Roover, is that you?
Somethings you just have to see for yourself before you will believe them. In a quest for electronics, engrish a rice cooker, and something more mysterious and hidden, Kurt, Iris and I went downtown today. We hit the electronics "mall" which is more like an upscale electronic flea market. The cell phone to people ratio in that place has to be 12 to 1 easily. After finding some cheap playstation games (the man asked us, "Originals, or copies?") we headed out in search of lunch. We ate, then hit the smaller food markets where some of the older men and women shop downtown.
Alley after alley, row after crowded row, we were on the lookout for a sign to know we were close to our destination. The sign happened to be pigs heads. That means you are getting in the right area. I have a picture of these 3 pig heads in a refrigerated display case that I will add to the next set of photos. We turn a corner and there is this particular clearing, and some unusual meat (not that pigs heads aren't, but I had seen them in America before). It was hairless, and tan...and had paws with a tail. We had arrived at the dog stores. There were 3 sets of stores with older women sitting outside them. I went to take a picture but the lady told me not to, so I put it away and kept walking. She seemed like she didn't want to put up with any crap, and I had seen what I needed to.
In Korea, the custom of eating dog has been pushed to the back alleys and side streets. While some people attach pride to it and tell you it fills you with power the next day, the majority of Koreans look down upon the practice now. The female teachers here all say that it is a disgusting thing to do. I was frankly a little too shocked at the sight of a dog hindquarter to even consider grabbing some chopsticks, but from what I've heard it isn't BAD, once you get over the fact that you are, in fact, eating a companion animal.
Well, since about 90% of the people that have talked to me about coming here have asked if Koreans eat dog, well, now you know. Some Koreans do. But, if I see one comment from PETA during the World cup, or better yet, a protester bitching because of it, I'll be more than happy to slap them. That's just out of general principal of course, not even having to do with this dog thing. It's not my place to judge another culture. Just because we eat cows, we still can have Hindu people in our society. Same thing with dogs. It's just that very few people have pet cows.
Oh yeah, and we got the rice cooker for Kurt, and I picked up the japanese version of Mario Kart for my Game Boy Advance. I was also given a Korean power adapter, but I fear it because after I plugged in my surge protector, the fuse on it blew white sparks. Luckily, my electric razor plugged into it and worked without killing me, so that is a plus.