Korea always sends gifts: Korea Blog appointment certificate

The official certificate of appointment as a 2012 Worldwide Korea blogger for The Korea Blog.

  

An EMS package from The Korean Culture and Information Services office!

       Today was a typical day in sunny San Diego, California until a random package arrived from Korea. My first reaction was "yay! a package from EMS!" I was so happy to see the orange and blue EMS slip and some Hangul on the outside of the brown paper envelope. What could this be? Another present for being a blogger about Korea? Or did I forget something in Seoul and someone was mailing it back to me? My first instincts were correct, yet another amazing gift for simply blogging about Korea. Sometimes I wonder why I love Korea so much, but its always confirmed by the Korean hospitality.

      My package came right from my old stomping grounds in Jongno from the Korean Culture and Information Services Office.  Inside, was a beautiful certificate holder with a certificate of appointment as a 2012 Worldwide Korea blogger for The Korea Blog. Although my blog updates have slowed since my return to California, I still love that I am a part of a team of bloggers. This certificate made me want to write even more because of the formality and amazing invitations I have gotten to events in Korea. I wish I was on the team one year ago so that I could accept all of their amazing offers to attend some of the biggest events and conferences.

      In addition to the certificate was a beautiful Hangul imprinted box with mother of pearl lacquer-ware. This is the second time I have received a mother of pearl gift from Korea. The first time was as a 3rd place winner for Korea Taste when they sent me a beautiful mother of pearl display plate and stand. The Korea Blog gift contained a mother of pearl cardholder case and an abolone and pearl oyster pen.
      Thank you Korea Blog for my beautiful gifts! I was so surprised to get a package from Korea today, and it reminded me of all the great times I have spent there. Like I stated in my recent post about culture shock in California, my blogging about Korea will never cease and I hope that others get to experience the country that brought me one of the best years of my life.

My gift last year from Korea Taste.

If you have any questions or comments about "Korea always sends gifts: Korea Blog appointment certificate " please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

 

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Reverse Culture Shock round two

AUTHOR’S note: this post was originally published as a guest post on www.chrisinsouthkorea.com at Travel Wire Asia. If you're interested in writing a guest post please contact gonesoulsearching@gmail.com

Courtesy of Luke Martin at www.ROKetship.com

     In my previous update about moving back to San Diego after a year in Seoul I was still in a euphoric state where walking into the local pharmacy store CVS literally scared me. I was trying to become assimilated and jump back into the California lifestyle. This state lasted for about 2-3 months as I missed all of my favorite Korean destinations, stores, and foods but I was enjoying old favorites in San Diego and Los Angeles. Then my acculturation entered the toughest category of all, the separation phase or otherwise commonly known as the rejection phase. Why didn't I experience such severe culture shock when I moved to Korea? Why was this so hard upon moving back to the United States? Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around?    

My acculturation process got stuck a the rejection phase for too long.

Let me start out by saying, I have some of the best friends and family anyone could ask for. However, the first 2-3 months I was still missing everything about Korea.  Then I grew into a deep state of depression. Everything about American culture became a huge turn off to me and I struggled to connect with the American way of life. I couldn't believe how much TV everyone was watching and I struggled to believe that Americans lived a healthy lifestyle. I saw so many people driving around in their cars all day and then waiting in line at the drive through windows at In & Out. I missed walking around the city streets, getting lost, and exploring new places. I couldn't do that here. Everything required a car, gas, time, money. Some of the best things in Seoul were free and all within walking distance. In America, I felt alone as I walked back to my house from the nearest parking lot on empty streets. I missed the crowded streets at 12 am on Monday nights and all of the bright lights and excitement. Everything back home just seemed dull.

A part of me gave up. I wanted Asia and that was the only thing that was going to bring me happiness. I saw all of  my friends from Korea traveling around the globe having the time of their lives and I was just sitting on my laptop typing paper after paper. Why did I give it all up? Just to get another piece of paper that reads Master's Degree? 

I am happy to say that after much re-seoulsearching, I finally feel comfortable at home in San Diego! Although the transition was tough, I will definitely be here after graduate school in December. My dreams are finally coming true. With several job opportunities upon graduation, my professional career as a ESL instructor is just beginning. This summer I will get my first peek into university teaching at the Japanese Women's University in Tokyo where I will be teaching for 3 months. Upon returning home I will be a teacher’s assistant in a local community college as well as a writing center instructor at another community college in San Diego. This experience will help boost me into the programs so that I can hopefully become a part time adjunct at any community college in California.

       Everything is happening so fast. In 1 week I am leaving for Japan. When I return, I will have my Master’s degree within 4 months.  

