Crazy Stories: The girl with the cat

Today's post is just a short little story.

Its purpose is to make you smile.

To put life into perspective so to speak.

It is also a true story.

And takes place in one of my third grade classes...

As I've mentioned before, I am an English teacher in a Korean middle school.

My third graders are at a point in their lives where Korean dreams are made or destroyed.

Their next step is to gain access to a prestigious high school 

in order to be accepted into a good university. 

Getting into a good university is the way you get a good job in Korea.  

It may sound incredulous, but these third graders are worked to the bone

 in the hope of achieving their dreams.

They are also only 15 years old.

This youtube video is a perfect example of what I'm trying to explain.

This is the case in most Korean schools.

However, in my school, my students have not gotten this memo.

My third graders have somehow bypassed crazy busy 

and landed right in the middle of crazy.

Last week, while teaching one of my last third grade classes of the day, one of my girls asked me "Teacher! You like cat?"

Because this is the inexplicable world of third grade I made no mention that this question

had nothing to do with my class 

(we were discussing artwork and artists in case you were wondering).

I was just happy she was speaking English.

I answered with, "Did you ask me if I liked cats?"

She nods.

I respond "Yes, I like cats. I really like all animals."

(Look at us having a conversation!)

She says, "Look! I have cat!"

(In a normal world or another school, you would expect a picture of a cat 

- maybe on a book?)

Nope.

She moves back and points at a bump inside her shirt.

And I burst out laughing.

I say, "Why would you have a toy cat inside your school shirt?"

Silly children.

Then this experience becomes a leeetle strange.

Slowly, she starts unbuttoning her school shirt.

My immediate reaction, "No!!!!!!"

She smiles knowingly, "It's OK Teacher I have two clothes"

Um OK? Wait, what?

And then... I see the toy cat she was hiding inside her shirt.

Except. 

It is definitely not a toy.

It is a real cat. 

A living and breathing kitten which is living inside her school shirt.

Now, I'm pretty sure that they do not cover this in the 

two week orientation they gave me before I started teaching.

So all I could come up with was 

(after the small scream I may have let out) 

"WHY? HOW? HUH?"

Everyone thinks this is hilarious by the way.

And then an equally disturbing and compelling question enters my befuddled brain.

"But, cat, toilet? where toilet?"

I mean, it's a kitten, it needs to use the bathroom.

It has most certainly not been potty trained.

And again she smiles, that all-knowing third grade smile,

and says

"Teacher, I am toilet"

Malaysia in 10 days

"Not all those who wander are lost"

- J.R.R. Tolkien

These words are a beautiful way to summarize my time in Korea as well as my love for travel.

Actually, if my life were a book (and it would be a fantasy novel),

this season of my life would be more than aptly captured by this quote.

I do love my wandering, because although I am literally lost most of the time,

I am happy and content and at peace right where I am.

Wandering through languages, food and culture - it's what my dreams are made of.

Malaysia: the country of food

In the crazy space that is my head,

each country develops it's own picture of wonderfulness.

Each picture is unique and beautiful,

and completely biased by my own experience of the culture and surroundings.

Korea's picture is more like a mural.

Equal parts weird and wonderful. Filled with love, friends and my home away from home. 

Large and intricate and full of kimchi.

Thailand is a landscape of beautiful beaches all shared in friendship.

Spain, Italy, France and Turkey are small snapshots of a bigger insane collage 

(these are busy, alive with interesting people, lost passports and endless fun and laughter).

Each image is beyond special in their own way.

Malaysia is food. A glorious artwork of food intertwined with rich culture.

When I left for Malaysia a few weeks ago I completely underestimated the food element of my trip.

If you like food, eating and variety - Malaysia is your place.

(If you're trying to diet then maybe come back later)  

Side Note : This innocent picture of fried chicken hides lamb curry underneath it. 

Here is a brief summary of my short 

but brilliant visit to Malaysia.

