5/28

My last full day in Seoul. I head to the bakery for my final vegan breakfast with an almond joy in favor of whomever was working. I'm surprised when I arrive to find the new girl, whose interview and first day I had actually experienced due to my loyalty to the cafe. I end up with a sweet potato croissant and a soy latte, taking my regular table in the back corner of the pastel painted room.

When she announced that my drink and bread was ready, I brought to her the Almond Joy, explaining that I had come to the bakery nearly every day but would be returning to the states the next afternoon. She was overcome with joy and even though it was just a fun sized treat, she did not fail to show any means of gratitude. I was both surprised and delighted when I began to pack my things that she presented me with an emergency bread bag to take home with me. Thank you bread girl. I love you.

On my way home I stop at Starbucks to finally complete a quest that had been nagging me since the previous summer.
The avocado frappuccino.
It was my goal. My quest. My destiny.
I don't even like avocados all that much. But it was just the bizareness of the concept of consuming a sweet blended green beverage with a chocolate pearl representing the seed of the avocado placed delicately on top. I watch with fascination as the barista blends my choice of soy milk with green powder and ice. He fills the bottom of the cup with a layer of creamy pearl liquid, then fills the cup with the green crushed blend to the top, drizzling a clover green swirl on top and finally accenting the master piece with the chocolate pearl.

It only comes in the tall size.
And here is why.
IT IS SO THICC AND FILLING BUT ALSO DELICIOUS WHAT THE HECK.
IT does NOT taste like avocado but just a fresh and happy drink. It literally just tastes like the color green but in the most pleasant way possible. and the chocolate pearl? White chocolate. YUM.
After THAT experience I chose to sort through my gift bag from the bread girl.
It turned out to be an assortment of soboro, a stuffed pizza baguette, vegan lunch sandwiches, garlic bread, and a sweet potato croissant. I could cry. Seriously.

(L-R) Sweet potato croissant, garlic bread, lunch sandwiches, pizza baguette, soboro

I spent the remainder of the afternoon doing my final shopping, WHerRE I got MY NEW PRIZED POSSESSION AHEMM

 then decided to dine on my favorite homemade and incredibly easy meal of shirataki noodles and instant 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) cheese powder (cause the 떡볶이 tastes like chemicals and is disgusting). I grant myself one more bottle of 막걸리 (makgeolli) as it is incredibly difficult to find in Minnesota.
Also this happened at some point.

 It was nearing 10 pm and I was finally curled up with my fizzy, barely alcoholic rice milk and cheesy noodles when my phone kakoo--ed with 윤재 (Yoonjae)'s face brightening up the screen. I had totally forgotten that we had tentative plans to go out that evening, but no matter as she was just too exhausted after work to meet.
But it was my last night.
And 윤재, being the amazing 언니 (eonnie | older sister) she is
was not about to allow me to waste it in the way that I was.
So she dialed up her close Korean friend who was just finishing up work and happened to live in 홍대 (Hongdae), pestering him to take me out for one more night. He agreed, as the weather was nice and he wanted to make the most of the evening as well. So I met him in Playground park around 11pm. 태림 (Taerim) I had met briefly one saturday a few weeks ago in passing through 윤재. But now we were getting to know eachother in depth over a bottle of 소주 (soju) each in Playground park. He had a slim stature, but was incredibly kind and had a sharp face. He had studied abroad in New Zealand and seemed incredibly intelligent. Only a year older than me, both of us were living on our own and juggling classes and work as we try to sort out our dreams and futures. He asks if I'm hungry, and I recommend my number one, favorite restaurant that I had neglected to visit yet this time around. And it was only a couple feet away. So we walk into 막걸리 쌀롱 (Makgeolli Ssallong), where only one other table was filled on the late Tuesday evening. A girl sat in the table next to us, a cheese board and pitcher of blended 막걸리 to herself. The restaurant is known for their wild variations on 막걸리, ranging from yogurt/fruit bowls, to cocktails, to smoothies. They even feature three different sets of 막걸리 cocktail samplers if you're having a difficult time deciding. We order a banana strawberry 막걸리 smoothie and 김치해물전 (kimchi haemeul jeon | kimchi seafood jeon). We end up talking with the girl and inviting her to our table, learning that she was visiting from Thailand and was traveling alone. Her choice in 막걸리 (ream cheese smoothie) was appalling, but her kindness made up for it. We shared our meal with her as well, and then split up to bounce around a few bars and clubs before calling it a night. 태림 walks me home, and we agree to meet the next morning for a cup of coffee.
That's how you do the last night in 서울  my friends.