It has been over 2 years since my last post.  So much has changed I can not even begin to explain everything in one post.
I have grown and learned so much about myself, Korea, the Korean language, various relationships and how having the right people in your life is so important.  Especially in a country where networking and your 인맥 or circle of friends is so important.
Here is a brief rundown of what has transpired in the last 2 years.
I am in graduate school studying education pedagogy.  My classes are all in Korean and my team and good friends only communicate with me in Korea.  I would be lying if I said there were no miss communications. It would also be a lie to say that I have 100 comprehension of everything going on around me at all times.  However my Korean is sufficient enough to have conversations, do basic debating,  explain methods or situations, or fake it like I understand. ㅋㅋ  I am now prepping for the advanced Korean Test required by my university to graduate.  I have about a year but I am going to take a practice run in 2 months just to see where I stand.

I am also lecturing at my university.  I am teaching sports in English.  I am teaching basic phrases and basic sequencing of phrases to explain motions in sports. I have been doing this for 30 weeks now and have learned so much about communication and how to appeal to college level students.  It has been a wonderful experience.  I have met so many people from all over the world.

I have recently been asked to head the new boxing club and team at my university.  I was recommended by my mentor and boxing coach. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment that he believes me worthy enough of the task.  I look forward to lacing up again on a more regular basis to help teach some younger guys the pugilistic arts.

That is it for now.  Lots more to come

Long overdue.............I am sorry 많이 바빠요.

안녕! Hello everyone.  I want to apologize for the long overdue post.  The move to Apgujong, new job, new social connections and studying have kept me indisposed for the past few months.  I think it is high time I put up a new post.  Now just where to begin....

I will start with my employment.  I am teaching preschool and it is a great job.  The hrs. are good, allowing me to study and exercise everyday.  The location is less than a five min. walk from my apartment.  My boss is nice, a no nonsense type, but fair and likes me.  I have 20 kids who are crazy at times but they are a sweet bunch.  Here is a short description.  I have a psycho, a few criers, some hooligans, a genius, mostly sweeties, and a lost in La La Land girl.  My co worker is nice but has a strange demeanor and a "snaggle" tooth I can't stop staring at when she talks.  ~.^


I have made some great friends since coming to Apgujong.   I will give an introduction to some of them since they are in my upcoming pictures.   I will post my new shots as soon as I get them from everyone.  Their names are Joyce, Mike, Bernie, Nate, Kyla, Sujin, Hyungie (bet you cant pronounce that one correctly).  I apologize to any others for not doing a little ditty on you also!!!

I spend so much time with the above mentioned I only think it right to give some background on them.  Now you can see who has been keeping me from posting.  I will have another blog very soon.  Until then, enjoy meeting some of my friends!

Joyce is my best friend in Korea.  She is an all American very pretty girl whose parents are originally Korean.  She helps me with my Korean and looks out for me as I am forgetful on occasion.  We walk around and make fun of ppl, each other, and always eat at 김밥정국 (kim bab chong guk: meaning kimbab heaven).  She can also box, a freaking natural.  Joyce is also the brightest dressed person I know.  She loves neon colors!  She is also single to all my buddies back home!

Mike is a great buddy of mine.  The boy is a genius.  He is fluent in multiple languages and gets girls like you would not believe.  He also helps me with my Korean.  His mother is Korean and he has a drive to really learn the language.  We are like two peas in a pod.  We both are very outgoing and don't really care if we look silly while out.  We went on a trip together to Busan and all I can say is wait for the pics and video! 

Bernie is a true study buddy and my 형님!! (형님 sounds like hyung nim, Korean for older brother with whom you should have respect for).  He is a college graduate division 1 football player with arms the size of a Volkswagen.  We work, study, maybe have a few drinks, and go to Korean classes together.  We normally get a few looks when we are out since we are both blond, blue eyed foreigners chitchatting in Korean.   

Kyla is a Blond Bombshell with whom I had to say my goodbyes.  She is moving back to Canada to get her Masters.  She was one of the first people I met in Apgujong.  She took me around and introduced me to all her friends who are now subsequently my friends.  She is a great girl who is going to teach my how to hang glide when I visit her in Canada.  AEH!

