First snow

Apparently if you're love lasts until the first snow.. it's a good thing.

Well, my love continues to change.

It's intimidating having so many things on the computer and off of it. I want to organize, I want

to simplify.. but there is an extent to which I am happy to keep it diverse and plentiful.

I had the burrito, but no shower cream. It somewhat resembled Chipotle, as I had hoped, but in small department store kiosk form. The dude spoke English very well. I told him I had traveled from Bucheon. He had been to Arizona to import sauce.. and while there he tried Chipotle, he felt that his restaurant was somewhat an imitation.

It was a nice adventure. Up top there, or wherever these silly photos wind up, is a picture of my snow devil, where I ate it hard on the ice. Michelle was right, I am going to have a bruise.

I am considering going to a skin doctor, dermotologist what have you, about my skin issues. They happen to everyone, and Natalia reports that hers cleared up within 2 days of returning to familiar climes. Still, I would prefer to ditch the itchiness, redness, and peeling as soon as possible.

I I I, sheesh, all about me.

Bucheon E.C.C. is starting to piss me off in many ways. I am not trying to publicly berate them, but I have considered as much. I have a coworker who had to spend her vacation day in work today, for what I would estimate was a solid 8+ hours, because her kindergarten students left en masse.

I understand that this is a business and losing students is bad, but our boss doesn't seem to understand that putting teachers under duress does not make teaching the sweethearts and brats any easier. She can deal with business, and she does, poorly. She told a mom, who is an English teacher, to get a second job when the mom had complained she couldn't afford our school.

Fuck bosses on power trips.

So.. my dilemma, is whether to complain. I try to pick my battles, but I can now understand why prior colleagues had not so well. It's stressful, and they will pull the most random b.s. at the most random times. Is putting the name labels on the books a big deal? No. Is it a waste of time? I think so. So Lucy, my lovely co-teacher, informs me (as she often does in lieu of the piss-poor management) that today the stickers need to be on the book. I tell her that I let the kids do that. She says they never do that, that parents MIGHT call and complain about it. I'm sick of hearing what parents might complain about. Let's wait and see what they DO complain about. Sure, I should watch the kids put the stickers on, so they aren't upside down and crooked and crinkled. I can learn to do that. So I walk to the books to help out my lovely co-teachers, all of whom are under more pressure than I am from our Korean managers (literally, sexual harassment, gossip about who is the worst dressed... how bad can you make morale at a place?!). I find that all of the books have been assigned to Korean teachers, so I don't have to put any stickers. Well, luckily Lucy already had done hers, the upside for them is they have many more breaks than I do. I easily helped out Natalie teacher, our most recent Korean teacher, who is on her way out after being assigned the worst classes (3 of which she teaches with me). Hm.. give the newbie the most difficult students with the most demanding parents? Doesn't sound like an equation for success.

So, my thought was upon departing to write a very frank note to my boss, thanking her for the opportunity and her occasional kindness, and explaining how wrong-headed I perceive her operation. Well, I forgot that managers here are also a very bitter lot. We had a very nice and hard-working teacher who fell ill, and told the school she could not come in, despite the demands of management to show up. So they fired her. And in talking to my supervisor's husband, he was under the impression that she had stolen money. ! . She wouldn't, though I would congratulate her if she did. I'm sure my supervisor had been told this as she is an extension of the director, and they both believed it amidst their fuming. Does it feel good to blow steam up your own dress.. especially negative stuff?

Perhaps I don't care what my former employers say about me. If I ever work in Korea, I am going to work for a better boss, and perhaps one that will explain the difficulties of the Korean work culture... not sure. Plus, if I truly do incense my boss, who is going to have a hard time changing her ways as many do, I fear what it might result in for my many colleagues who will remain after me.

Why can't people be nice?

I note that this is getting a bit wordy. I've got some other things to tend to, like personal holiday e-mails, and some studying. I may treat myself to Tron 3d tonight, rather than binging on alcohol.

I'll be back with pictures and improved blogging habits.. maybe. No promises. No regrets.

I love you, I really do, even if my boss is reading this, I want to shower her with love and good things until they run all over her and shoot out of her pores.

I hope your holidays have been and will be nice, this year and many more to come.

In Korea, 새해 복 많이 받으세요

is many good wishes in the new year

good returns. my typing is getting better without the Korean keyboard, but I should become less lazy and use it, since I have it.

pissed off

yes, I should have listened to my Dr. not a pretty friend..

but 4 visits to the Doc in under a week seems excessive.

and the prescription with 4 pills 2 times a day, and 5 at night, that too, excessive.

So I didn't go yesterday. I didn't have an appointment. Apparently Koreans ignore their doctors. Seems like a broken system.

Should have at least filled my prescription. Today, Sunday, the pharmacy is closed. Many of them. I found 2 open ones. They said they could not fill my prescription. I'm sitting there trying to explain that despite whatever bullshit tie-in they have with some hospital to fill their prescriptions, I need antibiotics. It's not about business, yes I will give you too much money for 1 day of pills, please just let me continue my regimen of antibiotics. No dice. Have a nice day.

NO! FUCK YOU KOREAN MEDICAL SYSTEM!

update: So I went back to the first obstinate pharmacy. They had been very helpful when the problem first arose, and gave me the same ocular anti-inflammatory that the young lady at the other pharmacy gave me when I stormed away from this one. I said, ok, where's your Dr. No I think it was unnecessary for him to walk to the front and open the door to point across the street, but I was admittedly in a bad mood. It didn't help that he laughed when I came in.

Am I a joke? I didn't say anything unreasonable. It might have sounded like a rant, but I simply pointed out that it was bullshit that some business restriction was going to take precedent over my need for antibiotics. Well this new Dr. I thought what the heck, they're open on Sunday, I don't mind a second opinion. It's a little crazy in here.. nurses are everywhere. One is coming her hair behind reception. I'm feeling uneasy. I went in to see a Dr. gave him the skinny. He stuck a camera in my ear and took blurry pictures. Said my Otitis is getting better. Asked me how long I wanted a prescription for! Didn't say anything patronizing about not drinking or smoking. A bit of a pain in the tuchus to run me through the system since I don't have a Korean name, but I'm pretty sure I will be returning as Ahn Jo-sep (my idea). And the 3 day prescriptions were cheaper and better explained than the 2 day ones I had been getting.

