Daegu: Always Something New to Do

This past weekend, Gianni and I practiced taekwondo with Max both days because it is just one week before our black belt test! It's really scary, but we are getting some good work in, and I think we should be ok...at least I hope so! I hate doing tests like this though. I always get really nervous and screw up in front of Master Hwang. The black belt test is at a big stadium place with judges scrutinizing us, so I just hope I do well. We plan to go almost everyday this week to make sure we have everything perfect.

Even though we did a lot of practicing, we also found some time to do some fun stuff too. One thing I

love about a city like Daegu is that there is always something new to do--something I haven't seen or a restaurant I haven't eaten at. On Friday night, Lily invited me to go out for her birthday girl's night. We started at a new restaurant called Bubba's where they have delicious salads and pizza. I got a ricotta cheese salad, and it was basically some lettuce with a big glob of ricotta on top with some nuts and dried fruit. It was alright, but probably too much cheese. Next time, I'll get the 4 cheese pizza! After that, we went probably the coolest place I've ever been: a wine and hookah bar that smelled of incense and was very dimly lit. There were Indian-style wall hanging all over the place, and we sat on a bunch of pillows on the landing on top of a staircase. It was like our own little alcove. The whole place was very relaxing and romantic. I'm definitely going back there. After spending a few hours chatting there and drinking our bottle of wine, we went to gogos and got cocktails in a bag to bring with us to the noraebang. We spent an hour or so singing some lovely songs before heading home. It was an awesome birthday party, and I had a great time. Happy Birthday Lily!

On Saturday after we finished practicing, we met Maria and Matthew downtown for a game night at the board game cafe. Beforehand, we went to dinner at a jjimdak place they had been to before. Jjimdak is chicken in a thin, brown marinade with thin rice noodles, potatoes, and other veggies. We also got it topped with cheese. It was really delicious. I was so full when we finished eating it. The restaurant is called Rose or something having to do with roses, so they give your table a rose made of soap when you go. They also had a spin the wheel at the front of the store, so I spun it before we left, and I won another soap flower. We also got 4,000 won off our meal because we each posted a photo of it on facebook. We played 6 games at the board game cafe, and I think it's safe to say that Maria has won our little contest to see who could win the most games this year. That means Maria is going to get a pair of socks from each of us.

Sunday we went back over to Max's for an hour-long practice session. Afterwards, he took us over to EMart Traders. EMart Traders is like a Korean Costco. They have stuff you can buy in bulk, but it is mostly Korean brands and foods. Still, they have some good stuff. We had some food at the delicious food court and did a little bit of shopping. Gianni and I are buying some gifts for two orphans for the charity called Daegu Time to Give. We have a preschool boy and a preschool girl. At EMart Traders, Gianni got the boy a truck filled with all kinds of toy cars, and I got the girl a Frozen drawing set and some extra markers. I hope the kids will like them!