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3/31/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Cats Update
It's funny how animals, much like humans, pick a spot and settle there. It's been almost a year and all the same cats still live out behind my apartment building. You'd think with all the freedom they have to roam, they'd search out a better spot than this. But for some reason they love this building, this small area. Between me feeding them and the other sources of food such as restaurant garbage, they have plenty to eat and they also have shelter. I guess that's all a cat needs and there's no reason to move on.
Now that the weather is getting warmer, at almost any time I look outside, one or two are hanging out. When I leave here, I will really miss this. Here's the "kitten" now grown up already and I'm pretty sure pregnant. She's got a quirky personality and the cutest meow of the bunch. Whenever she sees me at the window she meows for 5 minutes until I go outside and feed her. She used to run away. Then slowly over the months she got more comfortable and nowadays she rolls all over affectionately, letting me pet her. She used to gobble the food right down as soon as I set it out. Now she seems more interested in getting pet.
Fat Cat. He loves lounging around in the sun. He also loves being pet and rolling all over in the dirt. What a simple life. The oddball is still living with the orange cat family.
Today I felt a little bad. I only had hard dog food to give them. They've grown to accustomed to it but I usually top it off with a can of tuna or some decent leftovers. Without anything else, I fried up a big omelot. I'm not sure how much they liked it. At first they took a few bites and then laid down by my feet. I'm sure it'll be all gone later, though.
I'm surprised my neighbors haven't complained yet. However, everyone besides me goes to work early and comes home late. I'm the only one in the building during the day. The cats are usually quiet and not around later at night so most of my neighbors probably don't even know they exist.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/29/2004
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Korea Life Blog - A Walk in the Country
Saturday afternoon the spring weather was perfect. Julie and I decided to take a walk through the countryside behind my home. We started by walking up behind the small university and came to the top of the hill overlooking a wide valley. Julie commented about how "messy" Korea is. Down in the valley: miscellaneous factories with bright blue roofs, a couple of old apartment buildings here and there, a restaurant, a small farm, a school. It seems they just pick a spot and build whatever at random without no thought of organization or aesthetics.
For some reason there was a fence around the university preventing people from walking down into the valley. However we found a way over it and headed down the hills through the woods.
We came across this secluded graveyard. A nice place to spend eternity, I guess...if you don't mind the ceaseless rumblings of the many factories down to the left. I wondered how they carry the bodies up here. There's no real path either way and the one that is there comes out into someone's backyard which you have to jump down a bit to get to. The other way leads back to the fenced university or down steeply into a heavily wooded valley. It's hard to imagine a funeral procession anyway you look at it.
While not sure, Julie, smart as she is, surmised this graveyard to be of a wealthy family with each generation buried further down the hill. At the top would be the great, great grandparents, then their children on the next level, etc. I wondered, as smart as I am, if these were all the victims of the hwasung city murders. Let's get out of here! Looking back, maybe we should have just read the tombstones and found out...
We continued down until we came to the road, the only choice we had. We spent the rest of the walk trying not to get hit by cars, breathing in dirt, and looking at endless garbage lining the side of the road.
At first I was excited to see these deer. I hadn't seen one since back in New York. Then the site broke my heart. These deer are being used for their antlers which are ground up and used in some kind of traditional medicine. It's hard to see in the picture but every deer's antlers have been sawed down to small stumps. I imagine the deer just sit here year after year having their antlers removed and making babies. I wanted to run down and cut open the fence. Oh well, I sighed. Such is the cruelty of man. At least they have a little room to run around and enough to eat. They probably wouldn't survive in the countryside around here anyway.
This has to be the most pathetic "supermarket" I have ever seen. Julie and I couldn't stop laughing. I'm not sure if it's open for business but judging from the mop there, someone has been cleaning up recently. Maybe that someone lives here too. What a life!
Later we came to a small lake. I didn't take a picture because it was depressing. It was literally full of garbage. The shore was cluttered with every kind of bottle, can and packaging you can imagine. I reflected on what modernization is doing to our world and how sad it is. We can send high-tech vehicles to Mars, yet we can't make biodegradable containers? Julie said that if she were the earth, she would think humans were cancer and want to kill them all. I agreed the world has too many people, even out here in the country side there were people and cars and garbage everywhere. Everything is dirty wherever you go. I remember sitting on one the beaches in Geoje-do and feeling so sad looking at the mounds of garbage washed in all over the shore.
Why don't we teach kids things like don't litter rather than x-y=28371? Looking around, I got the idea there should be declared "national clean-up day" in Korea in which all classes are cancelled and every student is required to pick up at least one bag worth of garbage from the environment. Of course everyone else would be encouraged as well. I'd love to participate in such an event, wouldn't you?