So I feel a little bit better. But hardly consoled when the dude at the pharmacy asks, "you've had a tough day, eh?" Yes, thanks in part to you.

...

is it interesting that heat rises and cold descends

and yet the lower we go in elevation the warmer it is, and the higher we escalate the cooler.

the sun beats down from above. the core of the earth bakes in the middle of our cold earth.

and we north Hemisphere people think of flying South for winter.

I sincerely can't wrap my brain around the physics of it.

I finished reading Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins. amazing, inspiring, where do I go from here?

Do I want to be in love?

I'm chasing a girl but it's no good. But, it's probably a whole lot better than letting a girl chase after me, experience chimes in.

I woke up to thunder. I saw and walked through a small flurry of snow the other night. I was dissapointed to not find snow thunder.

Also intriguing, the way that thunder is a sound you can hear, and measure distance with time. But when you're waiting for it, you can hear it approaching from far away. At least the low rumbling ones. Maybe not the big cymbal crash lightning/thunder strikes, but even those have a far off foreshadow, or a close one... just before you hear the real deal... I think

Blogging is hard...

there is lots to say, but I keep putting it off

nobody needs to hear it, this is mostly for me, right?

I had a weird couple of days. I'm feeling better. Time for a good sleep.

I have made my first 3 attempts at kimbap

that's sushi for those of you still hung-up on the Japanese conspiracy to make food expensive.

I almost bought snowboard boots for more than twice what I have paid previously (though I had been spoiled on my friends' employment with great prices). I was surprised to have this representative inform me that my feet were much smaller than I thought, and that over-sized boots were a bigger problem than smaller ones.

I was late to practice, and I told him I would come back. After practice I felt buzzed and disinclined to go shopping. I'm going to go see how awesome I think Tiger World can be as a facility, and what the rental prices and savings will be if I buy boots.

I forget what else I wanted to say.

I love Tom Robbins as an author.

I saw a superb art show in Insa-dong yesterday. I am feeling really good, but need to accomplish my obligations and goals quicker than I am. If I think of anything else, I will try to amend this post in the morning.

no pictures- words of excitement

It's almost 4 in the morning, "why am I awake?"

Well I was shook from my sleep by a most alarming sound... an alarm.

I couldn't quite believe it, but coming from the speaker in my ceiling was wailing sound of an alarm, and from my hall the desperate ring of a bell.

I opened the door, and see little movement, one man. I take a little whiff. I smell something. A little familiar.

I start to gather my things. A shirt (it's freezing) my uke (new-electrified, super awesome, wanted to keep morale- my own included, up, and couldn't quite figure out what would happen if everything burned down, would I have insurance to cover it?)

Carried my shoes the 6 cold tile floors. Met up with a friend on the building putting his on on the 2nd floor. My building-mates confirmed my friend Shawn's experience- they took the elevator (those that responded to the persistent wailing).

That familiar smell, like burning, but special. Why do I know it. I hear something that makes my heart jump- electrical fire. That's why I know, for the 4th or so time in Korea, this evening I (apparently) destroyed something electrical.

I know my constant harping doesn't change anything. Maybe the ol' U.S. of A. is dummy proof. But I can never think of a circumstance where plugging something in (back home) caused the smells, and sounds (not to mention accidents and destruction) that it can here. (To draw it out clearly, since I said I would elaborate not blah blah write a story- I bought a 10 w amp for 20buckaroos, carried it around Seoul all day, finally got home at night and plugged it in, with little excitement. Got a little excitement from the amp, mostly when distortion allowed me to sound vaguely like Jimi H on uke. I turn it off and go back to the acoustic sound which is just as loud. A little while later I hear a pop. I unplug the little adapter for the amp. It is hot and smoking. Unclear if it will ever work again.)

Overheard in Korean upon returning (2 Korean dudes, appear to be the only people responding, aside from a young Korean woman who looks as rattled as I feel) that this was a drill. Typical Korean cover up. They don't make fire alarms like this back home, smells and all.

I am finally done shivering. I think I can ignore the burnt hair smell, especially if my neighbors up and down and beside the stairs can.

I am thinking now in my last bitter thoughts before I conclude this installation of nightly sleep, it was good fun that they did this on a Saturday night, maybe lots of people weren't home.

I was during my twice-daily browsing of the internet, namely facebook and then I suddenly felt the need to quit, and my brain struggled to remember what my next priority was (something else on the computer). Well at least I remembered that I wanted to post on the blog.

Last night I saw a sad sight. A mother in the street holding what looked to be her kid. There was a bike and a car. I was happy on my return not to see any police tape or remnants of the scene, so my hope is the child and everyone involved is fine. People struggle in these situations between the voyeur instinct to check it out ( I glanced, would you not?) and the hero instinct to run across the street and do something (but seriously, what would I do?).

People need to be more careful in and around cars. I'll never forget this.

I shopped for 2 to 3 hours last night and managed to buy only mixed rice grains. I made my first rice at home and topped it with salsa.

Hey, that's better. Trying to choose what's a funnier 'tittle'

Well, as I had feared, I have forgotten what else I was going to post here last night. Time management= Difficult

I'm very excited about my ukulele. I decided I wanted to electrify it. The night before I had a weird dream where I woke up and it had no strings.

After taking it in and having a long conversation with little to no understanding and forking over 70,000 KRW, I had another dream that night of my awesome control board (it has a tuner in it).

I guess Korea has a really low-crime rate

I can't think of many times where people would trust a big

crate of un-drank beers next to an elevator. If I had slid them on board and made off, I could've gotten to any floor, hid them in the fridge.. the perfect escape

then again, Korea has a lot of CCTV

there just collecting up for those stupid reality "caught on camera" shows one day.

