Category Archives: South Korea

Apostille

While I understand the thought behind the apostille process and the need for one country’s documents to be validated as authentic by the issuing governmental authority, the process to get this designation is a real pain in the arse.

It mostly comes into play when a state government issued document or such is needed to be accepted internationally. One of the downsides to having states, one would assume. So let’s say that one has a driver’s license from a certain state, in order for that license to be accepted by a foreign government, the Secretary of State’s office of that particular state must state that the license is authentic. And then it will be accepted by the foreign government. But only if that foreign government has reciprocity via an agreement with that state.

So that’s why my Maryland driver’s license can be accepted without a written exam in SoKo and Jenn’s New Jersey license requires her to sit. But for that acceptance to happen, it had to first be notarized by the county government, then sent to the state government for the apostille and then forwarded to me here in Korea.

One question: Shouldn’t the fancy-shmancy hologram and seal on the license be enough to prove its validity? It’s like how hard would it be to have a sample of the document in every jurisdiction as part of that reciprocity?

MD sample license

Bygones.

Patbingsu and Pocari Sweat

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Having arrived in the RoK in summertime, there were adverts all over the place for patbingsu, which according to Wikipedia is a popular dessert comprised of ice shavings and sweetened azuki beans (known as pat).

In our research (well my research – I’ve had some time on my hands), we discovered that according to CNN, the best patbingsu was at Meal Top in the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong.

Investigation ensued.

Coffee Patbingsu @ Meal Top

And compared to the one at another place, it was delicious.

Patbingsu @ Meal Top – DONE!

We had a terrific rest of the day including this Pocari Sweat moment:

Pocari Sweat

We did catch up with Pat & Nicole for a shmy around Dapsimni, finding a very cool hanbok and some bbq.

: A market in Dipsimmi

: A hanbok, traditional Korean clothing

: Pork belly galbi

But the highlight of the day was not my milkshake at Butterfingers, but it had to be Jenn’s excitement at finding Rooney’s new outfit on the streets of Gangnam:

Rooney new Paul Frank outfit.

And then it was time to head back.

Catchin’ the bus, headin’ home.

I may have an exciting announcement about my work situation shortly.

Of phones and food

The Cheat Day that almost wasn’t

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As you know, Sundays are important to me.

Not just because it’s Cheat Day, but back in Cayman it used to be Brunch With Friends Day. (Which is why it was my Cheat Day vs Saturdays like most other people on the Four Hour Body protocol — they call it Faturday.)

Brunch With Friends Day is not to be confused with Words With Friends, although for some there is a competitive angle (I’m looking at you, Elle).

I’ve tried to do a similar thing here in Korea but it’s been slow getting off the ground. Not because of anything specific, but seven years of brunching the way we did in Cayman is a tough habit to break. Jenn & I have a list of the places that we want to check out that allegedly do a brunch we can be fond of and we’ve made some progress. Butterfinger Pancakes is running slightly hotter than Suji’s at this point.

This past Sunday we were invited over to a neighbor’s place for a in-house potluck brunch. Jenn had made an egg casserole, and the hostess was making French Toast. Just as more people were arriving, I felt a slight itch in my right eye, and excused myself to grab something from our apartment. When I walked in, I went to the sink, washed my hands and then rinsed out my eye. Or at least I thought I did.

Check out what happened next. Note the time stamps…

: 2013-09-01-10.06

: 2013-09-01-10.09

: 2013-09-01-10.19

: 2013-09-01-10.25

Crazy, right?

At first I thought I had an allergic reaction to something in the neighbor’s apartment, and I took two antihistamines to stop the swelling and then three ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation.

And then I did what any other grown up does in this situation: I called my mommy.

We spoke for a little while, during which time I put an ice pack on my face and waited.

Ice, ice, baby

As I inspected the eye again, I noticed a little white particle in there and with the way it was reacting I thought that maybe, just maybe, something else had happened instead of an allergic reaction.

I went to the sink, turned the hose upside down and rinsed what I thought could have been soap out of my eyeball.