Nate is my next door neighbor and was the very first person I met in Apgujong.  He is a hell of a great guy with a great since of humor.  He cracks everyone up whenever he is around!!!  He is also my daily walking buddy to work. He might be someone I tend to get a beer with at 10PM on week nights :)  

Sujin is a very pretty Korean native who helps me study along with Mike.  Mike introduced us and we normally sit at the coffee shop, people watch, laugh, and try to concentrate on the task at hand.  She has studied in the States and is now working at Cosmo Magazine.  She is a fun girl with her head on straight.

Hyunge is an ex-gymnast twirly ribbon girl performer......whatever.  She is a good friend and some one who is just a really kind person.  Her English is not perfect, but better than my Korean.  We chit chat back and forth in both languages.  We have monthly dates where we will watch a Korean or English movie and then talk about it.  She is a typical Korean and loves Soju so that is normally thrown into the mix.  Maybe I will not send pictures of our meetings.  Last time, ehhhem, someone had to have her boyfriend come and pick her up since she might have had too much Soju!!

I take Korean classes 3 times a week.  I just started this month and should have started a long time ago.  Studying on your own is great but the teacher I practice under is better.  So watch out.  Coming soon, a blog post in Korean!!!!!

Miss you all so very much
Deano!

Favorite People, and places make for great times!

My new room

This is my new room.  I am in Penguin class.  Go figure, my favorite toy when I was these kids age was a blue penguin slide.  It had tiny penguins on a belt drive being carried up stairs.  Once to the top they slid down  slide. .......I was 5, and it was amazing. 

A very quick rundown of the latest news on my side of the world.

A lot has changed in the last few weeks.  I recently moved to a new part of Seoul called Apgujong.  I am working for a new company.  I like my job very much and the location is only a 4 min walk from my front door. This is the best part!  I can leave for work 15 min before start time and be 10 min early.  How awesome is that?

School and housing conditions.
My co-teachers are great.  I have 2. My boss is kind, fair and not a push over.  Those are the best sort of people to work under in my opinion.  My apartment is a rather large studio with a bathroom.  At first it was a little dreary and smelly (I would be lying if I said I was not a little disappointed).  The walls were stained yellow and brown from 20 years of daily living.  Thankfully the walls were stripped and re-wallpapered white today!  Much much better.  I had to take a cold shower everyday for a 2 week period (fairly pissed off every morning during the duration of the wash, but it doesn't hurt you).  The water heater is being worked on as I type and should be fixed rather soon.  All and all I am doing great over here right now.  I am meeting new friends and having new adventures on a weekly basis.  I boosted up the study time and I am improving my language skills.  I am starting to see all the little nuances of the language that you do not get from a book. 

My training is going well also.  I have reached a few milestones in my development as a boxer and also with my fitness goals.  I am now successfully doing 1 planch push up almost perfectly!  (Yeah, I know I am weird, but it takes a lot of training to do just one.)

I also am going to be coming home in about 4 months for a 10 day vacation.  The end of July to the beginning of August.  I am excited about that.  For all those that read this (and those that don't),  do not go anywhere that week!  I am coming to see you in Cinci, Columbus and my boys down South!!!!!

I am so very excited to be where I am right now.
Thanks for the read,
Deano!

New School, New Kids, New house, New City. Still in Korea!

So this is a young man named Andy.  He is bigger than the other kids but is just as much as a baby.  I am teaching pre-schoolers and they are fun. 

All of the female English teachers have voted this kid as the cutest student in school.  I think he looks like the Harry Potter of Korea!

The baby of the class.  She is cute but knows how to work you if you let her.  She knows how to get out of doing things by crying.  She cries a lot when it comes to work time.  By work I mean gym class and art class.

Smart girl who like to chew on the plastic toys!

Without a doubt my favorite.  Her name is sandy.  She is brilliant, cute and funny.  I look forward to teaching her.  That can not be said for all the students I have.