Yesterday was a holiday because it was Election Day. I had a whole day planned of visiting some of the royal palaces, going shoe shopping, and studying Chinese. Unfortunately, a proposal is due later this week so I was asked to come into work.
Thankfully, some of my friends from home were in Seoul, so I was able to meet them up for lunch. We met up at the Shinsegae (Shin World) Department Store’s food court. It’s called a food court, but it’s one of the fanciest food courts I’ve been to. No Sbarros or McDonalds or Panda Express. Instead, it represented all the different foods of Asia: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. (and Starbucks). You get to walk around and see all the different foods, and then you go to an ordering station and tell them what you want. They give you a pager that will vibrate when your food is ready.
Since the weather was relatively pleasant, we ate outside. The best part of lunching with Carol, Ungtae, and Helen was speaking English. Yes, the lovely language where everything sounds Shakespearian. It was pure poetry listening to Ungtae recount his week backpacking in Thailand, Carol talk about just completing a triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, and Helen share stories of her kids.
I’ve been speaking almost non-stop Korean since arriving in Seoul but still get mistaken for a Japanese tourist by the cab drivers. I try to speak Korean 100% of the time while at work, but my co-workers only understand me 70% of the time. I was afraid that I was going to start speaking Kongrish soon, but thanks to a power lunch, I’m grateful to know that my Rs and Ls are still intact.
Thankfully, some of my friends from home were in Seoul, so I was able to meet them up for lunch. We met up at the Shinsegae (Shin World) Department Store’s food court. It’s called a food court, but it’s one of the fanciest food courts I’ve been to. No Sbarros or McDonalds or Panda Express. Instead, it represented all the different foods of Asia: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. (and Starbucks). You get to walk around and see all the different foods, and then you go to an ordering station and tell them what you want. They give you a pager that will vibrate when your food is ready.
Since the weather was relatively pleasant, we ate outside. The best part of lunching with Carol, Ungtae, and Helen was speaking English. Yes, the lovely language where everything sounds Shakespearian. It was pure poetry listening to Ungtae recount his week backpacking in Thailand, Carol talk about just completing a triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, and Helen share stories of her kids.
(It wouldn’t be a picture if my eyes were open).
I’ve been speaking almost non-stop Korean since arriving in Seoul but still get mistaken for a Japanese tourist by the cab drivers. I try to speak Korean 100% of the time while at work, but my co-workers only understand me 70% of the time. I was afraid that I was going to start speaking Kongrish soon, but thanks to a power lunch, I’m grateful to know that my Rs and Ls are still intact.
Love the picture!!!
ReplyDeleteI know! Thank God for familiar faces in strange places.
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