LG Twins Vs. SK Wyverns

So last weekend Dan and Tan went to their first baseball game in Korea. It's hard to believe that we have been here for over 15 months and have never been to a game. Anyway, my favorite Korean team is the Doosan Bears. Unfortunately they were not playing that night and were on the road. Korea has a professional league comprised of eight teams. The LG Twins and Doosan Bears play in the same stadium in Seoul, so basically almost every night there is a game.
We decided to go because Fran will be living soon and he wanted to have the Korean baseball experience before he left. I also called up another friend to come along. The tickets we got were cheap at around $7 in the upper section near home plate. Because the stadium is not gigantic we were relatively close, equivalent to the Lodge section at Dodger Stadium.
Once we arrived there (a 30 minute bus ride, and a 5 min subway ride) we picked up some beer outside the stadium at the local convenience store and headed in. It's really amazing being able to bring alcohol in, from outside the stadium even though the beer was just as cheap inside. They also have these guys with a keg on there backs and go up and down the isles and dispense the beer right at your seat for you.
It was really nice being at the ballpark again man how I miss my Dodgers. Sigh. Anyway the game started and you would think it was a playoff atmosphere. The crowd was chanting vigorously. Almost everyone had those noise sticks in their team's color. The home team fans were along the first baseline and the away team fans had a section on the third base side. Every player that came up to bat had their own theme chant. Some went along with a song. This one guy's went along with the song Dancing Queen, it was sheer entertainment. They also had one male cheerleader that lead the chants and six female cheerleaders for entertainment.
They don't serve the traditional hot dog but they still had the fast food places to eat at. Since Tan and I already ate we did not have anything except for a drink. After a few batters we could not help but to start chanting along. The LG Twins fell behind on the scoreboard but the fans kept encouraging them, it was great. Even down 7 to 1 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and no one on they still had hope. It was really exciting. I wish games back home could be this energetic.
It was obvious why the LG twins were in last and the SK Wyverns were in first. Next time we go we are going to see the Bears play. I can't wait to learn their chants and waves. GO BEARS GO!!!

Live Octopus and the Intestine of a Pig

Well lately I have been quite adventurous with food. A few weeks ago Fran (Franqua), Stephan (our Dutch friend) and I were up really late and felt like we wanted to have a little excursion to the local fish restaurant. Most fish restaurants in Korea display their fish in tanks outside, its actually nice to see what you will eat when its alive, if only it didn't look disgusting in its live form. So on Stephan's suggestion we decided to have live octopus not raw but live. Our fish guy promptly grab a fresh octopus out of the tank and cut him up for us. Then he slapped it on a plate and brought it to our table. The tentacles were moving all around. They were small pieces so it was easy to eat. It was hard however to get the little suckers (pun intended) in our chopstick's grasp. Once in our mouth we could feel the little suction cups stick to our tongues. It was really weird. You had to make sure to chew them otherwise you could possibly be in a lot of trouble if they go down still sucking. We were living dangerously. There was a little red sauce for dipping that made it even better. My personal thoughts on octopus is that I enjoy it, but in certain ways. I like it either raw or fried, anything in between just doesn't taste to good.
On another occasion I went out with all the male teacher's for a bonding guys night out. We ended up going to a restaurant that serves pig intestine. It was in fact quite delicious. It tastes similar to sausage yet much chewier. It had a lot of flavor and went well with the Soju that was flowing. Basically they bring a plate of cut up intestine to your grill and you grill it. It's as simple as that. Well that's enough food for thought for now.

100 Posts

We have officially past the 100 post mark. It's hard to believe that we have made that many. We hope you all have read every single one. Hehehe.

My 5th Graders

My Co Teacher-Garam in Action

My 3rd Graders

Sunshine

The sun has finally come out in the ROK (Republic of Korea). Dan and I headed to Olympic Park for a picnic. Our picnic basket/Emart recyclable bag was packed with finger foods: deviled eggs, sweet potato salad, veggies, bread/sandwiches, vienna sausages with hot peppers, pepper jack cheese, and two bottles of wine. We tried to find a cozy quiet spot with ample amounts of grass...yes grass Hopeyeong's answer to grass is hay or AstroTurf. Everyone sitting in the park had already taken the shady spots hiding from the sun and we were trying to find a spot in the sun. Finally, we found a spot next to a soaring water fountain; laid out our  California King fitted bed sheet and unpacked our picnic basket. We munched on our food enjoying each others company all the while embracing the sun beams grazing our skin, laughter of family and friends, children running/playing, bugs crawling on our sheet and buzzing in your ears, the smell of fresh air and spring flowers.

