A Rare Lunch Date with My Three Co-Teachers at 석화정 (Seokhwajeong)

Sookhee, my amazing Fulbright co-teacher, has been in the habit of mercifully saving me from the, sometimes, mind-numbing monotony of school life by inviting me to eat lunch outside of school. I don't know why, but my usual reaction usually goes like this:

ME: ...we will what?!
SOOKHEE: We will eat lunch outside today! 
ME: ...why? [raised eyebrow]
SOOKHEE: You know, it's nice weather today [refers to the window overlooking a sunny day that I had, somehow, been oblivious to all morning]
ME: ...hmmm...[and then, feeling strangely loyal to cafeteria food, I ask] But - what about school lunch?
SOOKHEE: [laughs hysterically at me] Aren't you tired of school lunch? 
ME: Mmm, it's okay...
SOOKHEE: You must be tired of eating same food everyday, right? Just be ready. After fourth period, we will go
ME: [still feeling like we're students skipping class] SOOKHEE, ARE YOU SURE THIS IS OKAY TO DO? 

SOOKHEE: Yes! Of course. We are free to have lunch at school, at home, anywhere!

ME: Yeah, I knew that. I'll be ready by then. 

And so it was that, today, I had the extra special opportunity to go out for lunch with not just Sookhee, but also with my other two wonderful co-teachers: Eunyeong and Miyeon.

Here we are after Miyeon seonsaengnim (teacher) drove us around in circles around the island before finding the restaurant. 

Here I am with Eunyeong seonsaengnim and Sookhee seonsaengnim, clearly having adapted the Korean way of dressing up for work

Entering the restaurant and not knowing what type of food would be served

Most Korean restaurants have you take off your shoes before entering

I have been so blessed to have known these women!

Our table before our super delicious orders arrived. No joke, SUPER delicious.

We ate oyster soup and seafood Korean pancake, both of which reawakened my somewhat dormant excitement over the everyday act eating and feeding myself.

I even took a photo of the restaurant name and contact number, just in case I return by myself

Here they are again: Miyeon, Eunyeong, and Sookhee

A breath of fresh air, a nice change of scene were just the things I needed to continue on with this 9-hour work-day! Oh, and the hot caramel macchiatto Sookhee bought for me after lunch. No complaints here.

MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU
When bored, falling asleep, or feeling completely out of it, what brings you back to the present? Is there a person who usually comes in and helps yank you out of the thick haze of monotonous being? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.