Korea Life Blog
Friday, December 17, 2004


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KLB - Rosetta Stone Korean






I downloaded all six Rosetta Stone Korean CD image files from E-donkey and mounted them with a virtual drive (so I don't need to burn them) and have been testing them out. Of course, I will buy them if I like the series. So far I don't really like it that much, but the sound quality is good and the interface makes it easy to replay the sentences and repeat them. It's also nice to have all the pictures. However, once again, as seemingly is the case with all Korean study guides, the speaking is unnatural and Julie tells me nobody talks like that. At least it's something.

I've been studying Japanese more and more using Pimsleur, which is a very good system. I finished the first 30 lessons (one lesson is 30 minutes) by listening to them on the subway everyday and I can already say that I've retained a lot. Pimsleur is very effective because it's all listening and repeating over and over again, and practicing what you've learned so much that by the end of every lesson you really remember quite a bit. Even after not listening for a few days, you still remember most of the each lesson. Also, what they teach you is actually useful. I know how to say things like, "You want to drink beer with me, don't you?" or "How much is the the beer." Instead of "The ball is under the desk," or "My nose hurts." With the long commute I can study 4 lessons a day and I have 60 lessons yet to go. I'm excited to think how much I will know at that time. Then I will just have to go and visit Japan again to test it out. Who knows, maybe I'll end up there someday teaching English.

So, why the hell are you studying Japanese when you live in Korea? you might ask. Well, it's because it's something to do on the train besides reading a newspaper or staring at my cellphone and I haven't found any good Korean language audio mp3s yet. It's also much easier for me to hear and speak than Korean. Unfortunately, the Pimsleur Korean series is only 10 lessons of extremely formal Korean, but the Japanese is really good. It should be for how expensive it is to buy (I'm going to buy it soon, of course.) This might be because the Japanese is informal. According to the notes provided with the series, Japanese people never expect foreigners to speak formal Japanese, whereas in Korea, if you speak to elders using informal Korean, called banmal, you will come across as being a rude moron. I just don't see myself talking to elders in Korean enough for me to learn the very difficult formal sentences. Not to mention, if you speak formally to your Korean friends they will think you are overly polite and probably a bit weird, if they can even make out what is your saying (since they won't be expecting anyone to speak to them that way).

Well, back to studying Korean. It's a language o' rama around here lately.


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - Vote


There's a new place to vote for your favorite Korean blog:


Vote now: Asia Blog Awards


It's fast and easy. Just look for the Korean Blog category and cast your vote.


You may recall that last year I placed second in a "Best Korean Blog" contest to a blog that is actually written in Korean. Now, hopefully, it's time to take home the gold!

If anything, this site provides a lot of links to a lot of interesting blogs you may not have found otherwise.


written by shawn matthews   -|link

Thursday, December 16, 2004


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KLB - Special Edition Update


I've sold out of copies of the special printed edition of KLB, and the printer won't sell them at reasonable discount unless I buy another 100. With Christmas around the corner, I can't afford to spend that much for now.

You can still pick it up off of Lulu.com in America (they do have international shipping, but it's not cheap) for the Holiday price of just $14.95. Also, if you spend $25 on their site before Christmas, you'll get free shipping in the states.








P.S. I got in another 100 copies of Island of Fantasy this week, just in time for the holidays. The price before Christmas is only $7.96 by credit card (enter code IOF20) or 8,000 won by bank machine. Click here for more details including a sample, reader comments and reviews.


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - Cold Rabbit


I was in the elevator on the way up to the office-tel when I saw this humerous sign tonight:




It's written by the building's security guard and, it basically says that he found a rabbit on up on the roof and the owner should call him. But it's the last line that made me chuckle. "The rabbit is cold." Awe, what a nice guy. I'm not sure how the rabbit ended up on the roof...someone probably bought it and then decided ditch it, or maybe someone brought it up there to play with and it got lost. On a side note, it felt good that I could actually read and understand this Korean scribble.


[Update] I received this email today:

I think the last line of that note says "The rabbit says he is cold". Choop dae yo = Choop da go hayo = said he is cold. Just thought I would let you know.

