CARPET!!!!

Today we headed to Daegu to find some carpet. We had been wanting some to put in our living area as a break from the hardwood floors. The hardwood floors had been bothering both of our shins so we thought an area rug would help. We found a piece the size we wanted. The next task was getting it to fit under the bus. Andy managed to bend it a little and jam it under the bus. Once we got back to Camp Carroll is when the challenge really happened. Andy had to carry it the whole way home.





Doesn't it look nice???









My crazy husband carrying the carpet home to our apartment... about a mile!

Our old rug under our kitchen table

SPICY Pork Bulgogi

After tonight's dinner we discovered what spicy was to an entirely different level! I made a Pork Bulgogi recipe that I learned how to make in my Korean cooking class. We were given the recipe, but when we were making it in class we did not follow the recipe. Thus, we did not know how much of the Korean Red Pepper Paste we had put into the recipe at class (compared to what the recipe said). Anyhow, I made the recipe. I had a feeling that it was going to end up being spicier than it should have been. As I was cooking it Andy commented that the smell of it alone was burning his eyes. At that point we should have known that we were in trouble! I made some brown rice to go along with it and I was hoping that would cut down on the spiciness of it.

After the first bite we both decided that it was indeed very spicy, but we thought it was manageable. After five bites we changed our opinion. We were taking a bite of it, then a bite of rice, then a drink. It was the hottest thing that I have ever eaten. It was so hot that it was making my nose run.
At one point I decided that it wouldn't be as hot if I put it on the paper towel and dabbed some of the red pepper sauce off of it. It was then still spicy, but manageable to eat.

Andy's remedy for eating this hot creation was ice cream. Hard to believe isn't it...Andy and ice cream!?!?! Although it did take the spiciness out of your mouth it was not long lasting! All in all we liked the recipe, but decided that about half of the amount of red pepper paste would be sufficent. Our parents should be prepared for a spicy meal of Pork Bulgogi when we visit!

Korean Washer & Dryer

A few weeks ago we talked to our landlord and told him our plans of staying in Korea for an extra year. We told him that if he could get us a dryer (he already provided us with a washer) that we would stay in his building for another year. At first he didn't seem to happy about it, but then about two weeks later he stopped by our apartment to talk to us. He has bought us a new all-in-one washer and dryer and needed to set up for delivery. They came to deliever it last Wednesday evening (of course while Andy was still at work). I was hoping our landlord would be here as he speaks a little English. However, his wife (who doesn't hardly speak a word of English) knocked on our door to let me know they were here. They came in and took the old washer out and brought the combo washer/dryer in and hooked it up. That part went very smoothly. Next, came the challenge. The landlord arrived and the one delievery man was explaining to him how to use it. I stood there and began trying to understand. Between the delivery guys very limited English, the Landlord very basic English, and the few words of Korean I know we tried to understand each other. We went through each button (and it has lots) one by one. Most of the time was spent with the two men trying to come up a word or two in English that I would understand. About an hour later, Andy showed up and joined in the fun. Then a few minutes later the landlords daughter arrived who speaks English very well. She was great. She was able to get answers to my questions and talked the delivery men into located a book to a smiliar model in English!

So far it seems to be working good. The only thing is that it takes FOREVER. Atleast an hour to wash and two hours to dry. It doesn't have a dryer vent, which is hard for Andy to understand. When you walk in the room with the washer/dryer when its in the process of drying, you feel like you are walking into a sauna. It will be great being able to dry some of our clothes...especially our socks. They are soooo streched out from like 8 months of not seeing a dryer!

Our Garden

A few weeks ago a friend of mine that was leaving gave me three cucumber plants and a tomato plant. We have been keeping them in our window. The pots that they are in were handmade and I got them at a little pottery shop in Waegwan. They are so cute:) The tomato plant gets taller each day. It is about three feet tall now. The cucumber plants continue to grow also. There are many baby cucumbers already started to grow. We can't wait to eat the yummy tomatoes and cucumbers!

The Tomato Plant

(In the red cup Andy is trying to grow peppers)

The Cucumber Plants

Korean Haircut

A few weeks ago I decided to be brave and let the Korean that works in the Salon on Camp Carroll cut my hair. I was a little nervous and rightly so! It ended up being a little shorter than I wanted, but it'll grow back. At least I got some of the length off of it so it won't be so hot this summer. After I came home a friend of mine stopped by to show me how the same lady had chopped too much off of her hair apparently right after she did mine. Guess she was in a chopping mood that Friday!

Noodle Factory Trip

Back in February we went with Andy's company on a trip to visit President Park's place and the Nong Shim Noodle Factory. President Park was a former president of Korea.

This was at President Park's Place. Notice that the entrance door begins above my knees and extends only a few inches above my head. Certainly wasn't a big door. Look at the size of the items in the room. There would be way I would fit on them. Perhaps an infant might!
This was one of Andy's favorite rooms!Andy is standing in the Nong Shim Noodle Factory. We toured the facility and were able to see how they make the noodles. Most of the work is done electronically and through use of computers. The factory we were at employs less than 10 people. It was intersting to be walking through the factory and have to stop because a cart was rolling in front of you from one room of the factory to another! Technology!
We were all a little disappointed because we thought we were going to be given noodles to eat at the end of the tour and that ended up not being the case. Instead they gave each of us a box that included samples of their products (that are sold internationally). The picture above is the free samples that were in the box. After leaving the factory we were all hungry from watching noodles being made. We went to LotteMart, which is a HUGE department store. Within these stores are always a nice size food court. This store, as well as HomePlus and E-Mart, are all about 5 -7 stories high filled with mercandise. They carry anything from furniture to food. Andy likes to say that they would swallow a Wal-Mart and no one would even notice. After enjoying some Korean cusine, I decided I was going to figure out my size within the Korean sizing system. I wear a 100....doesn't that sound huge?

Easter

Easter Sunday in Waegwan was far from being a beautiful day unless you equate cold and rainy as being beautiful! Also the weather was disappointing we braved the weather to make it to church. Well technically, we called a taxi to take us to church. Then after the service the new chaplin and his family graciously brought us home! We were very thankful that we didn't have to walk home in the downpour!

Here is a picture that we took before heading out in the rain. Unfortunately, my hair dryer decided to temporarily stop working this morning so that is why my hair looks a bit wet.