Every student acquires an English name upon entry to any sort of English Academy like mine, which is part of the gimmick of learning the language....I suppose very similar to adopting a Spanish, French or German moniker as so many of us high school students toiled through the mandatory number of credits to legitimize our 'understanding' of the language in order to suffice collegiate eligibility in a foreign language (still not sure why foreign languages aren't learned at the elementary level but it's not really my call, now is it).
Usually most kids start soon after their kindergarten graduation (ridiculous concept). The thought behind this is there are two subjects of utmost importance a Korean can learn in school. First is Math followed closely by English, although many Koreans, it turns out, don't do much w/their English skills after completing college but I haven't fully figured out why just yet. Honestly, it seems like quite a waste of time, effort & money to spend all those years learning a language to rarely use it after your early 20's....
Back to the point - as the new crop of students roll through the doors, I've been fortunate enough to give a few of them their official English names & have wanted so badly to endow them w/quirky, off the wall tags like Tre, Qua$h (cash), Smooth, Chee-eese, Louscious, Bodhi, Funkdubious, Boniquafefe, Fahrvergnügen, Lafawnduh, Weezy - you know, some of those classicly American names people tend to shy away from for some reason.
Leah & I used to joke about peculiar kids names and I've still got a few in the arsenal but it's certainly been expanded since my time at Middleton as well as multiple viewings of the video above. Unfortunately, I can't pull the trigger for some reason & it's a serious bummer. I would absolutely love to give these kids really unique names but I just can't bring myself to do it.
Sidenote: at the Otae-dong school they let the kids pick their own names from a list & one kid actually picked Sonic....now I'm not sure if I'm more impressed that he had the gusto to go w/a name like Sonic or that it was even on the list in the first place.
Not sure if it's the sheer torture they would have attempting to pronounce them or the rigors of having to spell a few of them regularly but either way I just can't do it. Instead, I've bestowed the kids w/names of good friends or family. Only problem is the significant difficulty Asians have pronouncing the letters R & L as well as a few more complicated phonetic sounds like Ch & Sh, which have caused serious hurdles in the name game.
In the end, I suppose the little munchkins wouldn't really know the difference but I guess knowing my personal humor would be lost on nearly everyone, everyday; taking the more mature path to simple, common names is probably the best route but come on, who wouldn't love to call on Falafal, Sonic or Funkdubious from time to time!
I did actually pull off naming a kid Timmy yesterday and rest assured I will ALWAYS call on him in the same voice Timmmmmaaaaaaayyy uses in South Park.
Oh, the simple joys!
March 31, 2011
March 30, 2011
Looks Like....Walks Like....Sounds Like....Must Be A....
DUCK!
I had the pleasure of enjoying smoked, then grilled duck today & it was fantastic! As per the usual Korean dining experience, there was an abundance of vegetables in various forms & a smattering of the usual seasoning suspects to make them just spicy enough for a farm boy like me (although I didn't delve into some of the more sweat-inducing goodies available).
The ladies said the duck would taste like chicken but I think that must be a universal joke. To me, it was more of a smoked hog flavor than chicken but what do I know; it was good eating, regardless!
The lunch conversation shifted a few times but one of the 'hot topics' was that my director at the Otae-dong school (Tues/Thurs) is being replaced or stepping down at the end of April. Not sure (and I didn't think it was necessarily my place to ask at this point) whether she was the owner & was selling (my previous presumption) or if their was someone else pulling the strings & she simply ran the school.
Two reasons were given for the change in leadership. The first was the low number of students compared to where they probably should be. The second is the lack of significant structure to the 'curriculum.' They did also mention the director's inability to speak English had become a hindrance in her ability to do her job - I did find this quite intriguing initially but she still seems to run the school fairly successfully in a broad sense, I suppose.
Then again, there doesn't seem to be much of a method to the madness. It seems to be very loose in control & discipline but I have a blast the two days a week I'm there. I have noticed, unfortunately, only a small percentage of the students are really able to speak much English. They have, however, become masters of the monotonous routine of the lessons, which basically consist of a word test every day (key words/phrases from the lesson in both English & Korean), a couple pages of listening, tracing, writing & occasionally speaking the words/phrases & finally a touch of phonics to broaden their 'knowledge.' I've taken things a step further and have the students read the dialogue, vocab words & key phrases individually to gauge their abilities, as well as help them with any trouble words or letters (yes, l and r).
It's humorous, as part of the lessons, we use a CD. The kids know the instructions verbatim & usually mimik them every time. They also hum along to the little jingles b/w each section of the CD's lesson. Needless to say, I've caught myself in mid shimmy a time or two, while the kids just giggle at my sweet moves!
I'm anxious to see what happens & how significant a change this new director brings to the school. He's apparently a law school graduate who's been a math teacher for 20+ years....interesting career path but I suppose the financial benefits of a career in law in Korea might pale in comparison to the level of somewhere like the US. Or maybe the teaching profession is a lucrative endeavor over here (even though I've been instructed not to discuss my salary w/either Korean or Native English teachers).
OK, back to the duck, kind of....it was superb, the veggies were what I've come to expect & as is tradition, we were treated to duck bone soup at the end of the meal. I wouldn't say it was good, although it was pointed out that the third and fourth spoonfuls taste better than the first; which there was some truth to it. Regardless, it still tasted like what I could only assume hot, dirty dishwater might taste like after stewing in the sink for a day and haphazardly submerging a bone and some spring onions for enhanced flavor.
