A day with a Friend (sort of)

I didn't teach today... well I was at school all day at least. I got here at my regular time and did the English broadcast. Then came up stairs figuring that since I wasn't teaching the 4th grade I could finish the lesson plans for the winter camps I was teaching in a week or so. I got to work on them and sent them off by about 10:30. Around the same time one of the 6th grade students showed up. She was bringing me mail from the teachers room. I got two things today first was a Christmas card from Tai and the second was a envelope from my friend Beth. I knew what was in the envelope. It was my copy of Diane Durrett's new book. The other two things on the customs form worried me a little so I took the safer route and opened Tai's card and explained to the student that it was from a friend in the US. She then had to head back to class. I looked at the package a couple of times did I open it, and surely get distracted or leave it closed and finish the work. I did a couple of quick things then grabbed the package and ripped it open. Out came Tales of Beedle Bard, "Driving Music City" from Diane, and a copy of Diane's new cd Blame it on my DNA. Beth had some how managed to sneak past me that the book release was also a cd release. I sent Beth a text saying that the package had gotten here and I was about to crank up the cd on my school computer. Then it was like I was trying to be good but couldn't. I would read a chapter, try to get some work done for next school year, read a chapter and go ok... no more. I ended up not teaching the 6th grade either today. So I read Diane's book this afternoon. It felt like I was hanging out with her someplace with a glass of Cabernet. I'd heard some of the stories from Diane before. Hanging out the last couple of years with Beth and Diane had made me privy to a few tales every now and then.

I'm really missing home now. Not so much Atlanta per say as the people there. I miss my friends. I miss those that have crossed the line from friends to family. I know tonight my upstairs neighbor isn't going to be very happy with me. I'm going to crank up Diane's cd and give it a real good listen.

I was right... and I was wrong.