Eventually we made it to the dubu place we took a taxi to before. Just click on the link; we had exactly the same delicious meal again.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/25/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Photo Contest
Sorry for the lack of a credible update here tonight. I spent some time organizing and editing a few pictures for the new Korea photo contest being run by Lemon, a moderator on the Korea job discussion forum. While I don't consider myself to have any exceptional talent with photography, I decided with a little encouragement to give it a shot. If you haven't seen the contest yet, check it out. You should recognize my photos, all of which I used before on this site. Here's a sample below. Click on it to go to the contest.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/24/2004
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Korea Life Blog - HardyandTiny
This is why it pays to check your referrer's log once in awhile. If you like beautiful Korean girls, click below to be transported to HardyandTiny's eye-popping blog. I'm just afraid my males readers won't come back.
Update: This website has longer exists as of 5/25/04.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/23/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Kalbi Delight
Julie got paid last week and took me out for a wonderful kalbi dinner near her new apartment in Song-nae. She's moved there to be close to her new job teaching kindergarten. After her ex-boss played the typical bait and switch(starting her off with a relaxed schedule, then after a month adding a 2 hour long class three days a week without extra pay) she did something I respected her for: she took her money and quit. A few days later she found a higher paying job and new place to live.
The restaurant:
The only two people working here were the owner and one helper, probably his daughter. He did all the preparation including bringing out the hot coals and and running the cash register. He never smiled and looked like a scrooge, but then again, I can't imagine the overhead and stress of starting a new business in a new building in a new area of Seoul.
The meal:
Unless you're a vegetarian, is there anything better than a kalbi dinner? It's not only delicious but the process of cooking and eating is also so enjoyable. Because of the lack of help, the service was a little weak but the food was damn good. Notice the suction fan hanging over the table. Most of the newer meat restaurants are using these. I don't know - I guess they help a little but they're unsightly, obtrusive and block your view across the table.
The KLB kalbi gif movie:
Now click here, sit back, relax for awhile and get ready for a shocking kalbi visual experience you won't ever forget.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/22/2004
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Korea Life Blog - A Great Week
Monday is normally easy, but now it's even easier. My first class at 4:10 is cancelled. I was told as I was walking into the classroom. So I went back home, hung out, did 10 sets of 30 pushups, and then went back for my last elementary class at 6:00. There's only three kids in that class and they have no book. They played hangman and bingo for talent stickers while I hung out in the back and wrote in my journal. Then I listened to Windy for an hour and went home.
As I was walking out, one of the teachers stopped me. Usually when this happens the news is not good. However, this time the teacher told me there's no school tomorrow. I'm not exactly sure why, but who cares! That's the best surprise I've had so far. After Friday, Tuesday is my second hardest day of the week with most of my worst classes. I couldn't believe it. I feel like I'm on a 4-day weekend now. Not only that but Friday my classes are cancelled for Sticker Market. I just go in and eat deokboki and play with the kids as they trade their talent stickers for toys and stationery items. That makes fourteen cancelled classes for the week. Assa!
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written by shawn matthews
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3/21/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Korean War Museum
Here finally are the pics I took from the Korea War Museum in Yongsan-Gu. Julie and I went there a few weekends ago. Rather than posting a documentary though, I suggest you go and see the place for yourself sometime if you can or search around the web at some of the many sites.
While there are a couple of oddities, overall it's really an amazing and comprehensive place. The pictures below are only a fraction of what's there to see.
The good old friendly US government hard at work next door to the museum. What is this place? Anyone know?
You know you are there when you see this massive statue. It's hard to tell but the visitor walking there was eating an ice cream.
Above the main entrance are the words "ONLY STRONG NATIONAL SECURITY CAN GUARANTEE PEACE" - so don't go getting any heroic ideas.
Just one of many walls memorializing the names of Koreans who died in the Korean War. It certainly puts the numbers into perspective. All you can do is stand there shaking your head in disbelief unable to comprehend why.
The names of some Americans who gave their lives to defend complete strangers halfway across the world.
And a lot more of their names. They are listed by state. I knew before how many had died, but seeing this made my eyes water - it really hits you hard. Guys just like me but 10 years younger out there shooting each other and dying. To think of how little I had lived by 18 years makes me sad for them. For some chilling statistics check here.
There's more to the museum than just the Korean War. It showcases displays from all the aggressions that have been made against Korea. It's a testament to national spirit that the little country has survived, honestly. Why don't boats still look like this?
Hold the camera just right and you now have a copy of some cool artwork.
One of many scaled models of Korea as it looked in the past. I want it to look like this now, truthfully - just as long as the internet is still available. Some of these buildings would make cool pc bangs and board game cafes.
I can't remember exactly, but I think this display depicts the liberation of the Koreans after the Japanese occupation.
There are several war scene displays like this one complete with lights and sound effects.
One large room is full of these highly detailed life size models of life as it was for the poor common people during the Korean War. As you can see, life was hard. I can almost hear the young people of today wondering, where are the department stores, handphones, deokboki ajummas? Nightmare!
