KOREA Day 3

Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 6:22 PM

So I hope I am somewhat adjusted to the time difference and caught up on my sleep after a full day here in The East. We are 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time Zone here, and yes, we did cross the International Date Line somewhere over the Pacific. I continue to be the proverbial fish out of water, simply speaking, but it's not as bad as it seems. People glance at you as if to size you up then look away. I was told they are accustomed to foreigners because we are so close to Seoul. Apparently, it is different in the countryside, where they stare curiously at you as a foreigner.

After sending my first email late Monday night, I was treated to a Korean sit down dinner with the head of the school (my boss) and three other staff members, including the other American instructor, James from New Hampshire. By sit down dinner, I mean just that. Shoes are left just outside the dining area (not at the front door, as I made the mistake of doing) and we sat or kneeled on pillows while eating. Large dishes of kimchi and pickled radish were provided for the host to cut with scissors and serve to us. A bubbling pork stew was served (very good) along with another beef stew and platter of pork cutlets. Red bean paste (see below) and other red pepper sauces accompany the pork. I later learned that my favorite cutlets were pigs ears, which has a slightly rubbery texture similar to squid. The other cuts were unfortunately all fatty, which I did not like, and were somewhat bland considering everything else on the table was most flavorful and spicy.

I unpacked and settled into my new digs yesterday. This included two trips to E-Mart (Korean Wal-Mart) which is only two walking blocks away. It's similar to a large department store with multiple floors and a variety of items; anything from clothes, healthcare items, groceries, home furnishings, and large containers of live seafood. Biggest difference, aside from the obvious, is you pay coins to use a shopping cart. Baskets are complimentary. After two hours and $75,000 Won, I now have groceries for the apartment along with paper towels, toilet paper, soap, green tea, a 6pk of Heineken, bottle of Soju, and several large plastic containers to store my clothes, as there are no drawers and the closet only holds hanging items. Prices are somewhat comparable to the US, if you figure $1.00 USD is roughly equal to $1,200 Korean Won. (Eg. large mandarin orange juice $1,200 Won, bananas $3,000 Won, 5pk of apples $3,000 Won, 6pk breakfast bars $2,500 Won, 24pk of toilet paper $10,000 Won). One of the best parts of the E-Mart experience was hearing a Korean interpretation of Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Membrane". Good stuff for a laugh..

Yesterday I walked the streets of Sanbon. Its a nice town, perhaps the size of downtown Ann Arbor, with a nice public street mall and a busy feel to it. Mountains appear to surround the town on at least two sides, and the streets are hilly once outside the immediate central business district (maybe 20 square blocks?) of the downtown. Large apartment towers and residences are located on the fringe of the downtown. There are numerous outdoor parks with gymnasium and work out equipment. One park featured a short obstacle trail, similar to that at an outdoor store for testing hiking shoes or at a Hummer dealership, with small stones and logs impacted in the concrete. There are also two large parks with athletic fields: soccer, tennis & squash courts, and a running track. Finding a tennis partner would be nice. Otherwise, I plan to maximize use of the running tracks. Batting cages are one block away from the apartment, and a golf driving range is perhaps 0.5 mile located next to the larger running track. While the batting cages are affordable, it is my understanding golf is a hobby for the wealthy in Korea.

Last night I sat in on an English class at the school. It was a level 4 class with level 6 being the highest. Tonight I will sit in on 2 classes (level 4 & 5) and Friday is my first day teaching. I will be teaching the higher level classes; primarily levels 5 & 6. We have text books and lesson plans to follow. Despite this, and the fact that everyone tells me it is easy, I cannot help but feel nervous to start teaching. Stay tuned for hilarious teaching stories...

After class last night, I ventured outside for a stroll and stumbled upon a Korean bar. Imagine that.. I ordered a Korean beer from the bartender (pretty Korean girl age 26) who then asked if I would like to order two? I quickly learned she was asking me to buy her a beer, which I, of course, did, and we enjoyed conversing the next hour together. Her English is broken but we communicated okay. She taught me several Korean words and asked me questions about the US. Most pleased to announce I can now order a glass of water (mul) and beer (mak ju) in Korean. I wish I could announce that she came back to my place after this, but will have to save this announcement for a later time.

Bad news: Yesterday I also learned the electricity voltage is different than the US. Unfortunately, my iPod dock/speaker was the teaching instrument for this painful lesson. Good news; it was not the laptop or iPod itself.. Unfortunately, both batteries will soon be depleted, and I must educate myself on whatever is necessary for conversion before I attempt to recharge. I now understand I need to purchase a voltage converter? If this is not correct, I will gladly accept any suggestions for this troublesome difficulty, but please hurry. The apartment is desperate for some music.