As we choked down the few spoonfuls of soup, our waitress brought us a traditional after dinner drink. It was non-alcoholic as we had to go to work but for some reason the name escapes me. There was significant trepidation after suffering through the duck bone nonsense but I was pleasantly surprised by it's cool, sweet taste. Apparently it's some sort of milky white, chilled rice drink that at one time was a staple after nearly all meals but has ultimately been replaced by the very Western custom of coffee. Not being a coffee drinker, I will be happy to suck down a few glasses of the ricey goodness at any meal from here on out. The only drawback was the saturated, gooey rice particles floating in the bottom of the glass I nearly choked on as I threw back the last swallow. Sneaky bastards used the color of the drink to blend in but either way, a great way to wash down the nasty aftertaste of the soup.
Before we departed, I mentioned how much food there always seems to be at the end of every meal I've eaten out & whether or not the restaurants or customers give much thought to it. Cindy commented that it's just the way they operate in South Korea. Often the leftovers are fed to pigs or chickens if not immediately thrown into the trash for the cats to rummage through.
I was struck w/a bit of perplexity as Cindy made a rather insightful statement about the amount of wasted food in South Korean and the little effect it has on the population even though just across the border, North Koreans are literally starving to death. This brought a slight chuckle from the ladies but I'm still pretty surprised by their blatant disregard for even providing a doggy bag or something. There really is enough extra food b/w the various salads, veggies, soups and few portions of meat that remained, to provide, if nothing else, a nice little snack after work.
There was no more talk of waste & I was sworn to secrecy about the impending shift of power at the school but either way, I had me some duck & man, was it good!
There should be a few more blogs in the coming days as I'm putting the finishing touches on a few rough drafts I've started, so check back soon if you don't get an email from me.
Be well ~ namaste!
I had the pleasure of enjoying smoked, then grilled duck today & it was fantastic! As per the usual Korean dining experience, there was an abundance of vegetables in various forms & a smattering of the usual seasoning suspects to make them just spicy enough for a farm boy like me (although I didn't delve into some of the more sweat-inducing goodies available).
The ladies said the duck would taste like chicken but I think that must be a universal joke. To me, it was more of a smoked hog flavor than chicken but what do I know; it was good eating, regardless!
The lunch conversation shifted a few times but one of the 'hot topics' was that my director at the Otae-dong school (Tues/Thurs) is being replaced or stepping down at the end of April. Not sure (and I didn't think it was necessarily my place to ask at this point) whether she was the owner & was selling (my previous presumption) or if their was someone else pulling the strings & she simply ran the school.
Two reasons were given for the change in leadership. The first was the low number of students compared to where they probably should be. The second is the lack of significant structure to the 'curriculum.' They did also mention the director's inability to speak English had become a hindrance in her ability to do her job - I did find this quite intriguing initially but she still seems to run the school fairly successfully in a broad sense, I suppose.
Then again, there doesn't seem to be much of a method to the madness. It seems to be very loose in control & discipline but I have a blast the two days a week I'm there. I have noticed, unfortunately, only a small percentage of the students are really able to speak much English. They have, however, become masters of the monotonous routine of the lessons, which basically consist of a word test every day (key words/phrases from the lesson in both English & Korean), a couple pages of listening, tracing, writing & occasionally speaking the words/phrases & finally a touch of phonics to broaden their 'knowledge.' I've taken things a step further and have the students read the dialogue, vocab words & key phrases individually to gauge their abilities, as well as help them with any trouble words or letters (yes, l and r).
It's humorous, as part of the lessons, we use a CD. The kids know the instructions verbatim & usually mimik them every time. They also hum along to the little jingles b/w each section of the CD's lesson. Needless to say, I've caught myself in mid shimmy a time or two, while the kids just giggle at my sweet moves!
I'm anxious to see what happens & how significant a change this new director brings to the school. He's apparently a law school graduate who's been a math teacher for 20+ years....interesting career path but I suppose the financial benefits of a career in law in Korea might pale in comparison to the level of somewhere like the US. Or maybe the teaching profession is a lucrative endeavor over here (even though I've been instructed not to discuss my salary w/either Korean or Native English teachers).
OK, back to the duck, kind of....it was superb, the veggies were what I've come to expect & as is tradition, we were treated to duck bone soup at the end of the meal. I wouldn't say it was good, although it was pointed out that the third and fourth spoonfuls taste better than the first; which there was some truth to it. Regardless, it still tasted like what I could only assume hot, dirty dishwater might taste like after stewing in the sink for a day and haphazardly submerging a bone and some spring onions for enhanced flavor.
As we choked down the few spoonfuls of soup, our waitress brought us a traditional after dinner drink. It was non-alcoholic as we had to go to work but for some reason the name escapes me. There was significant trepidation after suffering through the duck bone nonsense but I was pleasantly surprised by it's cool, sweet taste. Apparently it's some sort of milky white, chilled rice drink that at one time was a staple after nearly all meals but has ultimately been replaced by the very Western custom of coffee. Not being a coffee drinker, I will be happy to suck down a few glasses of the ricey goodness at any meal from here on out. The only drawback was the saturated, gooey rice particles floating in the bottom of the glass I nearly choked on as I threw back the last swallow. Sneaky bastards used the color of the drink to blend in but either way, a great way to wash down the nasty aftertaste of the soup.
Before we departed, I mentioned how much food there always seems to be at the end of every meal I've eaten out & whether or not the restaurants or customers give much thought to it. Cindy commented that it's just the way they operate in South Korea. Often the leftovers are fed to pigs or chickens if not immediately thrown into the trash for the cats to rummage through.
I was struck w/a bit of perplexity as Cindy made a rather insightful statement about the amount of wasted food in South Korean and the little effect it has on the population even though just across the border, North Koreans are literally starving to death. This brought a slight chuckle from the ladies but I'm still pretty surprised by their blatant disregard for even providing a doggy bag or something. There really is enough extra food b/w the various salads, veggies, soups and few portions of meat that remained, to provide, if nothing else, a nice little snack after work.
There was no more talk of waste & I was sworn to secrecy about the impending shift of power at the school but either way, I had me some duck & man, was it good!