The Food - I honestly can't remember most of what I ate... 

It's all a blur of happiness and food comas.

Malaysia's cuisine is made up of a mishmash of Chinese, Indian and Malaysian dishes.

I loved the curried samoosas, assorted (amazing) curries, rolled roti stuffed with lamb, 

fried savoury rices 

and chicken (steamed, fried, roasted, marinated in soy sauce TRY ALL OF IT).

Penang's Little India in GeorgeTown and local restaurants are a must if you're visiting.

The Sights 

In Penang, GeorgeTown is a lovely area that is accessible by foot.

Walking the streets of Penang is a lovely way to experience the culture of Malaysia.

A trip up Penang Hill is a wonderful way to end the day with a cappuccino while enjoying the sunset.

Add to that a national park that's actually a topical jungle in disguise,
along with some gorgeous beach time and you have the background of my food artwork.

Penang Hill, view from the train.

Batu Ferringi Beach

My visit to Kuala Lumpur was much shorter but jammed full of sight-seeing.
Beautiful Batu Caves are a must. As well as the Twin Towers.
I was really surprised at how diverse and beautiful the city actually is.
Was not expecting any of it. Well done KL, well done.

And if you've come this far you might as well eat the heck out of KL while you're at it.

Kuala Lumpur Streets

Batu Caves

Petronas Twin Tower

If you didn't get to visit a delicious a country as Malaysia,
don't worry...

They have cocktails everywhere.

Probably not as good as my Malaysian Melon Margaritas though.

Things to do in Seoul when it's raining

As I've mentioned...my sussie, Laura, came to visit me in Korea these past weeks.

If you're unaware of this, you can read all about it here.

The visit was too short but also very lovely.

And I got presents (BIG SMILE OF HAPPINESS)

I had an AMAZING game plan:

- Feed Her

- See Exciting Stuffs

_ See Korean Stuffs

- Go Shopping

and then the unthinkable happened...

MONSOON SEASON

soooooo....

Yeah, I had no plan B.

Sometimes... not all the time... not even a lot of the time... actually almost never really (no matter what anyone else may say)
I can be a little stubborn.

I was determined to not let the rain win.

Cue epic music as I lead my sister into the most amazing Korean adventure of her life.
One careful step at a time.
Full of excitement and anticipation.

...

But this didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped.

But I quickly learnt 
that people are cranky when they're soaking wet
how to adjust our plans accordingly.

Commence Epic Planning:
What to do in Seoul when it's raining

1. Go Shopping

At least this activity could be salvaged from my previous epic plans.
We adjusted the shopping areas to malls and underground markets
in an effort to stay out of the rain as much as possible.

Laura's first outing alone was to Gimpo Airport Mall (this mall boasts international brands such as Zara, Bershka, H&M and Stradivarius to name a few).
It also has other entertainment facilities like a theme park, theatre and outlet mall.
Everything is connected so it's a fail-proof way to ensure you don't lose the sister.

COEX is another gigantic mall.
The mall is huge and boasts an aquarium,
one of the world's biggest indoor theme parks, LOTTEWORLD,
theatre performances,
4D movies
and a Kimchi Museum.

Our underground shopping expeditions included stops at
Bupyeong, Gangnam, Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Myeong-dong.

Rating 8/10

2. Watch Nanta

Nanta is a great way to spend an evening in Seoul. 

This nonverbal, percussion show is a lovely combination of old and new.

It's a contemporary and entertaining experience of Korean culture, humour and food.  

I laughed out loud several times. 

Rating 10/10

3. Eat Yummy Korean Food

Luckily, the rain only fueled our desire to stay inside and try new food.

Laura's best Korean dishes:

No. 1 Samgypsal and Galbi Barbeque.
Meat is grilled in the middle of your table. You use lettuce leaves to wrap the meat, sauce and veggies.
Eat and enjoy.

No.2 Galbi ZZim
Meat ribs alongside side dishes of assorted soups and veggies.
Yum.

