Daily Life in Korea:
Now that we have been in Korea for about 2 months, life has settled into a pretty comfortable routine. Generally, my blog is all about what places I’ve visited on the weekends, this is usually because the weekdays are very low key. The most exciting thing that usually happens on the weekdays is a trip to the local market or emart. Depending on the weekday, I’ll wake up at 5:30am or 7:30am to get to work to start an experiment or digitize for the day. I’ve also gotten used to eating in the cafeteria here! My first cafeteria trip was incredibly confusing… I didn’t realize that the food available was posted just outside of the cafeteria entrance… Luckily I ended up with a delicious cheese pork cutlet, the other option was some tuna dish, and I am not too fond of fish. Although, sometimes it is hard to pronounce the Korean to order the food. I really like eating a full Korean lunch every day! A few days ago Hang-Ah told me during lunch that “I eat Korean food really well.” I’m not exactly sure how to feel about that compliment haha. I suppose that it is possible that she meant that my technique, and methods of eating the food are very natural, or that I eat wayyyyyy too much food. Either or, Korean food is delicious! Christina and I generally leave work around 5:00pm, although we usually leave around 7pm or 8pm on experiment days, and walk home (if it’s dry. We take the shuttle if it’s raining). After work, it’s time to cook dinner, I usually work on my blog or other writings while Christina does her homework. We cook a lot of meals ourselves, although we generally eat out a few times a week. I think that it is amazing how fast Sillim became “home.” I can recognize people that live in our neighborhood, and most of the convenience store salespeople know us now. I am now a pro at making Japchae, although I am not so great at making Kimchi rice… my solo attempt was disastrous. It was horrible, I couldn’t eat it.
The images below are all examples of some cafeteria dishes! I get to eat this delicious food everyday :)
Now that we have been in Korea for about 2 months, life has settled into a pretty comfortable routine. Generally, my blog is all about what places I’ve visited on the weekends, this is usually because the weekdays are very low key. The most exciting thing that usually happens on the weekdays is a trip to the local market or emart. Depending on the weekday, I’ll wake up at 5:30am or 7:30am to get to work to start an experiment or digitize for the day. I’ve also gotten used to eating in the cafeteria here! My first cafeteria trip was incredibly confusing… I didn’t realize that the food available was posted just outside of the cafeteria entrance… Luckily I ended up with a delicious cheese pork cutlet, the other option was some tuna dish, and I am not too fond of fish. Although, sometimes it is hard to pronounce the Korean to order the food. I really like eating a full Korean lunch every day! A few days ago Hang-Ah told me during lunch that “I eat Korean food really well.” I’m not exactly sure how to feel about that compliment haha. I suppose that it is possible that she meant that my technique, and methods of eating the food are very natural, or that I eat wayyyyyy too much food. Either or, Korean food is delicious! Christina and I generally leave work around 5:00pm, although we usually leave around 7pm or 8pm on experiment days, and walk home (if it’s dry. We take the shuttle if it’s raining). After work, it’s time to cook dinner, I usually work on my blog or other writings while Christina does her homework. We cook a lot of meals ourselves, although we generally eat out a few times a week. I think that it is amazing how fast Sillim became “home.” I can recognize people that live in our neighborhood, and most of the convenience store salespeople know us now. I am now a pro at making Japchae, although I am not so great at making Kimchi rice… my solo attempt was disastrous. It was horrible, I couldn’t eat it.
The images below are all examples of some cafeteria dishes! I get to eat this delicious food everyday :)
Background of Nightlife in Korea:
Korean nightlife is relatively recent. From the years of 1945-1982 the government enforced a curfew from midnight to 4am, all the city lights were shut off, and only those with official duties were allowed outdoors. Incidentally, it’s these hours that are now some of the busiest in many parts of the city. Most of Korean nightlife includes some variation of drinking, singing (noraebang), and dancing. Although there are other events at night, biking along the Han River, watching street music performances, it seems that the most vibrant nightlife happens around food and drink. At home in the states, I would never consider being anywhere in the city late at night, so living in Seoul is like a breath of fresh air (not literally… figuratively only). Although it is not good to walk around obliviously, as long as you are with a friend, and in a busy place it seems to me that the early hours of the morning are relatively safe. I have seen people sleep on the streets and wake up with all their stuff still intact. I think that Korea’s nightlife has been helped by the fact that it is possible to be safe. One of my main questions, or complaints actually, is that the subways here close at midnight. This is veryyyyy early compared to the time that many Koreans will head home on a Friday or Saturday night! Perhaps this is a remnant of the old culture and curfew, or perhaps it is simply the most economically beneficial to shut down the subways during these times. Either way, it definitely helps out the taxi drivers! They clog the streets of Hongdae during the early morning hours!
