It's the Most Wonderful (Movie) Time of the Year!

Hey everyone! As you may know, on top of Winter being the most wonderful holiday time of the year, it is also the best time of the year for movies! I have already seen a few movies throughout my 5 and a half months in Korea but I have a strong feeling my cinema outings will increase dramatically. Especially considering I saw a movie last week and this week. Whoa. It's like I'm in the States again--frequenting the movie theater several times a month!

ANYWAY. I'm sure you want me to stop with the sentimental narrative and just talk about my movie theater experience in South Korea and the actual movies I saw.

Last Saturday, I saw Interstellar with my coworker, Sue. We got some dinner first--delicious BBQ! The movie was fantastic as well. I can't remember the last time I saw a movie where I could say it truly kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It is a looong movie but man, it kept my attention for the whole 3 hours. Visually, it was stunning. Even though I didn't have the opportunity to see it in IMAX, the effects and cinematography were still beautiful. Korea is going nuts over Interstellar. Which is funny because it doesn't seem to be a big deal in the States. I don't know why--I think it's fantastic and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys astronomical science fiction. Apparently even some astronauts approve of it! So you know it must be good!

Tonight I saw the Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. Duh. Obviously I'm going to see the new Hunger Games movie the very first chance I get. Here is my spoiler-free impression of the movie: bland, plain, and nothing more than the bare minimum of what I expected it to be. I definitely didn't walk away with a boggled mind or saying "wow," like I did with Catching Fire. It's not that I thought it was boring--I was entertained for sure but it was lacking some serious "oomph."

So how is the Korean movie-going experience?
Well first of all, you can carry any food you want into the theater! In fact, there was a couple two seats away from me tonight that brought in a Pizza Hut pizza. Yeah. Amazing.

The concession stand is interesting. You can get a hot dog but it comes sans bun. They also have churros, nachos, and Korean walnut cakes. No Icees but they sell different fruit-ades at the theater I went to a couple times. I got a special set thing when I was with Sue. 2 "ades" and 1 popcorn with two flavors of your choice (cheese, caramel, or garlic) for about $12.00

I chose caramel and garlic. The caramel was divine. The garlic was okay. I would prefer regular butter flavor.

Pomegranate-ade! US theaters need to get this stuff. But keep the Icees too!

When you buy your movie ticket, you pick your seat. Which is awesome! I think US theaters should have assigned seating. It's annoying when you buy tickets for a movie in advance and still have to go to the theater early to ensure a good seat. What.

The downside of movie tickets here is that they do not make for good souvenirs. I like to keep my tickets but the only kind I've seen in Korea look like this:

It's just a receipt! Lame!

However, the theaters have these really cool flyers in the lobby for all the theaters that I like to snag as souvenirs.

I haven't seen all these movies but I thought the flyers would be nice to send home to friends

Mockingjay!

Interstellar!

Another difference I've noticed is the number of seats in theaters. You know those seats directly in front of the screen where no one sits because they genuinely want to but rather, they underestimated the popularity of the movie they are seeing so they got stuck there and walked away from the movie with a stiff neck? Korean theaters don't even have them! There's like this big space between the screen and first row of seats. It's strange!

Also, like every building in Korea, movie theaters are stacked vertically. Thank goodness for escalators!

Something I really miss about going to movie theaters in the States is movie trailers! In Korea, they show normal television commercials instead of movie trailers. It feels weird and unnatural. Movie trailers are like the appetizers for a cinematic feast!

Movies I have seen in Korea so far:

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Guardians of the Galaxy

The Maze Runner

Annabelle

Interstellar

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

I'm looking forward to seeing The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Into the Woods next month. I'll probably see Battle of the Five Armies opening day but it won't be the same without all my American friends who share my enthusiasm for it!

BBQ with Sue!

So cute!

 Music I listened to while writing this post: the John Denver/Muppets Christmas album. Go ahead and judge me for listening to Christmas music "too early." I regret nothing.

Staying Warm

For the most part, I haven't had much trouble staying warm but I am prepared for a chilly winter. Before I came to Korea I received many warnings about the relentless, deathly cold Korean Winter. I'm convinced everyone was being a little over-dramatic. For people who like charts (represent!), you can see here that the biggest difference in climate between Denver and Gwangju is the humidity level. Which I'm assuming will not be a fun experience. But really. I can handle it.

[hide]Climate data for Denver (DIA), 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1872−present[a]
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	76 (24)	77 (25)	84 (29)	90 (32)	95 (35)	105 (41)	105 (41)	105 (41)	97 (36)	90 (32)	80 (27)	79 (26)	105 (41)
Average high °F (°C)	44.0 (6.7)	46.2 (7.9)	54.4 (12.4)	61.5 (16.4)	71.5 (21.9)	82.4 (28)	89.4 (31.9)	87.2 (30.7)	78.5 (25.8)	65.3 (18.5)	52.1 (11.2)	42.8 (6)	64.6 (18.1)
Average low °F (°C)	17.4 (−8.1)	18.9 (−7.3)	26.4 (−3.1)	33.3 (0.7)	42.7 (5.9)	52.3 (11.3)	58.9 (14.9)	57.9 (14.4)	48.3 (9.1)	36.6 (2.6)	24.5 (−4.2)	17.1 (−8.3)	36.2 (2.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−29 (−34)	−25 (−32)	−11 (−24)	−2 (−19)	19 (−7)	30 (−1)	42 (6)	40 (4)	17 (−8)	−2 (−19)	−18 (−28)	−25 (−32)	−29 (−34)
Precipitation inches (mm)	0.41 (10.4)	0.37 (9.4)	0.92 (23.4)	1.71 (43.4)	2.12 (53.8)	1.98 (50.3)	2.16 (54.9)	1.69 (42.9)	0.96 (24.4)	1.02 (25.9)	0.61 (15.5)	0.35 (8.9)	14.30 (363.2)
Snowfall inches (cm)	7.0 (17.8)	5.7 (14.5)	10.7 (27.2)	6.8 (17.3)	1.1 (2.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1.3 (3.3)	4.0 (10.2)	8.7 (22.1)	8.5 (21.6)	53.8 (136.7)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.1	5.3	5.9	9.1	9.4	8.4	8.3	8.6	6.5	5.3	4.7	4.1	79.7
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	5.0	5.3	5.8	4.1	0.6	0	0	0	0.5	1.8	4.9	5.3	33.3
% humidity	55.2	55.8	53.7	49.6	51.7	49.3	47.8	49.3	50.1	49.2	56.3	56.6	52.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours	215.3	211.1	255.6	276.2	290.0	315.3	325.0	306.4	272.3	249.2	194.3	195.9	3,106.6
Percent possible sunshine	72	70	69	69	65	70	71	72	73	72	65	67	70
Source: NOAA (sun 1961−1990)[51][57][58][59]

