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.

We are now blue belts!!  This is the fifth level belt and means we only have another five to go to get a black belt!

You can check back every couple months to see our status update via the image bellow

Belt colors vary from gym to gym, and in our case these last few levels are increasingly difficult to attain.  Each level consists of mastering new kicks, punches and blocks, as well as a new “Poomsae,” which is a choreographed routine employing all the learned movements.  Since each level has it’s own poomsae, we are required to present each poomsae during the time of the belt test.  The more we learn, the more difficult it can be to remember each level’s specific poomsae.

Our instructor continues to impress us.  He is an excellent teacher and we are really enjoying our time with him.  We hope to progress rapidly through the levels and reach Black Belt sometime in the Fall.

We Are Famous!

Recently, our photos were placed on a large banner outside out gym to advertise our “Foreigner Class.”  It’s already getting a good response and our class size has grown from 4 to 8.

Here is how the banner making process went:

Monday: We mention to our instructor that we like the new banner outside (which is in all Korean) and that next time he makes a banner, if he would like, we can help him with some wording to advertise the foreigner class option.

Tuesday: When we walk into class our instructor asks us to stand in front of the wall so he can take a picture.  We think this is maybe for himself or his family or something so we are glad to oblige.  As an afterthought we ask what the pictures will be for and he tells us he will use them for a new banner!  As you will see in the picture, we were not at all ready for pictures much less pictures to go on a giant banner, but oh well.
Our instructor asks us to think of a good phrase to to put on the sign to encourage other foreigners to join.

Wednesday: Valerie and I had a last minute date night and went for dinner and a movie instead of Taekwondo.  We plan to recommend the phrase “Foreigner friendly classes available.” to our instructor the next day.

Thursday: We go to Taekwondo and mention our recommended phrase, but are not asked to write it down or anything.  We assume all is well.

Friday: The new banner is revealed!  We feel a a little responsible for the bad English on the banner, but of course we tell our instructor it is great.  The English on the banner reads as follows:

Foreigner Recruitment – (so far so good)

From foreigner practice timely evening 8:30 minute – (OK.  it gets the point gets across)

In order for “before the what to become the stately child, it will teach.” – (?)

Here’s the picture!

Our Taekwondo Gym with the banner proudly displayed;-)

Photo of Taekwondo instructor by Flickr user Diego Jose

My brother-in-law, Daniel, put this video together for our wedding. It is about how we met, our first date, first kiss and the proposal. We showed this at the beginning of our wedding so all our guests could get to know a little more about us and our history together.  We are loving married life and are looking foreword to many more adventures together for the rest of our lives!!  Hope you enjoy!

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