Just Wandering

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: 3 Cheers for Korea!

2011-11-20T09:31:00.000+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: 3 Cheers for Korea!: So over on ESL Cafe , there is a thread on the Korea Forums from a Canadian guy who is leaving Korea after 7 years. He basically craps all ...

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Kotesol 2011 International Conference...the Good a...

2011-10-16T18:00:00.000+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Kotesol 2011 International Conference...the Good a...: I've just returned home from a couple of days at the Kotesol Conference in Seoul this past weekend. As is usually the case, it was a mix of ...

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Speaking English at home

2011-10-12T10:20:00.000+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Speaking English at home: Koreans are all about education. Everything I read talks about how Koreans spend the most per capita on education, and in my experience her...

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Efficiency

2011-09-02T12:14:00.000+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Efficiency: As the years go by, I'm learning more and more about how to do things efficiently. For example, thanks to the genius of Google Documents an...

Life Update

2011-09-02T12:01:00.000+09:00

So it's back to work to me, with the first week of classes almost done. Next week starts for real, with teaching and all my OT Classes on the go.

Anyway, a bizarre happening from my life:

A week or two ago, I was walking outside at night on my campus and a moth flew into my ear! My friends shone their light, but couldn't even see it. Meanwhile, the moth is flying around in my ear and seems like it's actually inside my brain. I was screaming and crying and freaking out. So, it was off to the ER #1. They couldn't help me. I'm not sure if it was that they really couldn't, or that they didn't want to deal with the foreigner. And then it was off across the city to ER #2. They pulled it out in no time, thankfully. But, this was about 3 hours after it happened so I had a lot of trauma in the meantime.

That's my life. And did you know that I actually have another blog that I update much more frequently?
It's called: My Life! Teaching in a Korean University. Check it out.

The Seoul Subway Line

2011-08-09T07:50:00.000+09:00

Funny Stuff! Check out the Youtube Seoul Subway Video.

I'm getting more and more weary...

2011-08-01T07:55:00.000+09:00

...of how things in other parts of the world that are simple and easy, are impossible or outrageously time-consuming and expensive in Korea (renewing my E2 teaching visa is fresh in my head).

Check out Gord Sellar's post about trying to get travel insurance at Incheon Airport (the #1 in the world!)

Deadly Mudslide Video

2011-07-30T08:02:00.002+09:00

Check over at ROK Drop for some video of the deadly mudslide that recently occurred in South Korea, killing 41 people. It was due to torrential rains.

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Is Korea worth it? You be the judge

2011-07-29T09:45:00.000+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Is Korea worth it? You be the judge: "Despite having lived in Korea for 6 years and having no run-ins with the powers that be (with the exception of a minor kerfuffle with one ho..."

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Kotesol International Conference 2011

2011-07-23T20:30:00.000+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Kotesol International Conference 2011: "I've just received notice that I'll be one of the presenters at the Kotesol International Conference 2011 in Seoul on October 15/16. It wi..."

Jeju Olle Trail Route 7: Oegoldae-Wolpyeong Harbor

2011-07-08T17:01:00.000+09:00

So Jeju Island has this new long-distance hiking trail that I've been wanting to check out for a while. My friend Ellen back in the olden days met the founder, or something like that and ever since then, I knew that it was fate that I had to hike it. And since I'm on Jeju Island, working at a dive shop for the summer, it seems the ideal time. There are lots of days when there are no divers, so I have plenty of time to do the 14 or so sections.

Anyway, did you know that in my former life, I was once a long-distance hiker? Back in 2004, I walked 1500 miles of the Appalachian Trail over the course of 4 months. You can even read my online journal if you want. I can't believe I was once so hard-core and would carry all this crap on my back and go for 10 days without a shower and change of clothes. I'm too old for that now for sure. And my body is pretty beat-up (from that hike?!) So....that's why the Olle Trail is so ideal! There are plenty of places to get food and drinks along the way and you could for sure find a place to sleep every night at a little motel each night. And, I heard that the guesthouses will even send your bags ahead for you to the next stop for a small fee.

The 15 km's of section 7 were amazing. Think West-Coast Trail-ish (on Canada's Vancouver Island). Crashing waves, rocky cliffs, forests, rock scrambling, ladders. And plenty of Jeju unique-ness: greenhouses filled with flowers, oranges and other assorted things. Harbors and fishing villages. Anyway, my next day off: another section!

Jeju Island Update

2011-07-06T08:39:00.000+09:00

Hello readers, it's been a while. Not too much going on, on Jeju. Just some diving. Actually a lot of diving. I've been taking out some interesting people. The wife of a oil company exec from Holland, a soldier from the USA, and a Russian Businessman who does importing and exporting in Busan. As well as various people in bigger groups. I've had to morph into a friendly person, who has 5-hour long conversations with people, which is kind of not my style. Haha!

Anyway, it's been good, both the talking to interesting people who are not English Teachers, and getting some experience with leading dives.

My take on movies and book

2011-06-19T09:41:00.000+09:00

Here are 10 Movies Worth Watching and 10 Books Worth Reading.

Comments, thoughts on my lists?

Life update

2011-06-11T09:18:00.000+09:00

Well my very few readers who are sticking it out through thick and thin, which in this case is very sporadic posting I'll give you a little something to tide you over for a bit.

It's Saturday morning here in Korea and I'm lounging on my couch, drinking coffee and feeling the weight of lesson planning and keeping track of all the details off my shoulders. Next week is final exams, which is actually very easy for me, since the students do all the talking and I just listen. And I'm very organized with spreadsheets that already have all the data inputted except the final test so I can finish my grades in less than an hour. And all the extra classes that I teach (like 12 of them/week) are finished. And then in one week, freedom until September, minus a meeting or two and admin stuff.

I'll be heading to Jeju Island, south of the mainland for some scuba diving. Actually, a lot of it: 2 months worth. Kind of an internship or something at the foreign-owned scuba shop there. I'm pretty sure I'll have a clear answer as to whether teaching scuba diving is something I will want to be doing for the next few years or not.

Anyway, more lounging today is on the agenda for items #1-10. #11 is BBQ-ing up some chicken. I like it.

Movies

2011-05-28T08:51:00.000+09:00

So, I'm not really a movie buff but I've watched a few movies lately.

I went to the theater to see the new "Pirates of the Caribbean," and despite liking the previous ones (from what I can remember), this one was terrible. The story-line was confusing and kind of boring. My friends weren't impressed either. In fact, a couple of us were fighting to stay awake.

But, 2 recommendations. I watched "The King's Speech" on the download. I figured it must be worth watching since it won so many awards recently. And it most definitely was a good one.

And the other, "The Secret Life of Bees," which I also got on the download after a friend read the book and loved it. Sad, and happy, and just about everything you would want in a good movie. I plan to read the book too.

Massive Book Sale! All 3000 Won

2011-05-20T12:18:00.001+09:00

I live in the Cheonan/Asan area, so we could arrange a pick-up there. Or, I can mail them to you for an extra 1000 Won/book, up to a maximum of 5000 Won (ie: 6 books or more, I'll just charge you 5000 Won for shipping). A minimum of 3 books to make it worth my time. Or, take them all for 80 000 Won (shipping included).

Fiction:

David Baldacci: Last Man Standing
Ann Patchett: Run
Nigel Williams: They Came from SW19
Jonathan Kellerman: The Clinic
Alice Walker: The Temple of My Familiar
Janice Y.K.Lee: The Piano Teacher (I couldn't put it down!)
Rebecca Wells: Little Altars Everywhere (Ya-Ya Sisterhood series)
Rebecca Wells: Ya-Yas in Bloom
Robert Harris: Enigma
Stieg Larsson: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
L.A. Banks: The Forbidden
Patricia Briggs: Moon Called
Gail Gaymer Martin: From Italy with Love
Umberto Eco: Foucault's Pendulum
John Irving: The Water Method Man
Flannery O'Connor: Wise Blood
Molly Gloss: The Jump-Off Creek (another page-turner)
Mary Shelley: Frankenstein
Michael Palmer: Silent Treatment
Franklin Allen Leib: The House of Pain
Jonathan Safran Foer: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Chuck Klosterman: IV
Sophie Kinsella: Shopaholic and Baby
Garth Stein: The Art of Racing in the Rain (perfect for animal lovers)
Jung Chang: Wild Swans

Non-Fiction:

Betty Friedan: Feminine Mystique
Berhard Lewis: The Assassins
J.D.Bradley: In the Spirit of Han (a book of poetry)
Nicole Ridgway: The Running of the Bulls (an inside look into a prestigious business school).
Margaret Mead: Coming of Age in Samoa
Andrew Weil: Coyote Medicine (About Native American Healing)

Free With Other Purchase (water damage or something):

I.J. Parker: Island of Exile
Arthur Hoffe: Something Evil
Haven Kimmel: A Girl Named Zippy
Yoga for Abs DVD
Elizabeth Gaskell: North and South

Kotesol National Conference

2011-05-09T10:27:00.000+09:00

The schedule is officially out. I'll be presenting at 4:30 next Saturday at the Kotesol Conference in Daejeon. You can come, but don't even have to get up early. And actually, nothing really gets going until 10:30 anyway, so you can still sleep in a bit and not miss anything. And, it's only 15 000 Won if you're a Kotesol member.