There should be a few more blogs in the coming days as I'm putting the finishing touches on a few rough drafts I've started, so check back soon if you don't get an email from me.
Be well ~ namaste!
March 15, 2011
Random Musings....
**The recent events/tragedy in Japan has allowed me to contemplate a few things in life, as well as appreciate the friends, family & opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have had thus far along the journey of life. Out of curiosity, I inquired about the relevancy of concern in regards to earthquakes having any impact on the remainder of my time here in South Korea. James seems to think that, although minor quakes are somewhat regularly, I should not be worried. He mentioned that Japan lies directly on the edge of a major tectonic plate, which has to do with their more consistent & severe quake activity, in relation to other parts of the Eastern/Asian world. Although, he said that he read in the paper today that South Korea should expect to experience a larger than normal earthquake in two to three years as a result of the major one in Japan. Here's hoping it's later rather than sooner.
**Even though most people live in apartments of one size or another (most are giant suitcase type structures), I have seen the occasional house but most of them are nearer to the base of the many mountains rather than in the immediate business districts & urban areas (no, not ghettos). Most are fairly simple but occasionally I'll see one that is a throwback to more traditional Korean homes. Most, however, are basic brick & mortar set ups.
**I talked about the driving habits/techniques/peculiarities of Koreans but realized tonight that I failed to mention one major occurrence. When it's dark out, obviously everyone drives w/their lights on but for some reason (I'm guessing respect or safety), most cars kill their lights when they come up behind someone waiting at a traffic light or intersections & occasionally when they are driving through intersections (I think to warn oncoming traffic from different directions but it seems dangerous). They also do this as they are driving up a hill, which is quite common, since much of Korean is mountainous terrain.
**Exercise in Korea is rather interesting. From what I've noticed, every city park has some form of equipment intended to help the citizens stay in shape. Ironically, the ideal physique in Korea is that of a smaller, thin build. Men don't necessarily work out to 'get ripped' but rather to maintain their health, whereas the women rarely participate in any type of fitness programs aside from yoga, running or biking & even then, it seems rare. Many of the children do enjoy sports & happen to be quite enthralled by soccer, basketball, swimming & skating (inline & speed) but it's very uncommon to see huge, muscle bound Koreans parading around. Tae Kwon Do is an especially popular way for the Korean children to stay active after school.
**Not to be alarmed, the knee (as usual) was feeling fine by Monday - I can only assume it's going to be a recurring theme on future hikes but shouldn't slow me down enough to warrant scrapping all the destinations I've got planned. I'm certainly anxious to start spending my weekends gallivanting around various destinations, especially since the seasons have finally begun their shift to spring - temps in the high 50's & low 60's the last week or so. I do expect a few cold, windy days mixed in over the next month but the warmer weather is certainly welcome!
**I'm an avid golfer & was excited to bring my clubs w/me (although I opted not to) so I could play a few rounds on some of the courses. Koreans seem pretty fanatical about the game & there is a strong contingency of professionals on tour w/Korean roots - more so on the LPGA (Women's tour). Since arriving, I have seen one actual course but scattered all over are 'country clubs.' These are basically fancy driving ranges w/a putting area & a hefty price tag....might just have to rent clubs at one of the real courses & take my chances!
Golf course sighting near the end of the video
**I am supposed to have dinner at an Outback Steakhouse (there's a surprisingly large presence in Korea) sometime in the next couple weeks w/the ladies from the Otae (Tues/Thurs) school. They say the menu is very Westernized, so I'll hopefully be face deep in some garlic mashed potatoes, Mac N Cheese & a juicy steak - so excited! They were very impressed that I'd eaten at the original Outback; I just keep wow-in em!
**Although roughly almost 60% of Koreans are Buddhist, the Christian faith has established a solid foothold (nearly 30%) in the religious psyche as well & man they love neon signs! Looking forward to spending a weekend at a Buddhist temple; should be a very spiritually enlightening experience, although I don't think they've bought into neon the way the Christians have.
**I see many elderly people walking the streets & it appears they are rummaging through the garbage but upon further inspection they only take plastics, paper & cardboard type items. When I asked James about this, he said of the elderly never had an opportunity to save or invest for their retirement & the burden of caring for their financial needs falls one of two places: 1) Their children take them in, care for & support them the best they can (which it sounds is often the case but a significant strain on their wallets) or 2) They live on the little money they have while collecting recyclables, which they stockpile in various locations around the neighborhood. Occasionally the city comes around, collects it & pay the people for what they've gathered. James said it amounts to AT MOST 10,000 won (almost $10) a day. Much of this isn't due to failure of financial institutions, a housing bubble burst or corporate greed but rather the communist regime decades ago when North Korea controlled all but 10% of the entire Korean peninsula & these people simply didn't make money/save money & had a deficiency in dependable job skills. It's a generation that's been stuck in an unfortunate circumstance & simply do what they can to survive.
One of the elderly I assume collects recyclables for cash
**Can't say thank you enough for the cards, care packages & goodies I've gotten! It's not only a great surprise to get 'mail' but the contents have been awesome....thanks, Mom, Leah, Cara, Brenda, Tyson/Sheryl, Teri & Michele (only one has been lost in transit, that I'm aware of). Mom mentioned that when she was at the post office, the lady said South Korea wasn't 'accepting' packages but I got hers, so I'm not really sure what that was about.
That's probably enough rambling for tonight, it's late & I gotta get some ZZZZ's.
**Even though most people live in apartments of one size or another (most are giant suitcase type structures), I have seen the occasional house but most of them are nearer to the base of the many mountains rather than in the immediate business districts & urban areas (no, not ghettos). Most are fairly simple but occasionally I'll see one that is a throwback to more traditional Korean homes. Most, however, are basic brick & mortar set ups.
