About Korean Cuisine, Computer Games, and Fitness Clubs

I use the term "Korean cuisine" in conversation when talking about Korean food in the hopes that any Koreans listening will not pick up on the fact that I am talking about the challenges that come with eating it. The other day, Joanne and I were discussing the struggles we expect her family to have with the Korean cuisine once they arrive. I constructed the following dialogue to articulate what I expect will happen:

Emilie: Daaaad, stop making me eat squid.
John: Eat your squid Emmy, it's free.
Emilie: But it's dry and tastes like carpet with cat pee on it.

(Dried squid, or 'cuttlefish' is often provided for free as service in S. Korea. The kids here love it.)

I was working out at the gym yesterday, and I saw something rather strange. The weight-lifting coach came over to my new friend Songjin (he's been to America and speaks a little English) and proceeded to reach over and grope Songjin's pec for several minutes. The coach then said something to Songjin in Korean, I can only assume it was to the effect that he was congratulating Songjin on the firmness and development of his chest muscle.

Then I had a conversation with the weight-lifting coach, with Songjin as my translator.
Songjin: He wants to know if you think he's handsome.
Me: Yes, he's handsome.
Songjin: He wants to do a 'give-and-take.' He thinks you're handsome. Do you think he's handsome?
Me: Yes, he's handsome.
Songjin: He wants more than that...
Me: He's very very handsome!

The coach thought this was really funny.

In other news, I'm horrible at computer games. I'm trying to learn how to play Starcraft because it's easier than Korean and might help me more in finding a social circle.