No. 3 Dakgalbi
Fried chicken, rice, rice cakes and cheese.
Not the healthiest but definitely tasty. 

Rating 10/10

4. Visit the Trick Eye Museum

The Trick Eye Museum is located in Hongdae (near Hongik University).

It is an underground museum with an interesting twist.

Instead of admiring artwork or sculptures from a distance, you actually become part of the art.

If you've never experienced a trick eye museum before, definitely give it a try.

Rating 7/10

4. Go to a Spa

Korea has it covered when it comes to anything beauty related.

Go for a spa day at one of the many jimjibangs, 

have a manicure or pedicure and be sure to get bright, glittery colours

or visit a Doctor Fish and have little fishies nibble your dead skin cells off your feet 

(if you're into that kind of thing).

Rating 8/10

5. If all else fails, go for a drink and noraebang the night away

Korea's drinking culture is something that needs to be seen to be believed,

but it makes for some good stories.

Take yourself out to one of the many bars or clubs around Seoul 

or visit a Noraebang (karaoke room) to sing some tunes.

Rating 8/10

We did our best to not let the weather get us down.

But when it did, we stayed home, got takeout and had some sister time.

When you really can't face the weather you have to take advantage 

of Korea's fast food delivery. It's great.

Although the lengthy monsoon season put a damper on things,

we were blessed with some beautiful and sunny days too.

More to come on that a little later.

My sister's coming to visit!

Last weekend my sister finally confirmed her flight ticket to Korea!

I'm so happy that she's decided to fly the 25 hour journey to see me...

She's the bestest.

We have a very special, and pretty weird relationship.

It looks something like this

We're super close and very weird around each other -
it's a true kind of love.
Also added to this is the fact that I haven't seen ANY family since I left Cape Town in April   last year.

 I predict some crying (in my mind they'll be joyful tears of love but in reality it's going to be loud ugly cries and awkwardly long hugs where my sister tries to get away). 

I'm a happy crier. 

My sister is not going to be impressed.

This makes the crying even more enjoyable I think ^^

It'll be the first time she's leaving South Africa on her own 

so I'm hoping her first overseas experience is wonderful.

Commence Epic Planning of Koreanness.

(Koreanness is not a word - I just made it up)

At the moment, my Epic Planning of Koreanness looks like this:

Feed Her
See Exciting Stuffs
See Korean Stuffs
Go SHOPPING

Apparently my list-making skills aren't very detailed or comprehensive.
According to other more informed people, this kind of planning leaves something to be desired.

So I decided to do some real planning...
SERIOUS PLANNING

Feed her

This is important.

Korean Food. Because we will be in Korea.

Ideas Include: Bibimbap, kimchi, dakgalbi, samgypsal, galbi, solongtang, jajangmeon, jimdak

Hopefully her reaction to Korean food will be something like this

See Exciting Stuffs

um...

I'm exciting right? OK so she'll see me. That's exciting.

Maybe a Korean baseball game and a water park would also be good bonuses of excitement.

See more Korean Stuffs

Korean palaces, Hanbok Village, Tea Houses, Namsan Tower, museums,
Hello Kitty Cafe , cat and dog cafes, jimjilbangs...

We're in Korea. I'm pretty sure she'll see Korean stuffs.
If she doesn't, I'm officially the worst tour guide EVER.

Go SHOPPING

YES. This I've got down.

Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, Insadong, Gimpo Mall, COEX.
Plus a few underground markets here and there.

One thing I can do = SHOPPING.

This will be our shopping face

Hopefully my planning will all be worth it and the baby sis will have a lovely Korean trip.
Or I'll lose her and my parents will never speak to me again.

Hold thumbs for me... It could go either way.
(To Laura: I joke! I will not lose you!!!)

During her stay in Korea,
I'll keep everyone updated with our adventures and misadventures,
so make sure to check up on LeecheeLaughs in the coming weeks...


