Friday, December 31, 2010

I build the bricks..

My vacation is at the midpoint, halfway over...
What have I done?
Not as much as I physically wish I had done...but not a complete waste...

          I've explored my bus routes, and have created to do's...essentially bus stops full of stores, dingy corners, and steaming aromas....
I've wandered, but mostly done 새희 time, along with a lot of working. An effective, and productive break.
          I've edited and read over 30 essays, snuggled a ton with the kids (my kids, Hamlet and 고구마), caught up on sleep and have done a lot of thinking. Planned thinking, organized head time. I feel like I may be in a slightly clearer space, I have allowed and embraced the internalizations as opposed to them building up and overwhelming whatever it is I am doing or may be involved in. I don't have to "rebalance" myself in order to be...pleasant in school, or on point. There's no obligation to wake up and do anything, not that I welcome laziness...or what I am allowing myself to waste my days and hours...
As opposed to the constant dissociation, or mental ignorance, there's no explosion and overwhelming pressure of ideas and frustrations. This week has so far, allowed me to fully explore my parts. Instead of rushing myself to get out of sadness or happiness, I am giving pardon to really feeling them out.
          My sleep patterns have always been horrible, and are more skewed. I make an ardent effort and mental goal to go to sleep early, get a full nights rest, but I promise myself that every night, and it rolls around to 5am and I'm still wide awake.
          A general haze exists throughout my day and more so at night. I am aware in many ways of everything that I am doing, but a concept of time barely connects to me. I used to be obsessively punctual, extremely detailed...planned myself by the second, Korea time. I say I will be somewhere in an hour, turns to 2, "in a bit" is now an hour...being late used to drive me up a wall. So anal, so rigid. I remember gritting my teeth till my gums bled when I was late, getting my stomach so knotted up if I was close to being late...In many ways it's good that I am not so hard on myself about this, but I cannto deny that I detest how my punctuality is slipping. It's unprofessional, irresponsible, and...to me it is a direct reflection of laziness, sloppiness, and..my "letting myself go."
          I've become more sloth-like, slower, softer..this makes me insanely uncomfortable. I need to get more organized. I am very much thankful for this vacation, but my manager and stict-shit parts are very displeased with the "gentle-ness" I have granted myself. This relaxation has taken a toll on my body, mentally it's in a better place, in terms of allowing emotions to exist, but there's the whole mental slashing, and the physical effects.
photo taken by VeganBeats

          For many reasons, being in my head is both beneficial and toxic...I know I am a strong woman, powerful and driven...and those qualities are ones I am proud of, but also wish would tone down a bit. As cliche as it is, the self being the worst enemy is true...Those self-critical parts are the ones that easily convince all my other parts that I should stay in, not be social, not be seen. They drive and support the self-conscious parts, the insecure parts. A tailspin, whirlwind, plunging effect...I've explored the patterns and patterns my parts explore...
          Before meeting with people, crew or family...I go through all of these parts. A meek and very true excuse for why I am no longer punctual. I have to go through this entire process in order to be balanced again.
          Which leads to the sensitivity piece...it takes a while for me to get balanced again, so other's self-conscious/negative/critical expressions easily trigger things. I wish I could dissociate from them (the statements), but I'm only able to dissociate from the feelings in my own self, the statements made by others come too quickly, I can't prepare to ignore them, or let them slide. I can feel very secure and grounded, but it is only a feeling. I need to not speed through the whole grounding process, I must learn how to effectively and efficiently ground myself, secure the steadiness. I put pressure on myself and feel obligated to rush, and it doesn't always happen, but once in a while, the quickness of thise allows for a higher potential of getting into my head a bit too much and getting off-kiltered. Another piece of laziness.
"Be healthily selfish. Take care of the self. Do what is best and necessary for you." I voice these often to those I love and care for, but never do I allow myself to take this advice, or listen to these mantras...do I love or care for myself. I say yes, I say I do, but do I actually.
         
I'm going off...I need my camera, I need to take pictures, and I need to get out of my house.

I am aware of what I "need" to do...it's the letting myself do them that is a series of obstacles. The only barrier in front of me is the one I keep adding bricks to.

