Fork you

I haven't seen a fork since I left. Well, that is a lie. I did see a Korean actress eat with one on a sitcom while at a Western restaurant, but in person I have yet to lay eyes on one. The chop sticks really aren't that bad once you get the hang of them and for all the tricky foods you have a spoon to spare you from embarrassment. In place of knives, which are also hard to find when eating out, they use scissors. This looks so odd to us, but I'm sure it would be equally strange if they weren't to find them in the States. Imagine asking for scissors when out to eat, maybe they think the same thing if we were to ask for a knife or fork.
Eating seems to be very much a social event here. It is very entertaining as you help prepare your meal, or else have it prepared at the table, instead of having it fully finished and placed in front of you. The BBQ has been my favorite so far. Before leaving, my family and I went out to Buford Highway to find authentic Korean, oh we found it. Kimchi of different varieties, pickled things, soups, meat, sauces and we had no idea what to do with any of 20 plates on the table. We ate it as one big sample, trying a little of this and a little of that, one big chaotic taste test with no real order to it. Now I know how to do it right and all it took was one meal with my Korean coworkers. I made a few mistakes, like eating the toppings before the meat was even ready, using the wrong end of my chop sticks, dropping things into my lap or using the wrong dipping sauce. But through all the mistakes I learned a lot. First they bring drinks, of which you are not to pour for yourself (bad luck) and you are supposed to give and receive with two hands, always. I have been picking up on this more, even at the convenience store when they hand you a receipt they always hand you the money with one hand and the other hand touching their other arm or else they use both hands. After the drinks come the appetizers like what came to us at the Korean place back in Atlanta, kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage, don't let the description fool you it is amazing) and mysterious pickled things. Everything comes in it's own dish, I wouldn't want to be a dishwasher here. So then they bring out the toppings for the meat and lettuce leaves to wrap the meat in, this we didn't know back in Atlanta. The meat is cooked on a grill in front of you in the middle of the table, raw chicken is cut (with scissors) into pieces and after about five/ten minutes is ready to be placed in a leaf of lettuce with onion, sauces and whatnot, folded then eaten. It is delicious and keeps things interesting too. No awkward silences.
There is also fresh seafood everywhere. We got three plates of fresh sushi for $20 the other night, octopus (maybe squid), fish of all varieties, shrimp, and eel. It is like Japanese sushi with wasabi, soy sauce and ginger. Radish has been served with almost every meal, including friend chicken, it is very good for you and helps with digestion. Overall the diet is very healthy. I've eaten more veggies then I ever did at home, and that is with eating out constantly. The food is so affordable that you can go out and get a full meal for the same cost of making something at home. In terms of dessert, the Popsicles have been my favorite. You'll see thugged out guys eating ice cream or Popsicles from the convenience stores which are on every block. I was introduced to the honey dew flavor the other night, it tastes exactly like the melon. Haven't found a Bruster's equivalent yet... The fresh ice cream, or gelato, has been a bit pricey.

While walking on the street the other night I heard 'Georgia on my mind' playing. To be fair, I didn't even notice it, my Canadian friend Ian pointed it out. We had just watched America loose to the South Korean baseball team in the Olympics, everyone in restaurants and bars were going crazy. So after watching America's defeat I stood with my Canadian friend in front of a French bakery listening to Ray Charles surrounded by South Koreans.

A child said f*** you in class the other day, about 5 times in a row. And then shot the bird to the whole class repeatedly. Mean Teacher Brittany came out. He had no idea what it meant but I don't think little Hunter will be doing it again.