Friday, February 26, 2016

TEACH IN KOREA PROJECT: WEEK 19 FOOD JOURNAL

MONDAY FOOD FROM WORK - I ONLY LIKED THE SEAWEED SOUP


MONDAY MID NIGHT EATS

TUESDAY FOOD FROM WORK - OK I'M KIND OF OBSESSED WITH THE BROWN JELLY THINGS ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER.


HAD MY 2ND ROUND

TUESDAY DOWNSTAIRS WORK RUN TO LOTTE MART, BREAD ON SALE FOR $1

TUESDAY MID-NIGHT EATS - CHAMOMILE TEA, BREAD WITH TOMATO CHEESE SAUCE

WEDNESDAY FOOD FROM WORK

WEDNESDAY MID-NIGHT EATS - LEFT OVER BURGER,TOMATO GRAPES, BREAD

THURSDAY FOOD FROM WORK - EVERYTHING IS SPICY



THURSDAY FAST FOOD RUN DURING BREAK - GARLIC CHICKEN & FRIES
                AROUND $3.50-ISH

FRIDAY FOOD FROM WORK

FRIDAY MID-NIGHT EATS - GRILLED CHEESE OVER KIMCHI ANYDAY

Sunday, February 21, 2016

PROJECT KOREA: WEEK 18 MY SUNDAY OF RELAX DAY

OK SO TODAY IS MY NON STRESS DAY.
BUT I ALSO GOT UP AT 12:30PM AND DIDN'T GET OUT TO EXPLORE THE BULDANG-DONG AREA (WHICH IS THE AREA THAT I NOW LIVE) UNTIL AROUND 3:30PM.

#LAZYMODE

WENT OUT FOR A WALK, AND KEPT ON REMINDING MYSELF THAT I NEED TO SEE DAYLIGHT MORE OFTEN SINCE I WORK FROM 2PM AND ON DURING THE WEEKDAYS.

WALKING OUT OF MY SUBDIVISION AND HUNTING FOR STARBUCKS. IT WAS A BIT CHILLY STILL, BUT THE SUN WAS GOOD ENOUGH.


#FAILURE
DECIDED TO MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIND LANDLORD'S DAUGHTER'S COFFEE SHOP THAT SHE HAD JUST OPENED AROUND A MONTH AGO AND FAILED AGAIN.
THINK THIS IS THE 2ND OR 3RD TIME I'VE FAILED TO LOCATED THIS PLACE.

THEY HAD EVEN SAVED IT ON MY PHONE UNDER GOOGLE MAPS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE LOCATION IS IN KOREAN AND I HAVE SO MANY SAVED STARS AROUND THAT AREA THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD STARRED. AND ON TOP OF THAT, TODAY WHILE I WAS USING MY GOOGLE MAP TO LOOK FOR STARBUCKS DUE TO MY BRAIN FART WITH THE ONE THAT I ALWAYS COME ACROSS IN THAT MY, THE MAP POINTED ME TO SEOUL (WHICH IS AN HOUR AWAY) SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UP WITH THAT.

BUT I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO FINALLY REMEMBER THIS STARBUCKS IN MY AREA, WHICH IS THE BULDANG-DONG AREA IN CHEONAN.


I WAS LOOKING FOR A DARK BLEND WITH SOME SORT OF FLAVOR INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL BLAH-NESS FOR MY PALATE AND THE ONLY ONE SITTING IN THE BASKET THAT I WAS EYEING ON WAS THE DARK CHERRY & SPICE BLEND.

I WISHED THAT THEY HAD IT ON THE MENU FOR ME TO PURCHASE A CUP TO TRY BUT THEY ONLY HAD THE CHRISTMAS FLAVOR, IN WHICH IT WAS NOT OFFERED IN THE BAGS.  THE GIRL OVER THE COUNTER (AKA BARISTA) SAID THAT IT WAS A LITTLE SPICY. SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE IN WHAT DEGREE SHE MEANS BY "A LITTLE SPICY".......

I HOPE IT IS NOT TOO SPICY FOR MY LIKING.



IT WAS 18,000 WON, THAT MEANS THAT IT IS AROUND $15 FOR THIS BAG OF COFFEE SPICE. I AM HOPING THAT IT IS WORTH IT AS I AM REALLY SICK OF ALL THE OTHER BLAND COFFEES IN KOREA. THEY ARE NOT AS STRONG. AND I'M NOT EVEN A HARD COFFEE LOVER.