       

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas and well....

What a Christmas here...was able to hang out with family, which was wonderful...and...a lot of friend time...much needed, much appreciated...
Apologies, my camera is taking a major break so the lack of pictures....my fault. ㅜ_ㅜ

Christmas eve started with...stress. But a decent couple cups full of anticipation!
Christmas party at my school...and I organized the whole thing. Tanslation, super chill day with my students involving free flowing conversation, games, crafts, games, joking around, and making presents, we were elves ^^*~
Background info, parents don't get presents on Christmas, they don't get thanked, they don't really get acknowledged for the immense spoiling they do. So, I planned these "secret projects" with all my kids...with Kindy A we decided to all write a book together, where we're the main characters! We also illustrated the entire book...the concept of "We're the artists!" got them really excited. We also used all the words from the semester and labled everything (this way the parents see that they'r ekids are learning!) and with everyone we made Calendars. All the kids illustrated key holidays and memories to represent each month, and they all labled important dates. Writing skills and month association: check! The kidsa were also pretty excited about having a secret from their parents...
We spent a lot of the day goofing around, practicing how we think their parents will react to getting a suprise present!
The reason it was stressful is because I had all the kids all day, no breaks, and no assistance. But whatever...I thoroughly enjoyed juct kicking it with my kids.

Then afternoon classes was more Christmas themed things...more free conversations and role playing. I think this is FAR more valuable in terms of learning any language, challenging yourself with communications. Read out of a book or butcher the language talking about things that you are interested in?
Didn't get out til super late...then headed home, wrapped presents super fast...then 강남 to Woodstock for a Disco party.
Perfect Christmas eve...I was getting a bit bummed, I miss Alex so much (baby brother!) and this is the first year we didn't have our silly tradition...whine!!
I didn't even get to bake cookies, or make edibles for people..I know doesn't sound that important but I truly love spending days in the kitchen making gifts, delicious noms for people...being artistic with food...I miss it really. Anyways, back to it. At the disco party, the whole crew was there...and everyone was merry. A kiss sad but I'm glad we were together. Lots of beer, loads of wine, many mix drinks flowing and some classic Disco...then some Irish Christmas music...and lots of singing.
There were moments of bliss, where it felt like Christmas...arm in arm we all yodeled music, laughing, hazy...love.

Then after, Jaxs, Mieon, and I went to Jaxs' place and she and I exchanged gifts. Jaxs is ...I can't even get into it...there will be a Jaxs post...
She got me a converse sneaker phone charm (!!!), a mirror phone charm, a super cute bag (Of happiness...we can anywhere you want), and a SHINee calendar!!!!
We then giggled, drunkinly watched Kpop videas, chatted, then snuggled...my sister, Jaxs, I love love love you^^*!~
Christmas morning happened, and I woke up early to meet up with Emo and her husband! We were scheduled to go skiing but instead went to Dragon Hill spa,  a 찜질봉!!! And my first one!! 찜질봉 are spas/saunas/resorts where you spend about 5,000 to 12,000 Won (depending where you go and what time you go) to take care of yourself. Salt rooms, coal rooms, steam, rooms, everything...I have been wanting to go for so long...and was soaking this in. Emo and I explored every room and...took rest at a massive chair that massaged your entire body...then we went to ceramic cupping. We got massaged and taken care of for 40 minutes...30,000W. Ceramic cupping is a process where heat froma  flame is used to suction out the toxin and blood of the skin. The benefits include improving circulation, improving headaches, speeding up metabolism, stimulating the digestive system,releasing toxis, activating the lymphatic system, and removing blockages in the colon. A side effect though, I have massive circular bruises all over my body!!

Anyways, I do feel better and cleaner...chyea. After Dragon Hill, my emo and I went to the sauna...and as saunas are here..strippes down and submerged out tired bodies into salt baths, warm aromatic waters...ahh. The naked thing got me a bit nervous, but I can't lie, I love nudity! Being amongst all those beautiful female bodies I had such a huge appreciation for women (can my appreciation grow more?!!). Nudity is something that is overwhelming if you are solely nude...but when your in a massive room full of naked people, the fact that there's nothing covering your body slips your mind...

