For the first time in 5 weeks, I am receiving the cooperation that I so desparately need to function. Why is this you may ask. Is it because of some new breakthrough with my co-teachers? Is it due to some cultural wall being torn down between us, allowing us all to live in a utopian wonderland with gumdrop children play in lollipop fields? Long answer: no with a maybe. Short answer: yes with a but.
The actual answer is no. The only reason that I am getting this new-found cooperation is that the time has come for our co-teaching observation/evaluation by some big wig from the Gyeonggi Provincial blah blah blah. I'm still not feeling well. Everytime I eat something, it causes me great pain and hardship. Today I had to come to work just for the morning, so that I could see and correct the lesson plan that my co-teacher made for our special class. There weren't many mistakes, but it upsets me that this is the kind of thing that I want all of the time. In this lesson she has us using power point (which she told me previously NOT to use), we are having fun, students are role playing. Learning English is fun!!!! But just for today.
By the way, I came in today to find that my candy container was down to 3 pieces. Mice? Co-workers? I also brought in a little plastic basket that I bought over the weekend. It's for all of the students' cell phones that I will be confiscating. I simply can't stand the phones anymore. Either they go or my sanity goes. No more text messaging during class. It's strange that all of the teachers agree that it's a problem, but no one does anything about it. Well, the buck stops here boys and girls. If the kids aren't nice when I'm the nice jolly fat American, maybe they'll be respectful when I'm the American that stole their cell phones.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Some Strange Food Choices
We all think of certain things as being a given. This is especially true with food items. What goes with a burger? Maybe some fries or chips. What goes on a pizza? Pepperoni perhaps. What kind of foods do you find on a salad bar? Some nice fruits and veggies perhaps. All of these thoughts have to be out of your mind when you're dining in Korea.
Pizza. When ordering pizza in Korea, you may want to say something you've never thought of saying before. Hold the corn. Yes, corn is a given ingredient for pizza. It's as common as tomato sauce. It's not unpleasant, but it just isn't Kosher in terms of pizza. So, when you're at Pizza Hut, just say "corn, no."
You know what would go great with that corn-free pizza? Breadsticks? Garlic bread? Salad? Nope. How about some nice pickles. They definitely come free with pizza, it's a given. I have a whole shelf in the door of my fridge that is little tubs of pickles from Dominoes Pizza. Don't ask me why they come with pizza, they just do. Perhaps a pregnant woman introduced pizza to Korea.
French fries. Maybe you call them freedom fries. Either way they are good. There is nothing more American than some nice fries with a burger or sandwich. Did you want those hot? Well, don't hold your breath. Fried potatoes are usually served cold here. Ice cold french fries. When I asked my english co-teacher about the cold fries I said "Why are the fries cold?" She simply said "they were hot when they cooked them." Yes, they were hot at 8am when they cooked them for lunch. So, don't get set on eating some steaming hot fries.
Ketchup or catsup. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It goes on everything in the US, and it goes on everything in Korea. Don't be surprised to see ketchup offered for some odd items, just go with the flow. Ketchup for you fish? Yes. Ketchup with cinnamon for cold fries? You betcha. Ketchup for any fried thing? Yup. Sometimes you are just offered mustard. Not big on choices here in Korea.
Tea. Don't hope for some nice black tea like in the US. They drink all kinds, except black. Green. Barley. Yam. Tarrow root. Leaves of all sorts. No caffeine. Not necessarily great tasting. At school when the other teachers say "Mr. Youngs, do you want some tea?" I just say "No thank-you." I can't drink another cup of green or barley tea. I just can't stomach it.
Odd drinks. In Korea no one drinks the water. It contains arsenic. So, everywhere you go they have big water purifiers that give cold and hot water. So, you also find little tubes of drink powders to go in the purified water. You can get cocoa and some nice fruity drinks. Be careful. A teacher offered me a drink. I said "anything cold." Then I took a drink. Mmmmm.... pine. It was a pine beverage. "You don't like it?" I replied "It's good, but in the US we don't eat pine." It tasted like a pine cone. Only in Korea. I guess it's a good thing that the 7-11 doesn't have slurpies. Who the hell wants a pine or barley tea slurpee?
On salad bars, look for lots of quail egg dishes. Also popular are unidentifiable mashed things. Maybe it's sweet potato? Maybe it's mud pie. Don't know. I hope you like Thousand Island dressing. That is ALL that is available here in Korea. If there are other types, I haven't seen them. It's a small country, and the choices are strange and limited. Remember, I'm on an island here. We share a border with North Korea, and we don't trade with them. Everything has to be shipped here. Crazy crazy food.
So, next time you are eating pizza, or enjoying a free salad bar, or simple tea... think of me. Think of having to think in a strange convoluted way. No corn on the pizza please. No pickles with the pizza. Do you have anything other than thousand island? Normal tea? It's the little things that make the difference.
Pizza. When ordering pizza in Korea, you may want to say something you've never thought of saying before. Hold the corn. Yes, corn is a given ingredient for pizza. It's as common as tomato sauce. It's not unpleasant, but it just isn't Kosher in terms of pizza. So, when you're at Pizza Hut, just say "corn, no."
You know what would go great with that corn-free pizza? Breadsticks? Garlic bread? Salad? Nope. How about some nice pickles. They definitely come free with pizza, it's a given. I have a whole shelf in the door of my fridge that is little tubs of pickles from Dominoes Pizza. Don't ask me why they come with pizza, they just do. Perhaps a pregnant woman introduced pizza to Korea.
French fries. Maybe you call them freedom fries. Either way they are good. There is nothing more American than some nice fries with a burger or sandwich. Did you want those hot? Well, don't hold your breath. Fried potatoes are usually served cold here. Ice cold french fries. When I asked my english co-teacher about the cold fries I said "Why are the fries cold?" She simply said "they were hot when they cooked them." Yes, they were hot at 8am when they cooked them for lunch. So, don't get set on eating some steaming hot fries.
Ketchup or catsup. It's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It goes on everything in the US, and it goes on everything in Korea. Don't be surprised to see ketchup offered for some odd items, just go with the flow. Ketchup for you fish? Yes. Ketchup with cinnamon for cold fries? You betcha. Ketchup for any fried thing? Yup. Sometimes you are just offered mustard. Not big on choices here in Korea.
Tea. Don't hope for some nice black tea like in the US. They drink all kinds, except black. Green. Barley. Yam. Tarrow root. Leaves of all sorts. No caffeine. Not necessarily great tasting. At school when the other teachers say "Mr. Youngs, do you want some tea?" I just say "No thank-you." I can't drink another cup of green or barley tea. I just can't stomach it.
Odd drinks. In Korea no one drinks the water. It contains arsenic. So, everywhere you go they have big water purifiers that give cold and hot water. So, you also find little tubes of drink powders to go in the purified water. You can get cocoa and some nice fruity drinks. Be careful. A teacher offered me a drink. I said "anything cold." Then I took a drink. Mmmmm.... pine. It was a pine beverage. "You don't like it?" I replied "It's good, but in the US we don't eat pine." It tasted like a pine cone. Only in Korea. I guess it's a good thing that the 7-11 doesn't have slurpies. Who the hell wants a pine or barley tea slurpee?
