Korean Side Dishes

Spinach (Sigumchi Namul)

• Ingredients:
• 1/2 lb. of spinach
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
• 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds
• 1/2 Tbsp sesame salt*
• 1/2 Tbsp chopped green onion
• 1 clove finely chopped garlic
• 1 tsp sugar
• Directions:
• Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds. (If you're using baby spinach leaves from the bag, blanch for a shorter time.) Then remove quickly and rinse in cold water. Then gently squeeze the remaining water from the spinach. Mix the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl then pour over the spinach and mix. **Note: If you don't have sesame salt you can add 1tsp of salt and 2 more tsp of soy sauce.

Chop Chae ("mixed and stirred" "vegetables")

It's name came from the fact that it was made from thinly slices vegetables. However now, the dish is mostly comprised of noodles with added vegetables.

• Ingredients:

• 8 oz. glass noodles
• 1 sweet onion, sliced into thin strips
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 pound baby spinach, blanched for 30 seconds
• 2 carrots, julienned
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped Napa cabbage
• 5 shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated if dried and then sliced
• 2 Tbsp vegetable or olive oil
• 2 Tbsp sesame oil
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt to taste
• Sesame seeds (optional)
• 6 oz. beef or pork (optional)*
• Directions:
• Boil the noodles according to the package directions. Then, in a large pan heat the vegetable or olive oil and 1Tbsp sesame oil over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic for about 1 minute. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook for about 5 minutes until they're about half-cooked. So they're still a little crispy. Turn the heat to low and add the cooked noodles, the cooked meat, soy sauce, sugar, and the remaining sesame oil. Cook it for another 2 minutes and add salt or more soy sauce if needed. Lastly top it with the sesame seeds if you'd like them.
• There are many different variations to this delicious side dish.
• Gochu japchae (고추잡채), made with shredded fresh green chili pepper and vegetables
• Buchu japchae (부추잡채), made with Korean chives
• Kongnamul japchae (콩나물잡채), made with kongnamul (soybean sprouts)
• Haemul japchae (해물잡채), made with seafood and vegetables
• Beoseot japchae (버섯잡채), made with mushrooms

Beansprouts (Kongnamul Muchim)

• Ingredients:

• 1 package of soybean sprouts (500 grams)
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 3 tsp salt
• 1 tsp hot pepper flakes or Korean chili powder
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil
• sesame seeds
• 2 chopped green onions
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• Directions:
• Boil the bean sprouts with 2 tsp salt and 1 cup water with the lid on for 15 minutes. When they're finished, drain them and rinse them with cold water. In a large bowl mix the bean sprouts with the garlic, green onions, soy sauce, 1 tsp salt, sugar, sesame oil, and hot pepper flakes. Then sprinkle some sesame seeds on top. **Note: For a non spicy recipe just don't add the hot pepper flakes.

Kimchi Jjigae

Kimchi jjigae is the chili of Korea. It's a kimchi based soup with vegetables and pork. It's a very cheap, delicious and spicy soup.

• Ingredients:

• kimchi
• water
• small zucchini
• carrot
• onion
• pepper paste or bean paste
• pork
• hot peppers
• Directions:
• Slice the carrot, zucchini, hot peppers and onions. Chop up the pork into small bite sized pieces. Pour the kimchi into a soup pot. Add the vegetables and pork. Also add a small amount of water, depending on how much kimchi juice there was. Remember that when it boils down it gets more watery. You can add the pepper paste to taste. Add more for a fuller flavor and more spice.
• Serving:
• Traditionally it is served boiling hot in a stone pot with a side of rice. If more than two people are eating it, it's usual to accompany the dinner with various side dishes (banchan).

Typically the kimchi used in kimchi jjigae is the older more fermented kimchi. This gives the kimchi jjigae a stronger, fuller flavor and it also has more of the good bacteria that's found in yogurt. There are many other ingredients that you can add such as tofu, seafood, tuna, chicken, scallions, garlic or mushrooms. Koreans are known for changing their recipes with the seasons. It keeps the same old soup and foods interesting. The recipes are always changing in subtle ways!