That's actually more funny and cute than what I thought it said. I saw the word for rabbit and the verb for cold but now I plainly can see I missed the "to say" verb. The security guard doesn't look like he has a sense of humor. Apparently he does.


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - Cathy's New Slippers


I bought the slippers for Cathy:



Now she can get out of the old workboots and hopefully relax a little bit.


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - Jingle Bells


I left the office-tel pretty early today again, but I stopped to have a sandwich and a cup of coffee and winded up arriving just a few minutes before class. Thursday is Theme Day, my least favorite day of the week. I'm supposed to teach these little kids about Christmas in America while only speaking English and without any materials. Since we're behind in the books (I don't move on unless the kids have learned the material) I thought we could skip the BS and use the book again, then maybe have them draw Santa Claus or whatever. Wrong. Cathy had printed lyrics of Jingle Bells and decided it would be fun if I teach them to sing it. Now, for those of you teaching in Korea, you can sympathize with me. For those who live elsewhere and haven't taught English to foreigners, think about how difficult it would be to teach these lyrics to little Korean kids:


Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

A day or two ago
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh
He laughed at me as
I there sprawling laid
But quickly drove away.

Now the ground is white,
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls along
And sing this sleighing song.
Just bet a bob-tailed bay,
Two-forty as his speed,
Hitch him to an open sleigh
and crack! You'll take the lead.


Not only that, but she printed enough for every kid in every class. I just looked at her blankly and said, "I can't teach this."

"But you have to. The parents want."

"The parents want them to learn this song?"

"Yeah, I think so."

I sighed and said, "Well, that's too bad. We can listen to this song, but I'm not going to teach this. It's impossible. If you want to teach them this song, feel free."

"Oh, no, not me. You're the teacher. You have to teach."

"No, thank you."

She also had made copies of a Christmas card worksheet the agency gave her. At first, this dismayed me as well, but I worked out how to explain to the kids how to make them and simply put on the Christmas music while they did so - which ended up being fun. I put the Jingle Bells lyric sheets in with the ever-growing pile of useless handouts Cathy makes. I feel sorry for the tree that lost it's life to make them. At least there's an ajusshi (older man) that comes to the school every week to pick up paper that can be recycled.

Cathy had a big blister on her bottom lip today. I asked her about it, and she said it's from stress and not sleeping (as I mentioned before, she tells me daily how she only sleeps a few hours every night). I want to tell her to relax, not worry about everything so much and take it easy, but what's the point? I know her reply would be, "But I have to like this. I'm Korean." And, I suppose, telling her that would be about as useful as her telling me to be more serious and work harder.

Later, about halfway through one of the classes, I looked up and saw her diligently making snowflake decorations for the backboard while humming and bobbing her head to the Christmas music. Even though I think she causes herself stress, I felt bad for her. I walked over and talked to her a bit and told her what a great job she's doing. The back board really does look very nice.


I looked down and noticed she's still wearing the same beat-up old workboots. I asked her if she wanted me to pick her up a pair of slippers from Walmart, like the ones I wear. I was going to do this a long time ago, actually, but I completely forgot and also wondered if buying them would insult her. She beamed and said yes, that she has really wanted a pair, "but, I have no money." Now, I know for a fact you can buy these slippers just about anywhere, including Walmart, for 1,000 won and they would last her at least a semester. I swear that psychologically she makes herself miserable to attract attention.

Anyway, I'll pick her up a pair tonight and continue to try, at least, to be nice to her even though she drives me nuts. I'm dreading next month, the winter program, when I'll be working 6 hours/day with her. The program has been approved. I'll be teaching a variety of subjects to the same kids using a load of materials, 100 minutes each class instead of 50...and for double the pay! That's actually quite a lot of cash for working from just 10 - 4!



written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - More Cheap DVds




I picked up three more DVDs in Singil Station today for 9,000 won ($8.25). The guy added a bunch of different titles today and he keeps charging me less than the sign says (3 for 10,000 won). What a bargain!


written by shawn matthews   -|link

Wednesday, December 15, 2004


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KLB - Passive-Aggressive


Because I can't strangle Cathy, I've become passive-aggressive. I realized this the day when I purposely showed up 2 minutes late, the very day after she complained that I should be there 10 minutes early (for what reason, I still don't know since she is there so early).

