Wow! It looks like I'll be headed back to the Big Apple sooner than I had thought!
Hoon reserved our tickets to America today. They are roundtrip out of NYC. When I had done a preliminary search, LA or SanFran were much cheaper, but I guess suddenly NYC ticket prices dropped and Hoon jumped on. He managed to snag two tickets at ~1,330,000 won, which is just under 1200 usd. Score! He will be paying later this week!
Now my job is to find and buy the cheapest possible ticket from NY to Florida. We're shooting for under 200 round trip. I found some on Spirit Airlines for 197 with tax. Wondering if I can do better... But the truth is I kind of just want to buy them and be done with it.
What this all means is that we will be landing late Thursday night in NYC (tentatively) and probably we will stay in NYC for the weekend with my dear dear wonderful friend in order to avoid the slightly more pricey weekend fares (and hello, Hoon and Wally in NYC? Heaven!). Tentatively leaving Monday mid morning/early afternoon.
That will leave us with still about 2 and a half weeks in Florida. Plenty of time to see family, visit UF, and maybe sneak in a trip to Disney/Harry Potter World! ^^
Welp, that's it!!
Oh, and I made some slammin spinach tomato cream sauce pasta. My heavy cream went bad, so I just substituted a bunch of butter and plain old low-fat milk instead. Turned out good, but not quite as creamy as hoped. Next time will be better!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Exciting
Big news!!
I brought my cucumber kimchi and sweet soy sauce braised beef/quail eggs to my boyfriend's apartment. His mom, and two cousins (one boy and one girl) were also there and so I was a little nervous to here their opinions. JH didn't tell them that I was bringing food so they were impressed/surprised that I brought anything at all. But then, his mom opened the container with the cucumber kimchi and said, omo, where did you get this? And I said, I made it. And she was super impressed because it was so good looking. And then she opened the other container and she was even more surprised.
It was awesome. They were super impressed that I've taken an interest in Korean cooking.
But I warned them: it may look good, but I can't guarantee that you'll like the taste.
JH ate the kimchi first and he didn't say anything right away except: 엄마, 먹어봐, 예찬아! 먹어봐, 예본아 먹어봐, which just mom, try it, Yechan, try it, Yebon, try it. And they all did and they all lost it. They said it was sooooooo good and I was so so happy. I had been nervous originally that it was too spicy, but I wiped away some of the extra spice and so it wasn't so bad at all. In fact, I'd agree that it was quite good indeed. They said that it was better than most restaurants' and his mom kept saying, "아 엄마보다 더 맛있지... 내가 보다 더 맛있어, 어떻게..." which is, "Ah, it's better than mom's. It's more delicious than mine, how can it be?"
Then they praised teh 장조림. I'm so happy they liked it so much.
Oh, and then his mom called his dad and she told him about how I made such delicious food and he asked to talk to me and he said he was really happy I made korean food, and that he wants to try some, and that he loves me because I cook Korean food, and I like Korean culture, and because I am interested in Korea. *^___^*
I'm going back tomorrow and JH insisted I bring more kimchi. I will do so obligingly. ^^
I can't wait to cook more food. I'll be sure to post pictures!
xoxo
A
I brought my cucumber kimchi and sweet soy sauce braised beef/quail eggs to my boyfriend's apartment. His mom, and two cousins (one boy and one girl) were also there and so I was a little nervous to here their opinions. JH didn't tell them that I was bringing food so they were impressed/surprised that I brought anything at all. But then, his mom opened the container with the cucumber kimchi and said, omo, where did you get this? And I said, I made it. And she was super impressed because it was so good looking. And then she opened the other container and she was even more surprised.
It was awesome. They were super impressed that I've taken an interest in Korean cooking.
But I warned them: it may look good, but I can't guarantee that you'll like the taste.
JH ate the kimchi first and he didn't say anything right away except: 엄마, 먹어봐, 예찬아! 먹어봐, 예본아 먹어봐, which just mom, try it, Yechan, try it, Yebon, try it. And they all did and they all lost it. They said it was sooooooo good and I was so so happy. I had been nervous originally that it was too spicy, but I wiped away some of the extra spice and so it wasn't so bad at all. In fact, I'd agree that it was quite good indeed. They said that it was better than most restaurants' and his mom kept saying, "아 엄마보다 더 맛있지... 내가 보다 더 맛있어, 어떻게..." which is, "Ah, it's better than mom's. It's more delicious than mine, how can it be?"
Then they praised teh 장조림. I'm so happy they liked it so much.
Oh, and then his mom called his dad and she told him about how I made such delicious food and he asked to talk to me and he said he was really happy I made korean food, and that he wants to try some, and that he loves me because I cook Korean food, and I like Korean culture, and because I am interested in Korea. *^___^*
I'm going back tomorrow and JH insisted I bring more kimchi. I will do so obligingly. ^^
I can't wait to cook more food. I'll be sure to post pictures!
xoxo
A
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
소고기장조림
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Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Food
Well here is a picture of my dinner. Salad with fresh cucumbers green peppers sesame peanut dressing and chopped almonds~ delicious
And this is 오이소박이 also known as cucumver kimchi. im afraid I have made it a bit spicy but I hope it will good. I will try some in a few hours after the spices have had a chance to soak into the cucumbers nicely.