I'll be presenting on Motivation: Reward Systems that Actually Work. I promise a handout of 10 fabulous activity and 10 exciting games that you can use with your reward system to make your classes fun and energetic. And a presentation too of course, with minimal powerpoint and lots of interaction.

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Come se...

2011-05-01T10:34:00.001+09:00

My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Come se...: "My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Come see me...live and in person at the Kotesol Na... : 'I will be presenting at the Kotesol Conf..."

M Pasta in Baebang (1/2 way between Cheonan and Asan)

2011-04-30T10:05:00.001+09:00

So I know that I've previously said here and there on the internet that Cafe Riposo has the best Pizza in Cheonan (and all of Korea?) and that Dono Marco makes a pretty decent pasta. However, despite how delicious the pizza is at Riposo, it always comes with a "but." "But the service is terrible." "But they wouldn't give me extra marina sauce, even if I paid for it." "But they brought my cheese and crackers to go with my wine after I'd drank all my wine." "But it took them 30 minutes to bring me my draft beer." The Dono Marco is quite delicious, but their menu is small, and never changes, which leaves one weary of it after a few goes.

Other contenders in Cheonan? Welcoming the Moon is way expensive and has not so delicious food, while Abis is just nasty and should not even be on your radar screen. I've been to a few other Italian restaurants but haven't been impressed enough to even mention them on the blog.

However, good news is here! I've just discovered a new Italian place in town that tops all of the others, hands down. Conveniently, it's a 10 minute drive from my house in neighboring Baebang. Now, I live waaaay out in the country in a small uni "village." Baebang is the nearest little place I go to get groceries, or go to the doctor, or catch the subway to Seoul. It's a small place with an "Eup" designation, not even ranking with a "shi." (it's a hamlet, not a city yet) However, they have a freaky amount of delicious food here...it's a restaurant mecca of some sort. There is Baan Thai, the only Thai restaurant in the area, that is quite decent. There is also a branch of the most delicious Fry Pan. And Lucy tells me that there is a sushi restaurant, where she has had the most delicious sushi she's ever eaten.

And back to the Italian place: M pasta. Excellent service (actually the owners are the waiters, which is something I always appreciate). Nice atmosphere. Decent prices. An extremely generous glass of yummy red wine for 4000 Won. And best of all, delicious food. I usually have something to complain about in a restaurant, but truly I can think of nothing. I tried 2 appetizers, including bacon asparagus and mozzarella tomatoes. Both delicious. For the main course, I had a cream spaghetti, but also tried some of the pizza and tomato pasta. The pasta was better than Dono Marco and the pizza rivaled Riposo. Kim said her cream sauce was the best she's had in Korea. Fresh brewed coffee was for dessert. They even brought us a little milk for the coffee with no hassle. We even had some special requests, such as some broccoli added to my pasta, no cheese on the salad, not spicy tomato sauce and it was all done to perfection with no hassle. Try this at Riposo and see what result you get! Haha!

Dinner for the 4 of us, with 6 glasses of wine, and appetizers, and a shared extra pizza came out to 90 000 Won. Very reasonable for the quality of food and service.

How to get there? This is the not so easy part, but it's totally worth it! You'll need to get yourself to Baebang-Eup. You can take the subway from Cheonan/Asan, or take bus #900-931 from Cheonan or Asan. When you're in Baebang, the best thing to do it take a taxi to Samsung Electronics main gate (Samsung Jeun-ja, Jeung Mun). With your back to the factory, look across the street. You'll see an Angel in Us Coffee. Look further down the street to your right. You'll see a Roasting Veber Coffee Shop (which is fabulous!). M Pasta is kind of just behind Roasting Veber on the back street right behind it. It's adjacent to a little park.

And don't bring a big group (like more than 4). It has very few tables and apparently is always very busy.

Homebrew Update

2011-04-25T09:25:00.001+09:00

I now have enough homebrew stored in my patio to last me through a nuclear disaster, or just some nuclear rain coming from Japan. It seems that maybe I don't have enough friends, or something, to drink my beer with me. Anyway, I will persevere and enjoy it by myself if I have to. Perhaps Toby from England should come back to Korea.

Anyway, my 2 new batches ready to drink are a Red Ale, and a Hoegaarden imitation. The Red Ale is a dark beer, which I usually don't really like, but it's not bitter so goes down pretty easy and I can actually see myself getting into it. And the Hoegaarden is Hoegaarden-esque, but actually more delicious. It has a lot more flavor, is a bit darker than the commercial variety, and as a friend said, has none of the bitter aftertaste of the store-bought one.

However, neither of these exceed the deliciousness of the Creme Ale that I brewed. Mmmm...I can drink glass after glass of it.

That's the update.

Loving Hut Restaurant in Asan

2011-04-24T20:28:00.002+09:00

There is a branch of the popular Loving Hut chain in neighboring Asan. They have a range of dishes that are totally vegan. Most of them have some sort of soy-based meat imitation product in them that tastes surprisingly like meat. The side-dishes are fresh and delicious, as are their main dishes. They have a small selection of vegan products for sale in their store.

It's not that easy to find, but just follow these directions and you should get there for sure! Go to Onyang Oncheon Station. From there, you can walk or take a taxi to Asan City Hall (Asan Shi-Chang). You'll see a post office across from the main entrance of City Hall. Walk down that side street, across the little stream and you'll see it on your left.

They are closed the third Sunday of the month.

041-549-1638, 010-2730-1638

125 cc bmta Evolution Scooter

2011-04-19T10:38:00.001+09:00

Those 2 locks are included. Basket is optional, but it is perfect for your book-bag, or groceries on the back.

12634 km as of this morning. And some rust on the handlebars. Battery shows almost full power when you start it up.


I've had this scooter for over a year and am selling it because I want to buy a car. It's been super-reliable and has started up, even in the coldest of weather. During the year, I've replaced the muffler, battery and belt, so those should be good to go for a while. I bought it for 700 000 but am selling for 500 000 because it has acquired a bit of cosmetic damage. One of the passenger foot pegs needs to be replaced, some of the molding has melted (from the new muffler) and there is some rust on the handlebars. You can see the melted molding and footpeg in this picture. Besides that, it's in good condition. It can get up to 90 km/hour with one passenger and about 70 km/hour with 2 people. It definitely has enough power for getting around the city in style. I will include those nice-looking ajoshi gloves, as well as the 2 locks that you see in the picture. I have a couple helmets that I can give you as well. I live in Cheonan/Asan so would prefer pickup there, but could meet you within 50 km or so. You can contact me at jlbolen@gmail.com (don't forget the "L" in between j and bolen).

How much easier my life could be if everyone was like you

2011-04-15T12:09:00.000+09:00

Today, I got a phone call confirming the time that I'm going to have internet installed at my house tomorrow. I guess the lady couldn't speak English, but she obviously saw the foreign name and didn't make the assumption that I would be fluent in Korean. This was our conversation, all in very slow Korean.

"Hello
It's KT Telecom Internet. Asan Office.
Tomorrow, internet technician.
1pm. Okay?

Yes, it's okay. I understand.

Goodbye
Bye"

Anyway, how easy my life would be if everyone was this smart about dealing with people like me who know a little Korean but not enough to understand if someone speaks to me like they would a normal Korean. I sometimes think people are totally retarded when I say "Hello" in Korean to them and they assume I can speak Korean fluently. And when I don't understand they just speak louder, instead of speaking more slowly and simplifying their vocabulary.

Of course, it's not just a Korean phenomenon, I've seen it plenty of times everywhere in the world, most often in my home country.

