We left the casino and made our way to Felix’s Oyster Bar.  This has turned in to our go-to place for seafood.  We ordered our favorite beer and a dozen char-grilled oysters.  We also ordered a couple of shrimp-oyster Po-boys and were enjoying our dinner when suddenly we kept overhearing a group of customers speaking Korean.  The hostess had sat a group of four a few tables behind us, and it was fairly obviously that they really didn’t know what to order.  Since I have been embarrassed before by trying to help a bilingual speaker navigate in English, neither JJ or I got up.  After listening to them struggle for a few minutes, I finally walked over, greeted them in Korean, and asked if I could help.  They were happy with the assistance and my help consisted of getting JJ to translate for them.  They ordered a few different dishes and seemed to like the jambalaya, and they all claimed that it reminded them of bokumbap.  Both the Koreans and the waiter seemed relieved that JJ was their to help translate.  It brought back memories of my first visit to Kimbap Cheonguk, and the nice older lady who spoke enough English to come to my rescue and help me order. At that time, this looked like nothing but a bunch of gibberish.  I can only imagine what the menu at Felix’s looked like to the group of Koreans.

We said goodbye to the grateful Koreans and headed down to Bourbon Street for fun.  We tried to break up our usual New Orleans agenda and try a couple different venues.  We hit Tropical Isle to see if my buddy’s band was playing, and unfortunately, they were scheduled for Saturday afternoon so we missed seeing them.  We did stick around and have a Hand Grenade and listen to the band, The Hangovers.  They were pretty good, but we only caught the last 30 minutes of their last set so we left and moved down to Pazzo’s to listen to their band.  For a Thursday night, the bars were very empty, but we still had a great time.  I was shocked that the bars were so empty since there are two big football games coming up.  The Saints play the Lions in an NFL playoff game on Saturday, and the BCS championship game is on Monday night.  We saw members of both Alabama’s and LSU’s football team enjoying the Quarter and the casino, and ran into a few players hustling back to their hotel to meet their 12 am curfew.  I guess most fans were going to arrive on Friday.  Which was kind of nice since we had the place almost to ourselves.

Potent, but Tasty Hand Grenade

We stayed at Pazzoo’s for awhile even though I wasn’t real happy about paying $27 for two drinks, but the band was good so we stayed for about an hour.  We ended the night at Pat O’ Briens piano bar as usual.  We had one drink, requested a few songs, and then decided to crash out for the night.  It was a nice break from Hattiesburg, and it was great trying a few different establishments.  I actually have a list of other restaurants and bars that I want to visit, but those will have to wait for our next break from school.  We will be back in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but there is no way we will be able to visit any of the more popular restaurants/bars since the city is so crowded.

We woke up late, checked out, and made our way to the Korean grocery store across town.  We had lunch at the Vietnamese restaurant next door, made a few purchases at the grocery, and headed back to Hattiesburg.  We have a little more than a week before our final semester starts, and JJ and I are both excited about getting this last semester behind us.

We left the office and headed to the French Quarter where we had lunch at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.  I had the the ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’ and thought it was great. We also enjoyed a couple of margaritas that were delicious.  The quick meal was good, but overpriced.

Slightly over-priced, but delicious

We left Jimmy Buffett’s and headed to Jackson Square to hear the street musicians, but on the way we noticed that ESPN had set up their Game Day studio in the far corner of the square.  They were filming, and we stopped to take in a couple of minutes of the action.  Can anyone explain the screen that is behind the analysts in the below photograph?  I am curious as to how it appears clear when shot from the front, but clearly mesh-like from behind, lighting maybe?

We left the ESPN sets and moved over to the cathedral where the street musicians are always playing.  During my undergraduate years, I would come down to the Quarter and sit around for hours listening to these guys play.  I am sure that these are not the same musicians that I listened to ten years ago, but they were just as good.

This guy got big tips.