On salad bars, look for lots of quail egg dishes. Also popular are unidentifiable mashed things. Maybe it's sweet potato? Maybe it's mud pie. Don't know. I hope you like Thousand Island dressing. That is ALL that is available here in Korea. If there are other types, I haven't seen them. It's a small country, and the choices are strange and limited. Remember, I'm on an island here. We share a border with North Korea, and we don't trade with them. Everything has to be shipped here. Crazy crazy food.
So, next time you are eating pizza, or enjoying a free salad bar, or simple tea... think of me. Think of having to think in a strange convoluted way. No corn on the pizza please. No pickles with the pizza. Do you have anything other than thousand island? Normal tea? It's the little things that make the difference.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Blood Types And What The Hell They Mean
This is not my own writing, but something copied from the internet. It's apparently why the Koreans are so geeked about blood types. There's even a popular Korean movie called "My Boyfriend is Type B." Sounds like a John Hughes kind of thing. Hope you enjoy. Update: I can now keep solid foods down. Stomach is still very sore though.
History
The discovery of blood types in 1901 has been hailed as one of the greatest advances in medical history, but the breakthrough was then perverted by the Nazis to further their eugenics program, and claim the superiority of Germans -- mostly types A and O -- over Jews, Asians and others with a larger proportion of type B blood.
The theory reached Japan in a 1927 psychologist's report, and the militarist government of the time commissioned a study aimed at breeding better soldiers. The craze faded in the 1930s as its unscientific basis became evident. However, it was revived in the 1970s with a book by Masahiko Nomi, an advocate and broadcaster with no medical background.
[edit]
Scientific support
While scientific study has shown that people of specific blood types may be more prone to certain illnesses, no medical evidence has been found correlating blood type with personality.
[edit]
Character trait associations
According to Nomi's theory, those with type A blood tend to be reserved, punctual and law-abiding while type Os tend to be more outgoing and individualistic. Type A blood is the most common in Japan and Germany while type O is most prevalent in the United States. Interestingly enough, 60 percent of Japanese Prime Ministers have been type O. Type Bs also tend to make great cooks and restaurant guides featuring Type B chefs are popular products in Japan. In Japan AB blood type is often considered the least desirable type.
Persons having Rh negative blood types are extremely rare in the Japanese population, and generally the Japanese attach no particular significance to the Rh type.
[edit]
Applications
Blood type theory is widely popular in women's magazines as a way to gauge relationship compatibility with a potential or current partner. Morning television shows feature regular blood type horoscopes, and blood type horoscopes are published daily in newspapers.
Casually asking one's blood type is quite common, and a refusal to answer may be construed as being ashamed of one's blood type. Some Japanese are frequently surprised if a Westerner does not know his or her own blood type.
The lack of proven correlation between blood type and personality has not slowed the many matchmaking services that cater to blood type (ketsu-eki-gata). There are even blood type consultants; who believe that they can calculate how well the blood types of different people work together - a Japanese employer could therefore aim to get a proper mix of blood types among their personnel.
It is also common among anime and manga authors to mention their character's blood types, and to give their characters corresponding blood types to match their personalities. Some video game characters also have known blood types, for example the manual for Final Fantasy VII reveals the blood type of Cloud Strife to be AB. Many fighting games (such as Dead or Alive or Street Fighter) often list blood type of characters on bio pages or in the manual. The videogame series Gungriffon and Princess Maker allow for blood type as an option in their creation modes.
History
The discovery of blood types in 1901 has been hailed as one of the greatest advances in medical history, but the breakthrough was then perverted by the Nazis to further their eugenics program, and claim the superiority of Germans -- mostly types A and O -- over Jews, Asians and others with a larger proportion of type B blood.
The theory reached Japan in a 1927 psychologist's report, and the militarist government of the time commissioned a study aimed at breeding better soldiers. The craze faded in the 1930s as its unscientific basis became evident. However, it was revived in the 1970s with a book by Masahiko Nomi, an advocate and broadcaster with no medical background.
[edit]
Scientific support
While scientific study has shown that people of specific blood types may be more prone to certain illnesses, no medical evidence has been found correlating blood type with personality.
[edit]
Character trait associations
According to Nomi's theory, those with type A blood tend to be reserved, punctual and law-abiding while type Os tend to be more outgoing and individualistic. Type A blood is the most common in Japan and Germany while type O is most prevalent in the United States. Interestingly enough, 60 percent of Japanese Prime Ministers have been type O. Type Bs also tend to make great cooks and restaurant guides featuring Type B chefs are popular products in Japan. In Japan AB blood type is often considered the least desirable type.
Persons having Rh negative blood types are extremely rare in the Japanese population, and generally the Japanese attach no particular significance to the Rh type.
[edit]
Applications
Blood type theory is widely popular in women's magazines as a way to gauge relationship compatibility with a potential or current partner. Morning television shows feature regular blood type horoscopes, and blood type horoscopes are published daily in newspapers.
Casually asking one's blood type is quite common, and a refusal to answer may be construed as being ashamed of one's blood type. Some Japanese are frequently surprised if a Westerner does not know his or her own blood type.
The lack of proven correlation between blood type and personality has not slowed the many matchmaking services that cater to blood type (ketsu-eki-gata). There are even blood type consultants; who believe that they can calculate how well the blood types of different people work together - a Japanese employer could therefore aim to get a proper mix of blood types among their personnel.
It is also common among anime and manga authors to mention their character's blood types, and to give their characters corresponding blood types to match their personalities. Some video game characters also have known blood types, for example the manual for Final Fantasy VII reveals the blood type of Cloud Strife to be AB. Many fighting games (such as Dead or Alive or Street Fighter) often list blood type of characters on bio pages or in the manual. The videogame series Gungriffon and Princess Maker allow for blood type as an option in their creation modes.
Friday, May 26, 2006
A Slice of Heaven With A Side Of Hell
Today was my first encounter with the South Korean medical world. So, you know this is going to be good.
I was food poisoned today, severely, at "The Golden Life" restaurant. Yes, even $200/night resorts will food poison you. I was fine until late morning when I had severe abdominal pain and really thought I was having either a gallbladder attack or heart attack or something. It was really bad.
The shuttle driver for the resort took me and Victoria (she's so freakin' awesome to help me out like this) to Suwon to the hospital. Along the way, I also did another first. The busdriver had to pull over very quickly so that I could vomit on the side of a very busy road. This was so miserable.
At the hospital, they needed my insurance book, then they sent me up to the doctor on the second floor. I had to pay $4.86. Then I went to get the prescription filled, also $4. So, my trip through the hospital and pharmacy cost me less than $10.
That was at noon, it's now 8pm. I'm still in a whole lot of pain. I'm not having a grand time. I am going to be very very very very very very very careful with food in this country from now on.
I was food poisoned today, severely, at "The Golden Life" restaurant. Yes, even $200/night resorts will food poison you. I was fine until late morning when I had severe abdominal pain and really thought I was having either a gallbladder attack or heart attack or something. It was really bad.
The shuttle driver for the resort took me and Victoria (she's so freakin' awesome to help me out like this) to Suwon to the hospital. Along the way, I also did another first. The busdriver had to pull over very quickly so that I could vomit on the side of a very busy road. This was so miserable.