I DID TRY IT LATER ON AND THERE IS NOTHING CHERRY & SPICE ABOUT IT. IT IS HOWEVER, STRONGER THAN THE PREVIOUS KOREAN PACKAGE THAT I BOUGHT. AND THE AROMA IS JUST FABULOUS!


AFTERWARDS, HEADED BACK TO THE APARTMENT WHILE IT WAS STILL DAYLIGHT TO MAKE MY PASTA THAT HAD BEEN SOAKING IN WATER BEFORE I LEFT EARLIER ON. PASSING BY THE SO CALLED "BAD" SIDE OF TOWN, THE HOMER SIMPSON ART WAS ENTERTAINING.


      


ALTHOUGH I FEEL LIKE I AM CONSUMING SO MUCH CARBS DUE TO THE LACK OF DESIRE IN MAKING MEAT, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ALFREDO SAUCE WITH SUN DRIED TOMATOES THAT I CAUGHT ON SALE AT EMART.


I HOPE TO BE STICKING TO THE PLAN OF ABSORBING DAYLIGHT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN EITHER BLOGGING OF SOME SORT AT THE CAFE (BECAUSE I'M SURELY WILL NOT DO IT AT THE APARTMENT) AND THEN HEADING BACK TO APARTMENT TO WATCH FREE MOVIES ON THE LAPTOP AFTER THE CAFE CLOSES AT 12AM. SURPRISINGLY THERE ARE PLENTY OF SITES THAT ALLOW ME WATCH FREE AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL MOVIES WITHOUT ANY SUBSCRIPTION. SOMETHING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

HEADED TO CAFFE BENE SINCE IT IS JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY CRIB.
I NEED TO EXPLORE THE OTHER CAFE SHOPS, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THAT MOST ARE CLOSED AT 11PM, BUT CAFFE BENE HAS AN HOUR FOR ME TO EXTEND TO BEFORE HOPPING BACK TO MY CRIB.

I DIDN'T BOTHER TO ORDER ANYTHING FROM CAFFE BENE, AS I AM NOT REALLY A FAN OF THEIR DRINKS. AND I HAD JUST SCARFED DOWN THE PASTA AND ALFREDO SAUCE THAT I MADE. IT IS PROBABLY FROWNED UPON TO JUST WALTZ IN THERE WITH OUT BUYING ANYTHING, BUT OH WELL!

I FOUND A GREAT SEAT NEAR THE DOOR WITH AN OUTLET!

PEOPLE STARTED COMING IN AFTER 9:30PM. KOREANS JUST DON'T WANT TO BE HOME. I SAW A RANGE OF PEOPLE FROM COUPLES TO FAMILIES TO GROUPS.

SPOTTED A REGULAR, AND WHEN I GLANCED OVER, I NOTICED THAT SHE WAS WORKING ON HER ILLUSTRATION. SHE WAS THE LAST TO LEAVE.



Saturday, February 20, 2016

PROJECT KOREA: WEEK 18 WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?

SO, 18 WEEKS INTO MY TEACHING GIG IN SOUTH KOREA, I'M FINALLY MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO BLOG.

KEYWORD #ATTEMPT

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. I AM PLANNING TO JUST BACK TRACK AND POST THINGS ACCORDING TO THE WEEKS SINCE I HAVE VISUALLY DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING SINCE DAY ONE OF MY ARRIVAL.

RIGHT NOW, I'M IN THE CAFFE BENE COFFEE SHOP AND DROWNING OUT MY SURROUNDING BY LISTENING TO:Medtner Sonata Op.25 No.2 ''Night Wind'' I'VE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW I WILL BE MANAGING MY FREE TIME IN KOREA. AND YES, IT TOOK AT LEAST 16 WEEKS FOR ME TO FIGURE THIS OUT. INITIALLY, I WAS TRYING TO FIT AS MANY WEEKENDS HEADING OVER TO SEOUL AND TRYING TO COVER A CERTAIN AREA ON MY SATURDAYS. BUT THAT ITSELF WAS TIRING AND AT TIMES STRESSFUL.
EVER SINCE I'VE GOTTEN HERE, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CRAM WHAT I CAN ON THE WEEKENDS. THEN IT WAS TRYING TO EXPLORE ON SATURDAYS WITH GROCERY SHOPPING AT THE END OF MY SATURDAY AND DO HOUSEHOLD WORK SUCH AS CLEANING MY APARTMENT ON SUNDAYS.THESE DAYS, I'VE DECIDED THAT I JUST NEED TO SPREAD OUT MY EXPLORATIONS AND ACTUALLY ENJOY DAYLIGHT WHILE I CAN. I START WORK AT 3PM, WHICH MEANS THAT I NEED TO GET READY AROUND 1PM.
AND UP UNTIL LAST WEEK OR SO, I'VE BEEN SLEEPING IN UNTIL I HAD TO GET UP. THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO CHANGE. I'M HOPING TO MAKE MY MORNINGS PRODUCTIVE WITH LEARNING KOREAN VIA MY TABLET WHILE I'M GETTING READY. OR PERHAPS STARING AT SOMETHING RELATED TO LEARNING KOREAN WHILE I'M STILL IN BED, REFUSING TO GET UP. WHY WOULD I WANT TO STAY IN BED? IT IS THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE BED I'VE EVER SLEPT ON. I STILL HAVE TO SLEEP ON THIS THING UNTIL MID OCTOBER!

