The Nice Bungeu Bang Man

I had an interesting experience today that I thought was worth sharing.



This is a type of street food here in Korea that is called 붕어빵 (bungeo bang), which litterally translates into carp bread. It is basically a pancake type batter with red bean paste in the middle that is grilled in a fish shaped mold. It is one of my favorite snack foods. You buy them on the street for 3 for 1000 won (about a dollar). Since you get three, this will usually end up being my lunch or something. Early this afternoon I was coming home from church and went looking for a 붕어빵 vender. It was 2:00 and I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch, so I was pretty hungry. I found a guy who was selling these things for 6 for 1000 won! I was pretty excited. He only had one made, so he gave that one to me for free while I was waiting for him to make more. There was a little stool that he made me sit on, and he offered me some coffee. While the water was heating, he finished my 붕어빵, put it in a bag, and gave me another one to eat while I was waiting for the coffee! The whole time he was talking away. I couldn't understand much of what he was saying. He asked if I went to the nearby university. I told him no, and that I was a teacher at 한국 Kent 위국안 학교. He again said something about the university..... So much for my Korean. After I finished the coffee, he asked me if I smoked and if I wanted a cigarette. In the end, I got 8 붕어빵 (many of them saved for dinner) and coffee and a ciegarette if I had wanted one, all for the price of 3 붕어빵.

The coolest thing about this experience is that it happened right after I tried my 5th church here in Seoul. I haven't really felt very welcome at any of them, and was feeling pretty frustrated. It was sad to me that I haven't felt welcomed at any of these churches, but some random ajashi (older man) who didn't even speak my language could make me feel so at home.



School has been keeping me pretty busy. My students seem to find new ways to challenge me every day. I don't get the kind of support at my school that first year teachers would get back at home, so I'm learning from my mistakes.



Good luck Mom on your first 5K!!! I know you'll do great, but I really wish I could be there to run it with you.