We checked into our free hotel room (Thank you, Marriott Points), and rested up for a big night on the town which I will write about in a second post.

We headed to New Orleans after school on Tuesday, and took advantage of my Marriott points.  We grabbed dinner at Felix’s (Right Across from Acme), and we were both impressed with dinner and the service. If you find yourself in New Orleans and do not want to wait in line at Acme, you should try Felix’s.

A Nice Cold Andygator

Seafood Gumbo

Char-grilled Oysters with French Bread for Dipping

The Spread

We left dinner and headed to Pat O’ Briens to enjoy the Piano Bar. Since we don’t have access to a Korean-style singing room, I guess this is the next best thing.  We had planned on only staying about an hour, but we ended up having a blast and staying longer than planned.  We left the Piano Bar and walked over to Harrah’s to play some low-stakes roulette. After losing a few dollars, it was time for a late night snack, and we somehow ended up at Krystal.  We got up on Wednesday, had Pho for lunch, and then did some grocery shopping at the Korean market in Metairie.  We got back to Hattiesburg in time for a nap, and although we had a great time, we missed having the traditional Thanksgiving dinner

A Little Too Early, But We Got Great Seats

After working non-stop for ten hours on my article and classwork, I decided that So-Hee needed a close-up so I broke out my flash stands and umbrellas. These smaller versions really do not give the images justice. They are going to look great enlarged and printed out.

One Cat One Light

Dramatic Kitty

It was a great trip that wasn’t long enough.  We really didn’t do much besides making a trip to the Elk and Bison viewing area at the Land Between the Lakes and driving over to Illinois for a quick stop at the casino.  As soon as we got to the casino, everyone headed to the restrooms except for me.  In the 3 minutes they were gone, I won $300, printed out my winning ticket, and hid it in my wallet.  I ended up giving JJ some gambling money and spent a little more of my winnings playing poker.  After paying for dinner and gas and funding JJ’s gambling fund, I still came out ahead, which is always a great feeling.

The trip was entirely to short, but we will actually get to see my grandparents again very soon.  My mother has two younger siblings, and my grandparents alternate Christmas vacations between the three children.  This is our year, and we are all looking forward to seeing them when they come down to Mississippi for the holiday.

Bacon, Eggs, Biscuits, and Grits are a Great Way to Start the Day

My Grandfather aka MacGyver at work saving me a couple of hundred dollars.

Getting Acquainted with Cleo

JJ is the Animal Whisperer

Frying some Catfish and Hushpuppies

JJ and Gram

Looking Back at a Field of Bison

The was the only bull we saw

#575 was not happy with our presence

Not as good as my Grandmother's home-cooked meals

Wanhee Taking a Shot

Although we all had a great time, I had a hard time not thinking about all the school work that I had due.  I struggled with knowing that as soon as I returned to Mississippi, I was going to have to give up all my free time for awhile to finish a paper.   Although this weekend was homecoming and was supposed to be a great football game, JJ and I both had so much work that we had to give up our seats.  I ended up giving away my tickets to a friend so at least someone enjoyed our seats.  The rest of the semester is going to be fairly high-paced and JJ and I are already getting excited about Thanksgiving break.

We spent the night we our friends Joanne and Troy and got to meet Paxton for the first time. When we left Korean, Joanne had just announced she was pregnant so we were excited about meeting the little one.

Go Eagles To The Top

JJ and Paxton

Man...Do I miss real Korean food.

We also met up with Adam. I hired Adam to work at his first hagwon in Dongtan. He singed on with another school last year but found the time to hang out with us in Seoul.

Met up with our good friend Adam.

Samgyupsal

Our nephew Jin Sol

Song and JJ worked at the same Math hagwon for a few years. We went up to Incheon to hang out with him for a night. Another great night of drinking, eating, and sharing stories.

We also met our good friend Song-Sam for tuna sushi

I could eat this everyday.