*All gifs are taken from kikinitinkorea* 

Thai Restaurant in Itaewon - Buddha's Belly

When I started blogging, I had no idea what I was doing or why I was doing it. At the time, it seemed like a nice idea and I liked the idea of recording the things I've done in Korea and the places I've traveled. Over the past few months, my little blog has evolved into one that records my personal experiences and stories. I'm liking how the stories have really made my life in Korea more accessible to my family and friends back home. My hope is that they can hear my voice as I retell these stories - just as if I were back in South Africa, sitting at a cafe and chatting over a cappuccino.

In keeping with the theme of blogging about my experiences, I've decided that a good addition to LeecheeLaughs is a foody section. I'm definitely not much of a cook, but I can certainly eat eat eat. I was raised in a pretty large but close knit family, all of whom LOVE to eat. Our family gatherings centered on good food, copious amounts of wine and retelling of embarrassing family stories. It's a time filled with laughter and raucous behaviour (the likes of which should never be allowed in public areas). The love of food comes straight from my family and forms part of the person I am. Dinner with friends has become such a huge part of my life in Korea, not only because I haven't got family to share my meals with but also because eating out is usually less expensive than grocery shopping.

"People who love to eat, are always the best people" Julia Child

So in the spirit of yummy food, good friends who love food, and lovely times due to food sharing... In my first edition of the foody section, I introduce:

Buddha's Belly

This wonderful Thai restaurant sits atop Itaewon's busy streets towards Noksapyeong Station.

Directions: Itaewon Station, Exit 1. Walk straight until the sidewalk splits up a hill. Walk for 2 minutes up the hill and Buddha's Belly is on your left.

The menu has a comprehensive list of Thai cuisine
and most dishes have a vegetarian, chicken or beef option which was a nice touch.

Overall impression: Great atmosphere. Good food, reasonably priced. Definitely a good time.

I ordered a Panang Curry with beef because it was a creamy and milder alternative to the other the choices on the menu. I was a little skeptical because I'd had the best curry in Thailand a few months before and I was bracing myself for some disappointment.

My friend decided to go with Pad Thai (on the agreement that we'd share).

Chicken Pad Thai

Both dishes were great and well prepared. The curry was however the clear winner and the flavour was as close to authentic Thai curry as I can remember. A lovely dish.

The Pad Thai was a little bland but still passably good. Neither dish disappointed.

Curry for the win!

All in all, the restaurant is a great place to go for a relaxed date
or to spend some quality time with friends... 

The patio doors open out onto the street
while the balcony overlooks Itaewon's bustling nightlife. 

And it successfully manages to capture the vibrancy of the city
without being right smack in the middle of it. 

We had a lovely Thai dinner. 

And enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

Definitely going back.

Korean Travels: Gyeongju

Gyeongju is one of my favourite places in Korea.

It boasts two World Heritage sites due its historic position 

as the ancient capital of the Silla Dynasty.

The Silla Dynasty was one of the three ancient kingdoms of Korea.

And as the capital of one of these dynasties,
Gyeongju, exemplifies the wealth of history Korea is build upon.

The lovely city is a beautifully preserved representation of

a history rich in Korean culture.

We decided to visit the famed city just as winter was ending, 

and although most tourists rush to Gyeongju to experience the cherry blossom festival

(which is crazy beautiful),

our post-winter visit had a certain charm.

The sparsity of the trees and landscape was in itself an unique experience.

We meandered through the small town, past ice-covered lakes,
 enjoyed the first signs of spring and welcomed the sunshine.

We spent some time exploring the lovely city.

We stacked some stones for good health...

And realised just how stunningly beautiful Gyeongju is...

Deareungwon
At this site, ancient tombs of Korean royals rise out of the ground in perfect hills.

Poseokjeong Watercourse
Used as a designated meeting place, this artificial stream was used to float wine glasses around
to each member of the group.
It is an ancient wine stream... We need more of these. Just saying.