Let's start with the easy one. I was right Christmas was easier to get through than Thanksgiving. I guess cause all of us expats were working overtime to find some Christmas cheer and my school made sure I never slowed down long enough to really miss home. Last week was super busy with school stuff and then multiple expat things for Christmas. Monday I had a meeting with one of the schools I'm working a winter camp with. It should be interesting. They seemed really friendly and ready to try anything so we'll see how that goes. Tuesday I was invited out to dinner with my school so I made sure to go. We had traditional Korean food, I got lucky and was seated at the end of the table with lots of the younger English teachers so we joked around a bit and they got to practice their English in a less stressful way. Wednesday I taught all day then threw a small party for my after school classes. Chocolate cake and soda.
Christmas Eve evening I went to the EPIK party thrown by the DMOE for all of us Native teachers in Daegu. It was a nice dinner and I know the folks I was with certainly had at it with the red wine that was provided at a very reasonable cost. After that we went to the Forest Cafe a group of us had picked names and done a secret santa. Some how my name got overlooked yet I'd gotten a name to give a gift too. ::shrug:: The person I gave a gift to was someone I would have gotten a Christmas present for anyway.
Christmas Day I spent online talking to my family and friends back in the states. Later I headed downtown to the Holy Grill where we had Christmas dinner. After dinner since we were the last seating we had Christmas trivia. My team came in second thanks to getting confused on which Bond movie had the Bond Girl named Dr. Christmas Jones in it.
Eventually we all headed out into the cold night to get some sleep. Those of us who work for the DMOE had to go back to work in the morning while some of the Uni professors are off for quite a while right now.
Friday was a regular work day except there was a shortened schedule and as soon as the kids were out of the building we all piled in a bus and headed off on retreat to Pohang. On the way we stopped at a temple and took a hike up a mountain.
Then we headed the rest of the way to pohang the principal meet up with us at dinner. She had left instructions with the teacher in charge to order me mandu and something Korean without fish to eat since she's found out I don't eat fish. The rest of the faculty dug into lots of raw fish and I got japche and mandu. I've realized that the principal really wants to make sure I'm happy. I guess I remind her of one of her daughters so she mothers me a lot. I have a feeling that my short 5 minute English lessons at lunch are helping out with the relationships in the school. At dinner, my willingness to be formal and follow the drinking traditions and culture, very quickly won me points with some of the male teachers. Afterwards it was off to the norebang. Everybody had to get up and sing. There was lots of dancing and clapping along that went with it. Eventually we made it to the training center where I'd done my orientation. We got assigned our rooms and had about 10 minutes to relax and I started to think I was done for the evening and the other teacher were also changing into more comfortable pants so I pulled on my flannel pj bottoms. The next thing I knew we were all back down the hall to one of the rooms for late night snacks of dried fish, rice cookies, peanuts, chestnuts, gul, and a rice wine. There was lots of joking around as we all ate and drank more. I was commended on my ability to hold my drink. There were lots of smiling happy faces all around as I took very well to some good natured joking. I also got put on the spot as to which of the make teachers was the most handsome. Thank god I got a few hints from my co teachers as to the right form for answering that question (always say the oldest man present.) I then had to rank the others and I managed to do that with only a little misstep but it was all good when I said that one of the advantages two of the male teachers had was that I interacted with them more so personality and interpersonal knowledge came into play. Eventually we all headed off to our rooms again. I ended up for a while longer talking to the Miss Kims. One of them had found Gone with the Wind on tv and so we talked about how it was set partially in my hometown.
The next morning came way to early. Breakfast was in the cafeteria. I don't think anyone knows that feeling of being on the spot till you have about 80 Koreans stare at you as you try to eat your breakfast with chopsticks, and you're the only foreigner in the place. As we walked out Miss Kim was wondering why everyone was staring at them. I said it wasn't y'all it was me. She has gotten so used to me that she didn't notice I was the only foreigner in the place. That felt really good that I've gotten so accepted.
After a few speeches we piled in the bus and headed north. My co teacher and I had set it up so I got to sit with the 6-3 Miss Kim on the way back to Daegu. So she got to practice her English on the bus with me. She was fine with the joke after I said I was doing it so she would look good to the principal. I'd heard her teased about not speaking enough English and that she should practice with me more. She realized I wasn't being mean I just wanted to help her out. So we chatted up the coast. There were some good laughs the first time she told me we were going to eat gae for lunch. I had kind of looked at her confused... gae? Then she realized she'd told me the Korean word and really we were going to eat crab for lunch. I then got a mini Korean lesson on types of crab. We took a few stops on the way up the coast one at the light house at yeoungdock.
Then at the wind power plant a little further up.
As you can see it was cold and windy up there. Then about 1/2 hour further up we stopped for lunch. I somehow got seated in the room without the English speaking teachers but as always I was well taken care of by all the Korean moms in the room. The principal was impressed when I managed to crack a few joints on the crabs and pull out all the meat from the legs in one piece. It was a good lunch and I was informed I didn't eat enough when I ate 3 1/2 crabs... I was supposed to eat 4 or 5.
After lunch we headed back to Daegu. Where I promptly crashed and slept for 12+ hours.

Merry Christmas from Korea

This week is lots of lessons on Christmas and quite a bit of singing. So here are my 4th graders showing off what they learned in class... they are little hams.. I'm sure next year they are going to be a fun group of 5th graders.


http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=B6CPAWM-rZY


http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=VEa0M0WMDgs

12/15/08 Vlog

for those trying to get around work web filters: http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=Boi1ZYdmKWI

