Rainy season is upon us, and as it poured and poured this afternoon, there was only one thing that could move us from our apartment. A great cultural experience? Nope. Learning Korean? Nah. Exploring this strange little country we’re in? No, no, no. Pancakes!

We were recently informed that only three subway stops away waits a small mecca of pancakes and foreign goods tucked away in the town of Jeongja. Only the truly adventurous can find these places hidden down windy streets, past numerous love motels and in some building complex (this is how it was described to us) a 10 minute walk from the subway station.

So with our fellow teacher’s hand-drawn map in hand, we set off in search of breakfast foods and western wonders.

A misty Jukjeon Station waiting for the train.

Butterfinger Pancakes is an amazing restaurant that sells Denny’s-esque breakfasts that taste right (i.e. they don’t put corn and potatoes where they shouldn’t be, and the pancakes were delicious!) It was worth the soaked shoes.

This may seem a little ridiculous for pancakes, but it’s been six months. After gorging ourselves on eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns (and of course pancakes), we stopped at a store called “I Heart Cookie” that sells a lot of foreign goods…

including “Wild Mountain Honey.” (Isn’t that a song by Steve Miller Band?)

And where would you be without U.S. government, ready-to-eat vegetarian meals? We didn’t buy any, but not because it says commercial resale is unlawful. It just probably tastes awful. We did pick up miracle whip, black olives, ranch dressing and dill pickles (not to be eaten together, of course).

The store was located in some building complex, but it had a lot of cute stores, restaurants and outdoor landscapes, like this tree, which looks cool in the rain.

On the way back to the subway, it was still raining, but this is some water we could actually laugh about.