My latest obsession: Ted Talks

2011-04-12T10:25:00.000+09:00

For the past few days, I've had my annual chest cold of death, thanks to the yellow dust from the Gobi Desert. I've had no energy to do anything beyond laying on the couch watching videos. I've had to save up my energy for an entire day just to write you this blog entry. Anyway, what better videos to watch than Ted Talks. They truly are ideas worth spreading. And even better, I use the app on my Ipad to watch them, which makes it seem all the more cooler. Check it out. I particularly enjoy the ocean ones.

Life Update

2011-04-06T09:09:00.000+09:00

So my readers, not muchee going on these days. Just making some beer (a red ale is bottled and a Hoegaarden style is in the fermenter), and bread with my new bread machine. If only rye and brown flour were cheaper and easier to get. Thankfully, there is the nicedeli, which is the the source of all things Western food, delivered straight to your door.

My cute cat Zena is happy and no longer hiding under the couch or table. Instead, she runs around the house like she's a princess, or something. And she kind of is I guess. I ventured out into the world of Gmarket for the first time to order he some supplies, and it was surprisingly easy. Check it out foreign friends. Only a minimal amount of Korean is required.

And exciting news for tomorrow! I'm buying an IPAD 1 from a guy in Cheonan. I'm excited about it, even though it's not the latest version. The price was right, and I always like a good deal.

I came to Korea for the money and the adventure...

2011-03-31T16:43:00.000+09:00

but this is why I stayed.

"(Korea is) a modern country that is one of the safest and most convenient places to live."

Yup, pretty much sums it up. Let me tell you the things I like about Korea:

1. Transportation. Their public transportation is the most convenient I've ever encountered in my travels to 20+ countries. I can't even think of a close second. And it's cheap.

2. Crime, drugs, gangs? Hardly. I feel far safer walking down a street in Korea than I ever did in Canada. I've dropped money and had people run after me to give it back. No one needs to steal my Ipod or phone since they all have their own that are better than mine.

3. Natural disasters? No to that one as well.

Anyway, like the article that I linked to said, Korea is NOT a third-world country! In terms of technology, and transportation it's light years ahead of North America. Things like education and health care are definitely catching up. Economically, Korea is always in the top 10 or 15 in the world. And they keep growing, and growing, and growing.

English Speaking Hairdresser in Cheonan!

2011-03-30T18:51:00.000+09:00

I met this lady named Sunny through my most cool Eating Out in Cheonan Club. She's a hairdresser who worked in London for a few years so she speaks fabulous English and knows how to color/cut foreigner hair. You really should go! Here's her website: Sunny Hair.

Cheap vs. Frugal

2011-03-29T08:39:00.000+09:00

So I seem to be friends with a lot of free-spenders here in Korea. ESL Teachers in Korea actually make a lot of money for the job that they do, and when you include the free apartment, plus minimal bills, it makes for a lot of disposable income. Plus, people generally don't have cars and all the expenses associated with them.

I appreciate having this disposable income, but I don't really spend it freely because I'm on the "save for early retirement plan." Some of the people I hang around with make jokes about my "cheapness" but just for the record, I think I'm actually "Frugal," not "Cheap." I don't engage in my frugal-ness at the expense of other people or businesses.

Anyway, here's an article about Cheap Vs. Frugal that I found funny/interesting.

Books for Sale or trade

2011-03-26T09:33:00.002+09:00

I live in the Cheonan/Asan area so could meet you around there. Or, add an extra 1000/book for shipping. It's fast, so they'll get to you the next day. Minimum of 3 books to make it worth my time.

80 000 Won, including shipping takes it all!

Non-fiction: 4000 Won/book

The Assassins (Bernard Lewis). The story of the first radical sect within Islam

Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press and Project Truth (Robert Parry).

Arirang Korean Basics 1: Let's Speak Korean (an excellent beginner Korean book for those that know how to read)

Lonely Planet Korean Phrasebook

Dark Star Safari (Paul Theroux): A journey through Africa by bus/train.

Coming of Age in Samoa (Margaret Mead). Her classic first book.

Running of the Bulls (Nicole Ridgway). Inside the world's most prestigious business school.

Freakanomics (Levitt and Dubner). Fascinating stuff!

In the Spirit of Han (Poems by J.D. Bradley, translated into Korean).

The Feminine Mystique (Betty Friedan).

Fiction: 3000 Won/book

Run (Ann Patchett). I couldn't put it down!

The House of Pain (Franklin Allen Leib).

From Italy with Love (Gail Martin, etc).

The Clinic (Jonathon Kellerman).

Little Altars Everywhere (Rebecca Wells). In the Ya-Ya Sisterhood series

Ya-Ya's in Bloom, Hardcover (Rebecca Wells).

Enigma (Robert Harris).

North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell).

Foucault's Pendulum (Umberto Eco)

Last Man Standing (David Baldacci).

They Came from SW19 (Nigel Williams).

Silent Treatment (Michael Palmer).

Videos: 2000 Won each.

Yoga for Abs (Yoga Zone)

Power Yoga (Bryan Kest)

Water-damaged or poor condition books: 1000 Won

Island of Exiles: I.J. Parker

The Water Method Mad: John Irving (my favorite author!).

Something Evil (Arthur Hoffe).

A Girl Named Zippy (Haven Kimmel).

Frankenstein (Mary Shelley).

Kiva!

2011-03-22T11:11:00.000+09:00

Have you checked out Kiva yet? You can lend $25 to entrepreneurs (in mostly poor countries) around the world and they pay you back the money over a period of a few months or a year. Then, you can lend the money out again to someone else. I just checked my stats, and I've made 61 loans and lent out $1525 US.

You can also check out this fun site I made about Kiva. My experience with it, basic information, and stories.

In order news, a new batch of homebrew is in the fermenter. It should be ready to bottle tomorrow...an amber ale. Yeah, happy drinking in about 3 weeks!

2011 Kotesol National Conference

2011-03-17T15:46:00.001+09:00

I've officially been accepted as a presenter at the Kotesol National Conference in Daejeon on May 14. I'll be talking about, "Motivation: Effective Reward Systems."

It's not an academic presentation, but a teacher training one, which is where you come in. I'm looking for some qualitative kind of input from you about what you do in your classes to motivate your students. What rewards do you use? Grades, candy, other things? How do you administer it? Do you punish negative behavior or just reward positive? Does it actually work? What have you done that hasn't worked. I'm looking most specifically for your experience in Korea, with both kids and uni students/adults.

Please, please, please respond either to my email: jlbolen@gmail.com or leave a comment.

Thanks in advance for your help my readers. And be sure to check out my presentation! I look forward to meeting you.

Craftworks, Itaewon

2011-03-16T08:03:00.018+09:00

I went to Craftworks Tapworks and Bistro this past weekend for the Fermentation Festival, in celebration of all things fermented. Lots of delicious beer, kimchi and pickles. While there, I took advantage of the homebrew on tap and sampled a few (most!) of them. I am not really a beer connoisseur in terms of kinds of beer, but I enjoyed all the ones that I had. Certainly better than Cass or Hite, and a decent 5000 Won for a Pint.

I also sampled one of their burgers and fries, and would definitely rank it up in the Top 10 burgers in Korea. The meat was quite delicious, with some nice toppings. The fries were a bit odd, but tasty.

Overall, I give Craftworks 2 thumbs up, and recommend it heartily!

O' Taco: Hannam-Dong, Seoul

2011-03-15T08:02:00.001+09:00

In my never-ending search for decent Mexican food in Korea, I checked out another place this last weekend in Seoul. It's called O' Taco and located in the neighborhood next to Itaewon at Hannam O-Geori (Hannam 5-way intersection).

I ordered a steak Burrito for 8000 Won and it was very enjoyable, perhaps even better than Dos Taco over in Hongdae. Everything was fresh and made to order, and there were no crazy ingredients that shouldn't belong. There was some nice hot sauce on the table for an extra kick. My friend had a couple different tacos and enjoyed them as well. They were quite large for 4000 Won.

Check it out! It's well worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

Hello my readers

2011-03-11T09:23:00.000+09:00

Sorry for the sad state of affairs that is this blog. I'm happy that you've stuck with it and are still reading. Yeah for Google Reader! Life is cool these days, busy, busy with various little hobbies and things.

Classes have started and next week my 11 hours of overtime/week are beginning. I like the money, just not the 11 extra classes. Anyway, more money for investing, which always makes me happy.