At the hospital, they needed my insurance book, then they sent me up to the doctor on the second floor. I had to pay $4.86. Then I went to get the prescription filled, also $4. So, my trip through the hospital and pharmacy cost me less than $10.
That was at noon, it's now 8pm. I'm still in a whole lot of pain. I'm not having a grand time. I am going to be very very very very very very very careful with food in this country from now on.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Opening Questions From Koreans
When Koreans meet you, they want to ask you lots of personal questions. This can be strange at first, but they you realize it's just what they do. Some of the personal questions are: how old are you? Are you married? What is your blood type?
Blood type. Okay, so apparently in Korea they have this belief that blood type reveals much about a persons personality traits. It's a kind of Korean horoscope thing. It was explained to me, I'm not sure about it.
Other strange Korean things. You are 1 year old when you're born. You turn another year old when you reach January 1st. So, right now instead of being 27 I'm 29 in Korean years. How crazy is that? At this rate I'll qualify for my AARP card any day now!!!
Blood type. Okay, so apparently in Korea they have this belief that blood type reveals much about a persons personality traits. It's a kind of Korean horoscope thing. It was explained to me, I'm not sure about it.
Other strange Korean things. You are 1 year old when you're born. You turn another year old when you reach January 1st. So, right now instead of being 27 I'm 29 in Korean years. How crazy is that? At this rate I'll qualify for my AARP card any day now!!!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Golden Life
I'm currently cooling heals at new English teacher orientation for the Gyeonggi province in a "resort" in Hwasan. The resort is called La Vie d'Or. The Koreans pronounce it "Lavidor." For the longest time I thought Mr. Yoo was saying Labrador, but just in a very very Korean accent.
Now, this "resort" is a pretty swanky place... sort of. There are 4 people per room, which is cruel. The word "resort" is kind of an overstatment. There are facilities here, but they are expensive and/or closed. There is a pool... construction. There is a bar... overpriced. There is a weight room... you have to pay to use it. The hotel is even charging about $8 for another tiny bottle of shampoo... or so the rumor has it. Thank God for the large bottle of Suave that I got at Walmart in Howell!!
The lectures started today. To say that they were long speeches would be an understatement. There were 2 main speakers, the first lady for being a resident of the U.S. and for having a degree in English Linguistics from a university in Phoenix really had a bad accent and not so great grammar. She teaches in an elementary school and her methods are of course not applicable to me at all. The second speaker was very good interms of her speaking, but her content left a little to be desired. If you know anything about ESL then it was redundent. I was falling asleep in the lecture. Everyone else thought she was brilliant. I could have done without her.
Being here at orientation is nice and pissing me off all at the same time. It's nice to speak English is 100 other people, it's nice to meet people from all over the world. It's pissing me off to hear how great their jobs are, how great their co-teachers are, how much their students love them. I'm feeling kinda bitter now. Oh well, I guess I'll have to get over it. I did meet a woman who came here and still doesn't have an apartment. She's been living in a hotel and her luggage is at storage in her school. So, it could be worse.
Now, this "resort" is a pretty swanky place... sort of. There are 4 people per room, which is cruel. The word "resort" is kind of an overstatment. There are facilities here, but they are expensive and/or closed. There is a pool... construction. There is a bar... overpriced. There is a weight room... you have to pay to use it. The hotel is even charging about $8 for another tiny bottle of shampoo... or so the rumor has it. Thank God for the large bottle of Suave that I got at Walmart in Howell!!
The lectures started today. To say that they were long speeches would be an understatement. There were 2 main speakers, the first lady for being a resident of the U.S. and for having a degree in English Linguistics from a university in Phoenix really had a bad accent and not so great grammar. She teaches in an elementary school and her methods are of course not applicable to me at all. The second speaker was very good interms of her speaking, but her content left a little to be desired. If you know anything about ESL then it was redundent. I was falling asleep in the lecture. Everyone else thought she was brilliant. I could have done without her.
Being here at orientation is nice and pissing me off all at the same time. It's nice to speak English is 100 other people, it's nice to meet people from all over the world. It's pissing me off to hear how great their jobs are, how great their co-teachers are, how much their students love them. I'm feeling kinda bitter now. Oh well, I guess I'll have to get over it. I did meet a woman who came here and still doesn't have an apartment. She's been living in a hotel and her luggage is at storage in her school. So, it could be worse.
Monday, May 22, 2006
I Could Tell You... But I'd Have To Kill You
It's such a cliche. This line, people use it thinking they're clever, when really it makes me want to vomit just for something interresting to use. "Hey, what did you do over the weekend?" "I could tell you... but I'd have to kill you!" Oh my God, shoot me now.
This is the perfect phrase however to describe my life in Korea. To say that people ruling my life are secretive about the details of my existence here would be at the very least... accurate. For instance, I am going to a week-long new teacher orientation this week. It's a new teacher orientation, even though I've been here one year. I'm looking at it as one week away from teaching. This is all I know about the trip. I know that it is in another city. Which city??? Who knows. I know that it is one week long, and that after 4th period today Mr. Yoo will put me on a train. What about after the train? Where am I going? What will I be doing there? I know I'm staying overnight, what will the accomodations be like? What about food? Will there be internet access? Why am I here? What happened to my brain, why can't I think in complicated sentences anymore? Why is there one mosquito in my apartment that just feasts on me all night? What's the deal with kim-chi? So many questions... not a single answer.
So, here I sit. Monday morning. I have a packed suitcase, a bit of cash, and blind faith that everything will work out, more than likely in the most comical and farcical way possible. These Koreans keep the Americans in the dark like it's a matter of national security. If no one hears from me by friday then call the state department... I've been put in a Korean internment camp.
P.S. - on another subject, I got my first phone bill today, calling home is very cheap. Nothing to fear from the big bill yet to come.
This is the perfect phrase however to describe my life in Korea. To say that people ruling my life are secretive about the details of my existence here would be at the very least... accurate. For instance, I am going to a week-long new teacher orientation this week. It's a new teacher orientation, even though I've been here one year. I'm looking at it as one week away from teaching. This is all I know about the trip. I know that it is in another city. Which city??? Who knows. I know that it is one week long, and that after 4th period today Mr. Yoo will put me on a train. What about after the train? Where am I going? What will I be doing there? I know I'm staying overnight, what will the accomodations be like? What about food? Will there be internet access? Why am I here? What happened to my brain, why can't I think in complicated sentences anymore? Why is there one mosquito in my apartment that just feasts on me all night? What's the deal with kim-chi? So many questions... not a single answer.
So, here I sit. Monday morning. I have a packed suitcase, a bit of cash, and blind faith that everything will work out, more than likely in the most comical and farcical way possible. These Koreans keep the Americans in the dark like it's a matter of national security. If no one hears from me by friday then call the state department... I've been put in a Korean internment camp.
P.S. - on another subject, I got my first phone bill today, calling home is very cheap. Nothing to fear from the big bill yet to come.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
On The Old Campaign Trail
Okay, it's that time of year again. Anseong will be choosing a new mayor in a couple of weeks. Now is the time for the candidates, Mr. Smiley and Mr. Reminds Me Of Ho Chi Minh, to be out there kissing babies and shaking hands. You would not believe what passes now a days for campaigning in South Korea.
