Bee Hear Now, Bzzzz

The Benefits and Bummers of Courtside 6th Floor

2007-08-30T17:35:00.000-06:00

The weather is quite nice right now, and after sleeping with the windows open last night, I decided to reflect on the pluses and minuses of living courtyard-side on the sixth floor in my box-shaped apartment building.Benefits: a. Hidden from direct sunlight, resulting in cooler natural temperature (and lower electric bill) during heated times. b. Secluded from street noises (though the "

The DeBiking

2007-08-29T02:47:00.000-06:00

The blue and grey "Lespo Sidewinder" seemed safe and sound, sitting beside the subway entrance whilst strapped to the bicycle rack. I gave it what turned out to be its last goodbye, through the spokes of the front wheel lacing the loop of the lock and latching it around the bar rack. Down from the subway I returned the next day.Some ugly, old, slightly rusty piece-of-crap bike stood where my bike

English-on-Korean (Caption) Action

2007-08-28T16:55:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, before going to play some hockey (I hadn't played floor hockey since high school; lots of pain following the matches) I saw a boy, aged maybe 11 or 12, T-Shirt emblazoned across the chest with phrase: "The guns." On each side of the phrase were arrows directing the reader to the boy's arms, where his biceps muscles were supposed to rest.Underneath the previously stated phrase was

The Land of Morning Calm Leaves Me Restless

2007-08-20T18:46:00.003-06:00

I am somewhat enjoying the ropes of classes now that Gena (the expert cook, amongst other areas of "expertise" including the music of Eminem and Steven King) is gone. A trip to Japan made me realise that fun exists out anywhere: you just need to find the means and proper company whose energy and ideas off which you can feed. Funny that I saw this more clearly while there, considering that Tokyo

Falling

2007-06-27T04:42:00.001-06:00

I rode my bike to school the other day. Usually if the weather's good, this is the case. The other day was special, though.Pedaling up the sidewalk up to my school, the sidewalk disappeared. A long pool of sand, similar to a track-and-field long-jump pit, lay in the sidewalk's place. Undeterred, I rolled on through the sand - almost.Just before the pit finished, my bike's front wheel sank into

Doom Swings

2007-06-05T22:43:00.000-06:00

Gena, my coworker, announced her resignation yesterday. By July 14th, she'll be gone. Hopefully, the hagwon can find someone able to cook. Otherwise, the childrens' appetites and health are at my mercy!I've gotten sick of teaching the little kids lately. Trying to think of ways that I can have this teaching tots situation contribute to my greater future. How to piece it into the long run?

"Today is B.I. Day"

2007-05-08T04:12:00.000-06:00

Every Wednesday, Kiwi Teacher and Berry Teacher (me) teach science and cooking to the morning kiddie classes. These days are known in Banana Island as "B.I. Days." Certain recipes (i.e. pork meatballs or cookies) require advanced preparation and testing before we give them a go in class. Science usually does not require any sort of pre-class jump-start to allow the kids to complete the

Today, "99% CACAO" really did mean 99% cocoa

2007-04-19T06:39:00.000-06:00

After tearing off three pieces and throwing them into my mouth, I wondered why anyone would ever buy this stuff. It's basically baking chocolate, with maybe a granule of sugar per rectangular morsel. Two months ago a student of mine gifted me with"99% CACAO" chocolate. It couldn't match the mild bitterness of the Hershey's Special. It did, however, taste good enough to eat.

Cherry Blossom Festival

2007-04-11T18:51:00.000-06:00

The cherry blossoms blossom for only about two weeks every year. On Easter Sunday, I saw them in the first week of blossoming. The place: Jin Hae, a city further south than any in which I've set foot while in Korea, on the southern coast. The Korea naval academy exists there, first built as a Japanese naval base during their period of occupation in the 20th century.Actually, the cherry blossoms

At the Gym

2007-03-28T18:18:00.000-06:00

In a building two blocks from my apartment, I take one of four mirrored elevators to the third floor and turn to enter the Hanyang Fitness Center through two parallel glass doors. Inside on the right, perpendicular to the entrance, is a desk about four feet high. A cute, mid-20s (I think) Korean woman rises from her chair behind the desk smiles and greets me with "Ahnyong hahseo?" ("Hello", or

