If Only I Knew Korean...

I think I'd enjoy being here a lot more if I could communicate and understand what was going on around me, but that's ok. I have actually gotten by a lot better than I thought I would. I have been able to mostly understand what people are trying to say and people have been able to get their point across well enough, so I shouldn't complain. And I haven't actually gotten lost yet at all! People have all been super nice and helpful when I've asked for directions.

Anyway, so I started out my day by going to Gwangjang Market. It was a nice little walk there. I got a blueberry cream cheese filled pastry/bread thing on the way and that was so good! I actually don't think I've eaten anything here yet that I was like...that was SO GOOD. Sad huh? Probably cuz I always got sick after eating the heavy street food stuff. Tomorrow is definitely the day where I am going to eat some real Korean food! I don't know what I've been eating the past few days cuz I really haven't eaten like the real stuff yet. I think I've mostly been just buying snacks here and there from the streets or whatever. Tomorrow I'm gonna get me some Korean stew or something...

But back to this morning...Once I got to the market, I was so excited to see all the food stalls. Until I sat down and ordered something that I don't even know what it was...I actually thought it was samgyupsal, but it definitely wasn't that. It was super chewy and I swear I chewed for like 5 minutes and still couldn't get it down. Plus it cost $7!! I thought it was gonna be like $3. Totally feel ripped off. But after that plate of whatever, I decided to get a pajeon, which I had been eyeing for like 20 min trying to decide if I should get it or not since it was fried. I finally gave in, but then definitely regretted it after only eating half. I always get sick after eating fried foods, so I don't know why I never learn my lesson! No more fried foods for real this time!! But yeah, after that, I went around the stalls and looked at all the fabric the vendors were selling. There was a huge selection, and I wanted to find something to make curtains for my room, but nothing really matched or caught my eye despite the thousands of choices I had.

After the unsuccessful trip to the market, I headed over to the Korea War Memorial museum. I liked the displays of the planes, tanks, submarines, and missles outside. Inside was kinda boring. I guess I'm not much of a museum person, plus I'm not all that interested in war history anyway, so don't know why I even went. While I was strolling along minding my own business, these white boys come up to me and ask if I speak English, then ask if I have any suggestions for things to do. I told them I was also a tourist and this one guy was so enthusiastically trying to convince me to go hang out with them for the day. There were like maybe 7 of them, all in the Marines...I was like...thanks, but...no thanks. He made me take his number so I could call him next time I was in Hawaii (where he was based). Awesome...

After that interesting encounter, I left the museum and went to the Han River where I rented a bike for an hour. It was quite a nice day for a bike ride, and it was nice riding along the river. I got a drink and yummy ice cream from 7 Eleven- oh, I guess that's where I've been getting half my meals from. Heh. But they do have some good food- like these rice sushi ball thingys...they are really good! Plus they have good ice cream. But anyway, headed over to Kristy's party after that. Talked with some missionaries and surprise! I ran into my visiting teachee, Miji and her bf at Kristy's.  Didn't even know she was going to Korea. I obviously have been a bad visiting teacher to not have known...But she is turning in her mission papers so won't even be going back to UT till she enters the MTC, so I'm glad I got to see her before she left. We also had an early bday party for Kristy, since her bday is after she enters the MTC.

But yeah, that was my day! Tomorrow is my last day in Korea. I am actually kinda happy to leave because I am sick of traveling alone and not understanding anything. It will be so nice to have Andrea! Well, time for bed. Until tomorrow!