So I'm trying pictures, though I should be trying to be on time to work

First time I've seen a dog soup restaurant. Shit, this needs work. O, now it's wrapping. Facebook just feels more intuitive. Ah it stopped wrapping again. I'll figure this out yet.

i realize that I very much enjoy my social interactions in Korea

I had some very satisfying ones today

most recently, a foreigner at the Chinese place where I stuffed myself silly wanted to know where the dumplings were on the menu. I wish in retrospect I had taught him about the very English-able 'cheap place' restaurant.

the waitress at the restaurant tried to warn me: I looked up on-kur on my phone after I ordered it, it means rather spicy. Well yes it was quite spicy.

Then I was exchanging glances with a young lady through a mirror on a column in the middle of the restaurant.

Then I met a couple of Korean boys who exchanged small talk in two languages.

and then I had some pretty bearable calls to my kids.

My stomach and body are tired, hope everyone has had or is having a happy halloween.

I'm going to get on top of making this less boring, among other important things

Halloween

Home plus is still not open despite rumors and signs that indicated yesterday would be their reopening.

I met a crazy-ish foreigner lady (some weird mix of Western and Eastern European accents) who has been here for 4 years. I was happy to share that New Core is the best source of foreign food in this part of Bucheon

Then I went for one of my favorite meals in this neck of the woods, Spaghetti Story for Deungshim Donkkas(eu) for 3,900 won (about 3 and a half dollars). SUCH GOOD GRAVY! Well not many people were eating it today but the place was packed. While waiting outside for takeout (I ended up eating there after some people left) these outgoing kids came over to look at my phone. The girl wanted to know if my phone had games. Nope. They spoke a little English, I spoke a little Korean, pretty typical except that they were strange kids. At some point they went into this restaurant and came back out and asked, I gathered, whether I had been drinking or was crazy. No on both counts, I indicated (who are their parents to be asking me if I'm crazy, they started it). Then I showed the little girl that I still have plenty of skills around a jump rope.

I think thems is all my stories, cept how I incidentally ran into a friend who was supposed to be meeting for me that I didn't remember agreeing to today or the previous day.

Getting a little sad I can't get through to the new cats, oh well, se la vie, more time to meet them later. Time to take a shower and get ready for all hallows eve in Seoul.

I've been having continued skin problems, seems to be connected with dryness. My best response so far, seriously, has been olive oil. I'm a little mediterranean olive, and I don't care who knows it.

I can't believe it

I did it again.

What'd you do you ask?

I got into another discussion with the church of god.

This time I much more seasoned professor (I guess- one who professes) was telling me how important my opportunity was. People come from all over the world to study in Korea (I didn't have the heart to ask what ethnicity of people do) and according to some unnamed newspaper, his church is the only that celebrates the bible correctly.

No Christmas, one Passover. Whoa, that sounds like mine I say. No, yours is wrong.

Well fuck this dude. I gave him a lot more time than I did those pretty girls. But I got just as far. He was really obsessed with meeting me. I was trying to explain that I was wasting his time. I asked him, if we meet, what will come of it? He didn't understand, he just wanted me to understand the bible as correctly as he does.

It's fact by the way, as proven by Job who predicted SPECIFICALLY the workings of the universe, 3500 YEARS AGO! These guys, man, just kind of funny.

I didn't have the heart to ask him more about his family where he is the only Christian. I was going to say that perhaps if someone like him had walked up to somebody else in his family - well, that person would be me, still not a believer.

He got my number, or more specifically I his. He lamented with his partner of all the people who say they will come one day but never do. They sounded bummed out like dejected sales people. Dudes, it's alright, soon enough rapture will come and everybody is going to want that water of life you are hosting.

and I'm considering meeting with em.. I'm really not sure. I am sure of one thing

I am tired

Goodnight

I remembered something else I need gentle encouragement on:

consuming in more moderation

and eating healthier and at home more

I've reconsidered my stance that On the border is Mexican food that makes me gassy - it appears that very large meals do this, as well as upsetting my stomach.

I had my 3rd run-in with Church of God-ers (I forgot to mention my very brief 2nd mention) but this time after telling them I was ok in Korean, the lady said, "oh yes I know you" which is weird, either word has gotten around about me, or she was one of the people there on the 2nd confrontation. I shouldn't call them confrontations, they are largely pleasant.

So I re-potted my plant from work finally. I am worried that I am killing it. It's hard to explain what I did. I had this bucket of water that was very moldy from roses that used to reside there. I started putting compostables in there. The day I bought soil at the dollar store, I found a dead dragonfly on the floor nearby. So I added it in with the soil and put the plant in to the water (I dumped a little water trying to keep as much material in there). Well it was way too much water. I poked holes in the pot. I added more soil.

No sooner had I had this fear than the bugs had materialized. Now I'm afraid to open my window as I don't want gnats in here. My hope is it will dry out some, the bugs will get bored, and the plant will spread out happily and not drown.

Not it's getting frigging cold which brings me to my fears about the cold killing my lovely plant friend. Well, I guess we'll see. I still send it good vibes everyday.

Lucy teacher gave me cookies this morning, very nice of her.

I had a pounding headache all day, cept for the moment when one of my kids gave me a massage. Well I feel better now, just gassy and tired. I wish my guitar player hadn't accidentally held onto my good tiger balm.

Concise

I realized that despite hopes of pictures and links to my mom's blog and re-hashing of old xanga posts, all I have are really wordy posts.

And I'm trying to say less, (read: type less, also).

This morning I had a trippy dream. I was on the coolest water roller coaster ever, but it broke down, and I felt really desperate at this point, when we got through we decided we wanted to ride it again, this time with 4 people (myself, Dave, James, and i know not the 4th party). The roller coaster is starting to come back to me only as I type this. Intriguing how you can be so caught up in a dream, wake up and watch it dissolve into nothingness (well not watch it, but I sure forgot the dream quickly).

