Bored 김치 볶음밥 Magic

Forever and a day ago I blogged Bored Spaghetti Magic, which was my first attempt at cooking in Korea.  The occasion was so very special that I felt it needed to be thoroughly documented.

To say that this was only my second attempt at cooking in Korea wouldn't be entirely accurate.  Poor Anriette was witness (and fell victim) to many of my attempts.  But, here's another thing I'm attempting to cook. . .since I feel that you really need to know this.  ^^

So, you get home from work, and after teaching kids all day, you're starving to death.  So, you go to the fridge.

Hmm. . .

Not got a lot going on in there. . .BUT here's what we do have:

Half a ton of eggs.

Plenty of rice.

And a lifetime supply of Kimchi.

Kimmmmmmchiiiiii

Good for you and me!

Oh, kimchi.

I'm not even going to apologize for that.  Seriously.

It's just what happens when you've been here as long as I have. . .What can I say?

So, looks like we're having Kimchi Bokkumbap. . .or kimchi stir fried rice. . .with egg.  Delicious!

First thing's first!  Music!  You need proper cooking music in order to cook proper, delicious food.

Brought to you by Grooveshark. . .ironically, not a kpop song in sight. . which is unusual for me. . .

Light yourself a little fire.

They should call it I Can't Believe They Have It In Korea!  I was told to use butter instead of oil.  And since I was told by a Korean (who outranks me by about a thousand black belts) I'm listening.

Grab your handy dandy kitchen scissors.  If you don't have handy dandy kitchen scissors, I want you to stop reading right now and get them because they are AMAZING!

And get your kimchi ^^

Now, the rice.  This part is REALLY tricky, so try to pay attention.  First, you peel the top off a little bit. . .

Then, you open up the microwave door.

Insert rice into microwave.

Set for two minutes.  Finished.

Don't even try to tell me that I don't have ninja cooking skills!

I was told that if you cut up the kimchi right, you'll have delicious fried rice. . .let's see if that's true.

I was also told to add a little sugar.  So, make sure you do that.  Butter, kimchi, sugar.

The rice is done!!

So, plop it down in the frying pan!

Then, add an egg.  Or two.  If you're starving like I am.

Doesn't it look delicious?!?  No, I know it doesn't.  And I didn't think it did when I was first served it.  But it actually, really, truly is.

Add a bowl and chopsticks.  Now, we just need something to go with it.

I think all of those little packages will work. . . .I think I have a small obsession.

Gim.  Seaweed.  It's amazing.  And I love it.

And it looks like this ^^

And you can wrap it around your delicious fried rice like this ^^  Best thing ever!

I really hope you enjoy it.  ^^

Kimchi Fried Rice was brought to you by the following fantastic meal making time songs:
Just Say You'll Love Me  by Chicago
Say Say Say by Michael Jackson
We Walk by The Ting Tings
Come On Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners
Run Boy Run by Woodkid and
Africa by Toto

The amazing adventures of Summer English/Taekwondo Camp, Weeks 1-3

About a month ago, now, maybe more I guess, Anriette's and my taekwondo teacher mentioned to us that he wanted to have a really awesome summer camp English/Taekwondo program for his kids.

Now, for whatever reason we jumped at the chance and started planning an every-Saturday summer camp/promotional program for his studio that was, of course, going to be the most amazing thing to ever happen to Korea in all of Korean history.

Maybe we didn't get it exactly how we wanted it. . .but it's been a lot of fun.  So, here are some of the highlights from the first three weeks!

WEEK ONE-Giving the kids English names, and getting them on EPIC red and blue teams!

Getting ready for the first kids to arrive.  There's a list of English boys and girls names, stickers, name tags, markers, what else do you need?

RED TEAM!!  WOOT!  

BLUE TEAM!  And Blue Leader!  :-)

Red team practicing writing their new names.

Blue team practicing their names.

"Who is Josh?!"

Practicing "My name is" "His name is"  etc/

Game time!!

And of course snack time.

Week Two!  Complete with outside time.

Julie and Ian who are amazing and came to help us.  And are just awesome in general.

Going for a walk.

Practicing taekwondo, study books in hand!

High block!  Practicing the English words for all of their moves.

Julie and blue team's fearless leader.

Ian and I. . .we get along SO well it's ridiculous.

The coolest English teachers in the world, basically.

Blue team's little darling, Lexie.

Then. ..there was suddenly a birthday party.

Woo hoo!  Props for photos!  :-)

Week 3!  In which there was a bit of chaos and then some really cute things happened.

Practicing "I'm running"  "He's laughing"  etc, with crazy actions.  Nothing like making a fool out of yourself for your kids!  :-)  

  And just for giggles, here's a video!  Just to show you how seriously we take this stuff.

Speed round: He is/She is

Snack time.

Once upon a time there was this kid.  We named him Willow.  He's actually completely, adorably, outside of his brain.  And here, he's wearing someone's sunglasses, just for the heck of it.

 The first week, this new little girl signed up.  She not only didn't speak or smile, she actually looked like a very, very, perfectly sad doll.  Just the picture of sadness.  Then, a few weeks later, here she is.  This is the motto that Anriette and I helped our teacher to write.  Here are the words, although she says them really well.  "Taekwondo Motto:  I practice for strong body, strong mind, for courage, to be brave, defend the weak, become a hero!  Taekwondo"

*She's on my team! ^^*

Then there was this other thing he wrote with all of these actions with English names that they could chant.  It's really cute.  Here are two of the more serious little guys, David and Joon, rocking it.  "Knife hand, palm straight, back fist, strike, scissor block, open hand, low block, fighting stance, body block, high block, low block, middle block."

*They are both on my team ^^*

Here, because it's just really amazing, is little Willow doing the taekwondo motto.

And that's it so far!  ^^