One practice we’ve been really curious about is that of Acupuncture.  Nearly every Korean we know has tried acupuncture at some point in their life, but many were afraid that foreigners would not like it, so we were cautioned about trying it.  However, when the opportunity arose for us to give it a try during our church’s annual health screening day, we were ready to see what it’s all about.  Being that the health screenings were free, made it even better.  (Although, unlike these kinds of treatments in America, going to an oriental medicine clinic in Korea will cost you about $8.)

The doctor asked both of us what pain we were currently experiencing, and let’s just say that Taekwondo class left us with no shortage of answers.  Griffin explained to the doctor that he may have a pulled  muscle in his leg and I have a couple of sore knees.  Griffin braved the needle first (of that I am really glad!).  Since Griffin had explained to the doctor that his pain was in his left leg, we were a little surprised that he inserted a needle into his right foot.  The doctor assured us that he knew what he was dong.    I was a little startled when the doctor began really twisting the needle into Griffin’s foot.  When it was pretty deep, I had to ask if it hurt, but Griffin said he couldn’t even feel it, which made me feel a lot better.  Another needle was soon placed in his other foot and he was asked to be still for about 20 minutes.

Next was my turn.  Again, to my surprise, my knee pain was treated with needles inserted into my upper left arm and my left hand.  I didn’t feel the arm needles at all, but the one he put into my left pinky finger did smart a little.

There are many theories about how acupuncture works, but  one of the most commonly held beliefs is that of “Gate Control”The “Gate Control” theory of pain management asserts that a stimulus, such as acupuncture, closes certain nerve gates by strategically overloading them with impulses and thus reducing pain signal transmission. which states that the needle can basically inhibit a pain stimulus and block the pain pathway of the spinal cord.

Although many people think that acupuncture is just a placebo, I have to say that I was a believer before I ever tried it.  My grandmother, who suffered from terrible arthritis, could not make a fist before she tried acupuncture.  Several sessions later, she said her hands hadn’t felt that good in years.  Her doctor explained to her that if she had begun acupuncture treatments when the arthritis first began, it would never have gotten that bad.

As for me and Griffin, we have mixed reviews.  My knee pain is all but totally gone, but that could be due to a night off from Taekwondo and the ice I applied to it for several hours.  Griffin says his muscle pain is mostly unchanged.  But, could we benefit from a few more treatments?  We’re definitely considering it.

If something is bothering you, we highly recommend trying something new for a change.  You just might be surprised at what oriental healing arts can do for you.

Here is a quick video with some pictures from our experience.  Hope you enjoy!

First, a quick lesson on how Koreans describe food.  If the food is good, Koreans will say it tastes good.  Makes sense.  However, they have no phrase to say that food is not good.  Instead, as a way to avoid insulting the cook, Koreans will state that the food “has no taste.”  On a lighter note, one of Griffin’s co-teachers taught him the phrase, “Marchy chig ami da.”  Which means, “this food is to die for.”  It usually cracks up whoever he says this to.  (Last night our Taekwondo instructor nearly choked to death on his food when Griffin said this to him.  He could not stop laughing.)

First, and foremost, Korean food is sometimes very spicy.  On one occasion, in particular, I tried a saucy pulled pork dish that was really delicious.  I really enjoyed the sweet, yet, hot taste.  However, I eventually had to abandon the effort as my eyes started to water and my nose started to run.  I have not been able to bring myself to try it again.

Griffin had a similar experience with a dish called Heong-Uh (홍어).  It’s a fermented fish with a recipe described to us like this: First, you catch the fish and skin it.  Then you place it outside to dry for about a week.  Then you put it in water to rehydrate.  Then cut into pieces and serve.  Notice I did not mention any cooking involved.  So, basically, you are eating raw, rotten fish.  Most Koreans we have surveyed about Heong-Uh report that they enjoy it… but only if they have had a lot of alcohol.  As for us, the smell alone is enough to remind us not to try again.

We’ve also sampled plenty of other Korean cuisine that we would highly recommend.  Galbi, a sweet marinated beef dish; Bulgogi, which is  a beef dish that comes in a variety of seasonings; Sam gip Sar, which is a barbecued pork dish that you cook yourself and dress into lettuce wraps; and Sashimi, raw fish, are some of our favorites.

Check out our photos for a good look at some of the Korean foods we have enjoyed as well as shots of our school lunches.

While holding down the fort at Youngsan University’s Winter English Camp in Busan, we decided to spend our off time winding down from the hectic camp schedule.  What better place to do that, than a place called Spa Land.  For about ten U.S. dollars, your mind and body can find total relaxation for four glorious hours.

When entering the place that I feel is modeled after Heaven, you will encounter peaceful water flowing over a long stretching wall to greet you.  A quick ride up the escalator will bring you to a shoe depository.  You are given a number, lock your shoes in a corresponding locker and receive a key/bracelet that will double as a credit card if you need to purchase anything while inside the spa.  Next, you are handed a comfy t-shirt and shorts, maroon and charcoal for women, beige and brown for men.  At this point, men and women are sent to separate locker rooms which also lead to a traditional Korean bath house for each gender.  There are two things you notice as you enter the locker room, the smell of warm chlorine… and a lot of naked people.  Modesty is apparently non-existent here.  Not one for public nudity myself, I wandered into the (clothed) co-ed areas to take a look around.  I bumped into my husband, already decked out in his Spa Land uniform, who was also out exploring.  We decided forgo letting naked Koreans bathe us, and just stick together in the common areas.

