::A Geek in Korea::

Chuseok is a time for family. It is also a time for bulk purchase gift sets. So far this year for Chuseok, we aren’t doing too bad as a couple.

My wife started things out by getting a large 15 kilogram box of Korean pears from a single student. These are my absolute favorite fruit. I love eating them in autumn, when they are ripe like apples. Unfortunately, this year Chuseok is extremely early, coming nearly at the heels of summer. The ceremonies for Chuseok require pears for their ancestral worship table, so this fruit gets picked regardless of taste. This year’s pears are getting picked extra early, so they are less sweet. They are still fine to include in dishes like mixed rice, but eating them straight up isn’t as nice.

I got a box of apple wine with two different strengths. It’s potent like soju, but it doesn’t taste bad. It’s like strong sweet apple vinegar that will give you a buzz. It’s delicious and well appreciated.

My wife got the next gift which was…another 15kg box of pears, slightly more ripe. We now have enough pear that I could eat one once a day at work and I’d have fruit into November. It’s absolutely ridiculous. We are using these as gifts this year, since they are expensive, and useful. We already gave some to the new neighbors downstairs.

Today I pulled ahead in shwag, however. I got some man-lotion. Some guy-skin cream. It’s O HUI for Men. Seeing as it’s promoted by BI (RAIN!), it’s probably the most upscale skin care stuff for men available. Makeup and skin care for men is a lot more main stream in Korea than it is in the States. My wife was ecstatic that I now had some upscale lotion to apply after a shower. If it isn’t shaving cream I don’t know what it’s for, I just asked which one I had to put on first so my face didn’t melt or whatever happens when you don’t put toner on before moisterizing.

My box of stuff from the school is sitting in the supply room, so I’ve still got stuff coming my way. I’m desperately hoping that it’s not another box of pears. If it is, I’ll start a fruit stand out by our bus stop and sell them on the street. I can’t eat ANY MORE. I’d love a nice SPAM set, or some premium rice cakes, but I think it’s too upscale for my school.