Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in TopherJDSN's LiveJournal:

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Friday, May 8th, 2009
1:07 am	A post 30 something musing... Well, here I am witting again and it is 1:07am local. I've been invited to join a post 30 somethings blog. Frak, my life is now a tv show title. Now, this my friends is where I struggle. Most of my 30 something compatriots have something to show for their age. Me on the other hand, well, this is where I struggle for moving off of the beaten path. I'm not married and I've got no dating prospects (trust me it gets worse as you are single and growing older), I've got no material wealth, and I've got little of anything beyond life experience. So, what does all of this mean. Well, I'm not sure. I've been reading scripture and I noticed something funny. Joseph. Joseph and the Amazing Dreamcoat guy. Scripture never talked of Joseph getting married. In fact Joseph was in a foreign land for the rest of his days and all he really amounted to was someone who took care of his family. This is not a bad thing in life, though, at someone who is almost in his mid 30's it makes one wonder, is this all there is? And therein lies the mystery of God. What should we do? Scripture is a funny thing - either God forgets certain people or God hold certain people close. The truth of the things is this, sometimes God forgets people, if you don't believe me read the Bible closely. However, God remember God's people eventually. So as for me, I figure right now, spiritually, I'm running the course of Joseph. I am a foreigner in a strange land and I will be alone for all of my days and yet my mission is simple, look after my family. So my question to you is this. Where do you feel spiritually called to? What story speaks to you, maybe it is from Scripture or from another source, but what speaks to you? (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, April 13th, 2009
11:24 pm	Post Easter Check In Well, here in the land of the morning calm things are rolling. People are busy with this and that and as always I'm seeing different things. Things like a man windsurfing down the Hangang. Imagine seeing someone windsurf on Lake Eerie or say...the Hudson River. The Hangang is a beautiful part of Seoul and an icon for the city, but, it is also not the cleanest of rivers. Very muddy water. Yeah... I've also been asked if I was from Europe because of my slight southeastern U.S. accent. How you get from David Tennant, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan....I'm still not so sure how those got confused. So, I'd love to say that I've been doing a lot but to be honest...I've been working and that is about it. However, on Wednesday I go to the Zoo so maybe a new video post for you soon. Oh, and if you are interested I'd read this little article at the Marmot's Hole. FYI it is a great source of information for those of us living in Korea - just don't mind the comments. Current Mood: amused (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
7:45 pm	The Land of Last Minute One of the things about being a foriegner in Korea is that things are done at the last minute. This is common not only for foriegners but Koreans in general. It is not uncommon to set impossible deadlines at the last minute to get something done. Case in point. My building cut the water off due to construction. The dates, the 3rd-5th, the sign went up today. I did not see this sign until 7pm on the 3rd...that would be today. So, it is possible we could run out of water before the three days is up. This would mean checing into a hotel room to shower or use the bathroom. This is the sort of thing I am talking about. Now, I am not saying this is wrong. This is an example when different cultures bump into one another. So there must be some give and take. Though sometimes a little more warning would be appreciated. Before those of you in the States gloat, consider "mountain time" which is an EXTREMELY sliding scale. I'll visit you after lunch could mean anytime between 1pm and 7pm. In other news, I was going to go to the Daejeon Zoo tommorrow and take some pictures for you. Sadly, I've caught a cold. So, again with the coughing and the unpleasent nose situation...and sleep which is almost impossible. Current Mood: sick Current Music: UNKLE - Lonely Soul (Comment on this)
Saturday, March 28th, 2009
10:13 pm	Picture time... You can see some new picture here...dig it, if you can. Current Mood: creative Current Music: Watching Dollhouse on the Interwebs.... (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
5:04 pm	The Art of Winging It... Just popping by to let you know I'll get some pictures going soon. So say we all. Current Mood: bored Current Music: Bear McReary - Passgalia (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
