You know you miss it

When you leave something behind you really recognize what actually matters and what you value in your life. Coming to Korea, I knew I would miss family, friends, and certain foods (PC Kraft Dinner, and canned black olives). I completely neglected the thought that I wouldn't be able to clearly communicate with everyone. I realized I don't miss Slurpees, watching hockey or football live and have replaced these aspects of my life with other things: this blog, new friends, and a job.

This adventure of mine is a new routine. Teaching here has been my first full-time job apart from summer gigs. I've been here for almost 6 months, I can't even  believe it but I've found myself in a cozy rut, and that's okay. Once my vacation started on Christmas Eve the rut spit me up and into new schedule I never really got a hold of since it was ever-changing with guests, winter camp and travel. One evident change was I had to make my own lunches. I obviously noted this, but I completely forgot about what I was eating.

This leads me to my travels to Incheon, prior to flying to the Philippines. I had just had some day old banana pancakes for lunch and trail mix on the train ride. I'm not going to you lie, reader, but I was pretty embarrassed about this sad excuse for a cold meal. For dinner I wanted food with sustenance, a certain heartiness, and a little bit of pep. Then it hit me like a truck: I haven't eaten the foundation of Korean food, while in Korea. Kimchi. Kimchi. Kimchi. That's what I had everyday at lunch, cucumber kimchi, cabbage kimchi, horseradish kimchi, all of a sudden I wanted it all right now.

Craving kimchi has brought on this revelation, I've grown accustomed to Korean culture, despite the language barrier. Food is at the center of any culture and gets everybody off. Apart from the odd meal out I was missing my daily kimchi fix. So how did I quench this thirst for probably one of the weirdest foods in the world? Kimchi stew. It didn't live up to expectations as a whole but biting into that first chunk of cabbage felt so warm and tasty, like something my mom made. Twas the perfect meal to send me off to the Philippines and reminded me why its only a vacation. Although its not my favourite food in the world, kimchi is still very good and arguably an token of Korean culture.

Here's a link on how to make it! Be warned this is the traditional way with a few modernized steps.