I'm in the Holiday Giving SPIRIT

You know it's the Holidays! And I've got a wonderful, green Korean sweater I am willing to give away!

As you can see the sweater doesn't really fit me.

I would be willing to part with this sweater for the fair price of.....

FREE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY TO YOUR HOUSE

You can't tell me that picture isn't ringing with cheer. I think that photo would make a great Christmas card. Mom and Dad look into that.

The card would read something like:

HAPPY HOLIDAY CHEERS

FROM KOREA

*block out the people in the back and put a Christmas tree and Taegukki (the Korean flag) in the background*

MERRY CHRISTMAS, AMERICA!

EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

On Wednesday I got two nice Birthday surprises. They were both unexpected. I have really been downplaying my birthday this year. I took it off Facebook. I'm sure you're asking, why would you do something like that? I've never been one to force my birthday onto people. I expect a close friend to call or have a beer with me. But that's about it. You can ask my Dad this. He knows I really don't like to be complimented, flattered or be in the limelight for too long. That's pretty odd considering my very social personality.

Anyway, the two birthday surprises were really something. I didn't see either one coming. I don't remember reminding anyone but the four people I hang out with the most in Korea. When the Bennigan's staff showed up with a goofy hat and a cake, I was shocked.

At our Teacher's dinner meeting Ms. Yoo disappeared to the bathroom for close to thirty minutes. I was so engrossed in the conversations I didn't think much of it. She returned with a grin on her face. Before I could even ask why, the Bennigan's staff came out with the ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. And they sang the Korean version of the Red Robin style Happy Birthday to myself and Mi Sun, whose birthday is the day after Christmas. A little embarrassing. But what an incredibly sweet gesture by Ms. Yoo.

Although maybe she is too sweet. She forced me to eat 4 or 5 slices of the ice cream cake. I lost count after she told me that we have to finish the entire cake. Who else at the table could be the designated eating anchor than the guy with the lactose intolerance???

After the 4 hour teacher's dinner I swung by the Waegookin Secret Santa party. I walked head on into my second birthday surprise of the day (although I was cued into this one because someone yelled out Happy Birthday before the cake was brought out). Like last time, it was a sweet shared birthday celebration.

You better believe I'm shocked

Now, sing Happy Birthday three times to Nati (left), Si Khoa (middle) and the crazy guy me.

Now, just if I can get everyone to forget that I am turning 27 on the Korean Lunar Calendar. Ohhhh where has my Korean youth gone? Just yesterday I was 24 in America.

Notes:

For Dave: Yes, I spent some time in the bathroom after indulging these quick melting dairy desserts. Lactose Intolerance: 100; Justin: 1 (I've still got Yogurt!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES! YOU'RE 38 IN KOREA! A mere 36 in America. Only 2 more years until your 40 in Korea!

Next.......I'm dreaming of a whiiiiiiiite Christmas~ Just like the ones I used to know~

My first holiday season away from home. And I won't be home Christmas.

P.S. What happened to the flair and wit my writing had 2 or 3 months ago? I think this blog is missing it's chuckles. What do you think?

Camera, Mister Miichin Found

I scaled into some bushes above Mr. Miichin in order to get this darkest of photos

Personally, I think this is the best picture of Mr. Miichin. Mr. Miichin ----- 'Is this thing broken????'

Let me set up the context of this glorious photo. 5 minutes earlier Ryan told me he hadn't seen Mr. Miichin in a couple weeks. Just in case he made sure I had my camera. In the middle of a sentence While walking to dinner I stop and elate 'OH MY GOD! YES!' There he is. The rarest of all Bupyeong beasts. He's standing 10 feet from a window with his legs spread shoulder length like a statue. His eyes are glaring at his phone like God is calling him collect. 'Do I pick up?'

My first thought was to scale the flower/bush bed behind him. Unfortunately, the flash poorly illuminated him. 'Quick on his feet' Drake came up with the idea for the second photo. 'Just take a picture of the square like we are tourists.' Good call.

What do you all think?

Ugh

Just when I was going to change my blog to more of a photography blog, I lost my camera...... Impressive. So here's the update *I LOST MY CAMERA*

Korea: 2; Cameras in Korea: 0; Me: -1000000

Hands Down You're Gonna Suck.

The semester is almost over. And a new batch of native teachers will be on their way soon. So, I think it's about time to sum up what I've learned during my first half of my yearlong contract.

1) You're gonna suck at teaching. If this is your first time as an ESL teacher, you're gonna suck for the first few weeks or months. But you'll get the hang of it. You're goal: GET YOUR STUDENTS TO SPEAK TWICE AS MUCH AS YOU DO DURING CLASS. 2 to 1 is a good ratio. 3 to 1 is far better.

2) God bless all girls schools. I'm still on my honeymoon! Even though most of the kids still love me I know I am not the world's greatest teacher. One of the biggest goals, if not THE biggest, is to motivate your kids about learning English. I am a high energy teacher with a small face and big eyes (they like those facial characteristics here). That's why they like me. If that's what motivates them to learn, so be it.

3) If you're at an all boys school, you need to realize boys are going to mess around. They are going to talk, hit each other, maybe grope each other. There's gonna be some corporal punishment going on. If you show them clips from youtube or movies they will be easier to handle. Try to amuse them. Get them to play games in English. Or bring a video camera and tell them you are recording them. Both work. :P

4) If you know Korean, don't use it right away with your students. If you can help it, don't ever use it with your students. Why? Because your goal is to create an immersed English environment similar to your experience in Korea. The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself completely in it. When you come to Korea you will be fully immersed in Korean. You will be forced to pick up words consciously and unconsciously. The constant use of contextual English around your kids will be an immense help to them. If they know you speak Korean, you are making it too easy for them. However, throwing out a 'I know what you are saying' every now and again isn't so bad for crowd control.
4a. Don't overestimate the ability of your students. Keep low expectations then you'll be pleasantly surprised. And they will understand you better.

5) Your job, like any job, will have its ups and downs. We've all had bad jobs. You won't be able to control who you work with or who you teach. Nor who is your vice principal. Try to remember everyone has problems at their school. You have friends to confide in and vent to. But remember they are having or will have problems just like you. Keep your chin up.

Here's the point: You're gonna suck. No reason to worry you'll get better. Just be fun and don't be a douche. Please.


Here's a list of websites to help you find lesson plans fitting to what you need:

USINGENGLISH.COM
ESLGOLD.COM

These are the two sites that I use the most.

For all the native teachers who read my blog, please, post your useful links to the comment box.



