craving korean

Today I’m craving Korean food; not just any Korean food but my Mom’s Korean food. What I’m craving is beyond the consuming and tasting of a favorite food choice. It is excellent taste along with the sight of my Mom in her element and the feeling of being so at home. Food is her love language and specialty. I can imagine Matt and I sitting at my parent’s kitchen island, as we would on occasional visits, eagerly waiting as she fries Mandu or Buchingae for us. I know she will always enjoy cooking for us like children no matter how old we become. I can picture her taking a piece of rinsed lettuce leaf in her hand while she fills it with rice, Gochijang, Chaldobaegi, jalepeno and garlic pieces and puts the entire fist sized ball into her mouth. She would then wait for us to do the same while knowing she will not be surpassed in the amount she can fit in her mouth while still mananging to chew and swallow. I can almost taste the seasoned meat, the fresh, spicy, crunchy bites of Kimchi or Lettuce wraps, the crisp steaming Mandu...Mashiseo yo!

Ode to Freiburg

Bicycles bumping on cobblestone
Rushing dreisam
The smell of warm, fresh bread baking
and inviting
The sound of milk frothing and sweet espresso dripping
into drinkable artwork in glass cups

on outdoor tables at cafe after cafe

Kido, Gaf Gaf, Cartola and Holzpferd
leading to the Augustiner Platz
and lining my favorite streets
in Freiburg

Chang’s with Natalie
Mensa meals with strangers
Eis with Lisa on the roof of Karstadt
Latte Macchiato’s with Navina
with Steffi and Christina
Smart students singing to Jesus like children on Thursday nights
Our team stuffing apartments with brunch
and the unique laughter
of empty spaces that became family
Walking hand in hand with the man I love
in the city I adore
where
life moves a little slower
there are small spaces
to squeeze through a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings
and time to race for the strassenbahn
and miss it
and moments to watch a city pass by on foot
while listening to the sound of German, everywhere.