I think these scenes are powerful and speak for themselves:
This part was one of the let downs. Right in the War Museum they hold other events like this one, some kind of freaky circus for kids about the human body. It was totally out of place and shouldn't have been there.
The other let down was this. Both Julie and I were shocked. It's The War Game Room. Can you believe it? You walk around seeing the horrors and realities of war, and then they have this.
Is there anything more disturbing than this? Oh boy! Time to fly around and kill people. Wow! I love this museum. War really is fun!
Back outside, Julie gets asked to take some family's picture. Say kimchi!
Stone sculptures like these line the walls behind the benches out front. We sat down for awhile and then headed out for dinner.
Julie was happy to leave. Seeing all the horror and hardships, she felt pity and a deep sadness for her country. However, both of us agreed that we are very lucky people to live in this day and age, that we haven't had to suffer, that because of those who fought and suffered we are free. We all need that reminder now and again. That's why places like this exist. To honor those who sacrificed and to remind us to be thankful for what we have.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Delivery Diva
Look at all the stuff this guy delivery guy was able to get on his scooter. It was funny watching him weave down the busy street with those two giant packs of toilet paper up top. It kind of gave me an idea. Super Scooter. A super market on 2 wheels. No crowds, no hassles, no ajummas yelling at you through a microphone.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/19/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Please Eat Here!
This must be one of the most degrading jobs in the service sector besides cleaning the squatters. How would you like to be the guy or girl who has to stand outside and urge people to eat at your boss's restaurant. It's not as if you're getting a commission. In fact, if you're successful you're just creating more work for yourself - more tables to clean, dishes to wash. If that was me out there, I'd be whispering to everyone, "My boss ran out of chicken so he's using the rats he caught in the kitchen last week." Either that or, "We're closing early, today. Sorry folks. Nothing to eat here, please move on."
This guy in the picture, as you can see by how far open his mouth is, was literally screaming at everybody nearby. It was so loud and annoying I felt the urge to snap his picture and make fun of him on my website. I'm not sure if he's really enthusiastic about his job, or if it's a way to vent of all that inner frustration. Anyway, it can get a little daunting walking down the street in Sinchon with all the workers outside yelling at you like this. My favorite is when you just finish a meal, walk outside, the the guy next door is yelling at you to eat more at his place.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/18/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Reminder
In case you don't read comments or haven't noticed, I've been updating The Windy Times and Geoje-do Part 6. Check them out if you're bored.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Punch the Foreigner Game
Is it me or does this look like a large American saying the Pledge of Allegiance? What better person than to punch as hard as you can! Could they make the nose, mouth and chin any bigger? It must be a foreigner!
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written by shawn matthews
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3/17/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Tattoo Removal (2)
Only read this post if you want to see KLB guy without his shirt on.
Here's my tattoo a couple of days after the second surgery. As you can see, it's still very red. Instead of having a black cross, I have a blood red cross on my arm, great! All I need now is some chains and a big knife. It's already scabbed up, flaked off and turned to pink since this picture. No sign yet of the black ink, but it should return faintly in a week or two. It didn't seem all that noticeable before this second surgery, but the doctor still claims it will take three more visits to fully eradicate the bugger. We'll see how it comes out this time. I may not even bother. I'm sure they just want to get as much money out of you as they can. The surgery takes less than a minute, zap, zap, zap: that'll be 80,000 won please. What a ripoff! I should say though that it's totally worth it to me. I've been ashamed of this thing since I got it 10 years ago.
Afterward I got a little carried away taking pictures of myself without a shirt. The last six months at the gym and now endless pushups and curls at home is finally paying off. Except for my stomach, I'm almost back to where I was before I broke my right arm last year. I'm also growing a beard, what do you think:
Julie likes it. She says I look like I come from the mountains. I kind of like it too, but it's a little annoying at work. My coworkers keep asking me what's wrong and "why don't you shaving?" And my students have to point it out seven times/minute and try to feel my face.
I told you I went overboard. I don't look like a rugged mountain man - I look like a creepy convict from state prison. Back up, Leroy! I ain't nobody's bitch. Seriously, it's hard to believe I only weighed 65 kgs less than 2 years ago. Now I'm at 80.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - New Poll (8)
There's a new and exciting poll to take. Here are the results of the previously exciting poll:
Marriage Poll
my wife is korean 62 (30%)
my husband is korean 13 (6%)
we're both korean 13 (6%)
neither of us are korean 22 (10%)
im not married but want to 44 (21%)
no way - never going to marry 33 (16%)
i wish i never got married 8 (3%)
i'd like to strangle my spouse 7 (3%)
202 Total votes
There seems to be a lot of people who married a Korean girl. Congratulations to all of you. A lot other people want to get married. It's a little disturbing that 7 people are considering stangling their spouse.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Terorrism in Nowhere-dong?