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| Actual 'houses' are in short supply |
**I talked about the driving habits/techniques/peculiarities of Koreans but realized tonight that I failed to mention one major occurrence. When it's dark out, obviously everyone drives w/their lights on but for some reason (I'm guessing respect or safety), most cars kill their lights when they come up behind someone waiting at a traffic light or intersections & occasionally when they are driving through intersections (I think to warn oncoming traffic from different directions but it seems dangerous). They also do this as they are driving up a hill, which is quite common, since much of Korean is mountainous terrain.
**Exercise in Korea is rather interesting. From what I've noticed, every city park has some form of equipment intended to help the citizens stay in shape. Ironically, the ideal physique in Korea is that of a smaller, thin build. Men don't necessarily work out to 'get ripped' but rather to maintain their health, whereas the women rarely participate in any type of fitness programs aside from yoga, running or biking & even then, it seems rare. Many of the children do enjoy sports & happen to be quite enthralled by soccer, basketball, swimming & skating (inline & speed) but it's very uncommon to see huge, muscle bound Koreans parading around. Tae Kwon Do is an especially popular way for the Korean children to stay active after school.
 |
| Exercise equipment everywhere |
**Not to be alarmed, the knee (as usual) was feeling fine by Monday - I can only assume it's going to be a recurring theme on future hikes but shouldn't slow me down enough to warrant scrapping all the destinations I've got planned. I'm certainly anxious to start spending my weekends gallivanting around various destinations, especially since the seasons have finally begun their shift to spring - temps in the high 50's & low 60's the last week or so. I do expect a few cold, windy days mixed in over the next month but the warmer weather is certainly welcome!
**I'm an avid golfer & was excited to bring my clubs w/me (although I opted not to) so I could play a few rounds on some of the courses. Koreans seem pretty fanatical about the game & there is a strong contingency of professionals on tour w/Korean roots - more so on the LPGA (Women's tour). Since arriving, I have seen one actual course but scattered all over are 'country clubs.' These are basically fancy driving ranges w/a putting area & a hefty price tag....might just have to rent clubs at one of the real courses & take my chances!
Golf course sighting near the end of the video
 |
| A 'Country Club' near my house |
**I am supposed to have dinner at an Outback Steakhouse (there's a surprisingly large presence in Korea) sometime in the next couple weeks w/the ladies from the Otae (Tues/Thurs) school. They say the menu is very Westernized, so I'll hopefully be face deep in some garlic mashed potatoes, Mac N Cheese & a juicy steak - so excited! They were very impressed that I'd eaten at the original Outback; I just keep wow-in em!
**Although roughly almost 60% of Koreans are Buddhist, the Christian faith has established a solid foothold (nearly 30%) in the religious psyche as well & man they love neon signs! Looking forward to spending a weekend at a Buddhist temple; should be a very spiritually enlightening experience, although I don't think they've bought into neon the way the Christians have.
 |
| Neon for Jesus? |
**I see many elderly people walking the streets & it appears they are rummaging through the garbage but upon further inspection they only take plastics, paper & cardboard type items. When I asked James about this, he said of the elderly never had an opportunity to save or invest for their retirement & the burden of caring for their financial needs falls one of two places: 1) Their children take them in, care for & support them the best they can (which it sounds is often the case but a significant strain on their wallets) or 2) They live on the little money they have while collecting recyclables, which they stockpile in various locations around the neighborhood. Occasionally the city comes around, collects it & pay the people for what they've gathered. James said it amounts to AT MOST 10,000 won (almost $10) a day. Much of this isn't due to failure of financial institutions, a housing bubble burst or corporate greed but rather the communist regime decades ago when North Korea controlled all but 10% of the entire Korean peninsula & these people simply didn't make money/save money & had a deficiency in dependable job skills. It's a generation that's been stuck in an unfortunate circumstance & simply do what they can to survive.
The recycling area is about 30 seconds into the video
One of the elderly I assume collects recyclables for cash
**Can't say thank you enough for the cards, care packages & goodies I've gotten! It's not only a great surprise to get 'mail' but the contents have been awesome....thanks, Mom, Leah, Cara, Brenda, Tyson/Sheryl, Teri & Michele (only one has been lost in transit, that I'm aware of). Mom mentioned that when she was at the post office, the lady said South Korea wasn't 'accepting' packages but I got hers, so I'm not really sure what that was about.
That's probably enough rambling for tonight, it's late & I gotta get some ZZZZ's.
March 13, 2011
Ain't What They Used To Be
I fancy myself a fairly fit & healthy guy but I've never been a fitness guru, let alone a gym rat for any significant amount of time. I have always been active, involved in various sports & aside from the occasionally engrossing show, never watched much TV - hell, I haven't had cable for probably five years & in that time, I doubt if I've turned a TV on more than a dozen times.
The closest I ever came to being a fanatically, die hard, workout junkie was in '04. Had a pretty good routine - plenty of cardio, weight training & Bikram yoga (yoga in a really hot room). I felt great, probably looked as healthy as ever & was mostly conscious of what I was eating....never been a fast food or junk food guy & mom always had tremendous, fresh fruits & veggies from her garden nearly every meal. I kinda feel like living on the farm taught me to eat well from an early age.
Anyway, since I've gotten here, there's been plenty of down time & the opportunity to really streamline my diet further, due in part to what's available. I also make an effort to put in a couple good workouts a week, I walk everywhere (a handful of cab rides due to frigid temps or late nights at a bar downtown) & hit the trails every weekend. Although I only do a serious hike about once a month. I've also been bustin out 150 push-ups a day, so I feel like I'm in decent shape.
