I'm Sorry Mr Octopus

Dear Mom and Dad,

I chewed on a live octopus last night. Can you believe it? I remember reading about some guy who had tried it when he was visiting Korea when I was at home, and thought that it was disgusting and something that I was going to avoid doing while I was here. Well, I'm not a picky eater (thanks to you two!) and so when food is offered to me, I don't really know how to refuse...

I was in Busan with Amy for the weekend visiting our friend Scott. We were out for some drinks Saturday evening with his two Korean friends Joe and Pan. At around midnight we were bored of the bar scene and Joe suggested we grab a taxi out to one of the islands to a pebble beach for some seafood. It seemed like a random nutty idea so of course we agreed. In about 40 minutes we arrived at the beach and along the beach was rows of lit up tents. In each of these tents were buckets of fresh seafood and many Korean women eager to serve you. We followed Joe to a specific tent that a friend of his owned and picked a table closest to the water. Sitting under the stars. It was a beautiful night and we were one of the only customers on the entire beach. It was relaxing, peaceful and exciting all at the same time.

When they started to bring out food I thought of you guys. She brought two big bowls of hot mussels as a free appetizer. Then the live octopus, which I'll tell you all about in a minute... and then came shrimp, scallops, sea urchins, mussels and a few other unnameable sea food. I thought about you because I know you are a lover of food Dad, and sitting there on the beach eating fresh seafood is like a raw version of Maine and their lobsters. And you would love how peaceful it is there Mom. My favorite was the scallops which they had opened, left in the shell an mixed with onions and and a few other veggies. You put the shells right on the coal grill that the have lit in the middle of the table. They sizzle and cook to perfection right there in the shell. delicious.

So back to the octopus...When the plate came the octopus had just been cut to pieces because the whole plate was moving with life. Between the pieces of vegetables was half inch pieces of grey blue octopus wriggling around with its tentacles looking for something to grasp. I stared in horror. Joe picked up a piece with his chop sticks and held it in front of Amy and to my surprise, she put it in her mouth. Then I knew I was in trouble. I didn't really have time to watch her reaction because a second later there was a piece in front of my face. With a few complaints I let him drop the moving thing into my mouth. It was cold and slimy and immediately suctioned itself to the left side of my tongue and teeth. I chopped on it twice and then gagged and realized there was no way in hell I was going to swallow this thing and pried it off my mouth and spit it into a napkin. yuck.

As I said before I chewed on it. I didn't swallow it and I waited until the octopus was cooked on the coals in front of us and covered is spicy red sauce to go anywhere near it again. Scott had more success with his piece and said "You just have to fight with it!" I'm really not used to having to fight with my food for its life in my mouth. And after spitting mine out I looked sadly at the moving plate of octopus arms and said "I feel so bad. I want to go put it back together."
But, no matter if the octopus dies when the cook cuts it up, while its between your teeth or when its cooking on the fire, it still dies. And although it is too much for many people to handle to have to chew it to kill it, its a valuable experience, that I'm glad I attempted. I'm just not sure exactly how its valuable yet. But that's kind of how traveling experiences work. You cant always pinpoint the exactly morals to every story. I know that the reality of eating an animal has never been so harsh. And maybe that in itself is enough. It kinds of makes you more thankful for your food, espeically once its cooked. :)

Although there are so many places to travel in the world I think you guys should come here. If nothing else I'll show you some of the best food in the world! Our break is the first week of February . Think you can make it??

I really hope my next blog isn't about food. But I can't make any promises. haha.

Love,

Brie

KimchI Will Save the World

Sheya,

I'm sorry my messages last night were lame. I was having those "once a month girl emotions" and I knew it. But I got my "once a month girl thing" today so I'm feeling great! Its crazy how there's just that little chemical change or something that makes my heart just feel empty or full. I feel really sorry for people who's hearts maybe never feel as full as mine..

I'm really happy here. I love our school lunch. okay that's random but its true. I mean how can you not love your life, when school lunch is not only free but delicious?

everyday we have this dish called Kimchi. Its made out of cabbage fermented with hot peppers and fish sauce. and its served cold in a small dish. it sounds awful but really my mouth is watering just thinking about it right now. its spicy, cold, refreshing, crispy, and extremely flavorful.

yumm. I've enjoyed kimchi since I got here but maybe the reason its on my mind so much today is because of the field trip i got to go on with my kids today. We went to a Onggi festival that was only 30 minute bus ride. Korea times says...

