
But I have yet to see a trace of vandalism, or of anyone running off somewhere looking guilty. There are actually a lot of free-standing nautilus-type gym devices in the parks all around here, and in America, those things would be vandalised within minutes. Here, in Korea, they're available for anyone to use 24/7, and they're always in beautiful condition. It's very interesting.
Okay, but the rest of this blog is devoted to what happens before the squatting toilet. Yes, I'm referring to food!

This is my gorgeous and very dear friend Gina (whose Korean name I still can't pronounce or remember) who has been the greatest friend to me since I got here. Her English is impeccable, and she's travelled all over the world, so she knows what it feels like to be a stranger in a foreign place. She has been my "culinary sage" and a good friend. She's always game to take me to a eat something new, and she's very good at picking great places. This is a picture of us at one of the least adventurous places we've been to. We're eating what the Chinese call "black noodles", and this is the Korean version. It has some kind of bean paste, and it's mixed with this delicious fat, chewy noodle. It was a very good lunch, and Gina said this is the "Korean McDonald's" because it's so cheap (probably about $2.50 usd) and it's very filling. And it was delicious.

This, is the monolithic, 4 stories of everything you could ever possibly buy, "Home Plus". Apparently it's a British chain, and they're all over South Korea. This shot is taken from the bridge I cross from my apartment to get to "Home Plus". The best way I can describe it is 4 levels of 4 completely different Wal-Marts. I guess Wal-Mart actually tried to get into South Korea, but they were given the big fat "no". Probably because this place is so huge, so convenient, and so ubiquitous, Wal-Mart wouldn't stand a chance. Bottom floor is a food mart, with everything from "Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf" to little dumplings and other Korean things that I don't recognize or understand yet. It's a world of smells down there, let me tell you.
These pictures are from the second floor which is the grocery department. It is massive and stocked with every pre-made thing you can imagine, mostly Korean, but lots of



So, those of you who know me well know that I am a bit of a foodie, and nothing scares me. Though I'm no Anthony Bourdain and have never eaten the eyeballs and brains of a goat's head, I told myself before coming to Korea, "I'll try anything but dog," because in my naivete I thought dog would be sold everywhere and I'd have to do my best to avoid it. I've learned since coming here that although dog is eaten, it's usually in hidden, specialized restaurants, and not everyone does it. Some are staunchly opposed to it, while others have the belief that eating dog, especially during the hottest days of the summer, increases vitality and refreshes the body. It's usually served "family style" and you have to buy the entire dog, so you get the dog soup - which is quite pricey - and everyone eats it together. I've heard more men are "into it" than women are, and so far the only people who've told me they regularly enjoy it are men. I'm still relatively naive on the subject, though, having only been here a little less than a month.



The rest of the pictures show you the stew on the boil, the presentation of my little meal, and the aftermath. The verdict? I don't like eating things with heads. I've always really liked octopus, and I tried one of the heads, but I really didn't enjoy it. The second octopus I decapitated, and the third octopus I threw away. I am ashamed to admit that though a lover of shrimp, I took no joy in removing it's head, antenna and little beady black eyes and all, and it robbed me of some of the joy of eating it. As for the snail-like sea-dweller, it was actually pretty tasty, but I was bothered that I didn't know what it was. The outside meat was white, and then when the rest is pulled out, it's partial brown meat, like the inside of a crab or a lobster. Its brothers are still residing in my refrigerator. I'm still deliberating as to whether I try them again or just be done with them. I was most excited by the mussels, the clams, and the beef. And am now, I find, just another squeamish American. But, I did think the seasonings were pretty drab. So maybe it's not all my fault. Take that, "Home Plus"! And I DID like the pig intestines filled with rice, so I think I'm still at least a little bit Korea



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