The swelling started to go down and after a little while resting, I ventured out for some Visine. Of course they don’t have Visine in Korea but they did have this:

Korean Visine

And after squeezing five or six drops into the eyeball, it looked like this:

2013-09-01-12.35.29

Crisis averted.

And since it was Cheat Day, I rewarded myself thusly:

Baskin Robbins Quarterback Crunch

After another hour or so of R&R, Jenn and I decided to make the most out of the rest of the day.

I started with some of this:

Finally got to enjoy these Pain au Levain lovely cookies, Madelines, and cupcakes.

We then joined up with that neighbor for a trip out to find the I Love Cookie (foreign food mart) closer to us in Suji-gu (which was closed) and something called CostCo Seconds, which is a storefront that sells returned merch from the wholesaler. After parting ways at the Lotte Department Store in Suji-gu, Jenn & I walked to Jukjeon to the Shinsegae Department Store for some food.

: Jenn & Ben along the ‘river’

: Birdwatching

: Dinner for two at Panda Kitchen Shinsegae

And of course after scarfing our spicy veggies, noodles, and chicken, we perused the grocery store and food court area.

: Shinsegae spices

: Beans!

: Beers & ciders

: Interesting Japanese alcoholic beverages indeed

: Box of expensive meat

We cabbed home and called it a night…

This weekend is still up in the air but Friday is looking like an Itaewon kinda day/eve.

Another few days, another few pics

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Over the past couple of days I’ve managed to walk around southern Suji, switched up some late afternoon Jukjeon plans to go to Jeongja to meet the recently-arrived boyfriend of one of Jenn’s colleagues Thursday, and Friday, went into Seoul to see the Hyundai Department Store’s Sky Garden (lovely review from Seoulsome), and then hang with my friend Nicole.

: If you can’t figure out what this is an advert for, I feel sorry for you.

: Two William Kentridge 2008 illy Art Collection espresso cups on sale at Hyundai. I hope they’re still there when I start working.

: The other side of those Kentridge cups.

: The B1 level of the Hyundai Department Store has the requisite number of pastry places. In case you were wondering.

: More from the B1 level of the Hyundai Department Store.

: The rooftop Sky Garden at the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu

: While I find it hard to believe that there are actual Philly Cheesesteaks there, I forgive the two word oversight as I am duly impressed with the proper usage of the possessive.

One thing of note: the illy Art Collection espresso cups. These Kentridges are my favorite of all the cups they’ve produced in collaboration with various artists over the years. They’re magic. And Kentridge is a genius. I own my second favorite, the Anish Kapoor cups from 2011. They were a last minute gift to myself on my way out of Cayman.

My old Francis Francis X7 behind two Anish Kapoor 2011 illy Art Collection espresso cups.

I’ll get into the specifics of how and why I became a fan of the brand someday, but suffice it to say that the fact that they are still on the shelf there speaks volumes.

The afternoon wrapped up at an excellent Mexican place, Julio’s that Nicole took me to. Excellent fajitas. Will have to come back with Jennifer so she can try the tacos and/or burritos, because they looked amazing as they came out of the kitchen.

And the experience, at least for Friday, wouldn’t have been complete without witnessing a verbal altercation between a few older men and women on the subway. Always a fun time to listen in on a conversation that you both don’t understand and completely understand at the same time.

The bloke in the center there was very angry at this woman sitting to the right of the man on the right. There was a shouting match as she exited the subway car. Fun.

Tomorrow is the school’s Fantasy Football Draft. I don’t know if that should be capitalized, but from what I understand, it’s some serious business. I’m making a chili.

Will let you know how that works out.

One more day until Cheat Day… Wish me luck.

One month down

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Jenn & I have been in The Republic of Korea for slightly over one month.

I joked that we left the Rock for the RoK.

I don’t remember what 24 August 2006 was like in Cayman after a month had elapsed, but I will remember 28 August 2013. And not just because of this blog. I went for a walk through the same area that Jennifer and I visited the night before for dinner at a Korean BBQ place with a colleague and his fiancee.

