5/5

Sunday morning...
well Sunday morning part 2,
came quickly as I opened my eyes to see the sun shining through my curtains. We've been very lucky these days as Seoul has seen day after day of nearly clear skies and warm weather. I wasn't totally ready to begin my day, but I could settle for a convenient store coffee. So I crossed the street and peered through the various selections of caffeine. My eyes float across a label with the famous Coca-Cola label scribbled across the front. It must be a mistake. This is the coffee aisle. And then I read below...

with coffee.

WHAT????? WHO NEEDS THAT. And then I checked the sugar content. Null.
                      I NEED THAT.
AND it was 2+1. This better not be terrible. I think to myself as I pick three cans out from the cooler. I pay and head back home, dying to try this catastrophe of a drink.
It went as follows:

Needless to say I love it. And I went a step further and mixed it with milk for a Coca-Cola Latte. 

After my fairly exciting breakfast, I got a hold of Dave, my long time friend I met during my first Autumn in Korea. We had planned to go to his town in the afternoon, but the day was getting late and we settled to go next week and instead spend the day in 홍대. We ate lunch at a 김밥 place that had managed to be closed every time we had wanted to go prior. We split lines of 게와사비김밥 (Keh Wasabi Kimbab | Crab Wasabi Kimbab) and 사라드김밥 (Salad Kimbab). But when it came time to pay, my card refused to ring up. David was kind enough to pay, and I agree to buy him coffee assuming it was just a fluke.

After lunch we go on the world's longest hunt for a cafe in history, running circles around the length of 홍대 for hours. Lines are streaming out the doors as its a holiday weekend and the weather is perfect for iced drinks. On our way, we end up getting free citrus Monster Energy drinks from a pop-up advertisement stand. I modeled for their Instagram with the drink and we made friends with the workers. 

Next we come across a gallery selling and advertising for the new Samsung Galaxy S10. The lady working was an English speaking native, but when I responded to her in Korean she seemed incredibly relieved to not have to explain everything in English. She patiently walked us through, showing us how AWESOME the new Samsung is. 

We also came across a stand for a new perfume labeled "A Girl in Capri." It has a zesty, springy scent and I was given a free sample. They also gave us some of the sweetest lemonade we've ever had. 

Hello Coca-cola, Girl in Capri, Monster, and Samsung no need to thank me for the advertising just pay me. (:

Finally, I recalled an ice cream store that sold soy milk ice cream. I'm lactose intolerant so you can imagine my love for the location. We sit down and enjoy milkshakes made with organic milk and not milk. I ordered a banana soy milk shake... 

I am bananas for it.

And I'm not monkey-ing around.

But again my card fails to go through. Worried, I check my mobile banking app, which only shows an error sign informing me that the system would be undergoing maintenance until 5 am central time, or 7 pm Seoul. I was dumbfounded, as I knew for sure that my account had plenty of funds. So I pay in cash and try not to feel to concerned... just... trying not to think about the fact that if my card stops working I will have 10,000 원 ($9) to my name for the rest of the month............

7 Stories of 다이소 (Daiso)?????? :O

Dave and I walked back to my place, stopping by my favorite vegan bakery. Totally forgetting about the card situation, I grab a 고구마바게트 (koguma baguette | sweet potato baguette)and a 비트 쌀낭시에 (Beet ssalnangshi-eh | Beet Rice Patty) for tomorrow's breakfast. As the cashier bags the bread, I'm suddenly reminded of the card issues and jump for joy as it goes through!

Or... so I thought.

The cashier apologizes and informs me that it hadn't gone through. I ask her to try again and she tries a few more times, even swiping it. But nothing. I apologize and go to put the bread back, but Dave pulls through once again.

So I split my beet 쌀낭시에 with Dave as we walk home.

I see him off, giving him a bag of American goodies for him and his parents.

That night I invite 민규 (Mingyu) over to watch movies at my apartment. Around 9pm I go to meet him at the subway entrance. I watch kitchens in the corner petshop window as I wait, enjoying the aroma of steamed 만두 (mandu | dumplings) at the shop next door. 

Finally a head of shiny, charcoal hair appears at the other end of the entrance stairs, and I cant help but giggle as a lazily dressed 민규 approaches me. Usually he dresses with careful fashion, so it was a new sight to see him in sweats. 

We stop by the 편의점 (pyeoneejeom | convenient store) next to my home and buy packs of ramen for dinner. His favorite one has a 2+1... so naturally he bought three. I settled for my tiny light calorie noodle cup. 

And here's a picture of 민규 demonstrating the biggest Asian struggle.

The three minute wait for noodles.

I then introduce him to the wonders of Netflix as we munched down our yums. We decided to watch Searching, which is an Korean/American friendly film, and then I forced him to watch Jumanji. 

It was a pretty wholesome evening.