Goals

Since I have been in Korea for an entire month it makes sense to write several blog entries regarding where I'm at in terms of meeting my goals. The first goal was to embrace Korean food. So how am I doing? Well, I've embraced Korean food in the sense that I eat it every day. I've tried to have an open mind about it and I have found many dishes that I absolutely love. I have discovered a passion for rice doughnuts (they are my kryptonyte and my achilles heel). I also enjoy Kimchi (fermented veggies covered in red pepper paste), Gimbap(like sushi rolls but with pork or veggies inside), Galbi (BBqed pork or beef wrapped in mint leaves), and Bibimbap which is a bowl of rice topped with fresh seasoned veggies, red pepper paste, minced beef, and a fried egg. On a side note Bibimbap is supposed to contain the five principal colors of Korean Buddhism.

While I'm glad that I'm enjoying some dishes and am proud that I'm trying everything that gets placed in front of me, I have discovered that are many Korean dishes that I just don't get. Namely, I have trouble with the gratitous amounts of Octipus and squid I'm supposed to consume. Naki Bokkeum is a dish that just repulses me. A live baby Octupus gets it's tenacles chopped off while it slowly stirfrys to death atop a tray of salad. You can practically hear it cry.

I'm equally grossed out by Beonddegi. This dish smells so bad that I'm surprised it doesn't breach some sort of international law. It's fried silkworm larvae. These little guys burst when you put them in your mouth and release a grimy yellow pus. Yum.

Octpi Tenacles are the most dangerous of the street vending meat I've come across, I haven't tried this yet because..well because it seems like a pretty stupid thing to put into your mouth. It is basically giant still wriggling, uncooked Octipi tenacles. According to my co-teacher, there are a few deaths each year because the tenacles make a last bid for freedom causing suffocation. Like a chicken with it's head cut off...only in your mouth.

It's hard to say where I am with this goal. I give myself points for trying and demerit points for being too scared to try some dishes. In the next months I'm going to try and be more adventureous and open minded with Korean food.