Novice Home Baker Series: Late Nite Loaf

Just had to write down the recipe before I forget.
It started raining late this afternoon and the temperature has dropped a bit for me so I just had to bake some bread. I haven't exactly baked for more than two weeks I think. This is all rough from my head.

2 C bread flour

1/2 C whole wheat

1/2 C ground and boiled oat groats

3-4 t sugar

2.25 t yeast

1 t salt

1/2 C water

1/4 C milk (was running out of milk)

3 T canola oil

Used the bread machine to make the dough. Putting the flour first before adding the rest. Did the whole dough process on the machine.

Then I transferred it to the 9x5 loaf pan for the final rise until it was half an inch above the pan. 

Baked it for about 30-35 minutes. 

I am now waiting for it to cool so I can find out if it is not very grainy that it will fall apart when sliced for a sandwich. 

The Story of Us

I don't know why I kept at this series ever since I checked out the pilot set in El Nido. The story has almost an uncanny similarity to otwol series that has just wrapped up. Sure there are differences but the setting being in US is just all too familiar.

The leads for this series are also newbies when it comes to a little non-comic setting. Even with the strong  support of other veteran casts, the leads really have a lot to work on for. They fared well with previous rom-com a bit but not on this more serious one. It's a struggle to watch the leading man act. I found him cute before with his piano and guitar playing skills in light acting projects but not on this one that demands more serious acting.

Oh, well. I don't think this will end soon though. But come to think of it, maybe it will this month.

Getting a Driver's License in Korea for Foreigners (shortened version, Part 1)

This is my attempt to write a shorter version on how get a Korean driver's license. (I had previously written a few more-detailed entries of my own experience but this one is a waaay shorter entry.)

This is for a total newbie.

I. The most straight-forward way is find a driving school that will accommodate your limited Korean-language skills. Some are not that willing to take on the risk of miscommunication that might result to an accident. 

Driving school academy (437, 800W) which includes the following:

• 1 hour video plus 4 hours lecture with lunch break (but lunch expense is not included) 
• theoretical test that includes a drive going to and fro the testing center
• 1 hour hands-on training for the technical skills test

Then if you passed both test,

• 6 hours road practice for all the 4 courses for the test

Separate testing fees will be needed as follows: 

computerized written test - 7, 500 W 

technical skills test -  37, 500 W (?)

road test - 55, 000 W

Any additional hour of practice you need before you take the road driving test will cost another 55,000/hr. So you either use that 55K to practice two courses or risk it to take the test which you may complete the whole course or barely get out to the road and still fail. It's all up to one's level of confidence. 

II. Semi-DIY. This is an alternative to save on that almost half a million dough. 

You will need: 

• driving test reviewer book
• which may or not come with a DVD - the DVD will be helpful to view videos that may show up in the test (usually 2 questions)
• youtube videos 
• car

So for the computerized written test, one can actually do a self-review using the review materials. But attending or watching a lecture may be more helpful for some people depending on one's learning style. 

As for the technical test, youtube videos will help but an actual hands-on is definitely the way to go. How do you go about that? Hi-jack a car, maybe one that comes with someone willing to give you the basics in operating a car or simply risk it and figure out how to work it. (More info on the test details here.)

Basically, one should be able to figure out and perform the following on cue:

• start the car while holding down the foot brake
• release parking brake
• change from P to D
• use the windshield wiper (turn on and off)
• use the turn signals (turn on, turn left and right)
• use the headlights (high and low beams)
• what to do on emergency (hit the foot brake and the emergency signal)
• drive the car (without the use of accelerator) for 50 m
• turn off the ignition
• change from D to P and 
• set the parking brake

All of the above done with the seat belt on or else!

Notes: 

The computerized written test might will definitely have an English version or other language for that matter. Just make sure you choose the language you are most comfortable with so it will be easier to negate some vague translations. 

The technical test, on the other hand, will have lesser chances of an English version available. It will most likely be in Korean. The instructions are pretty simple though but you have to train your ears on the cues of what and when to execute it. The driving instructor told me to listen for "yo." And remember the to keep the seat belt on from the start until you hear, "hapgyuk imnida" or until the instructor shouts at you to get out of there.   

To be continued...

Driving Lessons: Part 5

Take 2! That's how far I had to go to get the passing score of 76. I wish I could have done better but I didn't realize that it would be easy to get 10 points deductions from the starting point of 100. It's a blessing that I had to take the same course D which I also did last time.