11:36 am	Lightbulb moments So, I've been reading up on Korean everything. I had a revelation recently when I started looking at those who soome consider second class citizens in Korea. That is to say bi-racial Koreans. Now, I'm sure in the U.S. the thought would be an anglo-asian mix. In Korea this typical means Asia-Korean mix. There are many men in Korea typically farmers who can't find a wife. They then find wives in other countries Vietnam is apparently a popular place to look. These children often don't do well in school because their mothers do not have adequate Korean skills and because the children look differently. Right now, roughly 2% of Korea is bi-racial/multicultural. However, suprisingly, this is soon going to change as the number of men in this country strongly outweighs the number of women. So, how is this an aha moment. Korea can biologically trace it's history for thousands of years. Part of Korea's strength comes from the concept of one joined people. As an outsider looking in I can see how this country has been strengthened by this concept of a unified Korea on every front. Now, consider this, if you are from North America - the concept of being pure blooded anything. As much as I lean to my Scottish roots, I've still got a bit of Scot-Irish, Dutch-German, and according to my Grandmother, a small amount of Native American blood running in my veins. The concept of being a pure blooded anything is odd. Even our current President is bi-racial. A number of our celebrities are bi-racial. Now, this is not a moment of American Anglo-Colonialism say, "Yay, us. We rock." I am saying this because in my life time the culture of Korea is going to change. I'm standing in a country with a culture thousands of years old and in a matter of twenty or thirty years it will change genetically and socially as a result. Truly, we live in interesting times. Also, if you haven't watched Battlestar Galactica now would be the time. If you are a spiritual person, political person, ethical person, a soap opera fan, a science fiction fan, or if you breath please watch the show. The first 4 seasons are on DVD season 4.5 will be out in a while. It is honestly the spiritually deepest show I have seen on tv. Current Music: Daft Punk Something Awful about US (Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
11:20 am	I've been gone a spell. Yeah, I know, I should write more. I should stay in touch. Though life is a funny thing. In fact I would go so far as to say life is a series of transitions. I was sitting in Seoul Station waiting to take the Ktx (Bullet Train) and I started to watch people. In some ways life is like a train station, people come, people go. Sometimes we are waiting for someone to arrive. Sometimes we are the ones who have to leave. We say our hellos and goodbyes. That is to say, life, is a series of transitions. One moment to the next, always changing, always moving. Having said that I'll answer all the questions I'm sure you have. Where do you live? I live in Daejeon, South Korea. Where do you work? I work at a University now. Do your students like you? So far, so good. Do you miss Seoul? In point of fact I do not. Daejeon is a quiet, clean, and polite city. I can breath in clean air, see and hear birds, walk on the street without bumping into someone, and I can see the stars at night - none of which is possible in Seoul. How is the whole, "teaching" thing going? Pretty well. Though it is interesting to suddenly develop my own ciriculum. I teach students with a small amount of English speaking ability to students with a good deal of English speaking ability. How about time off? Are you still working 6 and 7 day work weeks? No. In fact I work 5 days a week total this includes the stuff going on at the Church in Seoul. It is a good change of pace. In fact it gives me time to do things like update the blog. Seriously, try working 6-7 workday weeks and see if you have the energy to blog. Why did you change jobs? Well, to be honest, the schedule at my former job was pretty harsh. I have nothing bad to say about where I used to work. Though this University Position opened up and it has been a much better fit. What is your home like? My home is a one room apartment with a small bathroom. I have internet and all utilities but no cable tv. So, I watch a lot of tv streaming on the internet. I can catch up on most shows roughly 24 hours after they air. Which reminds me, Dollhouse, is a cool little tv show I recomend...assuming Fox doesn't cancel it. My new apartment is bigger than my last one. And.....that ladies and gentlemen raps up this Q&A, feel free to ask more questions in the comments section. Current Mood: awake Current Music: All Along the Watchtower - Bear McCreary Version (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