Then, when she told me not to read the paper, I started walking into work with the newspaper in my hand which I set on the desk instead of keeping in my bag as I used to. Not very mature, but I don't want her to think she's the boss when she certainly isn't. If I want to keep the newspaper on the desk and glance at it when the students are busy, that's my choice. At least I don't read it cover to cover like I used to at the miserable hagwons I've worked at. Here I actually do teach the kids, and I do a good job. I don't have any real problems and it's obvious they like me and enjoy the classes (which is probably why I don't have any problems.) This is because I established myself early on and am generally in a good mood and make them laugh a lot, while maintaining that needed aura of authority. I can't tell you how much a good environment and some organization can do for you as a teacher. Until now I thought I simply disliked the profession.

Today, Cathy annoyed me yet again. Perhaps she also is becoming passive-aggressive in her own right. I've been early all this week, and now I know why I don't want to be early. At 12:55 she started making the kids sit down. "Time to study!" she crooned.

"Cathy, they have 5 minutes, let them play. They aren't bothering me."

"Oh, no. We have to start study on time, Shawn." Then she proceeded to write their names on the board and asked me to call attendance. As usual, only 5 students were even there yet. The other kids always come a little late from their previous class, which doesn't bother me, but this, of course, drives Cathy mad. "Minus one point!"

So, I did it yet again, the passive-aggressive approach. Instead of calling attendance, I took my time with the things I bought: sharpening the new pencils, unwrapping the erasers and opening the tantalizing bag of sugar-ball candy. I waited until every last kid showed up to start class - at 1:05. Cathy just sat there, fidgeting, looking at the clock and staring at me like I'm out of my mind.

While mostly I wanted to remind her she's not the teacher, I'm also tired of starting class then getting interrupted when the other students barge in. (Cathy always makes them apologize - every single day for being late - and does the obligatory "minus one-point" routine. These poor kids must be traumatized as they race down the hall to avoid this embarrassment). Since I jump right into things, I find myself having to stop and repeat everything again for the late kids. Why not just start class at 1:05 and let the early-birds play with the mounds of educational toys we have until then? Seems logical to me.

The next thing on the long list that irks me, is that she keeps them late too. I used to end class right at the 50 minute mark, on time, as it's their last class of the day and often parents are waiting outside or they have to get to another private school. There's no doubt I also like the break to get ready for the next class or play with the kids that arrive early. But then Cathy would make them form a line and stand there, while they're noisily chattering and raising hell, to get them to repeat things they've learned or scold them for being noisy or this and that and the other thing when all I want, and all they want, is to say goodbye and get going. So, to compensate, I started ending class 5 minutes early, knowing full well they wouldn't be out of the room for at least 5 minutes, probably 10. You can imagine the unease this caused Cathy.

"Shawn! It's too early! We have more time for study. How about play a game?"

How about you go with the kids, I felt like saying. Make sure they get home safely and do their homework while you're at it! "Cathy, I sighed. You always keep them for 5-10 extra minutes anyway."

"But all teachers do that. This is Korea."

"Right, this is Korea. The kids must hurry to wherever it is they study next."

"What? I don't understand."

"Clean up time, kids, make a line." And, so, they took 5 minutes to clean up and make a line and ended up leaving punctually at the 50 minute mark.

I sometimes think if I didn't have an assistant, everything would be perfect. But I do like that she does the detailed paperwork and cleans the classroom (in Korea the teachers or the students have to clean the classroom and even the school). I know I don't want to do all that. But that's the thing - that's her job. Yet she wants to be Ms. Classroom-Management too. I guess what I want is an assistant who does her assistant-duties and doesn't interfere with the way I want to run the class, or at least doesn't annoy me. Maybe I should just sit down with her and explain myself, as difficult as that would be, but I know she is very sensitive. She's also older than me, which makes it all the more awkward, especially in Korea.

Don't get the wrong idea. I know it sounds bad, but you wouldn't see it by watching us interact. We are cordial to one another, for the most part. It's just her constant worrying and frantic desire to be perfect that takes away from the otherwise rewarding job that I have. In other words, "Minus one point."