I had a nice day. Yesterday my body felt like poop. I guess we drank a lot during our 2 hours of singing. Yesterday I didn't drink, I napped and I made it to my favorite show so far. Only a bit of a bummer that my friends showed up late. I'm thinking the band is going to keep providing fun and interesting experiences. Today, hungover had disappeared, I felt good after a long night of sleep. I went over to James' to watch MMA and drink bloody mary's. It was the first one I had enjoyed, and subsequently the 2nd 3rd and 4th. Had a quesadilla with Declan the old irish employee and Dave and Natalia. Took a nap.

Finally overcame the pressure to journal and am doing it, at (as Irish people like to say) half midnight (they just leave out the past). I had a late dinner, posted pictures to facebook. At dinner I stole (I mean its self serve dispenser, and I did buy a big double portioned dinner) 2.5 (give or take) liters of purified water.

Discussing with Natalia, I realized it's a sort of wonder that I survive as well as I do as I feel like I'm losing out on 2 of my favorite life forces, sleep and water. Throw in one of my favorite medicines... well it's a good thing we have good tiger balm out here.

I appreciate Alex being a good influence on the journaling front, that said it's not that high of a priority. Those people close to me, please help me (just by nudging gently, though I feel like I am nudging myself) to

a: Prioritize

I think I'll start these habits one at a time.

study korean

practice trumpet

etc. etc. etc.

I'm excited about snowboarding. I've also resolved to go up to one of the few Kumdo places I have seen and use my limited Korean to inquire about the possibilities of starting in with that.

Well that wasn't too long. Good night.. for now

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Ugh. I don't know why I watched this again. I guess I was tired of telling people they should watch it, I wanted to see it again myself to make sure, and being October I thought it might be scary.

Well it wasn't. It was sad.

Park Chan Oo (I don't know why, but apparently English people cannot say Oo, without a 'w', or Ee without an 'l') is a superb Korean director. He really gets the love, the laughs, the sex, the confusion, the joy, and the pain.

Mostly the pain.

This is one of the 4 movies of his I've seen, and I have now decided his films epitomize the Korean ethos of "han" His other's are (most famously) Old Boy (most accesibly) Lady Vengeance, and Joint Security Area. Each contains all of those emotions, and characters who you love in situations you hate. This one and Old Boy and JSA, well I guess all of these movies of his I love, have this touch of Romeo and Juliet to them... so beautiful, so lovely, and so unnecessary that everyone has to die in the end. But then.. that's life.

an ethos I don't really understand, but I feel it everywhere about me.

Like the river that flows through Seoul, Han is something of desperation, or despair, of reverence and regret. I don't know. It's a frown on their face, and yet it brings out an unmatched rage, and laughter, and nervousness, and extroversion, and alcoholism.

I think it reminds me somewhat of the pain of the Jewish people, who feel pretty in the right, and when shit goes down, they look around and all they can see is Chinja? (really?)

Had to get this off my chest

There's little time for me to talk about my almost undoing of my apartment, and the rift in my heart, and my topsy turvy thoughts on religion. Back to sleep, and better living! Assa!

Apparently, too, I have chased away my readership with a new address. Well I like this one better, more concise and to the point.

Closing with the English translation of one of my favorite quotes from Oh-Dae-Soo, in Old Boy, describing the meaning of his name ... "it means getting by one day at a time....

... but why can't I get through today?"

I am frustrated by a steady stream of headphones in and out of my life. I am going to get better at repairing them.

As far as explicitly gospel songs go, Touch the Hem of Your Garment by Sam Cooke is real nice.

I bought a white board to help prioritize and organize.

I wrote down some jokes last night while watching funny people, a good movie.

I am tired but getting ready to start.

Trying to work out my final tallies for voting by mail

Did my 3rd Jimjilbang, 2nd trip to Dragon Hill. The outside spa was a dissapointment. Managed to dip myself in the hottest water this time (44 degrees celsius- actually a rather huge difference from 40 degrees). Noraebang was rough on me, think my voice is still recovering from the 2 hour visit with Alex and Courtney, but perhaps if I keep working it I can rebuild stronger and better vocals.

I set out to do stretching yesterday and decided to give yoga a try.

http://yoga.about.com/od/yogasequences/ss/dailystretch.htm

now I'm trying to decide if I need a mat. I e-mailed my chiropractor. The worst part of going on these laminate floors were exercises on my knees. Are bruises bad for your knees? I do have a severe fear of damage on my knees. In a twist of irony, my ankles have been aching since I left Dragon Hill last night.

I'm going to go back to that right now, using Shawn's old heat blanket as a mat. Try to get through all 10 today.

Much love to those of you out in the blogosphere.

O I almost burned down my apartment yesterday, but it's ok, the smoke is gone, and the singed hairs are not noticeable. Man I manage to do some of the stupidest shit out here. Hopefully it'll make for good growth and funnier jokes.

House scorpion, great, the bug is again sending shivers up my exhausted spine.

Alex and Courtney have departed, it is sad to see them go, but we had a very nice time together.

I did my first Jimjilbang thanks to them.

I finally went to Gyeongju.

I went to Insa-dong multiple times, and had a chance to view the very intriguing declaration of independence in beautiful Tapgol park.

I viewed Nanta, one of Seoul's 2 most popular shows (very cool).

I finally bought a vest. And then a zip-up tie.

I proved that my apartment (actually, it's an officetel) can host 3 people with some amount of comfort.

I managed to teach and only be slightly overwhelmed by my duties during this time, I went through a good deal of money but enjoyed all of it, I reinvigorated my vigor for living in Korea, and we rounded out the trip with a 2 hour long Noraebang stay (though I'm rather peeved that we were not comp'ed more time.

Last night after dinner and ice cream I was walking home when a couple of Korean girls began to openly and nervously approach my friend and I. They said they were students and they were doing homework. They seemed nice and not like bible freaks so I obliged. In they began with questions about the holy mother. I countered with Virgin Mary. They said no.