After Dragon hill, met with my sumcheon, and my halmunio and harabagi..went to a tofu villiage restaraunt then went to my halmuni and harabagi's house. We celebrated Christine's brthday, then her and I danced to some Kpop...then Alan's Christmas party!


Things kept passing through my thoughts...a year ago...아직도 내가 흐느껴 울기
was missing Alex, the family back home, the other family back home (Bearquarium)...getting bummed, but promised to go out, and I did want to see the crew.
It was wonderful, lots of...shenanigans, "Happy Christmas's", laughing, dancing, catching up..and a competitive game of Yankee Swap! Lots of people got iced, lots of random gifts...
Then home...fellow Veg Head and I, George started trucking it back to the subway to try and get home before the last train. Biting frigid, bus never showed, and we missed the train. Ended up cabbing it home, had a wonderful cabby...snuggled into my pajamas, gather Hamlet and 고구마 and we watched some kpop, and fell asleep.

A good Christmas...
I'm so thankful for the friends I have here, the family I spent so much time with, the new experiences, the fun times...and the comfort and support through the sad times...

Getting into my head, a place I always fall into, no matter all the energy I put into being out of it, I'm in it. Add feeling uncomfortable, a bit off set, and little homesick...and alcohol, teary 새희 was inevitable. Thank you Caggy, Mieon, and Jaxs...truly.
Just thinking about last year, >_<# last year. A different place, mentally, emotional, and truly physically...
I've put so much energy into dissociating from how I really feel about/ every extension of my emotions I have put nearly all my energy into covering them up, hiding them, ignoring them..and like worms they keep wriggling their way out of the ground, screaming for light, for acknowledgement...to be seen, addressed, heard. I can't allow that, not yet...I don't know when. It has influenced and continues to influence so much...so dissociating clearly hasn't been very effective...but what can I do? If I allow the smallest bit to seep through, it will explode, further overwhelm me. A dam with a crack, the pressure will break the dam.

The presence is a constant and continuous reminder that I have yet to address, yet to acknowledge the pain, support, love, concern, care...everything in that regard. A simple message of "I'm here, I exist" is enough to halt my focus, cause and create complete disarray, and welcome a cascading stream of tears.

Dissociating is not working...how do I portion these all out in tolerable amounts, moderation is not one of my strengths. It's always extremes, too little, too much...or nothing. Where's the gray area? What is a gray area?

Call to me first, make this easier...where's the easy button? Staples you lie...

I

Friday, December 24, 2010

메리크리스마스!!^^*~

It hit me the other night, oddly enough while watching "The Last of the Mohicans" (Daniel Day-Lewis) that it's Christmas...and this is my first one without my brother, mother, father, etc....I'm not even near my "homeland."
I actually started to get a bit sad, a lttle homesick perhaps...I will miss out on the traditions, the awkwardness, the stifled excitment of opening gifts...I'm going to miss all of it this year. It will not be as family oriented and monumental ad the past couple years.
Last year, I drove home, eager and awaiting Christmas...then China. Last year was wonderful, I had a wonderful Christmas gift awaiting me, a journey to get some grounding again and see him....
This year I am on the same side of the world..but not the same.
Anyway...not as much gift purchasing, more lost as of what to buy then sure of what to get. My cousin I haven't seen in seven years, what to get her...what do you get  a Korean seven year old princess?
My emo and her family...they have everything. What to get that will not be offensive, or...embarassing.
Then there are the friends here...who do I buy gifts for, should I buy gifts....

I got a card from a student of mine today...and it brought me to tears. I was more than touched and...felt a bursting fondness, thankfulness, and overwhelming joy that brought on the love of Christmas.
Singing holiday songs in my head, I wandered through the school...eager to start my vacation...which has officially recently began.
Tonight, a disco Christmas party with the crew in 강남, tommorow a resort with Emo and family, then at night a 크리스마스 party...who knows what will become of this years holiday...

Or this vacation week...
start my missions, lose the excess weight, breathe fully, freely, and completely....

grounding myself again, rond 2....
a year ago I was in a different place...attempts to not allow those memories to become saddening ones....