According to commericals on AFN, the American Forces Network, I am supposed to be constantly on the lookout for terrorists. With every step, I find myself peering over my shoulders, paranoid, just waiting for the would be attacker to jump out of the weeds.
If these trucks don't look suspicious, I don't know what does. Could it be the terrorists are plotting to blow up the Nowhere-dong norae bang and mini mart? I snapped this picture and ran quickly away.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/16/2004
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Korea Life Blog - The Good Lawyer's Wife
It seems I'm not the only one who really enjoyed The Good Lawyer's Wife. Take a look:
South Korean film "A Good Lawyer's Wife" takes top honors at French fest
DEAUVILLE, France (AFP) - The South Korean film "A Good Lawyer's Wife", the story of a frustrated wife who starts an affair with a teenage boy, took home top honors at Deauville's Asian Film Festival.
The six-member jury, chaired by French director Olivier Assayas, wrapped up the four-day event in the French seaside town by giving the Golden Lotus award to director Im Sang-Soo for his third full-length feature, starring Moon So-ri.
A strong Korean presence and the return of action films, especially kung-fu flicks, marked the Deauville festival, which gave the special jury prize to Roystan Tan's "15", about five youths on the fringes of Singapore society.
The Lotus for best screenplay went to Japan's Haruhiko Arai for "Vibrator", directed by Ryuichi Hiroki, while the new "Action Asia" award went to Thai director Prachya Pinkaew for "Ong-Bak".
The international critics' prize went to the Indian film "Matrubhoomi" (A Country without Women) directed by Manish Jha, while the audience award went to the Bhutanese film "Travellers and Magicians" directed by Khyentse Norbu.
AFP
If you haven't seen it, go out and rent it. It's a really well presented, powerful story of a realistic, dysfunctional marriage.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Nowhere-dong Fashion
There's something wrong with this sock. It's just not as comfortable as it was a few years ago. I guess it's time for a new pair. Good thing there's a nice sock shop right up the street.
There it is, the Nowhere-dong sock shop. That little truck-store is always there on that corner. Seven days a week you can stop and pick up a 1,000 won pair of socks.
In addition to the socks, there's always a bunch of other outdoor clothing stores. It's a regular shopping mall extravaganza on the way up to the bus stop. I always wondered where those peculiar ajummas on the subway got their wardrobes. Now I know...
It's just like shopping at the Gap without having to travel to another country. Just walk up the street and you're in a trendy paradise.
Now I know one of these will look just perfect on Julie. Maybe I'll just buy the whole set. Won't she be surprised! Seriously, isn't this the worst fashion you've ever seen? What happens to people when they get older and start wearing these kind of clothes and thinking they look good. It's not only here, of course, back in America old people often dress equally as bad. My great aunt would probably buy the orange and green one in the back.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - White Day (Mar 14)
Here's a shot of all the things I didn't have to buy for White Day. Stands like this were set up all over the city, especially outside subway entrances. Both Julie and I find these holidays to be only about marketing. That's why we don't take them seriously. Instead of perpetuating the wealth of chocolate companies, we would rather share a special gift or do something nice together spontaneously. When it's planned it, when you expect it, the romance is gone.
I'm still waiting for Julie to surprise me with tickets to New Zealand, though. Anytime now will be fine...n-not g-g-getting im-impatient.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/15/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Haejang Guk
Here it is, our special White Day lunch at the little restaurant just outside the yeogwan in Sinchon. There are two decent yeogwans right next to each other. The one we usually stay at is nice - there's a good selection of channels, a VCR, and the owner is really friendly. He doesn't care what time you check out the next day. The one next door is the same price but the rooms are much smaller, there's only about 5 channels and no video player, and the ajumma who runs it is a sour faced witch. She started banging on the door at 12:30 to kick us out. Anyway, it was a nice day, a romantic day, and after a wonderful morning poem Julie suggested haejang guk for lunch.
Here it is, mouth watering delight. Julie said the name implies it's good to eat if you have an upset stomach from drinking too much. While it's not usally popular with younger people, we both love it. I'm not really sure how to describe it. Like most Korean food it's salty and spicy. It has some kind of soft seaweed in it. The little dish up on the right is optional miniature shrimp in red salty sauce. Julie doesn't like it, but I think it balances off the soup nicely. There's not all that much to the meal, but you can't beat the price - just 2,500 won each. We were both full when we left. I wish they had a place like this in Nowhere-dong.
The best part is the self-service kimchi. Two kinds to choose from and no shortage. I must have eaten two dishes of each kind. While both were enjoyable, it's nice to have chongak kimchi (see the first pic) for a change. The delicious flavor erupts like a volcano in your mouth with each bite, boom! boom! pow!