         I will definitely be spending some time in Korea as soon as I am back on Asian soil. My blogging about Korea will never cease as my passion for the country is eternal. I hope many others have wonderful experiences in the country that brought me one of the best years of my life. As far as my acculturation process goes who knows. I think for the rest of my life I will be stuck in a state of marginalization, never fully accepting American culture or Korean culture. Korea changed who I am. I no longer identify fully with American culture. Bi-culturalism has become a part of my identity of which I am proud. 

If you have any questions or comments about "Reverse Culture Shock round two" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Seoul Food Girl: Sanmotoonge boasts as the most idyllic coffee shop in Korea

Sanmotoonge is located in the beautiful hillsides of Buam-dong in Jongno-gu Seoul.

The Seoul Fortress Wall is one of my favorite destinations in Seoul. Sanmotoonge offers great views of the historic site.

   
     Gazing off the corner of a mountainside up at the Seoul Fortress Wall, Sanmotoonge (Corner of the mountain) will offer you the most tantalizing coffee and desserts in Seoul. I have been to many extravagant and fun coffee shops in Seoul, and none of them beat the quaint and inviting atmosphere of Sanmotoonge. Looking out to the left of the coffee shop you will see hikers going up and down the steep steps of Seoul Fortress Wall. Surrounded by lush mountain scape you will feel like you are far away from the hustle and bustle of the city as you gaze down upon the city of Seoul far below.

      If you are really adventurous you may hike all the way from The Seoul Fortress Wall's Malbawi section in Jongno and finish at Sanmotoonge. I did this one day and it took me about 3 hours. I also enjoy walking from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Sanmotoonge which takes about 1 hour. For those less adventurous you might want to take the bus or subway to 97-5 Buam-dong,Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. 

      The Coffee Shop is famous for being the house where Choi Han Seong (played by Lee Sun Gyun) lived, after the popularity of the Korean drama Coffee Prince. Items from the set remain in the house that has now been turned into Seoul's most picturesque coffee shop.

      The prices are more expensive than most coffee shops in Seoul Coffee (6,000 ~ 7,000 won), Tea (6,000 ~ 8,000 won) however their coffees and treats are truly amazing. Everything that you eat or drink will be worth the price. Between my ice green tea latte and a delicious raspberry cheese cake my taste-buds had re-entered Westernized heaven.

The Korean coffee shop is a hit among Seoulites looking for an enjoyable afternoon.

Iced lattes are a perfect summer treat to bear the humidity in Seoul.

I recommend the iced green tea latte. Its frothy creme is among the best I've tasted in Seoul.

Real cheesecake is hard to come by in Korea.

Walking around the streets of Buam-dong is an idyllic adventure.

Here is what the walk looks like up the hill to the coffee shop. Girls shouldn't wear heels for the long walk!

One of the adorable countryesque houses on the walk up to the coffee shop.

A beautiful place to celebrate spring in Korea.

The coffee shop is a great place for a romantic date.

The coffee and tea menu. Courtesy of HappyDalki.

I won't show any pictures of the inside because I am partial to the outside patio area!

Directions From Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno to Sanmotoonge Cafe -about 9 minutes by subway and bus.  http://maps.visitseoul.net/index.jsp?lang=eng

Start Gyeongbokgung

Line 3 (Anguk stop)

Get on train for Gyeongbokgung at Anguk.

Get off train at Gyeongbokgung Stn after 1^st stop.

1020(Gyeongbokgung Stn)

Get on bus at Gyeongbokgung Stn

bus stop and get off bus at Gyeongbokgung Stn bus stop after moving in 7^th stop.

90m on foot to destination.

End Buam-dong Community Service Center

 

or

 

Take subway line 3 to Gyeongbokgung (exit 3), Get on a bus (No 7022, 1020, 0212, 7018) and get off at Buam-dong office. 

 

Once in Buam-dong walk around the neighborhood and enjoy all of the scenery and shops! head up the hill to Sanmotoonge (about 10 minute walk).  

If you have any questions or comments about "Seoul Food Girl: Sanmotoonge boasts as the most idyllic coffee shop in Korea" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Seoul Food Girl: Zion Market brings Korea to California

A photo of me so happy to see giant bottles of Yu Ja Cha citron tea and reasonably priced soju!

