Winter camp is halfway over now, and I can honestly say that since my return from Malaysia, I have been having the best time in Korea! It's not even because I've been going out and doing anything special; I am just happy and content with my life at the moment. The weather is still pretty cold, so I've been spending my afternoons after school bundled up at home watching tv and reading.
The only big development in my life as of now is quite a small one and yet large one at the same time. I came to Korea having never tried kimchi in my life, I had convinced myself that I hated it & refused to try it based on the smell itself. When I started school in August I avoided it like the plague, and my coworkers just assumed it was too spicy for me. It wasn't until the end of December while out for a KBBQ dinner with friends that I decided to give it a try, I threw some on the grill, watched it sizzle and then popped a bite into my mouth. It wasn't so bad, I thought, but still I couldn't get myself to eat regular cold kimchi at school. Then I was introduced to kimchi jiggae, kind of like a stew that comes with tofu (another food I had never been brave enough to try until Korea) and assorted veggies. I immediately became obsessed with kimchi jiggae, and now find that my two favorite foods in korea have kimchi as the main ingredient! Along with kimchi jiggae, I love kimchi Jeon (like a pancake with kimchi filling). I've started visiting a small mom & pop shop in my area that sells jigae and sundubu (tofu stew) and plenty of small side dishes. While waiting for my stew I found myself actually eating some of the cold kimchi that was set in front of me, and enjoying it! So there it is, I am a kimchi convert! As I type this I actually wish I had some kimchi to snack on in my fridge. Friends tried for years to get me on the tofu and kimchi bandwagon, and Korea accomplished it in under five months.. well done!
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