"Ulsan is the country's largest distributor of onggi products made by professional potters. The nearby county of Ulju houses an onggi village and has held onggi festivals since 2000."

First we took a coach bus (or actually 3) to get there. which made it for sure the most comfortable field trip ever. and when we got out, were no longer in the city but the mountains. It was a gorgeous autumn day here. Too warm for fall but who's complaining? The area was just full of dark brown glazed ceramic pots. It was a huge place. The first thing we did was get filled through a museum. I was kinda surprised that they were letting us in with like ...uhh 250 (or more, I'm really not sure) kindergartners. But oh man was I surprised later in the day when they let us all into the art gallery. I was walking around freaking out as kids touched and bumped into the stands and the ceramic pieces. Everyone was walking, talking at the same time. I thought for sure at least 4 pieces would have been broken at the end. Strangely, I think I was the only one who was even concerned in the whole place. But as far as I know, nothing was damaged.

There are three possibilities that I could think of that is reasoning to their crazy actions. One could be they don't have the same appreciation for arts that we would in the states. Or that because they are a new museam that just hasn't experienced any kindergarderns crashing some of their pieces yet, to learn from their mistakes. Or maybe its the Montessori teachers way, letting kids be kids with out any concern. Whatever the reason, I'm so glad it turned out okay. And I'm kinda embarrassed that I was so shocked and nervous. But I know I'd never see anything like that in the states.

anyways... back to the point of the story. So these ongii pots used to be made so Koreans could store their kimchi in the ground for up to 2 years to let it ferment. So at the end of the afternoon they showed us a 3-D movie. Yes that's right, someone decided that in the middle of this historic place full of ancient tradition was the perfect place to show a 3-D movie. And they were right.

They showed a movie for this festival with superheroes representing ongii pots. There was a dad pot, and son pot, fire, water, clay, and a fairy(just for fun). and then there was the big evil supervillan. He derived his power from all the junk food people were eating in the world. And then there was one boy and his grandfather who were the last people who cared about making pottery on earth. And right when the super-villan was about to destroy all living life on earth, the superheros absorbed energy from all the kimchi in the world, the boy made a single pot, with so much love and devotion that they were able to defeat the supervillan once and for all. and the earth turned green again. :)

damn, what a good story.... if I don't say so myself. If that doesn't make you want to come to Korea and try some kimchi I don't know what will. The best part is that kids here love Kimchi. The video is new this year so you can't credit it all to that. Just before we watched the movie Amy Teacher was telling me about a post she read on a friend who is also teaching in Korea facebook commenting that "2/3 of his kids would rather eat Kimchi than chocolate cake." Its true, you should see their home packed lunches....

Okay I got to go... Love you sheya baby.

story time....

So yesterday Amy and I went to the university area to shop for clothes and look for a cell phone for Amy. While on our way Amy said "Man I wish Ryan was with us." He's our friend who's lived in Korea for four years and speaks enough Korean that its really useful to have him around while cell phone shopping (as we've already tried twice.) So after getting a gelato on the way to the store, guess who we run right into. Ryan. And hes free, so he comes with us to the cell phone shop. Were in this store for about an hour signing papers, standing around, trying to understand each-other. and finally they say come back tomorrow to get the phone. oh and by the way you should see the cell phone shops here. They have like 30 of the brightest lights on the ceiling, shiny white floors that are practically mirrors with while walls, and white cases for the phones with clear shiny glass... going in there you really feel like they should be selling precious stones or something.
anyways... we met up with two of Ryans friends after dinner. Dinner was potato bacon pizza. it was really more like two flour tortillas with sweet tomato sauce, lots of cheese(which was its saving grace) a handful of fat french fries and a few squares of ham.

So out of these two friends, one of them lived in Thailand before he came here with his girl friend. When he mentioned Thailand I asked him what it was like. Ever since you came home with those photos and souvenirs and memories, I can't get Thailand out of my head.

