A few more odds and ends...
Odds and ends # 1
Sunday, we took the day and, once again, wandered the streets of Daejeon. We meandered through Daejeon's arboretum, their Culture and Arts Center and toured the Municipal Museum of Arts. By three oclock we were ready to take a break. So, we decided on Robin Hood, and settled in to see how Robin of the Hood became the daring and socially conscious hero we've come to know and love. Afterwards we decided to treat ourselves to a real American meal and wended our way to Bennigans. Now, I would have been willing to bet that Bennigans, of all places in Daejeon, would get a steak, potato and salad meal right. There's a lesson here of course - never assume the obvious. After much deliberation, Doug decided on a "healthy" side to go along with his "chicken, steak, and shrimp platter" and ordered a sweet potato. But lo and behold, when the plate arrived , there sat a large baked potato. Oh well....but wait! Upon closer scrutiny, it WAS, in fact, a "sweet potato". How could this be you might ask. The answer.Take a baked potato, slice it open, put a dollop of butter on top, and cover it with brown sugar. Mmmm. The truth of the matter is that when you mixed everything up and closed your eyes, it DID taste like a sweet potato! So, when you're in a pinch.... (The interesting thing is we've had sweet potatoes in Korea- real ones. What was the chef thinking?)
Government complex in central Daejeon
Typical high rise apartments near complex.
Park area around government complex
View of park from Art Center
Daejeon Art and Cultural Center
Art Center
Daejeon Arboreteum
Snow flower trees
Snow flower blossoms
Phlox lined sidewalks
Tulip tree
Japanese maples
Little stream in the arboreteum
Odds and ends # 2. After Bennigans we stopped at Emart (Korea's answer to Walmart) to pick up a few groceries. I had neglected to bring our shopping bags along (they charge for plastic bags if you don't have your own) and we thought we'd just stuff our purchases in my purse and carry what we couldn't stuff. But then on our way out, Doug discovered a table on the side of the store where piles of boxes where neatly stored, along with scissors and strapping tape. What a great idea! They recycle everything here, one of them boxes. So, free of charge, you can pack your groceries up in a recycled box and carry them home! Another lesson we can learn from our Asian neighbors!
Odds and ends # 3.
Starbuck lovers, this one's for you. Starbucks has founnd its way to Asia. But in true Korean fashion, you have your choice of FOUR sizes - large, grande, whatever the really big one is called, and choice # 4... petite. (And I was patting myself on the back for moving from "grande" to "tall". Now in Korea, I'm faced with a forth choice - petite!) Not surprising. Whenever you're served tea or coffee here, it's only half a cup. That wouldn't be a mug, that would be a cup - a small one at that!
Odds and Ends # 4
We like this idea... On the campus here at Chungnam, speakers are situated at various spots and play music (Korea's equivalent to light rock, a little jazz, and a smattering of "Western" music) during the day. So when you walk from one area to another, you're accompanied my music.
Better yet, at the arboretum and on the grounds of the Cultural and Arts Center, similar speakers play classical music. ( Similar to what we hear in the newly remodled bathrooms of Doug's building!) Nothing loud, just something soft and lovely drifting through the air.
On the negative side of Korea's music scene - many restaurants play music so loud you can hardly hear yourself think and shops lining the downtown streets use loud rock music to "attract" customers,
Odds and Ends # 5
Check out the following photos.
Many Koreans, especially the older generation, sit this way for long periods of time. Individuals in the first picture are eating lunch.