Guide to Drinking in Korea

Drinking in Korea is vastly different than in America. Not only culturally but also physically. Let's start with the cultural aspect of drinking.

• BASIC MANNERS
• If a Korean asks you out for a drink, it means they want to get to know you better. To them, drinking is a very personal experience. You get to know the real person and would talk about things you normally wouldn't. So, if you coworker, boss, or friend asks you out for drinks it's almost rude to decline without a very good reason.
• SOJU ETIQUETTE
• If you're going out to dinner, you'll usually be drinking soju. If a person older than you pours the soju you must accept it using two hands. Culturally, you must accept anything an older Korean gives you or you'll be considered extremely rude. You will also take the drink with either two hands, one covering the bottom of the glass, or you take it while looking away so that they can't see the bottom of the glass. However, if someone younger than you pours the drink you can accept it with one hand and not be disrespectful. Also, it's respectful to pour soju for your elders but remember to use two hands for older people but you can use one hand for younger people. It's also considered rude not to hold your glass when people pour for you. I've seen it where a friend leans over and touches the soju glass of someone who's not paying attention and gives them the look of, don't worry I saved you there.
• DIFFERENT DRINKS
• Soju (rice liquor 20%)
• Mekju (beer)
• So-mek (beer and soju mixed)
• BASIC DRINKING STYLE
• In most countries you start to go out drinking maybe around 9pm and finish at 2-3am. So, you tend to drink harder and faster. While here in Korea the bars don't close until 6-9am and even then you still go to breakfast afterwards and drink soju. I've had many late nights continuing until 11:30am. So where a lot of new people fail is in their drinking stamina. They come to Korea with their old drinking habits and just fall to pieces. Throwing up, falling down, and basically making asses of themselves. So, the best recommendations I have for you out there is to get a good, late, solid dinner, start drinking a little later and to pace yourself. I know it's a little hard to adapt to. We all still have our nights where we get out of control but if you follow those basic steps you'll be able to maintain a semi-functional drunk even at 6am.

Remember it's not customary to tip in Korea and can even be considered rude, however in a foreign bar it is usually appreciated. However, there are usually designated tip jars where they should be placed. And, as always, drink safe and be smart. This is a foreign country after all.

Applying for New VISA in Korea

To apply for an entirely new VISA while back in America you'll need to follow these steps.

1. First of all you'll want to get your fingerprints taken and sent in for a FBI check. Usually you'll want a few copies sent in for your fingerprints if they're done in ink. This is just in case they're not accepted by the FBI office. This will save you time and money. Generally a FBI background check takes about 8 weeks and you'll also need it apostilled so it's best to get it started quickly. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks
1. ***** IMPORTANT NOTE *****
2. If you will only be back in the US for less than 3 months and you've already completed a FBI background check and had it apostilled, then you don't need to get another one done. This will save you A LOT of time.
3. Reduce the inconvenience of having to return to their home country to receive a new E2 visa. - To avoid the inconvenience of having to return to an applicant’s home country to receive an apostille for a criminal background check, a criminal check issued by the applicant’s embassy/ consulate in Korea may be accepted.
   - Instead of receiving an apostille for an applicant’s degree, a document of verification from the Korean University Education Union/ Community may be accepted for applicants already teaching in Korea.
   - Effective 01 September 2010, E2 visa holders who are changing jobs will not have to submit a criminal background check if they have already done so and if their stay outside Korea is less than 3 months between the expiry of the old and new visas. See Conversation teacher(E-2) related system improvement notice: The simplification of required documents of re-applying for a certificate of visa issuance approval
   - Criminal background check - Those who had stayed overseas under 3months to issue a visa status can omit the document.(If staying over 3month overseas, the document should be submitted when the foreigner applies alien registration.)
   - Certificate of obtain degree - Those who submitted a verified document can omit it.
4. Don't forget that you need to get this authenticated by the Department of State. This is not the same as the apostille for your degree. Just go to this website to get it authenticated. http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/index.htm 
5. Or if you don't have time to wait for the Department of State to authenticate your document, you can send it to US Legalization. That has a promise of a 1 day turnaround with the Department of State. So, that saves a lot of time, comparatively. You can get the information from this website http://www.uslegalization.com/.
2. You will also need your degree apostilled. This is the website for Wisconsin. http://www.sos.state.wi.us/apostilles.htm Depending on your time frame you might want to get this service expedited.
3. The other documents you need are:
1.  A photocopy of your information on your passport.
2. About 4 color passport photos (2x2).
3. A signed copy of your resume.
4. 3 copies of the signed contract.
5. Filled out health statement form. This can be found at http://www.teacheslkorea.com/ under E2 Process as medical statement.
4.  All of these documents need to be mailed to your school where they will issue you a VISA number.
5. You need to fill out the VISA form also found at http://www.teacheslkorea.com/ under E2 Process as VISA form. You will also need to send in your passport, a passport photo, a money order for $45 payable to The Korean Consulate General, a sealed university transcript, a filled out interview form (also found at http://www.teacheslkorea.com/), and a prepaid return envelope. It is to my understanding that you won't have to go through the actual interview again.