메리크리스마스!!^^*~

Sunday, December 19, 2010

아*!~

As the sun was rising, my eyes began to close...another morning spent as a night...
Saturday was a busy and wonderful day...got a lot done, hung out with some beautiful Seouls...
At 7:30am I wandered over to the subway, a twenty minute biting walk that was...the most rewarding experience I've had in a while. I know it is only a walk, but it was quiet. It was lightly snowing, no one was on the streets...silence...peace, the sound of snowflakes nestling themselves on the ground...an external reminder to just let things nestle in my head in silence...don't allow the noises or the stresses to overwhelm the big picture, the overall realism.
I met up with Chloe at 강남총 station and we went to get our hair done. Our hair stylist actually does the hair for some celebrities and Chloe and I were joking about bumping into one of them....then in walks Hara from Kara...!
I was embarassed, I've seen her on tv, heard some of the songs but didn't know any of them and...well until now, now I know her name..>_<#
After hair, Chloe and I went to PaperGarden and got some coffee. Pricey but a really cute place. It's very clean, big lounegy chairs, fun looking menu. We didn't order anything, but they marked what was veggie friendly and such...I looked around at the people around me and their food looked very fresh and colorful.
After coffee we walked across the street to Le Alaska...whoa*!~ This place smelled wonderful and...yummy*!~
I got a vegan bread for a reasonable (but a bit steep) price....5,000\ for loaf of artisian sourdough/ciabatta bread...it was crunchy like sourdough, but airy like ciabatta...and hell I never eat bread or find vegan friendly over baked fresh bread...I'll drop the won!!
After checking little places out we went to a store street and did a lot of eye shopping...I had plans to meet up with Brian after to do Christmas shopping....(I haven't really started yet >_<#)

Brian and I met up and went to COEX, overwhelmed, then went to 남대문 market! Lots of wandering, checking places out and exploring...I was so tired after...We walked around for about 7 hours, plus carrying new purchases!!!
I got home and crashed for a bit...hours zipped by then I got that familiar feeling in my thighs and feet that screamed "GO OUT!! MOVE< SEE PEOPLE"
Ended up at 이태완 at a Irish Christmas party, mulled wine, my crew was there...did some dancing (as always) then shared a fun cab ride with some beautiful Seouls!

My cab ride involved my broken 한굴 and three stops. Marco, Caggy and Liam...then me. My cab driver was playing soem Irish music then some Queen and the Band...and we sang together home....
A good night....now a good afternoon. I've been up for a couple hours now, doing my thing....and...now to continue doing just that....

week of..whaa

Another weekend....another week has passed me by and I have barely had time to register fully and completely everything that is...coexisting. Maybe not physically so, not so solid that I can grab it, touch it...but mentally call upon it with such confidence and set sights onto it...
The week has been a slew of fleeting emotions, exhausting thoughts, aggravation, stresses...life. It already turned into Thursday and I had plans to look forward to! Time with Amy*!~
After work I met up with Amy at Starbucks and we caught up over Americanos then zipped over to 노완 and chilled at a Hof, M.K met with us and we just kicked it. I really love these Seouls, they're wonderful and so much fun to hang out with! I miss Amy a lot...and can't wait for more adventures with her*!~

Sleepy...ㅜ.ㅜ

update on the weekend later...


zonk*!~

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

all at once >_<#

An upbeat attitude is becoming more and more of a struggle to maintain or muster...things are getting sketchy, shifty, and sneaky. And I don't think it is just my manipulative parts working in high gear...though, I wish it was in many ways.
Not quite in a nightmare situation, more a series of potentially downward spiraling circumstances..>_<#
I love the kids I work with, and I love my coworkers...though most of them are leaving now...
Am I going to be stupid and the last one to peace out....
On top of that, there's the pressure from external sources to go "home"...the US, I don't wish to return, and the nit picking into my brain of what I should and shouldn't do is getting at me, I feel like thin hot needles are pricking at my skin and tiny strands of burning flesh are being yanked, regardless of my determination to ignore and dissociate from the statements, I'm hearing it.
Then there's this...상...why are you on my mind? Why am I caring, valuing...worrying, concerned, dwelling upon....
relation, it's all relative to past situations, old memories that I have worked so hard to stack items in front of, literally bury as deep as I can, and this...you are throwing it all into clear site. Like a jet black dark tunnel, you had to dig a bit and let some light in, I wanted this darkness, I wanted to now see any of this stuff, and without my expecting you to, there's all this light cast.
My family is sick, some of them, and I've been growing more and more concerned, but still, dissociate from. Parts of me feel that the less attention I devote to things, the more, unreal they become...these parts are hopeful. You can never run away from things, especially if they are unfinished.