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - Dumb and Dumber


I'm on a DVD kick lately. If you know of any places to get them for 5,000 won or less, let me know on e-mail. There's a DVD stand in Singil Station, which I walk through everyday to transfer to line 5. Today I found Dumb and Dumber. The sign said 5,000 won ($4.70) for 1, or 10,000 won ($9.40) for 3. I couldn't find two others that I'd ever watch, so I tried to pay the 5,000 won. The friendly guy smiled at me and handed me back 2,000 ($1.85) won. I'm not sure why, but I didn't complain. That's only 3,000 won ($2.80) for this classic comedy!


Plus, if you look at the top, this is the "special edition"...ooh...ahh! That just means it's displayed in a widescreen format, but they also added surround sound which wasn't in the original. It's also got a few extras including two original trailers and a lame photo gallery, but I'm guessing those come with the regular DVD.


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - MSN


Awhile ago I mentioned that my blog, or most people's blogs for that matter, weren't showing up in the new MSN - Google-like search engine. Well, I was checking my referrer log and noticed a lot of new hits coming from there, so I had a look:


Korea Blog Search on MSN

Now, if only I can get my blog come up first under a search for xxx or big boobs...millions of people would be able to visit my site and find out what I had for dinner yesterday!


written by shawn matthews   -|link


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KLB - Exciting Update


I woke up. I went to work. I taugh English to little kids. I came home. I ate tuna sandwiches for dinner. I couldn't exercise because my body was too sore. I took a nap instead. I had some weird dreams. I got up and used the computer. Later, Julie and I went to Walmart. I bought candy, pencils and eraser for my students. I came back home. I boiled eggs (I eat the whites for protein) and made a vegetable salad without lettuce. I'm going to bed now.





Stay tuned for more exciting updates. Thank you for reading. Have a nice day.


written by shawn matthews   -|link

Sunday, December 12, 2004


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KLB - Bargain Shoppers


Well, it's back to the health club for me finally. There's a new gym in the next building over right above a Wonder Land, the infamous English institute franchise.

In Korea, you have to bring clean shoes to the health club, or a pair you no longer wear outside. One of the problems I have in Korea is shopping for shoes/sneakers though, and I had no sneakers. Apparently, in addition to big bodies, Americans have big feet too. My size in America is 10.5, which is about average for a man. In Korea, this size is huge and often they don't carry it.



I found these pretty nice sneakers at Save Zone down the street for 35,000 won, or about $32. In Korea, my shoe size is supposed to be 275 (milimeters), according to this conversion chart. But that's night right because 275 is much too small. 285 is right, in my case. It's hard to find anything above 280, though. Even 280 is not easy, but they had them in this style. Unfortunately, they were skinnier than I thought and just uncomfortable, so Julie and I returned them later.

On the way out the door at Save Zone, Julie spotted a special sale going on and, so, I got a couple of decent button up shirts for 5,000 won ($4.80) each.
They supposedly were 10xs that price at one time, according to the tags, but whatever. They're just for work anyway. No photo because Julie has them in the wash.



So, after searching high and low at all the stores around here for a basic pair of sneakers, I found this pair at Home Plus, still size 280, but they fit about right. They're pretty much the ugliest sneakers I've ever seen, but at 7,500 won ($7.) I guess I can live with them; they're just for the health club anyway.



While at Home Plus we noticed a sale they were having on kodungo (mackerel) fish. There was quite a line of eager women and Julie waited it out. Can't beat 580 won (55 cents) for a fish. We also got a little sushi for a bonus and a bottle of South African Chardonnay that was really good.



Tonight we picked up this toaster oven at Walmart for about 20,000 won, ($19). Julie starts her new job tomorrow. They provide dinner for free, but she was worried about what to eat before work since her last job provided lunch, so we got this. She loves toast and bagels.



I just love what it says on the box - Mom was right: Eating breakfast keeps your health. He who has health has hope. He who has hope has everything.



While we were at Walmart we saw they were having a clearance sale on this chair: 15,000 won ($14). Now that really is a bargain, seeing as the second cheapest one they carry is small and 50,000 won.



Finally, no DVD collection is complete without Rambo First Blood, which they had for just 4,800 won, ($4.60).


written by shawn matthews   -|link

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