Now, I have met the candidates. Yes, I'm in the center of the mayoral whirlwind in Anseong. I met one candidate at a restaurant, he was handing out buisness cards with his picture on it. This was, of course, Mr. Smiley. He seemed nice enough, and his pictures plastered all over billboards. You can also see his picture on the side of trucks, blaring loudspeaker messages saying things in Korean that I'm certain translate to "it's 7a.m. on sunday and Americans do not get to sleep in at all."
Now, if you want to see heated exchange and mudslinging, there is only one place to go. You must go downtown to the main intersection. There, several streets come together and there are various islands/medians at this intersection. Now, on island one you see about 10 young women in red t-shirts, Mr. Smiley's girls, doing their modified Macarena dance to some bad Korean techno. On island two you see about 10 young women in teal t-shirts, Mr. Reminds Me Of Ho Chi Minh's girls, doing their modified Macarena dance to some bad Korean techno. Wow, you could cut the tension with a spoon, it was palpable. So much animosity, so much hatred, so much mudslinging... represented by dueling Macarena dancers. Oh the humanity!!!
When will politicians learn that at the end of the day you still have to like yourself? This is worse than the fight in the U.S. over hanging chads, worse than the gun boat veterans. I simply don't know how these guys sleep at night. Oh the horror of the campaign. Those singing, Macarenaing girls will haunt me until I die.
Go Mr. Smiley!!
Now, I have met the candidates. Yes, I'm in the center of the mayoral whirlwind in Anseong. I met one candidate at a restaurant, he was handing out buisness cards with his picture on it. This was, of course, Mr. Smiley. He seemed nice enough, and his pictures plastered all over billboards. You can also see his picture on the side of trucks, blaring loudspeaker messages saying things in Korean that I'm certain translate to "it's 7a.m. on sunday and Americans do not get to sleep in at all."
Now, if you want to see heated exchange and mudslinging, there is only one place to go. You must go downtown to the main intersection. There, several streets come together and there are various islands/medians at this intersection. Now, on island one you see about 10 young women in red t-shirts, Mr. Smiley's girls, doing their modified Macarena dance to some bad Korean techno. On island two you see about 10 young women in teal t-shirts, Mr. Reminds Me Of Ho Chi Minh's girls, doing their modified Macarena dance to some bad Korean techno. Wow, you could cut the tension with a spoon, it was palpable. So much animosity, so much hatred, so much mudslinging... represented by dueling Macarena dancers. Oh the humanity!!!
When will politicians learn that at the end of the day you still have to like yourself? This is worse than the fight in the U.S. over hanging chads, worse than the gun boat veterans. I simply don't know how these guys sleep at night. Oh the horror of the campaign. Those singing, Macarenaing girls will haunt me until I die.
Go Mr. Smiley!!
Seoul Man
Yesterday was my first outing to Seoul. The city is only about an hour away by express bus, which costs only $3.50 or so to get a ticket. Very cheap. On the way to Seoul, we passed a Walmart. Our new goal is to try to get to that Walmart, the land of cheap goods from China.
Now, it may sound stupid, but we (Victoria and I) did very little in Seoul. Now, the express bus terminal in Seoul is a 3 story building, huge, which is like a mall. We spent a great deal of time in the bookstore there. I did manage to find a book for learning Korean, a pretty good one too I think. I almost got the "Korean for Russians" book, but didn't want to really confuse myself. I'd hate to have to think of the Russian word to get the Korean.
After that we had lunch. We were going to go to an Outback Steakhouse. Because of the Americanness of the restaurant and the beefiness. Beef is a scarcity here. The line was insane so we went for McDonald's. You can't beat a big mac, fries, and a coke to combat homesickness.
Next we found the subway and made our way over to COEX. Now, COEX is a convention center, aquarium, movie theatre, and giant mall. We went to see a wax museum. Now, the museum items seemed to be bought at a second hand store for wax figures, as most of the figures looked nothing like the celebrities they were supposed to be. A few were good, and looked like they would come to life immediately. But it was sort of a bust. I didn't mind. It was my first wax museum and any time you can get out of Anseong and see something new is time well spent in my book.
In the mall of COEX, I did come across lots of interresting stores. The Hello Kitty store. I love it. Hello Kitty is the embodiment of the ideal Japanese woman. She has no mouth. How quaint and sexist. "I'm pretty to look at, see the bow, but I have no thoughts worth hearing." There was also a store called "there's." What was there... I have no idea. Lots of generic mall stores, clothing, fashionable sunglasses, cell phones, etc.
After the museum, we sat outside (we finally found our way outside) and had a nice cold drink, enjoying the breeze. There was a giant cell phone in the courtyard. I guess we know where the cell phone ranks in Korea, higher than fine culture. I have a picture of the phone, but it didn't come out too great, but you can get the idea.
We walked around a bit more, but by then we were getting quite tired. There's a lot of walking to be done, and very little sitting. We caught a taxi and went back to the bus terminal. Got on a 5 o'clock bus and came back to Anseong. On this pedestrian street they have, I saw two women painting portraits on canvas with watercolors. They painted from pictures or from people posing for them. It was amazing. I'm sure the paintings were cheap to get done, and they were very quick about them. I've included a pic of these paintings too.
All in all, it was a good day in Seoul. Not too much was seen, but I have a years worth of weekends. Next trip I'm gonna go with someone who is familiar with Seoul, someone who can really show me around.
Now, it may sound stupid, but we (Victoria and I) did very little in Seoul. Now, the express bus terminal in Seoul is a 3 story building, huge, which is like a mall. We spent a great deal of time in the bookstore there. I did manage to find a book for learning Korean, a pretty good one too I think. I almost got the "Korean for Russians" book, but didn't want to really confuse myself. I'd hate to have to think of the Russian word to get the Korean.
After that we had lunch. We were going to go to an Outback Steakhouse. Because of the Americanness of the restaurant and the beefiness. Beef is a scarcity here. The line was insane so we went for McDonald's. You can't beat a big mac, fries, and a coke to combat homesickness.
Next we found the subway and made our way over to COEX. Now, COEX is a convention center, aquarium, movie theatre, and giant mall. We went to see a wax museum. Now, the museum items seemed to be bought at a second hand store for wax figures, as most of the figures looked nothing like the celebrities they were supposed to be. A few were good, and looked like they would come to life immediately. But it was sort of a bust. I didn't mind. It was my first wax museum and any time you can get out of Anseong and see something new is time well spent in my book.
In the mall of COEX, I did come across lots of interresting stores. The Hello Kitty store. I love it. Hello Kitty is the embodiment of the ideal Japanese woman. She has no mouth. How quaint and sexist. "I'm pretty to look at, see the bow, but I have no thoughts worth hearing." There was also a store called "there's." What was there... I have no idea. Lots of generic mall stores, clothing, fashionable sunglasses, cell phones, etc.