We discussed, for maybe 20 minutes, their ideas and mine. They said they wished for my salvation. I said ok, save me from what? They said, not your body, but your spiritual salvation. Again, I said from what. Then she started in with using the word "ticket" that I don't have it. They key to salvation, she told me repeatedly, was the passover. Well I'm trying to explain to her that Passover (or Pesach) is a Jewish celebration of the Exodus (clearly she and I understand very different part of the bible) and I believe what she is talking about is the Eucharist (I could not think of a different or more appropriate name for the reenactment of the last supper- or seder if you will). I liked where she was going with the heavenly mother thing, so we kept on. She kept on quoting the bible to me, poor girl using the English side of her bilingual NIV (which I told her stands for New International Version, in reference to my comment on the old and new testaments). If you're wondering on the switch from "them" to "her"- well I was initially approached by 2 girls, but then it became apparent one was more ready to preach to me and the other was more of a wingman. At the corner in front of megaplus 2 more friends met up and helped throw her a quote or translation. Well she told me it was not opinion but it was god's word, and I told her that I perceive the bible as more of a mixture of history, literature and spirit. Of course I had to flesh out that argument. I wasn't following her argument about the "clearly proven" heavenly mother, loosely alluded to in quotes in Revelations. At this point it is as clear to you as to me that this is going nowhere, as talks on religion often do. I asked her who wrote this bible, and who gave it to her. Perhaps this was the only part of conversation where I took on the aggressor and tried to impress my beliefs.

Well eventually my Korean friend Tom C saved me, just walking by, he inquired what all this was about and brought some levity to the conversation as well as a more competent English translation. I am not sure, but I guess that he is not a Christian, or that he is much more easy-going than these girls, poking fun at the whole thing. He tells me that (now in Korean, and I could follow a little) that I am welcome to their church at any time, and I am sure that I am.

I hope this does not offend anyone, I surely was not trying to, just keeping the dialogue open, if you will.

It was both a pleasant and frustrating conversation, and did not make me feel all that more confident about futures in religion.

Added pictures of the horrible bug, and the havoc I reaked on my place in it's wake. Kinda regret not having that glass cover on the light, maybe that's why I've always hated having it on.

Lots of new thoughts, not all coming to me currently.

Finished A Prayer for Owen Meany, amazing and strangely moving, as well as Me of Little Faith, a little unexpectedly tame and ironic twists of fate but very appropriate.

Viewed Stephen Colbert's testimony at congress, and at first felt like it was awkward and maybe inappropriate, but after slightly more consideration think it was the right place and time, if only people understood laughter.

New hopes for change:

I want to help peace in Korea and Israel

I also really want to end the practice of carelessly throwing flyers and other trash on the ground in Korea.

I miss home and am happy to be approaching the end of my contract but I will also miss it out here a lot.

I love the idea of a dream journal though I have some trouble keeping up with it. Alex pointed out the brilliant idea (I guess it's called journaling) of writing down one special thing of every day- would leave a person with a lot to look back on one day.

great link

http://gizmodo.com/5634257/ikea-let-loose-a-herd-of-100-cats-into-store-to-see-what-happens

sun is risen, UCLA is defeated, friends have departed from DMZ

last night I saw the largest Fireworks show ever, the Seoul Great Fireworks (fireflower) Festival (which I know how to write in Korean but have not practiced enough on the keyboard to do without the Korean keyboard which is all the way over there....)

Finally went to Gyeongju, only for about 12 hours though. Will go back. Jinju, too. 3 or 4 large festivals going on, including the South River Lantern Festival, which we saw and purchased fireworks at (which end up being vaguely fun and dangerous after the fireworks exhibition in Seoul). Watched bull fighting (like 2 bulls butting heads till one backs down) entertaining, touched a couple of bulls, and had a chance to win a bull calf (or a tv, unfortunately not victorious).

Bought a tamagotchi in Jinju, played with it the whole ride back from Jinju, very frustrated about the reset button being so easy to hit. Turns out its a knockoff. Still it was entertaining for 2 dollars, and maybe I'll find a good home for it.

People are kicking ass by the way. Matt is making sets in NYC for good money, Shea is engaged to be wed and with child and extremely thrilled about it, friends from High School are professional cheerleaders and business people, travellers, and much more. Time to make more of myself.

Band added a lot of new songs, which is great. Need to keep practicing my Korean, but it's slowly getting decent.

Ok enough rambling in an attempt to remember what I thought I would put up here. Ah I think it was rantings about the skewed perspective and priorities of the Korean people, ok more on that next time, for now sleep and restorative food.

Be well =)

Rude awakenings

Saturday morning I was slow to get out of bed (despite my mind's searching for the Zen passage which I will include soon). I am now reading A Prayer for Owen Meany. It makes me think a lot about religion. I am still unsure if the rabbinate is the path for me. But I am sure that I need to travel to Israel before I make a decision such as that.

Anyways in my slow morning I was on the computer when a quick moving, many-large-legged bug came scurrying across the curtain in my direction. Well I lost it. I took a picture first (to prove I was not being a sissy about nothing). Then it took my a lot of havoc to finally got rid of it. At one point in trying to move it about it fell to the ground which caused me to jump back, knock over my tv and a break a huge pane of glass (thank heavens not the tv). I am still cleaning that glass. After my nerves settled a little, it finally occurred to me to treat it as I do most bugs, and got a large tupperware, corralled it, and sent it out my window, though in my opinion it was not far enough. If I see another one I will move out until they do something about it.

I'm getting really psyched about my families impending visit.

I don't know how to treat this blog, but I enjoy it.

http://deoxy.org/koan/22 - that's the Zen passage that I took to heart and thought of lately.

I rearranged my room again. I'm realizing that while I like my new location for the computer, the ergonomics is killing my right wrist, hmmm.

Ah, I remembered the anecdote. I was trying to explain to my kids "bottle cap". I did an awful drawing. All of the sudden, my student Harry calls to me, and he has in his hand a "hite" cap, one of the few bland Korean beers we are subject to here. I told him he was brilliant, but not to drink beer.

Then tonight, at dinner, we saw a kid who looked pretty drunk being cradled by his father. I would estimate him at maybe 13 or so, well below the legal age.