Regardless, a couple years ago as the family was gallivanting through Europe, Scott (younger brother) & I decided to take a hike into some mountains behind our cabin in Stryn, Norway. The whole trip had been epic up to this point & I'm always up for a nice walk in nature & I had a sneaking suspicion that the views from high up on the mountain would be even better than the ones kicked back in a chair on the front porch of the cabin sippin' some suds. Long story short, we never quite made it to the summit as we ran into a precarious snowfield & weren't necessarily equipped to make a final push to the top. Plus, I'm pretty certain something could have gone terribly wrong, even though it was a picture perfect day & all the factors were in our favor. Unfortunately, this also meant tremendous instability on & beneath the snow with way too much threat of an accident to risk going all the way.
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| Feeling adventurous outside of Stryn, Norway |
As we weighed the options & made one last ditch effort to find a possible access route to the top, we were scampering rather feverishly as the day grew longer & our sunlight wasn't going to last forever (summers in Norway are great for many reasons but the fact there is sunlight for something like 18 hours just add to the appeal; do yourself a favor & visit!) and we hadn't exactly planned on making an entire day of it, so our rations were pretty much non existent. In my haste to find a route, I was looking ahead & around rather than down, where I was planting my foot.
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| Situation we faced w/snowmelt, rocks & fancy footwork |
Now I'm not sure if paying attention would have helped in this case but either way, I wound up stepping on an extremely soft patch of snow, my leg crashed through & I wound up tweaking my left knee pretty bad between what looked like, from my vantage point, a couple of quite hefty boulders. Given my frenetic pace & the tricky games gravity can play, my momentum insisted on carrying me forward, while my immobile leg said otherwise. I can definitively say I heard a pop but I do know that whatever happened, hurt something fierce & the hike down was torture (but I was a trooper & strapped on the ski's the next day for some July 3rd skiing adventures)!
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| Seriously simple, yet majestic beauty |
Back to present day, I occasionally feel some pain in my knee when I've done some serious hikes & it usually only happens when I'm heading back down & the pace is probably quicker than I should be moving. Well, as I made my way outdoors & into the mountains again this weekend, I was not only able to soak up a little sunshine, work up a good sweat, scramble some serious vertical terrain & inadvertently muck up the knee once again. It just so happened, on my way back down, I planted my left leg rather quickly after twisting my right ankle in a loose rock.
Video about half way up
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| About the time I realized I should really get moving |
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| The 'easy' path that gave me so much trouble |
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| Eye of the Tiger? |
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| Views were great, regardless of losing daylight |
Near the top, contemplating continuing or heading down
I obviously know better than to stay out too late in the wilderness (especially one I am relatively unfamiliar with) but it was such a gorgeous day w/so much to explore & snap pictures of that I allowed time to slip away from me. When I realized the sun had nearly dipped behind the range to the West & I'd chosen a new route down, which meant unfamiliarity, I was hard pressed to make good time so as not to have to face some of the impending possibilities of maneuvering in unfamiliar territory at night.
Needless to say, the hike down became ever more arduous with every step but I was fortunate to have brought along a walking stick to aid my efforts if such a predicament were to arise. As the sun made it's descent behind me & the westerly mountains, my pace remained just quick enough to make necessary progress while the unknown path seemed to be working with me, as it was a fairly gradual grade, for the most part. I think it's actually used quite frequently bike mountain bikers (like the one I'd seen up there about a month before) but it still was no walk in the park & if you've ever done any hiking around amongst even mildly serious terrain, you know eventually you'll run into some steep grades, which is exactly what I encountered on numerous occasions. I felt fortunate as I'd had the foresight to not only wear extra clothing but also pack some edibles for consumption along the way....thanks mom, Cara & Leah for a few of the goodies I enjoyed - there's certainly something to be said for a well timed Snickers & granola bars!
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| Halfway down I stumbled upon a large cemetery w/a view |
I've obviously survived the 'ordeal' but certainly need to figure out what causes the discomfort in the knee....maybe it's an after effect of the Norway incident, maybe it's just the fact my body has been battered throughout years of sports, exercise or simple wear & tear but they're ain't what they used to be. This might be something I have to deal with for the duration of my time over here, as there are plenty of great mountains to hike around & explore that I really don't want to miss out on b/c of a bum knee! I have been to the doctor a coupe times since getting over here (once for the mandatory physical exam & once cause of some serious congestion), so I could always look into checking out the affordable health care system they have in place here in Korea....
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| The home stretch....hello civilization! |
Ahhhh, The Revelry!
Birthdays, it seems to me, have always been gloriously exciting & enjoyable yet introspective & contemplative days, no matter where they are celebrated or whom they are spent with. I've had the pleasure of celebrating a vast quadry of these days amongst good company, companions, friends & strangers but never in a foreign country so this was to be a new, exciting adventure with unknown possibilities & potential!
In spite of the good friends & loved ones strewn about, halfway across the world, technology has made it possible to connect with the simple touch of a button. There is certainly something to be said for waking up to an influx of emails, Facebook messages & random Skype calls wishing the best for a special day like today....it's truly astonishing how small the world has become in this regard. And it's so much more than shopping online & forwarding chain emails. The fact businesses can operate w/out brick & mortar facilities & parents can check on their wanderlust son via Skype, still baffles my mind but definitely in a good way!
The ladies at the Otaedong school (Tues/Thurs) somehow managed to find out & were very excited to get me some green tea cake-type dessert (they do know of my propensity for green tea) & the opportunity to dine at the same great traditional Korean restaurant we had our New Years dinner at but this was Thurs, so it's not exactly the 'big day' just yet....however, the mood was still festive, the Soju flowed freely & the consumption of mediocre, watered down, Korean beer was something I wasn't particularly opposed to. Just me & the ladies; they really are very kind & generous while helping to ensure my time in Korea is one I'll not only enjoy but remember fondly after I'm gone!