Korean Medicine part 3

I've had several nasty colds over here. I know it's part of my body building up immunity to a whole new set of germs. But on this last one my friendly doctor down the street decided she wasn't messing with it. I'd gone in and then gone back to get a second set of drugs. She decided that she was pulling out the big guns on whatever it was. We did the usual yes runny nose, no only a little cough, yes it is a productive cough, no sinus pressure. She added antibiotics to the set of pills. Then she said I needed a shot. I was like ok after years of allergy shots and such I'm really not phased by a shot in the arm. New problem... they don't give shots in the arm here. I get ushered by my doctor into a different treatment room. One of the nice nurses waved me behind a curtain and proceeded to fill a syringe with something. Then she was like.. um. Sorry, Konglish not good. I was like arm? Getting ready to figure out how to bare my arm from several layers. She was like no...um.. a... butt, hip...no, no... a.. buttocks? I was like My BUTT?!? You need to give me a shot in the... a.. ok she's like pants, down. *Sigh* Ok.. I'll drop them. She then massages my butt a bit and then wipes it off with an alcohol wipe and I got a shot in my rear. Then she massages it a bit more and then tells me to rub a little bit and I'm done. I pull my pants up and walk out from behind the curtain I had an audience. I was then handed a tangerine and told I was ok to go. I paid my 2,900won at the counter, walked out the door and headed to the pharmacy with my prescription. Going this is just one of those cultural things. I walk in and the pharmacist smiled said hi and took my prescription. I chatted a little with him while they were filling it. He gave me the directions told me same as before, take after meals, and see you Saturday. I was thinking I hope not. I want to be done with this and no more shots in the butt please.

Monday... run of the mill odd

I had been asked a few weeks ago to do a "special project" for the DMOE here in Daegu. I'd agreed hell anything to get out of my crazy monday schedule. I didn't get directions as to how to get the the school I was headed to till I was getting in a cab to get to the subway. Thank god for some of the people I came in with we're all good at taking care of each other. It was a combination of texts and emails we all managed to get to the school in time to take care of the project. I enjoyed it more than I would have the rest of the day at my school I'm sure. I then got to hang on the subway with two of my favorite people here in Daegu. I'm sure the Koreans were wondering about the three crazy Americans. It's fun to play with that. Poor Mike was traumatized by his weekend experience with his co teachers. I think I heard more about the sauna and how naked and how they were missing the concept of personal space. The poor guy was really traumatized by it. I think that's one of the reasons I haven't managed to make it to one yet... but I'm really working on the courage for it. I've made a deal with myself that by New Years I'll do it. Or... shortly there after.
I got off the subway at a different stop than my normal one to go and pick up my students books at English house. It's nice to realize that I've gotten to the point where I can get around even without Korean. I got the taxi driver to get me to the landmark near where I was headed without him laughing at my Konglish. Then I managed to get the discussion books for my students that were in the back without too much confusion. I've had to remind myself occasionally to think about how far I've come.
I got home and was talking to one of my fellow atlantans over here and it's amusing to me that he can say what he says to me. He described something as odd. Not odd shocking just run of the mill K*** odd. Yep, that's me run of the mill odd.
I wonder sometimes about who actually reads what I write. I know a few people do regularly because they have unique IPs I know who is checking on me from Philly, and Washington, Maryland is one of a couple of people. But the ones around Atlanta make me wonder. They could be any number of people. When I think about it I start to think about what I'm saying. Should I censor what I say or change it? But then I figure if I worry about what I'm saying and who is reading it I won't be as honest about what I'm doing over here.
I actually have to write up a post about my experience at the doctors last week. I had a few people laughing as I explained it today. One had fun taking out the pronouns and messing with me. But that is another post at another time.

