Suna in Wonderland

멀리 사는지라 명절에 친정에 가지 못하는 슬픈 새댁. 못가는 우리들보다 빈자리 느끼는 부모님을위해서 한복입고 사진촬영해서 보내드리자고 의견을 냈더니 바로 좋은생각이라며 행동에 옮겼다. 결혼하고 한번도 입지 못한 귀한 한복을 다시 꺼내입고 사진을 찍는데 신랑이 하는말이 사진에 스팸도 함께 넣어서 보내드리자는 말. “왠 스팸?” 물어보니 “한국사람들 설날에 스팸을 선물로 주던데?” 라고 답했다. 생각해보니 한동안 한국에서 설날기간에  영상매채나 마트에서 스팸 광고가 많기도 했고 우리집에도 종종 스팸이 선물로 들어왔으니 그렇게 생각할 법 했다. 하지만 그 많고 많은 선물 세트중에 왜스팸이 가장 기억에 남았을까? 한국에서는 전쟁후 스팸이 미국부대를 통해서 건너와 귀한 고기 음식이었지만 외국에서는  글자 그대로 남은 고기들을 다져다가 만든 건강에 좋지 않은 음식으로 치부되니, 이런 음식을 선물한다는것이 신랑에게는 이해가 가지 않았는가보다. 한국에서는 스팸이 많이 고급화(?) 되어있는데다 요리하기도 쉽고, 맛나면서 가격도 부담되지 않으니 당연히 선물로 인기만점인 스팸! 그래서 이걸 선물하는 것은 전혀 이상한일이 아니라고, 그저 한 나라의 또 다른 문화라고 설명해  주었다. 나에게는 너무나 당연한 문화가 가끔 이렇게 외국인의 시선으로 바라보니 참 새롭다. 모두들 2013년 새해 복 많이 받으세요!!!

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Several times Joop asked me if I can make Kimchi Taco, which is big success in California and New York. As good timing my mother in law sent us burrito wrap so we decided to try new recipe. Suprisingly it was not that hard to make amazingly yummy!! Ingredient for 6 wraps: Minced beef, Kimchi, half of [...]

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Should have wrote this blog yesterday (Feb, 17), which was 2011, ‘Great Full Moon day’ (also called ‘Daeboreum’). Anyhow it’s better late than never. Last night, fireworks were all over the Shanghai sky once again. My first thought was; ‘Ah!  Chinese people are probably clearing off the remain fireworks from Spring festival.’ But later on [...]

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Today’s  menu is Korean fried chicken & potato soup! Called ‘닭볶음탕/ Dak bokkeumtang’ What to prepare? Chicken, Potato 2~3, Half onion, one carrot, 2 green onion Sauce: Korean red pepper sauce 1 big table spoon, 4 table spoon of red pepper powder, 2 table spoon of soi sauce, 1 table spoon of alchole, 1.5 table spoon [...]

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I always wondered how foreign company define boundary between bribery and presents. Would Western culture able to understand concept of gift giving in Asia? Unexpectedly this subject brought in to the surface during the seminar that I attend few weeks ago in Korea, Internal Control Assessment Certification Program. Just like the title, it was mainly [...]

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This is my first New Year after I got married and sadly my husband and I are so far away from either my family or husband’s family. I miss family noisy, smell of cooks even a pile of dishes in the sink waiting for me, which in the past I did not value so much. [...]

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Clam was on sale. ‘Why not? It would make nice soybean soup’ Soybean soup and Kimchi soup is Korean’s most loved and basic soup. The key of Soybean soup is definitely soybean paste. Of course house made soybean paste would be great ones at the supermarket is also good enough looks like —–> Ingredients: Water, [...]

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There are lots of places to go nearby Daejeon if you like nature and histories of Korea. Yesterday, my Dad took me to place called Buyeo (부여) also known as Baekje Period. Buyeo is one of most important historical place in South Korea which represent period of 2nd century BC to 494. From Daejeon to [...]

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2011- Oct-16, Joop and I got married in Korea. We decided to have Korea Traditional Wedding and it was way more beautiful and meaningful than we expected. We had blessing weather and about 450 people came to congratulate us! Korean traditional wedding was… 1. Opening  ceremony (Pungmul nori) Since Wedding ceremony is very pleasant event, [...]

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Every 25th of June, people in Korea become a little depressed. That’s because 60 years ago today, Korean war has occurred. To be honest, Young generation, including myself does not really know the real pain of the war, it is more of history for us. Even my dad was born one year after the war. (1954) [...]

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