After the museum, we sat outside (we finally found our way outside) and had a nice cold drink, enjoying the breeze. There was a giant cell phone in the courtyard. I guess we know where the cell phone ranks in Korea, higher than fine culture. I have a picture of the phone, but it didn't come out too great, but you can get the idea.
We walked around a bit more, but by then we were getting quite tired. There's a lot of walking to be done, and very little sitting. We caught a taxi and went back to the bus terminal. Got on a 5 o'clock bus and came back to Anseong. On this pedestrian street they have, I saw two women painting portraits on canvas with watercolors. They painted from pictures or from people posing for them. It was amazing. I'm sure the paintings were cheap to get done, and they were very quick about them. I've included a pic of these paintings too.
All in all, it was a good day in Seoul. Not too much was seen, but I have a years worth of weekends. Next trip I'm gonna go with someone who is familiar with Seoul, someone who can really show me around.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Baby's Day Out
Today was a rather grand day here in Anseong. First of all, it's friday and I had the day off. So, right away, it's a pretty good day. The students at my school were taking some test and there was no reason for me to be in today. First off, I woke up and chatted for a bit with some friends from back home... this is why I HAVE to have internet at home. Then I went to my bank to inroll in online banking. The good news is that the ATMs and the bank website have English options, so I'm not hitting buttons blindly. However, no one speaks good English, so it's difficult to get some answers. It looks like if I need to pay bills at home in America (and I do) that I have to transfer the money to my bank back home each month. This will cost me atleast $10 or more in fees. Oh well, at least the bills will be paid.
After the bank, I met up with Victoria, the 58 year old American woman I first met here in Anseong. She decided to play hookie from her half-day of school (half-day because she teaches half middle school and half high school, the high schoolers had a test the midde schoolers didn't). She had spotted some furniture stores and wanted to get a bookcase. I was just happy to get out and see a bit of the city. We found the furniture district here, not too impressive. Lots of IKEA type furniture, but pretty expensive. She wanted to get a glider/rocking chair. The woman wanted $110 for it, which was rediculous, she wouldn't budge, so we moved on. Victoria found a bookcase at a good price.
Then we bought some food from a street vendor. It was like a sweet waffle type of batter cooked in hot griddles that were shaped, like 2 peanuts joined together and like a big walnut. The peanut cakes actually had some peanuts in them. They were really good, so if anyone visits me here, I'll take you to get some. Down the street a bit we found a lamp store, where they had desk lamps for under $40 (the going rate here). We each got a lamp for reading for $18 each, it would have been $10 at Walmart, but when in Korea...
We had lunch at Pizza Hut, then went to see Mission Impossible 3. Okay, the theatre is in a big building, each different theatre is on a separate floor. The snacks offered at the concession stand included sweet potatoe sticks, dried squid bits, and whole dried squid. They did have bags of microwave popcorn. Movie was good, Victoria jumped and shouted at every exciting thing... it was pretty funny.
Afterwards we went to her apartment, it was very small. I think we could fit almost 3 of her apartment in mine. We talked about students and teaching and all that jazz, invited another teacher to dinner but they had plans. We went to dinner, afterward across the street to get a chai and some cake. All in all, a delightful day. Now, that is what I consider a good day in Korea.
After the bank, I met up with Victoria, the 58 year old American woman I first met here in Anseong. She decided to play hookie from her half-day of school (half-day because she teaches half middle school and half high school, the high schoolers had a test the midde schoolers didn't). She had spotted some furniture stores and wanted to get a bookcase. I was just happy to get out and see a bit of the city. We found the furniture district here, not too impressive. Lots of IKEA type furniture, but pretty expensive. She wanted to get a glider/rocking chair. The woman wanted $110 for it, which was rediculous, she wouldn't budge, so we moved on. Victoria found a bookcase at a good price.
Then we bought some food from a street vendor. It was like a sweet waffle type of batter cooked in hot griddles that were shaped, like 2 peanuts joined together and like a big walnut. The peanut cakes actually had some peanuts in them. They were really good, so if anyone visits me here, I'll take you to get some. Down the street a bit we found a lamp store, where they had desk lamps for under $40 (the going rate here). We each got a lamp for reading for $18 each, it would have been $10 at Walmart, but when in Korea...
We had lunch at Pizza Hut, then went to see Mission Impossible 3. Okay, the theatre is in a big building, each different theatre is on a separate floor. The snacks offered at the concession stand included sweet potatoe sticks, dried squid bits, and whole dried squid. They did have bags of microwave popcorn. Movie was good, Victoria jumped and shouted at every exciting thing... it was pretty funny.
Afterwards we went to her apartment, it was very small. I think we could fit almost 3 of her apartment in mine. We talked about students and teaching and all that jazz, invited another teacher to dinner but they had plans. We went to dinner, afterward across the street to get a chai and some cake. All in all, a delightful day. Now, that is what I consider a good day in Korea.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Driving in Korea: Not For The Faint Of Heart
Before leaving the U.S., I read that Koreans are statistically some of the worst drivers on this blue marble we call the earth. They have more car accidents per capita than most nations. Interresting, but isn't that what people say about every country? "Oh, those Italians drive like madmen." Of course, you can insert any nationality into this sentence and it would be something you hear people say all of the time. Well let me say this, I thought that drivers in Detroit were bad until I saw people drive in Russia. I thought people drove badly in Russia until I came to Korea. The rumors and statistics are 100% true. These people should not drive AT ALL.
I knew it was going to be bad when the guy picked me up at the airport in Incheon. He drove a minivan. Attached to the dash, he had a magnetic thing that held his cell phone open, a hands-free device for the cellphone, g.p.s., and a dvd screen. Attached to the console was the dvd player/changer, the stereo, an open laptop running "mapquest" or the Korean equivalent. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Mr. Technology paid attention to everything except the road. I literally should have died about 6,874 times on that drive to Anseong.
Now for some sweeping, yet factual, generalizations about Korean driving. Traffic lights are not to be paid attention to. The red light simply means "eh, if you think you can make it... go ahead." The yellow light has no meaning. Lanes are for babies. No one stays in their lane, or chooses the lane that is appropriate for them. Traffic circles are a free for all, you're lucky to make it out alive (Hey kids, Big Ben... Parliament). Speed limits appear to be dares. "I dare you to go faster." Tail gateing is the national past time. "Falling rocks" signs mean business. You're driving through a very very steep valley that was dynamited out, be aware of falling rocks. Make sure you don't fall into creeks or rivers. Many roads have no barrier to stop you from falling into a river. There is road, and the edge of the road is simply the drop off to the river. Oh, I'd be careful. Blind corners are the rule, not the exception. Every corner is blind. You say a short prayer that no one is coming, and then you give it the gas. Always assume the other guy will stop, there's no such thing as right of way. Pedestrians are nothing more than targets. Parking on the street is on a "if you can squeeze it in go ahead" basis. It makes no matter which way your car is facing.
So, these are the simple rules of the road here in Korea. I think it's probably safer not to leave the apartment.
I knew it was going to be bad when the guy picked me up at the airport in Incheon. He drove a minivan. Attached to the dash, he had a magnetic thing that held his cell phone open, a hands-free device for the cellphone, g.p.s., and a dvd screen. Attached to the console was the dvd player/changer, the stereo, an open laptop running "mapquest" or the Korean equivalent. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Mr. Technology paid attention to everything except the road. I literally should have died about 6,874 times on that drive to Anseong.
