Being the black sheep is the crappiest of the crap!!

I've always been an 'inbetweener'. Never quite fitting into a particular peer group at school; dating the 'cool' boys at university - but never really being in with the cool crowd. That's the way I like it. Doing my own thing is what I value most: I hate feeling like I have to conform to the expectations of others.

Being pigeonholed is something I've fought against for so long...I therefore really struggle to understand why I hate the way I am treat in Korea. Granted, I am a foreigner in a country of xenophobes, but it really irks me that my opinions don't count in the office; that people will not sit near me on the subway; that I am treat like a second rate citizen, or worse - a ghost. I shouldn't care right? I am after all, an inbetweener...so why is it that I feel like a black sheep?

Love of Korean food...

I realise that most of my posts about Korea tend to center around food. I'm actually not a huge food lover to be honest: I eat when I'm hungry...and the affair between Food and I stops there. I don't eat for emotional comfort, I don't eat out of boredom and I am certainly no food addict. However, it would seem that I have a deep interest in Korean food.

Today I went out again for lunch with colleagues. We went to a tongkatsu restaurant. Pork cutlet is yummy and it's one of my favourite meals by far. I always get lunch paid for as I am the youngest in my department and Korean culture dictates that the elders (usually) pay for the meal.

I decided I'd order something randomly from the menu. Oh, the adventure! Random ordering is ALWAYS hit or miss in Korea. My order was erring on the side of miss today - the pork cutlet arrived in a bowl full of boiling onion water. The usual sides were there, but I couldn't figure out why my pork cutlet was swimming in water; and I struggled getting the pieces out the bowl with my chopsticks.

Happily, I can report that the tondkatsu soup was very tasty, as was the German/Canadian diplomat sitting at the other table. Another happy work day!!

I LOVE THIS!!

www.badrak.com

My Achilles' Heel of grammar

Another thing I love about Korea

GALBI. How could I have not mentioned my favourite marinated-meat dish on the below list? I am a happy bunny at present. I have just got back from having lunch with some colleagues. Mr Kwon treated us to galbi...I am most full and content. Oh my happy days:)

10 Things I LOVE About You, Korea...

1. Korean men: even if I am getting over the yellow fever, they are still nice to look at. (The under 30s businessmen in particular.)

2. Kimchi: so much better than sauerkraut.

3. Heated toilet seats: going for a pee has never been so good.

4. Ondol (Korean underfloor heating): in my opinion not as effective as the old radiator, but still nice to walk on in the cold mornings.

5. Korean stationary: cute & colourful.

6. Noraebang (Korean karaoke): words cannot express how much I love banging in the norae.

7. Seoul skyline: I will always remember the mountainous backdrop of this amazing city. Stunning.

8. Seoul subway: the best in the world.

9. Incheon Airport: OK, so the subway may not be the best in the world...but IA was ACTUALLY voted the best airport worldwide.

10. Korean TV. Just messing -- it really sucks.

Winter Wars: S.Korea v UK

My boss and I have this unspoken competition with each other regarding whose country is the best. In the 'snowed-under contest' I think it would be fair to say the UK is winning. Clearly.