Later tonight (its only 7) I will prepare 소고기장조림 but i heard it takes a while because you have to soak the meat in wter and cook it and rip it up by hand but I will let you all know how that goes. I just discovered that stupid homeplus didnt deliver all my food so I will have to go out and buy whats left. grrrr.
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Sunday, January 16, 2011
Cooking Time
I made this tonight and I am on the subway to Seoul now with tge kimchi pancakes in tow. I think it wont taste good which is unfortunate since i am taking it to Hoons where his parents and grandmother will see it and probably think “oh god. our poor son. What has he gotten himself into dating such an incompetent cook.”alas.
The good news is I succeeded at 떡볶이 and will be making it again soon. These days I am really trying to get back into cooking. This week I am hoping to do cucumber kimchi a beef and quail egg soy sauce dish and a spicy soft tofu stew. Pictures coming soon~^^
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Thursday, January 13, 2011
Updates
So it has been a long long time since I've updated you, huh, dear readers?
Well, the good news is I'm back.
Also, I wanted to announce to you all that I started a tumblr. The reason for doing this is because some of my friends back home have complained that my blog became overrun with my kpop obsession. As a result, I decided to go ahead and open up a tumblr because I've been meaning to check out tumblr and stuff, but haven't had a good opportunity to do so. I think tumblr is the ideal platform for a blog/site that has a more specific focus. This blog originally started as an attempt to keep people back home informed about my life here, and to perhaps inform/entertain other people with stories about living in a different country, especially one so interesting as Korea. After about 8 months, it disintegrated into an explosion of kpop videos, cd reviews, gossip, and other blatherings. My bad. Anyways, hopefully I will be keeping my tumblr mostly Korean Pop Culture focused, with the occasional anecdote from my life, here, while this blog will be primarily focused on Korean (not-pop) Culture, food, life, and teaching ESL at my middle school.
If you are interested in Korean pop culture (I keep typing Korean pup culture and I don't know why...) then head on over to my tumblr: www.reallywally.tumblr.com Sometimes my shit will be the same, but mostly it'll be different. I'm still testing out all the cool functions on my tumblr, so be prepared for some strange stuff there.
Anyways, school has been crazy. I've been helping a coteacher with her son in the afternoons and in the mornings last week I was cooking with my grade threes just for funsies (man, they are effing TERRIBLE cooks, it's unreal). This week every day nine until 12:40 I'm teaching winter camp. Tomorrow is our last day. We're making modified grilled cheese sandwiches and salad and I'm giving out prizes.
Anyways, I swear to you, I have a killer hot list coming up and I am totally going to do it in a video.
In the meantime, here's a picture of something I've really really wanted to do at E-Mart but hadn't until today!
At E-Mart, after you pay for all your foodstuffs, there is a loooooong metal table and beside that table are cardboard boxes from food shipments that the store had received. People have free access to these boxes to tape them and string them up and use them to haul their groceries back to their own apartment. I love this idea. Almost no one uses paper bags unless they have exactly the right amount of groceries that aren't too heavy but also aren't so few or small that one could just carry them or put them in one's purse. Anyways, I've always seen these boxes, but I also always brought reusable bags to the store (another VERY common sight here). Tonight, however, I underestimated the size and weight of my purchases today and found that I couldn't fit everything comfortably in my one shopping bag and purse. So I had to carry my food over to the table and jerry-rig a shopping box. Here's how I did:
Well, the good news is I'm back.
Also, I wanted to announce to you all that I started a tumblr. The reason for doing this is because some of my friends back home have complained that my blog became overrun with my kpop obsession. As a result, I decided to go ahead and open up a tumblr because I've been meaning to check out tumblr and stuff, but haven't had a good opportunity to do so. I think tumblr is the ideal platform for a blog/site that has a more specific focus. This blog originally started as an attempt to keep people back home informed about my life here, and to perhaps inform/entertain other people with stories about living in a different country, especially one so interesting as Korea. After about 8 months, it disintegrated into an explosion of kpop videos, cd reviews, gossip, and other blatherings. My bad. Anyways, hopefully I will be keeping my tumblr mostly Korean Pop Culture focused, with the occasional anecdote from my life, here, while this blog will be primarily focused on Korean (not-pop) Culture, food, life, and teaching ESL at my middle school.
If you are interested in Korean pop culture (I keep typing Korean pup culture and I don't know why...) then head on over to my tumblr: www.reallywally.tumblr.com Sometimes my shit will be the same, but mostly it'll be different. I'm still testing out all the cool functions on my tumblr, so be prepared for some strange stuff there.
Anyways, school has been crazy. I've been helping a coteacher with her son in the afternoons and in the mornings last week I was cooking with my grade threes just for funsies (man, they are effing TERRIBLE cooks, it's unreal). This week every day nine until 12:40 I'm teaching winter camp. Tomorrow is our last day. We're making modified grilled cheese sandwiches and salad and I'm giving out prizes.
Anyways, I swear to you, I have a killer hot list coming up and I am totally going to do it in a video.