And, my little hobbies. I've planted some seeds indoors in preparation for gardening season. I have some squash growing like crazy, lettuce, tomato, cauliflower, broccoli, green onion and lettuce happily soaking up the sun.

I've finishing my second batch of homebrew, a cream ale. Initial taste tests, before the allotted 2 weeks of carbonation was finished show promise! Mmm. It's supposed to be a nice summer beer, so I have a good feeling there will be a few happy days of sitting in my Hello Kitty Pool drinking a beer or two.

And in news of Kitty. I got one! Her name is Zena and she's pretty cool. I got her for free from the pet store because she was abandoned. She's about 8 months old.

The scuba diving instructor class is starting to pay itself off already. I have a class on one of the military bases in Seoul next weekend. And am potentially going to work on Jeju Island for the summer. It's all being worked out. I never thought I'd really get to use it so much in Korea, but doors seem to be opening. Pretty cool.

Anyway, that's life for now!

Drunk Canadian killed while sleeping on the train tracks

2011-02-26T07:43:00.000+09:00

Hmmm....there somehow has to be more to the story than this. It just seems too weird.

Even an Irishman can't handle the drinking!

2011-02-24T14:16:00.000+09:00

An interesting article from the Joongang Daily about Korea's corporate drinking culture. Thanks to the Marmot's Hole for the link.

Malapascua Island, the reviews

2011-02-13T16:36:00.000+09:00

So, I'm back in the land of fast internet, in Cebu just waiting out my flight home in a couple days. Now, for my review.

Overall, Malapascua is a pretty decent place for a few days. As in 3 or 4. Any more than that, you'll perhaps get kind of weary of it. The restaurants are the same, same, the discos that keep up half the island every other night get old, and the diving is cool also for a few days but perhaps not so exciting after a while. There are lots of other spots to hit around Cebu, so plan on making this place a short stop on your way to bigger and better.

The stars of the trip:

Hippocampus hotel. Cheap, clean and QUIET. This is the most important thing, since many of the other places have discos next door, and that's not cool.

Camille Lemmens. He was my course director for the course that I did. And actually, he's based in Thailand, so go find him there.

The Kiwilodge Hotel in Cebu.

The not so stars:

K4 bungalows. Total crap. Also, Legends ripped my friend off.

Angelina's Italian restaurant. Not delicious, but expensive.

Dive shops? None that I'd give my 2 thumbs up. Try you luck!

Scuba Instructor

2011-02-12T07:27:00.000+09:00

So, guess who is a new scuba diving instructor? Yes, that's right. I am! I've passed the stressful 2-day test and am now ready to teach some scuba diving. I've got one more day left on the island, a couple days in Cebu and then I'll be on my way home to Korea. Not soon enough! I'm so ready for some kimchi chigae and my own bed.

Malapascua Island

2011-01-25T09:02:00.000+09:00

Hello everyone. Just Wandering is alive, and doing well on a little tropical island, with a long white sandy beach and lots of studying going on. I'm doing my dive instructor course and have been having a hard time not being distracted by the cool kids from Korea who've come to keep me company. I've done a bit of diving as well, but not as much as I'd like since my ears are a bit precarious and I'm trying to keep them happy for the duration of the course. Anyway, things are cool!

I'm here!

2011-01-21T09:26:00.000+09:00

I've made it to Malapascua Island in the Philippines and am hanging out, doing a bit of diving and studying in preparation for my instructor course that starts tomorrow. I'd like to be doing more diving but my ears are a bit precarious, so I'm trying to be kind to them and hope they hold out for my 10-day course.

Anyway, things here are cool. Accommodation and food are cheap, and hanging out on a secluded, tropical island is never a bad thing. My hut is about a minute from the beach. To make life easier, everyone speaks English.

As for the diving, I've only been on a couple, but have seen some cool stuff. Mandarin fish, frogfish, pipefish and seahorses in abundance. Thresher Sharks are no where to be seen, sadly, because it's what everyone here comes for. I'm hoping they make an appearance before I go!

Ignorance was bliss

2011-01-10T08:45:00.000+09:00

Going to the sauna is one of my favorite things to do in Korea, but it's often the place that is most fraught with stress, such that it makes me wonder whether it's worth going or not. The stares, and pointing and general freak-outery of naked whities with tattoos.

Anyway, yesterday my friend and I bundled up on my scooter for a cold winter ride and went into Asan, sauna capital of the South Korean Universe! And conveniently, I happen to live in Asan as well. I like trying out new saunas, so we went to one we've never been at before. The staff were friendly, greeting us with a "hello" and helping us get a locker even though it was really busy.

And then we were at the locker and the pack of ajumma (old ladies) behind us were saying, "Man, Woman? Man? Woman? Man? I don't know? Man?" This whole conversation was in Korean, by the way! I said, "Ajumas, we're woman!" But they still kept talking! "Look at their chests? They're woman." Me: "I understand Korean-speaking." The talking continues. "I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AJUMMA!" Unbelievable and so rude. They knew I understood Korean but they still just kept talking.

So I used to be ignorant and not understand the chit-chat that was happening around me in Korean. But, now I do and it's disturbing. I need to leave Korea. The rudeness is wearing me down. And the stares. Like, in other countries people don't stare at you, or talk to you. Sometimes I forget the reality that is the rest of the world.

Life Update

2011-01-07T20:37:00.000+09:00

Happy New Year everyone...only a bit of news to report from here. My latest hobby is homebrewing and my first batch is all nice and carbonated and ready to drink. I used a kit called "Hoegaarden style" and it is indeed Hoegaarden-ish, except not really as delicious. However, it does go down easy and I am enjoying a nice glass of it while I type this. In fact, I can see quite easily see getting on a glass a day habit. Homebrewing in South Korea isn't really the easiest thing to do, but since the only real options are Cass and Hite, it is most definitely worth it.

And, a nice guy in the military hooked me up with some more beer supplies on the cheap from the states so I'm all ready to make my second brew, a cream ale. However, I don't have enough time for it to ferment away and get it all bottled before I go to the Philippines for some diving, so it'll have to wait.

And, in other news, I've made some Goals for 2011. What are yours?

High Street Market, Itaewon

2011-01-04T09:34:00.000+09:00

This is exactly what Korea needs! A real deli, with meat, cheese and wine. And it's now here in Itaewon. Thanks for Chris for the great review.

And also check out my site about foreign food in Korea.

Should foreigners be tested for AIDS? An article in Time Magazine

2010-12-26T10:50:00.000+09:00

An accurate article from a top North America magazine "Time" about foreigners having mandatory HIV tests here in Korea. But, let's be clear about the situation. Prostitutes, entertainers and migrant workers are exempt, it's only the ESL teachers. Unbelievably.

Brian's commentary here.

How to get foreign food in Korea

2010-12-21T10:22:00.000+09:00

I share my secrets with you here! Mmm...cheese, deli meat, cilantro, oatmeal.

Happy times in the USA

2010-12-19T09:11:00.001+09:00

This makes me happy. Gays can now serve in the US military without fear of losing their jobs based on their sexual orientation. I still think it's going to be a long road ahead for them, changing homophobic attitudes but at least the institution will have to officially support them. I now wonder about spousal benefits for those in states that don't allow gay marriage. I hope this forces some change at other levels as well.

Kiva: It's how I choose to help the world

2010-12-16T17:37:00.000+09:00

You should check it out. But be warned, it's addictive.

Why I Love Kiva

Best Places to Visit in South Korea (my list)

2010-12-15T16:33:00.001+09:00

Maybe you should come visit me and we'll check out the sights?

Learning Korean

2010-12-14T16:31:00.003+09:00

Now, I'm no Korean star, but I do know a pretty decent amount. Here is how I learned what I learned.

Like Hiking?

2010-12-12T21:46:00.000+09:00

Here are my favorite places in South Korea.

Top 10 Reality Shows of all Time

2010-12-12T08:19:00.002+09:00

What do you think? Agree or disagree with me?

The best expat restaurants in Korea

2010-12-11T13:46:00.002+09:00

Check out my new site that I just made here. Mmmm.

It's what I've been saying for years...part 3

2010-12-10T14:38:00.000+09:00

It's a matter of interpretation when looking at the Bible. Exactly what parts do you take seriously and what parts do you not? And how do you decide which is which? And how can you take something in Leviticus at God's truth, but then just ignore other parts of the very same book. It just doesn't make sense to me. I think it's time for the very literal Biblical interpretation to stop and for people to get a more realistic, open-minded world-view.

