Groceries

While eating out here can be incredibly inexpensive, I'm having a hard time saving money at the grocery store even buying just the basic staple items. I'm thinking this might be because anything not produced in Korea is highly taxed to discourage from buying things that aren't local? There's definitely a lack of variety in the things you can purchase at the accessible stores and it requires some flexibility and creativity to adjust my cooking to what is available. Now that I'm a bit exhausted by eating Chamchi jiggae every day for a few weeks I'm not sure exactly what to cook. One thing that is really surprising is that I can't find beans here! Actually the store did offer two bean options: canned, baked beans, or canned pork and beans. No dried beans. There isn't much variety in produce or herbs and spices either and no cheese! Meat of all varieties is very expensive.


This was a sixty dollar trip to the grocery store - not including the plant, candle and folder which were already on the table... The wine was an indulgence at about 8,000 won or roughly $7 - and this is one of the cheapest bottles, and the coffee was an expensive necessity at around 15,000 won - also one of the cheapest bags they offer - and not very tasty.


But, hey, at least you get free socks with your cereal.


And the toothpaste fights calculus which is worth way more than 5,900 won!

Jagalchi Fish Market

One of our favorite sites in Busan so far has been Jagalchi Fish Market. There is so much sea life being sold here that it is hard to believe there is anything left in the sea.


This building is full of tanks containing all kinds of fish and creatures you can imagine... As far as I can tell you can just go up to any tank and buy your seafood right there. If you like they will even slice it up for you and you can eat it raw, on the spot.


All sorts of fish, shrimp, crabs, squid, octopus, eel, mussels, shells, slugs, urchins, spawn... what else lives in the water? Whether you ever considered it edible or not, it is probably there too.


A tank full of lively octopuses.


The view of the water right outside the building.


More vendors line the alleys and streets around this central building selling all of the same varieties of seafood, and then different kinds of seaweed, homemade kimchis and other side dishes, fresh tofu and bean jellies, herbs, teas, spices, etc...

Christmas Time in Our Apartment!

Christmas came and went with minimal bells and whistles but he had a five day vacation which was incredibly nice. My mom sent us a package of Christmas goodies so we were able to make our apartment at least a little bit festive. People in general don't really seem to celebrate Christmas over here, except for commercially. Many of my students actually had tests on Christmas day!



This was definitely one of the hardest times being away from family. For me, this was my first Christmas away from home and this is typically one of the few times of the year I actually get to see my them. For Ken it was even more difficult this year because we learned that his Grandfather Masada passed away on Christmas day. Being here in Korea actually does have its advantages though in this case, because we are so close to Japan and will be able to fly there next weekend to join Ken's mom, grandma, aunt and cousin.