1:31 am	TV Time Okay, so I know some of you are interested in this...TV. Cable tv here is a funny thing. You can always find something in English on one channel or another. Grey's Anatomy, Prison Break (seriously, Prison Break is popular here), Sex and the City, and many other shows are on tv here. All in English, all with subtitles. Yeah, subtitles. Think about that the next time you flip on your tv in the States (sorry my Canadian friends...I don't know if you have any subtitles). In this part of the world subtitles are common. Movies, I've recently watched Shoot Em Up (Colin you are right....AWESOME), Land of the Dead, and Night at the Museum. There are commercials for budweiser beer..well tons of beer commercials. MTV Korea plays videos, The Hills (subtitled), and other terrible MTV programming. There is Fox Korea. Yeah, who would have figured, Fox Korea. It runs 24 hours a day. As I type this CSI Miama Season 6 is on the OCN network and Sex and the City is on the On Style network - this is as of 1:39am. Yeah, I'm burning the midnight oil. So, what about the Korean programming. Suprisingly in Korea late night female nudity is not completely uncommon - this was a great shock honestly. Korea is a tad more concervative compared to those of us from the west and yet... 10pm is Drama hour on the major non-cable networks, KBS, MBC, and SBS. Right now Cha Tae Hyun is in a drama reminiscent of Grey's Anatomy. Oh, if you don't know who Mr. Cha is he became famous in the Korean version of My Sassy Girl. Trust me the Korean version is WAAAAY better. Which brings me to my next point. In the States many Korean films are being remade into films for U.S. audiences. My Sassy Girl was at first a smash hit Korean romantic comedy movie. Now...it is a substandard U.S. romantic comedy movie. Other movies such as The Host (okay seriously, find this movie, you can find it at Wallmart, even in Alabama - I know, I checked - it was filmed near where I live), Sympathy for Lady Vengence (Charlize Theron as a wrongly accused killed out to get revenge), and the greatest insult Oldboy (first of, see Oldboy it makes Memento and Fight Club look tame...secondly Speilberg and Will Smith?) are being made. See what I did there with the clever asides. Seriously people this is how I acctually speak. Anyway, we will see if these movies are good or not. This brings me to another odd point. So, I stayed in a motel today. Why? My schedule at the place that I work can be a bit odd. Leaving me 6 hours off before I work again for another few hours. Normally, this isn't a big deal but, when you didn't sleep the night before and you are going under evaluation later...oh, and it takes an hour to get to work...yeah the motel begins to look like a good option. Now, motels in Korea are a funny thing. All of them have hourly rates...why? Well, most folks live with their parents until they are married. So, if you are dating and feel the urge to be physically romantic you go to a "love" motel. They are everywhere. So, I stayed in a motel. Now, a hotel in Korea is an amazing five star experience. Even if you approach in a Taxi a porter will open your door for you. Alas, I digress, what is a motel like? Well, cable tv, no HBO but cable. A free toothbrush. In the room there is toothpaste (communal size not personal size), two drinks in the fridge ussually juice or canned coffee, a computer with internet, a bathtub (no seriously this is a luxury - my apartment doesn't have a tub. I haven't had a good soak and a book in 6 months), and other communal amenities such as hair gel. Now how much did my nap set me back? 20,000 won. If the exchange rate was one to one (which it isn't) it would be 20 US dollars for five hours. Current Mood: curious Current Music: Michael Palin - Himilaya Travels on the PC (Comment on this)
Saturday, December 13th, 2008
12:28 am	How I learned to Accept I am a Foreigner Okay, so, I've been busy. But I have time to write tonight. So, what can I talk about...well, okay, lots of things. Seriously though, I want to give a quick shout out to a blog I've been reading Really...Really...Seriously... a blog about music and other such things. Right, so, what to say. Well, I'm learning some interesting things, honestly I am a foreigner here. I stand out. Okay, yeah, I'm a white guy living in Korea. When I am on the subway, chances are I'm the only white guy on the subway. Though it comes out in other ways. People watch you. Sometimes with interest, sometimes with hate, and sometimes of curiousity. It comes out in other ways, such as today, when I was on the subway and an extremely drunk young man came up to me and started speaking in Korean to me. What was I doing to warrant this? I was listening to music on my mp3 player. It was like he had never seen a white person with an mp3 player and this was some sort of spiritual drunken moment for him. (Side note:Every cellphone is an mp3 player here). He kept talking to me, so, I said