Mudfest

So the fear I had been hearing from my compatriots hadn't set in during the long grueling week of work, too much excitement brewing for my upcoming trip to the Philipinnes (which I have, apparently still not learned how to spell, since the spell check is underlining in red, time to investigate...) Ok. Philippines. That's where I was going (and have since gone) to. Plus my parents are coming to visit (which is now the top of my concerns, along with studying in Korean and updating this sad sap excuse of a blog). Anyways, my biggest fear about Mudfest was getting mud in my eyes and what that would be like.

I got off of work Friday, and finally started to pack for the event. Actually we may have gone out for a beer, I forget now. It was absolutely pouring, but luckily our friend Rich's sweet girlfriend agreed to drive us the (maybe) mile to the bar where our group was meeting (and organized by). When I got to the doorway at the foot of my apartment, there was a crowd of Koreans awed by the downpour. They looked at me curiously and inquired why I had no umbrella. I tried to tell them something about not needing one, and when asked why, giving the word that I best understand as meaning something like "silly/dumb/crazy". Guy there decides to escort me under his umbrella to Ruby's car down the block a little ways. Crammed 5 deep in a car that is almost smart and definitely too small to make it on the "safety-conscious" American Auto market.

I got my first "American-style" breakfast at Rhythm and Booze. It was overpriced, but to have a hashbrown made it worthwhile. We also started to drink. Apparently my expectations of free booze for the weekend were misguided, and I have since judged the trip as overpriced. Well we weren't too drunk for the 2 or 3 hour bus trip, but our bladders were tested, including one fellow peeing out our window. I held it until we reached an ultimate-rest-stop. Nicest type of bathroom. Close to the water, I could smell it. Well just when the trip was starting to ware on me, we reached Boryeong/Daecheon. Not long after settling in, we are greeted by massive bbq'd (beef of pork, I don't know, I apparently do not have very distinguishing taste buds) and mosquito's to match. O and huge.. uh.. mussels? I ate a couple of those, fighting my pickier urges. Man, though, these mosquitoes.. whew, something else!

I guess the city is called Boryeong, and the beach is Daecheon (somwhat confused by the public at-large). Well we decided we had to experience the water. It was nice, there were fireworks (which I did not partake in, for once), and then we were greeted by loads of (primarily male) nude bodies. Our stuff was washed away in a tide that moved quickly across a long stretch of very flat beach, but luckily I managed to retrieve it.

We got out, resumed drinking, but when the downpour began, the wiser portion of our group decided to head back (actually we all did, but Dave and Rich got hung up in a kickaround with a soccer ball, I forget exactly what they called it). But I mean, it was coming down, cats and dogs and other animals domesticated and not.

I slept okay on the floor, like a true Korean. the lack of a pillow was a little killer, as was my lack of floor space. Come the morning, my hangover set in with the voices of pushy companions needing some excitement either from the British (golf) Open, or our departure to muddy festivities.

Eventually we made our way. As we were walking down, I was the first one targeted with a female slap to my chest, covered in mud. Then another couple of friendly hands. Suddenly I was hit with a barrage of mud hurled by dudes chanting "too clean" (this subsequently became my mantra for a day of passing on the goodness). The mud had some rocks in it, and was being thrown a bit too hard for it to be completely benevolent. That's what happens when you let rowdy American Soldiers take part. Well I kept a smile about it, until I got hit in the eye. At which point I raised my hands and tried to remove myself from the battle. Then I got hit in the other eye. It was as awful as I had imagined. Nothing could get rid of it, my and Natalia's friendly hands could do nothing but move mud around it. I think I eventually teared (tears, not tears, oh.) it out. Yea used tears, not tore. Anywho, enjoyed that for a bit, luckily met up with some friends. Did one of many inflated mud rides (picture moon bounce, wrestling pit, multiple slides, those races where people strapped elastically try to hurl themselves at one another, and obstacle course). We hopped on the obstacle course which had a not too long line. Despite their best warnings, I could not be ready for how much abrasion my knees would undergo. I also didn't realize my friends plan to remain in the mudpit in the middle. Alas, I won anyways.

I got off track here. Started getting involved in band politics and finishing up my wash. I'm generally off-track here. Maybe off-track is where you find the real stuff, I don't spose that sounds too wrong.

Mudfest was a lot of hangovers, not a lot of drunkeness (bad ratio, should be vice-versa)
Awful mosquitos
Gross barbeque
First Korean waterpark, very fun, and worth the inflated price
Impressive English-speaking city
All-in-all a gruelling weekend, but a survivable one.

I've also found my long work days much more bearable.

I forget what my story was.

Well we have new coworkers, and we lost one of our greats, Shawn Taylor.
One is from Orange County, and she looks terribly familiar, though it may just be the koreaness of Southern Cali. f-word, what was my anecdote?

Funny stories

I gotta take better care of this blog, but then there a lot of things I oughta do.

Let's see if I can remember my funny stories:
So I'm walking home from work and I see one of my students glance and double-take at me. And I notice her Dad, the professional wrestler, is sitting at one of the outdoor eating tables (pervasive for most of the year around here), along with the owner of my school. So I can't help saying hello, and they can't help but invite me to sit. So I oblige and sit down. First they serve me makgoli (my favorite Korean alcohol, almost renamed drunken rice recently), and then start feeding me (I mean chopsticks to my face to eat out of) these gnarly squids I've been watching swim around in a shallow bucket outside my apartment for a month or so. Of course they were concerned I was hungry, so they purchased another to get chopped up. and I was talked into eating weird little shellfish that had to be literally sucked out of their spiral shell. Then I finally bit the bullet and with a little booze and a lot of spicy sauce tried bondegi- silkworm larvae, from what I understand.

After dinner they ask me if I want to go out for another beer, and I say sure. The Dad and "Honey" left on a pretty adorable bike (I tried to wedge myself into some tickets, but he claimed he didn't know when he would next wrestle). The third businessman who I forgot to previously mention, the one chopstick-feeding me food, is persistently calling me his brother. We make our way to a sexy bar I had been tempted by before, Music and Girl Karaoke Bar. Having been to only one sexy bar before, I can safely say it's much better with older Korean dudes. We were at all times catered by no less than 1 or 2 beautiful and flirtatious women. My companions keep embarassing me by comparing everyone with Kim Yuh-Na (my mistake of an answer for what my "type" or Korean girl is- they all are).

