Keys, Stories and Food

This is what happens when you apply a little bit of gentle persuasion to an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard, after it decides to not work well. Watch out 8, you're next!


오리주물럭, or just Duck Stirfry. It's damn good.


Some more stories from one of my better classes. This time it's about going to a park. No poo in these ones this time.









Today, I went to the post office and bank to sort some stuff out. I send an 8.1kg box of winter clothes home (which included some t-shirts from Japan for my sisters), and my photos and movies from Japan to my Japanese friends that I travelled with. I also paid for my ticket back to Australia. $645, with tax, one way, Incheon to Melbourne, via Tokyo and Brisbane.

Just across from the bank, is probably the best restaurant in town, Gimbap Nation (김밥나라 - Gimbap country just sounds bad), so I got some Gimchi Mandu and some Cheese Ddeokbokki. 맛있어 *^^*

Weather

Last night, I was checking some weather information for Gwangju (the city close to me here in Korea), and my home town back in Australia (which is currently in winter) on my iPod. Here's how it looked:


I thought, "I know where i'd rather be.". Just from the weather perspective, I'd rather have cool sunny days, than this humid, sticky stuff that Korea has called "summer". hehe. I grew up with dry, forty degree days.

But in 87 days, I'll have my 2nd summer for the year, and my first real summer in 3 years.

It's only a number, right?

I came across this table just now, while I was surfing the web. It's the "Human Development Index", which the UN uses to measure the quality of life in countries around the world.

Here's the Top 30:

1: Norway
2: Iceland
3: Australia
4: Ireland
5: Sweden
6: Canada
7: Japan
8: United States
9: Switzerland
10: Netherlands
11: Finland
12: Luxembourg
13: Belgium
14: Austria
15: Denmark
16: France
17: Italy
18: United Kingdom
19: Spain
20: New Zealand
21: Germany
22: Israel
23: Greece
24: Singapore
25: South Korea
26: Slovenia
27: Portugal
28: Cyprus
29: Czech Repupic
30: Barbados

I was surprised to see Australia in the 3rd position, and was also slightly surprised to see Korea in the Top 30. So, I guess Korea isn't that bad at all. But, moving to a country that is 22 places below yours... lol... I won't finish that sentence :p

I put Japan is bold as well because I've been there, even though it was for a holiday, I could really notice the difference between life in Korea and life in Japan. Just as I came to Korea for work after a holiday, because I wanted to experience the "real" Korea, I am tempted, after a break, to try to live in Japan for a year, and see how it goes. I think, after 3 years in Korea, it would be very interesting.

Cheap Food

One of the few things I'm gonna miss from Korea when I'm gone, is the cheap (but delicious) food. I'm not a fan of Gimbap (김밥), but one of the joys of places like Gimbap Nation (김밥나라), Gimbap Heaven (김밥천국), and all the over variations, is that it has a large menu of basic stuff (with basic refils of side dishes). Nothing over $5 is a bonus too, and most of the things are pretty filling as well (if not, just fill up on Gimchi and Yellow Radish).

For something healthy and filling, I normally go for 비빔밥 or 돌솥비빔밥. If i'm in the need for something oily, I normally go 고구마치돈 (short for 고구마 치츠 돈가스). For something spicy, I'd go for 순두부찌개, 김치찌개 or 된장찌개. I haven't got around to tryint the 참치찌개 yet, because the other three 찌개s are all pretty good.

The 김치뽂음밥 is good, if you ask the 아줌마 to melt some cheese on top *^^*

Pride

I totally agree with George Carlin. I'm proud of what Australia has accomplished (and not so proud of the things it's fucked up), but it's just a chance that I was born in Australia to Australian parents at the time *^^*

I'm not a big user of the word "we" or "our", and because I agree with George, I never use it, and it hear it all the time (in Korea, and from others as well), it makes me cringe. For example, many of my Korean friends will refer to Australia as "my country". I don't own Australia. I didn't buy Australia, and I didn't sign a lease to rent it. It's not mine, therefore not "my country". It's just the country where I was born, therefore Australian my nationality, because of people's need to categorise and label everything (especially here in Korea, through my experiences).

For example, when the Australian cricket team, or my favourite football team wins or loses, i don't say "my team". I don't own the team. I will use the name of the team. If I own something, sure, it's mine. My MP3 player, my MP3 player, my emotional baggage *^^*

If you own it, it is your duty to take responsibility for it.