin market from subway line No. 1, I was overwhelmed by the amount of seafood that this enormous building...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 7:12 AM
A Christmas photo stop in Myeongdong outside Migliore.
Christmas in Korea is just like America's Christmas, but on steroids. The entire concept of Christmas is turned into a giant commercialized frenzy for the month of December. My students explained to me that they go on expensive dates with their boy/girl friends and that it is a much bigger deal than Valentines day. Take for example the 5 course dinner offered at the JW Marriot in Seoul witch is a steep 200,000 won!
Going to class every day and listening to my students talking about Christmas was a bit depressing at times. Some of them would say things like "Well I'm...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:07 AM
Marie at Gyeongbokgung palace wearing a guard outfit.
My email has been flooded latley with basic questions about Korea. To be completley honest, some of these questions are a little annnoying to me because they can be figured out by doing any basic research about Korea. However, because this is my first Q&A post I will answer a majority of questions that an anonymous reader sent my way.
Dear Marie, Yes, as you can see from my last name, I am korean but from southern California...Orange County, CA. I saw your webpage www.goneseoulsearching.com from you tube and i have to say, i don't know how you put it together but...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:12 AM
Freshly made pastries and desserts are Amandier's specialty, and hudreds of macaroons are made daily.
This article can also be read at www.seoulfoodgirl.com.
The pastry shop/restaurant has a lavish interior to suit its upscale menu.
Nestled between historical Insadong, grand Gyeongbokgung palace, and cozy Samcheongdong lies a little slice of European heaven called Amandier. According to Ten Magazine, Ruben Jan Adrian is a Dutchborn 29 year old pastry chef. With experience working in locations such as Paris, Singapore, and Brussels, Adrian had plenty of experience before opening Amandier just three short months ago.
...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:37 AM
A average morning in my gym ended with a sexual fiasco.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever pictured myself in the situation I was in this morning at 9 am. I understand that Korea's culture can be harsh for those in sexual relationships. Most Koreans live with their parents until they are married, even if they are grown adults at ages 30 and higher. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the creation of love motels, which are pretty much serviced by young Korean couples. Some of my first weeks in August 2010, were spent in a love motel, and trust me I was the only guest there during the day. So here's the story:
Love...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 7:09 AM
Buzz Korea will promote Korean tourism through the eyes of writers and bloggers.
Buzz KOREA is bringing all of Korea's bloggers to one place thanks to the Korea Tourism Organization. This new website will showcase writers, most of whom are currently living in Korea, who promote tourism throughout the country. This brilliant idea will connect expats, Koreans, and prospective travelers, and will provide useful articles and the latest gossip or buzz about destinations throughout Korea.
I came across this website tonight while scrolling through Korea blogs that I read daily. I immediately registered for the...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:59 AM
The entrance to Dragon Hill spa has a charming and inviting atmosphere.
Wearing funny sheep head towels and spa outfits is a must.
Recommended by CNN Go, The New York Times, and numerous international media, Dragon Hill Spa is the best place to get the full Korean jjimjilbang (Korean bath house) experience. The spa is open 24 hours a day seven days a week and features seven massive floors of facilities. This family-friendly place is a fascinating combination of relaxation and fun which includes sex-segregated spa areas, co-ed saunas, outdoor pools, hot tubs, nail salons, arcades, internet rooms, restaurants, a cinema,...
Posted by gone seoul searching on 8:45 AM
Santacon took place last night in Hongdae at Ho Bar 3.
Over 200 foreigners and Koreans joined together at Beer O' Clock in Sinchon last night decked out in their best Santa suits for the 2010 Santacon in Seoul! Once at Sinchon, the festivities started with some Christmas caroling and of course a beer stop on the walk over to Hongdae at around 7 pm. The walk over was exciting and Koreans everywhere were in shock when they saw the motley crew of Santa's. Santa's were drinking, and some of them were handing out Christmas candies to Koreans. The Santa's took over Ho Bar 3 for much of the evening, and enjoyed having dance parties...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:20 AM
This article can also be read at www.seoulfoodgirl.com
There's nothing more appealing than seeing a tiny little Korea girl chow down on a good old fashioned cheeseburger and shake. If your in the mood to just flat out eat something greasy and terrible for your body, head on over to Burger N Shake located in Sinchon. Down the street from Megabox, this is a great restaurant to stop at before or after heading to the movies. This restaurant boasts its slogan of 100% beef premium homemade burgers, which are definitely a step up from McDonald's and Burger King.
I was not planning on...
Posted by The Surfing Professor on 8:21 AM
A standard hite ad located in the Korean subway.
"Teacher my religion is alcohol!" Yes, a mature male adult from my school blurted this statement out in perfect English while in class one day! Of course I am so used to the culture here now, that a statement like this would not boggle my mind. Neither would witnessing 2 drunk girls fall asleep on a sidewalk at 3 am and watching no one do anything to help them. Nor would watching men stumbling and hiccuping on the sidewalk at 10am in the morning. So what is the Korean drinking culture like, and why is it so different from Western culture?
In...
