will do ic.
unfortunately, koreans are a, shall we say, disciplined and formal society. most cooking (and just about everything else that matters around a home) is done by women, and they are strictly controlled by their, umm, regimen.
since the often gregarious and friendly men of the house know very little of the foods they eat, i think initial attempts to bridge a language gap might be difficult. even my korean friends, whom are very americanized, still live by these principles. i can't fault them for it, but only try to understand (against all decency towards women).
i have made preliminary inroads with the neighbors' elder women, trading veggies and the occasional helping hand. i think this spring when i'm turning and tilling my garden ,i'll run the big machine over to theirs to help out. they'll probably object, but when a gardener sees well worked fluffy soil, how can you complain. again, it's all about the soil.
they're amazed that a man takes time away from "work" to garden - boy do they have their women snowed (how many soju at the after hours karaoke meeting today?)..., take care of the yard, cook, and help raise the baby.
i realize that i'm viewed by them down their noses, but it also scares them that they're being outdone. it is after all a macho society.
in a recent snow storm, 3 young guys in their late teens, early 20's stood around watching their dad try to back the car out of the driveway, spinning his wheels forever. after watching their futility, i walked over, grabbed the bumper, and pushed the car out into the street, like i was superman. it was like a miracle happened. embarassed thank yous followed.
then the men left, leaving a 20 inch snow storm for the two 80 plus year old grandmas to dig out. it was embarrasing, so i helped dig them out.
i'm hoping to be able to learn a whole lot about the nuances of korean cuisine, now that a kind of dialogue has begun. i love it, as well as many aspects of korean culture, but is needs to be done with the utmost respect for their system.
you don't survive a millenia of japanese cruelty by faking it, so i'm guessing i have a lot to learn.