    This article can also be read at SeoulFoodGirl.com and Korea Taste.
     Californians have easy access to a full Korean grocery store at Zion Marketplace. Stepping inside Zion, I felt like my body had somehow time warped back to Seoul. All of my favorite Korean snacks and vegetables were suddenly in front of my eyes but I was 6,000 miles away in sunny San Diego. Mul Naengmyeon buck wheat cold noodles 물냉면, kimbap, bulgolgi, and even my favorite pistachio ice cream bars were among my first purchases as I wandered around the store completely awestruck. After an afternoon spent searching for Korean grocery stores in Kearny Mesa and a lackluster trip to the massive Asian market "Ranch 99" I took a wrong turn near the freeway and suddenly saw a massive grocery store with Korean Hangul written in bright green letters.
     After returning home with all of my goodies I decided to do a little research on Zion. Why had I not heard of this Korean grocery from any of my friends in San Diego? As the website states, Zion was one of the first Korean markets in the San Diego area when it opened its small shop in 1979 on Convoy Street. In 2002, Zion expanded nearly 7 times at 32,700 square feet and remains housed in a modern building on Mercury Street. With a popular store in San Diego, the owners decided to expand opening a store in Cerritos, Los Angeles, and Irvine. Now Californians have easy access to the freshest Korean produce and brands making Korean culture easier to retain in America through its unique food culture.
     If you don't feel like cooking your own Korean food, Zion has plenty of pre-made food and several in-store restaurants that will cook up your favorite meal in traditional stone pots and metal serving bowls. The prices are extremely reasonable and there are weekly specials offered to customers by looking at their online website. A standard bottle of soju cost about $3 including tax which is only about $1 more than in Korea.
     Zion really made me feel at home in San Diego after a difficult acculturation process that left me wondering why I ever left Korea. I suggest stopping by the store and talking to people if you want to make Korean friends or meet other people that were former expats in Korea. Visiting the store may also be a great place to practice your Korean language skills and find a language exchange partner.

My Korean honey cookie obsession can live on in California!

I can finally make my own kimbap now that I have pickled radish!

Soju and meokgolli were on sale the day I visited the store!

A home goods section of Zion Market has all of the traditional Korean cookware.

One of the in-store restaurants has a menu full of Korean food as well as Japanese foods.

My Korean ESL students always gave me Bacchus-D when I was sick or tired.

Beef galbi will bring back Korean BBQ to your household.

I missed Koreans fresh pealed bags of garlic! At only $3 you cannot go wrong!

Don't want to make your own Korean cold noodle soup? No problem, this pre-made package has everything.

My favorite Margaret cookies from Lotte.

The inside of Zion Market reminds you of any standard Korean grocery store piled high with boxes!

If you have any questions or comments about "Seoul Food Girl: Zion Market brings Korea to California" please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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My favorite top 10 winter destinations on Jeju Island

Jeju Island is the only tropical winter wonderland in Korea! Who says you can't go to Jeju when its cold! Skip the packed summer months and you won't be surrounded by a million photo hungry tourists. You can easily get your close up next to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak without 10,000 people in your picture. Amidst all the tropical palm trees and clear blue waters in the southernmost part of Korea, you might find yourself on a beach covered with snow!

Here are my 10 favorite destinations on Jeju Island during the winter time:

Walking along the Jeju Olle path will give you spectacular views of the coastline. There is 200 KM of walking path to cover if you are interested in a walking tour of the island.

A truly peaceful destination, Sanbangsa Temple is build into the side of a mountain. The steep walk up to the cave is definitely worth the sweat. Make sure to light an incense and take a sip of the fresh mountain water.

Seongeub folk village will take you back in time to traditional Korean living. You can walk through a neighborhood of old thatched roof and stone houses which is idyllic during the winter seasons.

Jongbang Waterfall is only steps from the sand making it a beautiful seaside waterfall. This waterfall is truly unique because of its close location to the beach and the fact that Jeju Island has no rivers or lakes.

One of the 4 Jeju green tea farms is a great place to stop on a winter day and warm up. Inside the tea house you can help yourself to a warm fireplace and some cups of green tea. They also have green tea honey, soap, powder or anything else green tea that you could imagine. If your looking for an authentic Korean tea set, this is the place.

Ancient lava estuary is a part of the area designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. Most of the estuary is dried up, but you may rent a clear kayak and paddle around the clear water of the lower half of the estuary. 

Jungmun beach is just below the Hyatt Regency Jeju hotel. During the summer this is Jeju's most popular beach. In the winter months its beautiful to take a stroll and see the snow-covered sand.

Walking along the cliff sides of Yongmeori Beach will take you through what I think of as the Jeju Grand Canyon. The cliff sides have been eroded overtime leaving horizontal formations as the tides rise and fall. If your hungry you can stop at one of the many women divers set ups and grab some fresh seafood.

Eat some of the best food Jeju has to offer at  안거리밖거리 in Seogwipo. This set meal costs only 7,000 won per person and you get a chance to try Okdom the famous red fish of Jeju . This restaurant is famous for its traditional Korean food.

A view from the back side of Oeodolgae rock. The crystal clear waters along the Olle Path is what make this location so special.

 If you have any questions or comments about "My favorite top 10 winter destinations on Jeju Island " please leave them in the comment box below or email goneseoulsearching@gmail.com

  Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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