: Pain au Levain (Sourdough Bread) in the daytime

: Interior of Pain au Levain

: Pain au Levain biscuts

: Lotte Department Store

: Mini with great license plate frame

: Homestead Coffee

: Batman Fusion Bar

: Dino Meat House

So many coffee and cake places it’s truly staggering.

While on the way to that Lotte Department Store, I had interesting experience with a random older Korean man. I was waiting to cross the street and I knelt down to stretch my leg muscles. All the walking I’ve been doing has definitely taken a toll and my body is adjusting the best it can… By tightening up. So as I was going thru the motions to loosen up, this gentleman says, “Tired?” I look up and smile and reply, “Tight.” He smiles and we cross the street. As I walked out of the store with my backpack on, another older man starts speaking to me, and I shake my head in a ‘I don’t understand.” He sticks his hand out, and I reciprocate. With an iron grip this little Korean man asks, “Where you from?” I say, “Philadelphia.” He says, “America?!” I say, “America.” He says, “Good to meet you.” Pointing to myself, I say, “Ben.” He told me his name, but the grasp this man has on my hand is the only other thing I remember from that trip to Lotte.

And this:

Good Day Carebian Nut – Konglish at work

Suji’s, Gangnam, & Random Weirdness

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Today was a great day.

Despite a couple of early hiccups (including one on the Cheat Day maintenance front), Jenn & I had a lovely day exploring and eating thru Itaewon and Gangnam. Okay, I did most of the eating, but we had a lovely time.

We kicked it off on the 5500 as usual and checked another ‘brunch’ place off our list in Suji’s Restaurant & Bar in Itaewon.

Jenn had the highly recommended Jack & Jill and I had the Lumberjack (food porn here). The atmosphere was cozy and we had lovely seats at the facing-out bar overlooking the intersection below. As we got sorted out to leave, the canned dining soundtrack (which included Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra) played our wedding song by Etta James. Yeah, it’s a cliche but bugger off; it was a not-so-subtle reminder and a good omen for the day to come.

: The Hamilton Hotel is just to the right of the shopping center. This is the unofficial heart of Itaewon

: Suji’s Restaurant & Bar

: Striking a pose outside Suji’s

: Cinnamon Rolls at Suji’s

We walked down the street when Jenn noticed that there was a humane society type yard sale happening on the opposite side of the street. She’s got this sense about those kind of things.

Jenn spies a yard sale to benefit a humane society

A quick stop at the previously mentioned High Street Market for a couple of items and about 10 minutes after that yielded the photos presented below. Make of it what you wish.

: Jenn trying to decide on a roadie – I suggest a cider

: I try to decide on a roadie. Jenn offers no help.

After a subway ride to Gangnam, going through the crowd at the underground shopping mall (mobbed, btw), exiting at Gate (Station exit) 11, and on our way to an ‘art installation’ which I’ll get to in a moment, we had the second of two very strange animal encounters in three days.

Flashback to Friday night.

We’re walking from Paragon Apartments in Jeongja to a bar with a bunch of teachers from the school when I spy a fluffy white dog being walked by two guys down the street ahead of me. I increase my pace and stop and say, “Excuse me… Samoyed?” And they reply, “Yes.”

Angel, our Samoyed.

Jenn and I had a Samoyed named Angel for about 14 years. We got her when she was a puppy and we took her to Cayman where she eventually passed away. We missed her terribly and finally had the courage to get another dog three years ago. Jenn sees me and the male Sammy (named Beckham) and runs over to say hi. When I say that looking into this animals eyes was like looking into the past I realize that it sounds weird, but I swear it was true.

Back to today.

On our way to pay homage to Psy, I see another Samoyed. This one is female and is being walked by a Korean woman. I am floored. I ask her, “Samoyed?” he English isn’t as good and we don’t have as long an interaction, but she says, “Yes.” I bend down and the dog looks at me with those deep, dark eyes and that Sammy smile and I’m in shock. Jenn walks up and I start to show the girl the picture of Angel and just then the dog jumps up on her hind legs onto Jenn just like Angel used to.