Green Tea Birthday Cake
Birthday Dinner - Korean Style
So, back to the shenanigans & revelry of the day. Most days I usually wake up mid morning, check emails, Facebook, relevant news of interest to me & sometimes get in some exercise. Today was much of the same, aside from a Skype call from a great friend & a bounty of messages wishing me a joyous, festive & awesome day!
Nothing too spectacular happened at school on Friday....I don't advertise birthdays - if ya know, ya know, if ya don't, no big deal. I have always held to the belief that, although a birthday is a significant marker of time (possibly accomplishment or lack there of, as well) in a persons life & can be quite a festive occasion when done properly but if each day is lived fully & heartily, why set aside one special day to 'really live' & enjoy what you've done - similar to my attitude towards Valentines Day....do you really need one day to remind you there are people in this world who are extremely important to you & you should tell them you love them?
But, alas, I digress. After work, I moseyed home, had a little something to eat & put on my dancin shoes, fancy pants (which also happen to be my comfortable, every day, kickin around in pants) & made my way out the door, off to Waegook Cook - a sort of local Ex-pat bar which is apparently quite popular but my only other experience there was less than stellar. However, the need to socialize while having comprehensible conversations chalk full of complete sentences in the English language trumped my hesitation for a return visit....besides, I'm a good sport when it comes to second chances!
As I made my way towards downtown, I was more than happy to huff it a bit until I found a cab, which probably wound up being about two miles but it was certainly a lovely night for a walk as the air was crisp but refreshing & I was in great spirits. By the time I was able to successfully hail a cab, communicate through various hand signals, shoddy Korean & the translating dictionary on my phone, arrive at said destination & order my celebratory birthday cocktail, it was just past midnight (don't usually get done w/work until about 10 on Friday). In reality, though, I imagined tables full of folks stateside raising a pint in my honor, so I worried little about the time & had already intended to make a weekend of it!
Upon entering the bar, every head tends to turn & gander in your direction; likely to see if it's an old friend or a newbie....in my case the bar was about a third full, as opposed to the other time when it was jam packed. From behind the bar, the owner, Pieter, immediately saw me, invited me over for a cordial handshake, hello & initial pleasantries welcoming me to 'The Cook.' As is often the case w/many owners of bars, they tend to be hearty drinkers & sometimes don't always remember meeting or talking to certain people, so I didn't mention we'd already met, sort of, the last time I was there. Regardless, he asked how long I'd been in Gumi, how I liked it & whether or not I had received my Ex-pat Jaeger shot. For those of you unseasoned liquor aficionados, it's essentially a thick, blackish, deer blood sort of substance that often tastes as putrid as it sounds. I've indulged in many a Jaeger shot but never something I consciously rush up & order. Never the less, I'm not one to turn down a shot for the right reasons & this could certainly be considered one of those 'right reasons.'
Now there's a bit of a birthday tradition at 'The Cook.' Basically, everyone gets a sparkler, the lights are turned down even lower than usual, the whole bar lights said sparklers & proceed to serenade the birthday kids. Fortunately, I wasn't alone in my day of revelry, as there was an older gentleman surrounded by a table of rowdy Koreans who also happened to be celebrating. Basically, shots were had, sparklers were twirled around with relentless fervor and the celebratory birthday tune filled the bar subsequently as toasts were made, photos were snapped & the dancing resumed.
I successfully avoided much of the hodgepodgery & small talk but there was one severely drunken fellow who stumbled up to the bar, ungracefully hailed the attention of the bar maid, who proceeded to ask, 'Jason, are you sure you need another one? You can barely stand!' To which he replied, 'Of course, the wife let me out tonight, so dammit if I'm not going to make the most of it!' Well, that's pretty much what his slurred rambling sounded like to me, anyway. Of course, without a moment to react, Jason turns to me, extends his fist in preparation of the seemingly mandatory 'bro-code' traditional fist bump, which unfortunately I decide should be a harmless gesture, so I obliged. This, obviously opened the floodgates & within minutes, I had a new best friend & was invited to join him at a table with his friends - a couple of haggard looking South African ladies (Tonya & Elina) in their mid 40's. Oh, let the good times roll, son!
As the night progressed, Jason stumbled sporadically throughout the bar & found myself conversing with the South Africans about Korea, their experiences here the past few years, a bit of philosophy & the like. All of the good-natured conversations & insight into what to expect during the rest of my time here. Time was spent on the dance floor & mingling about the small but cordial crowd & needless to say, the night slipped away. Before I knew it, last call was made a few times & I finally felt the need to take my gin soaked liver back to the abode for a much needed slumber.
Phone numbers were exchanged for connecting on future endeavors & adventures. As I was leaving, Pieter's wife, Helena, thanked me for coming in, inquired about the nights events & if I enjoyed myself. Tonya, was at the bar ordering another whiskey/water (yes, last call tends to drag on for quite some time, apparently) & mentioned to Helena it was my birthday. Upon hearing this news, she was a bit chagrined I hadn't mentioned it to anyone, so as to properly help me celebrate. I mentioned it wasn't a big deal but had enjoyed myself regardless.
At that point, more shots arrived while she quickly ran to the other end of the bar to grab a few things. As is also customary at 'The Cook,' any birthday patron supposedly receives a steak dinner....crazy, cause I was completely content w/a few shots, the sparkler showcase & sing along - even though, again, I hadn't told anyone it was my birthday! She insisted I come back soon & she would make me a steak but before I was able to bid farewell, she handed me another shot, a can of Korea's version of Red Bull (Hot6ix), a Nietzsche Reader (she has a small library/book exchange in the bar), yet another shot & a sparkler for the road.
By this time, it was probably well past 4:30 in the morning & I had a lovely hike ahead of me, unless I was able to find one of the few cabs still on the road. As luck would have it, after about 15 minutes of walking, I was able to flag down a cabbie, gave him my address (written in Korean & English - which I carry w/me in my passport just for situations like this). I did my best to let him know I knew the way & to let me 'point him there' but this was a fruitless endeavor as he was frantically punching Korean symbols into his GPS while I giggled childishly to myself, thinking how great the inability to fluidly communicate was.
