How do you say "syrup" in Korean?

As my mother suggested, I will now show you around my grocery story in Jinju, South Korea.
I am lucky enough to live only a few bus stops from an E-Mart... think of it as an upscale Wal-Mart.

My E-Mart has 3 floors. The top floor provides me with electronics, pet hamsters and household cleaning and cooking products. The ground floor offers me clothing, children games and makeup. The basement floor is the best. Here we have the food.

Bag of apples for about $6.00

bags of dried seaweed

Korean pancake batter

spices

Cereal.

Cookies.

Milk. It always smells sour.

Cheese. Korean cheese isn't very tasty and very expensive. I can buy a block of American cheddar cheese for $30.00

Beer. Western and Korean brands. See the Bud?

I can get a Heineken keg for $50.00

Some of the wine available- it's all imported. Korea doesn't make Western style wine.

This is Korea's wine. It's called Makali, a rice wine.

Some fish options. I don't buy fish- mainly because I don't know how to cook fish without a grill. My meat intake is chicken, beef and pork.

 Like any grocery story, you have your Organic Section:

4-pack organic apples for over $10.00

You can choose your live crabs, put them in a plastic bag, and take them home:

Bags of rice.

The check out. If you're not aggressive Koreans will have no problem cutting in front of you. They have no patience for waiting in lines.

What E-Mart isn't complete without a McDonald's?

The menu in Korea is the same as home except for the Bulgogi Burger- a meat sandwich with sweet sauce.

Most grocery stores have elevators and escalators for multi-floors.

The shopping carts have special wheels that will embed into the track so the carts can't move.

Fun Fact:

Many Koreans buy their groceries online. It's a very popular process, especially since it's offered with free delivery!

And in response to the titled question syrup in Korean is 시럽 pronounced see-lup

Until next time, 

Annayguh-sae-yo

This is October.

The 11th month mark has arrived.
It's incredible how fast time has gone.
This past month has been very fun. I've been spending more time with my Korean coworkers and been enjoying it immensely. My co teacher, Esther and old-co teacher Mini and I spend Tuesday nights doing "Korean" things, like playing Gostop- tricky Korean card game and dressing me up.....

Mini made us hae mol pa jun- a Korean egg pancake dish. She made it with seafood and kimchi.

The girls taught me how to play Gostop. I want to be a professional before I leave.

I've always wanted to wear a Honbok, so Mini let me try on hers.

It was complicated....

Mini bought this Hanbok for her wedding.

Koreans will wear white wedding gowns for the ceremony and a Hanbok during the traditional passage.

Red is symbol for healthy fertility in Korea.

While Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa Dietrich this week, Grandpa asked me what season I'm in and if it's different from home. Korea's seasons are the same as Michigan. It's currently Autumn and the leaves are falling and that crisp smell is in the air.

Halloween is next week! Koreans don't dress up and go trick-or-treating. But we are having a Halloween party at work... I'll be sure to post pictures of my kids. I think I'm going to be a witch. It will be the easiest (and cheapest) to create. There is a party at one of the bars where all the Foreigners will be. It should be fun to walk through the streets being the only ones dressed up for Halloween.

My best Korean friend, Rachel and I have been taking Sunday trips to a Cat Cafe. It's a coffee shop where you can play with cats. It's a very cute place even though I'm not fond of cats. But in Korea, the cats are usually larger than the dogs...

For some reason, the cats loved Rachel's bag.

Rachel leaves this month... I'm really going to miss her. She was my first and best Korean friend. Bahhh.. don't leave, Rachel!

So, work has been good this month. I try to make the best out of each day. Thankfully, I have great co workers who have made this job bearable. I am so thankful for the friendships I've made here.
 My bosses must really care about me though, because they reserved me a 36-hour flight home. It took me 21 to get here the first time. It will now take me 36 to get home. Ughhhhhh... that should be fun.

I took up one of Mom's suggestions for this blog and took pictures of the items on the grocery store shelves. I'll be posting that next.

I wanted to send a very special congratulations to Erin & Ben and Becki & Jeff on their weddings this month. I wished I could have celebrated your special days with you, but know that I was sending prayers your way. I love you all!

That's all for today, folks. Enjoy the season!

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival

"In 1592, General Kim Si-Min and his 3,800 men killed 20,000 Japanese troops, heightening national pride. Lanters were used as military signals and also as methods of communication between soldiers and their families.

During the second attack in 1593, 70,000 Korean citizens, officials and soldiers were killed and after it they began floating lanterns on the river during the Gaecheon Art Festival as a service for repose of the deceased and peace and prosperity of homes and the nation.

The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is the symbol of royalty and wishing."

bamboo stilts- makes me think of Grandpa

 This part was my favorite- you wrote of colored rice paper and glued the paper onto huge metal structures. One that I thought was funny is pictured below, "I want some money."

Some "delicious" food found at the booths:

baby chickens with the heads still on

the fin is whale meat

bbq pork

more whale meat

very popular nail game- get the nail down in 3 hits and you win... I didn't win

co-workers out and about

King crab- they don't use crackers, they use scissors