In the meantime, here's a picture of something I've really really wanted to do at E-Mart but hadn't until today!
At E-Mart, after you pay for all your foodstuffs, there is a loooooong metal table and beside that table are cardboard boxes from food shipments that the store had received. People have free access to these boxes to tape them and string them up and use them to haul their groceries back to their own apartment. I love this idea. Almost no one uses paper bags unless they have exactly the right amount of groceries that aren't too heavy but also aren't so few or small that one could just carry them or put them in one's purse. Anyways, I've always seen these boxes, but I also always brought reusable bags to the store (another VERY common sight here). Tonight, however, I underestimated the size and weight of my purchases today and found that I couldn't fit everything comfortably in my one shopping bag and purse. So I had to carry my food over to the table and jerry-rig a shopping box. Here's how I did:
Pringles. Hahaha. They have their own special tape and ribbon to wrap up your box
The things in my box: 3 bottles salad dress, soy sauce, Gochu Jang (pepper sauce), spaghetti sauce, milk, heavy cream, Busan fishcakes, rice cake (under the fishcake), kimchi
Tomorrow I am attempting to make 떡볶이 and 김치전 for dinner for me and Hoon. I'm a little nervous since it's only my second time making these things and the first time 떡볶이 was a total disaster. Plus, Hoon is Korean so if it's not good, he will definitely know. If however, I was cooking for some friends back home, I wouldn't be nearly so nervous.
xoxo
A
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Sometimes I wonder...
What's the point. I am feeling pretty annoyed right now. I don't really have a right to be, but I'm still annoyed. I'm pretty aware that I'm being a shitty, but I don't care.
Well, now that that mystic brooding is over, onto some other shit.
I haven't been up to translating the lyrics lately because I'm tired all the time and I've been kind of down. Winter blues maybe?
Anyhow, my students have been really great. I'm not actually teaching any classes right now, but about 5 former grade 3s (I guess now that the year is over, they are technically high schoolers or something. I don't know exactly) come in to study every morning (with some other korean teacher) but they always come to my office early and we've been cooking. Yesterday we had a horribly failed attempt at ddeokbokki (떡볶이- fried spicy rice cake) and today we had an amazingly successful go at banana pancakes with peanutbutter&nutella syrup/sauce and whipped cream. Tomorrow we will be making 김치전 which is one of my all time favorite treats so I hope they turn out well.
Also, I anticipate I'll be compiling a hot list in the next week or so. Maybe I'll do a video instead of regular written post. Who really knows?
xoxo
A
Well, now that that mystic brooding is over, onto some other shit.
I haven't been up to translating the lyrics lately because I'm tired all the time and I've been kind of down. Winter blues maybe?
Anyhow, my students have been really great. I'm not actually teaching any classes right now, but about 5 former grade 3s (I guess now that the year is over, they are technically high schoolers or something. I don't know exactly) come in to study every morning (with some other korean teacher) but they always come to my office early and we've been cooking. Yesterday we had a horribly failed attempt at ddeokbokki (떡볶이- fried spicy rice cake) and today we had an amazingly successful go at banana pancakes with peanutbutter&nutella syrup/sauce and whipped cream. Tomorrow we will be making 김치전 which is one of my all time favorite treats so I hope they turn out well.
Also, I anticipate I'll be compiling a hot list in the next week or so. Maybe I'll do a video instead of regular written post. Who really knows?
xoxo
A
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A New Video
So I finally tried making a video with a Korean song and its English translation subbed. I did GD & TOP's Intro for High High because I'm currently working on translating the cd. If I'm lucky I'll get all the singles translated. It'd be extra nice if I could get 집에가지마 and Baby Goodnight up on youtube before they start promotions in mid-January. I don't want to make any promises because my pace has been pretty slow (only two songs translated so far...)
But anyways, here's my first attempt at subbing a song (GD's part is a little rough because I struggled with the controls and it's too much work to re-edit it at this point, but TOP's part and the hook is pretty perfect).
Also, I'll hopefully get a blog made sometime this week. Luckily I don't have any classes, AND my office partner has vacation this week so I can make videos without much interruption. I'll probs be bringing my laptop to school a bunch starting tuesday or wednesday.
Also also, in the apartment above me people are having sex. It's kind of annoying.
xoxo
A
But anyways, here's my first attempt at subbing a song (GD's part is a little rough because I struggled with the controls and it's too much work to re-edit it at this point, but TOP's part and the hook is pretty perfect).
Also, I'll hopefully get a blog made sometime this week. Luckily I don't have any classes, AND my office partner has vacation this week so I can make videos without much interruption. I'll probs be bringing my laptop to school a bunch starting tuesday or wednesday.
Also also, in the apartment above me people are having sex. It's kind of annoying.
xoxo
A
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Best Performance I've seen
So Thursday's MNet M Countdown, GD/TOP performed 뻑이가요 and High High. High High was pretty standard, but 뻑이가요 was hands down the best music show performance I've seen perhaps ever by any artist. Their styling was impeccable. Their attitude was perfect. It was impeccable. Just perfect.
Here it is:
Here it is:
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