Three Poems
by Sam Moser, ETA ’14-’16 seoul station i stepped in and said “Hi.” “Seo-eui Elementary School.” And she said “So-wi Elementary?” I said “Seo-eui” again and she said “Seo-wi?” I said no you see “Seo—eui.” She laughed and repeated “Seo-wi.” “Sorry.” I leaned in “Seo—“ Big Breath and “—EUI.” “—hwi.” I smiled and said “Seoul Station, please.” dear coffee dear coffee metronome of life i swear all oaths upon thee may your caffeinated currents outlive Styx and may when i die Priam place a truffle on my mouth and pour a latte to the dust august moon full and wise august moon full and wise like a vagabond priestess flicked holy water at them, purple and smooth, from her crystal aspergillum across the young night and down blessing the lovers who kissed under umbrellas and the ugly frogs too
The Wine House
City: Seoul Shop Name: The Wine House Merchandise type: Liqueur, Cognac, Brandy, Whiskey, Wine Restaurant Address: Seoul-teukbyeol-si Jung-gu Euljiro 6-ga 18-187 (서울특별시 중구 을지로6가 18-187) Link for the location on Naver Maps: http://map.naver.com/local/siteview.nhn?code=18001571 Directions: Take the subway to Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station Exit 2. Exit straight and walk three blocks toward Cheongye Stream (청계전) along the main road. Turn left onto Dadong Road (다동길) and walk one block. The store will be on your left. Living in Seoul this year, it’s been nice to see good craft beer, wine shops, and other varieties of alcoholic beverages becoming more commonplace. Most of the cheaper choices can be found in E-Mart or Costco (for the hard to find imports). The Wine House, though adjacent to the discount clothing stalls of Myeongdong, is not a shop to find cheap deals. This shop caters primarily to the liqueur connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts. Ranging in price from 40,000 won to 600,000 won, The Wine House’s selection of whiskeys, wines, and liqueurs are a marvel. Some of the lower priced items are reasonable if you’re looking for that special gift for your principal, boss, or host family that says “I care enough to buy you a really expensive bottle of wine.” The vast array of designer decanters, glasses, and limited edition bottles definitely makes this a worthwhile stop in your Myeongdong meanderings. The owner, Mrs. Huh is very nice, and if you’re looking for any particular vintage, vintner, or taste pairings, she’s extremely knowledgable. Even if you don’t expect to make a purchase, the shop has the atmosphere of a fine liqueur museum. It is highly recommended, and definitely a 5-star stop in your Seoul window-shopping adventures.
Cafe Mug
Review by Mo Kinsinger, ETA ’15-’16 City: Mokpo Restaurant Name: Cafe Mug Foods Served: Coffee, smoothies, baked goods Restaurant Address: 1001-3 Sinheung-dong, Mokpo View Map Directions: Go to the main square in the center of Rose Street in Hadang. There is a little, man-made lake there with benches, little bridges and a gazebo. In the most north-east corner of this little square, you will see Cafe Mug on the second floor of a dark, new-looking building. There are many cute cafes on Rose Street. That is kind of what Rose Street is famous for. But Cafe Mug stands out, and has turned into a main meeting point for our Mokpo ETA crowd this year. The central location, atmosphere (comfy, old-timey decorations, magazines, and a heated outdoor sitting area), the drinks (really good lattes and yummy smoothies), the fast wifi, and the personable baristas (some of whom are pretty attractive…) have made many of us regulars at this place. If you are wandering Rose Street looking for a place to lesson plan, chat with a friend, or just escae the cold/heat, among the many possible cafes in the area I recommend Cafe Mug.