A little more please, ajumma. Oops, that's Julie. Sorry about that.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/14/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Sunday
I'm in a PC bang with Julie in Sinchon. We met a bunch of foreigners off the English teacher's discussion forum last night. Julie was the only Korean girl there besides one guy's wife, so she ended up meet her friend and then we met up again later. I'm glad we did or else I probably would have stayed in Incheon with the gang and drunk too much. Instead of sleeping all day and feeling like crap with a hangover, I feel great. I got quite a few funny pictures and will post them later. Today's White Day and I made a beautiful poem for Julie which I read for her this morning:
Julie,
You're like an angel from the Korean day
Roses and rainbows and all that.
Beautiful girl. Wow.
She really enjoyed it. I think she almost cried, she was so happy. Then we went for a romantic haejang guk lunch. The special day comes only once a year so I didn't mind paying for the meal.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/12/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Weekend
It was an uneventful week. Now it's Friday! My long day finally finished. No more noisy kids until Monday. The Spring weather is really getting into their skin; they've much more hyper than usual.
Julie is on her way down, the poor girl. It takes her over two hours to get here and all I have to do is relax in my apartment and wait. I was gonna ask her to pick me up a beer, but thought better of it. I ended up going to the store. I'm going to make her Spaghetti. I also picked up a Korean DVD: Baramnan Kajok, which translates to something like family members cheating. The English name is totally different: The Good Lawyer's Wife.
You may recognize the controversial poster:
I love that all Korean movies on DVD have English subtitles. It's opened up a new world of movies for me. Unfortunately the Nowhere-dong video shop carries about 10 to choose from and this was the only one that seemed decent. I've been wanting to watch Memory of Murder, the story about the serial killings in Hwa Sung City some years ago. From what I heard each victim, all women, was raped and then strangled, the killer never caught. It still haunts people's minds to this day - everyone in Korea knows about it.
As I type, a dog is barking outside. It hasn't stopped for over an hour. I hope it's not going to be a regular thing. I still have nightmares about the dog that lived behind my apartment when I lived in Busan. In addition to the noise of the dog's owners who had screaming fights every night, the dog never stopped barking for a month, and it lived right outside my window fastened to a chain 24 hours/day in the middle of the winter. What thoughtful owners. Why have a dog if that's how you're going to treat it? No wonder ithe poor thing never shut up; it was probably freezing to death. One night I attempted to let it free, but it growled and probably would have bitten me. I was never so happy to move.
Tomorrow I will go with Julie to Seoul. She has a job interview and I'm going in for my second laser treatment to remove my tattoo. As the doctor said, it came back a little since the first treatment. However, I'm hoping it will only take 2 more visits and not a total of 5 as he said. The good thing is with each treatment the cost of the laser decreases. I started at 80,000 won (plus 30,000 consultation). Tomorrow's should be 60,000, the next 50,000 etc. I'm not sure if each visit requires the consultation fee, but I'm assuming it does. Anyway, it's all really worth it to me. I've been hating this tattoo for 10 years and am so happy it's almost gone.
Tomorrow night we are supposed to go out to Sinchon and Hongdae. I hope the weather stays nice.
Update: I was completely surprised by what a good movie that was. Julie too. A very powerful story and well done. Nothing like what I expected. My new favorite Korean movie.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/11/2004
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Korea Life Blog - More Drawings
Last week's drawing lesson was such a success I printed out a similar activity for this week. I don't know what I'd do without handouts and word search puzzles from the net. The kids love them. Even the noisiest classes quiet right down when it's time to draw.
This kid again - more evil. I'm not exactly sure what's going there at the department store. That hospital looks more like the Hotel California.
I love the police scene. Is that a mask or a black guy, I'm not sure. Whoever it is, he's getting shot to death. Notice the kid begging for leniency from his teacher. Forget it! 10 whacks with the stick litte bastard!
Girls always draw the cutest pictures. Get aload of the overhead angle at the restaurant. I thought that was pretty creative. The chef is pretty funny too. What is he doing? Flipping pizza or going bowling?
Another girl. That is one well done example of a chef. I certainly can't draw that well. Check out Dr. Pig. That stethescope looks a little big.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/9/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Introducing Two New Sections
I've added two new sections today.
Readers Submissions - Finally a new place for your stories somehow related to Korea. These can be funny or interesting tidbits you have about living and/or teaching in Korea as a foreigner or gyopo. Koreans are welcome to contribute if they have had an amusing experience involving foreigners or better yet about their experiences living in a foreign country. Include a title and your name. Relevant photos are also welcome. In fact if you just have an amusing photo send it along with a couple of comments.
International Love - After seeing the results of the marriage poll I came up with this idea - a section dedicated to those who are involved in an international relationship (with Korea being one of those nations). If you're in this kind of relationship and you'd like to share your story and I will post it here. Stories can be about anything involving your relationship including cultural differences you've had, difficulties in adjusting to a new home if you moved abroad, the time you met the parents, your wedding, your honeymoon adventure in Siberia, whatever. This can even be about an awkward date you had or a relationship that lasted only a couple of days.