Korean nightlife is relatively recent. From the years of 1945-1982 the government enforced a curfew from midnight to 4am, all the city lights were shut off, and only those with official duties were allowed outdoors. Incidentally, it’s these hours that are now some of the busiest in many parts of the city. Most of Korean nightlife includes some variation of drinking, singing (noraebang), and dancing. Although there are other events at night, biking along the Han River, watching street music performances, it seems that the most vibrant nightlife happens around food and drink. At home in the states, I would never consider being anywhere in the city late at night, so living in Seoul is like a breath of fresh air (not literally… figuratively only). Although it is not good to walk around obliviously, as long as you are with a friend, and in a busy place it seems to me that the early hours of the morning are relatively safe. I have seen people sleep on the streets and wake up with all their stuff still intact. I think that Korea’s nightlife has been helped by the fact that it is possible to be safe. One of my main questions, or complaints actually, is that the subways here close at midnight. This is veryyyyy early compared to the time that many Koreans will head home on a Friday or Saturday night! Perhaps this is a remnant of the old culture and curfew, or perhaps it is simply the most economically beneficial to shut down the subways during these times. Either way, it definitely helps out the taxi drivers! They clog the streets of Hongdae during the early morning hours!
Hongdae, Day vs. Night:
Hongdae is the part of Seoul that literally never sleeps. And I am using the term literal correctly. Yesterday Christina and I were talking to Jae Hak, and he confirmed it! I’ve described Hongdae at night before. It’s bright and noisy, filled with semi-intoxicated Koreans and young couples. The Park at night is full of life, rappers, dancers, drummers, magicians etc. all perform for the crowds. I noticed that there are quite a bit of foreigners in the park at night (including myself of course haha). The rest of Hongdae at night is a collection of dance clubs and bars. There are some clubs that play exclusively kpop, although most of them play American music. It really seems like Koreans really like American rap/hip-hop from the earlier 2000’s. One huge difference from American clubs and Korean clubs is the dancing. In America, dances involve a lot of bodily contact between dancers… In Korea this is not necessarily the case. It is very refreshing just to dance and have a good time without being bothered by anyone! The peak hours for the clubs in Hongdae are often between 2-4am, although people in Hongdae often stay out until 5:30am or later in order to catch the first subway home. It also seems like most restaurants in Hongdae never close. There are Koreans drinking soju on tables outside of restaurants and convenience stores at all hours of the night. It is definitely true that Koreans work hard and party hard. On the other hand, Hongdae completely transforms during the day! The park in the daylight is a family friendly event, full of small folding tables covered in crafts. There is a lady in the park that sells shoes that she painted pretty designs on! The crowds in Hongdae during the day are incredible. I thought that Hongdae at night was crowded, but I was very very wrong. This is easily one of the most crowded places that I have been in Korea. I’d say that the crowd level is pretty comparable to the crowds at the peak hours at the Minnesota State Fair. There is hardly any room to breathe! When Christina and I visited Hongdae, we also went to the trick eye and ice museum. This museum is pretty famous in Korea, I had heard about it before back home when I was researching Seoul. I had also heard that it was mainly a giant photo-op for Korean couples. This definitely turned out to be true… the museum was interesting! Mainly for the reason that friends and couples were everywhere, posing and taking weird pictures. I pretty much abandoned waiting in line to take pictures with the “trick eye” paintings on the walls, and photographed other Koreans posing instead. Haha, I tried to be discrete, but I’m sure that everyone knew what I was up too… It was definitely worth it! I got some really hilarious pictures! My favorite part of the museum was actually the ice museum. Located in a giant freezer, we were handed plastic shawl things upon entry, but declined. We came prepared after reading that these covers were super ripe. This part of the museum was less crowded, and it was incredibly refreshing to be back in 30 degrees weather, especially compared to the 90 degree weather outside. It was like a little slice of home!