Notes:

I have been thinking about useful things to know about Korea for incoming native teachers and my other readers back home. One of the things I have been considering is relaying simple Korean words you should know. Unfortunately, I am greatly deterred by my atrocious pronunciation. Let me repeat that ATROCIOUS. I'll always have Latin...wait....ugh.....

PERVERT ALERT PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

I’d like to officially kick off the ‘Pervert Alert’ Photography Competition. It isn’t your National Geographic photography contest. Although some of those tribal guys in loincloths looked like major pervs to me. I am seeing who can get the best picture of this wacked out individual:

Captured on Drake's iPhone

Standing in the stairwell for a prolonged period of time

Apparently, the door had the word 'SEX' written on it.

So, he stared at it like a retarded robot.

(*By the way Koreans NEVER use both doors in the stairwell until he stood in the way.)

Who is he? Unofficially, I have named him Mr. Mii Chin (equivalent of insultingly psychotic in Korean). To everyone who commutes around Bupyeong he is that crazy, scary guy who lurks in the underground shopping mall and subway. Many of you have encountered this rare urban beast. Every time I see him he is making some weird, wild gesture from wide, crazy eyes to looking a woman up and down then laughing.  The wild stories about him abound. But I don’t want just a story. I want the best photo. Because we all know a picture speaks a thousand words.

So, let me lay down the ground rules.

Rule #1 THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE: This is relatively dangerous because you don’t know this guy. Most of you cannot speak his language. Be careful. Let me stress this one more time. BE CAREFUL. You don’t have to be up in this guy’s face to take a photo. Capture him in his natural cave-like urban habitat while he is going about his daily business creeping out other people.

RULE #2  Do not openly antagonize this guy. If something happens because you antagonized him and you get hurt, arrested, or deported (if you hit him you could be), you will ruin the fun of this competition. Once again please be safe.

RULE#3 You cannot ask him in Korean to take a photo with you. This is cheating.

           

1a. If he does corner you, you are allowed to use Korean to escape. But I suggest the oldest trick in the book the wide eyes and point in a different direction. That move spans all language boundaries. And it’s worked for me once on another crazy Panda guy in Korea.

Rule #4 If you win I’ll buy you a beer or seven. This competition is meant to be fun. But who isn’t going to want a beer after observing a photo of this guy?!

Rule #5 Competition ends December 31^st. That is plenty of time to find this guy. Dateline is up for negotiation though.

RULE #6 BEST PHOTO WINS!

Judges

Please remember these guidelines when voting:

                      

It’s ok to snipe pictures of him from a hundred or so yards away.

I will be getting as close as possible to this guy to take interesting photos. I will get a photo of me standing next to him.

If he/she gets a photo with him, props to that person. That is my goal. But the main goal is to catch him in action.

The best photo of Mr. Mii Chin in action will be voted for online. I am going to post the best photos on here. I want all my readers (what is there like 12 of you?) to vote for the best photo in the weeks to come. I will post them week by week then altogether the last week of the deadline.

Notes:

If you aren’t in for this we can change the competition to an urban photography contest and you can take pictures of whatever you want in the city.

HEAT JUSAYO?!

Ever since the weather began to become chilly, Koreans have been stingy on the heat. From my classroom to the indoor gyms we play at on Saturdays the heat is absent. What's colder than cold? Ice cold? No, me. It's so cold in these gyms that I think my 'lower regions' have gone to hibernate for the winter. But please don't kick me there to test that hypothesis...

The most popular way of heating your personal residence, hotel room, etc in Korea is floor heating. While my classroom implores the use of heating ventilation, the apartments, houses, and hotel rooms I have stayed in all put to use heated floors. The reasons for that is that it takes up less space, they like to sleep on the floor at times, and if air blows into their face while they are sleeping Koreans think they will die a FANDEATH.

Anyway, the last two times we played at the Buncheon and Catholic universities it has been ice cold in there. I can't get my muscles warm enough. I can't hold onto or shoot the ball. More importantly, I am afraid that I am going to tear another muscle. It's too cold for me to tell what kind of exercise my muscles can handle. Trying to get and stay warm for 2 hours in these ice cold gyms wears my muscles down. It takes too much energy to get my muscles warm and keep them that way. Most of all, I am surprised the gyms aren't heated. We are not the only one's who use the gym. So many people use the gyms from students to teachers to other groups they are using the gyms for basketball, badminton, etc. I'm simply shocked. I don't know if they are trying to save money, save the planet, or hate Waegookins. Maybe all 3.

My suggestion to you, if you are going to be in Korea during the winter bring your longjohns. Since I refuse to wear those. It's a good thing I have dri-fit. Thank you Nike for giving me a body hugging alternative. I feel so sexy, sexy (as the hip Korea kids say) in my tight spandex.......... . . . .
If you don't have any longjohns you can buy them here. Don't worry. Just bring some layers. Especially if your 200+lbs and taller than 6ft.You already know it's difficult to find big and tall clothes here. But here's something to add to the mindset of height differences between Americans (Mii guks) and Koreans (hangeuks):

I learned in my class the other day that Koreans draw their snowmen with only two circles. So when I drew my version, 3 circles high, they were all confused.

'Teacher, what that?'

'A snowman.' With unabated confidence.

'We draw snowman onree two.'

'Huh?What?'

She draws the snowman. Head and body only. What a pudgy snowman. My co-teacher looks over the students, 'His snowman drinks a lot of milk.'

Koreans:2 Americans:3. You know us Americans... it's either go big or go home.  Just to throw them off I'm gonna start drawing my snowmen with four circles. 'That's what we call a 'Hans snowman.' Very, very tall and white.'




Since we are on the topic of basketball and I gave a RIP to Sunset Bowl let's give another R.I.P. to a dead Seattle icon....the Sonics.

Let's start this off right.....

Here's a little dedication to Shawn Kemp and the Sonics. Sigh....It's still 'reigning' tears in my heart..........




Next time.....the implosion of the Kingdome.

Notes:

Have I written an article about Korean homogeneous sentiments yet?

This is one constant, interesting theme I have found during my trip. We are definitely 2nd class citizens here.


P.S. try to think of a theme for my SEATTLE Highlights section

Nothin but Love

The teachers here have immense love and deep relationships with their students. No, I'm not saying they are like Mary Kay Laternou who had a 'deep' relationship with her stud(ent). Korean teachers really care for their students like children. They are willing to go beyond that extra mile. Not all of them put forth the same amount of care. But I've never heard of an American teacher bailing you out of jail.

Ms. Yoo deeply cares for her students like children. It's not because she is unmarried and without children. It is common practice for teachers to go to a students house and talk with their parents or see how they are living. Ms. Yoo has gone to several students' houses to check up on them and speak with their guardians (a few of them live with grandparents). She even worries about the worst students.