Only English will be accepted. (There's already a popular Korean forum for this here.) Also, if you read a particularly funny/interesting experience in Korean and have permission, please translate it and send it to me. Include names and photos if you'd like or you can remain anonymous of course.
All contributions should be sent to assakorea10@yahoo.com which I set up just for this reason. Stories can be as long or as short as you want them to be. Keep in mind however that most people don't like reading novels on the internet. A few paragraphs to several pages would be the ideal range. If you have your own blog, please feel free to send me one of your favorite posts and I'll reference the link back to your site.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/7/2004
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Korea Life Blog - At The Hagwon (5)
I went at 2:25 today and prepared for my 2:30 class. At 2:30 I started teaching. A few minutes later, the Korean teacher of that class came in and said my schedule changed and I don't teach this class until Friday. It didn't bother me this time because had I come in a little earlier, she may have told me. She didn't see me come in, she said.
I checked my schedule. Now I have only 3 classes on Monday but 7 in a row on Friday. Monday is a pathetic breeze, Friday a total nightmare. I'd much rather have a balance of the two, if possible.
Today would be my pay day. With time to spare, my next class not until 4:10, I went up to the bank and sent home the remainder of last month's pay, about 1,400,000 which came out to be $1,180 US after the fee. The fee is a standard 13,000 Won at this bank. For the first year I was in Korea, I used another bank - the account of which was set up by my school for me - that charged a flat fee and a percentage of the amount being sent. It would cost me a total of 40-45,000 won to send home a thousand dollars. Plus my bank in the US charges a $15 fee for the transfer, a concept I still can't figure out. They charge you a fee to put money in their bank and then make more money off your deposit. A win-win situation for them and a loss for us.
I used to send home my money when I got it, keeping what I thought I'd need to get by for the month. Because I never actually had a lot of money around that way, I felt poor. Every time I got that huge chunk of money, right away 75% was gone. Now I keep all of my salary on hand and send whatever's left on the next pay day. I'm still spending and sending home about the same, but I feel much better psychologically having a mound of cash nearby. And instead of getting depressed on payday, I feel great. I'm able to send some decent cash home and I get another mound to replace it.
After I wired the money, I went back to the school to hang around until 4:10. My boss asked me for my bills, a good sign he remember my payday. I taught a class, then during another break, I strategically took the his two sons for ja ja myung and mandu down below.
Once again another easy class, three students. We played some games and then they did a puzzle. Then I had yet another break. What an easy day. I ran home and did as many curls as I could in 30 minutes then ran back for the adult class. As I waved goodbye to Windy and Stan, my boss handed me my pay and said, "Thank you." I bowed and thanked him too and joked that now I can buy a chair. Perhaps the gesture of taking his kids for dinner paid off. He stopped me and asked me again why I need one. I told him my friend's have to sit on the floor. He nodded and said he'll find me one. Whoo hoo!
I went into the office to get my coat. The Korean teachers and the boss's wife were having a meeting (keep in mind they arrive at 10:00 AM every day and it was now 8:00 PM). My schedule was sitting in front of them. I'm pretty sure at that moment they were figuring out a way to balance my Friday with the rest of the week. We'll see tomorrow. Either way, said goodbye and left feeling pretty good about things.
It's been awhile since I posted pics from around the school so here are a few new ones:
Several cute girls. The one to the left, Bonnie, is one of my favorites. She's very cute, quiet but smart - the perfect student. The girl in the middle is a handful.
Here is the new math class. You can see how it used to be a playroom for the kids. I guess it's still technically a playroom, but only when math class isn't in session. The big screen TV and DVD player are gone.
Here's the room where I teach the middle school kids on Friday and the adult class during the week. I sit at the end. Windy sits to my right and Stan to my left.
One of the three regular English classrooms. After playing with the kids for awhile then a brief lesson, I sit in that chair while they do their "assignment". If my butt gets soar, I walk around and tickle the kids for fun.
My boss picked up this ancient computer set for the other new math classroom. I'm not sure if it's just for decoration or what - nothings hooked up. Get a load of the printer. How old is that thing?
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written by shawn matthews
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3/6/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Snowy Days (updated)
It's been a cold and blustery couple of days here in the northern parts of South Korea. It's not snowing today but it's damn cold and windy. Julie's hair was blowing all over on the way to the bun shik chib where we had kimchi fried rice, gogi mandu, and kimbap. I should have taken a picture. It was delicious. But I go there quite often and will get one soon enough.
Another snowy shot added by popular demand. The trees are quiet and covered with snow. This could easily be a picture taken in New York State or anywhere with snow and trees for that matter.