The Little Things

I learned a while ago not to sweat the little stuff. I learned not to stress over things that in the long run don't mean much.
But that's not what this is about. This is about the little things people do that end up meaning a lot more. I've always been pretty good about trying to make those little gestures for friends and loved ones. I short email to tell someone I miss them. A joke when I know someone just needs a smile. A phone call to someone just to listen to their voice, when they need someone to listen. I don't know if I really appreciated those things in return as much as I should have before. This week little things have been giving me huge smiles. I'm truly grateful for them. From a voice mail, to a doughnut, or even just a song dedicated on facebook. They have given me just a little moment of connectedness to those around me and far away.
In a few hours this afternoon I was given so much in ways that I don't know if the people who gave them to me even know what the gifts meant. This morning I got a great laugh from one of my co teachers as she was looking at my calendar and saw where I'd put TT down as Teachers training she thought it was the emoticon for crying about the training. We laughed at how the same thing could mean two completely different things. She's one of the teachers I really like I feel bad that she's so nervous but yet she's getting pushed hard by the administration to learn English and practice with me.
At lunch the Principal came by she wanted to practice her English but she wanted Miss Kim around to translate. She had a little trouble with the verbs in the question but I got the meaning and after lunch we went and sat in her office for a few minutes and practiced. That she's really interested in learning English so she can communicate with me really means a lot to me. I know it has to take a good deal for her to make the effort but I really admire her. She's leading by example. I know she got up and lectured the faculty the other week about how they should take advantage of having me there and just try to talk to me. Sometimes I worry I'm not doing a good job, but then things like that happen and I know that I must be doing something right.
After my first open class I was talking to Miss Kim about a couple of things and one of the students Shawn had left me a Krispy Kreme doughnut. They had been having some sort of celebration with pizza and soda while I'd had the open class the students had wanted me to stay. They understood I had to go teach. I had a short conversation about how Krispy Kreme's are like home. Miss Kim joked they were the devil's doughnuts cause they were so good yet so bad for you. I'm going to have to find Shawn in the morning and thank him.
After school I was walking out and the 6-3 teacher stopped me to talk for a second. She was wondering who Stitch was. Yes my big stuffed Stitch had a place in my open lesson. She thought he was cute and we laughed at the lesson and all. It was a start. I'll take any starts. I made it downstairs. Worried I was going to get caught being the crazy American again. I did get stopped by the shoe closet by the number 3 in the school. She really doesn't speak much English but she has a great personality and is a great teacher. We said hello and then she was headed up the stairs, then she stopped came back and handed me two tangerines. It's those sort of gestures, no English involved that say some thing good is there.
I got home took my cold meds and was about to nap and saw JP online so I stopped to talk to him. I really miss him. I know he's missing me too. We didn't say anything especially poignant. It was just the time. A few minutes out of the day to just be there for each other and let one another know we're there even from opposite sides of the world. Then he left me a song dedication. It's a song that makes me think of him. But it meant a lot, He knows what music means to me.
I am very grateful for the little things. They make my world a much nicer place daily.

I'm missing things but yet... I know I'm right where I belong.

I've missed several important things in the last week back home. One was a tradition of going to see Kristian Bush and Ellis Paul after Thanksgiving. I missed a couple of small things and on Sunday I missed Diane Durrett's book release at Eddie's. When I first found out I wasn't going to still be around for the release I was a little bummed. But as time went on I knew it would be ok and I'd still hear about it. I know my Christmas present/ birthday present from Beth is a copy of Diane's book shipped to me in Korea. At school today I got a message from Michelle that she'd video taped part of it and sent me the links so I'm going to watch those clips in a minute. Then I got home after hiking down to the doctors where I am famous. I walk in and Ah... K******. One minute. Then I get called back in. I don't have to show my medical card or anything.
I did the usual take all the layers off as I waited for my computer to warm up and then I had a voice mail. It was Beth calling from Eddie's. She just wanted to let me know everyone was asking about me and where in the world I was and how I was doing. Then Trina grabbed the phone and left the sweetest message for me. Hearing that from so far away really got me tonight. As I keep saying I miss my family there so much but I know I'm supposed to be here. I'm learning and growing in so many ways I'm not sure how I'm going to feel when I get back. I do know I'm right where I belong.