Busted a Cap!!!

This is the story of how three young want to be gangsta's decided to make their dreams turn into reality.

One wonderful weekend day Dan and Tan along with their sidekick Fran went to Seoul. So to get this straight, Dan, Tan and Fran took Bus 1000 on a ride to excitement. At the end of the bus ride they arrived at a land called Lotte World. Lotte World is unlike any other place on the planet. Some would say it is a horrible copy of Disneyland, or even better an attempt at a horrible copy of Disneyland. Well others would say that Lotte World is a place of self discovery. Our young comrades thought the latter.
They continued through the Lotte Department Store/Mall which stands in front of, and is a part of Lotte World. They went determinedly straight to the basement. After passing what looked to be a Kim Yu Na (Winter Olympic Gold Medalist Figure Skater) autograph sighting they headed to the ice rink. It may or may have not been confirmed that it was not in fact Kim Yu Na but instead some other famous Korean person in the Mall. Anyways, they were not distracted by the large crowd and journeyed on.
Our young gunslingers moved passed the super junior speed skating trails that were taking place on the ice rink. Above the rink they noticed the roof was a long distance from the basement floor. Looking above the open roof of the basement ice rink they could see Lotte World. Above in the distance was the mechanical hot air balloons that flew across the Lotte World sky. In the distance they could hear the ever so appropriate Scottish bagpipe band playing an anthem of domination.
The three prodigies of the future 2014 Winter Olympic Ski and Shoot biathlon were now entering the hall to the most appropriate afternoon activity in the Lotte Department store, a shooting range. Now you may be wondering if this was just another BB gun contest for a giant stuffed animal; well you would be wrong. This was in fact a real shooting range only for the skilled.
The Woman at the front desk immediately noticed their amazing capabilities and asked which piece they wanted to handle. Of course Fran stepped up and asked the only question they all wanted answered to help make their decision; which one was the loudest. She broke down all the different types from the girlie all the way to Dirty Harry style. They chose the Para P14-.45 Limited and threw on their bulletproof vests.
Fran AKA Franqua took the first go and stepped right into the booth to make some noise. As he pulled the trigger for the first time, he was instantly amazed at the lightening bolt of power that came out of his heater. His face of excitement and giddiness was priceless. Not too phased by the power, he stepped back up and fired nine more rounds. Fran came out victorious. He got his score card that read a 94 out of 100. He walked a little taller from that moment on.
Dan AKA Dizzy D was now on the clock. He smoothly braced the task at hand. He firmly placed his piece in his hands and began to throw lead. His first shot was a perfect 10, as if anyone would have thought otherwise. He continued to hit 10's until the man next to him proceeded to breathe a little heavily on him which just so happened to make Dizzy D produce two 9's. As Dizzy placed the hammer down he new he came so close to perfection. He did walk out of the booth with a swagger and he proudly held up his score of 98. There was only one more prodigy left.
Tan AKA LT not to mistaken with LT formally with S.D. but LT straight from the streets of P-Dale, that's right, the High Desert. We all know how they roll. LT took center stage and embraced her weapon of choice which was the same as Dizzy D and Franqua. She held her gat high and brutalized the target. You see in P-Dale they don't shoot for the 10 they make sure they make you bleed all over the board. The score was not important in the least. She stepped out of the booth ready to dominate the world.
The three young guns made their way out of the Lotte World area just waiting for anyone to make a move upon them. But as they expected the whole of Korea had already heard the story of how they laid the law upon the Lotte World Shooting Range. The three went in the history books that weekend and are forever placed in the memories of every man, woman and child. That day was a good day, and they didn't even have to use their AK.

Easter

This Easter was really enjoyable. Latanya and I decided to go for brunch with Jess and Fran. We actually had a lot of restaurants to choose from that were serving a Sunday brunch. We decided to go to this New York style deli. We all had a huge breakfast. My breakfast special had eggs, bacon, pancakes, country potatoes and toast. We were really satisfied. The food was good but the pancakes could have been fluffier. Other than that it was wonderful. After brunch we headed to Namdaemun to walk around the market area. We strolled around and found some really great shops. I found a stationary store that was amazing. Latanya also discovered her new love for stationary like me. After walking around we headed back home and called it a day. It was really nice going for an American style breakfast. I will admit that we might not be craving an American breakfast as much as we used to because Latanya can make an amazing omelet and we have Bisquick.

Dan and Tan's next adventure...

We are headed to Bali and Hong Kong this summer. Can't wait we will keep you posted on our next adventures.