I wouldn't say that American teachers don't care about their students. I know most teachers are concerned when a student royally pisses them off, On the other hand.I know there are teachers who would've like my head on a silver platter like John the Baptist. And deservedly so. For example, Brother Heustis, bless his soul, probably passed away from the amount of stress given to him by all of us. God probably cut him a break and killed him in order to relieve him of all of us. (R.I.P. Brother Heustis. Sorry for the time you told me I could 'stay there and rot in hell'). The point is students test our patience everyday. They are just kids. But a lot of us don't give the leeway or continue to care about them. These Korean teachers provide a good example of how to care for a student. (These teachers don't ------- http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/general-discussion/232528-where-were-these-teachers-when-i-hish-school-thread.html -----. It's not like I didn't want that to happen when I was 12. But it's just not right).

My co-teacher has given out here phone number to several of her students. Who call and text her. She looks after them like children. I know I would never give my number to any student. And kids will press you for your phone number here. 'Oh!!! Teach-uh, teach-uh! Hand phone????'. I just don't want to be hounded by the 13 year old who calls, hears my voice, then hangs up the phone. Ring ding click. But Ms. Yoo doesn't mind it at all. For a while she had one of her previous student's picture on her phone's background.

Teachers go to amazing lengths here. Some of you could say a teacher came to my house or you knew a teacher who went to students' houses because he/she cared about his/her students. But can you say your teacher would bail you out of jail??? Hell no. The last person I'm calling is my teacher. Even if my mom and dad refused to come get me. I wouldn't call my teacher. 'Umm....hey....Brother Heustis....think you could spring me from jail?' Well, that's what one student did. His mother and father both made up lame excuses. One said they were out of town. The other... who cares. They basically abandoned him in jail. So, his teacher bailed his thieving butt out of jail. Now, that's caring for a bad student.

In all fairness I bet if I called Coach Slatt back in high school to bail me out he would leave me in jail out of tough love. I had a lot of good teachers. But I would have never called them to bail me out.

But some teachers don't care about the school. They will show up late. They will leave class and go back to their office. Forcing you to teach the class by yourself. That can be good and bad. Whether they are exhausted or fed up with the students or school, you might get left alone with your kids. I know one all boys middle school where the native teacher has a tough time because his co-teacher doesn't always show up or leaves early without saying anything because she is tired. I am positive that co-teacher hates her job. And especially hates the way that school works. The boys are rowdy and incuragable. I know this because Ms. Yoo used to teach there. She has said on multiple occasions that when she worked there she wanted to kill herself. One of the times she exclaimed this in front my friend who is the native teacher at that school.

One of the native teachers is so annoyed with the majority of his all male classes that he has asked his co-teacher to try and teach them instead of him. Sorry, Ryan. I know it's rough out there in the all boys schools. It's so tough that Ryan is known as the corporal punishment master among the native teachers. He came to teach. Instead he is learning corporal classroom torture. Hello Guantanamo Middle School. (too soon?)

Like any school around the world kids are torrid little devils out for your reactions. I am lucky to be at an all girls middle school. I know this because I went to school at an all guys high school. And if you weren't a coach you wouldn't get any respect. We made teachers cry on occasions. Condolences to my friends at all guys schools. Kids are brutal. Then again they are kids.

Notes:

Ms. Yoo went to the hospital with excruciating back pains from the injury. She has been in there two days. I'm unsure if she will be back by december 9th. I doubt it. Miss you, Ms. Yoo!

BOWLIN'!

On a week when construction on the old Sunset Bowl site was approved we went bowling in Korea. In remembrance of Sunset Bowl I donned my RIP Sunset Bowl T-shirt. Apparently, it imbued me with the power of Roy Munson! Except I have both my hands and no hook. And I didn't pull a Munson. (More often we call it 'Pulling a Goldsmith' when things go awfully wrong) But I could be Ernie McCraken's bastard son.

What about this Korean bowling alley? Do they have shoes in my size? Yes. Do they have bowling balls big enough to fit my American hands? Just big enough for me to fit in just the tip ;). Do the shoes have traction? Absolutely not. It was like skating on ice. On my first bowl the night I stepped into my motion. And as I let the ball go....BAM.... I fell right onto my ass. Only to bowl a STRIKE! * He passes to the man....and...boom goes the dynamite* It was just that kind of night.

My first game I bowled a 182. I can't remember the last time I bowled over 150. During the summer I went bowling with some friends. I think I only broke 100 once. And barely. That same game, I lost a bet for blizzards. Too bad Dairy Queen was closed. And I left the following month :O! If Migs and Brad can remember that bet when I return, then I will buy them 2 blizzards each.

Anyway, by the time the second game rolled around I was already giving pointers to 5 or 6 different people on how to bowl.  And my pointers are actually working. The other teachers are complimenting me on my coaching. I give them a couple decent pointers. For the straight bowlers I tell them to point their toe and their finger toward where they want the ball to go. And remember to keep your weight over your knee. For

If they knock down 7 or more, they laud me with far too much praise. 'Oh, you are such a good teacher. Justin teach me!' 'Yeah, man, you are a good coach' I'm thinking, 'Yeah, I'm great at teaching you how to bowl. But why won't it work like this with my ESL kids!'

But one set of compliments confused me the most. I heard from Drake a couple people said, 'Wow, now that I've seen Justin bowl, he really is an all around athlete.' It's bowling. Since when do you have to be an athlete to be good at bowling? Anyone can drink beer, get fat, and roll a ball down some wood planks. Bowling isn't a sport. It's an active hobby. The most confusing part is a couple of these people have seen me play other sports while here. Now, all of the sudden, because I bowl I am athletic??? But don't let my rant voice out how much I miss bowling. And how much I miss my Sunset Bowling team.


R.I.P. 'Bowl'shevik Revolution

(enter Hammer and Sickle picture here minus the fact that blogspot won't let me. Maybe I'm too close to a communist country to be able to post that....)

Notes:

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 has made my social life nonexistent. Ask Brian Chu he has less of a social life than I do. He is up until 6am PST (11pm Korea) on the weekends playing. Don't tell him I told you that. He is really embarrassed about it.

Hm....Ah.... I need to post a new poll or you can just give me suggestions about what to write about next. Dad, I really don't want to go to a Korean church to see what it's like. Their churches here are wild. They have your ordinary churches. Then your church with a GIANT statue of an anime character or Winnie the Pooh....yeah, I'll get some photos.

Happy Thanksgiving

Now, how does one spend a Thanksgiving in Korea????

