April 1, 2003
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On Saturday, I ate a grilled cheese sandwich and grinned like a madman.
Allow me to explain. You see, while South Korea is an entirely modern nation, with video-cellphones and the whole nine yards, there are always bound to be a few things that one misses upon moving halfway around the world. A number of the ones we've felt the loss of most keenly are foods. On Saturday (and Saturday mail delivery certainly denotes civilization) we got a package from my family. It was full of gifts to commemorate various Baha'i Holy Days and such, which have passed while we've been here in Korea. In that package was cheese.
Cheese.
Allow me some further explanation. You see, cheese is a vitally important part of my diet. Back in Canada, rarely a day went by in which I did not have cheese in some form or another, sometimes in two or even three meals a day. In a play I wrote and produced a few years back, an entire scene revolved exclusively around cheese. I love cheese. I adore cheese.
They don't sell cheese in Korea.
Well, theoretically they do. In grocery stores they sell something called "pizza cheese" which, as far as I can tell is dried, floury strips of old caulking -- completely devoid of flavour, texture, or any of the characteristics for which one might reasonably choose to eat cheese. Its usage here is purely cosmetic. It comes either in grated form, or in small, plasticy lumps roughly the size of half a Rubik's Cube. Unsatisfactory to a perverse degree. I have never seen a Korean eat cheese, and having tried what passes for it here, I'm certainly not surprised.
I have a wonderful family. They're weird enough to wrap 5 pounds of cheese in lovely blue and purple crepe paper and mail it halfway around the world at great expense (and we are far from an affluent tribe). In addition to the cheese (Extra-old, old and medium cheddar, as well as gouda and parmesan), included in this cornucopia was fabulous chocolate (Korean chocolate is serviceable but bland), oatmeal (virtually impossible to find here since they consider it animal feed), espresso coffee (the preferred coffee here, by a staggering margin, is instant), Knorr soup mix, Fussell's Thick Cream, a huge box of PC Triple Chocolate Fudge Sandwich Cookies, and some other bits and pieces. All of it nicely wrapped. To say that it made our weekend would be a gross understatement.
And so, with these new luxuries in place, we're rushing headlong into Spring and bracing for the Summer. It's been 25 degrees (77 Fahrenheit) during the week, and the summer promises to be much much warmer. The trees, leafless a week ago, are bursting into greenness, strewn with flowers. It's fascinating, since back in Corner Brook there's still several feet of snow on the ground. I'm actually quite scared of the upcoming summer. I hate the heat. In fact, the 25-degree weather we've been getting is what I would consider ideal. Apparently though, it hovers in the high 30s (right around 100F) all summer. The air pollution is also a worry. It's absolutely attrocious, beyond anything I've seen elsewhere. That bronchitis I mentioned, well, it's still here, along with my asthma, and shows no sign of going away any time soon.
Anyhow, I'd better wrap this up. It's bedtime here. Have a happy April Fool's Day. I had fun sticking "kick me" signs on my older students...
Take care
-Justin-
Comments (11)
The first thing I wanted after arriving back home was a pickle so sour it made my eyes water! Guy
I'm thinking they don't eat cheese for reasons other than they can't make or obtain cheese that tastes good. I don't eat the stuff. I think most Asians refrain.
Aren't care packages from home wonderful? My father used to send them to me when I was working in the North and in the Czech Republic! I missed newspapers the most. At the time, there wasn't much access to the internet. Dad used to wrap up my favorite stuff and send it to me. Glad your package made you smile.
If you give me your mailing address, I'll send you some Mapledale or Forfar cheese when you run out. Both places have amazing extra old cheddar.
Aww yes...the power of cheese
I too am a cheese-whore. As a matter of fact I just tried something new yesterday - pressed cottage cheese. I now spread it on bagels in the morning. I came to Montreal for the cheese
! Canada is able to get more cheeses because of their different cheese laws than in the US - I ~love~ that about Canada! I could go on and on about the exquisite goat cheese and chedder cheese and gouda, but I won't 
Hey, ever watch Wallace & Gromit? It's a British claymation show and Wallace is a cheeseaholic!
Glad to hear you finally got some cheese in your system. If I was in that predicament I would've gone insane. No Mozzarella? No Cheddar? No provolone? No gouda? I feel for you.
Here's hoping you survive the weather.
...oh, my poor dear, you've been without "necessities" not luxuries. Instant coffee - yuk! Bland chocolate - yuk! Cardboard cheese - yuk! Must make note of these necessities when visiting your neighborhood.
MuSe
a lot of corean's AT tecnician by java script come to here..and India,too..hangle study in familia for a bit in here.but english study is very actively.
cheese is a wonderful food ! many variety cheese increase in supermarket..but I can't take it in my foods life yet.I'd like to eat hereafter.
I don’t know what made me laugh more .. the idea that they don’t sell cheese in Korea .. or picturing you putting “kick me” signs on the older student’s back ... great post. Sending you “white light” for the health issues .. ( it’s rare for me now, but my allergies can still stop me in my tracks with asthma also ) .. take care friend ...tw
hi there, i just happened to stop by your page and wanted to say that it's really cool. if you have time, i hope you can stop by my page and maybe leave a message sometime?
yeah, unfortunately, i don't get packages but boy do i stuff my suitcase with goodies from the states when i come to moscow haha. and dang, it's heavy but hey, what can i do haha. take care~
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