Hongdae is the part of Seoul that literally never sleeps. And I am using the term literal correctly. Yesterday Christina and I were talking to Jae Hak, and he confirmed it! I’ve described Hongdae at night before. It’s bright and noisy, filled with semi-intoxicated Koreans and young couples. The Park at night is full of life, rappers, dancers, drummers, magicians etc. all perform for the crowds. I noticed that there are quite a bit of foreigners in the park at night (including myself of course haha). The rest of Hongdae at night is a collection of dance clubs and bars. There are some clubs that play exclusively kpop, although most of them play American music. It really seems like Koreans really like American rap/hip-hop from the earlier 2000’s. One huge difference from American clubs and Korean clubs is the dancing. In America, dances involve a lot of bodily contact between dancers… In Korea this is not necessarily the case. It is very refreshing just to dance and have a good time without being bothered by anyone! The peak hours for the clubs in Hongdae are often between 2-4am, although people in Hongdae often stay out until 5:30am or later in order to catch the first subway home. It also seems like most restaurants in Hongdae never close. There are Koreans drinking soju on tables outside of restaurants and convenience stores at all hours of the night. It is definitely true that Koreans work hard and party hard. On the other hand, Hongdae completely transforms during the day! The park in the daylight is a family friendly event, full of small folding tables covered in crafts. There is a lady in the park that sells shoes that she painted pretty designs on! The crowds in Hongdae during the day are incredible. I thought that Hongdae at night was crowded, but I was very very wrong. This is easily one of the most crowded places that I have been in Korea. I’d say that the crowd level is pretty comparable to the crowds at the peak hours at the Minnesota State Fair. There is hardly any room to breathe! When Christina and I visited Hongdae, we also went to the trick eye and ice museum. This museum is pretty famous in Korea, I had heard about it before back home when I was researching Seoul. I had also heard that it was mainly a giant photo-op for Korean couples. This definitely turned out to be true… the museum was interesting! Mainly for the reason that friends and couples were everywhere, posing and taking weird pictures. I pretty much abandoned waiting in line to take pictures with the “trick eye” paintings on the walls, and photographed other Koreans posing instead. Haha, I tried to be discrete, but I’m sure that everyone knew what I was up too… It was definitely worth it! I got some really hilarious pictures! My favorite part of the museum was actually the ice museum. Located in a giant freezer, we were handed plastic shawl things upon entry, but declined. We came prepared after reading that these covers were super ripe. This part of the museum was less crowded, and it was incredibly refreshing to be back in 30 degrees weather, especially compared to the 90 degree weather outside. It was like a little slice of home!
Research:
Research is going pretty well. We have settled into a routine of filming and digitizing, alternating days of cleaning and collecting water striders. Each week goes by very quickly now! Our two research assistants are olnly available until the end of July, but we are hopeful for a few new lab assistants that can help through the end of August. We have an event on Friday with the other interns in which we are supposed to “complete our summer research,” however, Christina and I still have a month of our experiment left, so we are just working on the beginning of our proposal. Due to some more problems with water strider mortality, we had to make a few more minor adjustments to our experiment; hopefully, from this point on we will be able to move forward with no more speed bumps! Also, one of our lab assistants (Chae-Hee) went to Japan for a few days and brought back presents! A Japanese version of pound cake and some delicious green pudding… although Christina didn’t really like it… haha.
Research is going pretty well. We have settled into a routine of filming and digitizing, alternating days of cleaning and collecting water striders. Each week goes by very quickly now! Our two research assistants are olnly available until the end of July, but we are hopeful for a few new lab assistants that can help through the end of August. We have an event on Friday with the other interns in which we are supposed to “complete our summer research,” however, Christina and I still have a month of our experiment left, so we are just working on the beginning of our proposal. Due to some more problems with water strider mortality, we had to make a few more minor adjustments to our experiment; hopefully, from this point on we will be able to move forward with no more speed bumps! Also, one of our lab assistants (Chae-Hee) went to Japan for a few days and brought back presents! A Japanese version of pound cake and some delicious green pudding… although Christina didn’t really like it… haha.
For those of you that don't know. Christina is an amazing cook. Which is why I need to document her first, total, complete, and utter failure at cooking rice… This has never happened before… Nor will it probably ever happen again. I have to say, this event makes me feel better about my relatively average cooking skills.
All right, till next time ya'll. Peace out.