Well, here's how I spent mine:

What's the one food you love more than any other at Thanksgiving??? Is it the turkey? The stuffing? The mashed potatoes and gravy? The gravy??? Olggghhh......gravy.......on everything.....mmm

For me it's pumpkin pie. I could eat a whole pumpkin pie by myself. So, I sought out pumpkin pie. Where else in Korea could you find pumpkin pie except for Costco. Ohhhhh, bless your heart, Costco! You have so much heart, Costco! And so much pumpkin pie!!! So, I bought 4 pumpkin pies. One for my co-teachers and I to share. One for the Thanksgiving group. And 2 for me.


But, really, what would Turkey day be without turkey? Nothing. Just another massacre and backstabbing celebrated by Americans (see martyr St. Valentine and Columbus Day). So, I did what any Costco loving individual sans stove would do. I bought sliced deli turkey at hearty Costco! Now, it didn't taste the same as a that Thanksgiving Turkey at my parent's house. And I didn't eat turkey 'til I passed out. At least I can say I had turkey this T-day.

In all seriousness what makes Thanksgiving is spending time with your family. That's what made this Thanksgiving so difficult. Louis, who spent 2 years abroad in China, said, 'Thanksgiving is the hardest holiday to be abroad. I was more homesick on Thanksgiving than I was on Christmas.' I was definitely feeling that way, yesterday. I spent the day in my office torturing myself by looking for Turkey Day lesson plans' material online at youtube. That was brutal. But my family here made it easier for me.

A few of the native teachers in our group arranged a T-Day potluck (/potlatch) at Tony's apartment. Everyone brought something of their own to the party. It was a pretty good meld of Asian food and american cooking. Sadly, there was no mashed potatoes and gravy.


We did the standard go around the table and give thanks for our new found friends, our jobs, families, etc. And we, also, told each other our first impressions.....I got a lot of funny compliments about my humor and the usual, 'WTF is this guy doing?' Like Lavleen and Gagan who first met me when I making sexy poses in my Superman t-shirt on a window sill....yeah. And I gave out my first impressions like those about Ryan, "When I first met Ryan, I thought 'WOW, THIS GUY IS LOUDER THAN ME? AND THAT'S DIFFICULT'" Ryan has left the funniest first impressions on people. The best was when he was getting to know Lavleen and Gagan at their apartment. He looks out the window and says,'Wow. You got a great view.....of shit.' The room went silent. And he put his head down instantly regretting his decision to speak. He didn't even know the two of them at the time. Classic.

All in all it made the homesick day bearable. But nothing replaces your family.

But I saved the best for last. Yesterday, I brought a pumpkin pie to school to share with my co-teachers. After lunch we shared the pumpkin pie together. Oh, man, was it good!

Over pumpkin pie we discussed marijuana. Yes, you read that correctly. I spent my Thanksgiving talking to my co-teachers about why people like Marijuana and how much it costs over slices of pumpkin pie. The topic came up because of a news special the night before about marijuana, native teachers, and Koreans. So, I gave them as much information as I could muster about domanchu (sp? --Korean for Weed). They were asking tons of questions. And I explained everyone and their mother smokes in Canada and all the hippies in the Northwest, too. Oh, and Hawaiians. I explained that a lot of people all over smoke the U.S. and Canada. i told them why they smoke. I talked about medicinal marijuana. And how one person very close to me is a card carrying member. And they explained to me how dangerous it is to smoke here. If you go on a trip outside the country and come back with weed and distribute it, the police will come to trace the native teacher's steps. Then goodbye, you're deported. Smart move. They take weed very seriously over here. This is a hardworking culture where soju is king. You don't mess with soju.


Notes:

My main co-teacher Ms. Yoo is on the IR for 10 school days. So, I have a substitute. I can't remember her name even though she just told me 30 minutes ago. ....UGH. Miss you, Ms. You!

Seoul Transit is just as weird as Seattle Transit

Bad news:

My main co-teacher, Ms. Yoo, has been having a little bit of trouble staying on her feet lately. She has fallen on the stairs 2 times in the 4 days. Lucky for her no one saw her. Unfortunately, her last fall resulted in a torn ligament in her ankle. She won't be climbing any stairs for a while. Fortunately for me, she will still be coming to school. Way to tough it out, Ms Yoo!

Some good news:

Thanks to Drew Bailie, who spent a year in Korea before my arrival, I was able to find an amazing wings place in the foreigner's district Itaewon. Just as important as delicious Frank's Red Hot Sauce covered wings, they serve a good microbrew IPA. The delight on my face matches the delight in my belly! Needless to say, that is the new spot on Tuesdays for me and my friend Drake. 300 won (about 25 cents) a wing! You can't beat that even in the U.S.

Last night we made our bi-weekly trek to the RMT (Rocky Mountain Tavern). It takes about an hour by subway to get there. It's worth it. Anyway, as has been the case lately, I have been running into some really weird Koreans. Last night was no exception.

Drake and I were waiting for the number 6 train to arrive. When all the sudden, a young, tall, puffy-looking Korean boy of about 20 cuts in front of me in the Subway line. So, I give him the 'WTF do you think you're doing look?!' And he turns around with a glazed smile on his face breathing heavily like a fat kid in a bakery. From about two feet from my face he just stares at Drake and me while breating heavily through his nose. As if it couldn't get any stranger, he turns his back to me again. And he stares at me in the reflection of the glass wall separting the train track from the waiting area. I do the only thing I can think of to get rid of this guy. I give him the WTF stare. I stand up taller than him. Then I ignore him. Thank god it works. He takes off and pushes his panda looking body through another line. And he wanders the subway waiting lines aimlessly.

All the while Drake was awkwardly staring away from this guy. You know, the stare where your head is slightly turned but your eyes are still magnetically drawn to the awkward situation. And you are praying the problem just takes care of itself.

This wouldn't be the last I would see of this guy......

After we boarded the train and discussed the WTF factor of that weirdo, an older Korean man came hastily hobbling through the dense amount of passengers on crutches yelling 'Mianhamida' ('Excuse me/ Sorry' something you rarely if ever hear here) and focibly passing out fliers for something. Drake and I. We turn our backs to the passenger walkway. And we whip out our phones pretending to be busy. We've had our share of oddities already.

But Karma's a bitch. We turn around after Korean on Crutches passes. What do we see? The original oddity coming our way. I really stand out in Korea. It's bad enough that I'm tall and white. But my red North Face jacket must make me a beacon. Panda boy sees me. And he locks on. Great.