I DID BUY THE MOST COMFORTABLE BLANKET THOUGH!

Monday, June 16, 2014

FAREWELL 9-5 HELLO TRAVEL

04.09.14

THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG INDICATES LEAVING A NINE TO FIVE JOB TO TRAVEL.
NOPE, NOT IT!  (AT LEAST FOR NOW, SHHHHH)
INSTEAD, WE ARE CELEBRATING KRISTIN'S DEPARTURE WITH A COMPANY THAT SHE'S BEEN WITH FOR A GAZILLION YEARS.  BY A GAZILLION, I MEAN 15+ YEARS. 
BEAT THAT!

THIS IS KRISTIN R.  SHE HAS WORKED AT HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT SCHOOL PUBLISHERS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.  SHE AND HER HUSBAND LOVES TO TRAVEL AND WILL BE LEAVING THEIR FULL TIME JOBS BEHIND TO TRAVEL.  I AM EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE POSTING PHOTOS THEIR JOURNEY ON "INSTAGRAM" AND WILL BE FOLLOWING THEM TOO!


IMAGE SNAGGED FROM KRISTIN



















                                                                                                                                  THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE TRAVELING TO AND FROM, BETWEEN APRIL THROUGH THE FALL OF THIS YEAR. 

THIS IS THE ORLANDO HMH BUILDING THAT WE WOULD BE HOLDING SECRET DECORATING GALORE FOR HER SURPRISE PARTY ON HER LAST DAY.

ORLANDO HOUGHTON MIFFLIN PUBLISHER

THERE WAS NOT MUCH DAMAGE DONE WITH THE BEFORE AND AFTER DECOR.
BUT SOMEONE ON THE FAREWELL DECORATING TEAM WAS BEING VERY CONSIDERATE AND NICE. AND NEAT TOO!  THAT PERSON WAS NOT I.  I SHOULD WHIP UP SOME DAMAGING DECOR PHOTOS FROM THE PAST ONE DAY AND BLOG IT.  THERE WERE THOUGHTS OF FLIPPING THINGS UPSIDE DOWN.  

© your Photo Princess
BEFORE
AFTER

"CAMPING" IS THE THEME FOR HER FAREWELL.  IT MATCHES HER TRAVELING JOURNEY, AS HER AND HER HUSBAND WILL BE DRIVING THEIR CAMPING TRAILER TO THEIR DESTINATIONS.
THIS IS THE LOVELINESS OF NEAT DECORATING.
BUT JUST BECAUSE IT IS NEATLY DECORATED INSIDE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT I CAN'T PUT IN MY OWN SIGNATURE DECOR ON THE EXTERIOR......


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

2014 04 23 INDULGING COFFEE AT WAWA ORLANDO

Wawa
5910 Central Florida Pkwy 
Orlando - SW, FL 32821     
Phone: 407-345-5210         

LUV IT WHEN WAWA HAS THEIR $1.99 PROMOTIONS ON THEIR COFFEES.  ANY SIZE, ICED AND HOT COFFEES!  I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY THE SELF-SERVED ONES TOO, BUT IT WAS ALSO THE SPECIALTY SELECTIONS THAT YOU ORDER THROUGH THE TOUCH SCREEN KIOSKS.
  
SINCE THE PROMOTION IS A SELECTION OF ANY SIZE, OF COURSE I HAVE TO GET THE LARGEST, WHICH IS THE 24 OZ.  

DOES THIS SIZE EXIST IN ASIA?  
IT FELT LIKE ALL THE DRINK SIZES WERE CATERED TO KIDS BLADDER OVER THERE.  

