Sokcho and Seoraksan Park Trip

Carrie and I at Mt. Seorak National Park.

Seorak Park. Carrie took this picture and it is one of my favourites for sure. She has an eye I tell you.

Sokcho

The world's ugliest tower as proclaimed by anyone who has seen this abomination. It is in Sokcho and the people of Sokcho have to live with that.

Last Day

This was our last day of work. Here are Andrew, Jeff and Tony.

Ramyeon

Spicy Noodle!

Who... Me?

With a week to go here in Korea, you'd think I was really liked. After all this time, I thought I was merely a novelty for the Korean people I have been around. Up until about a month ago my existence was acknowledged, but certainly not celebrated. Then things started to change.

I have been a hot commodity lately. I have been invited out to all kinds of fun events. Just last week I almost had my face burnt off during a fire show. It was an early birthday present from some Korean friends. Two weeks ago, I got to go on a trip with some Korean people including two of the teachers at the school. It was great fun and probably something I couldn't have experienced on my own. Now, with just the week to go, I am having trouble scheduling in all the people that want to have one last drink or bite to eat.

I am not just bragging; there is a point to all this. It seems to me that the Korean people that have been around me all this time were just shy. However, it came across as indifference. Now that I am leaving there is no reason to be shy and they really want to show me how they feel. What all this shows again is that I am inept in social situations. I had no clue that all these people wanted to go out all year, but were perhaps too shy to ask.

I am a case study in social incompetence,
Joe

Couple Shirts

Couple shirt can be found everywhere. This is a collection of mine.

Yankee fans! They have no shame.

Good times.

I think he was a little apprehensive, but flattered nonetheless.

Seoul Night

A picture of Seoul tower from Seoul Station.

Kyeong-Ju Trip

The Sunrise.

We went up a mountain to watch the sunrise. Courtesy of Britney and Sophia teachers (and God).

This one is for Darryl who saw so many Buddha's in Cambodia and Myanmar. I bet you didn't see Buddha changing the channel.

Carrie and I on some temple grounds.

The Girls outside Bulguksa.

...And the boys.

Lotteria: Part 2

Korea's Brand of McDonald's. Want a Shrimp Burger? How about a Squid Burger? Me neither.

Korea: the Downside

Wasn't it some guy who said, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Well the yin to my last post's yang (or is it the other way around?) comes What I Don't Like About Korea*.

1. Most of the people. This may come off as harsh, but I dislike most people in Canada too. There are so many people everywhere that are rude, smelly, and uninteresting to talk to. The difference in Korea is that I don't understand them. I wish people would just tell me what they are thinking for heaven's sake instead of making me decipher some encryption every time. Just spill it! And the agonizing social situations I have had to endure! Korean torture should be having to watch two people meet each other for the first time. They have no idea what to do. They don't know if they are older or younger, richer or poorer, so usually just resort to awkward silences.
2. The Smelly Streets. If I wrote with emoticons I think I would use the vomit one (is there one?) There is nothing more romantic than walking down the street with your date and inhaling other people's fecal matter. If you are going to cut corners on urban infrastructure, why not do it with the buildings... oh wait...
3. Construction. If you cut every corner while constructing a building, what would you be left with? Nothing, right? Actually the answer is the building I live and work in. The term 'construction' must not translate well because here when they 'construct' something it goes like this. First, you make sure to do a really slow, drawn out project months behind schedule (I know that is universal). Second, you move people into the building before it is finished ensuring many sleepless nights. Third, you spend the next year repairing all the mistakes you made guaranteeing continued cash flow. Fourth, don't forget to forget the fire escape. Last, make sure to do a shitty all-around job so that you can repeat all the steps in 10 years. Ah yes, and please, don't use sewer traps in the drains. They are a waste of 2 dollars and people don't mind smelly houses.
4. Construction 2: It's a busy country, I understand that, but why do I have to suffer jackhammers at 3 a.m?
5. Loudspeakers: No, I do not want any of the following: oranges, eels, books, hot peppers, apples, cabbages, socks, crabs, Jesus: especially at 7:30 in the morning.

I think the conclusion one could reach here is that I am a big complainer. I make no excuses.

*Notice I didn't use the word hate. I save that word for things I really hate like eating tripe, children, and Korean Radio.

Miss Korea? It Could Happen!