This time it's even weirder than the first. He invades our group space like he has something to say. Instead he just stands there with that same excited for cake face. And still breathing heavily through his nose. I look at him. And I give him the '...um...yes?' look. Just when I'm about to give him the awkward 'Hey.....' I see my savior. Here comes K on C pushing his way back in our direction. Panda Boy is standing smack dab in the middle of the walkway. I point in the direction of K on C right in front of Panda Boy's face. He turns and looks in that direction. I dart right behind him out the newly opened subway doors right at our stop. Perfect timing. I am trying to hold back a laugh from pulling the oldest trick in the book without having to say a single word. I'm hoping Drake followed my lead.

I turn around and see Drake. After witnessing the whole thing, he is trying not to laugh. Now, I'm dying. This is definitely one of my prouder moments in Korea.  


Notes:

On Saturday I was coming up the stairs out of the underground tunnel, when I ran into a giant Korean man blocking one side of the stairwell making crazy eyes. I made the mistake of making eye contact with him. He looked like the big Chinese Criminal in 'Batman Begins' who says, 'This is hell. And I am the Devil,' to Bruce Wayne when he is in the Chinese prison. I really want to take a picture of this guy.




uh........

Am I in Mexico or Korea??? Just like in Tijuana if I go to see this Donkey show I will only leave more confused than I was when I arrived. 

Don't worry, Mom. You're not going to get this joke.


P.S. Migs--- are they wearing your brand of undies???

Last Week's Blunders

My mistake on the test has carried over to today. It's getting mixed reviews from the students. Some students love me for messing up, others are just confounded. My teachers seem busy doing other things. It's not a big deal. I did smile when a student told me, 'It's ok. Don't....be....so hard..umm...on....you.' Thank you, sweet little girl. Not all the students are sweet like you.

The third graders finished their final exams yesterday for the year. So, they are a little pent up and stressed out. There are going to spend the next 4 or so weeks applying to high schools. It's an arduous process.  I can already see they are going to be a bit out of control. Who wouldn't be?! Senioritis! So, I am trying to cut them a little slack. But one class ticked me off today.

My second third grade class of the day actually upset me. We were about to play a game. And they ruined it. They got out of control. And one girl hit another girl. She ended up crying. That was it. I canceled the game. I changed from my usual smile to a frown. I tightened my jaw and stopped talking. I had them copy from the board. And practice making appointments. Quietly.

They asked me if I was angry. I told them, 'jocum (sp?)' korean for little. 'Just copy.'

Maybe I am too nice to these kids? Maybe my lesson plan is to blame. But, like I said before, I need to write it off as kids being kids after finishing their final exams. As the day goes on I will cool off. I just hope I don't take it out on anyone.

On the bright side, since they are done with school. I get to teach them whatever I please! Meaning.....


I AM GOING TO TEACH A COOKING CLASS!!!!! Now, would be the perfect time for a new poll. 'What should I teach them to cook?' Alas, time is too short. I have to have the lesson ready for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I have a limited amount of supplies at my disposal. And I have to use minimal heat. So, I am going to teach them how to make chocolate chip pancakes.


What's that cooking, teach-uh?

Disaster...



Notes:

I discreetly tried to give the crying girl a U.S. kit kat.

A few students did see this. They called me a 'gentleman.' I replied sternly, 'Not really.' And snorted air.

She later gave it back to me, saying 'I don't deserve it.'  From what I could gather the two students were fighting each other. One slapped the other one's hands. So, she slapped her in the face. Ouch.

MORE MISCOMMUNICATION

 My conversation between me and my friend Caitlin:

Caitlin: so what do you think it means when a man comes into your room with a huge reverse vacuum and starts spraying stuff... and then sees you and freaks out and shoes you away?!?

me: .................

:/

pesticides or 'bug be gone' spray

get the f out. and use it as an excuse to go home

Caitlin: my co (-teacher) is gone and she is the only one at my school who speaks english..... i did leave.... but now im back with all the windows open! If I grow a third arm, I think we will know why.

Thanks for the warning!

OH KOREAN MISCOMMUNICATION!

Even Koreans Use their cell on the john

Last night was amazing. Thanks to a friend of mine who lived in Korea last year I was able to find a bar in Itaewon called the Rocky Mountain Tavern where they serve delicious hot wings on the cheap! And they show Monday Night Football! Flat out amazing.

Unfortunately, anytime you eat delicious hot wings and beer there is a recompense the next day. You must make an offering to the porcelin god to appease your bowels. When I went into the restroom I opened the stall door right into the back of someone. 'OH! SORRY! SORRY!' He replied in some loud Korean. I quickly stepped into the next stall. He was still speaking loudly. And I could tell he was asking a question in Korean. Since I couldn't respond back I just popped in my IPOD and tried to tone him out. But I couldn't. He kept talking. And I began to wonder what he was going on about while he was on the john. Then I could hear it. The voice on the other end of the line. This guy was on his cell phone while on the shitter. Here he is talking at the top of his voice to someone while he is doing his business in the bathroom.


This isn't the first time I've been in the bathroom while someone is on the phone in the stall next to me. The last time (of many) happened while I was in the San Francisco Airport 3 months ago. A Brit was talking on his phone in the stall next to me at the top of his voice so everyone in the bathroom could hear him wish his friend a happy birthday and ask her, 'What should I bring you? What should you bring me?' WTF?! Apparently, talking on your cell in the bathroom is internationally cross cultural.

I am embarrassed to be noisy in the bathroom in any way possible. I admit to texting on the john but the phone call on the john in a public restroom is a little beyond me. I can't go about doing my business and talk on the phone while other people are doing their business around me. Poor person on the other end of the line. He wasn't that quiet either. If you know what I mean.

I know some of you are guilty of the Talk N' John. But drop the kids off then call 'em back.

karma is a bitch

Fitting. I really messed up the 3rd graders test. On one of my questions I counted the syllables wrong. I counted three syllables for EVERY instead of 2. Rookie mistake. Now, they have to recount EV-REE students test that they've already done. I deserve the tongue lashing I am about to get for this.......


This is not oh-kay.


The tongue lashing was not that bad. The worst part was listening to my two co-teachers and the two students correcting the tests. They were sighing and laughing nervously. Who knows if they were even talking about me. I could really use that Korean for Dummies book now....

Hopefully, the kids still listen to me.


The best part I had kids complaining to me in English. It was awesome. I'm one hell of a motivator.




Notes: Strike 1.

The woes of miscommunication

Let me start this off with this: If you don't know the language, you better learn fast. Or have your friends make you some funny Korean notecards.

Why?

Because of the woes~ of not being able to communicate and not being able to properly express your opinoin. Because you might might get moved from your office with your co-teacher, who speaks English, into an office with 7 other people including your Vice Principal, who don't speak English. Okay, one guy does but you can't understand him. Oddly, he thinks he can understand you. That is why he thought you were lonely in your quiet office. So, he requested you be moved into an office with more people.

