Strange Things In Korea

Fried Chicken Feet, not so yummy.  Notice the talons on this guy.   

I have never seen public place designated for Lactation purposes before.  I thought it was funny.  

Not my favorite student but he loves stickers to the dome.  Everyday he had  something stuck to his nose or cheek. 

Do they mean dip Stick?  Maybe just a typo?  Regardless it is worth the picture.

Sungjoos Office is huge!

Sungjoo's office.  It is massive.  It is his second home.  I have spent the night in it more than once after a long night in Seoul.   What you do not see in this picture is the 6 person meeting table, sink, fridge, projector, artwork, and his fold up hideaway bed.  Jealous?

Oddities of Korea

In the past few months I have noticed random oddities about South Korea.  Some of them just make you look twice while others can get really frustrating.

The first thing I noticed in Korea is you have to separate your garbage.  It is a hassle and I am not a fan of doing it.  However it saves money and recycling is a good thing. You have to separate plastic wrapping, plastic bottles, cardboard/paper, glass, metals, biodegradable things, and then toiletries.  There is even a camera watching the trash disposal area.  (Big Brother always keeps an eye on you)  The camera doesn't actually work.  It is just a scare tactic.  Now here is the hypocritical part.  If you walk around the streets you will see paper fliers everywhere.  These coat the ground, especially during the weekend.  They are of food deals, party girls, store coupons, everything and anything.  People who work for the companies will lackadaisically stroll the streets and toss papers down.  They get paid to litter. (I want to mess with them sometime soon.  I am going to walk behind them and pickup the papers.  In Korean I will politely say "Excuse me sir, I am sorry but you dropped all of these" I am not sure how they will react but could be funny).  It just strikes me as odd that a country so gung ho on recycling has no problem wasting paper like that.
The government also has to spend a ton of money cleaning the streets up.  By 7am There are older people walking around cleaning.  Teams of them hustling around picking up after the younger generation.   (Side note: I have noticed they just throw the papers in with the other trash.  No separating and sorting, darn them ;) 

My biggest pet peeve has to do with the schools here.  It is now winter time and the schools are absolutely freezing.  For some godforsaken reason they leave the doors and windows open all day.  Everyone walks around with coats, scarfs, gloves and blankets.  It is ridiculous.  The doors are not even sealed properly when shut.  There are ventilation holes in the damn things the size of golf balls.  No one can give me a good explanation of why.  I shut the door and the janitor yelled at me last week.  I laughed at him and kept walking.  Now I purposefully shut the doors and windows every time I walk by one. 
These are just two of the oddities of Korean culture.
I am going to be posting a lot more as my world over here is changing a little.  I am definitely moving, I am getting a new job, and my Korean skills are getting better. 
I miss you all,
Deano

Mountains and friends.

Here are some pictures from my weekend trip to Busan.  I drove down with Sungjoo on Sat morning.  Traffic was a mess.  I made 2 driving errors adding a good hr and a half to the trip.  The highways in Korea are different than in the states.  There can be miles between exits.  I definitely missed two turns and paid for it in time.
I went mountain hiking with Sungjoos friends on Sunday.  It was an interesting experience.  They speak very little English and I am still limited in my Korean Skills.  It was a fun time regardless of the language barrier.  I am lucky to have met such quality people 7,000 miles from home. 
In the next few posts I will show how awesomely healthy older people are in Korea.  Go to any public park at 10:30 at night regardless of the wether and it will be full of gray haired people walking, doing calisthenics, and jogging.  Really really impressive. 

Thank for the read
Deano

PS, Yes North Korea attacked South Korea today.  I am fine and North Korea as I quote from a student, "North Korea is inbed (inbred) swin (swine) dirty"  Took me a min to figure that one out.

