Bean Curd for Dinner!

I've found a new meal/snack that I just adore. I was a decently picky eater before coming to Korea, now I'm craving some very interesting foods... this being one of them! Bean curd/tofu pockets stuffed with a rice mixture. Here's a variation of what I made on Vegetarian Recipes and Cooking.com.

The Impossible Mosquito Net

Brief story-

For some reason, so far my apartment has been mosquito-free (knock on wood). I've had my share of insect roommates, but the word hasn't been spread to the mosquitoes this summer season. Unfortunately, my good friends in Seoul do not have that luck. They have an absolutely incredible apartment (including a spare bedroom and they do have an air conditioner in their room!) But, I digress. A few weeks ago I stayed there while I was preparing to take the LSAT, only to awake to about 20 mosquito bites. Korean mosquitoes are vicious!

The most recent time I stayed with them, I came prepared with a personal mosquito net! *** Advice I should've thought about: like setting up a tent when camping, it's best to do when in a good frame of mind. *** After a fun night out, we returned home and began the interesting mission of setting up this net. The pictures say it all:

me with my PSU friend, Austin and real-life Canadian, Erin

inventory: net, poles, no directions and/or picture diagrams

a little thing I like to call "improvisation"

Medical Clinic!

After watching it get progressively worse, I decided to visit the doctor about my toe! A few months ago, during my first soccer practice after almost 10 years, I pushed it a bit much and messed up my toenail.

To spare the details, bottom line- wasn't quite looking right and I had messed it up again at my games last weekend.

I chose to visit the same doctor who I saw when I first arrived in Korea. Still not sure what his name is, but he works at the Ilshin Clinic in Yeonsu Dong near the BYC building. He is absolutely incredible. Super laid back and talks like he's from, or lived in, southern California. Right off the bat, he told me that I'd be fine and then he kept repeating, "Just take it easy. Take it easy." But real drawn out... I felt like I wanted to give him a high-five!

An additional bonus, medical care and prescriptions are crazy affordable in Korea. For my visit, it was 12,000w and for the 3-day prescription (which included 7 tablets 3 times a day... yikes) it was 12,000w. The pills may just have been basic ibuprofen, BUT, the care I received made it totally worth it.

For Link

To digress from Korean travels, my cousin recently passed away and this is my memorial to him:

~~ 2/7/1981 - 7/4/2010 ~~

I want more than anything to be with you all right now. I’m hoping these few words transcend the page and give the hugs I’ve been wanting to give.

I searched the internet to find an appropriate and fitting quote about the bond between cousins. As tears ran down my cheeks and no quote seemed just right, I realized why. There aren’t words that can describe the bond between cousins. Growing up with the Bufalino’s was an experience in itself. With two brothers in my family, when holidays came around and we ventured to Edinboro, I stood no chance. However, the one word that can describe my feelings toward our group of cousins is pride. I have never been shy about how talented and incredible our family is. I remember in middle school bragging to all my friends about my great Bufalino family in Edinboro. During Link’s years at General McLane I was practically the PR person for the middle school demographic in Erie. Bragging to every person I could about how I was related to General McLane’s Lincoln Bufalino. As we got older and Link let me come along with him to a party or two, I couldn’t have been more ecstatic. The Lincoln Bufalino was letting me hang out with him. Granted never for more than an hour or two, but still! Link’s kindness towards his students, friends and family is a known fact. Reading the plethora of sympathy messages left on line, it is obvious how much of an impression Link has left on this world.

My tears at this time are for my family because losing Lincoln is devastating, but I know that our family has the strength to support each other through this time. I know I speak for all of us cousins when I say that we lost a very special person.