Top 10 Places to Visit in South Korea

2010-12-10T06:54:00.000+09:00

I've just made an entry on another site about the top 10 place to visit in Korea. You can check it out here.

And, I think you should come visit me. For real.

It's what I've been saying for years...part 2

2010-11-29T12:41:00.000+09:00

So I've never been big on Christian mission trips. And by trip, I mean the ones of a short-term variety, like under a year. If you're going for over a year, it's no longer a trip, but your real life. Anyway, I never used to offer my support to short-term mission trips and everyone would think I was being a negative nancy or something. But then, I decided to go one just to see if my suspicions of their bad-news-ness were right. 3 years ago, I went to Tanzania with one of the local Churches here in Cheonan and I'm sad to say that my suspicions were quite correct. Like, if we had sent the actual money that we used for the plane tickets and costs, the local Church there could have hired qualified locals to build the stuff we did. You know, people who actually knew what they were doing? And people who actually needed jobs?

Anyway, more suspicions confirmed here.

Yeah, that's what I've been saying the whole time I've been here

2010-11-26T11:56:00.002+09:00

Why is the USA still here, 60 years after the war ended?

Time...on South Korea

2010-11-13T08:54:00.000+09:00

An interesting, accurate article about South Korea, "Asia's latest miracle."

You've heard me talk enough times about difficulties of life here in Korea for a foreigner. And it really is hard a lot of the time, especially for those outside of Seoul or Busan. But, there are things that keep me here and part of it is the rapid change that Korea is going through. You can say a lot of things about this country, but one thing that I'd never, ever say is that it's boring. Which works for me in a way that Canada never did.

Life...weekend style

2010-11-08T08:45:00.000+09:00

So not a whole lot happening here my readers. Just normal life stuff. Remember back in the day when I used to travel around Korea every weekend, going here and there, checking out everything there was to see? Anyway, those days have been over for a long time and I officially like to chill at home with friends these days.

Friday night, some of the cool kids and I checked out this new galbi (bbq meat) place in Baebang (the town near my uni) that I've had my eye on for the past few months. It always smells most delicious as I cruise by on my scooter and the people are always spilling out onto the front patio, even in cool weather. While meeting up was a bit of a gong-show, we found everyone and headed on over. But we had to wait, which although annoying when you're getting hangry, is always the sign of deliciousness coming. Yum Yum. I'll be back.

Saturday, not muchee to report. A movie marathon of sorts combined with slothing around at home. Perfect.

And Sunday? A beautiful hike, with coworkers Tom and Connor, and Rhys, Richard and Laura. The fall leaves are at their perfect stage around here. Korea has made me appreciate a lot of things a lot more than I ever did back home and I think I'll never go back to letting another fall go past without a hike in the mountains, no matter where I am. We started out at the Oe-am Folk Villlage, quite near my house and set off, looking for the mysterious trail. A few false starts and then we found a sign and a nice farmer to point us in the right direction of Seolhwasan. Up we went, to what would have been a stunning view of Baebang, Cheonan and Asan if it wasn't so hazy out. Down again for some mountain food and then home for some home-cooking with a couple friends. Weekends at home, I love you. You make me feel happy.

Life update

2010-10-31T08:28:00.000+09:00

So my old friend Houston and I were just talking on Skype the other day and he was sad about the lack of updates on this blog. I told him that I've ranted about all there is to rant about. He said that life updates are cool. I always thought people were bored by them, but who knows, maybe there are most Houstons out there. So, an update for you:

1. My French friend, that I met when traveling around France a couple years ago blew threw Korea for a while. She was interested in a temple stay so I organized one at Sudeoksa, not too far from my house. A few other people came along for fun. Overall, decent and far better organizing it myself than going through Adventure Korea or something. It was actually restful and quiet. Except the only thing is that you should bring your own translator because the organizers speak a little, but not fluently.

2. And, we also ventured out for a day of fun to the Mr. Buddha on the rock behind my house. He's from the late Goryeo dynasty, which means he's about 1000 years old. And there's a cool cave, at the temple with peacocks. And to keep the fun rolling, we joined up with Kim for a little adventure to the local hot springs. Where I live is one of the most famous spots in Asia and there are a ton of local tourist hotels that have saunas where you can go. It's my mission to try them all, so we checked out the Grand Hotel. For such a grand hotel, existing almost for the sole purpose of people touristing to the hot springs, their sauna was not so fabulous. But, my French friend did get her first naked ajuma scrub-down, which was some good entertainment for everyone I think.

3. And in other news, I organized a little Halloween party for my coworkers and friends. Bonfire, scary decorations, spooky music, more meat than you'd have ever thought you could eat, good company. It was a very good time and I'm happy to say that I collected enough wood from the mountain to last for 6 hours or campfire fun.

A few things....

2010-10-18T08:06:00.000+09:00

You should most definitely get yourself over to Jacoby's Burger in Seoul, near Noksapyeong Station. My friend Ryan claimed, "The best burger I've ever eaten in my life!" It didn't disappoint.

And Taco at Noksapyeong Station? Only so-so. You'd maybe be better off hitting up the Taco Bell, if you can stomach the heart-burn after.

And in other news, I don't plan on updating this blog as much anymore, perhaps only once/week or so. I don't have that much to say anymore. Maybe I'm mellowing out in my old age. But, I do plan on putting a lot more effort into my blog about teaching English in Korea. It's called My Life! Teaching English in a Korean University. It seems to be much more popular and helpful for people anyway.

Diving on Jeju

2010-10-12T08:25:00.000+09:00

So this past weekend, I went to the semi-tropical Jeju Island for a bit of scuba diving before the weather turns cold here in Korea. I checked out Dive Korea, a Seoul-based expat club that runs tours around Korea a couple of times a month and has all the standard classes as well. I would for sure dive with them again (and I can't say the same about the other Korea clubs...email for details if interested). Branden is extremely experienced and I'd be happy trusting him with a friend of mine to do an open water course. He organizes tours to places a bit off the beaten path such as Ulleungdo, which I'd love to check out with him sometime. It'd be almost impossible for me to organize this myself.

However, if I was diving in Jeju again, I'd stick with Ralf at Big Blue 33. It's easy enough (and cheaper) to organize through him than with a tour group from the mainland. I haven't found anyone in Korea that matches his level of professionalism and safety. Buying your own tickets through the most helpful Bona at the Yeogiyo.com is very easy and cheap. I worked out the prices and it would have been almost 100 000 Won cheaper if I'd used Big Blue and organized the trip myself.

Anyway, amazing diving and good company! The water was perfect at 22 degrees C, with about 20 m visibility. Crazy currents, outrageously high tides, and no boat pickup added a bit of adventure to my life. Lots of beautiful soft corals, schools of fish and little stuff to see. I even saw a school of cuttlefish, my favorite small thing in the ocean.

Canada....a definite fail on this one

2010-10-06T07:55:00.000+09:00

Why are Canadian taxpayers supporting a wacky Christian group like this? Everything in science and psychology says that gays can't be "cured" and that sexual orientation is a biological thing.

Anyway, A+ to New Zealand for taking away this group's charity status earlier this year.

Money Diet, finishee!

2010-09-30T07:45:00.001+09:00

So a friend and I had a money diet challenge. The goal was to spend less than 500 000 Won for the month, which is a quite reasonable amount in Korea actually. You can still go out once a week or so for a nice meal and a couple drinks, have a few cheaper meals, and go on a weekend trip. You just can't hit Itaewon or Hongdae for the books, and food, and drinks, and party. Anyway, my friend didn't make it, due to various factors but I came in for a monthly total of 423 000 Won, with a most impressive 13 days of no spending. Yeah for living and working out in the country! Anyway, the total even included a 5 day camping road trip for Chuseok.

I spent most of my money on food. 105 000 for eating out and drinking. And 141 000 on groceries. This was a big higher than my normal month due to 5 days spent on the road. And the other stuff: gas for scooter (around 30 000 Won), although this was also higher due to road trip. In normal life, I really only use it a little bit on weekends. And paying for 2 nights of hotel on my road trip.

Yeah for money diet finish! Next month will be some serious spending, I'm going diving to Jeju, going to the Kotesol National Conference, and have a friend here from France so will be doing some stuff. Back to the diet in November perhaps.

Books for sale or trade

2010-09-28T19:53:00.002+09:00

I live in Cheonan/Asan so could meet you there. Or, I could ship to you for an extra 1000/book. And, I'd also be interested in trading if you send me your list.