After that, you will just notify your school that you have your VISA and that you're ready to depart. Then they will purchase your ticket and you're off for another Korean adventure.

On a personal note, I highly recommend Teach ESL Korea for a recruiter. It's a Canadian based company where they will find you a job and help you through the VISA process. I went through them and I've actually met them and became friends while living in Korea. It's great personal service and doesn't cost you anything. They're very experienced and have lived and taught in Korea for many years. They are also very respected throughout the Korean schools and other recruiters. So, if you want some extra help finding a reliable job and some peace of mind apply through http://www.teacheslkorea.com/.

Rant About Korean Racism

So, lately there was a post on youtube about a black man beating up a 61 year old Korean man on a bus. This all happened because the black man (country unknown to me), heard the Korean man say the word "neaga" meaning you. The black man thought that the Korean man said he was "nigger". So, that gave the black man the right to shout profanities in English and in Korean and eventually use violence to beat the man while onlookers didn't do or say anything.

I'm just astonished at the whole situation here. The Korean man was saying that the black man could sit here in Korean and the black man's response was to verbally and physically attack the older man. I understand that maybe the black man didn't know what the Korean man was saying but even if the Korean man did say the word "nigger", it doesn't give him the right to beat the man.

I guess I just don't understand where people think that it's ok to use violence on people. So what if you're called a name?! I don't care. If anything, give them a look that you're upset but then walk away. Especially in a country where you don't know what they're saying!!! I don't know how many times I thought someone was saying something about me but then it turned out totally wrong. I just wonder what kind of parents raised a man that could do that without even thinking. And what puzzles me even more, are the people who think that he was justified in his actions, even after seeing the video!!

I think that this world needs a big kick in the butt, and these little punks need a lesson! First, he's an elder. He is a 61 year old man. Aren't you supposed to respect your elders. Second, he doesn't speak English so I'm sure he doesn't know the word "nigger". And third, you're in someone elses country. You are Korea's guest. You need to play by their rules and laws. You don't go into someone else's house telling them what to do and throw crap around their house do you?

I think that if people come here with a good attitude and a positive outlook you won't face that much racism. As far as Gwangju is concerned, foreigners really started coming here only about 5 years ago, so we are still a very unfamiliar sight to many Koreans. So, I think that the best way to overcome racism even before it starts is to have a good attitude. Many Koreans haven't experienced many foreigners so they don't know what to think. If we are friendly and show that we are trying to learn about Korean culture, then they will think better of us and won't be so racist. Stop it before it starts and try changing the minds of those who are racist by being a positive influence rather than a negative influence spouting about our given rights.

I'm a firm believer that a positive attitude and a happy disposition can do a lot of good for race relations between foreigners and Koreans. I know that it won't change everyone's mind, but you will end up living a happier and more fufilled life here in Korea. You will have more foreigner and Korean friends and you will be more well recieved wherever you go. Where will being angry about everything get you? I know one thing, it will get you out of this country faster and with fewer friends.