So, I was thinking the other day, that there is the possibility that I would miss Korea. I know, I know, sounds far fetched right, but I think it could happen. There are a lot of good things about Korea that I wish Canada would adopt.

1. Small drink sizes. I know that we love things bigger and better and love to save $.06 on a litre of coke when we buy eight, but I want the option for a smaller size. Does anyone really need to drink 2 litres of Mountain Dew at a single sitting? I don't think so. I don't even need 500ml. Give me 200ml please.

2. Beer on the Street. Why do I have to feel like a criminal if I sit in a park and have a beer? I want to go to the corner store and buy a beer, then sit outside and drink it. No harm done.

3. No Tipping. Great service, no tip. I love it. There is no arbitrary etiquette on tipping. You don't tip anyone ever. It's not that I am cheap (even though I am); it's the principle. We have designated some jobs tip-worthy and others not. For example, "Thanks for opening my beer bottle. Here's a dollar. What?! That's not enough!?" Or conversely, "thanks for changing my tire on this deserted road, get bent!" I get good service here from humble workers that are happy to have a job, even in the food industry.

4. Affordable Dinners. I can treat for dinner here! I went out with six friends for dinner. It was a Korean barbeque. We were all stuffed and had beer and soju: cost me just over $30.

5. Banana Milk. Maybe this is in Canada, I don't know. It is the most delicious drink in the world. Bar none.

6. Ice Cream. There are so many ice cream bars here, that I have scarcely scratched the surface. They are delicious and cost about 25-35 cents. Don't try the sweet potato or red bean ones though.

That is a short list, however, there are more intangible qualities to Korea that I love. This is not to say that Korea is flawless. Stay tuned for the things I won't miss.

Pooh Cafe and Club

Get it while it's hot!

A Look at the Mind of a Korean Child

You are about to take a look inside the mind of a Korean child. In my "upper level" (this is a relative term not to be confused with "advanced") classes I have my students write a diary two times a week. Here is a collection from one student provided to you in unedited format.This is a child that when I ask how he is today he answers, "I am very handsome." And when I ask him what he did yesterday he replies, "I am eating chocolate cake." He then continues to serenade me with "Yesterday" by the Beatles.

Study- I study with my mother My mother hit me because mistake a lot. I'm very angry but my mother study too. Mother hit me but I like mother.

I don't know why this doesn't shock me anymore. I think if I were a teacher in Canada, I would have had to call social services by now, or I would probably be facing charges of criminal negligence. This is just one of many diaries that I get like this: kind of freaky.

I all play today. I play watch TV, I play computer game at the PC room and I play with my friends. I'm very interesting. I make the Songpyon (Rice cake) with my family. So I eat Songpyon. It's is delicious.

This is a rare glimpse into what makes the Korean child tick. He is seemingly motivated only by TV and computer games, but as the next diary entry shows, although to the untrained eye he may seem one-dimensional, he is not.

library- I go to the library with my friend. I read book at the library. I borrow the books. It's very interesting books. I like book because I make a knowledge. So I like book. (Nike swoosh added for effect)

As you can see, deciphering the mind of a Korean child is not an easy task. It is a complex place made doubly so by the "English" he uses. If one day he can start to move away from the present simple tense, we may be able to take a further look inside his mind.

Starbucks

Another escape Carrie and I indulge ourselves in is going to Starbucks every Friday to read the newspaper and have some coffee. Something to look forward to all week.

Carrie doing the same. 

Away From Home

I have been in Korea for 11 months now, and done pretty well for myself in a lot of respects. I have been able to save a few bucks and the experience has been really great, but I have paid a price too. Today I found out my brother and his wife are going to have their first child (Congratulations Randy and Amie!) and when I read the email I almost fell out of my seat with excitement. Add missing this to missing my other brother's wedding and it seems I have missed a great year back home. I am just thankful that I have an understanding family that will be ready to celebrate with me when I get home. I am really looking forward to it. I am sending love to them now and I will see you all in one month!

Joe

Anniversary

Carrie and I celebrated our 4-year anniversary by having dinner at the Top Cloud Restaurant. It is on the top floor of the Jongno Tower. There was a spectacular view and the food was great!

Beer Drinking Contest

I was dragged into this beer drinking contest by the drunk Koreans sitting next to us. You can't quite see, but I have my eye on the girl in the red; making sure she doesn't beat me and embarrass me infront of hundreds of Korean people. I came in a respectable second.