I’m working an insanely demanding job, with a long commute spread across many buses and trains, which take me a 10-hour stint of intense concentration.  Unfortunately, I’m still on our travel budget, which is still hobbling along after Japan.  So what sees me through the day?

Starts with a 900 KRW ($.75) can of coffee.  I like this brand because it’s not packed with sugar, which usually just leads to a sugar crash midday, always an awful experience at this job.  Also, I ate some instant ramen: 600 KRW ($.50). Total: 1500 KRW ($1.25)

Then lunch…

Another coffee, 2 of those nifty rice packaged triangles, plus a Snickers splurge.  Total: 2300 KRW ($2).

And dinner at my new favorite place around the hostel…

I got 2 small sandwiches, both delicious, but the best part is the free bread crusts.  Making each sandwich at this place leaves some bread scraps, which are collected and offered as a kind of appetizer.  They also give you strawberry jam.  Man do I love (free) wheat bread crust and (free) jam.  Total: 3000 KRW ($2.75)

Today, I got away with eating for only 6800 KRW ($5.50).  And who says Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world…