politely in Korean, "I'm sorry, I don't speak alot of Korean." He continued to speak with me so I switched to English. "Sir, I don't speak Korean. I can't understand you." The man proceded to speak to me for a good ten minutes. Finally, I got off the subway, and my stalker followed after me. I finally lost him in the subway using skills I learned from hours of Metal Gear Solid. This was not the first time this happened and it won't be the last. Seriously, the funny thing about public transport is watching crazy drunken old men on the subway. Well, mostly it is entertaining but sometimes it can be a pain in the frakking ass. There are other funny things about being a foriegner like hearing English suddenly thrown into a conversation. Sort of the way we throw Spanish into what we are doing. For example I heard a conversation today that was in full speed Korean when I heard a, "Ok, ok, come on." thrown into the conversation. This was not a situation in which these were students learning English, this is English getting borrowed into Korean. If you are from North America have you ever said, "Hola." or "Hasta manana." Yeah, it is happening here and it is odd to be on the other side of the coin. If you are curious as to how I am? I am doing well, still working all the time. However, things are looking to change for me soon in a most positive way...but I can't say more for now. Though the future is looking good. Current Mood: cheerful Current Music: Smurfs Season 1 Episodes (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
11:40 pm	How Cold Is It? If Korea is the land of the Morning Calm it is because it is so blessedly cold in the winter. Seriously, it was 29 degrees today...that would be in US degrees folks. Even crazier, we haven't hit the bottom yet. So? I hear you say, it can't be that bad. HA! HA! No, it is bad. In the States we pile in our warm cars. In Korea we walk...in the cold...yeah. So, I'm told it will get colder. So, a few observations, Korea is not a place for kind pedestrians. This evening walking home, a girl hit me with the force of a football player and said nothing as she kept walking. Now, I managed not to lose my cool and scream at her but this is a fairly common occurence. In short, Koreans can be very rude walkers. Secondly, it is interesting to see two Koreans talk, especially older Koreans who may sound like they are arguing or screaming at each other, when in fact, they are having a conversation. Trust me, it is as strange as it sounds. Now, the amazing thing, all of the streetside business are open and still running. These little stands never stop running. So, if you want to buy an dvd of a movie that isn't out in the US you can...feel hungry, go to the next stand and eat. Again, all of this should highlight how much time I spent outside...in the cold. OH, now this is cool. My Apartment is heated. All of the heat comes from the floor. In old style Korean houses, a fire was run outside of the house and the heat was sent through the bottom of the house. This kept the floors warm and is another reason why people would choose to sleep on the floor. It was the warmest part of the house. As a side no, during the Chosun Era (the last kingdom of Korean history) the king slept in a room without furniture for fear that someone could sneak in and kill him with something in the room. So, how am I? I am doing well. However, I still work 7 days a week. I have learned that despite the lonliness I feel on an almost daily basis, that I am a much stronger person than I know. I enjoy living in Korea and meeting people. I will try to write more soon and hopefully on a daily basis. Maybe next month I will be able to take saturdays off and who knows what could happen... Current Mood: thankful Current Music: In the Waiting Line - Zero 7 (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, September 29th, 2008
11:13 pm	Seriously, Topher, where have you been? So, I'd love to say I was traveling but in fact I have been working seven days a week. Yeah, long days. Anyway, a few thoughts about Korea. One, I've seen the "Ugly Americans" in fact I heard three of them talking about the Biblical relations they wanted to have with a woman on the subway one night. Now, here is the kicker, Koreans understand more English than the average English speaker thinks sooooooooooooooooo she most likely understood them. Two, Korea might be the land of Bali, Bali (fast, fast) but people on the street walk slowly AND if it is a couple walking on the street...well then friends you can see snails and turtles making tracks around them. Being a pedestrian in Korea is not always fun. Three, did you know that if you make an international call on your cell phone you pay not the cellphone company, but a seperate phone company in Korea (I learned that lesson today). So, the things I hope to do. I hope to show you the Seoul Stargate. Okay, so it isn't really the Stargate but it looks like one. If you do not know what a Stargate is and some of you will not...I will point you to this. Anyway, not much else to say. I don't have much time to socialize or meet new people, I just work - that is it. Although, I'm considered very good at one of my jobs. The other I am also good at but one job...well, I'm learning I am VERY good at (so good I recieved a bonus). Anyway, I'll get back to you soon, but I am alive and well and busy waaaay to busy. Current Mood: calm Current Music: Fallout Boy - Hum Hallelujah (Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008