Ox Neck Soup 해장국

We spent a day at the Jeju Stone Park and Museum, and although the weather was crap for photography, we had a nice time. We got rained on a few times, but were able to visit the museum when the rain really came down. There were a few trails throughout the park, and I believe that we walked most of them. The park was was nearly vacant; I don’t believe that we passed anyone while walking on the short trails.

This photo doesn't do justice to their size.

Our Group

Reservoir Dogsish

My MIL posing.

Picnic Time

Korean Picnic Food

Final stop for a bit of rest

I am in the process of removing the conditions on JJ’s “green” card.  Since we were married less than two years when we applied for her VISA, she was only given a conditional permanent resident visa.  I need to supply a host of information/documents proving that we are really married and give Uncle Sam a check for almost $1,000.  Lovely.  At least the fee was not a surprise and we have been anticipating spending this money for about a year now.  I have collected most of our documents, but still need to get a couple of letters proving our relationship written by my parents and a friend of ours, and I need to edit some of our photos that show that we have traveled together and have a real life here in Mississippi.

I finalized my work schedule on Friday, and I am very pleased with my hours.  I work split shifts everyday except Mondays, but it looks likes I will be off on Fridays.  JJ still doesn’t know her schedule yet.  She will be teaching Math 99 this term so she will have to hold office hours and work less hours in the Math Tutoring Center.  Hopefully, our shcedules will match up once again since we only have one mode of transportation.

I am trying to taking advantage of the extra time so I am about to walk outside and attempt to exercise.  74 degrees at 5AM is not that bad for Mississippi.

248.8

I am a big fan of Korea food and have been looking forward to my mother-in-law’s food since we left Korea almost two years ago.  I even did fine with the Korean style breakfast that we were served.  I am not a big breakfast eater, and have always had trouble with eating soup and fish for breakfast in Korea, but I think that I missed Korean food so much that it was not a problem. The only issue I had was trying to explain that I was full and could not have seconds or thirds.  If you have ever tried to tell a Korean mother that you are full, then you know exactly what I am talking about it.  My claims that I was full were always met with more offers of extra food.  I pretty much spent the whole time in Jeju stuffed from being fed great meals that were always followed by some kind of fruit.

I need this at my house.

옥돔 or Okdom is probably one of my favorite Jeju meals.  The fish is caught near an island about 10 km away from Jeju.  My MIL always serves this at breakfast, and usually for dinner as well.

Okdom (옥돔) every morning for breakfast

Homemade Kongguksu (콩국수)

JJ making Bipimbap

Galbi JJim

Seaweed soup

Go-Stop is a very popular Korean card game, and it has played an important part in building a relationship with my mother-in-law. When my wife told her parents that she was in a serious relationship with a non-Korean in 2007, I was invited down to Jeju for a visit over the Chuesok holiday.  My MIL was impressed that I could eat her Korean food, but I also think that she was really impressed that I knew how to play Go-Stop and would actually take her money. (Actually, it was usually her taking my money).  Whenever we talk on the phone, MIL and I always joke about playing Go-Stop.  After two years, it was great to sit down, play a few hands, and give her all my money.  I am not the fastest player and am always reminded to hurry up and “eat” my cards.  JJ and I forgot to buy a few sets of the cards before we left two years ago so I picked up a few decks so that we can start playing more often.

Mother-in-law shuffling after taking my money

JJ with her Mom

Kids all over the world are the same.  Give them a writing instrument, and the wall is the first thing they turn to.  My niece decided to do a little redecorating on her last trip to Jeju.  My niece, whose last name is 박, must have recently learned how to write her name. Unfortunately, she and her mother live in Dajeon, and JJ and I were unable to visit them.

Glad to see that in my absence I have not been be removed from the fridge.

The bad weather actually worked out pretty well.  It gave us a chance to spend some great quality time with JJ’s parents, and there was not worrying about feeling guilty about not getting outside, but after spending a couple days cooped up inside, we were ready to get out.  More photos to come later today.