redeeming experience

Today I went to a store to buy a drink. While I was waiting in line, with my one item and exact change, an old woman butt in front of me. Maybe I wasn't close enough to the person in front of me, or maybe she felt entitiled to my spot. This happens frequently, but I never say or do anything. First of all, it's not a big deal, just a small annoyance. Secondly, I never know if it comes from overt rudeness or some cultural thing I don't know about. At the risk of it being a cultural thing, and since I'm a guest here, I just let it go.
However, this time, the clerk ignored the old woman and took my drink instead and rang me up and checked me out in about 10 seconds. I gave a gracious "kamsamnida," and walked away with the woman having the most incredulous look on her face. Priceless.

PS since that happened, I'm guessing it's "not" a cultural thing..

I don't want to be one of those foreigners who comes to a country and tells the people there that everything they do is wrong. However, I do want to introduce a few aspects of my culture to this one:
First, the ability to walk in a straight line. It really is a struggle for people here. Several times I've been standing still, and someone approaching me has drifted into my space and bumped into me. Add to that the fact that everyone has cell phones, and they all spend all their walking time texting people, and it makes a bad situation worse. Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be any rule regarding which side of the sidewalk to walk on. It's chaos!
Second, I want Korea to know that if a national holiday falls on a weekend, you take either the Friday or Monday off. Here, when a holiday falls on Saturday, there is no day off (except for the kids who have to go to school on Saturday). There's a wonderful world of consistent weekday holidays out there, I think Korea should grab it. Another weird thing: last year, Christmas fell on a Thursday. Guess what? Everyone took Thursday off, then came back to work Friday, then took their weekly holiday break the next week. I'm sorry, but that's stupid.
Third, I appreciate that Asians take their shoes off whenever they enter a house, or sometimes a restaurant. But that does not need to apply to gyms. It all originated from the fact that people ate on the floor, and shoes tend to be dirty, and they didn't want their eating area to get dirty with street junk. That's good, and I do that at home. But what reasonig do they give to apply it to the gym? Now, you don't workout barefoot, but you are expected to leave a separate pair of "indoor" shoes at the gym and change them when you arrive. That's just dumb, admit it...
Finally: coffee should be black, not yellow. Putting 2 tablespoons of grounds for 8 gallons of water does not make coffee, it makes brown-flavored water. It also makes you sleepy. Yes, coffee is much more expensive in Korea than it is in the US, but that's no excuse to ruin it like that!

That's all for now. I'm sure when I return home, I'll have a list of ideas to import to the US from Korea.

awakening

I don't know if it was an epiphany or what, but I had a brilliant idea this week...
First a little background:
I started graduate school in the summer of 2007 for a Master's in Tourism Studies. I attended one semester before I moved to Florida to continue there. While I was in Florida, I decided to put off school and move to Korea for a year (which would allow me to wait for FL residency to kick in), with the intent of going back to grad school when I got back. The Korea gig didn't turn out so well, but I was back in the US, so I applied at FIU in Miami. During the application process, they discontinued the Tourism Studies degree, so I enrolled in a similar hospitality program instead. That didn't inspire me, so I cancelled my classes and tossed out that plan. I still planned on finishing my Master's, since that was a goal I set out for myself. I decided to pursue a Political Science degree, based on little more than a general interest in that field. After all, I wasn't getting a Master's degree to land a specific job, more to complete something I set out to do. After that, I decided I had another unfinished challenge that was more important, so I ended up back in Korea to finish my year abroad, and put off grad school yet again.
I finally accepted the fact that it doesn't make sense to spend thousands of dollars on something that I won't get a tangible return on just to satisfy my ego. Obviously there's something wrong if If I've had a goal for a few years and made little effort to accomplish it. So I stepped out of my box and decided to pursue....an MBA. Yes, that's right. The person who hates money grubbers and who thinks greed is the root of all evil is pursuing a symbol of those things. I kinda laugh when I think of myself getting an MBA. However, I can use it however I want to. I can kill several birds with one stone: I get my goal accomplished (which is very important to me); I get to have a new goal to pursue while in Korea (studying for and doing well on the business exam and getting into an MBA program); and I get something tangible for my efforts, since an MBA would be very useful in acquiring a job. Plus, the sound of "MBA" just impressive to me. So I'm pursuing this starting now. I'm going to spend the next 5-6 months studying for the GMAT exam. The thought of this makes me so excited, a feeling I've never had before at any point in my grad school pursuit. I have a lot of quiet time here, so I can use that in a healthy way by spending it studying. This may put some of my other complete-while-in-Korea projects off for a while, but maybe I can still complete them all.
I'm doing this. My mind is set, and my mind doesn't change once it gets to this stage. I'm going to kill the test, I'm going to kill business school, I'm going to get a powerful job, and I'm going to conquer the world. Then I'll probably be satisfied with myself and retreat to a quiet life in the desert with the satisfaction of knowing I can do whatever the hell I want to do. My re-awakened sense of ambition feels GOOD..