Laughing at myself daily

Every day around here brings yet another opportunity to not take myself seriously. The last week is no exception. Monday, I was walking to school and just about took a nice fall after stepping on some ice... the kicker.. it was in front of the school with some students watching so my arms flailing and my sudden stop and attempt to balance myself was the source of some giggles... till one of the girls giggling at me also hit the ice and really slid. She was fine but her ego was more bruised than mine.
Tuesday was uneventful.. but I'm sure something happened. I just don't remember it.
Wednesday I was walking up from the bus stop and as I was coming past one of the fresh fish places a squid started to come out of the tank. I jumped and started walking quicker... the ashoshis were grinning at me cause they saw me notice the squid and start to run.
For Thursdays fun see the post about face masks. Then Friday after my fears of seafood, soju and polite conversation. I was treated to a nice Italian dinner complete with red wine, and a grilling about why I didn't have a boyfriend only my mother could have administered better. Of course I was ducking and dodging the questions as to the real reason why. But there were offers of Korean sons, native teachers at other schools, anything so I wouldn't be the old maid that I am here. I politely declined, explained I was good. I'd broken things off with someone before I'd came and well after too because things weren't working out. Then for good measure threw in a broken engagement that got them all in a tizzy. I'm hopeful that will keep me from being set up anytime soon. While I appreciate that they think highly enough of me that they want me happy and were willing to set me up with their sons. I'm really not looking for that. My inner monologue was going well I didn't lie, just skipped some pronouns. I also shouldn't tell them I've got a lunch date. Wouldn't go well.

Oh and the lunch date stood me up. However she has called to grovel and apologize and she wants to reschedule. I'm not holding my breath but I have to give credit that she has been very good on the taking responsibility and apologizing front, which is a nice change.

Today's laughter involved trying to get digital pictures printed out at Emart... Then the nice lady wanted to know and practice her English as to who was in the pictures... Aunt, Uncle, counsins they get... I'm not sure how to explain cousin's kids and husband. I did get a discount and an upgrade on the picture sizes so it was worth it.

SNOW!!!!

My inner child is going nuts today. I walked to school in a gentle snowfall. After I got to my classroom the playground became blanketed in white fluffy stuff. I had to contain myself and not get too distracted from teaching all morning while laughing at second graders who were equally wishing to be outside the classroom playing in the snow.
Now I'm trying to get plans done so I can teach the teachers and I can hear the students outside playing and yelling. The snow is melting because it's not cold enough for it to stick around with all the kids out there.
Tonight I'm going to dinner with the sixth grade team, vice principal, principal and Miss Kim. I'm hopeful it's not a fish place. If it's over early enough I'm then going to head downtown and meet up with some other expats to play video games. Tomorrow I'm going to meet a GI for lunch downtown, and show them around. It's interesting how little interaction there is between the expats and the GI's here. I'm not completely sure why but I'm going to think about it a bit and maybe figure it out a little.
Ok enough procrastinating time to get back to my plans.

Now I get the face masks

So I've noticed since the weather got cold there has been a proliferation of face masks. What back in the states was only worn by Surgeons. Here they come in cute little animals and with comic book characters. I was walking home from school today. Like everyday it involves a certain amount of ritual as I run into people in the neighborhood. Anyone who could possibly be older than me or the mother of one of my students gets a bow. Not a problem any more. I'm sure by the time I move back to the states I'll be bowing all over there and it will be humorous. But today as my cold meds were wearing off my nose was running a bit. I bowed once to an older gentlman as I rounded the first corner past school. I came around the next one and three older women. Bow, Bow, booooooowwwwwwwww. My siniuses were screaming about all the movement. I was almost home less than 25 yrds to my door and I could blow my nose and take some medicine. Shoot. There is my landlord. So one more bow and as I do it my nose leaks. Yup right no the street. I had bowed far enought that my nose just ran out. Didn't hit me just the sidewalk. I don't think he noticed it but I was admitedly going EEEEWWWW. Ran in the door, blew my nose and then it came to me... if I was Korean enough to wear a mask... I wouldn't have leaked on the street.

Family... and ramblings.