Fortunately, Mr. Park, the owner decided to send me home knowing I had a long day of work ahead. Still I was proud to have introduced 2 Koreans into loving Hoegarden, and meeting a Karate star (forgot to mention him from the bar), and gotten a sexy- bar- waitress' phone number.

The next day we did one of our 2 field trips to Home Plus, the huge supermarket that everyone in Korea, including foreigners, feel at home in.


What's my other story? I ran into Larry who worked at the Long Beach library, for my 4th time in Korea, all spontaneous and unplanned.

There was the time I ran across the street, and a black woman with a black face mask said something to the tune of my life being in my own hands.

Ah I think I remember the other story. I'm sure there's a third. But, in Incheon we were drawn into the carnival attractions on the coast. James the Irish insisted we had to ride on, I forget what he called them, but I call them pirate ships (you know the ride that goes back and forth). Well just before we leave, we decide to get on one. It doesn't go all the way upside down, but basically pushes as far as it can without that. We notice, on top of the stomachs in our throat feeling, that the bars feel like they are coming loose as we are almost head over feet in the air. Well we thought the, ABSOLUTELY CRAZY, ride operator was being generous when he offered a second "survis"(they're giving you something for free in Korean) ride. Well now I might have called Dave paranoid as we approached the apex of the ride, until I noticed, in fact, the ride operator was standing outside of his booth and pushing the button to release our lap bars at the height of the ride. Did he want us to die? Did he want to scare us shitless? He surely would have never passed the test to be a ride operator in the states.

ok, crazy story: Last weekend I went to meet with a girl who turned out to be one of the million misleading flirts in this country. While walking about, I catch the scene of a blind woman being pulled at by an older male. It's not that unusual to see people dragging one another and making a big fuss on the other end. Well things got more and more saucy, until the man decided to let her go... and high-kick her to the noggin. So nuts. Not quite sure what to say to something like that.

With that I should get back to the most basic of needs here, cleaning and laundry. Meditation and better blog maintenance to come later as my stay becomes more level headed, or something.

love

So I'm joining a brass band, as if I didn't have enough on my plate. I have met a few new Korean friends, some are looking for English, some are offering Korean, others offering family dinners.

I think I can tell the difference with the new strings on my uke.

Payday tomorrow.

New songs in the band.

Gotta organize the photos..and post em

same with my thoughts...

=)

Let's Hear it for Busan!

This is me, a little wet, a lot tired, returning from Busan. I've got fireworks, and my first hot-towel shave on my face. I take a lot of pictures in the elevator cause it's the best place to take pictures in a mirror (aside from the bathroom, been there myspaced that).

Busan was something else.

We departed Thursday night, shortly after work. In terms of last-minute packing, I didn't do too bad (I didn't bring trunks to Korea at all, I guess I planned on buying some, and not bringing shorts would've been a bigger mistake had it not rained 60% of our time in Busan). Had one of my most American meals at T.G.I.Friday (on a Friday-esque Thursday). Got on a train and began drinking (me on Makgoli, everyone else on beer, and o soju, soj-a-mistake).

Arrived in Busan at unhealthy hour of the morning. Took 2 insanely fast cabs to the happening beach. I jumped for joy at the fireworks I saw and quickly bought 20 bux worth of Roman candles. We went a little crazy with them, unfortunately I wouldn't see the really cool mortar-type ones we reserve for crazies and fireworks shows until late the next night.

Sleeping on the beach was a little difficult, mostly do to our drunken antics and close proximity. Woke up with an awful crick in my neck. Drinking continues, but I pace myself. Despite ample warning, we watch the sun rise and burn our bodies, even Rich's fairly dark one.

Alex returns from Jimjibang, looking fresh, making me seriously question my judgement to stay with these crazy cats out on the beach. Finally check in time starts to roll around, and we opt to walk a city we don't know looking for our "youth hostel". Well it took our minute amount of directions, all of my Korean, 5 or so people attempting to direct us, till we finally found kind people to get us there. At this point I'm moving pretty slow in flip flops. We stumble through a church that looked a lot more like a community center, to our pleasant surprise. Our hostel was insane, and one significant part an upscale-ish hotel. A good steal at 50 bucks a person for 2 nights (would've been less had we filled all 8 beds).

Aggravation, grumpiness and testy attitudes start to set in. We get a bad feeling about the "Fuzzy Navel" when they warn us that they won't be able to serve us food for an hour and generally ignore us (look out for our scathing reviews of the Fuzzy Navel at Haeundae Beach). We eat seafood across the street. I meet Dave's infamous friend Tiddy. I light off the last of my fireworks that had been with me for far too long. Drunkeness starts again. We end up heading towards my friend Tommy who is at U2, a pretty popping and awesome club. I depart there last with Tommy to go jam uke on the beach. I run into Larry a librarian (or library Assistant) from CSULB who I have UNintentionally run into for the 3rd time in Korea. This reminds me, I must find him as a friend on facebook, after I am done uploading these pictures. Come to the conclusion that it is ultimately a small world, particularly in the hermit kingdom/land of morning calm. Barter to buy more fireworks, 6 roman candles for Man-won, which comes out to a little less than 10 bucks. Don't feel like waiting in line for Burger King, make my way back to the hostel (10 minute drive costs me a little over 3 bucks, I LOVE that, but hate other things about the cabs (like lost wallets)). Surprised to find I am not the last occupant of our room to arrive. Happy to meet up with a bed.

Saturday the rain sets in. As does the sting of our burns. Some burn on my feet persists even now. We decide to take an open top double decker bus tour of Busan. We get awesome ponchos and an all-day ride for Man-won (Mahn means 10,000). I slept for the latter, supposedly better portion of the ride.

This recap is getting almost as tiresome as Busan was.


I'm back and passed on working out so I could watch Korea beat Japan 2-0, and this, of course.

