Growing up, I often acted as the taste tester for both my mom and dad when they cooked. Before he retired from working with restaurants, my dad trained as a professional chef and passed some of his talents off to my mom before and during the time my sister and I entered their lives. Although, my job never became a reality until after their divorce, I practiced well at both houses to know when a flavor exceeded a certain boundary. When Ramadan came around, my job became a full-time post since being the youngest member of the household(s) meant fasting was not an option for me yet. When I was 9, I finally started trying… with much difficulty. I know I used to be able to wake up at 6 AM just to get ready for school but one does not simply wake up at 3 AM just to devour a high-intake meal and pray before the birds start chirping. When I was 13, I got through my first full month of Ramadan without missing a day of fasting–a feat that I was quite proud of.

Ramadan, along with the rest of the Islamic year, moves back by about 11 days each year, since Muslims follow a lunar calendar. When I was young, I remember celebrating both Eid-al-Fitr, the celebration at the end of Ramadan, and Eid-al-Ahad, the celebration in honor of Abraham’s sacrifice, around the dead of winter. Now, I go through both major holidays almost entirely before my first set of midterms. In high school, I started fasting through games and meets as opposed to just practices like I did in middle school. Surprisingly, I ran some of my best race times during the fast I kept up in the blistering Northeastern weather. Although I try to avoid ever skipping a day, I always make a sacrifice for significant engagements or extremely strenuous tasks. “But what could be more strenuous than running 10 miles a day that you would not keep your fast?” I say you ask. Something along the lines of climbing a mountain. (Insert your reaction to that previous statement making sense.)

So here we are in Korea, starting Ramadan for the second time ever away from my family. But last time, at least we were on the East Coast together. Celebrating the fast is a tad different in the Far East, especially in a country with a relatively few Muslims. There are mosques available but they are pretty out of the way. Certain foods my family would cook for Iftaar (the meal at evening when Muslims break the fast) cannot be necessarily cooked due to the lack of ingredients. My mom, just to make it help feel more like Ramadan, actually shipped me dates so I can break my fast as I always did as a kid. Oh and lest we forget, readjusting to a whacked-out sleep schedule because of the minimal number of hours I am allowed to eat. Yeah, it hit hard the first two days of the week, but I kind of got used to it by Wednesday. But it’s still a blessed month. Ramadan Mubarak, everyone!

Now, the week’s activities…

Truth be told, I find shopping pretty enjoyable. However, I prioritize on being cost-effective and efficient with my time. In turn, I often scan quickly through a store before allowing any salesperson to approach me. Then, I finally decide which things I will actually attempt to buy. 명동 (Myeongdong) equates to a haven for people with my style of frugality. Myeongdong offers a bounty of options and fashionable lines of all attire. If you’re really keen, you can avoid buying anything close to 백화점 (department store) prices. That is exactly what happened when I got my first suit in Seoul for…(drumroll)… under a $100! You think it might not be that good looking, then? You be the judge…

But I also needed to up my hiking gear for my intended future weekend excursions. Conveniently, one of the best places to find affordable hiking products exists right next to Myeongdong, 남대문 시장 (Namdaemun Market). Namdaemun Market, similarly to other open air markets/bazaars can be a one stop shop for produce, herbs, fake/real jewelry, and handmade fabrics and clothes. Fortunately, the market also caters to the savvy hiker, a character quite popular in Korea. I got new boots and 아저씨 hiking pants for just under $60.

Thursday, I tested my limits on holding out for a meal. Some Yalies and I decided to check out a 파전 (Korean style green onion pancakes) restaurant. Admittedly, the food and place were both relatively lovely, but the one person who knew how to get to the place had a certain traffic predicament. Needless to say, you can imagine how stomach was when I needed to break my fast. But the place was really relaxing, I guess that made up for it enough.

Friday marked the 238th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. How to celebrate America abroad, we Yalies wondered? Why not some burgers and a giant colored waterfall off of 반포대교 (Banpo Bridge)? Pretty good way to hangout on the Han River.

Much to our surprise, before we grabbed some burgers at Yaletown (no lie, check it out if you are ever in Shinchon), we saw fireworks while walking along Banpo Bridge.

Saturday started quickly at 7 AM as I found myself running for a pre-wedding glow. For the second semester of Korean, my Korean TA was a graduate student finishing the Master’s program in International Relations. She was a very good tutor, but truthfully, we were more friends, the student and teacher, as it became apparent by how much we goofed off during our sessions. Things were becoming real for her upon returning to Korea, particularly her wedding that I just attended. My first Korean wedding. My curiosity was at a high. A couple of my fellow Yalie 반친구 (classmates) were invited. We went to a church in 충정로 (Chungjeongno) for the procession. Yujin looked pretty and fly and pretty fly in her wedding gown. Outside of being a full house, the Korean Catholic style had subtle differences (but then again I am not Catholic so I may totally wrong). But from what I saw, I was surprised to see that the bride and groom were with each other at the start of the procession and were alone at the alter. The best man and maid of honor walked over when it came time to read vows and exchange rings. Lastly, the kiss to end the procession occurred at the entrance where they began rather than right at the altar. I guess additionally, both mothers wore 한복 (traditional Korean dress) for a blending of traditions. Most importantly, it was a fun way to spend my Saturday!

The procession and reception seemed to flow much quicker relative to other Christian weddings I’ve attended. The wedding moved so quickly for Yujin that she and her newlywed husband left for Croatia and Montenegro before we even headed back home.

Off to studying for my first midterm in Seoul! Wish me luck!