Ma shi tta (Delicious)

I'm beginning to feel terribly excited...only 18 more sleeps until I jet off to Osaka to meet Mum and Dad; I just can't wait to squeeze their cheeks and kiss them and look into someone's eyes who understands me! The people who I have met here are lovely *clenches teeth*, but there's no friends like old friends, and there's no friends like family. Its going to be some soul food for the next few months and I also get to plan some fun things for them to do while they're here in Masan.

Last night, I had dinner with my co-teacher and her husband and three daughters. They are a lovely family and every two weeks or so Mrs Che organises dinner for us because a) she is adamant I am lonely in this country and is kindly doing something about it, and b) her family want to practice their English. So really, it works out well for everyone. And last night she took me for my favourite Korean food (so far) - Samgyetang, which is the most delicious chicken and ginseng soup. The restaurant specialises in the dish and is very famous in Masan, and also Changwon, which is the next city. The setting is a traditional Korean house that had a small garden with shaped trees and a pond with Koi, which are so peaceful to watch. We were seated in a private room and they offered us some ginseng alcohol to begin with which, of course, is good for your health (even the alcohol content??). Very strong flavour. Our meals were served shortly (you never seem to wait longer than 5 minutes for meals in Korea) by women in summer Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, who looked so adorable. The soup is served in a large stone bowl which is boiling away so as to finish cooking the whole baby chicken thats inside, along with slices of ginseng, chestnuts, pinenuts, spring onion, a non-edible date (Mrs Che seemed to indicate POISONING if eaten, and yet it was in the soup?) and a little rice. Yum-o. Thanks Mrs Che! I will definitely take Mum and Dad here.