He told us all about Thailand and what his year was like. He is one of those really good story teller types. He talked about going through the TEFL program with about 30 other young professionals. Staying in nice ass rooms, going out everyday of the week. He talked about the buildings, the people, the energy and life that is given off by Bankok. He said that teaching is one of the highest regarded professions in Thailand. And after hearing about his stories of their partying, I really can't understand that. He said that a meal in Thailand is 60 cents. He said that you get a drink there with redbull in it but their redbull is concentrated and like 3 times as strong and you'll have one of those and he reinacted what its like to walk down the busiest street in Bankok. Bouncing up and down on your toes, turning left and right, with your head tilted up, down, moving all around, with a wild smile and crazy eyes. He said that after a year they were ready to get out of there. And that he is not ready to go back yet. But hearing his passion for what it was like to be there was great. Of course I thought about you the entire time.

We ended up talking to this guy, John, for about an hour in the middle of the street. Ultimately I had to say my legs were hurting from standing so long and we had to go. But I really enjoyed our conversation and I'd redecided by the end of it that Thailand is where I want to be.

I'm glad I am in Korea for this year but I'm really excited about what is happening next. Today our boss mentioned to Amy about wanting us to stay another year! Which is great... but there is so much in this world to see!

Coming right out of high school and challenging chance on a trip like you did was a really brave thing. There isn't a day that goes by with out me thinking of you and your adventure. Even though you were across the world for those 4 months I really think it brought us closer because I was able to imagine what a trip like that would be. When you came back we were all soo happy that you were back and safe, but I could see that the trip had changed you. and I wanted that. I don't think I'd be where I am today if it wasn't for you! When people ask how I came to be here, I always start the story with "Well my little sister traveled to Vietnam, India and Thailand..." haha and its a pretty short story from there.

that reminds me ... I also realized while listening to John talk about Thailand that I wish I was a better story teller. Especially cause I was trying to think up one to tell to you for that class. And since I am in Korea, I should have some damn good stories. But everyone is different, eh?

I'm definitely better at conversations than story telling. The difference being the feedback and listening part I guess. it kinda fits into this new idea I've had for my blogs. My blogs are going to be more like letters to individual people, that I let the world read. Its good because I get to say the things to important people in my life that I would never have really been able to say at home and it gives my blogs (that I feel the pressure to write) some direction.

So the moral of my story is... all stories are told differently. You better tell me what this assignment comes out to be. I'm very curious! Love you Calley...

Ode to an Aunt…

Memories of riding in the back of your green van. You speaking Latin with the boys. Lots of laughter. Oh the boys who taught me so much, who I’ve always loved. I used to think the boys were crazy. And they were. They were alive and free. Hanging out with Nathan, trudging through woods, swamps, oceans. I remember catching a duck with a fishing pole. Continuously failing to catch a frog. They were always too fast. Looking under rocks for salamanders. Which were never there. I had never seen one at that point, I didn’t even know what one looked like, but there I was looking for it because of you and all that you had taught Nathan.

Your family was a whirlwind of life. You filled me with knowledge of this world. You taught me to see shooting stars on the small sand beach of Camp of the Woods. You taught me what a shark tooth looked like in the beautiful beaches of Siesta Keys, Florida. You taught me that heat lightening was just lightening farther away. You taught me how to look for fossils in a Rocky River bed.

I remember when you laughed with me when I fell on my head because I thought there was a back to the seat of a canoe. I was mad at Nathan who was mad at me for not paddling the canoe right. So I’d quit and tried to sit back…. Do you remember?

On a different trip I laughed at Uncle Tony when he fell out of the canoe because he was trying to move one of the boys... probably for not paddling right. :)

When I was with your family I was truly free to be me. Even as a kid that’s a place that is hard to find.

My most recent memory with you was at Grandmas. You were showing us something on the computer. I have no idea what we were looking at. I think we were just waiting for it to load on that old dial up connection. But I remember laughing, laughing so hard.

I remember saying that you were my role model as a kid. And looking back at all the memories I have, it makes sense that you are. I always admired you for being a doctor, even as a kid I knew that was a big deal. And now I’m all grown up I still think it’s a big deal! But now I can see the other things that you’ve done to effect the lives of the people around you; of your sons and nieces. I hope that I can make my kids (if I have them or nieces, or nephews or students or...someone) see the earth the same way you showed me its seemingly small but wondrous beauty.

This letter has been a long time coming,

I hope it reaches you from across with world with sincerity.

I love you, Aunt Susan. Glad to be in contact on that old facebook. Sending good thoughts from across the world... :)