nervousness causes shrinkage, too

Another crazy weekend.. On Sunday, Adam and I walked down to the water and started the day by going "sea kayaking" (more like a canoe-kayak-kiddie boat thing). The last time I was on a sea kayak, I fell in and dislocated my shoulder- the most painful experience I've ever had- so I had a disproportionate amount of nervousness to get over. Of course, they didn't have any life jackets for the foreigners, either, so we went without. But at least now I can add "tandem sea kayaking in Korea" to my list of things done...

After that, we took a ferry to a nearby island, just to see what was there. We went to an old POW camp, which was used to house North Korean and Chinese prisoners of war during the Korean War. It was very interesting to see how large it was, and to get a glimpse of what life was like there. It also had some life-size figures of people using the bathroom, complete with genitalia and detailed feces...

We had a little trouble trying to navigate the island's nonsensical bus system in order to get from the city center back to where the ferry terminal was, so we ended up missing the last ferry out. Luckily we don't work mornings, so we were able to spend the night in a Korean sauna. My brother-in-law always talked about how great they were, so I've had it on my Korean to-do list. I always say: whenever something goes wrong, it just opens an opportunity for something else to happen, so I was happy to experience something I wanted to.

For about $7, we got to use the hot tubs, saunas, and we got the privilege of putting a blanket and a brick pillow on a hard floor and sleeping in a common area. I don't know if I've talked about Korean saunas here, so let me explain: it's a complex of hot and cold pools, saunas, steam rooms, and such. It's segregated by sex, and it's all naked. All of you know that I usually have no hangups with nudity (since everyone's seen me... halls of the hotel in Wendover-sober...haha), but for some reason the naked man stew made me uncomfortable. But I got over it.

After awhile, everyone left, and I had the place to myself. It was fairly relaxing, switching between the cold tub and the hot tub. I guess it's just something you gotta get used to. After that, we went to the sleeping area, which is just a floor with thin blankets and brick-like pillows, crowded with old Korean dudes. Slept peacefully (except for the dude with night terrors waking us up) until 6:30, when they decided to kick everyone out. We finally made it back to the ferry terminal and took the 8:30 ferry back home. Definitely an experience..

China

I just returned from my trip to China; Beijing and Xi'an, to be exact. Saw all the usual tourist spots: Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors. Great Wall. I was a little surprised by Beijing, it was a little less cosmopolitan and a little more dirty than I thought it would be. Some observations:
-Men in China love to roll up their shirts just above their belly. They'll parade their bellies around like it's a source of pride; sometimes they'll be rubbing them or patting them. I thought it was the funniest thing, you would never ever see that in Korea.
-More than once I saw men with hair growing out of a mole on their jawbone, which they apparently never cut. Those things were growing out like 6 inches. I have no idea what cultural significance that has; but it has to have some...
-I have never been gawked at so much in my life than the night I hung out at the Olympic venues (and I live in a small, rural town in Korea). It was unreal- stares, heads turning, pictures taken left and right.. that was my first night in China, so I figured they were just more likely to gawk in China. I realized later that it was because I was using my tripod for my camera and they were all fascinated by it. The only other time I used my tripod, I got the same reaction. The people would love to come up and look at my screen to see what I was taking pictures of.. lol
-You see lots of hard-luck people at subway stations, tourists areas, etc (much like any other place). Homeless people, people missing limbs, etc looking for money. One person at the Forbidden City took the cake, though. A tiny, shriveled up being, with 2 ginormous tumors growing out of their brain. Wow..
-There's the classic image of everyone in China riding bicycles everywhere. I was under the impression that they were all gone, replaced by cars. I was happy to see that there are still lots of bikers everywhere you go, and they have special lanes.
-I think it would be fun to own a hostel. I'll add that to my list of 100 business I want to own at one time..
-I really can't stand people who focus on the negative. If you're climbing the Great Wall, doing something that millions of people wish they could do, don't spend the entire time bitching about how hot it is. Spent the time living in the moment, soaking it in, and realizing you're on the GREAT WALL!!!