After a few minutes, we were on our way (in the direction I had initially pointed) & I quickly became a huge fan of the guy. He must be a part time race car driver cause he displayed a wicked prowess for hairpin turns, fast straightaways & the casual red light 'roll through.' In no time, I successfully guided him down a few side streets as he didn't understand he could drop me off by the Big Mart & I could huff it the last couple blocks. Either way, he got me to my apartment safe & sound, was tickled to death by my generosity w/tipping him (cab drivers are employees of the City of Gumi, therefore fares are very inexpensive & nobody tips), as well as bequeathing him w/my highly coveted birthday sparkler!
As a grown man who readily knows when he's had too much to drink, I should have curbed my urge to jump online & check Facebook but of course I didn't. This decision led to many random messages on people's FB pages as well as a couple of perfectly timed Skype calls to friends in Tampa. It's always great to catch up w/them & I'm certain they found great humor in the fact it was mid afternoon there & I was soaking in gin & birthday goodness!
As some have observed over the years, when I'm drinking for certain purposes, I tend to become giddy, overtly jovial & a little free wheeling with my finances. These actions have been politely coined the 'Mista A Display.' Over the years, however, I've learned to squelch the opportunities for 'The Display' to make an appearance & rarely take a whole lot of money with me when I go out but I'm certain, on this occasion, the recipients of the Skype calls where able to bear witness to at least a slight glimmer of 'Display' goodness!
I'm quite certain everyone, throughout the evening, got a kick out of the shenanigans & I'm pretty sure I may have confused a small percentage of the native population w/some antics (nothing dangerous or rude, mom) at the bar but it appears no permanent damage was done & I successfully crawled into bed about 9:30 or 10 on Saturday morning & spent most of the day in a comatose state, with the occasional trip to the kitchen or bathroom.
Needless to say, it was a tremendously unproductive Saturday but by Sunday I was feeling spry & young once again; able to be fairly productive as well as enjoy a nice jaunt around town & a beer on the roof, watching the sun set over the mountains. Another successful, yet unique birthday in the books & memories tucked away for reminiscence on later days!
It's definitely good to be 28, again!
In spite of the good friends & loved ones strewn about, halfway across the world, technology has made it possible to connect with the simple touch of a button. There is certainly something to be said for waking up to an influx of emails, Facebook messages & random Skype calls wishing the best for a special day like today....it's truly astonishing how small the world has become in this regard. And it's so much more than shopping online & forwarding chain emails. The fact businesses can operate w/out brick & mortar facilities & parents can check on their wanderlust son via Skype, still baffles my mind but definitely in a good way!
The ladies at the Otaedong school (Tues/Thurs) somehow managed to find out & were very excited to get me some green tea cake-type dessert (they do know of my propensity for green tea) & the opportunity to dine at the same great traditional Korean restaurant we had our New Years dinner at but this was Thurs, so it's not exactly the 'big day' just yet....however, the mood was still festive, the Soju flowed freely & the consumption of mediocre, watered down, Korean beer was something I wasn't particularly opposed to. Just me & the ladies; they really are very kind & generous while helping to ensure my time in Korea is one I'll not only enjoy but remember fondly after I'm gone!
Green Tea Birthday Cake
Birthday Dinner - Korean Style
So, back to the shenanigans & revelry of the day. Most days I usually wake up mid morning, check emails, Facebook, relevant news of interest to me & sometimes get in some exercise. Today was much of the same, aside from a Skype call from a great friend & a bounty of messages wishing me a joyous, festive & awesome day!
Nothing too spectacular happened at school on Friday....I don't advertise birthdays - if ya know, ya know, if ya don't, no big deal. I have always held to the belief that, although a birthday is a significant marker of time (possibly accomplishment or lack there of, as well) in a persons life & can be quite a festive occasion when done properly but if each day is lived fully & heartily, why set aside one special day to 'really live' & enjoy what you've done - similar to my attitude towards Valentines Day....do you really need one day to remind you there are people in this world who are extremely important to you & you should tell them you love them?
But, alas, I digress. After work, I moseyed home, had a little something to eat & put on my dancin shoes, fancy pants (which also happen to be my comfortable, every day, kickin around in pants) & made my way out the door, off to Waegook Cook - a sort of local Ex-pat bar which is apparently quite popular but my only other experience there was less than stellar. However, the need to socialize while having comprehensible conversations chalk full of complete sentences in the English language trumped my hesitation for a return visit....besides, I'm a good sport when it comes to second chances!
As I made my way towards downtown, I was more than happy to huff it a bit until I found a cab, which probably wound up being about two miles but it was certainly a lovely night for a walk as the air was crisp but refreshing & I was in great spirits. By the time I was able to successfully hail a cab, communicate through various hand signals, shoddy Korean & the translating dictionary on my phone, arrive at said destination & order my celebratory birthday cocktail, it was just past midnight (don't usually get done w/work until about 10 on Friday). In reality, though, I imagined tables full of folks stateside raising a pint in my honor, so I worried little about the time & had already intended to make a weekend of it!
Upon entering the bar, every head tends to turn & gander in your direction; likely to see if it's an old friend or a newbie....in my case the bar was about a third full, as opposed to the other time when it was jam packed. From behind the bar, the owner, Pieter, immediately saw me, invited me over for a cordial handshake, hello & initial pleasantries welcoming me to 'The Cook.' As is often the case w/many owners of bars, they tend to be hearty drinkers & sometimes don't always remember meeting or talking to certain people, so I didn't mention we'd already met, sort of, the last time I was there. Regardless, he asked how long I'd been in Gumi, how I liked it & whether or not I had received my Ex-pat Jaeger shot. For those of you unseasoned liquor aficionados, it's essentially a thick, blackish, deer blood sort of substance that often tastes as putrid as it sounds. I've indulged in many a Jaeger shot but never something I consciously rush up & order. Never the less, I'm not one to turn down a shot for the right reasons & this could certainly be considered one of those 'right reasons.'