Fiction: 3000 Won/book

Margaret Atwood: Oryx and Crake (the most amazing Canadian author, in my opinion!)

Alexander Dumas: The Black Tulip (writing in cover)

Iain M. Banks: The Algebraist

Brad Meltzer: The Tenth Justice

John Grisham: The Last Juror

Mildred Taylor: Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry (Newberry Medal Winner)

Arthur Hoffe: Something Evil

Lorenzo Carcaterra: Gangster

Orhan Pamuk: My Name is Red (Nobel Prize Winner....I've read 3 times!)

W. Somerset Maugham: the Moon and Sixpence

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Half of a Yellow Sun (a story of people caught up in an African independence movement and the horrors they go through).

Kiran Desai: The Inheritance of Loss (Nobel Prize Winner)

Carolyn Chute: The Beans of Egypt, Maine

Robert Harris: Enigma

Alice Sebold: The Lovely Bones (a page-turner, has a movie based on it)

Rebecca Wells: Little Altars Everywhere (same author as the divine secrets of the Ya-Ya sisterhood).

Non-Fiction: 4000 Won/book

Nicole Ridgway: The Running of the Bulls (the story of a group of seniors from the most prestigious business school in the world, Wharton).

Bernard Lewis: The Assassins (the story of the first radical sect within Islam to use murder as a political weapon)

John Man: Ghengis Khan

David Bennun: Tick Bite Fever ( a childhood growing up in Africa).

Robert Parry: Lost History, Contras, Cocaine, the Press & Project Truth

Henri Nouwen: Reaching Out, the 3 Movements of the Spiritual Life (my favorite Christian author)

Henri Nouwen: The Road to Daybreak

Henri Nouwen: The Wounded Healer

Alexandra David Neel: My Journey To Lhasa (amazing story of the first woman to enter Tibet)

Kierkegaard: Provocations

West Coast Cruising

2010-09-28T09:05:00.000+09:00

So, due to my ineptness, this entry will not be the star like the one I'd almost fully written and then accidentally deleted. Anyway, a summary because I don't have the heart to do it all over again.

For Chuseok, I went cruising on my scooter with a friend to beaches on the West Coast of Korea (and yes, despite everyone's disbelief, 2 people +gear can comfortably get up to 80 km/hour on a 125 cc scooter...or at least mine). It was a 2.5 hour ride, through little villages, and rice fields, up and over mountain passes. Road signs in Korea are too good to be true, and combined with my Korean road map, navigation was no issue. Our first stops were Mallipo/Cheolipo/Baekripo. The latter 2 were like ghost towns, and it was still a bit cloudy and rainy on Wednesday night so we got a Minbak in Mallipo and settled for a day of watching the surfers, and drinking beer at the beach.

The next day began our cruise down Annmyeondo. I've been hearing things about it for years, mostly from Koreans who said I needed to go but I never ventured there mostly to transport inconvenience. Anyway, it was pretty fabulous. So many beautiful beaches, and crowded camping spots. Down the back roads we cruised, searching for a little secluded spot where we could camp and have the beach to ourselves. There were plenty of spots to pick from. And then, the next night, a stay in a most amazing minbak in a small fishing village. We sat, on the pier eating grapes and it was the most peaceful I'd felt in a long time.

And then, the next day our plan was to head to the very Southern tip of Annmyeongdo, and take the ferry to Boryeong/Daecheon Beach to camp for the night. Except, it was not to be because although cars are allowed on the ferry, bikes were not. Frustrating. And small-minded. So, it was back up the island to the mainland, and Baekripo for a night of camping. We stopped along the way for some snacks and drinks, since literally nothing was open at that beach. And we had it to ourselves for the night, with only our campfire to keep us company.

Pics later.

Taco Bell

2010-09-28T08:53:00.000+09:00

When I head home to the motherland every couple years, I would never dream of going to Taco Bell.

But, in the land of kimchi, it's a whole different world. For Mexican restaurants, your choices are overpriced/mediocre, or overpriced/total crap. And salsa/chips, while able to be found in Korean supermarkets is entirely overpriced and without selection. And cilantro? Well, good luck with that. Anyway, apparently the guy that just opened a Taco Bell in Itaewon plans on opening a whole lot more of them around Korean. This is good news. And I would perhaps even frequent the Bell on a monthly basis if they came to the Cheonan. Freaky.

Spavis in Asan

2010-09-21T15:26:00.000+09:00

So the planned scooter ride/camping trip to the coast for Chuseok was delayed due to rain. I'm planning on leaving tomorrow, rain or shine. Anyway, in order to not waste my time away, I wanted to check out the most famous Spavis, just North of Asan. A quick phone call to tourist information to ensure it was open, and I was on my way.

8000 got me admission to the sauna part of the place (38 000 Won to include the swimming area too), and it was well worth it. Probably the biggest variety of pools and steam rooms, both indoor and out that I've seen in a long time. Friendly people. 20 000 won scrub down. Nice cafeteria kind of place to eat lunch. And the best part was that it wasn't busy at all due to the big holiday. A warning to those who may go: don't eat at the restaurant outside the ticket office. Gross and expensive. Just eat inside. Anyway, check it out! Cheaper and better than the most famous Dogo Hot Springs just down the road.

Around the house

2010-09-20T08:04:00.000+09:00

WHY does it need to be raining during Chuseok? I get an entire week off for "Korean Thanksgiving" and although it was beautiful last week, and scheduled to be most beautiful later in the week, it's downpouring now. This puts a serious hamper on my ride the scooter to the coast and hang out at the beach plan. Sad.

Anyway, some fun times anyway these past couple days. A hike to one of my favorite places in Korea, the Suwon fortress. This is ideal if you want to get outside and go for a walk, but you don't really want strenuous. And, some delicious BBQ meat, of which Suwon is famous for. Then, a hike yesterday to the local mountain near my house. I took the scooter, found a trailhead and started hiking. Mount Taewasan, delightfully easy and a nice view at the top. I'd for sure do it again.

Today, no plan really, except for watching Dexter. And being sad about the rain.

Want to watch TV for free in Korea, minus the commercials?

2010-09-18T12:07:00.000+09:00

So as I talk to foreigners in Korea, I am shocked that not everyone knows how to do the free TV thing. It makes my life here in Korea at least a little more enjoyable. Here's how to do it:

First, go to Share TV, and add your favorite programs. Then check back every few days to see when your show has released a new episode. Then, if you have fast internet, go to Sidereel and find your show. It's that easy.

However, I have free, sketchy wireless from my uni that is North-America like slow and can't stream stuff. So, I go over to Isohunt and search for the torrent. Just type in the name of the show ("Survivor" or "The Apprentice"). Usually, the latest episode will pop up. If not, use the option where you can limit the search to torrents added within the last day or week. Pick a torrent that has lots of seeds. Download it. Then, you'll need a torrent downloader. On my MAC, I use Transmission. Open the thing you downloaded in Transmission and wait for it to download. I find that on my MAC, I have the most success watching stuff using VLC. If it's RAR format, use the VLC Rar player. Then, I watch, and since my MAC is old and doesn't have much space on it, I just delete stuff after I watch.

Super easy, and free, and no commercials. It's too good to be true, except it's actually true.

Want to know why you can't find decent beer in Korea?

2010-09-17T16:20:00.002+09:00

Here's the deal.

Did you know...

2010-09-15T14:02:00.000+09:00

that in Korea, most people with mental illnesses are not diagnosed and treated. This is my unscientific observation of course. Anyway, the result is that you'll run into a whole lot more crazy people as you are out and about on the subway or whatever. Like more crazies than I'd ever see back home. Or, maybe it's just that they're attracted to me. Kind of like a honing instinct for the foreigner or something. Whatever, who knows.

I have many stories to tell to fill a whole blog, but here is a good one from Gord Sellar.

Mitch Albom's take on Korea

2010-09-13T10:11:00.002+09:00

Check out the Marmot's Hole for the details.

Did you know?

2010-09-13T09:50:00.000+09:00

That I have a blog about teaching English at a university in Korea? And, according to the stats it's twice as popular as this blog, despite having been around for only about 1/3 the time. Anyway, it's called My Life! Teaching in Korean University. Check it out if you teach English in Korea, or are thinking of coming to Korea, or are teaching English in another country since I have lots of ideas for games and activities, and class organization.

Ella, when are you coming to Korea?