#OBESITY #PROBLEMSINAMERICA
#CONTROLLED #CONSUMPTIONS

SO, SALTED CARAMEL MACCHIATO IT IS! DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY PUT IN THE SALT, OR IF IT IS JUST TO ENTICE PEOPLE WITH IT BEING THAT IT IS A SALTED CARAMEL, BUT IT WAS REALLY REALLY SWEET! SO MUCH SUGAR IN THIS LARGE SIZE THAT I HAVE TO PACE MYSELF, DRINKING THIS OVER A 2 DAY PERIOD AND WATERING IT DOWN WITH WATER.  TONS OF WATER!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

2014 03 20 TRADITIONAL KOREAN TEA CALLED YUJACHA FOUND IN MY ASIAN GROCERY STORE

EVER SINCE I GOT BACK FROM MY ASIA TRIP, I'VE BEEN EXPLORING THE ASIAN FOOD STORES AND THE ETHNIC AISLES IN GROCERY STORES A BIT MORE CLOSELY.  MY TASTE BUDS ARE INTRIGUED!  SEEING AND TASTING FOOD FROM ABROAD HAS SPARKED MY INTEREST IN DISCOVERING WHAT WE HAVE AT OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORES. 

ALTHOUGH I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO KOREA (.....YET),  MY LATEST OBSESSION WITH THE KOREAN CULTURE HAS SENT ME EYEING ON THIS PRODUCT EVER SINCE MY LAST NEW YORK TRIP AT HMART AND ALSO TO FIND MORE ABOUT TRADITIONAL KOREAN TEA. THANK GOODNESS THE ORLANDO ASIAN GROCERY STORES CARRIES THIS.  

TO DRINK, SCOOP A SPOON FULL AND POUR HOT WATER TO DISSOLVE.
I AM A HUGE FAN OF HOT WATER WITH LEMON.  YOU GET THE VITAMIN C AND ALL THE MYSTERIOUS BENEFITS OF DRINKING HOT/WARM WATER.  PLUS, NO SUGAR = NO CALORIES.ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS HAS FRUCTOSE.  SO, I AM THINKING NOT TO OVERDOSE ON THIS!

IT LOOKS LIKE JAM OR MARMALADE EXCEPT THAT IT IS A BIT MORE ON THE SYRUP SIDE.  MAKES ME WANT TO TOAST A BREAD AND THROW SOME ON IT.  BASICALLY, IT HAS THIN SLICES OF CITRON PEEL IN IT TO EAT IF YOU WANT TO ABSORB ALL THE NUTRIENTS.  IT TASTES LIKE A REALLY SWEET VERSION OF HONEY AND LEMON WITH A HINT OF CITRUS PUNCH (IN MY OPINION).  TASTES LIKE A REALLY SWEET FRUIT TEA, WITHOUT THE TEA.
OF COURSE THE SWEETNESS CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE AMOUNT OF WATER YOU PUT IN TO DISSOLVE.



_________________________________________________________________________
FOUND OUT THAT TRADITIONAL KOREAN TEA IS CALLED: YUJACHA.  
TRADITIONAL KOREAN TEA MADE FROM THE CITRON FRUIT OR YUJA.
SUPPOSEDLY ORIGINATED FROM CHINA BUT MADE IT'S WAY TO KOREA AND JAPAN.
IT IS A KNOWN REMEDY FOR COLDS AND FLU.
USE TO BE USED AS A NATURAL REMEDY FOR SKIN IRRITATIONS.  
IT CARRIES 3 TIMES MORE VITAMIN C THAN A LEMON.
REJUVENATES MATURING SKIN
ACTIVATES CELL AND FAT BURNING EFFECT.

LOOK IT UP, IT DOES THE BODY AND SKIN REAL GOOOOOD.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

2014 02 15 LAST DAY FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR

THE LUNAR NEW YEAR LASTS 15 DAYS SINCE DEC 31 (FOR THE YEAR 2014 - IT VARIES EVERY YEAR).
LAST DAY FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR FOR 2014 IS FEB 15.

HERE ARE THE LOCAL FIRE WORKS FROM THE TEMPLE FROM NEW YEAR'S EVE NIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT I FELT LIKE THE WHOLE 2 WEEKS WHILE THERE WERE PLENTY OF NEW YEAR RELATED COMMERCIALS AND VARIETY ON THE ASIAN CHANNELS, AND VARIOUS WAYS OF FOOD AND CELEBRATION YOU CAN THINK OF IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF ASIA CELEBRATING THIS HUGE HOLIDAY.




I WAS UP-FRONT AND HAD CENTER VIEW OF THE FIREWORKS THAT WAS PRODUCE BY THE TEMPLE IN ORLANDO.
IT LOOKED LIKE VIBRANT LOUD SPARKLE AND GLITTER IN YOUR FACE!

