So it Starts...

My position as O.C. of Gyeongbuk province begins today. I still have much to learn. DW left a pretty big impression on everyone when he was in position. I can't guarantee that I will do as great a job as he has, but I will at least try. I have been receiving many words of support from friends and even SC from the Seoul Office when I chatted with her over the phone yesterday. I am very grateful for this support, and it makes me want to work harder.

I met up with YE in downtown Daegu to discuss over the regional orientation details. She suggested we dine and work at this cafe called Ogam. It's a cute place right above McDonald's. We met up at noon and stayed there working until a little past 7 pm. I can't believe how much we got done. The supervisor had sent us the list of the new individuals coming into Gyeongbuk and only the two of us are privy to that knowledge at the moment. We placed them into four groups and I typed up 5 pages of notes detailing what the staff and I will be doing during the regional orientation week. It's going to be crazy hectic. Heh. I am just so extremely grateful that YE is here to assist. I am learning a lot from her but at the same time, I wouldn't mind if she runs the orientation. She has authority and two years of experience as O.C. after all. 

When we arrived at the cafe, it was unbearably hot and humid. At around 3:30 pm or possibly later, it started getting a bit windy and the skies turned dark. A torrential of rain came and stopped at around 7 pm (right before we left!). Anyway, here is what we ate today. What a productive day of eating and working, hm?

Spicy chicken fried rice and chicken fried rice with cheese (above)

Parfait and Green Tea Bingsu

Cookie Shake and Green Tea Mocha

Hot White Chocolate and Green Tea Leaf Special Shake

Two girls polished these so easily

We were getting a bit hungry (and cold from sitting next to the air conditioner for the past seven hours), so YE suggested we get 떡볶이 (a Korean snack) for dinner! We exited the cafe restaurant turned left and headed down an alley lined with restaurants that specialized in 떡볶이! In these kind of restaurants, you check off what you want to put in your 떡볶이 (which comes with rice cake, two different types of noodles, shredded cabbage, and red pepper paste), so we decided to put in ramyeon, pan-fried mandu, two eggs, fish cakes, and cheese. All this cost us only ₩8,000! I told YE that this was one of the things I will miss most when I leave Korea: the affordability of eating out.

I've had 떡볶이 countless times and even made it at home on a few occasions, but this is my first time going to such a restaurant and having the opportunity to add more ingredients. When I go back to try another restaurant down this alley, I want to try adding soondae (blood sausage) and udon! :D 

떡볶이 with additional ingredients