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Can you tell me about Korean food?
Korean food can be very spicy for ESL teachers. The national food, which is a staple at each meal, is kimchi, a spicy fermented cabbage. You will eat this a lot when you teach in Korea. A lot of chili peppers and garlic is used in preparing Korean food. Rice is also served with every meal. There is a large selection of spicy soups, fried rice, stews and noodle dishes to tempt your taste buds. Every meal is served with side dishes, which vary in every restaurant. ESL teachers living and working abroad can experience the variety of food South Korea has to offer. Korean BBQ is popular among foreigners. Small pieces of meat are brought to your table and cooked right in front of you. |
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Is the food spicy?
Most Korean food is quite spicy although there are many dishes that are not. Koreans eat Kimchi with everything. This tends to add spiciness to the meal. For less spicy foods we recommend Juk (a rice porridge); kimbab (Korean-style sushi). |
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What is Kimchi?
You may not want to try the Kimchi when you first arrive. However, most teachers end up acquiring a taste for it as it is unavoidable in Korea!
Kimchi can be made from celery, cabbage, turnips or cucumbers seasoned with salt, garlic, onions, ginger, red pepper and shellfish or fish sauce. It is cured for a long period of time underground. No matter what, you will have a chance to try it when you arrive as Koreans eat it with almost every meal. It is usually very spicy so start with a small bite! |
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Are there any Korean customs around meal times?
Table manners are extremely important in Korea and Koreans rarely eat with their fingers. As an English teacher, it is advantageous to learn the do's and don'ts of Korean culture. They use a spoon and metal chopsticks which makes for an interesting learning experience! Spoons are used to scoop rice, soup and stews while chopsticks are generally used to eat from the many side dishes. Using both sets of utensils at the same time is considered to be bad manners, although leeway is given to foreigners and you will probably be the centre of a friendly tease. Soup is also a vital part of almost every meal. Other dishes include seafood, meat or poultry, greens, herbs and roots. Each person has his own rice and soup bowls but all other dishes are placed in the center of the table for everyone to partake of.
Often in restaurants you will be required to sit at low tables on the floor, which takes getting used to. Sometimes, the director of your school will take you to eat out to thank you for doing such a great job. The good news is that many restaurants offer a normal table and chair set up. |
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What are the supermarkets like?
All Korean cities have department stores which often contain a large supermarket in the basement. A lot of the food you will not recognize. However, there are many similar foods to what you are used to. Supermarket shopping is an interesting experience and sometimes trial and error is the only way to learn your way around. If you are really craving food from home, there are a number of places in Seoul that specialize in international foods. The following are stores where you may be able to find what you are looking for:
Hannam Supermarket – a 10 minute walk from Hangangin Station is one of the most popular.
Hyundai Department Stores have international sections
Coex Mall has various western influenced stores |
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Where can I eat out?
Big Western food chains like Pizza Hut, Burger King, OutBack Steakhouse and TGI Fridays are popping up all over the place. Pizza is popular and there are bakeries on every corner. Japanese Restaurants are easy to find too. Fruit and vegetables are sold almost everywhere so staying healthy is easy. Don’t worry about what you are going to eat, the food is delicious, healthy and there are lots of options that will suit your needs. |
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Can you drink the water?
Tap water in Korea’s cities will not make you sick. It may not be the best stuff in the world, but it probably won’t kill you. Many Koreans, particularly in the summer time get water from local mountain springs. You can get bottled water delivered to your home quite cheaply- with a delivery service a five liter bottle of water will cost you around USD $6. Buying bottles of water is about $1 for a 1.5L. |
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