Costco! (March 4, 2011)

One thing you learn very quickly in Korea is an appreciation for rare food finds. What I mean is that a lot of things we hold near and dear to our refrigerators back home are either hard to find, or impossible to find here. For example, before making the trip to Costco, we found WishBone brand italian and garlic ranch dressing. This was a huge deal for us. We talked about how awesome it was for days. Ranch dressing does not exist here. It may say ranch on an occasional dressing bottle here, but it is a lie. A horrible, soul crushing lie. (I have a love for Ranch that is probably not healthy). So needless to say, part of the adventure of living in a foreign country is not experiencing the native cuisine, but engaging in an endless hunt for all things familiar. Locally so far, the best bet is European owned chain  Home Plus and local place called The Underground Grocer - a marvelously expensive place that has frozen vegetables, cans of Dr. Pepper and sometimes even sour cream!

Recently, Justin had a Tuesday off for a Korean holiday of some kind and while trying to decide how we would spend this awesome extra day off together, we decided on a day trip to Daejeon to go to Costco. And yes, we went on a two hour train trip to do nothing but go to a wholesale club. The train always feels way cooler to me than it really is, because I had never been on a train before I came to Korea. So the train ride in itself is very fun for me. Plus the view of the mountains was absolutely beautiful. I tried to photograph it but the camera I have currently is not the most awesome one sometimes. When we got to Daejeon, we paused outside the station to take photos of some really unusual paintings that are clearly not traditional Korean art. I decided it was a good idea to walk on a raised curb while I did this which ended in me tripping and smacking my right shoulder, hip, right and left knee, and right thigh onto the concrete. When I hurt myself I do it right. Go big or go home - that's how I live my life.

Anyways once we ascertained that I was not in need of immediate medical attention we continued on our way to the Costco which is literally on the corner next to the train station. It was absolute chaos inside this place and at first I did not think I would enjoy myself at all. There were people everywhere and in Korean there is no word for excuse me. They just push you aside or barrel their way through obstructions. It is something I am still trying to adjust to without taking every push personally.

We attempted to look at clothes but I am very sensitive about that right now because Korean clothes are small and I am, well, not. So we abandoned our search for a lighter jacket for springtime and went to the floor where they keep all the food. And here is where we found an array of things I did not realize I missed so much. We found Honey Nut Cheerios, bricks of Philly Cream Cheese, Turkey burgers, regular sandwhich (hormel no less!!), Velveeta sliced cheese, feta cheese, sour cream that does not cost an arm and a leg and last but not least: cases of Dr. Pepper. I have never been so pumped after grocery shopping in my life. I could not wait to get home and get everything put away and eat it all. I even ate a bagel when I got home and I wasn't even that hungry. I was just excited to have the option.

Before boarding the train home, we stopped at a place called New York Hot Dog and Coffee. Yes, this combination sounds nonsensical and disgusting, but they were DELICIOUS. We spent the ride home finishing up Megamind (loved it!) and listening to an audio book. All in all it felt like an amazingly productive day. The hunter found the things it was searching for: American brands at an affordable price in Korea. While Costco will be a once in awhile treat to ourselves, it feels really good to know if I am feeling homesick, there is a place that sells Kraft, and General Mills, and Hormel. :)