Today I spent some more time just walking around getting accustomed to 대학동 / 신림9동. I finally found a big super market here. I’ve been looking all over for one. The stores that say 슈퍼 are more often than not really small food stores. There fine to stop at to get something small, but there’s not always a big variety. This one is called 대성마트 and is located close to where 신림로 meets 호암길 if anyone needs to know (I know I’ve got some readers who are coming this direction so you might be interested).
I stopped by Lotteria (롯데리아) for lunch and got their special 불새버거 (Bulgogi and Shrimp burger) combo which was pretty good. I liked the bulgogi half of it so that’s what I would probably get if I go back.
I also walked from my place down to the end of 대학동 where the mountain trail starts and got a great view of the city (I’ll go back and take pics when it’s less foggy). I met a Korean there who talked to me for a super long time about the three kingdoms and China and Japan’s history in regards to Korea. I understood probably less than half of what he said since I’m used to much more ‘normal’ conversations. On my way back down I walked by this sign and giggled a little inside:
For those that don’t know what a dike is, search for it in an online slang dictionary. I have NO earthly reason why they wrote DIKE instead of DK. The actual Korean is pronounced as what English speakers would say reading ‘DK’.
I also got my T-money card today (mine looks exactly like the blue and black card above). It seems pretty cool and easy to use. You just bump it to the sensor when you get on and off the bus or subway. I highly recommend you get one of these cards (T-money or Ucard seems to be the most popular). By using one of these electronic cards you gate a 100원 discount on the base price and free transfers for like 30 minutes or an hour. There doesn’t seem to be a big difference between the two types of cards. From my research the only difference seems to be that the T-money card can be used for non-transportation purchases at stores like GS25. From what I can tell, T-money has become more popular and is more broadly used. The card costs 2,500원 or 5,000원 if you want to buy a little accessory with the T-money chip inside. You can recharge your T-money card at any subway station pretty easily.
I’ve been trying out some more really good food as well. I got some 호떡 (balls instead of the pancake-like one), 붕어빵 (4 for 1,000원!), barbecue (on a stick), and spicy 오뎅 (again on a stick). I got some 딸기맛우유 (strawberry milk), but I think the banana one is better.
Tomorrow I’ll go into the SNU office of international studies and hopefully make it to the immigration office to apply for my foreigner card before going to the new SNU student party which will take the whole day.
하하하하하하 닭맛우유?? chicken milk? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Man, your adventure in korea is so fun!ㅋㅋㅋ I guess I came here, on ur webpage, like every 3 hour today to read what u wrote. , LMAO! And you said ‘닭맛우유’ for strawberry milk, but 닭 means chicken ㅋㅋㅋ and 맛 means flavor/savour so actually you should’ve said like this-’딸기맛우유’.
Btw, I asked one of my seniors about ‘모꼬지’ and she said that it will be pretty crowded. Anyway I got some interest. Where/when is it planned? Got any notice? Plz let me kno.
@Hyeon soo, Kang
@Jay shin
Lol, that would taste pretty weird. Thx.
Information for the 모꼬지 can be found at the Daum cafe: http://cafe.daum.net/SNU-10
It’s a good idea to keep apprised of what the weather’s doing in Seoul… today in fact was not foggy so much as it was really high levels of 황사 (“yellow dust”). You can get an update of what the yellow dust situation is by following @yellowdust on Twitter, which is a bot that gives hourly updates on particulate concentrations.
Also, I’m glad you gave the English translations of what you ate because when I read that you drank some “닭맛우유” I was horrified
Keep an eye out for Home Plus or Emart in your area, or look them up online for their nearest locations. They’ve got your supermarket needs covered. For fancier stuff (organic stuff, gourmet stuff, etc.), you’re best looking on gmarket.co.kr.
@Andrew
Interesting, thanks for telling me about the yellow dust. Pretty crazy!
I’ve still got some exploring to do, hopefully one of those is around here (but I don’t think so)
dike -> the goddess of justice in greek myth.
you would get to know why a small 식당 has that kind of name in 신림9동 soon.
Are we required to head down to the International Affairs office before getting our foreigner card? Or you’re just checking out stuff?
Haha, I can’t wait to get one of those T-Money phone charms. I heard they come in all sorts of designs.
Good to see you are enjoying your time so far in Korea. Using the various cards available for the buses and the subway is definitely more convenient and will save you money.
@…..
Haha
@Sarah
Na, I’m just checking in. I don’t think it’s required, you can wait until the orientation if you want I think. I figure they can answer my questions and tell me anything I need to know. Yeah, the store I went had like 10 or so different designs.
Hahahahaha I had never heard of T-Money until about 4 months into my second trip to Korea. Most of the other international students, as well as Koreans, already had one. I didn’t know what they did until a month or two later, and didn’t know where to buy one until yet another month after that. I still don’t have one. lghaughalughal
Lotteria… most people I talk to don’t like it, including Koreans. I’m surprised that place is so popular. :/
And the yellow dust is still around? I remember people complaining about it a lot when I was there. I’m one of those fortunate souls not affected by it, or the vog in Hawaii for that matter.
Also is there any way I can get updates to this blog on my phone? It’ll give me something to do when I’m on the run since you’re updating more often now.
The reason Tmoney cards and their ilk are more popular than Upass is because the Tmoney cards can be used more places; they also work in taxis and in some minimarts. Upass works only on subways and buses.
Dike was a greek goddess. I think you of a dyke. Sounds the same.
Whoops…should have read: I think you were thinking of dyke.
@flug
Thx, I totally spaced out on the spelling lol
English is such a funny thing