Now for some sweeping, yet factual, generalizations about Korean driving. Traffic lights are not to be paid attention to. The red light simply means "eh, if you think you can make it... go ahead." The yellow light has no meaning. Lanes are for babies. No one stays in their lane, or chooses the lane that is appropriate for them. Traffic circles are a free for all, you're lucky to make it out alive (Hey kids, Big Ben... Parliament). Speed limits appear to be dares. "I dare you to go faster." Tail gateing is the national past time. "Falling rocks" signs mean business. You're driving through a very very steep valley that was dynamited out, be aware of falling rocks. Make sure you don't fall into creeks or rivers. Many roads have no barrier to stop you from falling into a river. There is road, and the edge of the road is simply the drop off to the river. Oh, I'd be careful. Blind corners are the rule, not the exception. Every corner is blind. You say a short prayer that no one is coming, and then you give it the gas. Always assume the other guy will stop, there's no such thing as right of way. Pedestrians are nothing more than targets. Parking on the street is on a "if you can squeeze it in go ahead" basis. It makes no matter which way your car is facing.
So, these are the simple rules of the road here in Korea. I think it's probably safer not to leave the apartment.
Come To Korea: Our Students Are The Most Violent
I've noticed something here in Korea, although I'm afraid to say it. The students here are very violent towards eachother. They spend their days punching eachother in the arms, in the middle of the back. They slap eachother. They kick eachother. They pinch eachother. And they do it HARD. I see it and I think "ouch, careful, I bruise."
Now, I have an idea behind this violence. I've noted before that Korean students are more emotionally immature than their U.S. counterparts. I've seen 19 year old girls playing with the type of toys in class that you have to take away from 6th grade girls in the U.S. Guys here get so excited about saying a bad word, whereas bad words are just part of the vernacular in U.S. schools. They're as much a part of English as the word "the."
Now, here is my theory that I've been postulating for a while. So, the violence between the students is very similar to the violence you see between boys and girls that like eachother in elementary school. You know, when a boy hits a girl or pulls her hair to show that he likes her. Or the girl that makes fun of the boy that she secretly has a crush on. This violence is the same thing. My hypothesis is that the violence is their way of expressing fondness for one another. Frankly, I'm certain that my hypothesis is 100% accurate. If you don't believe me, or if you doubt it... come to Korea and see it for yourself.
Now, I have an idea behind this violence. I've noted before that Korean students are more emotionally immature than their U.S. counterparts. I've seen 19 year old girls playing with the type of toys in class that you have to take away from 6th grade girls in the U.S. Guys here get so excited about saying a bad word, whereas bad words are just part of the vernacular in U.S. schools. They're as much a part of English as the word "the."
Now, here is my theory that I've been postulating for a while. So, the violence between the students is very similar to the violence you see between boys and girls that like eachother in elementary school. You know, when a boy hits a girl or pulls her hair to show that he likes her. Or the girl that makes fun of the boy that she secretly has a crush on. This violence is the same thing. My hypothesis is that the violence is their way of expressing fondness for one another. Frankly, I'm certain that my hypothesis is 100% accurate. If you don't believe me, or if you doubt it... come to Korea and see it for yourself.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
I Never Thought I Would...
eat cake with chopsticks.
be so glad to see a Big Mac.
watch students get smacked everyday.
listen to grown teenagers whine for candy.
be lectured everyday on the virtues of kim-chi.
spend time vacuuming up dust from China and Mongolia.
travel 45 minutes by bus just to get a plate.
be so sick of green tea.
miss how Americans drive.
be so shocked to see a white person.
have students poke me deliberately.
look so forward to eating plain white rice.
see so many giggling school girls.
do such a good impression of Koreans speaking English.
eat french fries with chopsticks.
eat a $10 watermelon.
try so many dishes that are completely unidentifiable.
worry about eating dog.
see Spongebob Squarepants speak Korean.
actually want to go to the theater to see Mission Impossible 3.
miss caffeine this bad.
go a month without seeing a single fork.
eat food that was hotter than the center of the sun.
bow so much in my life.
be so thankful for a coke.
feel compelled to take off my shoes when entering buildings.
consider a banana a good meal.
be given wine by graduating students.
see so much Hello Kitty in my life.
recognise my name in Hangeul (Korean alphabet).
be woken-up by church bells at 5:30 in the morning everyday.
have to turn on the water heater when I wanted to shower.
bribe students to learn by plying them with candy so frequently.
find squid in my food on such a regular basis.
speak in such short adjective-less sentences.
eat an entire ocean worth of seaweed.
look so forward to phone calls... from anyone.
see American magazines selling for $11 a copy.
listen to people brushing their teeth and hocking up phlegm in public.
writint a blog from the other side of the world... literally.
be so glad to see a Big Mac.
watch students get smacked everyday.
listen to grown teenagers whine for candy.
be lectured everyday on the virtues of kim-chi.
spend time vacuuming up dust from China and Mongolia.
travel 45 minutes by bus just to get a plate.
be so sick of green tea.
miss how Americans drive.
be so shocked to see a white person.
have students poke me deliberately.
look so forward to eating plain white rice.
see so many giggling school girls.
do such a good impression of Koreans speaking English.
eat french fries with chopsticks.
eat a $10 watermelon.
try so many dishes that are completely unidentifiable.
worry about eating dog.
see Spongebob Squarepants speak Korean.
actually want to go to the theater to see Mission Impossible 3.
miss caffeine this bad.
go a month without seeing a single fork.
eat food that was hotter than the center of the sun.
bow so much in my life.
be so thankful for a coke.
feel compelled to take off my shoes when entering buildings.
consider a banana a good meal.
be given wine by graduating students.
see so much Hello Kitty in my life.
recognise my name in Hangeul (Korean alphabet).
be woken-up by church bells at 5:30 in the morning everyday.
have to turn on the water heater when I wanted to shower.
bribe students to learn by plying them with candy so frequently.
find squid in my food on such a regular basis.
speak in such short adjective-less sentences.
eat an entire ocean worth of seaweed.
look so forward to phone calls... from anyone.
see American magazines selling for $11 a copy.
listen to people brushing their teeth and hocking up phlegm in public.
writint a blog from the other side of the world... literally.
Korean Men: Not Afraid To Show Their Feminine Side
In the U.S. you hear the same complaint in every daytime talk show or every sitcome. Women are always talking about men needing to embrace their feminine side, to be more sensitive, not to be afraid to cry. This is of course a stereotype, but it's out there, and you've heard the arguments for and against it.
In Korea, men have no problem at all doing things that are strongly feminine, by U.S. standards. These things include: wearing pink, wearing pastels and floral prints, using Hello Kitty and other "girly" stationary items, using girls facial moisturizers and stuff. It seems that they understand it here: it takes a real man to wear pink.
Men just simply don't care. I like that attitude. They don't see the Hello Kitty pencil with a pink puffy thing at the end, they just see a pencil. It's not a pink shirt or a pastel shirt, it's just a shirt.
