Proctor Land

So here I am proctoring their weekly practice SAT. And using my computer (ie, not doing prep work). I'm a little ahead on my prep work, so I feel (mostly) ok taking a brief respite to type on my computer/update THIS BLOG. which doesn't really get fairly updated with my thoughts, feelings, and experiences in Korea, as it should be (as it's name implies), soooooo:

I'm getting rather good at defining words. It actually takes some serious practice. Think about it. You know lots of words. In fact, you know lots of big words, but can you break down the meaning of each word you find/know into a simpler one? It's hard! I (have to) test myself each time. Even though I might know a word, if I can't come up with a definition for it right away, I (make myself) write it down. (HAH. not that I necessarily remember it or new words for that matter. maybe like the nth time I write something down it sticks.)

Anyway, on to something far more interesting and exciting.

Yesterday evening, we walked from our neighborhood to the river. (The Han River runs through the middle of Seoul). It was really beautiful. The neighborhood leading to it is also really nice and a nice change from our (my) neighborhood of wealthy, expensive cars and not much else. Like cute stores and many restaurants and, well, you get the picture. Meandering down to the river (stopping for good gelato; which I had to sadly abstain from that night) and sitting by the river is really nice. It seems to have become quite the past-time for a few of the SAT teachers.


Next, I was planning to go off on a brief tirade about conbini (convenience stores). But I shouldn't really label it a tirade, as it's really not ALL negative. So. Korean convenience stores. :

They have the necessary items one needs to live (as is expected of all conbini, world over : )

But, they lack a few things:

ok, so they have onigiri (Japanese rice balls; samgak kimbap, whatever you would like to call them). But the KINDs. It's basically tuna or some kind of meat. And interesting variations on that with kimchi, possibly miso, but there's no other fish. and major point: no vegetarian one. I've gotten used to eating meat in my onigiri (mostly)... but I think I still prefer fish. It's a little odd....

Bento. Lunch boxes. So a couple conbini have a few. But mostly they consist of a bunch of carbohydrates. Nothing like the Japanese version of main dish (fish, croquette, etc), and different kinds of salads).

Salad. The conbini's do not sell salads of any kind. So I can't go buy my rice, protien, AND vegetables. What's up with that?? The only 'vegetable' available are little packets of kimchee (the MiniStop (who would have thought that that would turn out to be my favorite Korean conbi... but they have the most variety!) has a green vegetable kimchi). Now don't get me wrong. I like kimchi (though, surprisingly, I have a Korean friend (not American, Korean Korean) who hates it). But one: it's hard to eat as a 'salad' every day. And Most Importantly (I must capitilize, like Pooh): You can't really bring kimchee into an office, because it stinks up the whole room (I was told this by a Korean co-worker). and it's true!.
Ok. Now, this is where we have to deviate a little bit. I *have* found, (although I can't get my conbini salad), I have found a place or two nearby that will make a fresh salad (with chicken) for about $5. Now, that, is pretty unfindable in Japan. Kudos.

(whew. my mind just got totally blown off course. Late kid! Only gets 10 minutes to write his SAT essay).

So back to Conbini. What else.... ah... well I could talk a little about the yogurts... Yogurt here is pretty good. But unfortunately, in the conbini's they don't seem to stock the low cal versions.

The trash cans! Are on the inside of the conbini(where you can stand and eat). It's just a little annoying in that Seoul recently (for some reason that seems unexplainable) got rid of most of its public trash cans. So when you are walking down the street and need a place to throw trash, having trash cans outside all the conbinis is helpful... Having them on the inside makes sense, because thats where you are 'eating' (sometimes), but havng them on the outside... is convenient.

Now for all my tirading about them, here are the extra good/interesting bits:

They all (for the most part), seem to have tables and chairs set up outside, effectually, becoming in their own little ways, cafes. Like welcome to 7-11 cafe. It's cute. You can buy a drink (a beer as it seems most habitually for the random guys who gather) and sit outside and relax.

And they have interesting korean food. Like microwaveable pumpking porridge (the best!), etc.

And today I bought some dried fish crackers for like ... $1.50. And onigiri (samgak kimbap, riceballs) are about 70 cents. You really can't beat that.

So all that being said, still, where would life be without the amazing wonderfuless of the conbinis. And I'm becoming pretty fond of the corn husk tea (no caffeine! happppiineessss).


So back to proctoring land, because this has gone on way too long. And. Is anyone reading this?

Do some work, look up definitions, read passages, proctor... Get ahead for next week, so I can go to dance class, relax, and... look for jobs? write essays? you fill in the _____.