Valerie and Griffin at the entrance to Spa Land! This place is amazing!!

Griffin and Valerie in the "Cool Room" in our awesome Spa Land uniforms. If you look closely in the back you can see some amazing fake(plastic) jelly fish floating around in a nice looking aquarium.

First things first, we ventured out into the cold outside air, (warm jackets provided) for the hot mineral footbaths located just outside the main area of the spa.  The stark contrast in the chilly outdoor temperatures and those of the intensely hot footbaths provided some interesting sensations.  Once inside again, we decided to try our luck with some of the many saunas placed all around the maze of this complex.  Outside each door is an explanation of what mineral or otherwise healthy aspects to expect inside the room.  At first, we tried staying in each room for a total of 20 minutes, but eventually, the exhausting 68 degree celsius temperatures would get the better of us and we would abandon to one of the cool down rooms.  Each sauna has a different temperature and certain unique and very interesting elements.  Some examples include a charcoal room, a salt room, a pyramid room and of course a traditional steam room, among many others.  Even in our full four hour stay, we did not have enough time to visit them all.

There are many places to relax and even just catch some sleep if you so desire.  There are several restaurants and snack bars (where you get to use your handy key/credit card) and even DVD rooms where you can watch the latest (mostly Korean) blockbusters from the comfort of a full recliner.

One of the things that struck me most, was how much it felt like Summertime!  We were walking around in soft t-shirts and shorts, with no shoes and felt completely warm and comfortable, while outside temperatures plunged below freezing.  Complete with palm trees, umbrellas and small ponds around every turn, we were certain we had landed ourselves on a tropical island.

We couldn’t believe how fast time slipped by and all too soon we needed to give up our compound uniforms and head back out into reality.  I asked Griffin if we could live there, but he said they closed at midnight.  Too bad.

I don’t know when we will go back, but I assure you we will!

So, when can we pick you up at the airport?

The design and finishings in Spa Land make it feel like a 5 star resort that would cost hundreds to enjoy in the United States making it a luxury we would most likely not be able to afford.

The design and finishings in Spa Land make it feel like a 5 star resort that would cost hundreds to enjoy in the United States making it a luxury we would most likely not be able to afford.

An-yang-ha-se-yo!

As we have begun to adjust to life in Korea, we thought it would be fun to tell you a little more about the customs and culture here in our new home. Check back often as we will update periodically with the interesting finds we make here.

Today, we wanted to tell you about Korean food.  If you’ve never been to a Korean restaurant, you’re missing out!

First, you should know about the three staples of a Korean diet: Kimchi, Rice, and Soup.  All three of these items are eaten for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.  Kimchi is… and acquired taste.  =)  There are many different types of Kimchi, but mostly it consists of either cubed radish or cabbage leaves, smothered in a distinctive, spicy red paste.  Seriouly… three meals a day.

As you probably know, Koreans, like in a lot of Asian countries, still use chopsticks.  In the words of Jerry Seinfeild, “They’ve seen the fork.  They know about the fork.”  However, these are not the chopsticks you might see at P.F. Changs.  These chopsticks are metal and flat and very difficult to grasp.  (I used to think I was pretty good with chopsticks until I came here.)  So, eating is always a fun endeavor.

Along with the three constants you will find at any Korean table, you will also see several side dishes.  These can be anything from extremely small, garlic roasted tiny fish (complete with head and eyes), to bean sprouts in spicy sauce.   There is usually some sort of meat, though we may not recognize it because of the shape or the spicy sauce.  You  may also notice that a lot of things here can be described as spicy.   We have yet to taste dog, but plan to try it pretty soon.

Griffin and I have decided that it would be a good idea to try at least one new Korean dish each week.  My co-teacher has said he is  happy to make recommendations.

Now that you have eaten your spicy meal it’s time to discard your leftovers.  That’s right, if you didn’t eat it just go ahead and put it in your soup.  That’s what everyone does here for easy discard.

You may have noticed that I did not mention drinks.  Here in Korea, it is customary to wait until you finish your meal before you have a drink.  In our schools, the water coolers are actually outside the cafeteria and you pick up a cup on your way out.  This is difficult for me given the spicy foods.  The cups are always tiny and we have wondered how Koreans don’t become dehydrated during the day.

After your meal, don’t forget your toothbrush.  We quickly noticed that most of the students and staff members keep a toothbrush and toothpaste at school and quickly dash off to the restroom to brush their teeth after lunch.  In an effort to fit in, we went right out and bought spare toothbrushes and toothpastes to keep at our respective schools!

At home we keep our food pretty Western.  We do purchase some Korean food and definitely try new recipes, however you will find hotdogs and sandwich dressings in our apartment on any given day.  Unfortunately, the Korean version of saurkraut is… Kimchi!  We won’t be putting that on our hotdogs!

Check back soon for more updates about our assimilation into Korean cultures.

Valerie and Griffin

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