It’s gotta mean something, right? Crazy that I didn’t even think to snap photos in either situation.

We finally got the photo Jenn was hankering for…

Photo oppum in Psy’s dong.

Right after that, as we were perusing where to go next, a Korean guy with perfect English asks if we’re lost and are looking for something specific. We reply not really, we were just looking to get a feel for the neighborhood (aka ‘dong’), but thanks so much. Twenty minutes later, we’re talking about synchronicity to Nick in an Angel-In-Us Coffee shop off the main drag in Gangnam. Nick’s an American-Korean (born in America, of Korean heritage), schooled in Vancouver, and on a sabbatical. A chance encounter halfway around the world that makes you believe in fate and the fact that everyone is more alike than different. Nick’s a good kid. I think before he heads back to the west coast of North America, we’ll be seeing him again. I’ll be taking some of his suggestions on where to go and what to do, but Jenn will probably skip the one about eating live octopus.

We said goodbye to Nick, and as Jenn shopped in a nearby Body Shop, I made a quick stop in a Butterfinger Pancakes (which happened to be around the corner) for a second Butterfinger Blast in as many weeks. (#DuhWinning!)

: A maker and his creation: The Butterfinger Blast

: Butterfinger Blast-ed off!

For the record, this guy is right: These are the best milkshakes I’ve ever had, and baby, I’ve had a few.

Finally, after a stop for a NY Chocolate Cheesecake and a double chocolate somethingorother (along with an original for later for Jenn) in a Krispy Kreme, it was time to head back home.

But not before one more treat for the road…

Seriously, New York Fries? This mozzarella/gravy concoction should be called “Faux-tine”

And that’s it. Lovely Sunday. So long Cheat Day and thanks for all the indigestion!

Psying in the Gangnam subway station…

Day out: Itaewon

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The foreigners’ mecca in Seoul: Itaewon.

And I’m not just alluding to the fact that there seem to be a ton of Halal shops there.

Existing around the US Army Garrison – Yongsan, Itaewon is a mostly expat community of funky shops and restaurants. Read more about it and the famous Hooker Hill here.

Having been given a small introduction to the dong (neighborhood) on our first week in Korea, I was looking forward to going back there for some more recon. Specifically for familiar groceries from High Street Market and the Foreign Food Mart*.

: High Street Market spice rack

: Wall. Of. WINE!

: Chipotle Chicken Sausage – I’m assured that it’s 100% natural without any nitrates/nitrites or sugar.

: Yellow Journalism… a clothing store.

On the way out and about I did some random browsing thru the (mostly shlocky) inside underground malls… and came across this nugget: A place called (no joke) Baby Guinness*, which looked and felt a little like Fidel Murphy’s* in Cayman, if Fidel’s was on the second and third floor of a building. The menu looked tasty:

Baby Guinness menu

Will have to put this place on the list.

So as the sun beat down on me and I sat on the concrete step at the bus stop, noticed the Mexican restaurant that we ate at on that first visit, Taco Amigo.

Taco Amigo

And fondly recalled the carne asada steak I had there.

All-in-all, a lovely day amongst the Westerners.

* Special note: How the heck is it in this day and age for ANY company, especially a freakin’ RESTAURANT to NOT have a WEBSITE? Unacceptable on SO MANY LEVELS. It’s like “Hey, I don’t care about your patronage, and I expect that word of mouth and bored bloggers will fill in the freaking gaps.” Well, sorry. Not gonna link to the Google Map of your place. If you want that kind of service, then hire me to do your social media marketing. And no, having a Facebook page for your business DOES NOT take the place of a .com, a .net, or a .co.kr. #JustSayin’

On the road again

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It’s slowly coming together.

The challenges of moving halfway around the world with so many differences make it tough to adjust to the whole thing all at once. So when you’re not paralyzed by the sheer volume of things to take in, you try and mete out solutions. Or should I say SEOULutions?