Something I haven't really addressed here in Korea is the lack of Family. I'm not talking about Mom, Dad, Brother, Grandmom, type. I'm talking about Lesbians, Gay boys, Leather, Musicians, and all of the beautiful people who made up my family and daily life in Atlanta. While I have friends and people that I know. It's not Family. I have kind of given up on finding a family here and I'm fine with that.
I went on a date of a sort on Friday. It didn't go well which is I guess to be expected when it's someone who is confused and scared about what they are. Does it mean I'm giving up on them no. I remember the whole period when I was figuring things out. It wasn't easy. I had a guy who was just waiting for the right minute to pop the question and get me to marry him and settle down and have babies, but something was missing. He was far away and I went to a couple of concerts and saw all the lesbians around me and started going...that's really interesting. I started feeling confused about who I was attracted to. Then I planned a trip to follow a musician I hid my feelings about who I was attracted to from the people I was going to meet. This was a chance I was away from people who knew me and would judge me I feared. The first day of that trip I was standing in the rain and met someone. As she walked away to do something. I actually watched her. I watched her glance back at me and grin as we both got caught. In that moment my small confusion with lots of questions exploded. I was like oh shit! I just checked out a girl and I'm attracted to her. That woman and I after lots of starts and stops where she helped me overcome my fears, sometimes pushing too hard for things that were where she was at the time, was my first for lots of things. Not everyone can have that magical moment. I remember it vividly. Post Indigo Girls show, dinner at the Vortex, going back to her place and siting and talking. All it took was her asking permission to kiss me and my world went from fuzzy and confused to vividly clear. By the end of that weekend trip, I was out to myself at least as bi. I knew there was no going back to straight. I loved girls. I remember feeling bad as I vaguely skirted issues as I made trip after trip to Atlanta to date her. I hated not being honest with my parents. But I was scared out of my mind as to what would happen if they found out my secret. Would they disown me? Would they say I was going to hell? Would I get kicked out of the family? So I kept quiet. I built a small family in Augusta where I was living of people who if my parents found out were willing to take me in till I finished my teaching degree. I had a net there to catch me.
After I graduated I moved to Atlanta in August... by October I was out to my family. I was also laying the foundations for my current family. The people who stand by me to this day, five years later. Was it easy to come out to any of them, no. Was it worth it? Yes. Was it easy or helpful to my profession to be out? Nope. I'm sure it hurt my chances of promotion many times. I'm very proud of who I am but it wasn't easy to get here. I'm still working on growing in to myself. That's one of the things I've learned since I've been here in Korea. I can be me. I can be myself but not everyone needs to see all of me. I stood around last night hearing Expat, university teachers talk about how they feel bad for the gay boys in their classrooms because in less than a year many of them will have to go for the mandatory Army service. They worry that they will be eaten alive. Only one person in the conversation knew I was gay. I didn't feel a need to change that. It was probably the most honest conversation I've heard about how Koreans view homosexuals since I've been here.
I feel for anyone coming out anywhere. I know I was lucky to come out into a community. I can't imagine coming out where there isn't one and it's viewed so harshly by most people. That being said, I also can't see my life any other way.

I've tried to live my life by several simple guides.
1. If you aren't going to be able to look back on what you do with out regret. Change it.
2. Don't inflict hurt, intentionally.
3. Try to be right where you are. (this one is one I'm working on everyday.)
4. Give back the gifts you have been given.

They aren't easy, they don't give me a lot of options sometimes. The last one has guided my life for almost 15 years. Right now it's telling me to be patient, kind, don't push, walk as an example, not an easy task. But I've been given alot in my life and I have to pass it on, be it knowledge, experiance, kindness, acceptance.
Ok I've rambled enough and now I need to go take a shower in my freezing cold bathroom and then think about lesson plans for the week.

Credit where it is due.

So sometimes you just have to suck it up and give credit where it is due. I like to think sometimes that American teachers are as good as Korean ones and can do anything they can do. But today I know I would never have seen what I saw in an American school. The school was packed with parents and somehow between the time I left yesterday and when I got to school at 8am this moring the school had been transformed. It was decorated and the students art work was displayed through the hallways. Then the classrooms had been cleared of most of the desks so there was room for the talent preformances. I saw every student in every classroom was preforming. I spent the morning running up and down the halls taking pictures of my students and watching them show off. Unlike Talent shows and such in the US this was every single room at the same time so I had to keep moving to see alot of my students. (one drawback to teaching all students in grades 1-6).


By 11:20 things were winding down. There were songpeyon or rice cakes and yourgurt drinks and tangerines for everyone. The kids also were given boquets of suckers and flowers and pens with little clown heads on them. The kids then took those apart and were sharing them with their friends. As I was going around taking pictures with my students and of the teachers I work with, I was amazed.