So, let me be the first to say "kudos" to our Korean brothers. You have slipped the earthly bonds and reached enlightenment... in a pink Hello Kitty sweater.
In Korea, men have no problem at all doing things that are strongly feminine, by U.S. standards. These things include: wearing pink, wearing pastels and floral prints, using Hello Kitty and other "girly" stationary items, using girls facial moisturizers and stuff. It seems that they understand it here: it takes a real man to wear pink.
Men just simply don't care. I like that attitude. They don't see the Hello Kitty pencil with a pink puffy thing at the end, they just see a pencil. It's not a pink shirt or a pastel shirt, it's just a shirt.
So, let me be the first to say "kudos" to our Korean brothers. You have slipped the earthly bonds and reached enlightenment... in a pink Hello Kitty sweater.
Oh The Blessed Bliss
Is there anything in the world more blissful than your own internet line in your home? Of course the answer is no. My internet line was hooked up yesterday. Best of all, it was hooked up early. I came home from school and it was all set to go. Now I can access email accounts that were randomly blocked from my school's computer. I can use my microphone and chat with friends for free instead of whatever the ungodly rate is for international calls. I feel connected again. Remember when Mr. Rogers sang at the end of his show? Remember the lyrics? "It's such a good feeling, knowing you're alive." That's what internet access at home does for me.
By the way, for those of you who would actually care, Tony nominations came out, and Sweeney Todd is up for best revival. I'm sure it will win. I hear the producution is the bomb diggidy yo. That's so street of me for typing that. I gots mad street cred.
By the way, for those of you who would actually care, Tony nominations came out, and Sweeney Todd is up for best revival. I'm sure it will win. I hear the producution is the bomb diggidy yo. That's so street of me for typing that. I gots mad street cred.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Korean Pimp Juice
Koreans are all about energy drinks. Who knew? I certainly didn't. When you go into the grocery store, there is a huge energy drink section. In the 7-11, my city has two 7-11's but they don't have slurpies or big gulps at all... what's the point? The 7-11 has a wide variety of these energy drinks. They are easily identified because they come in very small glass bottles.
At school, teachers or someone brings in these drinks all of the time and hands them out to the teachers. So far I have had one drink that was super fortified with vitamin C. I've had the red hot Korean ginseng drink. Korea is famous for growing the best ginseng around. The teachers explained to me that this drink is very good for sexual stamena. It seemed inappropriate at the time, but who am I to question the establishment? I've also had a variety of unidentified Korean energy drinks.
It's a huge market here. This must be due to the lack of caffeine in the country. You cannot buy black tea here if your life depended upon it. All you can get is green tea and barley tea. Believe me, there is only so much of this tea that you can drink before needing good old Lipton tea with caffeine. There is coffee here, but it is of such poor quality. There are some good coffee bars in the city, but at work you're at the mercy of the coffee machine, that adds powdered mix to hot water. Not the recipe for quality.
This is the reason that I'm so tired each day. First I thought it was jet lag, but it's been nearly a month since I left. Then I thought it was because the school day goes until 5 not until 2:30 like U.S. schools. Now I realise that at school I drink tea, lots of it. During the day I drink pepsi, lots of it. I was a caffeine addict. Now, I have basically gone cold turkey and it's killing me. I need me some caffeine. I know some people will think that I should just stop drinking caffeiene and that my body will reach homeostasis and I'll live forever in strawberry fields and such not. Reality check, I don't drink, I don't smoke. Don't take away my caffeine, I need it. I'm like most Americans, my main source of calories comes from caffeinated beverages.
At school, teachers or someone brings in these drinks all of the time and hands them out to the teachers. So far I have had one drink that was super fortified with vitamin C. I've had the red hot Korean ginseng drink. Korea is famous for growing the best ginseng around. The teachers explained to me that this drink is very good for sexual stamena. It seemed inappropriate at the time, but who am I to question the establishment? I've also had a variety of unidentified Korean energy drinks.
It's a huge market here. This must be due to the lack of caffeine in the country. You cannot buy black tea here if your life depended upon it. All you can get is green tea and barley tea. Believe me, there is only so much of this tea that you can drink before needing good old Lipton tea with caffeine. There is coffee here, but it is of such poor quality. There are some good coffee bars in the city, but at work you're at the mercy of the coffee machine, that adds powdered mix to hot water. Not the recipe for quality.
This is the reason that I'm so tired each day. First I thought it was jet lag, but it's been nearly a month since I left. Then I thought it was because the school day goes until 5 not until 2:30 like U.S. schools. Now I realise that at school I drink tea, lots of it. During the day I drink pepsi, lots of it. I was a caffeine addict. Now, I have basically gone cold turkey and it's killing me. I need me some caffeine. I know some people will think that I should just stop drinking caffeiene and that my body will reach homeostasis and I'll live forever in strawberry fields and such not. Reality check, I don't drink, I don't smoke. Don't take away my caffeine, I need it. I'm like most Americans, my main source of calories comes from caffeinated beverages.
Happy Happy Happy Happy
Some of you have heard of this one. What is up with things from Asia having the word "happy" in the title? It seems like you find candy from Asia or something and it's always called "supper lemon happy candy" or something. I don't understand this, but it's true. They love the word happy. Maybe this is why they love Hello Kitty and other cute and cuddly things like Cheburashka. They're all "happy."
While browsing in E-Mart, they started to play muzak over the speakers. It was a muzak version of "Happy Talk" from South Pacific. This was funny enough. I was just about rolling in the isles of the fresh fish section. But, the best part came later. Later on in the song, when it got to the chorus voices started saying "happy happy happy happy happy happy" like it was some kind of cheery cult mantra. Oh my God. It was the funniest thing I have ever heard, and I listened to Michael Bolton's opera CD "My Secret Passion."
Later, after buying some plates and bowls and such, I took my goods to a wrapping station, to get some paper to wrap my dishes in so they wouldn't break. The paper that was available was the complimentary gift wrapping paper from E-Mart. The paper was pastel pink, with the faces of Smiling families: mom, dad, and little Sally, all smilling from ear to ear. Then the paper had the word "happy" printed all over it. This was the most surreal experience ever. Apparently if you're not happy at E-Mart there is definitely something wrong with you. The place is designed for maximum happiness. All those not happy will be sent to re-education camps to learn to be more happy.
Happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy
While browsing in E-Mart, they started to play muzak over the speakers. It was a muzak version of "Happy Talk" from South Pacific. This was funny enough. I was just about rolling in the isles of the fresh fish section. But, the best part came later. Later on in the song, when it got to the chorus voices started saying "happy happy happy happy happy happy" like it was some kind of cheery cult mantra. Oh my God. It was the funniest thing I have ever heard, and I listened to Michael Bolton's opera CD "My Secret Passion."
Later, after buying some plates and bowls and such, I took my goods to a wrapping station, to get some paper to wrap my dishes in so they wouldn't break. The paper that was available was the complimentary gift wrapping paper from E-Mart. The paper was pastel pink, with the faces of Smiling families: mom, dad, and little Sally, all smilling from ear to ear. Then the paper had the word "happy" printed all over it. This was the most surreal experience ever. Apparently if you're not happy at E-Mart there is definitely something wrong with you. The place is designed for maximum happiness. All those not happy will be sent to re-education camps to learn to be more happy.
Happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy happy
All Hail The Great And Powerful E-Mart
Last night I took the bus to Pyongtank with my new American friend Carl, a.k.a. Mr. Korea. Pyongtank is about 30 minutes away, and it is where the E-Mart is. OOooohhhhh... E-Mart. Now, I have never been to Pyontank or E-Mart. I have heard people speak of E-Mart. It's like this mythical place, crawling with foreigners, and selling all of those elusive things that you can't get here in Anseong. Things like dishes and forks. Forks??? I didn't know that you could get forks in Korea. I thought there was a trade embargo on forks. Did you hear? They have forks!!!
So, on the bus to Pyongtank there was a drunken older gentleman. That is to say, there was an old man who was so incredibly drunk. You could smell it on him. He was not happy that Carl and I were speaking English. He sat in front of Carl. He kept talking to Carl, and was getting ticked off. He started to poke at Carl and mimed punching him. Wisely Carl moved one seat away from the inebriated old man. Finally, after an eternity, Drunky McGee got off the bus. The Gods must have heard our prayers. "Oh God, please don't make Carl have to punch this very drunken old man."
There is nothing more annoying in the world than being around youngish Koreans, whom you know speak and understand English, but they won't help you. We didn't know for certain where the bus terminal in Pyongtank was, they are not clearly maked. We kept asking on the bus. Everyone in Korea takes English in school. Young people know English. They do. It's a fact. So when you ask a question and they just look at you and then giggle with eachother, it makes you want to backhand them. I'm sorry, it just does.
Finally we reached the promised land. E-Mart. You're out of the woods, you're out of the dark, you're out of the night. Step into the sun step into the light. It's a two story department store. Think Walmart meets JC Penny. I bought some of the most expensive plates ever, I thought that spending $5 for a small plate was a bit pricey. Why should I spend good money on things I can't even take home with me? I wanted to get a reading lamp, but they were $40!!!
The very best parts of E-Mart were the Cheburashka toy I found. Yes, even here in Korea. You know how excited I was to find that. The other best part ever was the McDonald's is in E-Mart. Eating a Big Mac was like being home... but in Korea... in Pyongtank.
E-Mart, it's everything you want, at prices you can barely afford.
So, on the bus to Pyongtank there was a drunken older gentleman. That is to say, there was an old man who was so incredibly drunk. You could smell it on him. He was not happy that Carl and I were speaking English. He sat in front of Carl. He kept talking to Carl, and was getting ticked off. He started to poke at Carl and mimed punching him. Wisely Carl moved one seat away from the inebriated old man. Finally, after an eternity, Drunky McGee got off the bus. The Gods must have heard our prayers. "Oh God, please don't make Carl have to punch this very drunken old man."
There is nothing more annoying in the world than being around youngish Koreans, whom you know speak and understand English, but they won't help you. We didn't know for certain where the bus terminal in Pyongtank was, they are not clearly maked. We kept asking on the bus. Everyone in Korea takes English in school. Young people know English. They do. It's a fact. So when you ask a question and they just look at you and then giggle with eachother, it makes you want to backhand them. I'm sorry, it just does.
Finally we reached the promised land. E-Mart. You're out of the woods, you're out of the dark, you're out of the night. Step into the sun step into the light. It's a two story department store. Think Walmart meets JC Penny. I bought some of the most expensive plates ever, I thought that spending $5 for a small plate was a bit pricey. Why should I spend good money on things I can't even take home with me? I wanted to get a reading lamp, but they were $40!!!
The very best parts of E-Mart were the Cheburashka toy I found. Yes, even here in Korea. You know how excited I was to find that. The other best part ever was the McDonald's is in E-Mart. Eating a Big Mac was like being home... but in Korea... in Pyongtank.
E-Mart, it's everything you want, at prices you can barely afford.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Korean Crack
Yesterday I brought in a bag of chewy candy for my classes. We were doing a wordsearch puzzle using the new vocabulary from the story I wrote. I gave candy to the first 3 people done with the puzzle. This worked well for the first few classes. Then came the seniors. The seniors started to throw a fit, demanding candy. It was quite a sight. I stuck to my guns, candy for only the first three people to finish. They were pissed. Then came the vocational students. I thought the seniors were bad. The vocational students shouted for candy. "Teacher, candy prease." Over and over again. Then today the vocational students wouldn't accept that I was out of candy, so they followed me to the teacher's office. Demanding candy all the way. Then they tried to take juice instead. I don't know who the juice belonged to, it wasn't mine. Another teacher gave them the juice.
I had no idea that chewy candy is apparently Korean crack. Seriously, I've seen recovering people in rehab react less sharply to detox. Eventhough the students I teach are pusing 19 years old, they act as if they are 12. This is not an exaggeration on my part. They're very immature. I'm going to have to rethink this candy thing, or revamp my rules. "Teacher, candy prease."
I had no idea that chewy candy is apparently Korean crack. Seriously, I've seen recovering people in rehab react less sharply to detox. Eventhough the students I teach are pusing 19 years old, they act as if they are 12. This is not an exaggeration on my part. They're very immature. I'm going to have to rethink this candy thing, or revamp my rules. "Teacher, candy prease."
I'm So Ronery, So Ronery, So Ronery And Sadry Arone
Okay, that's not racist, it's from the movie Team America, and it's Kim Jung Il singing. It's just a quote, before I hear bad things from people.
With that said, I'm very lonely here. I've met Americans. I've met lots of Koreans. My co-workers are nice to me, not that we hang out outside of work or anything. Still, the central problem is that at the end of the day I go home to an empty apartment. I'm tired from a long day of teaching, so going out just isn't on my list of things to do. Also, there is only so much attention you can expect from your fellow countrymen here in Korea before you become an unwanted person. After all, you know what they say about fish and guests.
At home I'm a very social person. I talk to my friends everyday. I talk to my family, I see people, I do things. This has stopped here in Korea. I have no one to tell the events of my day to when I go home. I have no one I can call without it costing $5/minute or whatever the rate is. I'm hoping that when I get internet at home this will become less of a problem.
So, eventhough things are going better each day, I'm lonely. I now have my bank account open and have my medical insurance card. I'm official. Now I just need someone to hang out with and tell that to. Any takers?
With that said, I'm very lonely here. I've met Americans. I've met lots of Koreans. My co-workers are nice to me, not that we hang out outside of work or anything. Still, the central problem is that at the end of the day I go home to an empty apartment. I'm tired from a long day of teaching, so going out just isn't on my list of things to do. Also, there is only so much attention you can expect from your fellow countrymen here in Korea before you become an unwanted person. After all, you know what they say about fish and guests.
At home I'm a very social person. I talk to my friends everyday. I talk to my family, I see people, I do things. This has stopped here in Korea. I have no one to tell the events of my day to when I go home. I have no one I can call without it costing $5/minute or whatever the rate is. I'm hoping that when I get internet at home this will become less of a problem.
So, eventhough things are going better each day, I'm lonely. I now have my bank account open and have my medical insurance card. I'm official. Now I just need someone to hang out with and tell that to. Any takers?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)