Today I enjoyed my first Korean BBQ with my English teaching partner, James. He bought, which is the custom in Korea for the person who suggests or invites going out. We had thinly sliced pork cuts with raw onions and garlic cloves grilled at our table on a propane stove by us . Side dishes of pickled radish and kimchi accompany this, along with an amazing spicy red bean paste for dipping and lettuce leaves for making wraps. The pork, especially when charred, is reminiscent of bacon. (Hope I don't catch the swine flu). The flavorful red bean paste, I cannot get enough of. James tells me he sometimes puts this on pizza, which after enjoying, doesn't seem as bad as it may sound. Similar to the fine Korean BBQ experience in Chicago three weeks ago, this was a great meal.

More good stories soon. This afternoon I ran 4 miles at the larger of the two area tracks and I continue to read the teachers manual to my new textbook. Other than this, I am slowly getting adjusted to Korean life.

KOREA Day 1

Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 9:34 PM

Safe in KOREA. All good here. Left Detroit at 6am EST on Sunday, April 26. Arrived in Seoul at 530pm Korean time Monday, April 27. Trip was as follows:

Detroit - Chicago 1 hour
Chicago - San Francisco 4 hours
SanFran Airport & lunch with James Lung 2 hours
SanFran - Seoul/Incheon Airport 12 hours
Total travel time was about 22 hours start to finish

Slept on every leg of the trip. Read a book and listened to my iPod throughout the day. Watched a movie on the big flight. Consumed mass quantities of AirBorne and EmergenC tablets so my immune system is strong. It was great to see James in SanFran and have lunch with him. It made the journey far more pleasant. Customs and immigration was a breeze. Was met at the airport by Kang (3rd party liaison) and taken by taxi minivan to Sanbon. No issues with my luggage. (major relief) Its a 1hour drive from the airport to Sanbon with lots of mountains, tunnels, and rush hour traffic. I learned the Korean word for rain (pe) and shared rudimentary English-Korean conversation with the driver.

Have since toured the school and met the staff. They are all very nice. My apartment is a converted office just down the hall from the school, which is located on the 7th floor of an office building. I can roll out of bed and be in class in less than .02 seconds. No joke. The apartment features a small bed, computer desk, two chairs, 13" tv with cable, small kitchenette, mini fridge, microwave, shower and toilet. There purchased cooking pots for me and there is a washer/dryer down the hall. I have two windows overlooking what appears to be a busy alleyway with many storefronts. I was told we are located in the most central part of the business district of Sanbon. There are many neon signs and business advertisements outside the windows. E-Mart (Korean for Wal-Mart) and 7-11 are only a block away. Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are around the corner.

I hope to venture out soon for some food, perhaps even a Korean BBQ, bottle of Soju, and massage. No internet for three weeks, so I am using the computer in the school office. Apparently, after three weeks I must obtain my Korean resident card which allows me to open a banking account, enroll for Korean health insurance, and secure a Korean cell phone. Tomorrow, I will seek out local Wi-Fi spots so I can Skype with ya'll.. More to follow.

Love from the Land of the Morning Calm,

The Start of a Journey

Originally written January 26, 2009.

Amtrak: Philadelphia, PA to Toledo, OH

As I sit on the train, return trip from Philadelphia to Toledo, I wonder what I will miss the most. I wonder what memories will soon become fond recollections of my original thirty years spent living in the United States. Or will my thoughts in the coming months only be consumed with new experiences, new relationships, a new academic career, and a new life outside the U.S.

The trip to Philadelphia was enjoyable, as time with family should be. I am certain not everyone enjoys their time spent with family as much as I do, and I am also certain that my short time with them would not be as precious if we did this every weekend or if the trip lasted a week instead of only the weekend.

I am also left thinking that it’s unfortunate this is my first long distance train ride. The train is nearly empty. Amtrak. It’s a shame, really, that more Americans do not embrace this once grand mode of transportation; an economic engine that once helped fuel the Industrial Revolution and provided seamless transportation between the East and West coasts of the United States. For I have enjoyed my train ride and watching the unfamiliar Alleghany scenery pass. It’s serene. As an example, the countryside surrounding Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is far more picturesque and stupendous than any American history book could ever describe. This scenery, if viewed overhead from an airplane would seem insignificant and unrecognizable at thirty thousand feet. Besides, the seats on the train are more comfortable than an airplane, I have more foot room to help relax, and a generous recline feature. If only there were a pretty stewardess to flirt with and purchase alcoholic drinks from instead of the not-so-pretty sixty-year-old conductor lady who, it seems, can barely manage a smile.

As my thoughts return to my upcoming journey, I am left wondering what the next twelve months will bring? Will I find the Asian adventure I so desperately seek? Will my yearning desire to travel and experience new cultures be fulfilled? Do I have the right attitude for this? Will I be a good teacher? Will they like me? Will I like them? Or will twelve months pass as easily and carefree as the past thirty plus years have passed...

I am hopeful to find something meaningful on this journey. I am hopeful…