The cats are suffering through the cold spell so I've been feeding them more than usual. The kitten (nearest front) has grown up into an adult already. After 5 months of feeding her, she's finally accustomed to me and lets me pet her. She purrs loudly and rolls around in the dirt. Whether she really appreciates me or she's just happy about the food, I'm not sure. Mostly likely she's just in heat and sees me as a gigantic male cat available to impregnate her.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/5/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Ugh
I just finished teaching the three back to back 50 minute middle school classes. There used to be a break between each, now there isn't. I started them at 4:10 and finished at 6:40. The first class was one boy who didn't talk. The second, two smart kids that I actually liked teaching. The third consisted of 3 loud-mouthed girls with color phones and 3 brainless boys without a clue.
Stan showed up 40 minutes early today. He's waiting for our Friday night dinner ritual. Windy should be here shortly. Tonight we will go eat stinky chigae, chung guk jang.
Two weeks ago I asked my boss's wife for a second chair for my apartment. I'd glady get one myself, but to do so would require a total 3 hour trip to a shopping center, plus having to carry the chair on a bus. I don't want anything fancy, I said, just a place for a guest to sit. She nodded, but never said anything again about it. Today I asked my boss.
Boss: "Wae?"
Me: "For friends to sit down."
Boss: shakes his head. "No."
Me: pointing at a wooden chair in the classroom. "Where can I get simple chair like that?"
Boss: struggling hard to comprehend and reply. Finally - "Very far." laughs, conversation finished.
I guess I won't be getting a chair anytime soon, thanks boss for the help. Not that we don't have extra chairs all over the school and you'd be getting it back when I finish working here - that's OK, my friends can sit on the floor again.
Oh well, it's Friday night and time to cheer up. The jobs still not that bad, just some communication and consideration would be nice.
Julie's coming later for the weekend. By coincidence, her boss has also given her several more classes including a two hour class three times/week, and of course, with no extra pay.
I got a few pictures of the kids today and some of the snowy scenery. Stay tuned.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/4/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Bad Day/ Bad Week
One of the newer Korean teachers rarely talks to me, despite the fact she speaks English better than anyone else. She will go a week without saying so much as a word - even if I ask a question straight to her face. She'll smile and look away but not answer me. Then other times she becomes bubbly, energetic, talkative - bouncing around the office singing kids songs in English. I couldn't handle her mood swings so I took to ignoring her. Well suddenly out of nowhere today she says, "Good news, Shawn! You have to teach my new class tomorrow! Aren't you excited? Don't forget!" She didn't wait for my reply, she bounced out of the room on another merry high.
I looked up at my schedule. Sure enough, there it was penciled in - the new class. Another new class. Yet another goddamn class! Now on Friday I have two elementary classes, three horrible 50 minute middle school classes, then Windy for an hour.
To add insult to injury, the new classes consist of one student each. Oh boy.
I mentioned that all the classes are now five minutes longer. That doesn't sound like much, but it adds up over the course of a day and a week. Especially since the kids have been used to 40 minute classes for the past two years since the school opened. Now they've been getting antsy and restless more than usual: "Teacher, go home time! time to go home! bye bye! see you! see you again teacher! game over!"
Plus that extra time means less time between classes. We used to have ten minutes, now just five - which is not enough. By the time you sit down, you look up only to groan - it's time for your next class. Today I felt tired, really tired for the first time. It's becoming a real job.
Before you jump all over me, keep in mind where I live and why I came here. I live in the middle of nowhere. I came here because of the laid back job and schedule. I would NEVER have come here otherwise. And when I started it was really an easy schedule. I only taught four days/week, 3-4 classes each day. I had no adult class. It was a perfect trade-off. Living in a tiny town in isolation in return for an easy job. Then they added the 5th day. I had almost felt guilty before, so I didn't say a word. I expected it.
Then I had to teach the Korean teachers and the boss's wife from 10:00-11:00 AM everyday. Even though it was embarrassing and stressful to teach them, I didn't complain. Next they cancelled that and gave me the new adult class at night. Then a new class here, a new class there over time. This week, as I said, two new classes and the increased class time. Why am I living here in nowhere anymore? The trade-off is gone.
Anyway, I thought I may have a relief tonight as Windy had to go to see her co-worker who was in the hospital with brain cancer. Take a look here to see how it went. The Windy Times.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/3/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Hectic Hagwon
Arriving at the hagwon today, I looked at my schedule on the bulletin board and noticed yet another class penciled in. It seems every month a new one mysteriously appears without any notice or explanation at all. Had I not looked, I would have missed the class and received the scorn again of the teacher who would have to cover it.
I mentioned yesterday that my boss has started a new Math program. The large room in the back of the school used to be a place for the kids to hang out and play and watch videos while they waited for class to begin. This kept the school relatively quiet and the hallways empty. That room has now been made into two Math classrooms. This means the kids have nowhere to go when they arrive - often 10-20 minutes early. Instead, much to the scorn of all the teachers, they run up and down the hallway and stare in the windows. There's nothing like trying to teach a class when 5 kids are in the hallway making goofy faces at you and the students.
