Leaked Cover of Vogue

Yesterday, myself and the teacher that arrived at the same time, Ashley, had to go get our pictures taken for our Alien Resident card. We went to a place called E-Mart, which is a 4 or 5-story Wal-Mart equivalent (except for two things): It's much, muuuch cleaner than a regular Wal-Mart, and things are cheaper. I found a frame for all of 2 Dollars, along with an alarm clock for 15$.

Anyway, when they gave us our pictures, they also gave us a CD with the copies on it, along with these beautiful pictures of myself on the cover of Vogue (My dreaaaaam, how did they know?). You don't get this kind of schnaz in a Wal-Mart. Although you can find some more intriguing things.. The animals they sell may be dead, but that's the extent of the work that's been done. If you're buying fish, you're buying a whole fish. Same for a Squid. Or a Crab. The smell in the grocery section is.. unique, to say the least. Maybe it'll grow on me.

Now, the food! The food is quite good, from what i've had so far. Mind you, the most i've had so far is Kimbop (see picture!). From the outside, it looks like a cucumber, but this is the primal state of (the Korean equivalent) Sushi. These two are Cheese Gimbop.. very good, and about 2$. Since one constitutes a meal, you can do the math as to great value.

These particular two, though, were not 2$. They were free. I was having lunch with about 5 other teachers, and there happened to be the mother of two students eating nearby. The students recognized the teachers, and waved - Before they left, she stopped by and told those teachers they she had paid for the meal. Very nice - but we figure it was just those two people`s meals. Nope - It was all 6 of us (and we had ordered things to take out..)

That really speaks to the kindness of Korean people. Gift-giving is a much more common practice than it is in Canada, and although i've only been here 5 days, this isn't the first time that I see it. Not really big gifts (that i've seen anyway), but small gifts as gestures of appreciation - although i'm told that it's expected to reciprocate by buying something as well, such as pastries or flowers. I suppose this is a way of strengthening a friendship with someone.


À la prochaine!