2010-09-13T09:05:00.000+09:00

You're so cute, we need to play. Okay?

Money Diet, 12 day update

2010-09-13T09:00:00.000+09:00

So my readers who are not friends with me on Facebook, I know you're dying to know about my money diet. It's going well so far. In 12 days, I've only spent 128 000 Won (which is less than $10 US/day). My goal is to spend less than 500 000 for the month, even though there is a big Chuseok holiday, where I'll be traveling to the West Coast on a scooter/camping trip.

My biggest spending by far is eating out/groceries. Mostly groceries actually, since I've managed to eat out only 2 times, which is a significant reduction for me. And, impressively I've managed to have 5 days of not spending anything. Yeah for living in the country with no stores, downloading Dexter, reading books that I've bought a long time ago, eggplants and peppers from the garden, scooter rides, cooking at home, podcasts, and working out everyday.

Shinjeong Lake, Asan

2010-09-13T08:43:00.000+09:00

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend, now that I have a scooter is to pick some random touristy place off the Asan, or Chungcheongnam-Do map that I've never been to and check things out. Pre-scooter, it was just too expensive, time-consuming, and hassle fraught dealing with public transport and taxis. Anyway, it reminds me fondly of my first year in Korea where everything was exciting and new and I was in engaged in a flurry of checking out new places almost every weekend. And the cool thing is that despite having lived in Asan for over three years, I've only scraped the surface of what there is to see here. It's crazily famous for hot springs, there are plenty of outdoor swimming amusement parks, some historical stuff, old Churches, and just general countryside beauty.

So yesterday, the random destination was Shin-jeong-ho, a 15 minute ride from my house, which is a man-made lake that was perfect for an afternoon out in Korean-style nature (walking paths, slurpee stands, restaurants, and heart-shaped rose garden creations for photo opps). I walked the 5 km path around the lake, and the highlight was definitely the massive lotus flower gardens. There were only a few straggling bloomers this late in the season but a month ago, it would have been stunning. I spotted a restaurant that had been open since 1936, sadly I had eaten lunch before I went but I've made a mental note to check this place out some other time. And there was an outdoor swimming pool, which will be perfect for a day of lounging/skin scorching in the hot summer sun next year.

Anyway, if you live in the area, check it out. There is public transport from Asan, so check with the tourist info booth at Onyang Oncheon Station and I'm sure they can help you. Alternatively, looking at the map it really doesn't seem that far from said station so perhaps a taxi wouldn't be so outrageous? And go hungry, check out that restaurant and let me know whether I should go. Okay? Okay.

You like beer, I like beer

2010-09-09T12:03:00.002+09:00

Let's drink beer together. Plus, we can live longer! Yeah!

It's not your fault

2010-09-07T21:49:00.000+09:00

So today, I was cruising around online, trying to find a torrent or a online site where I could watch Jackie Warner's new show "Thintervention." Her last reality series, "Workout" was super-cool. Anyway, it was not to be found yet (hopefully tomorrow!) but I did run across this ad saying, "All the weight you've gained might not be your fault." I clicked it, out of curiosity and only got a link to the book with the same title that they were trying to sell.

I find this so disturbing. So, so, so disturbing. How is losing weight become this whole huge industry with all so many gimmicks? It's as simple as calories in and calories out. It doesn't matter what time of day you eat them. It doesn't matter what rate your heart is going at when you exercise. It doesn't matter if you don't eat carbs. This is the reality of it, as Just Wandering sees it:

If you want to lose weight, eat less, which reduces calories in. Then, increase your exercise, which helps with the calories out. Lifting weights gives you a super-boost because it not only burns calories while doing it, but it builds muscle, which burns considerably more calories than fat, even at rest. Now, I just need to take my own advice and lost the weight I gained in Canada, so I can fit back into my work pants from last semester!

Dogo Hot Springs

2010-09-05T16:01:00.000+09:00

Today, I took a trip over to Dogo Hot Springs in Asan, an area famous in Korea for their bubbly water for 1000 years or so. My coworker had recommended the spa at Paradise Hotel. The admission fee wasn't cheap at 12 000, but it was one of the nicest saunas I've been to in Korea. Ultra-modern and clean, with a good variety of pools, both inside and outside. The coolest part about it though was its outside swimming waterpark area. I didn't know about it, or I would have come prepared with my swimsuit and more money. One day soon!

Hamburgers in Cheonan

2010-09-03T12:39:00.000+09:00

Cheonan is not really a big city in Korea, in the whole scheme of things, except it's freakishly getting an increasing number of quality Western restaurants. The Indian place near the train station was first. Then, Cafe Riposo, for some most delicious pizza and pasta. Next, the Fry Pan, where you can get the most amazing fried chicken and chips. And now, The Corner Bistro, for some REAL hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, onion rings, fries and ribs. And last night, they even had a 1500 Won draft beer special. Seriously, the burgers were done up right. A nice patty, a bit of tasty sauce, a good bun, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and some onion rings on top. The onion rings and fries were well done, just like home. Heinz Ketchup and mustard on the table. Some decent chicken wings as service. A basic burger, with fries and a beer came out to 12 000 Won or so. I will most definitely be back. And, I must say, that it really doesn't rival the Wolfhound in Itaewon for a good burger, but, hey, it's in Cheonan! And it was totally worth the trip.

How to get there?

It's right near downtown (the Yawoori/bus terminal area). If you're in front of the Yawoori, look across the street and you'll see a Baskin Robbins. Walk away from the Yawoori, 2 streets back. You'll see an Angel in Us Coffee shop. Take a left, and you'll see it on your right-hand side.

How have I not realized this before?

2010-09-01T08:14:00.000+09:00

But Google's Blogger now has a "stats" section. In the past, I have used Statcounter, which is free and informative, but you have to go to a different site, and login and all that annoying stuff. Google, I love you. You continue to do good work in my happy world.

Podcasts

2010-08-29T13:05:00.000+09:00

Need some new ones to listen to? Here are the ones I like (search on Itunes).

Investing:

Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips
InvestTalk
Morningstar
Vanguard's Plain Talk on Investing

Music:

CBC radio 3

Canada Live

News:

BBC's From Our Own Correspondent
BBC Documentaries

Fun Stuff:

Freakanomics
Brain Stuff
Stuff you Should Know
Stuff Mom Never Told You
The Korea Society
Savage Love
The Seoul Podcast

Anyone have any news ones for me?!

Money Diet

2010-08-29T13:01:00.000+09:00

My friend Ryan and I are having a competition and you can join in if you want. We are going to start with 500 000 Won on Sept.1 and see if we can make it the whole month. This includes the Chuseok holiday, so it might be a challenge. You have to track your expenses and post them daily on Facebook. Anyone?!?

Books for Sale or Trade

2010-08-29T12:58:00.000+09:00

I live in Cheonan/Asan so could meet you there. Or, I could ship to you for an extra 1000/book. Minimum of 3 books please. Or, we could trade. Send me your list

Fiction: 3000 Won/book

Margaret Atwood: Oryx and Crake (the most amazing Canadian author, in my opinion!)

Alexander Dumas: The Black Tulip (writing in cover)

Iain M. Banks: The Algebraist

Brad Meltzer: The Tenth Justice

Franklin Allen Leib: The House of Pain

John Grisham: The Last Juror (Perfect beach reading!)

Mildred Taylor: Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry (Newberry Medal Winner)

Arthur Hoffe: Something Evil

Lorenzo Carcaterra: Gangster

Orhan Pamuk: My Name is Earl (Nobel Prize Winner....I've read 3 times!)

W. Somerset Maugham: the Moon and Sixpence

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Half of a Yellow Sun (a story of people caught up in an African independence movement and the horrors they go through).

Kiran Desai: The Inheritance of Loss (Nobel Prize Winner)

Carolyn Chute: The Beans of Egypt, Maine

Louis de Bernieres: Red Dog

Robert Harris: Enigma

Alice Sebold: The Lovely Bones (a page-turner, has a movie based on it).

Short Korean Fiction Series: 3000 Won/book These books are amazing for glimpses into Korean culture.

Seo Hajin: Hong Gildong

Kim Young Ha: Photo Shop Murder

Pak Wanseo: Three Days in That Autumn

Non-Fiction: 4000 Won/book

Nicole Ridgway: The Running of the Bulls (the story of a group of seniors from the most prestigious business school in the world, Wharton).

