One day, we went exploring in downtown Waegwan.
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| Umbrellas when it's not raining are a common sight in Korea. |
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| A sign over a shop |
The things in the jars below are either fermenting roots or pickled alien body parts.
There was a dimly-lit general store with really narrow aisles selling cool stuff like:
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| A children's pollution protection mask (and one for adults) |
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| On a gift bag |
Then we found a covered market outside.
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| Desserts (filled with bean paste) |
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| Kimchi |
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| People eat the darnedest things |
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| Meat for sale! |
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| Chicken bits |
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| Dried red peppers and bunches of garlic |
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We bought a watermelon for $14 (probably the first time in my life that a fruit has become a special treat like how kids used to get oranges in their stockings at Christmas) and some grapes which were not the type we're used to and were gross.
Maybe it's just this part of Korea, but it seems that the economy here is based on small business. I have yet to see a store even a quarter of the size of one of our Wal-Marts. There are 7-11's everywhere, but that's the only chain store with such a presence - not like in the U.S., where there's a McDonald's inside of a Wal-Mart next-door to a Bed Bath & Beyond attached to a PetSmart on every corner.
I guess small business is good for, like, families and stuff (man, I sure know a lot about economics,) but it's worrisome to not have access to chains of similar stores with familiar layouts and all the items I expect. Without 600 billion trillion Wal-Mart and Targets everywhere, it's more difficult to find the exact product you're looking for. A lot of times, you just have to go with something else and hope you like it.
But really, I've got it easy. I still have the Commissary and the PX and the internet. Which is awesome because otherwise, Christmas shopping would probably be impossible. Hey - if there's a major holiday like Christmas here...which I don't think there is....I bet the Koreans don't buy nearly as much stuff as we do, 'cause there's not as much stuff always in their faces and ready for their shopping carts. Because most places don't have shopping carts.
Lol open...and shut! Hahahaha:) and sea food that looks like they will swim away if you throw them back in the ocean...set them free!!!
ReplyDeletePs this is kt
lol you noticed the open and shut thing, I was hoping it wouldn't just look like a restaurant :p yeah...and that seafood smells like it wants to be set free, too....
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, This is Angela that you met at the Library with the 3 blondies. Great pics! Just wanted to let you know that the Koreans get very much into Christmas because of the Christian Koreans. They have a huge Christmas lighting in Seoul. I didn't get to see it last year, but plan on it this year. What kind of grapes did you eat? I have some from a local grape vine ranch and are the best grapes I ever had. If you would like to try some I will bring some Thursday. Are you still looking for a craft? www.dltk-kids.com great site for crafts, coloring sheets and the works.
ReplyDeleteOh thank goodness, I'm glad the country will have Christmas decorations and stuff like that. I don't even know what kind of grapes they were, but they were very dark and had seeds in them and were squishy inside and were VERY smushed together in the bunch instead of spread out like the ones I'm used to. I'd love to try some of the ones you have :) Thank you SO MUCH for the website link. I am still looking for a craft. That will definitely come in handy. See you soon :)
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