It seems as time goes by, my hagwon, once a nice little place with a perfect number of students, is certain to turn into the hellish overcrowded, chaotic places I've worked for in the past. My boss has gotten the business bite. He's becoming all the bosses I've had before - intent on making more and more and more at the expense of his staff and students. I can't wait until the massive new apartment complex is finished and hundreds of new kids are in need of an English school. I think there's room up on the roof for a summer session.
I do have to give him credit though. I found out how he's getting so many new math students already. In addition to fliers he sent home with every kid and in the local newspapers, he had every student already enrolled in the English program take a math test. He then sent home the results to unsuspecting parents. The test, most likely designed to result in a low score and therefore shock the parents into enrolling them in the math program, seems so far to be working. There's already a lot of students and the boss's wife has been meeting with parents all day.
Oh well, my day hasn't been that bad. While I was eating jab chae bap downstairs for lunch, a kind little old lady came in trying to make a few bucks selling these homemade back-scratchers with built in massaging wheels. What the heck, for 3,000 won they aren't a bad deal. I bought one to help her out. At least my back won't be itchy anymore.
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written by shawn matthews
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3/2/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Occupation Picture Time
After a brief lesson on jobs: OK, kids. Picture time. Take your time. Slow down.
I love these jorla-man stick figure drawings. This kid should start a comic book.
At first I got a little upset when I saw the drawing of the teacher. I have a big forehead but come on! Then I realized that's not my name. Phew. That's one of the Korean English teachers, Kal.
Here's another one of those kids that needs psychological therapy. Everybody except the mailman, taxi and bus drivers looks pretty evil. He's got an awful idea about teachers.
A typical sample drawn by one of the girls. I like the front end views of the drivers. The post office mailman taking the little kid's letter is also cute. There seems to be something strange about the first picture, though. I didn't know farmers in Korea were known for their basketball abilities. Shouldn't he be out harvesting the rice? Oh well, 8 out of 9 isn't too bad.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Great Weekend
After a special, tender, "romantic" weekend with Julie, I feel refreshed and ready to keep on blogging. She went home this morning. The poor girl. She had to take a train for two hours to get to work. I was so tired, I could barely stay awake until she left. I'm sorry about that Julie. It won't happen again, I swear. (fingers crossed behind my back)
Now I'm at the hagwon. I walked in today and everyone was busy zip! zip! zoom! running around. Nobody said anything to me or asked about my long weekend. There were two new teachers there. Who are they? I had no idea. Finally I introduced myself. They are the new math teachers. My boss has started a math program.
Moments before my first class I was informed by a teacher all my classes are now 5 minutes longer than before, and all my break times shorter by the same. Why? Because 40 minutes isn't enough time to teach math, so all the English classes had to be extended to match the math schedule. What a wonderful feeling returning to work after a holiday.
I guess it wasn't that bad for me. Skip, who teaches English to the middle school kids, found out upon arriving that his classroom is now being used for math and his schedule has completely changed. The poor guy had to move all his stuff into the already overcrowded office. He went from having a nice spacious classroom to not having even a place to sit down. You should see him pacing around and shaking his head.
Well, because of the extra times, I'd better copy more games and puzzles. A little extra teaching time doesn't bother me that much but how hard would it be for my boss to say, "Shawn. Schedule change. Understand? OK?" and introduce me to the new staff...
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written by shawn matthews
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3/1/2004
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Korea Life Blog - Comments
The reason I haven't updated is because I'm losing interest. I have to check my site now 20xs a day to delete all the asinine/racist comments people have been leaving. I guess the Windy section has made Korean readers angry, but I figured that would be the case if I said anything negative. When I simply talked about how great the culture is - the food and the nightlife, etc., I rarely got a comment I had to delete. Now it's out of control.
If a foreigner says anything bad about a Korea, some Korean people will try and justify the culture and brush it off as the foreigner doesn't understand. Others will just call them a white pig. When I talk about Windy, it has nothing to do with her being Korean. It's simply the way I feel about the her as a person. And I don't need any more warnings about "What if she sees it?" Obviously I'm aware there's a risk. And I'm taking the risk for the sake of making the site a little more interesting than glorifying everything as if making an advertisement for Korea. You can get that on Arirang, where they showcase a foreigner life in Korea. "Oh, I love Korea. Everything is so wonderful here. Teaching is so interesting and exciting. I study Korean and I can make 6 kinds of kimchi. Oh, blah blah blah, sunshine and roses in Korea!"
Also, the "you get paid to teach her so shut your face" argument - I get paid to teach kids, and I only took the adult class as a favor to my boss for being kind to me. I don't have to like it. If you don't like how I feel, you don't have to read it. That's why I put it on a separate page.
If I continue on writing how I really feel, I'll have to disable the comments section. Otherwise I'll have to abandon the Windy section and go back to writing about happy things.
After that rant, I feel much better. Julie and I are going out again for traditional chung-guk jangand bu-chim-gae.
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written by shawn matthews
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