10:46 pm	Btch stole my ride... Thomas, I home you appreciate this Title...you too Collin. Anyway, I am now transitioning to the subway system in Korea, why? Suprisingly this time around less people. The subway ride from home to work is roughly 20 minutes, with a ten minute walk to the apartment and a ten minute walk to work. So, total time, 40 minutes. Granted it is about the same travel time, but get me off the frakking bus, seriously, sardines have it better. So, the train is my new ride. Right, other observations, Dunkin Doughnuts is everywhere in Korea. I can find a Dunkin Doughnuts within roughly a five minute walking distance of wherever I am in Seoul. As one foreigners said, "Dunkin Doughnuts is the McDonalds of Korea." In other news...so the Holiday is coming up and I can't wait. I get two days off this month and to be honest I'm just sleeping in and watching TV shows I buy in Yongsan. However, my work gave me a gift...soap. Well, not soap. A dove gift set, 6 tubes of toothpaste, five bars of soap, three bottles of vasoline skin treatment (seriously, did you know they have hand, hand and nail, and traditional style), shampoo, and conditioner. I'm a bit grateful as I am on my last bar of soap I purchased in the U.S. Which brings me to my next point...I had a Battlestar moment. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, a group of human beings are on the run from killer robots after said killer robots destroyed their home worlds. SO, on the show the occasionally use up the last of something. I am finding after three months I am running out of certain things I bought the last of my US this or my US that. It doesn't bother me but it does make me pause as I realize it is the last bar of Irish Spring Microwash soap I will see. I can't find Irish Spring here. In other news I bought a chosun era antique stand for 40 US bucks from a coworker who is leaving. How I will get it home I'm not sure but whaddaya know I've bought a piece of furniture here. Who knows maybe I will send it to the US for safekeeping. So, NK is in the news...you know the ones raising the war of Northern Aggression. Seems the Greater Leader is in trouble, at least according Western media. SK is quiet about it all so far as I can tell. However, this would put a strain on US negotiations. However, fear not for SK, we are all fine. Current Mood: cheerful Current Music: Music...no. Ipod stolen, Watching: Simpson's the Movie (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, September 8th, 2008
11:40 pm	Recent adventures... Okay, so this month I work...alot...I mean ALOT...like seven days a week. Anyway you would think this prevents me from having adventures, but, nay friends, I have had many. I moved into my new apartment and pictures will come soon. It is one small room. Smaller than rooms college students have. However, I don't mind this. In fact, I like it. I've never needed alot of living space, just a quiet space and this little bedroom works. It has a washer but no dryer (this is normal for Korea) I have a bathroom with no shower or tub but sort of a sink with an attachment so I can use it like a shower. I have no kitchen but I do have a hotplate and a beerfridge. Its nice and most especially, it is quiet. Now, tonight was a fun adventure because I have to take a new bus ride home. Only my bus was going in the opposite direction of home. So, the bus driver instructed me off the bus and with the help of a kind stranger and a friend of mine on the phone I made my way to the subway station and tackled the subway. Now this in and of itself is funny. In all of my years on this Earth I've never had a drunk woman fall asleep on my shoulder...until tonight. So, here I am on the subway looking for my exit when a head sofly hits my shoulder. I tried to wake my drunken assailant up by pointing out her phone was ringing...sadly this did nothing. However, I was able to push her straight up again at which point she fell over on to the woman on my left. Anyway, I made it home roughly one and a half hours from leaving work. Such is life in Seoul. However, if I can figure out if the subway connects near work I may have an almost straight shot home that works even if protests are going on. Score. In terms