When replacements are better ....

I'd like to introduce you to my new and improved family .....

Chihiro (who you've already met) on the left, me in the middle and Saerom (Korea) on the right ..... my replacement student for the Princess.

And believe you-me: this replacement is such a wonderful improvement on my short-lived Colombian daughter. 

Poor Saerom; she arrived when I was just beginning my recent bout with the "black death" flu bug. I mostly just slept, lay on the couch and thawed previously prepared dinners. But she was a darling: always asking if I need tea, water or anything else. She's been in NS since last Sept and has lived in 2 previous homes. But I believe that this is where she belongs.  

Once I began to feel better, I cooked a couple of Korean meals (my favorite food culture) as well as a couple of Japanese meals and a Mexican inspired dish.  Her previous 2 families were not adventurous in their eating, and she thinks everything I cook is fantastic. When I asked her what her favorite food was since arriving in Canada, she replied after a pause and said "Everything you've made so far!" Isn't that sweet!

I love experimenting with food and an appreciative audience; and she and Chihiro are certainly that. I'd say we are a perfect fit. Once again, I'm really enjoying my new kids.  

Usually when the students arrive, we exchange welcome gifts. (The Princess brought nothing .... except a bad attitude!) Chihiro brought me the items on the left: food, chopsticks, a gorgeous fan and a really pretty double picture frame. I certainly didn't expect a gift from Saerom; after all -- I'm Mom #3. But yesterday she had a big box arrive from Korea, and her Mother sent me this beautifully wrapped and boxed lipstick and matching nail polish.  The Asians sure know how to present a gift.

When I picked up the box at the post office, I was remembering the many wonderful care packages from Korea that Elly's Mom sent during her 3 years with me.  And I found myself secretly hoping that this box might contain lots of new and interesting food stuffs that Saerom would share. I was not disappointed.

Some familiar items here but mostly unknown to me. We have a bag of prepared Tteokbokki on the left; (I've only eaten mine and Elly's very poor version.) packages of spicy noodles; wee cans of wonderful Kkaennip and never-before tasted squash and gochujang beef; seasoned Kim (seaweed sheets). And look at that amazingly strange dried fish on the top! 

I'm so excited to have a Korean student again. She and Chihiro get along so well, and with her gregarious nature, she is able to draw Chihiro out of her usual quiet self. And bonus: they're both very excited to go thrift shopping for the first timethe mall. This weekend is the start of March Break for the kids; so Saturday we are off to the city for Value Village, a sample of burger week,the mall, the Japanese/Korean grocer AND a Korean dinner. (I anticipate a Sunday spent happily collapsing on the sofa.) 

So, if and when you ever need to replace something ... or someone, remember:

often the second one can be sooooooo much better than the first!