[hide]Climate data for Gwangju (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	5.3 (41.5)	7.8 (46)	13.0 (55.4)	19.6 (67.3)	24.3 (75.7)	27.5 (81.5)	29.6 (85.3)	30.7 (87.3)	26.9 (80.4)	21.8 (71.2)	14.6 (58.3)	8.1 (46.6)	19.1 (66.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.6 (33.1)	2.5 (36.5)	7.0 (44.6)	13.2 (55.8)	18.3 (64.9)	22.4 (72.3)	25.6 (78.1)	26.2 (79.2)	21.9 (71.4)	15.8 (60.4)	9.1 (48.4)	3.1 (37.6)	13.8 (56.8)
Average low °C (°F)	−3.1 (26.4)	−1.8 (28.8)	2.1 (35.8)	7.5 (45.5)	13.0 (55.4)	18.2 (64.8)	22.5 (72.5)	22.8 (73)	17.8 (64)	10.9 (51.6)	4.5 (40.1)	−0.9 (30.4)	9.5 (49.1)
Precipitation mm (inches)	37.1 (1.461)	47.9 (1.886)	60.8 (2.394)	80.7 (3.177)	96.6 (3.803)	181.5 (7.146)	308.9 (12.161)	297.8 (11.724)	150.5 (5.925)	46.8 (1.843)	48.8 (1.921)	33.5 (1.319)	1,391 (54.764)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	11.0	9.0	9.5	8.9	9.3	10.7	15.5	14.9	9.8	6.8	9.0	10.0	124.4
% humidity	67.7	65.2	62.9	61.9	66.4	72.8	80.0	78.1	74.3	68.4	68.1	68.8	69.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours	159.9	164.6	192.0	213.0	222.8	169.2	145.4	172.6	172.3	205.2	163.6	155.9	2,136.3
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[3]

Regardless, I do not enjoy the cold! Here is how I am keeping warm through autumn so far:

I don't have a space heater but I have this boiler gizmo that heats my floor.

I really enjoy the floor heating!

Kimchi stew! Mmmm

It's especially nice to eat warm kimchi stew while sitting on my warm floor

I usually start my day with a cup of herbal tea

Thank goodness for electric blankets!

I'm not positive what all the Korean on the control says but all that matters is I know how to turn it on

I've been stocking up on sweaters and long sleeved shirts

And I bought delightfully cozy mittens. I love the reindeer on them!

I don't know how much I'll be travelling in the near future with winter on its way. This is why I decided to sign up for a 7 week Korean language class on Saturdays. Saturdays are usually my only day to do an out-of-town adventure but they are also the only day I can do a Korean class at the Gwangju International Center. So, I figured this was a good time during the year to take the classes. I hope everyone else is staying warm! It sounds like most of my friends and family in the States have already had their first snow. No snow here yet but I'm already dreaming of a White Christmas!

New Blog: Insanity in South Korea!

Hello friends and family! I have been struggling with consistently making healthful choices in Korea. Boo. After a few weeks of trying to come up with a solution, I found one! Hooray! I started up a secondary blog to help me track my personal progress and keep myself motivated. I'm just now realizing my first post in the secondary blog does not say when I'm starting-oops! Start date is Monday November 17th.  I'll have to go fix that...anyway! Sorry for that stream-of-consciousness moment haha. Here's the link to my new blog.

Kimchi Chloe is still my primary blog, so stick around! I will have a new Q&A video within the next week for you all to enjoy!

Happy Meal!

Last night I went out to dinner with friends from church in honor of one who is shortly leaving for a mission. The meal was very delicious, and very spicy! I didn't catch the name of the restaurant but it was unlike any restaurant I've ever been in. 

This barbecue restaurant has an outdoorsy atmosphere, between the gravel on the ground, the plastic chairs, and wood walls. It feels like camping! Which is fun. However, the seating arrangement is a little tedious. I had to readjust my seat many times because it kept shifting in the rocks!

Group picture!

This is what we ate. Very spicy ribs with cheese (and corn)

Apparently there is an art to eating these

This style of galbi was very new to me. So I looked a little silly trying to eat it

And I got a little frustrated with my chopsticks haha

But the bottom of the cheese got burned, which was very delicious and made me happy

All finished?

Nope! We ordered some rice to fry up with the leftover sauce, corn , and cheese

So much fun!

Songyi! She's so awesome. Love her!

After dinner, we went to one of our friend's musical performance

Music I listened to while writing this post: Tally Hall