of other things...tonight I was told I look like both Donkey from Shrek and Cary Elwes as of Saw (Wesley from the Princess Bride). So, I'm either have cool floppy hair and an english accent OR I am a homely looking bucked toothed big eared mammal with the voice of Eddie Murphy. Well, given two extremes I suppose that isn't so bad. It is SO much better than being told I look like Tom Cruise last summer. Anyway...a holiday is coming up in Korea called [Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a [...] chuseok</a>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.] Okay, so this month I work...alot...I mean ALOT...like seven days a week. Anyway you would think this prevents me from having adventures, but, nay friends, I have had many. I moved into my new apartment and pictures will come soon. It is one small room. Smaller than rooms college students have. However, I don't mind this. In fact, I like it. I've never needed alot of living space, just a quiet space and this little bedroom works. It has a washer but no dryer (this is normal for Korea) I have a bathroom with no shower or tub but sort of a sink with an attachment so I can use it like a shower. I have no kitchen but I do have a hotplate and a beerfridge. Its nice and most especially, it is quiet. Now, tonight was a fun adventure because I have to take a new bus ride home. Only my bus was going in the opposite direction of home. So, the bus driver instructed me off the bus and with the help of a kind stranger and a friend of mine on the phone I made my way to the subway station and tackled the subway. Now this in and of itself is funny. In all of my years on this Earth I've never had a drunk woman fall asleep on my shoulder...until tonight. So, here I am on the subway looking for my exit when a head sofly hits my shoulder. I tried to wake my drunken assailant up by pointing out her phone was ringing...sadly this did nothing. However, I was able to push her straight up again at which point she fell over on to the woman on my left. Anyway, I made it home roughly one and a half hours from leaving work. Such is life in Seoul. However, if I can figure out if the subway connects near work I may have an almost straight shot home that works even if protests are going on. Score. In terms of other things...tonight I was told I look like both Donkey from Shrek and Cary Elwes as of Saw (Wesley from the Princess Bride). So, I'm either have cool floppy hair and an english accent OR I am a homely looking bucked toothed big eared mammal with the voice of Eddie Murphy. Well, given two extremes I suppose that isn't so bad. It is SO much better than being told I look like Tom Cruise last summer. Anyway...a holiday is coming up in Korea called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuseok>"Chuseok</a>. It comes from an OLD harvest festival and it is a traditional holiday of Korea. Travel during Chuseok is damn near impossible...trust me I tried to get tickets to Daejon. Anyway, the closest U.S. Holiday would be Thanksgiving. Personally, I get two days off and I plan on using them to go to Yongsan, picking up a TV season or two worth of DVD's on the supercheap so I can watch tv and sleep. These are my only days off this month and I need the rest. Anyway, that is the state of affairs here. No new political news, in fact President Lee has made a slight upswing in popularity...SLIGHT. Still though, folks seem to be happy here. Current Mood: content Current Music: Watching Stargate the movie (Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
10:12 pm	So..where has Topher been? Well, that is an excellent question. I've been working...alot. Last month I was up at 5am out of the door by 5:30am and then work until 6pm. So, this month my schedule is a little different. I would love to tell you I've been out doing fun and exciting things but sadly I have not. So, what can I say about Korea? Well, this time I am staying longer and while I am experiencing no culture shock I am finding that there are things I have to be aware of. I once heard a foreigner describe Korea as the land of not quite right. In some ways I can see it, for example, there are times when my bus never arrives...this is especially true for Friday and Saturday nights...seriously, the area I work in is downtown Seoul...so lets put this in perspective, Seoul has 10 million people living in the city with almost 20 million in the metro area. I'm fairly sure about 5 million are in downtown Seoul on the weekends. Okay, maybe not five million but a crap ton. Now, here is another trick, cab drivers that refuse to take you some place because it isn't far enough...I've gotten in a cab and asked to be taken somewhere only for the driver to deny me (and this happens to Koreans as well as foreigeners). So, developing the ability to divorce yourself from the frustration you feel is vitally important. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I scream loudly with plenty of curse words. Also, dig this...a group of men in old school (Chosun era) outfits at the city bell. I asked around and I still don't know why...still Seoul is a hell of a city. Current Mood: tired (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
