Odds and Ends

Not much new to report from here, as I've been sick with a nasty head and chest cold the past few days. Being sick in general sucks. Being sick during the summer really sucks. But I have to say that being sick in a foreign country where you don't speak a word of the language and the very concept of matzoh ball soup doesn't exist is probably the worst (although it was a bit much to hope for the matzoh ball soup). I spent most of the weekend resting, and am now back at work. So just a few quick notes/observations about life here that don't really fit into any of the general postings:

With apologies to Peter Gammons and Larry King...

--Lots of restaurants don't have menus here. They serve just a few dishes, and so the menu is written somewhere on the walls. This means that I can't get any Korean dish at any particular restaurant, and so different places have become my "go-to" restaurant when I'm in the mood for Bulgogi (a beef-based noodle soup) or barbecue or soondofu etc.
--Chopsticks here are made of metal, not wood. They are much harder to use, because you don't get the same traction when picking up your food. It took me a couple of weeks to get good. I can now use them pretty well, but still have some trouble with tofu and other dishes of precarious texture.
--Last food thing: Koreans eat rice with a spoon. I spent a week thinking I was a bad-ass for being able to survive without a fork, eating rice with chopsticks, until someone pointed out that I was doing it all wrong.
--One popular look for men in the summer is the short-sleeved dress shirt with a tie. I don't get it. Those of you who were afraid I'd forgotten everything I learned about fashion over the last year can relax. And someone please get Chris a paper bag, because he's almost certainly hyperventilating upon reading this.
--While they don't have the Jewish pennicilin here, they do have excellent tea. Yesterday I had crysanthemum tea, which was maybe the best beverage I've ever tasted. It was truly like drinking a flower. Someone please get my dad a paper bag, because he's almost certainly hyperventiliating upon reading this.
--Lastly, a happy belated July 4 to everyone. Obviously they don't celebrate it here, but I hope you all got to see fireworks or some great athletic contest.