I live in a different world. One of my students was absent on Friday so her family could take a three day trip to Japan. I couldn’t contact a parent for a week because he went to France. I have three days off from school in February and I am planning a trip to China.
When did this become normal?
Last weekend, I went to visit a friend in the south. After two hours of standing on the subway, I collapsed into a lump on her floor. She stared at me for a few moments, picked me up again, and shooed me out the door to visit the Korean-American Friendship Festival.
It was a festival of friendship and many things more. I enjoyed cotton candy, concerts, shopping, and mimes on stilts. While wandering through the streets above, I bought a gigantic decorative fan. This gigantic decorative fan is taller than me. I quite enjoyed the questions of several Koreans who were testing their English skills about my fan. While wrapped up, it looked rather like a sword. I think they were concerned for their safety.
I enjoyed the antics of the mime on stilts, but was rather disturbed when he started to talk with a kazoo. Apparently the children were amused, only the adults were frightened.
My friend had to drag me away from my discovery of the puffed rice cake maker. The rice cake mixture is poured into a circular clamp, held shut for several seconds, and shot out of the clamp by a giant burst of air. The flying rice cakes are so impressive, a cage has to be placed around the machine to contain the velocity of the dangerous flying disks. Next time you snack on a rice cake, please remember their deadly power.
Although I am sure this looks deliciously appetizing, it is decidedly not that. This is a common street vendor food that is found all over Korea. My friend would gradually inch closer to guess the food, but each guess was farther and farther away from the truth. I was thrilled to be the one to finally enlighten her in the same way someone enlightened me.
It is silk worm larvae.
I am completely serious. I hope you enjoy your lunch now.
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I want to see the fan. :(
Comment by Jay October 21, 2007 @ 6:49 pm“Normal” – yeah, amazing how international life becomes “normal” after some time! Some people think it’s always 100% adventure, but there’s an element that it becomes customary to an extent, as well . . . I guess it’s probably a good thing the way we’re wired.
I miss that international “normalness.” It doesn’t feel normal to walk in stores or school and hear only English (well, occasionally Spanish in the stores).
Comment by Jennifer L. October 21, 2007 @ 10:02 pmDid you try the silk worm larvae? :-p
Comment by Auntie Lisa October 22, 2007 @ 8:17 amEverything sounds fantastic. I want to see the fan, too. It must be spectacular.
Comment by Nana Arntsen October 22, 2007 @ 8:30 amnext post, pictures of the giant fan, please!
Comment by Kathy October 22, 2007 @ 8:34 amThere may be an opportunity here for you. How does a young expatriate schoolteacher during the week and a weekend street vendor sound? You could sell(this is the best part)stir-fried roaches next to the silkworm larvae guy!
Comment by Richard October 23, 2007 @ 6:36 amhaha i love the picture of the mime on stilts. SCARY!!!
Comment by Mary November 1, 2007 @ 8:45 amI wanted to see pictures of the rice cake thing … sounds death-defying!! Miss ya, roommate.
Comment by roommate December 9, 2007 @ 11:40 am