Friday, January 31, 2014

2013 01 31 MY CHINESE NEW YEAR'S EVE IN ORLANDO

Guang Ming Buddhist Temple                      
6555 Hoffner Ave, Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 281-8482

PERKS TO BEING ASIAN?
WE TEND TO CELEBRATE THINGS TWICE, SUCH AS BIRTHDAYS AND NEW YEARS!

ALTHOUGH I DON'T REALLY CELEBRATE ANY HOLIDAYS THESE DAYS, I WAS SUMMONED (BY MY PARENTS) TO THE GUANG MING TEMPLE ON HOFFNER AVENUE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.  




THIS HOLIDAY USUALLY LASTS FOR 15 DAYS AND THE DAYS ARE DICTATED BY THE LUNAR CALENDAR.  YES, WE GO BY A DIFFERENT CALENDAR AS WELL.
FOR 2014, THIS HOLIDAY FALLS UNDER JAN 31 - FEB 14.  

WITHIN THESE 15 DAYS,  YOU TYPICALLY CELEBRATE IT BY GOING OVER PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND EATING LARGE FEASTS (LIKE A THANKSGIVING FEAST), WISHING EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER ALL THE POSITIVES THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, AND IN RETURN, COLLECTING "LUCKY MONEY" THAT ARE USUALLY DISTRIBUTED BY MARRIED COUPLES WHO ARE OLDER THAN YOU. SO IF YOU ARE SINGLE, IN THE NON-MARRIED SENSE, THIS HOLIDAY IS IN YOUR BENEFIT! LOL!

IT IS JUST PLAINLY TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS WHERE THE IDEA IS FOR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS TO START OUT THE NEW YEAR WITH SOME SORT OF WEALTH.  SINCE THIS IS A HUGE HOLIDAY IN ASIA, I FOUND OUT THAT SOME PLACES SUCH AS TAIWAN STRETCH IT TO A 4-DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

EVEN THOUGH MY VISITS TO THE TEMPLE ARE RANDOM, I LIKE LOOKING AT THE SET UPS CATERED TO THE DIFFERENT HOLIDAY THEMES. 
OVERALL, I ENJOYED THE FESTIVE DECORS.





THIS SET UP WAS NICE WHERE PAINTED GOLD BRANCHES WERE PLACED BEHIND THE STATUE AND VASE FOUNTAIN ON THE GROUND.


I WAS WONDERING IF THE GOLD DECORS ON THE GROUND WERE CHOCOLATE......


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2014 12 31 TYPICAL FLORIDA RESIDENTIAL VIEW OF NEW YEARS EVE

THIS IS THE OCCASIONAL, TYPICAL VIEW LIVING IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.
FIREWORKS IN YOUR FRONT YARD OR BACK YARD.
DISNEY IS IN FRONT OF US (NOT LITERALLY), WHILE SEA WORLD IS BEHIND US (LITERALLY).

ITS USUALLY EASIER TO VIEW IN OUR FRONT PORCH.
NEIGHBORS TEND TO RUN OUT AND STAND IN FRONT OF THE SUB-DIVISION TO GET A CLEAR VIEW.  I'M JUST TOO LAZY TO WALK AND WOULD RATHER JUST OPEN THE DOOR.

THE NUMBER 4 FOR ASIANS IS NOT ONE OF THE LUCKY NUMBERS, I WONDER WHAT 2014 WILL SHOW US......



HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

RESPONSE FROM SMASHBURGER

SMASHBURGER RESPONDS!

WHILE MY LAST POST TAPPED INTO MY LATEST OBSESSION WITH SMASHBURGER, OF COURSE I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL TO THEIR PR DEPARTMENT.  I DON'T HAVE MUCH PATIENCE FOR THE WORLD OF THE UNKNOWN.


MY TASTE BUDS ARE JUMPING FOR JOY KNOWING THAT AROUND 2014, SOMEWHERE IN ORLANDO WILL HOUSE A SMASHBURGER!





I REALLY HOPE THAT THE QUALITY AND TEXTURE, AS I REMEMBERED GIVES ME THE SAME REACTION.  (THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER PLACES WHERE CONSISTENCY IN THE WAY FOOD IS COOKED, OR QUALITY OF HOW A PRODUCT IS MADE DIFFERS IN A DOWNWARD MODE.  AND THAT IS ANNOYING! ~ JUST SAYING.....)


ANYWAYS, I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY WERE QUICK IN THEIR RESPONSE AND ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATNESS IN A BURGER, ONCE AGAIN.


WAITING!