Reflecting and looking back on my last few months in Korea has helped me draw some new conclusions. I have come to realize my experiences are not typical for a foreigner that has been here for such a short time. Korea has been very welcoming, and warm. I have experienced new adventures, cultural differences, delicious foods and been blessed with many advantages (Thanks Mom and Dad for the small face). The negatives have been minimal and controllable. My advantages are due solely to my roommate, boxing coach, translator, guide, and good friend. He always gives me the best courses of action, and has answered countless questions about everything Korean. He continuously pushes me to be better. My goal now is to help him meet the prettiest girl in Korea and then amaze her with our Nor-a-bang skills (Nor-a-bang is a Karaoke room. We specialize in re-mix to Ignition by the one and only R Kelly).

I believe my experiences in Korea are different than a typical foreigner that comes here to teach. They are not better just different. I only have 2 or 3 American/European friends with whom I sporadically speak with. I study, eat, and have the occasional Soju with a group of 한극 친구 (Korean friends). Many non Koreans hang out in packs. They form crews that go out for nights on the town. In my opinion they are just recreating what they had at home in a new country. Nothing wrong with that especially being 7,000 miles from everything familiar. (Side note: I too definitely miss my friends back home and the shenanigans we would get into. Trying to remember those crazy college nights and events is getting harder as time goes on. It might be hazy because of the beer hops and testosterone. It is amazing no one ever got seriously hurt). For me the point of traveling is to see the differences of cultures. The only way to do that is to hang out with the locals. At times it is difficult and almost impossible to convey exactly what you want or mean. You just have to rely on the art of communicating without talking and always being polite. In Korea manners matter even with friends. You must always show respect to those who are older than you. Even if they inform you to stop being so formal. First impressions are key so wow them with your well memorized opening lines and just smile and nod when being spoken too. Soju always helps people loosen up. Going out with locals really allows you to see the intimate parts and structure of the country. I learn something new about this complex society and culture daily. I do not think it possible for a foreigner to ever fully understand it.

Korean can be incredibly overbearing. However with the right attitude, mind set and group of friends, westerners have great opportunities over here. Anytime you want to visit just let me know. The first 7,000 miles are the hardest. Just try to hit the ground running and do not stop once you get here. 

All Hallows' Eve, Buan Elementary.

Must pay the gate keeper in candy to enter the room.

A favorite student. 

Fun horseplay.

Giving out candy.  Big mistake, screaming always follows quickly.

My first class.

She says we are going to get  married.  She is going to divorce her old teacher.  She knows divorce but not the word apple, hmm.

Never yelling at him again. Apparently he is possessed.  Look at the face.

Gagging on cider, thanks Molly.

Class number 2

Payback is a biotch.  No more HW for this kid.

Class 3.

The stereotypical plump class clown.  Without a doubt one of my favorites. 

Three kids ;)

Class 4.  People heard we were having a party.  So a few extras showed up for the free candy and cider. I would have done the same thing 15 years ago.  (Cider is like 7up, or Sprite)

Three of my advanced English students.

Here are some shots from the Halloween party at my school.  It was a crazy day of sugar highs, tricks/treats (the kids love the trick part) and a lots of candy wrappers on the floor.

100 days in Korea.................with this some jew guy.

Today is my 100th day in Korea! It has gone by rather quickly.  I feel like I have done more the past 100 days than I did in the year and a half after graduating college.  

Sungjoo (some jew, his nickname) and I refer to these first 100 days as round one.  We are boxers so it fits us nicely.  I will describe my plans for round 2 below. 

I am sorry I have not written on here in over two weeks.  I have had nothing out of the ordinary (I say that tentatively as I am 7,000 miles from home) to write about not previously covered in my updates.  I have been settling into teaching well.  I know 60% of my students names, public transit has been mastered, my Korean is improving, and I am exploring all my options for the next few years of my life.