9:20 pm	More protest stuff Yup...protest graffiti against President Lee. Sorry you have to click on the link to see it. Notice its in English. Kinda crazy huh? Okay more picture . Things are about the same here for me. Though I thought I'd share these pictures with you. Funny thing about this picture is the hangul translates loosely as, "Learn better english." and someone added an "ion" to the first Corrupt. Anyway...I have a blind date on Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes. Current Mood: hopeful Current Music: Save Me - Nickleback (Comment on this)
Monday, August 18th, 2008
10:09 pm	So...I talked to my neice the other night. Yeah, on the phone. Can you believe it. I said, "Did you know I'm calling you from very far away?" and she said, "I don't know where you are." Kind of heart breaking and amazing all at once. Okay, so, I've been working all day. However, its all good. I've been kickin' in Seoul and yeah, I work alot...ALOT. Though I really love it here. It kind of struck me tonight on the way home. I live in one of the biggest and busiest cities on Earth. Even more I live here and I can't speak the language. Kind of amazing really. Now, I'm not tooting my own horn. I think anyone can live in Korea and enjoy it. Korea is AWESOME with a capital A. Though sometimes you find out what you can do when you are forced to. Now, I must also mention today that an old Police Song called The Man in A Suitcase. Seems like I feel that way recently. It isn't a bad place to be really. Always meeting new people and always never feeling settled in. So, yeah. Anyway, sorry for the short post but maybe I'll have something soon. Current Mood: contemplative Current Music: The Police - Man in a Suitcase (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 16th, 2008
8:52 pm	Seriously, dude, where's my post? Wouldn't you like to know where I've been? WELL...I went to Daejon, South Korea. My Korean family called me on Thursday and so I just spent the past two days with them. I visited Hannam University and had a great time in Daejon. Now, I should explain a few things first. On thursday I had to take a cab home. It took an hour and a half. Traffic in Seoul was crazy go nuts bad. I'm talking you'd think there was a protest bad. However, there were no protests. Instead, people were traveling. Friday was National Korean Independence Day. So, I had to travel to my homestay first to pack. Please understand this wasn't planned. I just got a call from Wonbae out of the blue and they invited me to come visit. The visit was amazing and it was good to see my dear, dear friends again. We spend Friday by a river meeting people from Wonbae's church. Friday night was Samgyeopsal which was FANTASTIC! On Saturday I visited Hannam University. Now, Daejon is a small city in compared to Seoul. However, it is a city of over 1 million people. It is clean, friendly, and uncrowded. Seoul on the other hand is a big city - dirty, crowded, and not as friendly. So, I came home by bullet train. It took three hours to drive to Daejon due to the traffic. It normally takes two. The train takes 45 minutes and it is was wonderful. Very comfortable. It was so comfortable I wish the trip was a bit longer. Arriving at Seoul Station I saw this: Yup...La Bamba played in Korea by clearly non-Korean gents. I shoulda bought the CD they were selling but I just wanted to go home. Current Music: La Bamba (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
7:56 pm	A Korean Story This is the story of how mosquitos came to be. Once long ago there was a man with three sons who deeply wanted a daughter. He wanted a daughter so badly that he would go the mountain and pray everyday, "God, hear my prayer, give me a daughter. I don't even care if she is a fox." The man prayed like this until one day he returned to home to find out his wife was pregnant. Nine months later he was overjoyed at the birth of his daughter. He loved his daughter more than any father has ever loved a daughter and everything was fine until the daughter turned six. Once the daughter turned six a cow disappeared from the man's farm. So the man lost many of his cows and he told his wife, "I will send my first son into the fields at night to see what is killing my cows." So the first Son obeyed his Father and went to the fields. Every night things were normal until the full moon. When the moon was full the First Son woke up and saw that his Sister who was six came out of the house. She reached inside of one of the cows and ate its liver; killing