Cooking up some culture

Photo By Sgt. Jesse Smith | A family member from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade cooks a traditional Russian dish April 21 at the Paengseong International Community Center just outside of Camp Humphreys. The cooking class was a way for Soldiers and family members to learn a little bit about the Korean culture.  

PYEONGTAEK, 41, SOUTH KOREA

04.30.2015

Story by Pfc. Chung Il Kim 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea - On a hot fry pan, nicely cut chunky tomatoes were cooking. A chef quickly and secretly put some special ingredients into the pan like a parent hiding Christmas presents under a tree. Surprisingly, the fresh tomatoes transformed into thick liquid tomato purée.

The name of the cook was Jennifer McBroom, the wife of Capt. Philip McBroom, the chaplain for the 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade. She was one of many Soldiers and family members from the 2nd CAB who participated in a cultural exchange cooking class April 21 at the Paengseong International Community Center which was hosted by the Pyeongtaek city government.

The purpose of the program is to build strong bonds among Pyeongtaek citizens, U.S. Soldiers and U.S. families by teaching and learning the culinary cultures of Korea and the U.S.

Pvt. Katrina Murray, a human resource specialist from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division said, "Last week, we learned how to cook bulgogi, a traditional Korean dish, and today, we are teaching the Korean ladies how to cook spaghetti and some other foods."

Murray said she is not an amazing chef, and she mostly enjoys food from the dining facility on Camp Humphreys.

"I love this program because I not only get to learn how to cook, but I also get to learn the Korean language and culture," she said while she prepared spaghetti noodles in a pot.

Mrs. Yong Rae Kim, a 65-year-old Korean woman, said she decided to participate in the program because she loves cooking, and she would like to learn English as well.

"I was a sergeant first class in the Republic of Korea Army, so I'm very familiar with Soldiers and the Army culture," she said.

The program is scheduled to take place every second, third and fourth Tuesday of April, June, October, and December throughout the year 2015. The locations for the program are either the Paengseong International Community Center (April and October) or the Songtan International Community Center (June and December).

Surely, the program was not just about cooking, but involved meaningful cultural communication among the Soldiers, Family members and citizens of Pyeongtaek city to strengthen the alliance with our neighbor communities.

• Date Taken: 04.30.2015
• Date Posted: 04.29.2015 23:27
• Story ID: 161731
• Location: PYEONGTAEK, 41, KR