one month+ back

I've been here about 5 weeks now. Has anything changed? Not really. The job has finally had some low points, but nothing too big. Just the usual things that come with trying to teach kids that don't speak your language. Went to Mudfest last week, which is basically a spring break for foreigners (and a few Koreans). First day was great, second day was a hurricane- but it was still great because I say it was. I knew I was smart for not bringing my umbrella, because everyone who did had theirs busted by the hurricane winds. This weekend I'm not going to do anything and see how it goes. In all the time I've been to Korea, I've tried to see as much as possible, but I'm going to take it a little easier this time. That, and I need to rest up for China in 2 weeks.

best day ever

Yesterday, I made the journey to my old stomping grounds of Gwangju to finally pick up my settlement from the labor court. As is usually the case with anything involving Korean beauracracy, it was not a simple task. My old registration card from last year had my middle name misspelled by one letter (which didn't seem like a big deal at the time), which made the clerk seriously doubt whether I was the same person. It took about 30 minutes of straight arguing to finally convince him. After that was settled, I found out that the money had been put in a bank account in my name. Went next door to the bank and withdrew it, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been earning interest on it all along, about $60. The greatest thing of all is knowing that this particular issue is complete, and I never have to worry about it again. And I get to enjoy this pile of money:

first week over

I've now been back in Korea for 8 days. My first day I felt a little out of place, and was a little uncomfortable with the staring and such, but by day 2 I was over it. Since then I've noticed a few times that it feels like I never left. Forgotten Korean phrases magically returned, my ability to navigate on foot between reckless Korean drivers without even flinching was still there, and what little I remember of Hangeul (written language) came back. The downside to this familiarity is that I lost the overwhelming excitement of being in a brand new place that I felt last year when I arrived. Considering I've been away for a year while only being in Korea for 4 months before, it surprises me how I'm feeling.
So what have I done here so far? Spent the first weekend familarizing myself with my dong... (that's the Korean word for neighborhood, you know) I've made 4 trips already to the Lotte Mart (supermarket) because I keep forgetting things I need, I've gone to eat with my director and her family 4 times, did my Wonder Girls impression at noraebang, spent an agaonizing hour at immigrations trying to get some stupid certificate to present to the labor department in order to get my lawsuit judgment, got an invite to attend a 4th of July party at the naval base, had the worst hangover ever in my life, seen 3 fights, accidentally stepped on a cat, got propped by a woman who couldn't speak a word of English, and been told at least once every day how handsome I am (albeit mostly by Korean men and teenage boys- yep) Adam said today "Korea is great for your ego." Couldn't agree more.

PS I can't say enough how grateful I have a boss who will do whatever it takes to make sure I'm doing okay, and to have Adam here to show me the ropes of this town. This experience is starting off so much better than my last time that it doesn't even compare.

first day back in Korea

I arrived back in Korea last night. The director, a Korean teacher, and the other foreign teacher Adam all came to pick me up. I got the grand tour of the school and the director's apartment, which is upstairs from the school. I moved into my new apartment, which is so much nicer than my place in Gwangju that it doesn't even compare. In fact, I know it's early, but just about every impression the new school has made on me is a 180 from my previous school.
My first night in Korea had quite the share of Korean weirdness. Adam took me to a bbq restaurant, where a drunk guy started throwing glasses everywhere, shattering them on the walls (and he did this about 4 times before the owner finally got mad at him..lol). Then, as soon as we walked out of the restaurant, some drunk kid vomitted right in front of us. Later on, when I was about ready to fall asleep, I heard some "lovemaking" from another apartment across the street. I missed this place!!! View from my apartment

Rocking the ROK

It's all confirmed, I'm going back to Korea this week. I just got my visa today, but not without some trials. My old employer told immigration that I ran away from my job, so immi felt compelled to say that to anyone who applied for a visa for me. I really have to wonder how someone could lie SO MUCH like he does. Maybe he has lied so much, that he convinces himself that it's the truth. Maybe he's found some creative way to justify it, or maybe telling the truth is not part of his personal moral code. Oh well, the end result of his stunt was delaying my return for a few months, he has not succeeded in keeping me away (and why does he care, anyways?). What a douche.. but this will be my last mention of him or of LCI.
I'll be living in the Busan area, which is good because I loved Busan the two times I visited last year. The weather is milder there as well. I'll be 1 of 2 foreign teachers, which means there's only a 50/50 chance I'll have to work with someone who's crazy. Big plusses.. oh and I'll have a good schedule and a significant raise from my previous Korean job. Best of all, I'll get a chance for a do-over- I could not possibly be any more excited.