HAHAHAHAHAHA It's nice I can laugh about this. Because it didn't happen to me. (Although my karma just took a shot) It happened to a fellow Native Teacher, Ryan.

 It's bad enough Ryan teaches at a hellish all boys school where corporal punishment is the regular. 'Stand with books on your hands up in the air above your head. NOW!' As if the hellish hours spent corralling your students in class wasn't enough. Now, you have to spend your time in an office with 7 other people you can't understand. That could be talking about you and you wouldn't even know. Not to mention your plans to watch movies and surf the web peacefully in your spare time are KAPUT. Goodbye sweet, quiet office! HELLO AWKWARDNESS! Better break open the Korean phrase book. And fire up the Rosetta Stone.

The best part about this is that Ryan is the loudest person amongst all the Native Teachers. (I know, louder than me? Yes.) But ever since the first day of school, when he offended his teacher, he has been mute at work. When she asked, what he did this morning, he mentioned that he ate breakfast, took a shower and came to work. Pretty typical right? Not to her. In a grave tone she told him, 'Ryan, we don't talk about showering here.' And that was that. Ryan tiptoed around his words like a mouse in a house full of traps. But he didn't mind being quiet. He got to sit around and keep to himself. He could watch movies, listen to music, surf Facebook at his leisure. But that has turned out to be his bane. His quiet demeanor at work has led to this.

Better pick up 'Korean for Dummies' at your local Barnes and Noble. Sorry Ryan.

Kim Jong Illin'

For those of you who care (aka just my ma and pa) here is an update about the recent naval skirmish between the North and South.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/world/asia/14korea.html?_r=1

To summarize, the North is accusing the South of being the aggressor. From what the article states that seems to be the truth. With Obama visiting Seoul on Wednesday this should be a hotter topic in the next 3 days. Sadly, as of right now, no one here seems to care. It's like I said before, news about the North and South goes widely ignored like white noise.

Here is what I think about the situation. I think the next few days will probably be the same old South versus North even with Obama visiting. I don't know how Obama will affect peace talks.

But I did find it interesting in the article that N. Korea wants to include peace talks with the nuke negotiations. The article illustrates North Korea as being more timid. From the S. Korean boat shooting off thousands of rounds to the mention of peace talks it sounds as if N. Korea is very weak right now. With Kim Jong Il reaching his terminal point in life the North Korean government is going to have a transfer of power. This is something they want to do on their own without any outside influences (i.e. espionage, assassination, etc). Right now, I think they are in a very weakened state. Peace talks will help them cede control to one of Kim Jong Il's sons. And it will help them improve their international relations, economy, and whatever else is going on in that country. Who knows what could be going on in North Korea right now?!

I don't want to be wrong about this because the opposite is something I do not want to be here for.

Most likely, everything will return to normal. And the Koreans will continue to ignore it all.


Notes:

A serious switch up is nice every once in a while.


This was the first weekend I didn't feel homesick at all. That doesn't bode well for those of you wishing for my return. I will not be back in Seattle for the holidays, sadly. You can expect me back next summer for a wedding. Actually, that might be in Northern California. (I would love to be back to enjoy Seafair)

Finally, A Haircut

I finally went and got my haircut today. Personally, I think it looks suspiciously like a Korean student/ Lloyd Christmas, which would be great if I wanted a ridiculously orange tux. AND I DO!

Honestly, it's not too bad. I kind of like it. Plus it was only 7000 won (less than 6 bucks). And the haircut was followed by a shampoo. Now, that was quite refreshing.

But I want you to tell me what you think!

 Hmmm? So whatcha think? Yeah or Nay?

Let's put it to a vote.

HAIKU Loving you

I spent last week teaching my third graders Haiku. I helped them learn how to break down syllables. Then I taught them the Haiku format 5-7-5. Some got it and some didn't. And a few of them came up with some pretty funny ones.

Gotta love me some pineapple

(the pencil one is hard to read but pretty good, too)

This is why I don't give out my number

(I hate poems)

I HUNGRY PIG TOO!

Awesome

(The one above it is very sweet)

When I had my first grade students draw a hand ghost this girl drew the Bunny Killing Farmer Ghost

The sick section

Top

Flu is scary (only 4 but meh)

I'd like to stay going school

Thanks Influenza

Bottom

I have a bad cold

I feel I become the old

help me help me please

This one is cute (below the flying Haiku is a Lisa Simpson drawing but no Haiku attached)

They love the Simpsons here

And here is my favorite. One of my kids stopped me in class. 'Teacher, you diet?'

'No.'

'You look.......(struggling for words)....uh... diet?' She points to her stomach and then to mine.

'Thin?'

'Yes, yes!'

'You diet?'

'No, not really.'

'Ah.....look good!' Thumbs up and a smile.

Since she couldn't express what she wanted to say in spoken words, she wrote this: 

Thanks.

Notes:

I am off to get my haircut.

Expect another post on that later.

This week I have been teaching the 3rd graders about syllable stress. The first graders have been learning about my family tree, Uncles, Aunts, and Nieces. Sydney and my cousins and everyone in my family is getting a lot of love in my classes.

One kid broke out in the 'I am so ronrey song....' I tried not to die from laughter in front of her. I had to stop her before she went to far. I was going to lose it. For those of you who don't get the reference check out Kim Jong Il in 'Team America'

The Continuance of a War

If none of you have been keeping up on your International News (something I encourage you to do), S. Korea and N. Korea got into a little PT boat skirmish a few days ago. This hasn't happened in 7 years. But it did happen twice in 1999 and 2002.

With the U.S. scheduled for meetings in N. Korea this seems like a not so fortuitous time for this. But the mood here hasn't changed. South Koreans are just ignore it. They go about their daily lives like it never happened. This is so typical of their attitude towards anything North Korean. For example, whenever the test air raid sirens go off around the city. They don't even flinch. The sirens are deafening, too. And whenever I bring an article about the latest news out of North Korea they just shrug it off like they didn't even know. And maybe they don't. They simply just don't care.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/12/world/asia/12korea.html?_r=1

You can check up on the status of the recent skirmish and U.S. talks here.


Notes:


I have a day off today. My co-teacher squeezed this one for me. No one was going to be at school (national high school entrance test day). So, she convinced them to unshackle and release me into the wild.
So, I'm taking the time to go to Itaewon, the foreigners district, on this cold, nipply day.

Saw Inglorius Basterds last night. (I can't remember how it is mispelled or spelled in German) Gruesome but great. For those of your with a taste for Tarantino I suggest you see it. It was great in theaters. But I'm not sure if it was my favorite Tarantino. It was simply a very good movie.