I've been trying so hard to dissociate and because of that...everything, Everything is running at me, I'm overwhelmed, and mustering this false smile is draining me. I haven't been the healthiest, or taking care or myself as much as I should be, I'm tired, exhausted, and want more rest than realistically possible, vacation from the mind or from life events, from thoughts, from everything going on....maybe if I tackled everything one at a time...but they're lining up, all in succession....

>_<#

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

고구마 experimenting*!~....and the weekend closed up

A while ago I bought a bog of 고구마 so before it goes bad I've been able toexplore the world and possibilities of 고구마 (sweet potatoes.) And beat this, their GOLDEN sweet potatoes...nom*!~ (fat kid....)
So there's this popular and obscenely pricey snack/meal called 마탕. (sugar coated sweet potatoes) so of course....a mission this Vegan gal was sure to tackle...and trial one was a success....except the sugar crystallized a bit faster that I planned.
Hell I never eat sugar, so what was I to know about the science of it...

마탕
photo by VeganBeats
What you need:
*oil
*고구마 (sweet potatoes...peel them)
*black sesame seeds
*sugar (I used organic...>_< )

Directions:
1. peel the potatoes, and cut them into one inch bite size chunks
2. while cutting the potatoes, heat up a big pot of oil...pour in too much oil...>_<#
3. when the oil is hot, put the potatoes in, let them fry for about 7 minutes, until they're golden brown on the outside but soft inside.
4. while the potatoes are frying, heat up another pan and put in a TBL of oil, let it heat up and pour in about 1-2 TBL of sugar...when the sugar starts to melt, simmer super SUPER low and swivel the pan around...DO NOT USE A SPOON OR ANYTHING TO MIX IT UP
4. when the potatoes are done frying, drain them on a paper towel then throw them in the syrup pan and stir it up
5. put it all on a plate and sprinkle on some sesame seeds...
6. enjoy^^*~
 This weekend I met up with some BEAUTIFUL Seouls and went shopping at Hyundai...WHOA, is thta place expensive...But I did find something I was willing to drop a few thousand Won on......
Seaweed chips!!*~*~*~
This stuff is AMAZING, it's baked and sweetened, and should I mention...Vegan*!~
ahhhh glory.....
I bought a couple varieties, but due to poor camera skills, here's a pic of two of the "chips" I got...
thick seaweed with rice crisps and peanuts!
photo taken by VeganBeats

lotus root chips^^*!~ I literally died when I tasted AND saw these....nom nom nom
photo taken by VeganBeats
 After a day of shopping and wandering around, I went out and met with the crew in 강남, we went to this Fire bar where they light everything on fire....drinks of course. Wasn't in drinking mood...but was down for adventure...and crew time. This past week has been more than stressful and I've been in this head of mine for...too many evenings in a row...
shots on fire*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
 This bar had a great atmosphere, except they have extremely steep stairs going into and out of the bar...hazard...yes!
They're menus are very interesting, giant fold up matchboxes...but..just wrong signs...look~>
Anne Frank, I'm sure she loved her cocktails..."she lived in an attic!"
photo taken by VeganBeats
 Checking out new places is always appreciated...but everywhere I go is Gorilla music...out of head, back in it....>_<##
Anyways...I end this post with the Beautiful*!~
breathtaking Jaxs*!~
photo taken By VeganBeats