Goodnight.
Peace and Love

Louis Armstrong inspired me to this post. That intro to West End Blues.. it makes me want to play trumpet forever.

I want to talk about a lot

how facebook is a bothersome addiction, but I nice cure for homesickness

how nothing will really cure my desire to be home eating American/Mexican/Girl Scout junk. And playing with my puppy and kitty, and seeing my friends, and being in my backyard.

This was also inspired by my Mom. You should see her blog.. http://whatisee-baf.blogspot.com/

I want to talk about friends

I want to talk about how overwhelming the internet, and its abundance of options for keeping people updated, is, and how large amounts of options often confound me into non-action.

I want to talk about how I think a large scale life A.D.D. has prevented me from focusing on one certain habit/talent, instead being doomed to flitter about in a million different things, but I don't suppose I would give it up if I could, I can't really imagine doing so.

Did I mention I'm reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance again? second time in a row. I need to get something new to read. Maybe I would like Atlas Shrugged, considering how into the Foutainhead I was.

I want my Mom to know I've connected more with Ireland here, and I want to fully encourage her to go, but I also want to go myself. I've experienced Irish music, movies, people, and drinking.

I miss my old job. It was a roller coaster as this one is, but it was a little more challenging in better ways for me. I want to do this teaching English abroad thing more too.

I think it's time to sleep. Tomorrow we venture for Busan for a crazy weekend, but I will keep in mind that it's in celebration of Buddha's birthday, which is a kind of funny idea for a holiday as it is (I'm not sure Buddha Gotama would really want his birthday to be commemorated, even if we knew when it was).

Well if nothing else, I think this was an easier to read blog. And it was good to write. And hopefully it will inspire me in posts to come. And I hate that these books are teaching the kids to start sentences with 'And' and 'Because.' It's almost as bad as the books teaching them juvenile lamb as 'kid' and the British books with it's 'Mummy' 'colour' 'tick' and so on.

I love you. Good night. or whatever time you're in, good one of those. and many to come.

dishonest banking

well, it seems I have lost my wallet. so I cancelled my Korean card. It went pretty well, though Clara (the head teacher) had to talk on the phone in Korean for a while on my behalf, and meanwhile all of the Korean teachers found out and pitied me =(.

but now I'm working on Chase. and for the 3rd time I am confronted by the option of overdraft coverage. Well this is something I've had a very mixed history. I have enjoyed telling people my stories of recovering overdraft charges leveled on me both illegitimately and legitimately, I like to say I have about a .500 record in getting money versus being turned down. So anyways, I have been asked 3 or more times about this option, why have I not made a choice, so that I can stop being asked. oh... here is why...

Have you read the Important Information including legal disclosures about Chase Debit Card Overdraft Coverage service?
Yes, I have.
No, I have not.

Select "Yes" if you want Chase to authorize and pay overdrafts on your everyday debit card transactions. Your everyday debit card purchases may be approved at Chase's discretion, even if you don't have sufficient funds. Note: By choosing “Yes,” your account(s) will reflect your decision effective immediately.

Select "No" if you do not want Chase to authorize and pay overdrafts on your everyday debit card transactions. Your everyday debit card purchases will be declined if you don’t have sufficient funds. Note: By choosing "No," your account(s) will reflect your decision on or before the second business day after this form is accepted by Chase.


this is shit. It's not that hard to figure out. It's also not that hard to write an honest form. Read the legal disclosures. Do you WANT it? Do you NOT? I do NOT want it, but felt myself cringe when that required me to pick NO, I HAVE NOT READ THE LEGAL DISCLOSURES REGARDING THE HANDLING OF MY MONEY

too much ranting, I need some pictures on this mother

or by my mother

shopping for trouble

I used my Tuesday midday break from school-teaching to venture into SaveZone to see what they had.

Well in Korea there is no such thing as "just looking" even if I knew how to say it.
I had read somewhere that if you are the first customer of the day you are expected to set the tone for the day. Well maybe they were still trying to set the tone. Part of the problem is having mini stores all over the mall, selling the same shit, all over-staffed with 2 or so people.

How overwhelming. I will safely assure myself I won't shop there again.

So my second trip of the night was to HomePlus. Well I found most of what I wanted, minus a somewhat lacking selection of shoes and sunglasses. I found, as I often have, shopping tends to really wear me out. I did better in weeks previous when I was too stingy or indecisive to buy anything, but now that I was biting the bullet and getting stuff and remembering how little I know about style and... I don't want to talk about it. I'm glad it's done, and now I get to enjoy new stuff. As I posted on facebook, I don't plan on shopping anymore without the accompaniment and aid of a girlfriend or friendly feminine advice.

Let me get to the point of this post FINALLY...
so arriving at home around 11 (late night shopping is pretty interesting) I was confronted by an outgoing Korean man on the way into my building. He was dressed like he had been hiking, but spoke English like he had been drinking.
He insisted I follow him up the stairs. I was led into a bar on the 2nd floor of my building, one I had looked at before, obviously since I live there. It had lipprints and indicated in Korean that it was a singing club. Well I set myself down in the room that my Korean leader and puzzled attendants took me too. My Korean pal tells me he wants to hear me sing my song. We realize then, that his friend who had been walking with him all along, had turned up his sheepishness and would not enter the room. Well they started talking to each other, I could hear him swearing and our friend trying to talk him down. Then the dude comes in and says that his friend is nervous to sing, and its my fault. So now I'm being escorted out, and the guy is being nice, saying we will see each other again, and that he manages a chicken place. I want to find out what chicken place but can't get it out of him. He's trying to explain to me, you know, some clubs are outside? What is he saying? is this one of those outside places, or is it the opposite?
OK, yea I guess I'll see you later.. or you'll see me (I'm the one who sticks out like a sore thumb).
I think, based on the lip-prints on the signs, that it's some sort of brothel/singing place (when I first typed this I accidentally type brother instead brothel, I am becoming Korean). I want to know more..
Then I enjoyed my milk shake in a sack, and went to bed.