Aside from a small speedbump on Saturday night, this weekend should be considered a positive step. We’re still here. And I think it’s getting better. No big f-ups on public transit, we’re mostly on time for things. And we’re planning ahead as best we can.

Friday night was a school social of sorts at “Fridge Bar,” which, of course, is not the name of the bar. We took the bus to the general area and as we walked out into the humid Korean air, I asked Jenn, “So how the heck are we going to find these people.” And then I saw the lot of them congregating not more than 30 yards in front of us. I waved and said, “That. Was. Hilarious.”

So we made our way to Beer Call. Lovely place for all you fans of fermented grains.

: Beer Call

: WALL! OF! COLD! BEERS! Hard to see but there were fridges full of (from left) Lager, Wheat, Whisky & Spirits, Stout, Ale, and Cocktails… All with chilled glasses on the top shelf.

: Stouts. Notice the (apparently hard-to-find) Heineken Dark)

: Lagers, including the Heineken keg

Saturday was a walk and explore the grocery stores day. Jenn & I love checking out the local supermarkets… We enjoy discovering the odd foreign foods stocked amongst whatever country’s versions of standard goods. Not that all of these were taken on 17 August 2013, but here’s what I’m talking about:

: Avocados at E-Mart Traders

: Cheeses at Shinsegae

: Taco chips at Super Market

: Evil pig bread from Fall In Bread

: The maple kind, at Orga

: Western breakfast cereal from I Love Cookie in Jeongja

After getting a nap, we headed out to grab a bite to eat in Hongdae and then on to Party (the actual title of a gathering… just “Party,” thanks Nicole). Unfortunately the Mexican place we wanted to go to had been replaced with this:

Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.

So it was off to noodle&donburri.

Jennifer enjoying her udon & fritters

We had to cut our time short at Party, due to public transit schedules but did get to see the guy below try to get dragged out of a subway car by a fellow passenger, finally getting ejected by a conductor (almost landing right onto Jennifer) only to make his way back into the subway car as the doors closed, then finally exit the car once the doors opened again. Apparently they take cars out of service toward the end of the night.

I’m not as think as you drunk I am.

Which brings us to today.

Cheat Day.

On the docket was Butterfingers Pancakes in Jeongja & shmying around looking for other spots to put on the list… Imma gonna just put some of the pics up… Mkay?

: On the bus to Jeongja this happened. I introduced this Korean Komedianne to the term “photobomb.”

: Finally! A restaurant we looked up online that actually hasn’t closed. Kudos, Butterfingers Pancakes.

: Butterfingers Blast, as good as it looks.

: Butterfingers Split Decision, split between Jennifer and I

: Ricky Martin reference aside, I deffo have this place bookmarked.

: Let’s Do Eat indeed.

: One of these things is not like the other… one of these things just isn’t the same.

: I love illy… Can you tell?

: Pumpernickel bread covered in chocolate from Fall In Bread? Yes, please.

: These were in the flat when we moved in. Had to get rid of them somehow!

</CheatDay>

Next week: more fun and another trip to CostCo!

Football friendly

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There’s a lot to be said for the consistency of football fans around the world. Of the few matches Jenn and I have been to in four different countries, we can confirm that generally there’s the same passion in the way the sporting-event-attending culture embrace the highs and lows of the game.

Interestingly, I have to give credit to FIFA and the way the same rules apply globally. Football is really the World’s Beautiful Game, and I believe that the beauty could come from the universal adoption and standards.

So whether you’re here:

Lazio v Catania at Stadio Olympico, Rome, 30 March 2013

or here:

Republic of Korea v Peru at Suwon World Cup Stadium, 14 August 2013

The atmosphere is pretty much the same…

: Lazio fans in situ

: Korea fans in situ

Ben Maxwell

Website of Ben Maxwell.

Category Archives: South Korea

Apostille

Patbingsu and Pocari Sweat

Of phones and food

The Cheat Day that almost wasn’t

Another few days, another few pics

One month down

Suji’s, Gangnam, & Random Weirdness

Day out: Itaewon

On the road again

Football friendly