Thursday, October 22, 2009

Missing Korea...

It's my only day off this week so I decided to use it to the fullest and try my hand at making gimchi jjigae at home. I trucked off to the Asian supermarket in order to find some of the ingredients and managed to come home with all sorts of goodies. In this picture: lots of gimchi, gochujang, ssamjang, red pepper flakes, Pocari Sweat, 2% peach drink, Lotte choco pies, sticky rice buns, galbi marinade, green onions and tofu.

Korea has been on my mind a lot. I feel like a torn person. I love being in Canada and that my family and friends are here. However, I loved being in Korea too. There was adventure, friends and a pretty sweet job. I had lunch with Diane this week and she asked me about jobs and I said that I wished I could have my job in Korea here. No, I don't want to be a teacher- I want to be an EFL teacher to adorable Korean children. I couldn't handle the lack of respect and all of the extra work that actual teachers have to do (much respect to them!). I liked the fact that the parents and I didn't share a common language and I loved how industrious, curious and dedicated my students were.

Lately I've been talking a lot about Korea to a particular client at work. He seems honestly fascinated about Korea and can't wrap his mind around the differences between there and here. He was shocked to hear what the population is and how most people live in apartments. Almost every night he asks me questions and so I talk and talk and talk and miss and miss and miss. I haven't been keeping in touch with my Korean friends as well as I should. I think I am avoiding it because it makes me sad that I can't be there with them. I look back at my Little Brown Blog and I get really sentimental. Sure, things weren't perfect there but nothing is perfect and it was really awesome. The jjigae tasted really authentic and was even better with some chamchi (tuna) mixed in. Another culinary success!!

11 comments:

앤디오빠 said...

I totally get what you mean. I gave up a decent job in Australia to be back in Korea.

I also went though my phase of cooking Korean food. hehe.

Miss Yache said...

People think we're mad that we didn't stick it out for the year in Australia to come back to the UK, but part of the reason we came back because we missed Korea and would rather have went back there than stay in Australia. John and I talk about it a lot, it's unlikely we'll go back to work but we can't help musing about it.

Carter said...

Is Pocari Sweat Korean??

Wow, that soup (stew?) looks delicious!!! Spicy!!!!

ambearo said...

No, it's Japanese, Carter, but Matt drank it a lot when we lived in Korea so we associate it with Korea.

Dana Kiemeny Thompson said...

That looks exactly like the Jjigae I had the other day, totally authentic! I bet it was delicious! We miss you here too Amber. Curtis and I were in Gangnam and I thought about last fall when we met there spontaneously one evening. We had dinner at Sorrentos and it was great. :( Everywhere reminds us of you!

Why am I here??? said...

wow looks so good!

Stephie said...

Remember when you brought me some at work? BEST SISTER EVER!!

Carter said...

I think that is so great that one of your clients is fascinated by Korea. You are a great teacher!! ^^

Carter said...

We want more blogs!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

Simone said...

Your dinner looks delicious!

I made Bulgogi the other night (they sell it pre-marinated at the Korean grocery store near my house) but now I am seriously craving some Gimchi!

ambearo said...

I wish we could find a place with pre-marinated bulgogi! I did buy a galbi marinade that we haven't used yet...