Has spring sprung?!

Probably not, but the balmy temps and sunny skies over Seoul today have me daydreaming about shedding the winter coat and pulling on the short pants. At 12 degrees Celcius (about 54F), it's hard to believe the city was covered in snow just a few days ago (I'll post some snow pics this weekend). I joined some colleagues from the English news department for a lunchtime jaunt around Yeouido and noticed many people out enjoying the break in wintry weather. I've been told it's typical for Korea to experience a string of three cold days followed by four warm days throughout the winter. It's called sam han sa on (삼한 사온), literally, "three cold, four hot".

Ring in the (Lunar) New Year with SPAM!

When I return to work on Wednesday after a four-day vacation in the name of the Lunar New Year, my Korean colleagues will all be a year older. Never having adhered to customs associated with the moon, I'll still be 26 (not 28--Koreans are considered one year old at birth and add on one year with each birthday, as well as on the Lunar New Year). So I'm spared a year, but since I don't really celebrate Seollal I did miss out on something many across the country received as a token of love or appreciation on Korea's most widely celebrated holiday: a gift set. From the practical to the extravagant, the edible to the spreadable, almost anything can be found packaged neatly in a gift set around the Lunar New Year. A local newspaper reported that ginseng is this year's gift of choice, but multi-packs of Spam, soap, assorted nuts, cooking oil, toothbrushes, whisky, tuna cans, apples, instant coffee, and moisturizers are also in bountiful supply in supermarkets, big box stores, and even convenience stores. These economic arrangements are typical around Christmas in the U.S., but the variety pales in comparison to what Korea has to offer. I'm not sure what giving (or receiving) a two-year supply of toothpaste says, but I've certainly seen worse gifts.

Mushrooms and the like ranging from about $40 up to $100

E-Mart employees were decked out in traditional hanbok a day before Seollal and eagerly peddling gift sets.

Those oughtta be some tasty apples!  12 for ~$45

Never . . . eating . . . McDonald's . . . again . . .

Although I've indulged in Mickey D's more often than I'd like to admit in in the Unites States, I've largely avoided it since moving to Seoul. This is mostly because I've tried to establish and maintain a healthier lifestyle, but also because I always fear that locals who see me entering the store will think, "Check out the fat American going in for a Big Mac!"

But after my friend and KBS co-worker, Luke, and I underwent a months-long diet and exercise regimen (during which french fries and cheeseburgers started to sound mighty appetizing) we decided to take a trip to McDonald's to devour all the greasy, salty, mystery meaty goodness we could possibly stomach. And the point was to eat as much as we could. We wanted to kill the temptation once and for all, or at least for the next six months or so. So after hitting my lowest weight since high school earlier this week we decided now was as good a time as any to embrace our inner over eaters.

Between us, we ate one Big Mac, six cheeseburgers, one McChicken sandwich, two medium orders of french fries, one large order french fries, three strawberry milkshakes, one chocolate milkshake, three Cokes, and about twelve packets of ketchup. For me, it was literally a gut-wrenching experience. For one thing, I don't handle dairy well in this country, so I was feeling sick half way through the first milkshake, yet proceeded to drink the rest plus one more. The physical implications started there and quickly spiraled downward. The next morning Luke claimed the food extravaganza had given him acne. Neither of us is craving McDonald's anymore, though!

Luke used McDonald's nutrition facts to calculate our caloric intake. As he itemized our smorgasbord of gluttony on grease-stained receipts I wriggled around in my chair, trying to find the most comfortable position for my bulging belly and aching midsection. The result: 3,500 calories for Luke and 2,375 for yours truly.