I also kept getting suckers and such handed to me. One parent gave me a whole Dove chocolate bar with Almonds. By the time Miss Kim and I left the English center again to go downstairs for lunch the school had been transformed back to its usual state. Desks had been placed back in classrooms, decorations were taken down, students were getting organized for lunch and to then go home. So in less than an hour they had the whole school cleaned up.
As much as I respect and love the teachers and schools I've worked with before this was honestly amazing. I think it has something to do with the culture here. Students work hard and play hard. They also both love and fear their teachers. It's not unusual to see students hanging off teachers here and staying late working on things if they are not going to an academy (or Hagwon). I get the same treatment now. My students come in and hang out. They just want to talk and practice English. They also know when I give them a look in class they have to listen and they know how to behave.
I watched three boys get disicplined today... by a teacher for playing on the stairwell. Less than 10 minutes later they were telling how beautiful she is. It's typical here. I'm getting used to my students telling me they love me, and I'm very beautiful... I've had to let my cynicism go and not think they are just doing it to get candy or stickers from me. It's that's what they know as how to express how they feel about me in English. It's pretty cool.
I've got to wrap this up... my after school students will be here in a minute and I want to have things ready for them. I'll try to post pictures up on flickr in the next day or so (but I did take 200 pictures this morning.)

Dr. Fish Daegu... or I'd never thought I'd do that.

Last week I got dragged downtown for dinner on Thursday night. My plans of a quiet night in with an early bedtime after a busy week at school were spoiled by a friend saying the magic words... Papa Johns.... pizza, real cheese... no pickles on the pizza. Yes... it takes very little somedays. So off I headed in the freezing cold with hat, scarf, polarfleece buff, winter coat, wool socks... the layered look is very in with the expats right now cause it's cold. Not like a chilly ATL morning where an extra sweater will make the trip to school ok cold. But a it's below freezing the wind is blowing I'm walking between bus stops and subways cold. I got downtown had my pizza warmed up and started to feel more human and decided to make Jamari go with me to find the Doctor Fish place I'd seen once before. After wandering all over we found it and in doing so I've found a place I'd love to hang out much much more. It reminded me in some ways of the feel of Java monkey, just with no wine and music, but tubs of fish who will eat the dead skin off your feet.
I've been back once already will probably bring my co teacher down sometime... pictures will be posted soon. But now I have to go see the Art/ Talent show going on in the school today.

Billy Joel in Seoul

Saturday evening after doing the sardine can thing of riding the subway in Seoul and trying to figure out where in the spaghetti pile of lines we were trying to head. Lesley and I arrived at Olympic Park. If you ever wonder what happens to all of those buildings post Olympics I got a little peak this weekend. They become venues for concerts, showcases and big halls that people have to fill to pay the upkeep. Lesley went and got the tickets I perused the merch cause how many times in your life are you going to go see someone play over seas where when you're back home someone can go hey nice t-shirt, and your answer can be yeah saw him in Seoul, was a good show.
After that was all taken care of and I grabbed some photos of the skylights and a few funny signs we walked into Gymnasium 1. Thank god for all the English being taught here we had a very nice teenager look at our tickets and point us in the right direction. I took some time studying it and figured out what was probably section, seat, etc. After one snafu we found our correct seats and settled in for some people watching, well I did Lesley decided to chatter away incessantly about how this was her first concert ever (um... WTF! 24 never been to a concert?) [side note: Any interest I had in her is now gone and I will be trying to avoid her in the future. Just don't feel like having to babysit someone all the time.]
I realized that the crowd was two main groups Korean business men trying to impress Western business men and GI's who had leave from the bases. It made people watching fun. Billy played for about 2 hours no opener. At one point people rushed the stage and a few songs later when the Korean security tried to get them to sit down Billy stopped playing in the middle of the song and got up asked "What the fuck is going on here, Let them stay, let them stay!" The crowd got to stay near the stage. He then just started up in right where he'd left off.
I also saw a probably between 40-50 yr old Korean woman in a leopard coat just having the time of her life in stilettos dancing against the railing at one point.
Overall the show was fun. My trip to Seoul was ok. I will go up there again, but by myself without others that I end up taking care of cause that was the downer part of the trip.