Bernard Lewis: The Assassins (the story of the first radical sect within Islam to use murder as a political weapon)

John Man: Ghengis Khan

Robert Parry: Lost History, Contras, Cocaine, the Press & Project Truth

Henri Nouwen: Reaching Out, the 3 Movements of the Spiritual Life (my favorite Christian author)

Henri Nouwen: The Road to Daybreak

Henri Nouwen: The Wounded Healer

Alexandra David Neel: My Journey To Lhasa (amazing story of the first woman to enter Tibet)

Anything you could possibly want...

2010-08-29T12:53:00.000+09:00

of the foreign food variety, delivered straight to your door. Recently, I just ordered some stuff through Nice Deli and have nothing but good things to say about them. Prompt service, email confirmations, all items exactly like pictured on the site. Check it out. And for those interested, I compared prices with EZshopkorea, which deals in Costco items and Nice Deli is cheaper by 5-10% for the exact same thing, although their selection is not as good.

Now, if there were a Costco in the good old Cheonan, I would be so down with traveling there in person and stocking up my little basket on the back of my scooter as high as it could go. But, by the time I pay for train tickets to Daejeon or Seoul and taxi rides and a Costco membership, and time factor, it's far cheaper and easier to just order.

You like the zoo?

2010-08-28T10:46:00.000+09:00

Well, I sure don't support caged animals for various reasons but one of them is stories like this.

So if there was only 10% then...

2010-08-26T21:41:00.000+09:00

and that was 2003, how many big fish are left in the oceans? It kind of freaks me out. Maybe time to stop going crazy on the seafood? Like once a month, at most? Please? The oceans and future generations will thank you.

Oh Korea, I love you

2010-08-26T13:35:00.000+09:00

and your fabulous cell-phone coverage. Like "Ask a Korean" says, " Because it was not enough to have cell phone coverage inside the subway and on the mountaintop, Korean telecom companies installed relays on lighthouses so that there will be cell phone reception 50 kilometers (around 30 miles) off the coast. "

You are a most welcome change from my mother-land. And speaking of tech stuff. You know what else I love? High speed internet, on the cheap. At my uni, it's $5/month. Not at the uni? Less than $20.

A word to the wise

2010-08-24T21:30:00.000+09:00

So a message to the potheads out there: Korea is not the place for you! Really. You should maybe immigrate/stay in Vancouver, and live your happy life there. As a side-note, I was just listening to the Stuff You Should Know Podcast and they were saying that 1/5 houses in Vancouver is a grow-house. I find this hard to believe. Anyway, not that I'm in the know at all, but I've heard that it's nearly impossible to procure the goods here in Korea, and if you can, it's of extremely low quality and very expensive. And the stories of ~~English teachers~~ people getting busted either through getting it shipped or trying to grow it are all too common. And, since I'm on the right side of the law in all things, find it so, so annoying that I get lumped together with all these sketchy English teachers who break Korean law and then I have to do all these stupid drug tests and crap when I want to renew my visa. So, yeah, stay home in Vancouver. I'm not joking. For real.

Really?

2010-08-24T10:16:00.000+09:00

So, it's no surprise that Koreans want to leave Korea. Anyone who has met a few Koreans in their day knows that (in my most unscientific estimation), at least a quarter of them would trade their right arm or left leg for a chance to go abroad to live, work or study, especially in America. And, it's also really no surprise that foreigners don't really want to come live in Korea. This land of xenophobia is not exactly filled with happy, fuzzy warm feelings and friendly immigration polices towards foreigners.

Now, as the Marmot points out, it's weird that Koreans want to leave Korea and that they cite education as a main reason. Do they not realize the state of the American public schools? Korea is like a happy dream land compared to them. Well-funded, qualified and well-paid teachers, cafeterias serving healthy food, minimal violence, and no gun problems. And there is excellent private education to be had. And do they not realize that the average Koreans scores far, far higher on math and science tests at all levels (I've never seen a stat to say otherwise, but I'm too lazy to find links for you now).

Need to meet a Korea girl?

2010-08-21T09:17:00.000+09:00

So when you're in Korea, meeting Korean people is always interesting. My Korean is so-so: enough to get me by in daily life at the shop, hospital, with students who really honestly don't speak English, and I can travel around Korea with ease. But, it is not good enough to sustain a conversation of any sort beyond the very basics. I deal in facts, not thoughts or opinions. So essentially, my friendships with Koreans are limited to those who speak English better than I speak Korean. But the thing is, you never really quite know if they only want to be your friend to practice their English on you. It's kind of a weird dynamic. Anyway, here are some tips from the Metropolitician you might find helpful.

Pushy people in Korea

2010-08-19T08:18:00.000+09:00

So, in Korea I get approached by random people on the street almost every day that I venture off campus. A little English practice, a little spiel about how they hate Americans, genuine curiosity about where I'm from, wanting to give me a little snack or something, some religious crazy, the reasons obviously vary. Anyway, I'm not the only one. A funny post from A Geek in Korea.

Sexual Harassment at Samsung, Part 2

2010-08-14T09:29:00.002+09:00

From the Grand Narrative.

So if all Christians were like this, I'd perhaps consider going to Church

2010-08-12T08:08:00.000+09:00

This from Elizabeth Esther, a conservative Evangelical Christian and entitled, "Why I regret voting yes on prop 8." You really should read the entire article, but here are a few hightlights:

"I find it disturbing that Christians are upset about "the will of the people" being overturned by a judge. Sometimes the "will of the people" is dead wrong. If the majority always ruled, then African-Americans and women still wouldn't vote. The reason we need the courts is to help protect the rights of minority groups. "

"I'm beginning to think that evangelical Christians have made a grave error by equating their Christian duty with political victory. Because if Christians really believe in protecting the institution of marriage--or, better, actually live it--then why does the Christian divorce rate rival that of unbelievers?"

Sexual Harassment at Samsumg

2010-08-11T06:43:00.000+09:00

Interesting stuff from the Grand Narrative.

My comment? I think sexual harassment is extremely prevalent in Korea (based on own, unscientific observations), because you have a heavy dose of Confucian hierarchy where inferiors can never question their superiors. Combine this with males usually being at the top in workplace settings makes it a prime breeding ground for abuse.

So, Lee Eun-eui, good for you for fighting and standing up for yourself. I hope Samsung takes a look at their corporate culture as a result of this and makes some necessary changes to prevent/ have policies to deal with sexual harassment in the future. And good for the judge for awarding you 40 million Won, although I think you should have gotten much more.

Blue Jays

2010-08-09T06:42:00.000+09:00

So my time in Canada is coming to an end. I'll be flying back home, via Vancouver early tomorrow morning on the most evil Air Canada. Anyway, today was an amazing day, in truly Canadian style.

I went to the Toronto Blue Jays game with my sister, brother in law, and little Ella, as well as a friend of the brother in law. The Blue Jays pitcher was amazing! 8 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball, only to lose it heartbreakingly on the last out. The Jays won 1-0 in an amazing show of pitching and defense. Before the game, I picked up a bit of DQ deliciousness to tide me over in Korea. After the game, home again and I cooked up some steak nachos, homemade, with avocados, red onion, peppers, and tomatoes. A bottle of Stella Artois went down easily.

Oh Korea! I come back to you somewhat reluctantly this time. I'm happy to see the people and sleep in my own bed, but teaching. Hmm. Not so excited.

Oh the delights...

2010-08-07T00:12:00.000+09:00

...of grocery shopping in Canada. Your fruit and veggies, trucked from America are so cheap. Mangoes for 60 cents, avocados for less than $1. And, you have a massive selection of cheese. All the good kinds. And all the baking supplies, for cheap. In fact, everything in the entire store is about 1/2-1/4 the price it is in Korea. Plus, you have a pharmacy section filled with over the counter medicine that I can browse freely. You are almost too good to be true. And you almost make me want to move back to Canada.

Anyway, just baking my cupcakes in a real oven. Gotta go.

Fun times in Toronto

2010-08-03T09:24:00.000+09:00

Just a happy family walk to Mount Pleasant Cemetery/ Brickworks/random trail in between the two. Who is this in the first picture? Me or my sister? Freaky twins!!

Ok, so it's pretty obvious now, isn't it?

And for those still confused, check out the hat.

Cheap Flights

2010-08-02T22:04:00.002+09:00

BIG NEWS. Air Asia now has $29 daily flight KL-Seoul. No more $500 trips for me to SE Asia!!!

I'm so sleepy from jetlag but Ella always wants to play with me

2010-07-30T07:15:00.000+09:00