Breakfast: There's always a variety of soups such as kimchi soup, seaweed soup, or a concoction of mashed rice, seaweed, oysters, and a few other mystery ingredients. Along with the main course, theres a display of sides such as fresh kimchi, cooked kimchi, spinach, gim(dried seaweed), rice, boiled seaweed, radishes, tofu, and spicy dipping sauces.
Lunch and Dinner: Pretty much the same as breakfast, only there are more options. There's usually a main protein, usually fish, chicken, beef, or pork. There's tons of kimchi, veggies, garlic, peppers, and rice. Usually there's always something very weird in the mix such as fried fish spine, fish eyes, octopus parts, and stuff I usually don't ask about because I usually don't want to know. One time I'm pretty sure I ate a fishes eye... but I just crunched on like a trooper! Maybe there are some health benefits?
Dessert: Fruit, lots and lots of fruit. Korean fruit is delicious! The fruit here is super sized and sweeter than what I'm used to. I'm pretty sure it's organic... but if not, then at least it tastes amazing!
Beverages: Water isn't a popular beverage here. Instead, we drink corn tea and instant coffee. When we go out to eat, we're served fruity soda water and the kids get yogurt drinks. Beer and liquor is usually consumed on special occasions. My uncles and I all shared a large bottle of Korean beer(maekju) my first day here.
My family always asks if I want western food and offer to prepare it for me. I actually prefer to eat Korean food. I'm not sure if that will change or not. I may start to miss pizza and hamburgers.
I like the atmosphere of a Korean meal. Everyone sits at the table together and talk about family and other topics. Along with the talking, there's constant slurping and chomping. Table manners are a little different. Actually, the more noise you make and the more you reach over the table, the happier everone is that you're enjoying the meal. Whenever I reach for some kimchi across the table, everyone passes me all the kimchi plates and ask if it's good, would I like more, and "eat! eat!". After eating, the women will stay at the table and gossip. I usually just do my part in cleaning up and go about my day... I can't really take part in the converstation quite yet.
EDIT: apparently when eating a Korean meal... the bowl of rice is always on your left and any other dish is on your right. I learned this at breafast when my uncle shouted "Anja-La! rice-uh go lept-uh, soup go rlight-uh!"
my bad :(
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