A Brief Explanation

I assume that most people reading this are people who already know me and that I'm in Korea teaching English. I told some of my friends and family members I would start a blog before I left so they could keep tabs on me. When I arrived in Korea, the idea of making a blog about my "adventures in Korea" seemed weird, because I'm primarily here to work. Obviously, I do fun things worth writing about sometimes. But I'm mostly a working stiff.

After a few weeks here, I noticed myself obsessing over snacks. This shouldn't be a surprise for most of you (because, like I said, people who would read this probably know me pretty well already). Anyway, I've been getting into the Korean snacking culture--street food, candy bars, sodas, etc.--and I decided I would be much more motivated to write about Korean snacks than about myself. I do realize a blog about snacks might not be what my friends and relatives had in mind when I told them I might start a blog.

But don't worry, discourse community. Beneath the I-don't-want-to-make-a-dumb-blog-about-myself veneer, there is a young man that aches to talk about himself, and only needed to make a blog that's ostensively about snacks so he could seem blasé about living abroad. I'm sure tidbits about my life in Korea will be (deftly) mixed into my (eloquent) snack write-ups. Think of this blog as Eat Pray Love, but for K-snacks. Except without Italian food and a painfully obvious message about living in The Moment or whatever. Actually, I don't know that much about the aforementioned book/movie. In fact, it kind of seems like the type of movie/book that I would hate enough to quit whichever book club made me read it. So maybe don't think of this as Eat Pray Love (sans entitled middle-aged woman, plus Korean snacks). Maybe think of this blog as On the Road if Kerouac loved snacks as much as pancakes, jazz music, and drugs. That's actually a pretty bad comparison as well. I suppose it's best if you think of me as Liz Lemon in Korea and substitute snacks for sandwiches.

How this will work: I will pick a snack every week or so and write about it. I realize the term snack is flexible, and some of my posts may blur the lines of what you think a snack is. Your understanding of snacks--something you thought was simple--might be challenged and complicated, which is what I want. I honestly hope we all come out of this with a more nuanced take on snacking. To me, a snack is basically any food that isn't a full meal, so don't bust my balls if I showcase a soft drink or something and it doesn't fit your idea of what a snack should be. We're here to grow. I know you all totally care enough about snacks to challenge me about the nature of snacks on my own snack blog, so I figured I'd address the issue early.

Okay so that's it for now. My first snack post should be up pretty soon. I already picked the snack I'll be using, but I want to see if I can get some better photos of it. The ones I took last night were un...great.

If you're reading this blog, you're most likely a loved one or at least someone I like a lot, so I'll take a few KBs to say, "Hi, everything's great. Please email me (tylerdr.ape@gmail.com), add me on Skype (my username is ty.draper), or chat with me on facebook. If you don't use any of the technology I mentioned, consider this an invitation to join us in the year 2011. We're all having a blast. I love you (or like you a lot), and miss you."