So, advice to anyone coming to Korea. You will face some racial stigma, especially the darker your skin, but buck-up because the majority of people are very kind. Also, you'll get a lot of pointing by children and adults. But most of the time it's just excitement. They will also run up to you to try to practice their English. Take everything in stride and just enjoy being a celebrity for a while!! ;-)

Here's the link for the video on youtube. Make sure you have the safety mode turned off on the bottom of the page. Just click on "on" and then click "off" and "save".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2wQiPcuZI4

K-Club Sports Day

In Cheonam at the backgate, every Saturday a group of foreigners and Koreans get together to discuss topics in English while enjoying a nice cup of coffee at Luwak Coffee Shop. We talk about all different types of topics from food to K-pop. We usually read about a page for the topic and discuss it with some questions. Then there is still time to have a casual chat. It's usually followed by dinner, some fun, and then maybe a drink or five. :-)

However, every once in a while we have little trips or events, as you can see from some of my previous blogs. We also have some events in the city like baseball games, movies, or even sports days. Well, this time we had a sport day.

We met at the usual time and place and walked over to the university area to get our sports on. These Koreans are extremely competative. So, we broke into teams and wagered money on each game we played.

We started out the day with a free-throw contest. We each shot 2 free-throws and at the end both teams were tied. So, we decided to all shoot another one and my team lost by one! We each lost 1000W ($1). The next game was dodgeball Korean style. It's slightly different than the one we play back home. Once you're hit you go to the outskirts of the other teams side where you can get the ball and throw it at them. It was fun but my team lost again. That was another 1000W. After that we decided to play soccer. BIG mistake. It was a close and highly competative game. We scored a goal and I was going in for another one when I kicked it a little too hard for how close I was and the ball went and nailed Lee, our goalee, in the face. His glasses broke and flew off his face as he crumpled to the ground. We all stood in shock. Then everyone started laughing and cheering, well everyone but me. I was freaking out. After that, the girls were kicked out of the games. The boys played with some other random Koreans. They played the food volleyball. It's actually fun. The other team of boys, we didn't know, had two too many players. So, us girls picked them up for a game of basketball. We played to five and I made all five shots, 5-0! At least I won one thing!! ㅋㅋㅋ After that Kimber and I had to head out to get ready for her going away party. The others stayed and kept playing until dark.

Well, the point is that it was a really fun time with some great friends. And for mom, this is verification that I don't only drink. I also do other things on the weekends too!! :-)


So, thank you to my K-club for keeping me entertained and keeping me out of a little trouble! And sorry Lee for the ball in the face!

Crossroads

If you can believe it, I'm coming to the end of my second year here in Gwangju, South Korea. I've had good times and bad times and gradually built a life here, minus a boyfriend. However, I have 3.5 months left in my contract at my current school. I'm at the point where I need to make a decision to either move on or stay. So far I have 4 choices I'm currently considering:

1. Attend GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology) starting in first term in March.
2. Stay in Gwangju but switching English academies.
3. Move to another city in South Korea.
4. Move back home and look for a job in the states.

As of right now, those are my current rankings of where I want to go from here. However, there is the problem of getting my letters of reccommendation from proffessors who are on summer holiday back home. Other than that, I'm not that worried about getting into grad school. It would be difficult going back to school but I think it's about time that I started moving on with my life. I would be slightly moving on and growing up but not completely, baby steps.

So, for all of you out there wondering what I'm going to do with my life and when I'm coming home next this is my answer, according to the rankings:

1. I will be back home around December 1st and staying for about 3 months before I move back to Gwangju, South Korea.
2. I will be back home around December 1st and staying for a maximum of 2 months.
3. I believe I will back back for December but don't know when I will be going back to Korea.
4. I'll still be back in December but for no idea how long. I don't intend to live in Cumberland and would move out as soon as I found a job.

So there you have it. Now you can stop asking me because this is all I know.