Friday, December 10, 2010

sweetness,비빔밥, 된장찌개 (with 고구마), and 콩나물국

Lots of cooking...and haven't been posting any of it...ㅜ_ㅜ all of the following I have made, except the first one!!
sweet pumpkin and sweet sweet potatote with raisins, pumpkin seeds, and banana chips! I got this at Lotte one day...so cute, super pretty, 5,900W eeep
photo taken by VeganBeats
I had a ton of veggies lying around, screaming "새희 eat me!!" so I listened and made some 비빔면 which is basically 비빔밥 but with noodles instead.
비빔면
photo taken by VeganBeats

자장면 you see noodles but at the bottom, below this mess are carrot noodles I made ^^*~
photo taken by VeganBeats
 I have a new produce place I go to, near my work, the nyung hyup (녕협) and I've made some kind of friendship with one of the guys there, he hooked me up with 콩나물! My intention was to make 콩나물비빔밥 but of course...all my sad veggies were wanting to participate too....so this became a feast of 비빔밥, 된장찌개 (with 고구마), and 콩나물국!!
비빔밥, 된장찌개 (with 고구마), and 콩나물국
photo taken by VeganBeats


,,,,

Thursday, December 9, 2010

고구마

Introducing  고구마 (Go Gu Ma) ~sweet potatoe*!~
beady eyes*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
hello!
photo taken by VeganBeats
sleepy potatoe
photo taken by VeganBeats

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Another one passes by*!~

Last night began with my waking up from the first successful nap I've had in years! Snuggled a ton with Hamlet then passed out...when I did rise, showered and hustled over to 홍대 for Gordi's show! There was a Aids Research kind of fundraiser going on last night for World Aids Day- and my buddy, Gordi, from college was playing! I haven't seen him in so long so of course, it was wonderful to be with a familiar face and some warm VT energy*!~~

keyboard rocking
photo taken by VeganBeats
  The show was great, Gordi's set was about 45 minutes long, so too short!!! But really chill, got me dancing and very fun*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
  After his set I met up with the rest of the crew and we wandered 홍대 a bit and ended up at Vinyl, a mini bar that serves drinks....in bags!!!
cute...classy caprisons!
photo taken by VeganBeats
"Don't take a picture please" oooops
photo taken by VeganBeats


 After the pit stop, met up with Gordi and his crew again, wandered to 홍대 park and saw some breakdancing, then OI hookah bar....
{review of Vinyl and OI}

the rest of the night....more good Seouls*!~

Side note, feeling guilty because I was not in a very good mood...well not guilty. Guilt is a worthless emotion, it brings you and gets you no where.
     ~~I rather wish I wasn't in a space where all my parts were mutually collaborating and allowing negativity to overcome me. Not just negativity, sadness, general upset, anger, loss, worthlessness, etc etc etc. General "unhappy bringing-me-down" types of emotions...and the environment increased the loudness and presence of many of these parts.
     I enjoy my time with friends, but when I am in this space I feel a greater pressure to present a content and pleasant attitude, increasing my anxiety and ever internal pressure to be composed, appear alright...this swirls and shakes up everything that is going on in my mind and becomes so overwhelming and loud...dissociation. A state of being I call too often to and fall back on...I ignore the parts and avoid adressing them so that not to burden others but only to greater burden myself and greater harm my general mission and desire for happiness.
     The environment..(literally, 홍대) was just an stimulant to negativity, a reminder of stress...a general and complete increase in anxiety. The more I tried to remain composed, the more upset and tense I got within...to a point of bitterness.
     I do not enjoy feeling these emotions, though I do find them necessary for self-understanding and further self-discovery, but I prefer to experience these bitter emotions in the privacy of my own company...the bitterness and anger seep out and voice their bare feelings onto others, my friends. I am human, I don't enjoy being too honest with others...there isn't that trust yet and there isn't the comfort. Not even within myself...
     The longer I stayed in 홍대 the more upset I found myself getting. While my friends were laughing and joking around, I was in my head (a place I can't ever get out of....) thinking and dissecting. I am thankful for being very present with my parts, and I know I have referred several times to dissociating...but I can only dissociate for some time until everything....everything takes over.
     I hear so much about napping, and sleeping, and relaxing....I try to do these things...and find it to be one of the hardest daily challenges...opportunities of silence and rest become intricate dissections of my parts and emotions and the focusing on the moments I try to say "I'm okay" about...

honesty with others, I am genuine, I am honest about so many things, but honesty about my parts and how this woman is doing~~T_T

anyways...to the beautiful Seouls I was with last night...trust me when I say I did enjoy my time with you---it's the time with me I wasn't enjoying....