Oh, I know it ALL!!!!

There is something to be said about pretentiousness. What's to be said is NOTHING. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. If you have to correct every little thing, do it to yourself. Say it in your head. If you think every small, miniscule change is important, it's not. If you think you need to inform me of every piece of information in your head in order state that you are a 'know-it-all', you don't. And if you feel the urge to say, 'Yes, that happens to me all the time.' Then you ramble off about how common place for you it is. And it's all I know iknowiknowiknowiknowiknowiknow. stop. shut up. think.

It's that attitude and constant ostenatiousness that 'I'm a know it all' filling each statement, unnecessary correction and refusal to admit you're wrong. Do you think the Pope walks around constantly shitting on people's dreams? No.

'Hi, Pope. Today, I prayed for you and Jesus.'

'No, you don't know the right way to pray. THIS is how you pray.'

*Grumble* ' : | ....uh .......thanks.....Pope....'

If you are going to say something, don't say it in the 'know it all' tone. You know the one. 'Ohhh, noooo, I don't think that is it~. You have to do it this way~.' That know it all tone of speech draws ire from everyone. If you keep speaking that way, people will begin to listen to you less and less. Even if you have something important to say, they won't care.

Oh, you can't be wrong, either? Yes, you can. To err is human. And you are erring all over my shirt. Take this quote to heart, '“The smaller the understanding of the situation, the more pretentious the form of expression."

Why the rant?

Two separate people in two completely different spheres of reality have managed to get under my skin enough to put them on blast. The first person is here in Korea with me. The second is a 2D person who I don't even know personally. Nor do I even care to meet him except to punch him in the face.

So, what happened already?

During the trip to Seoraksan, one girl in particular was not making a lot of friends with her constant ostentatious ramarks. This wasn't the start of hearing her remarks. It's been the same since we first met her on our trip to DeokJeokdo. She chimes into a conversation just to make a correction or here her own voice.

Here are several of the examples that were recounted for me and one of my own:

On JeokDeokdo Tony was messing around, saying 'Gamsamida' (thank you) in a funny tone, messing around. GAMMMSAAAMIIIIDAAAAA~. NAAAAAAAY~ (yes). The girl, who was sitting at the same table, critiques, 'God, you foreigners think you know what you are saying. But you don't know what you're saying at all.' Mind you this girl has been here for 2 and a half years and she can't speak Korean let alone READ Hangeul!

Ryan feeling the effects of listening to said woman. On the inside from Ryan Jon is appalled.

 During the trip.......

Pretentious One---- 'You know, if you rub the Buddha's belly it's good luck and prosperity.'

Lavleen, an smart, well put together Indian girl from Toronto ----- 'No, it's not.'

Pretentious One ----- 'No, I am pretty sure it is. I think I read it somewhere.Rubbing the Buddha's belly is well known.'

Lavleen ---- 'No.'

P.O. ---- 'I am almost positive that is the case. I will have to check when I get home to make sure.'

She has gotten under a lot of people's nails to the point where most people are short and terse with her. And I am no exception.

On one occasion she was talking at Drake and I. She was mentioning some unnecessary, know it all fact. Conscious of my predicament I waited, like a running back waiting to hit the hole, for a pause in the conversation. After the second sentence there was a slight pause. I wasn't even paying attention to the context of the sentences. I blasted through that pause. 'Hey, Drake let's go see what's going on over here.' Both Drake and her stood there with their jaws dropped. She just stood there shocked. While Drake picked up his jaw and walked away. I just thought she was finished. I didn't even think twice about it until Drake mentioned it the next day on the way back.

On the way back.....

Group leader 'So, we are about 70km outside of Seoul. Depending on traffic it could be anywhere from an hour to three hours to get there.....'

Pretentious One ''Group Leader' we're actually 65km out.'

Group Leader 'I was just informed by 'Pretentious One' that we are 65km not 70km outside of Seoul. So,yeah, we will be there in anytime from one to three hours.' 
 

It's a constant stream of unnecessary interuption. It gets on other people's nerves more than mine. Because I understand I can be pretentious at times. I try not to be. Other people wanted to vent about her on the bus when she was only ten seats ahead of us. But she is still a person. That's why I didn't use her name.

Alas, she is only half the reason I decided to make this post. The other half that pushed me over the edge is the jackass from facebook.

A friend of mine, James, tagged only me and our other friend Leon in a note about going to the Philippines in January. Then a random friend of his starts blathering on the note like a pretentious assm. Now, maybe, I read his comments wrong. But he comes off incredibly pretentious. Stating things that could have been sent to James in an email or message instead of dominating the bulletin board. He kept erasing and editing his posts, too. Take a look for yourself.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/note.php?note_id=177649283845&comments

I would like to send a telegrammer to his house to punch him in the mouth. Unfortunately, arguing on the internet is like......

Have a nice day. : )



Notes:

No class and no school for me Thursday. Woo. Going to the Subway in Itaewon. Sadly, I heard it's not all that good after I got my hopes up and everything.... : (

I still haven't gotten a haircut. My mop top is beginning to bother me. I am thinking about doing it tomorrow. 

I am thinking about putting up a new voting section. Please leave me some comments about what you would like to hear about.

92kg

It's been a week since the last post. A lot has happened since then. Unfortunately, I am absolutely exhausted. I am whiped from teaching and the Seoraksan National Park get away. I can't properly gather my thoughts into coherent words.That means I am only here to quickly update you.


Working backwards:

Today, I received praise from my third grade co-teacher Mi Sun for my lesson plan. The lesson plan wasn't even for the third grade. It was for the first grade. Unfortunately, that glory was short lived since the third graders had no idea what I was doing with my 'Colors and Moods' lesson plan. Back to the drawing board.

Yesterday: I know some of you are wondering if I would gain or lose weight while I am in Korea. I will keep a running tally in the notes section whenever I find out. Anyway, I had not weighed myself since the physical 2 months ago. At that time I was approxiamately 97kg (~214 lbs). When I saw the scale at the jimjilbang in Seorak yesterday I had to check. I am a leaner 92kg (~202lbs). Even my kids and my vice principal noticed (more about how the kids told me next time). I was expecting to lose weight because of all the microbrews and American food I ate during the two weeks before I left the states. I can't believe I am going a year without Wendy's Crack Nuggets. I miss you, American food. Love you~!


Saturday, Seoraksan bus ride. Masses of people, stroll through the woods, waterfalls, nap on rock, mountain berry wine, beautiful pension (hotel) over river, nuisance with a camera, party.

I am losing it. So, let me leave you with this Haiku.

Korean diet

Chicken and soju beer me

where is my liver

gnight.