This I saw when I sat behind during another test-taker's turn. We started off all right and she managed to complete the test. She still failed with only 60 points left on her side. She lost ten big points at the corner when she was about to turn left heading into the thoroughfare but was in the 3rd lane instead of the first. She also forgot to go neutral while waiting at the signal light. Another deduction made was when she was turning left from the first lane and ended up in the second lane after the turn. That is textbook mistake. The same thing as hitting the brakes very sharply at the start. The testing instructor pointed these out after the test. Fortunately, I learned something from her mistakes.

When it was my turn, the traffic light was red and it was just a fraction second to decide to go for it and follow the two cars ahead of me. First hurdle done. Now, on to the going-straight at a bit of speed. My next big hurdle is going back later to the big road where I made the mistake last week. I made it coz but I think there was a bit of glitch when I changed lane after turning. I might not have hit the turn signal long enough before I actually made a turn because I was keen on just taking the opportunity to do so while there was no car coming up from behind me.

Another tricky part in course D is the corner between two banks. That is basically the second corner after turning right but there's usually a car park at that corner and another one coming out to join my lane. Which is really not so cool coz I had to change lanes and do the signals in such a short time with other vehicles waiting behind me. Sharp senses, and quick decision-making without breaking any law or hurting anyone or anything for that matter are really the underlining points in driving. That is a challenge that makes driving fun as a beginner!

The driver's license will be available for pick-up next Tuesday after 5 according to the lady after I pay for it. Time and that 7,500 W are what's left standing between me and that driver's license. My birth month goal is almost close to completion.

I can get back to my Korean language learning now with that driving thing behind me.

Driving Lessons: Part 4

The D-day came around and I was very excited to just do it.

I headed there after my lunch class and even had to take a cab coz I was afraid that I'll be late. Turns out, as I've expected, that I still have to wait anyway since they put me second to the last.

My turn to wait more near the "testing tower" came at around 3:15. I watch the testing car leave with another test-taker sitting at the backseat. They were gone twenty minutes later and it came back with the testing instructor behind the wheel. By the looks of the lady who got off the passenger's seat, she didn't look that happy. I was then called on to take the backseat and sign on the tablet. We then headed out, with the older woman test-taker behind the wheel. I'd be watching her take the test. Exciting!

But all my excitement was dashed when the lady barely made it out to the road after almost hitting the wall of the construction site heading out from the academy. The lady has no sense of what she's doing it seems. She hardly used the brakes when she needed to and she was slower than me to turn the steering wheel. She was holding it so hard and has trouble turning it properly. When asked how many hours she has clocked in, she said only eight hours. I would have had the same level of confidence if I hadn't clocked in more hours. We still managed to get on the road but we turned around when the testing instructor had a chance. We pulled over and he took the wheel as he drove us back to the center. It was almost too quick for a 55,000 W ride. He continuously gave extra tips to the lady on our ride back while I try my best to listen in and understand. I was lapping to every tip he gave. haha...I know I can do better than the lady.

My turn came but we had to wait a bit more. Bathroom break. The other girl after me showed up, and took the backseat. I got in the driver's seat, and was asked to click on the tablet again for the random course that I will be tested in. The instructor had asked me a few questions earlier about my nationality, Korean language level and offered me a choice to take it in English. What? There is a choice now?! My online researches were a bit outdated it seems. So going back to my road test, it went fine for the first half of the course. I was able to find my way even after I fumbled with the starting off. I missed the B, I, D and P for a sec (brake, ignition, drive, and parking brake.)

To cut it short, I failed this first attempt. Why? I missed the cue to change lane after crossing to the bigger road. With that one mistake, I didn't have any chance to change lane anymore later on to get to the left side when I was about to exit the road. It was not a good one but it was still exciting. I almost made it back to the academy. My other possible big hurdle was the parallel parking at the end of the test but I didn't made it to that part. Hopefully, I will be able to wing it better next time around.

I had another chance to sit through the other test-taker after my turn since we were the last ones for the day. She clearly was a better one than the older lady. It was almost perfect and she did pass the test. Turned out, it was her 4th time to take the test. *big grin. I don't think I'll hit that mark though. Just one more on that "talking car" and I'll be waiting for my license soon. (I gathered that it only takes a week to get it after passing the road test.)  I immediately had to sign up for the next test schedule.

Oh, well. I know I can do better. I'll just have to be ready again for the next one. I think I should be better with the audio instructions factored in. I will have to go over the individual routes again mentally and note down the change lanes, and other possible bumps. Until the next and final test!