What's Cookin' in South Korea

Every other Friday evening the Harrington's have boarded the subway and made their way toward old down town where they learned a few cooking skills specific to South Korea. One thing that South Korea doesn't lack, is services for the expats such as Mike and Melissa Harrington. In Daejeon one prime source of expat services is the Daejeon International Community Center (DICC). (Check out the site for a couple candid shots of Mike and Melissa making up some of these Korean dishes). It was through this Daejeon organization that the Harrington's were able to learn a few Korean dishes by participating in the DICC's Korean Cooking Class. The Harrington's missed the first class but made it to four and have given the Harrington Times special access to recipes and stories behind the recipes via Melissa Harrington's food blog: Extended Shelf Life.

Following are links to the dishes made by the Harrington's in order of least favorite to most favorite. Let The Harrington Times know which dishes you hope to try out in honor of our dear Mike and Melissa Harrington.

4. Fried Anchovies and Dried Pollock Bean Sprout Soup

3. Bean Sprout Soup and Spicy Fried Tofu

2. Korean Pork Ribs and Rolled Egg Omelet

1. Goong Jung Dak Pooki and Kimchi Mandu

Seven Blunders of the World

In his search for information regarding the seven wonders of the world for a winter camp program with his students, Mr. Harrington came across a list of the seven blunders of the world written by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He gave it to his grandson, Arun Ganhi, on their final day together, not too long before his assassination. The seven blunders are:

• Wealth without work
• Pleasure without conscience
• Knowledge without character
• Commerce without morality
• Science without humanity
• Worship without sacrifice
• Politics without principle

The list grew from Gandhi's search for the roots of violence. He called these acts of passive violence. Preventing these is the best way to prevent oneself or one's society from reaching a point of violence. To this list, Arun Gandhi added an 8th blunder; rights without responsibilities.

Much thanks to Wikipedia for connecting Mr. Harrington with this thought provoking list.

A Day for Chocolate, Cookies and Love

While many friends back home are thanking a veteran and reflecting on the sacrifices made by a many good man and woman, the Harringtons as well as the rest of South Korea are collecting and giving the gift of Pepero. November 11th, more popularly written as 11-11 is a day overwhelmingly celebrated in South Korea as the number 1 has an uncanny resemblance to a straight stick of candy known as Pepero.

The day is more or less a take on Valentine's Day however the gift market on Pepero Day is essentially a Monopoly held by Lotte, the makers of Pepero, although, according to the all-reliable Wikipedia, "Lotte denies starting the holiday and instead states that they noticed a bump in Pepero sales around November 11th and after continued popularity they decided to then encourage the holiday with special gift boxes and other promotions." Having been in Korea for three months, the Harrington's believe either story is entirely possible.

Regardless of the history or purpose, the day ushers in a fair amount of delicious sweet snacks for teachers and loved ones.

Besides having a delicous chocolatey treat, the reciepient is also encouraged by the loving words printed, in English conveniently, on many Pepero package. And here, in no particular order are some of the loving words one might read on Pepero Day:

• I only want my love to grow in you.
• I beleive we need to let others feel the love instead of talking about the LOVE.
• I love you today more than yesterday.
• You & Me -- I'm happy to have been with you so far.
• Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.

(For more information on Pepero Day do a quick google search or check out this Wikipedia Article.)

Future FIFA World Cups

The Harrington's enjoyed their time in South Africa so much that they are already looking forward to their next World Cup experience. The next World Cup will be held in 2014 in Brazil, and there's no telling whether or not the Harrington's will be able to make it to that one. However, the following two (2018 and 2022) are in the process of being decided as we speak. The 2018 World Cup will be held in Europe in either Russia, Spain/Portugal, England, or Netherlands/Belgium. The 2022 World Cup will be held in either Japan, Australia, Qatar, South Korea, or the United States. We at the Harrington Times are interested in knowing where our readers would prefer the World Cup to be, and have added two polls to figure it out. Please vote for your favorites. The winners will be announced on December 1st, and 10 AM Eastern time. information on the countries bids can be found by following the links below:

General Information be sure to scroll down and read a bit more.
2018
England
Russia
Spain/Portugal
Netherlands/Belgium
2022
United States
Australia
Qatar
South Korea
Japan

Finding Fall

Having sought rest, silence, and fall colors at a near by National Park on October 30th, the Harrington's found themselves longing for a little more. A little more rest. A little more silence and solitude. A little more color in the trees. On Thursday, Melissa enjoyed a short hike with her larger of the two Elementary Schools. She noticed the the mountain (or hill) was much closer to their apartment than the National Park and was much less popular with hikers. So she took some mental notes of bus numbers and landmarks and hoped her husband would be up for a fall hike come Saturday morning. Lo and behold, Saturday morning both Harrington's were ready and excited for a hike that held nothing back. Level trails as opposed to the straight up the side of the mountain as is common in Korea. Changing leaves, falling leaves, crisp air and all things autumn greeted the Harrington's on Galma-Dong's own Tan-Sol Mountain. A short hour and half hike and less than a hundred smiling Korean faces had the Harrington's feeling a little closer to home than the National Park trail from the previous week.

Getting There: Bus 301 goes right by the mountain as well as a few other unidentified bus numbers. As for when to get off, you'll probably have to go with the Harrington's for the best chance at that working in your favor.

Happy 27th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

On November 5th, 1983 the parents of Mr. Harrington joined the club and began their wedded life.  It's because of these two special people that the Harrington Times even exists today.  In honor of them, Mr. Harrington has created a short video of his students in South Korea congratulating his parents.  It was filmed the day of the anniversary, but not edited until moments ago.  Enjoy!



Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Gyeryong-San National Park

On Saturday, October 30th the Harrington's made their way to Daejeon's most proximal National Park - Gyeryong-San, translated to be Rooster-Dragon Mountain. The couple has been anticipating the arrival of fall as Laramites, Wyomingites and those who live in the west have been constantly boasting via blogposts and facebook statuses of a perfectly beautiful fall back home.

Korea is not about to dissappoint the Harrington's in terms of fall colors, however the season seems to be taking its slow sweet time in arriving, a phenomena unknown to a couple who have spent most of their autumn seasons watching the snow fall down and the few decidious trees drop their leaves within a matter of weeks.

For Octobers final Saturday the Harrington's expected to see vibrant colors of reds, yellows, oranges and few bronzy browns, however the mountain was surprisingly green (and not due in part to their being numerous evergreens). Of course, the Harrington's are always content to simply be outside and were actually a bit encouraged by the idea that fall can be a season rather than a month.



Therefore, the couple, along with some thousands of Koreans enjoyed a bit of meandering, sitting, pondering and photographing at Gyeryon-San National Park, easily reached by bus 107. Unlike National Parks in the USA a Korean National Park, or almost any destination of note, is well skirted by souvenier shops, restaurants, convencience stores and one or two no-rae bangs (karaoke rooms).

This Saturday, the Harrington's hope to search out the fall colors once again, although this time on a less popular mountain trail so they can perhaps experience a bit of serenity in the walls of this concrete jungle.

Getting There: Bus 107 takes trekkers right up to the front gate or as near as possible depending on the day. The Harrington's choose to take the sub to the National Cemetary Sub Station and catch the 107 from there, an extremely easy manner of transportation to and from a National Park.