First, we joined a planned tour of the area 

and then later decided to rent bikes to do our own investigating.

So we decided to head out on our own,
to be brave,
face the unknown,
go where none had gone before.

And that is how we got lost.
Ended up on some highway,
and Sharise had to fight off a rouge dog.

The trip was unlike anything else I've experienced while traversing Korea.

A lovely contrast of old and new,

the city is undeniably one which gives you a true sense of Korea's past.

we were so excited to be there

And then we were very tired

But it was a good kind of tired,

the kind where you are so tired you pass out before dinner time,

and have to get McDonald's because everything else is closed at midnight.

That time I got beat up by a roller-coaster ...

This weekend, I visited Everland ...

It is one of the many theme parks in Korea.

We took the 5002 bus from Gangnam in Seoul and

then caught a free shuttle to the resort.

Luckily, traffic wasn't too bad and it took us around 1h30min to reach Everland.

Everland = roller-coasters, candy floss, popcorn, animals, 

children (in various states of sugar happiness and exhausted tantrums)

fantasy parades and loads of queues.

At the moment, Everland is hosting a Rose Festival 

and the amusement park is such a beautiful array of colours.

The festival stretched out like a kind of flowery rainbow across the theme park.

It was beautiful and an amazing experience,

  really bringing the resort to life.

If they wanted to create a fairy tale - they definitely achieved it.

Travel Tip: Foreigners get a special Everland discount so make sure to ask about that.

Although I would never call myself an adrenaline junky,

(actually, a part of me was convinced I'd do something embarrassing,

like breakdown and cry, throw up or something equally as ridiculous),

I wanted to get the biggest roller-coasters out of the way first...

What's the biggest roller-coaster in Everland?

Introducing the T-express.

T-Express as we were heading up...

The T-express is the second tallest wooden roller-coaster in the world,

and with a drop of almost 50 meters,

it makes for a fun and scary time.

I managed to hold onto my dignity and surprised myself by enjoying the crazy ride.

Actually, we went on it twice.

Although I did enjoy it...I came away with some interesting battle scars.

Somehow I managed to bruise myself (not sure how) - 

I have no recollection of how this may have happened...

I must have banged my arm on the railing  

but because of all the adrenaline (aka terror) I didn't even notice.

The second time I made sure to protect my bruised right arm 

and in the process I manged to cut my left elbow.

Again, not sure how. But there was quite a bit of blood.

This photo was taken about an hour after I hit my arm...
It looked worse later

These kinds of things - they happen to me a lot.

I'm just glad I didn't somehow managed to fall out of the ride.

And that is how a Korean roller-coaster managed to beat me up.

It was pretty awesome ^.^

A weekend in Seoul

Although I live in Incheon,

most weekends I find myself traveling to Seoul.

Incheon vs Seoul is very much like comparing

Bellville to Cape Town (South Africans will understand this analogy).

Basically, there's no real comparison.

Cape Town and Seoul are better.

Always.

My church is in Seoul,

festivals happen in Seoul,

there is English in Seoul

(I'll never take English for granted again).

Seoul also has cheese.

Real cheese.

(Cheese and English - they be important)

And Costco.
Seoul has Costco.

This weekend, I had a lovely time in Seoul with my friend Roxy 
(look up her blog The Frame Trail - it's beautiful).

We went to the Jazz Festival

This is how we spent a glorious day in the sun

This is me. In the sun. At an outdoor music concert. In Seoul.
Plus there was wine.
I was definitely in a happy place.

We saw Mica on stage. It was great.
And super fun.
There were giant balloons.

We explored Insadong

Ate good food and drank loads of coffee (I had coffee - Roxy had tea)

This is Roxy. She is awesome.

And we went to church.

It was a lovely weekend with some lovely friendy friends.

Rainbow Nation. In Korea ^^
Not really - Nyeasha is American. But she's got hair like mine.

Seoul is wonderful as long as you're not on the subway...
The subway is not a happy place.