SNU stands for Seoul National University, my current work place. My office is in a very modern building - there really aren't any primitive or old ones anywhere on campus - with a nice brick & window panel architecture. The dining hall is a beautiful white building with a glass entrance, which leads to the stories of the day: eating in Korean dining halls. At first glance it's not so different: choose your meal, buy a voucher, get a tray, get the food, sit, eat. But then there is the soup. Usually very clear, either with sea weed or other stuff. I wasn't truly thrilled and was a bit surprised that every single Korean took one. But hardly anyone ate it, most ate a little or nothing. Near the end, th
e Koreans start pooring all their left-overs into the soup. Seemed like a good idea to me, since with a bit rice and meat in it, it might actually taste better. Note at this point that the main dishes were really tasty so far. But no, turns out it's just the 'trash can'. You're actually in trouble if you didn't take one, since at the tray return every plate has to be empty except for the food bowl. So on we go in single file to a place with tons of metal cups near the exit. Everyone takes one, fills it with water at a machine a step further, drinks it and returns it to a tray yet another step down. Then everyone leaves through the exit, not ever really having stopped walking. Luckily there are water dispensers everywhere giving you free, cold, good water. In my office, I just push my chair back a bit and get some of it. Glorious. And free.
SNU stands for Seoul National University, my current work place. My office is in a very modern building - there really aren't any primitive or old ones anywhere on campus - with a nice brick & window panel architecture. The dining hall is a beautiful white building with a glass entrance, which leads to the stories of the day: eating in Korean dining halls. At first glance it's not so different: choose your meal, buy a voucher, get a tray, get the food, sit, eat. But then there is the soup. Usually very clear, either with sea weed or other stuff. I wasn't truly thrilled and was a bit surprised that every single Korean took one. But hardly anyone ate it, most ate a little or nothing. Near the end, th
e Koreans start pooring all their left-overs into the soup. Seemed like a good idea to me, since with a bit rice and meat in it, it might actually taste better. Note at this point that the main dishes were really tasty so far. But no, turns out it's just the 'trash can'. You're actually in trouble if you didn't take one, since at the tray return every plate has to be empty except for the food bowl. So on we go in single file to a place with tons of metal cups near the exit. Everyone takes one, fills it with water at a machine a step further, drinks it and returns it to a tray yet another step down. Then everyone leaves through the exit, not ever really having stopped walking. Luckily there are water dispensers everywhere giving you free, cold, good water. In my office, I just push my chair back a bit and get some of it. Glorious. And free.
No comments:
Post a Comment