Now there's a bit of a birthday tradition at 'The Cook.' Basically, everyone gets a sparkler, the lights are turned down even lower than usual, the whole bar lights said sparklers & proceed to serenade the birthday kids. Fortunately, I wasn't alone in my day of revelry, as there was an older gentleman surrounded by a table of rowdy Koreans who also happened to be celebrating. Basically, shots were had, sparklers were twirled around with relentless fervor and the celebratory birthday tune filled the bar subsequently as toasts were made, photos were snapped & the dancing resumed.
I successfully avoided much of the hodgepodgery & small talk but there was one severely drunken fellow who stumbled up to the bar, ungracefully hailed the attention of the bar maid, who proceeded to ask, 'Jason, are you sure you need another one? You can barely stand!' To which he replied, 'Of course, the wife let me out tonight, so dammit if I'm not going to make the most of it!' Well, that's pretty much what his slurred rambling sounded like to me, anyway. Of course, without a moment to react, Jason turns to me, extends his fist in preparation of the seemingly mandatory 'bro-code' traditional fist bump, which unfortunately I decide should be a harmless gesture, so I obliged. This, obviously opened the floodgates & within minutes, I had a new best friend & was invited to join him at a table with his friends - a couple of haggard looking South African ladies (Tonya & Elina) in their mid 40's. Oh, let the good times roll, son!
As the night progressed, Jason stumbled sporadically throughout the bar & found myself conversing with the South Africans about Korea, their experiences here the past few years, a bit of philosophy & the like. All of the good-natured conversations & insight into what to expect during the rest of my time here. Time was spent on the dance floor & mingling about the small but cordial crowd & needless to say, the night slipped away. Before I knew it, last call was made a few times & I finally felt the need to take my gin soaked liver back to the abode for a much needed slumber.
Phone numbers were exchanged for connecting on future endeavors & adventures. As I was leaving, Pieter's wife, Helena, thanked me for coming in, inquired about the nights events & if I enjoyed myself. Tonya, was at the bar ordering another whiskey/water (yes, last call tends to drag on for quite some time, apparently) & mentioned to Helena it was my birthday. Upon hearing this news, she was a bit chagrined I hadn't mentioned it to anyone, so as to properly help me celebrate. I mentioned it wasn't a big deal but had enjoyed myself regardless.
At that point, more shots arrived while she quickly ran to the other end of the bar to grab a few things. As is also customary at 'The Cook,' any birthday patron supposedly receives a steak dinner....crazy, cause I was completely content w/a few shots, the sparkler showcase & sing along - even though, again, I hadn't told anyone it was my birthday! She insisted I come back soon & she would make me a steak but before I was able to bid farewell, she handed me another shot, a can of Korea's version of Red Bull (Hot6ix), a Nietzsche Reader (she has a small library/book exchange in the bar), yet another shot & a sparkler for the road.
By this time, it was probably well past 4:30 in the morning & I had a lovely hike ahead of me, unless I was able to find one of the few cabs still on the road. As luck would have it, after about 15 minutes of walking, I was able to flag down a cabbie, gave him my address (written in Korean & English - which I carry w/me in my passport just for situations like this). I did my best to let him know I knew the way & to let me 'point him there' but this was a fruitless endeavor as he was frantically punching Korean symbols into his GPS while I giggled childishly to myself, thinking how great the inability to fluidly communicate was.
After a few minutes, we were on our way (in the direction I had initially pointed) & I quickly became a huge fan of the guy. He must be a part time race car driver cause he displayed a wicked prowess for hairpin turns, fast straightaways & the casual red light 'roll through.' In no time, I successfully guided him down a few side streets as he didn't understand he could drop me off by the Big Mart & I could huff it the last couple blocks. Either way, he got me to my apartment safe & sound, was tickled to death by my generosity w/tipping him (cab drivers are employees of the City of Gumi, therefore fares are very inexpensive & nobody tips), as well as bequeathing him w/my highly coveted birthday sparkler!
As a grown man who readily knows when he's had too much to drink, I should have curbed my urge to jump online & check Facebook but of course I didn't. This decision led to many random messages on people's FB pages as well as a couple of perfectly timed Skype calls to friends in Tampa. It's always great to catch up w/them & I'm certain they found great humor in the fact it was mid afternoon there & I was soaking in gin & birthday goodness!
As some have observed over the years, when I'm drinking for certain purposes, I tend to become giddy, overtly jovial & a little free wheeling with my finances. These actions have been politely coined the 'Mista A Display.' Over the years, however, I've learned to squelch the opportunities for 'The Display' to make an appearance & rarely take a whole lot of money with me when I go out but I'm certain, on this occasion, the recipients of the Skype calls where able to bear witness to at least a slight glimmer of 'Display' goodness!
I'm quite certain everyone, throughout the evening, got a kick out of the shenanigans & I'm pretty sure I may have confused a small percentage of the native population w/some antics (nothing dangerous or rude, mom) at the bar but it appears no permanent damage was done & I successfully crawled into bed about 9:30 or 10 on Saturday morning & spent most of the day in a comatose state, with the occasional trip to the kitchen or bathroom.
Needless to say, it was a tremendously unproductive Saturday but by Sunday I was feeling spry & young once again; able to be fairly productive as well as enjoy a nice jaunt around town & a beer on the roof, watching the sun set over the mountains. Another successful, yet unique birthday in the books & memories tucked away for reminiscence on later days!
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