Adventures of an American Seoul-Sister

Adventures and Observations of an American Seoul-Sister

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bi Bim Bap -- My First Taste of Korea

My first taste of Korea I owe entirely to Asiana Airlines.  I was waiting in line at 10 am when their check-in counter ceremoniously opened.  About ten men and women, in 1950's-esque airline uniforms lined up in front of the counter.  The speakers played a lovely Korean song (probably their national anthem) and a friendly greeting, along with some self-praise for winning Best Airline Ever.  Then, the entire service team sweetly smiled and bowed deeply to the queue before going behind the counter to serve us.  This little taste of Korean culture gave me some insight into their national pride and impecible manners.

The seats had plenty of leg room.  The personal touch-screen TV's featured tons of movies and even video games.  Each seat had a clean pillow and blanket, a headset, and a pair of slippers.  The restrooms had lotion, toothbrushes and toothpaste! 

No one can ever complain about the food on Asiana Airlines.  It was fantastic and abundant.  I chose the Korean dish Bi Bim Bap for my main meal--my first taste of real Korean food.  It's steamed rice mixed with meat, veggies, and lots of Korean spicy paste, served with broth and kim chi on the side, warm tea, and fresh melon as dessert.  I look forward to eating much more Bi Bim Bap in the near future. 

You were right, Kyra; the chopsticks are metal. 

Keep checking back.  Next time, I will have pics.