It looks like I will be here longer than planned.  I am highly interested in Korean graduate school.  The differences in grad school here and at home are numerous.    Grad school at home means a great education.  America is number one in the world for masters programs.  However you pay for it.  30,000 dollars in yearly tuition is common.  I also have expensive habits.  Eating a lot and preferring to sleep inside cost money.  Tack on a few more grand for living expenses.  American grad schools do not allow you to work, debt debt, debt.  A big bonus is that American grad schools do teach in English!  That could make things easier. 
Going to school in Korea means a good education, and only 3,000 a year in tuition.  I can work as a tutor teaching English and save some money.  However my Korean will need to dramatically improve as my classes would be in 한글 (Korean language).  Korean graduate school would be incredibly difficult.  I would really like to try and make it work.  The goal after graduation would be drum-roll please...........(교수님) English professor!  With a few years of experience under my belt I would come home and start some business plans I have with friends.  Nothing is set in stone but I really looking into every option.  

I might be moving to Seoul in the next few months.  New and better opportunities to make more money are becoming apparent and I would like to capitalize on them.  I also enjoy the city.   I will have another post up tomorrow with pictures from my classes Halloween party!
Deano

You just have to stop and ask yourself........

It boggles my mind that I have been in Korea for 75 days today!  The time has flown by.  I have been working for over a month and have traveled all over this country.  I have many new friends.  I am making various connections and  doing well at my job.  I am Sungjoo's first roommate ever.  I am glad I have not worn out my welcome at the apartment.  I have become a master artisan with an iron, (our washer and dryer do not like my clothes) and I feel strange when holding a fork.  Surprisingly I am better at using chop sticks with my left hand even though I am right handed.  I am not intimidated by using the subway or bus system and have adjusted well to living in the city.  I am very glad I came over.

This past Friday I went on a picnic with all of the Korean and English teachers in my district.  On the way I looked around and thought to myself,  "How in the hell did I get here?"  I am on a bus in South Korea at 10 in the morning, surrounded by Canadians, New Zealanders, Americans and Koreans.  Everyone is drinking Cass (Korean Beer) and Soju (Korean Vodca).  There are disco balls, LED screens, lights pulsating to music, and Koreans blasting away on a karaoke machine.  It was hysterical.  For those who do not know, karaoke is huge over here.  There was a young Korean lady on the bus who was turning 27. Guess who was chosen to sing happy birthday and bring her a cake.  Yep, that would be me.  I made the mistake of carrying a tune when I sang happy birthday.  I had to bust out "You're Way to Beautiful Girl" by Sean Kingston a few minutes later (my boss' choice for me).  "You have no shame, do you buddy?" was the quote from a joking New Zealander.  I am really glad there was no video tape.  When playing by Korean sociological rules you have to do what your superiors tell you.  Korea is hierarchical based society to the max.  Age, sex, job, and looks dictate how you carry a conversation with someone.  When your boss in America asks you to go out after work you can say no, in Korea, no dice.  You have to go or you will be labeled disrespectful.  It can change the demeanor of a relationship instantly and is difficult to fix.   Sungjoo is struggling with that in his current position.  He is a young professor.  His older associates ask him to eat out all the time.  He cannot say no.  Alcohol flows like Niagara Falls at dinner parties here.  He hates drinking but is forced to all the time.  

Mr. Lee showing some mic skills

Flat screen and karaoke machine

I found out I have some big decisions to make.  I was just offered a position managing all of the English speaking teachers in my district.  I do not know the details yet but the head boss asked me himself.  I never thought about managing people except for enlisting in Army or Navy OCS, which is still an option (sorry M and J).  I know I am not over here to become a pencil pusher in a cubical (nothing wrong with that but it is my personal hell).  I also have the amazing option of studying the next few years and trying to achieve my Masters in physical education.  I am not sure I am ready to be in school again until I am 29.  Lord have mercy, I remember being a dumb 18 year who knew everything.  Now I am in my mid-twenties and realize my parents are always right.

I am going to a fireworks display in Seoul this Sat.  Look for some cool pics here soon.  Hope you enjoyed my post.
Dean the Karaoke Machine

Pictures from Chuseok

The Cemetery

She-un and his family at dinner

Sungjoo's dad was an artist and a Dr.  I am going to try and make these very soon.

Sungjoo and I at lunch

Naked bronzed guys at sculpture park. 

I have new friends.

Sun-hae, Sungjoo's friend, posing with a flower.