The search for Ranch 2.0 & St Patrick's Day in the ROK!

As you know, I have a slight obsession with the salad-dressing-turned-sauce-bordering-fundamental-food-group known as Ranch, & also, as you know, I have had a difficult time locating said fundamental-food-group in my new home, but the heavens shined upon me this past Saturday, as I stumbled upon a foreign food market in Itaewon with Taylor. This particular foreign establishment was one of the ones I had scoped out online, one of the ones who had Ranch listed on their site as 'sold out', much to my sadness. But by some force of the universe, I decided to go in anyways, maybe just to see what else they had, maybe to see if their site was wrong...& behold, it was wrong!

Granted, it is light ranch, but maybe that's a sign....

Now, you may be wondering why we were in Itaewon in the first place, or what the latter part of the title of this post means. Never fear! I have the answers to all of your questions; Saturday was not only 'White Day' in the Rebublic of Korea (ROK) but also St Patrick's Day. We were given a heads up by Danella (a coworker from New Zealand) that there was a St Patty Day festival in D-Cube City on Saturday & that she would be attending, she graciously invited us as well & linked us the Facebook event page. Taylor & I stopped off in Itaewon on our way since it was a 45 minute subway trek & we wanted some air, food & just generally enjoy Itaewon. But before I go on to tell about the lovely St Pat Day events, you may have another question burning at your lips...what is White Day?

White Day is basically Valentine's Day but just for girls. On Valentine's Day (Feb 14th), couples get gifts for each other, however on White Day (March 14th) just the boys get gifts for the girls. Funnily enough, Black Day is a month later (April 14th) & is traditionally where single people go to a cafe & eat black noodles alone, & then get drunk. We'll see if this is true or just a pretend holiday though. But enough for pretend-romantic-holidays & back to the Green! St Patty Day! I could describe the events of the festive afternoon, but I'd rather show you, enjoy!

Before Tay & I left for the day.

Some of the cool/unique architecture we saw in Itaewon, we still haven't gone into the heart of Seoul where the 6th 'best skyline in the world' is, but when we do, I will snap many a picture :)

Taylor & I enjoying a late lunch & some green beer of course! At the pub where the St Patty Day 'Hooley' will be after the fesitval. (Apparently Hooley just means...afterparty? Or something in Irish-land-speak)

Our first glimpse of the Han river that splits Seoul (fourth largest river in ROK) as we subway-ed to D-Cube city (which is a part of Seoul despite it's name)

The St Patrick's Day Festival in all it's green glory!

Probably our favorite act of the afternoon, Bold Coast, who had a very unique vibe, all instrumental & very, VERY good! they played everything from funk to oldies to Irish jigs to rap to 'now' music, all using an electric violin as it's main instrument played by their frontman. He also picked up a very nice sax at one point, much to Taylor's delight.

During one of the songs, an Irish jig, no less.

And just because we are suckers for selfies (or 'selcas' as they are called in this country).

After the festivities, Taylor & went back to our lunch spot for their 'Hooley' which had nice live music (with another violinist), but was quite crowded, & I value my personal space, so we soon left & wandered Itaewon until two other coworkers joined us (Aaron & Caroline) who directed us to an Irish pub aptly named Shenanigans. Though less crowded, it was rather unsatisfactory, & after a fellow Michigander (from the East side, mind you) who was well past his limit made a joke in ill-taste & some crude gestures to Caroline, after which he was politely asked to leave our presence by both Taylor & Aaron, we decided to take our leave for a less conspicuous watering hole. We then went to Thursday Party...which I also do not recommend. But such is the burden of moving to a new area. We have to re-go through the process of finding which places suit us, & which do not, where we will return to, & where we most certainly will not. But not all of our information from Saturday was a bust, as we also heard about Rocky Mountain Restaurant's (where we had lunch/the Hooley was located) Tuesday wing special, which we will certainly be trying out this week.

But in case you ever come to Seoul & are tempted to attend Thursday Party, just know it is basically Rags from Grand Rapids, all the way down to the sticky floors, overly grabby patrons & low-class caliber of 'club' in general. But overall it was a lovely bonding experience with our coworkers & a very funny/fun night, I hope to have more 'exploration' nights like it in Itaewon & more areas, as we have still not even scratched the surface of this megacity!

Until next time,

(which will be a summary of Sunday- cat cafe's, shopping, Hondae, cake shops & coworkers)

All of my love,

Tea

P.S. A loud siren is blaring right now as I write this from school...Taylor says its the universal noise for an air raid attack, but I think he's just being silly. It sounds like the siren that GH used for 'severe weather warning'/when they would do the test of the siren every month. So we'll say that's the same as here, only a test. Probably :P

P.S.S The loud siren is back... O.O