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Discovering 서울. a night of sponteneity...

      The evenings of and weekends of doing the same routine things have become too expected and readily assumed...so earlier this week while kicking it with the crew we threw out the idea to write a bunch of random places throughout Korea and pick one of thesenames out of a hat and devote a night to exploring that area. Last night was trial one of "Out of Hat Picking!"

     Met up with Brian, Jaxs, Stephanie, Patricia, James and some other people in 수유 and hit up a tiny corner noodle shop for some food and makali (sigh)....
I got the 비빔극수, which is spicey noodles, some veggies and a spicey sauce made of gochujang...
cucumber and 김!!! love love love
photo taken by VeganBeats
 The woman owning the place was so kind and made a lot of the stuff there, except the pickled turnip. She motioned to me making the 김치 herself, super good stuff too. There was no fish or shrimp in it either, the owner's friend spoke English and helped translated some of my concerns...
the noodle shop sign!!
photo taken by VeganBeats
 I will definately go here again, the place was small and cozy and intimate! They let us bring in makali and other stuff and were so generous with providing lots of yummy 김치!!

After nomming we ran over to Raccoon bar, and it was really cute. The bar was small and intimate and it was cozy in there...
It was so cold outside...cozy bar with sweet music and this adorable sign...
"For humans only"
photo taken by VeganBeats
 After playing in 수유 for a bit we did the hat picking!!

JAMSIL! (참실) so onto the subway and travelling for adventure....
photo taken by VeganBeats
 Jaxs looks so bored all the way on the other side of the car...)O:
)O:
photo taken by VeganBeats
 IT was freezing outside...but we met up with some more wonderful Seouls...and went to Lotte World into a local brewery...We got a TUBE of microbrewed beer (not for me) and sat in a carriage...
준, Patricia, Stephanie, Brian, James, Jaxs,and Ricky
photo taken by VeganBeats
After the tube we went to Gold Bar (준 was friends with the owner) and well...found a new spot that's got a great energy to it, a pool table (I GOT TO PLAY BILLIARDS!!!!), darts, etc etc etc...

We sat in the VIP lounge and I got to dance and (O:

LAter when the night was very much finished, we all went to norebang.....

Jamsil...I approve of your offers....thank you 서울.
I needed a new night....this week has been....T_T

Thursday, December 2, 2010

김치찌개 and baby oyster mushroom yumminess*!~

Been cooking a bit at my place...it's getting cold, and this woman needs something warm...

First, my mom recently visited Seoul and she was super thoughtful and more than kind and whipped up some 김치찌개 for me, and froze it up for me (thanks ^_^). I've always LOVED 김치찌개 but everywhere around here it's made with fish stock and slabs of finely cut pork/beef/ fish/ meats...so I was more than happy to spoil myself with a big bowl of this!! Plus...it brought me home and reminded me of my family in the states for a bit....(strangely Korean food reminds me of my time in the states as a child...always Korean)

김치찌개
photo taken by VeganBeats
       A new produce market has opened up near my 학원 and I've been checking it out after teaching. Because it just opened there are some GREAT sales, a HUGE bag of oyster mushrooms was 2,000W, 3 cucumbers for 1,000W, and a big bag or onions for 3,000W...c'mon, I was on top of that.
     I came home with a bounty of new fresh produce and my mind started working...I don't really remmeber what my process was, or what I did but twenty minutes later I made this, and...yumm*!~

photo taken by VeganBeats
Obviously a bunch of the baby oyster mushrooms, onion, freshly ground Cambodian pepper, a splash of soy sauce, and red pepper. It was warm, full of flavor, and I felt so spoiled. It didn't have too much soy sauce or pepper (which is great), you could really taste the earthiness of the mushrooms...I have to say I like the baby ones more. They're cute and not to overwhelming in size. I always feel like I'm going to choke on the king oyster...

Not too much cooking fun, I really do wish I had an oven....ah, the fun I would have*!~ ^_^