the cow instantly. The next day, the First Son reported everything to his Father. The Father said, "You are a liar and so you are no longer my son. I will send my second son into the field. He will tell me what is happening." So, the Second Son did as he was told and watched...for a month everything was fine until the full moon when the second son also saw his sister come out of the house and reach into a cow and eat its liver. The next morning the son explained everything he saw and the Father responded, "You are a liar and so you are no longer my son. I will send my third son into the field. He will tell me what is happening." The Third son went to the field and again, he saw what his previous brothers had seen. Though he did not tell his Father the truth. Instead he said, "I saw my sister leave the house and go to the bathroom. I think the moon spooked the cow and killed it." The Father smiled, "Ah, this is the truth. You are my good son. You will inherit everything from me." Now, it came to pass that the other to brothers were poor and so they became begars. They traveled the land begging until the came across a monk. They told the monk their story and so he gave them three potions which he claimed could defeat any enemy. The brothers left for home with renewed strength only to find their village was empty. They went to their home only to find that their sister was the only person in their home and the town. The two brothers we welcomed by their sister who spoke of her loneliness. She invited them to dinner. She fed them rice and kimchi because she was so poor. So poor in fact that she couldn't affoard candles. The two men ate until they were tired. Yet the First Son woke up to the sound of eating. He said, "My brother is still eating." He turned to lit a light only to find that the rice was made of magots and the kimchi was made of human fingers. He felt sick as he saw his sister eating his Brother's liver. So, the First Son ran from the house. As he did he saw that his Sister was following him. As he fled for his life he remembered the bottles. So he threw the first bottle and it turned into a thorn bush. His sister turned into a fox and jumped through the thorns. The First Son then threw the second bottle which turned into a lake underneath his Sister who turned back into a girl who swam across the lake. The First Son continued to run and threw the third bottle. It hit the Sister and enveloped her in fire. The fire was so great that it killed her instantly. From the body of the woman the first mosquito emerged and so her spirit still seeks to feed on the healthy to this day. Now you know the true story of the mosquito. Current Mood: busy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, August 11th, 2008
8:01 am	Up to the minute... So, Korea is doing well in the Olympics. People everywhere are huddled around tv's or cellphones watching the games. The news coverage of the Olympics in Korea is funny as it is focused only on Korea. I suppose in the States there attempts are made to show the entire world's efforts during the Olympics but in here...not so much. Still though four gold medals is nothing to sneeze at. Anyway, Arrirang Radio reported today that some Korean Americans are suing MBC (a Korean tv broadcasting company) for their story on American beef. The Korean Americans, many of whom are Korean immigrants claim that the tv program has hurt their reputation and caused them great shame in the U.S. In other news, its hot in Korea. Again, I'm living without AC so I go to bed sweaty and I wake up sweaty and then I go to work and live in the bask of the company AC. Seriously, it is hot. On the plus side we are on the back end of summer in Korea so things should cool soon. Lets see...I talked about plans. Well, that is the thing. Soon, I will be moving...into the church. The church has a lsrge furnished guest room for visitors. I'll be living there for the next year. So, I'll be living with cable, internet, telephone, kitchentte, and did I mention AC? Oh and I'll be living beside the Han River so the view is gorgeous. I told my senior pastor about all of my difficulties with being ordained. He hasn't responded yet, though, I hope to hear from him soon. Oh shout out to Matt and Ginny at their new addition to the family. WHOO! Congrats. Right, so, one month in Korea down, eleven more to go. I love being here, I really do. I enjoy teaching though I wish I had time to socialize a bit. The only way to socialize in Korea it seems is at a bar, which is pretty much forbidden to me due to my work at the church. So, that isn't so fun. Still though who knows what will happen. Current Mood: hot (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, August 10th, 2008
9:50 pm	In the works... I'm alive and well. Things are in the works. More later. Sorry for the lack of posting. (Comment on this)