Interesting Saturday Evening

I knew that I had to have some sort of fun plans waiting for me on Saturday if I wanted to not go crazy with wishing I was other places. So I emailed a few of the "No Drama" club and asked if they were up for some 007 goodness at the CGV Imax in the Lotte Department store. I managed to gather Monique, Micheal and Jamari. I spent part of the day going to Emart and getting a few things I needed. I've now got a humidifier and I looked at video cameras. I also got some Americanish food, notably chicken and rice soup.

I headed downtown a little early which ment I missed calls from JP on skype (darn it!) but I got to look at more cameras at the pixdix in the basement and sniff at the wafting smells of Krispy Kreme. I took the escalator up to the floor the theater is on. I had about 15 more minutes till we were to meet so I walked over to the arcade and had some fun playing Pirates of the Caribbean pinball. Jamari thinks I play pinball a little too well. I pretty much had cleared the machine on Thursday when we'd met to play video games. I wasn't as good with my first 500won coin. By my second I was kicking butt and taking names.
After that I grabbed coffee at one of the many coffee shops on my way to the theater where I figured out I was on time and everyone else was running about 20 minutes late.
We managed to get tickets for the 4 of us to see 007 Quantum of Solace in the typical Korean way of assigned seating and then wait for your turn to file into the theater. It was a good Bond movie... I think Casino Royale's opening was better but that's just me. Afterward we were all craving pizza so we went to the Papa johns in town. Pizza, cheese sticks, chicken strips, and a pitcher of soda for the 4 of us was 32,000 won (so about $25).
Monique and Micheal and Jamari started a Krispy Kreme craving so we had to go there. While we were there Jamari blabbed that I hadn't been to a norebang yet so... have donuts will travel. 2 hours in the Norebang my cherry was fully popped and I scored two 100's and a 96. Yes the computer scores your singing.

After I went and found Jody and hung out at That for a little while. I was home by 3am or so.

Obama overseas.

Last night I was riding in a taxi back from Manchon where I got off the subway. I'd been planning on taking the bus home but due to the temprature and the hour of the evening I decided to just grab a taxi. I got in a waiting cab and managed to give the driver directions in Korean. As I was riding through the night and looking out at the fall leaves in the dark and High school students in their uniforms coming home from cram academies at 10pm I started to hear words I recoginized on the radio.
It was KBS talking about Obama's victory. They were playing some audio clips of his speech in Grant park. I got a little teary eyed. The face of the US abroad was changing... and it was changing for the better. I may not be entirely sure but I'd much rather have him as the face of where I'm from over the shrub. The story then went on to have clips of Michelle Obama talking. It was a moment. I was proud of being an American. I'm not sure what the reporters were saying in Korean... but I do know the tone sounded promising and hopeful. I think it will just boil down to lets see what happens from here. I'm sure things will be skewed by the Korean media... but that's nothing new here.
Then as I walked up the hill from where I got the taxi to drop me in the cold fall night... I realized I was a long way from home.

Halloween in Korea

I knew I shouldn't have

translated the mesage I got this afternoon on the school messenger program.

학교 평가 때 교무부에서 각선생님께 부탁드려 만들어 놓은 회의록철이 발이 달려서 없어졌습니다. 혹 가지고 계신 선생님께서는 교무부로 보내주세요.
꼭 확인부탁드립니다.-감사때 첨가해서 사용해야 합니다.

became:
I bother you for when evaluating school students created the minutes of meetings gakseon gyomubu season in the running feet are lost. Or if you have a teacher send you gyomubu.
OK, we'll ask you to add .- gamsattae must be used.

makes no sense.
Guess I'll stick to being confused in one language... and not make it more at this point.

Vlog 2 Korean Medicine