All cultures have different wedding customs and it has been a great experience to attend a few Korean weddings during my time in Seoul. Korean weddings greatly differ from the weddings I’ve attended in the US. Also, to give some perspective, I come from Mexican heritage, so I have experience attending Mexican style weddings and American style weddings - both of which are very similar to each other not that I can compare the two with Korean weddings.
Read MoreTags: love, Korean culture, things to do in Korea, Korean cuisine, things to do on the weekends, Korean traditions, Weddings in Korea, Korean food, Korean fun
Jeonju is one of the most popular places in all of South Korea for food and is a must visit during your teaching experience. Located in North Jeolla Province, this is a must go to destination if you want to experience the old traditional lifestyles. A group of ChungDahm teachers decided to take the 3.5 hour bus ride out of Seoul to experience traditional Korean culture.
Tags: . jeonju, Korean culture, things to do on the weekend, Korean cuisine, weekend travel, Korean food, hanok village
As I was packing to come to South Korea to teach English I had no idea what to expect in terms of: food shopping, clothing or toiletries. So to be safe, I packed enough toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant and necessities to last me six months. Little did I realise, however, I could buy all of my favourite brands and more right here in, from Colgate toothpaste to my favourite brand of dill pickles – South Korea really does have everything. This blog will give a quick overview of the best places to shop in South Korea, from groceries to clothing.
Tags: shopping in Korea, food in Korea, Korean cuisine, shops in Korea
One of the most famous Korean bizarre foods in Korea is raw octopus. There have been many who consume the whole octopus (a smaller version of course) without even chopping it up. That was definitley not something I was able to do, but at the very least, I did experience with a Korean chef, how to clean, kill, and consume a Korean traditional eat. This is definitely one experience from teaching and living in Korea that I will never forget. Just for the fun and laughter!
Tags: what to do in korea, food in Korea, Korean cuisine, Weekend activities in Korea
The very first dinner invitation from my student Kyungju was indeed very special; it’s an experience that I will carry with me after I leave Korea and move onto other pursuits. I believe that I am the envy of many of my coworkers at Chungdahm, although no one willopenly admit it. I’m getting to better know my students family; Kyungju’s Dad works for POSCO, one of the top three companies in Korea and her mom Su-Eun majored in Art in college. Kyunju has a younger sister, 8 years old who is just adorable. Our time together is always very special.
Tags: Korean culture, Korean students, dinner, students in Korea, Korean cuisine, Activities to do in Korea, karaoke
I know some of you may not trust me as a gluten-free foodie resource in Korea. I mean, come on, I recently wrote a love letter (in the form of a blog post) to the best sandwicherie in Seoul. I've been known to indulge from time to time. Although, I swear I didn't eat the suspicious PB&J sandwich pictured below. It was 'gifted' to me at Korea Burn this past summer and although my friend and I accepted the sustenance with gratitude, the fact that a kind soul pulled it out of his suitcase prompted us to 're-gift' it to the carefree, rainbow-bearded man we met a few seconds later.
Tags: a year in Korea, eating in Korea, food in Korea, advice, eating out in Korea, Korean cuisine, diet in korea, eating healthy in Korea, Health in Korea, alcohol in Korea, gluten free in korea, gluten free
I was never really much of a chef, but while teaching English in Korea I have slowly started to more and more. Making curry is one of the easiest and delicious foods to cook here in Korea.
Tags: living in Korea, cooking in korea, food in Korea, Korean cuisine
Even for the most health-conscious among us, being put in an unfamiliar environment can certainly take its toll on our fitness goals. While teaching in Korea, you may have more idle time than you may be used to and no shortage of opportunities to indulge yourself in Korean cuisine. The combination of these two things can turn you from the gym rat you were at home into a couch 감자 (potato) by the end of your first term teaching in South Korea.
Tags: ex-pat life in Korea, living in Korea, Korean cuisine, Activities to do in Korea, health and safety in Korea
Staying active in Korea is really easy to do because it's an important part of the Korean lifestyle. You’ll often see Koreans out for walks in the parks here, or making good use of the exercise machines that most parks are equipped with. Other popular activities include hiking, and Korea has the most beautiful mountains with trails for people of all skill levels. If you enjoy a challenge, you should try out Seoraksan on the East Coast. Reaching the summit is tough, but well worth it! Another fun activity is bike riding. Most parks will have bike paths, or you can rent at some areas, or buy one for cheap at a local store! Since there can be a lot of traffic, bike riding is a popular form of transportation.
Tags: teaching in Korea, Korean cuisine, Activities to do in Korea
Cooking is one of my favorite things to do. I love knowing that I can create a good meal for friends, family or even just for myself. I would like to say that I typically make a good tasting dish. Truth be told though, no one ever taught me to cook. I just started mixing things together, adding vegetables I knew I liked and throwing in spices, and made sure it cooked thoroughly if there was meat in it.
Tags: teacher video blog, Korean cuisine