Korea's Idea of American Thanksgiving

We had an International Food Festival today at school, and I ate entirely too much food.  I don't even wanna imagine the number of calories I consumed.  Let me back up and explain exactly what our 'International Food Festival' was.

So Koreans pretty much think that American Thanksgiving is a day when Americans get together and indulge in gluttony.  I guess they aren't that far off.  So to celebrate Thanksgiving, or rather to celebrate the fact that Americans eat a ton of food on Thanksgiving, we had a little party today.  Each classroom was assigned one country from around the world.  There was Korea, Japan, China, America, Italy, Mexico, and India.  My classroom was assigned China.  So each student from my class brought in Chinese food.  When I say they brought Chinese food, I don't mean a plate of egg rolls and sweet and sour chicken.  I mean each student brought in an entire meal of Chinese food.  And each student from all the other classes brought in an entire meal of their country's food.  So during lunch today we had 6 fold out tables covered without any space with food from all these countries.  It was delicious!  I wish my stomach was bigger so that I could have eaten more.  On top of the delicious food, I got to eat in my classroom with my students, which was really fun.  I almost never eat with them, and we don't get a whole lot of non-teaching time to hangout, so it was nice to just relax and joke with them for a bit.  It was a pretty good day in Korea!

I'm getting ready to head to bed and when I wake up it will be Thanksgiving.  Only it won't REALLY be Thanksgiving.  Because instead of wrestling with my siblings for the remote control and listening to Mother Hen Kash yell at all of us to get in the kitchen and help her, I will be going to work and teaching English for 7 hours.  And instead of turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie, etc., I'll probably be eating kimchi and rice.  Ahhh....such is life!

I hope you all enjoy the holiday immensely and are super thankful for all the blessings that God has given us!

It's ALL About Him,

KendallCooke

Rich's Bakery!!!!

I walk by this little bakery everyday on my way to and from the gym.  And as can imagined, it always reminds me of my father, as his name is Rich.

Can't wait to get home and hang out with that man, complaining about Illini sports, eating spoonfuls of corn syrup and talking about soccer.  (And mom, don't take this as a slight because there's no "Mary's" on my way to the gym.  I'm counting down the days until I get to do fun stuff like shopping, gossiping, and watching movies with you too.)

I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving week!!!  Eat lots of turkey, potatoes, rolls, pie and all those other goodies for me!  Love you all!


It's ALL About Him,

KendallCooke

Pepero!!!

Here's that Pepero picture I promised.  I've eaten all the chocolate covered Pepero that I received so I had to snap a picture of the strawberry dipped Pepero instead.  You still get the idea.

Well it's been forever..

It's been a busy, tough, frustrating. long last 2 months.  So I'm moving on from there.

As you all already know, yesterday was 11/11/11.  In Korea every year on 11/11, they celebrate 'Pepero Day.'  On 'Pepero Day', Koreans give pepero to all their loved ones, including family, friends, teachers, etc.  Pepero are skinny breadstick/cookie things that have one end dipped in chocolate (I'll have to post a picture on here when I find my camera).  They actually are quite good.  It was a fun day at school.  I got a bunch of pepero from my students, and then we ate A TON in class.  All my students were bouncing off the walls.  It was a good and fun day!!!

I'll be home in 6 weeks, and I can't believe it.  I hope all is going well for you back home in the States.

It's ALL About Him,

KendallCooke