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