'Just in' these photos!

First thing my co-teacher told me today, 'Oh, I forgot everyone must wear a mask, today. Here take this.'

I reply 'Really? I gotta wear this thing? Uh...okay.....'  I'm thinking, 'What if I sneeze in this cloth face diaper?'
I was a little skeptical but comically intrigued. So, I modeled it a little.

I know, sexy like a Mummy. I got that sexy, sexy body.

I was right to be skeptical. Less kids had masks than last week! And my main co-teacher who gave me the mask wasn't even wearing hers. But I put it to good use by wearing it to scare students. : ) I really am a Toys'R'Us kid. So easily amused. (I just realized I still have the mask in my pocket. I need to get one of those cute Hello Kitty masks. Do they make pig face masks?)



When I came into my classroom today, these drawings were waiting for me on my whiteboard:

I gotta say that is one impressive whiteboard drawing. And the most fetching drawing ever conceived of me. Below me is a portrayal of my co-teacher Mi Sun. Again, impressive.

(Though my English could use some work. I only speak in idioms.)

I mean check that out. These kids are talented. Plus I think she took a little off my nose. Good girl.

Notes:

While doing work in the 'English Only Zone' after school, I was watching a movie on my big screen in my class. That didn't fly over very well. Mi Sun, the one so nicely depicted above, shot me down from doing that again.... : (

This is how Koreans type crying (like in a Starcraft game) TT TT 

It's suppose to be your eyes closed with tears streaming out both sides of your eye. It looks better in other fonts. And they laugh like this kekekekeke.

I am looking for new ways to save more money. Maybe I shouldn't go to Hongdae (bar and club area in Seoul) but once every other month. I need to find a new spot.

2 down.

10 to go.

HARROWEEN

Trick or Treat-uh. Trick or Treat-uh. Givvuh me candy!

Please, give me candy?

PUHLEESE-UH GIVVUH ME CANDY!

Ok.

Teaching Halloween all week has been a blast. I've been dressing up. Giving out candy to ALL my students (that was expensive). I may have been sick and losing my voice halfway through the week. But at least I had fun being physically miserable. I like being the fun teacher. Sadly, next week it's back to the grind of normal lesson plans. Hurry and get here already Thanksgiving!

I almost forgot this part! I taught the kids some Halloween vocabulary. Words like bat, vampire, werewolf, clown (not crown) and mummy (not mommy). In one of my third grade classes I am rolling through the Halloween powerpoint with them. They are having a few chuckles at some of the costumes I show them. We get to mummy. I say, 'What is a mummy?'

'Mira!' 'Mira.' 'Mira.' 'Sexy body.'

Wait....what? Who said that?

'Huh? .....Sexy body? It's a mummy. What is sexy about it?' ----me

'Ah, hot. Sexy body. Sexy sexy.'

I frown at her and laugh. I flip my head back to the TV to stare at the picture of the mummy. 'It's wrapped in cloth all over. And what little is left is decaying and rotten. There is nothing sexy about that!'

'Nooo. Sexy sexy.' She makes a hand motion for body wrap and gives me the thumbs up.

I shake my head in absolute disbelief. I can't win this one. 'Next.....owl.' Oh, god.

'OWRUL.'
'OWL'
'OWRUL'
'OWL'
'OWRUL'
'.......Good.'

It wasn't just the teaching that made this a good week. I met a ton of new people Foreigners and Koreans alike. I got invited to play basketball in a gym on Saturdays. And I got to take some new photos (sorry migs, I still owe you the Giants photos).

Throw up your peace signs, children

This one is for you all

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

the group in front of bupyeong station before we went our separate ways

Jason, his new Korean 'teacher', Clark Kent, her friend

Don't worry, Mom. That's not my wife. 

Finding somewhere to play basketball inside a university gym on 10 foot hoops was the highlight of my weekend. I didn't play that well. I was out of shape from being sick all week.So, I missed a ton of fastbreak layups. But I did make a few NBA 3s,. I usually don't do that (the 3-point line was about 24 feet out). A guy who was guarding me was talking to his team mate about how he was going to guard me.

'Hey, get out on him.' ---- bad guy 1

'Why? He likes to drive left. He can't shoot. Wait...Can you shoot?' Bad guy 2 asked me.

'I don't know. Let's find out.' Me. Put up a deeeeeep 3. Swish. WTF. 'I guess so!' I say while laughing.

'Oh god. You can.' Bad guy 2

'It's ok. I didn't think I was going to make it either.' Me

 Halloween was fun but it wasn't great. I know I missed a good time back home. Post some of your photos for me!

But I did meet a lot of new people. I met a lot of laid back, funny foreigners at basketball. I went to Yongsam (last stop in Seoul on the Seoul/Incheon subway line 1). It's an electronics district with all your bootleg dvd, computer, modded xbox, and any cheap electronic desire. For me, U.S. and region free video games (N.A.!!!!!). They, also, have a Hooters there. I didn't see any hooters. But our waitress in the devil costume was smokin'. She was diggin' me a little. But I smelt awful. And I was dead tired from basketball. All I wanted to do was devour my wings. But I'll be back again 'devil girl.' <--------MOM IT'S AN INTEREST IN A GIRL. FREAK OUT! 'Justin, now, you know that's not the kind of girl you want to bring home to your mother.' ---Dad's likely thought. But what momma don't know won't hurt her, right?

Just having a laugh Mom and Dad. Don't fret.

On the way back from Yongsam (a straight 40 minute subway ride from my station), I talked to a retired Korean government official, Mr. Kim (everybody's named Kim), who spoke pretty good English. Apparently, his daughter, cousin, and brother all live in Washington D.C. His daughter has a PhD. And she works as a Stem Cell researcher. He invited me to his house near me in Bupyeong. And we exchanged numbers. Nice guy. It's not uncommon for Koreans to invite you, a weigookin, to their house. He didn't creep me out like the lady who tried talking to me yesterday on the subway. Korean women, like women everywhere, can be a little bit strange. She was asking me interesting questions. And she had a hard time understanding mine. It's alright. Mr. Kim is the one who said it. 'It's ok. Korean women can be..... strange.' That had me and the other foreigners around me laughing.

Good week for it being an allergy week. By the way getting rid of the plants seems to have helped. Now, I know that I'm allergic to large amounts of pollen.

Notes:

I am going to get my haircut this week. I learned a tip from one of the guys I met at basketball. 'All I do is say Sport-uh Cut-uh. That's how I get it trimmed nice and short. Only 5000 won.' Thanks Ian. Hopefully, it works.

If not for the pictures, this is a boring post. UNTIL NOW....

Unbelievable....On Halloween nonetheless.