Judgement: Rather insensitive

2007-03-14T07:54:00.000-06:00

I used to wear a T-Shirt with Southpark's "Timmy" gracing the front. For those who need briefing: Timmy is the mentally handicapped, whellchair-bound character with ADD who can only say his own name. I considered myself conscious of the sensitivities of disability, yet I found Timmy's mental shortcomings hilarious. It is, after all, a cartoon. But after recently, I've rethought the humor of

The Lobster Dance

2007-02-27T18:02:00.000-06:00

A lobster restaurant just opened on the street-level in my apartment building . Outside the doorway of the new place, loud techno music blared. A makeshift archway of balloons and flowers ran from one end of the door to the other.At both feet of the arch rested two huge speakers. In front of each speaker danced two young women with short mini-skirts. The dance was nothing to take lightly.

Standing on an express bus for forty-five minutes...

2007-02-06T21:33:00.000-06:00

... may be worth the 15 less minutes of travel (when compared with the subway).During a non-busy time of night, the commute from Ilsan to the over-popular Gangnam area isn't too bad; if traveling from the former to the latter. The return trip, however, yields standing-room only on the 9700 bus. Thus far, I have yet to exempt myself from dinners with friends in the crowded district. Time will

Pro Pee? Sure!

2007-01-27T23:46:00.000-06:00

I'm waiting for my alien registration card, so that I may then await health insurance, so that I may then await an available Saturday appointment at the international clinic, so that I may then await a prescription for Propecia, so that I may then await possible hair regrowth on my forescalp. I need to take an hour on the subway to go into Itaewon, the foreigner district of Seoul. This is

Pigeon on a stick

2007-01-22T20:39:00.000-06:00

That wasn't chicken that Josh and I ate out on the corner by the subway many times last year. Gena, my Canadian coworker, informed me of this last week. To make sure, I checked with Korean friend Gil. "Yes, it is pigeon; street food is not good for you," he says, ordering from an outdoor avenue stand a plate of boiled pig-intestine filled with noodles and blood, along with some pieces of pig lung

"The Beverly Hills of Korea"

2007-01-13T10:56:00.000-06:00

Last year, before going to see Amber and Kate's Daechi area apartment for the first time, they explained that their adult students had told them Daechi was "the Beverly Hills of Korea."Amber and Kate smiled and explained it was a bit of an exaggeration. The sewage smell in the air aided their explanation, as did the presence of many apartment buildings in place of large houses and mansions, as

skiing

2006-02-20T05:47:00.000-06:00

I went three weeks ago. I fell on my face five times, not once did I roll, so I did rather well. I went down some "Black Diamond" courses. I doubt they were real Black diamonds, since there were only a couple lumps resembling moguls and considering that I didn't have a rough time on any of them. I didn't know about the trip until the night before, in a "pub" with some buddies. Josh gets a

A morning conversation with mr. che, Josh and me

2006-01-25T04:37:00.001-06:00

mr. che: did you know all Korean teachers at wonderland are not married? Josh and Me: oh... yea?mr. che: yes, yes. they are all not touched. {walks over to Josh, rubs his arm} like this. No skinship. Skinship.Josh and Me: {nervous and awkward laughter}.mr. che: {walks away then abruptly turns around} did you know that, um, the no touched Koreans also, um, no sexing?Josh: {turns head away,

On Thursday I get my wisdom teeth pulled.

2006-01-24T12:15:00.000-06:00

It'll take between 15 and 30 minutes. Today the dentist looked at them. "Simple extraction." I plan on teaching a Kindergarten class with gauze in my mouth. After that, my two hours will have expired, and I can spit the gauze and go about my business unhindered.Maybe I'll get laser eye surgery within the next seven months.

New Years

2006-01-09T23:04:00.000-06:00

Instead of a big ball dropping from the sky like in Times Square, a bunch of men battering-ram a huge bell. Then the fireworks explode. Everyone has a delicious time with beebimbap and soju, and then the next thing you know, you're waking up on someone's floor where a dog's resting his sleeping head on your crotch.

Speaking of Weddings...

2005-12-20T19:59:00.000-06:00

I attended the wedding of Weon Chun last weekend. I first met Weon's sister, Seon, in Juneau last summer while on an Alaskan boat cruise. Seon and Weon both attended the University of Iowa, where my aunt lives. My aunt met them through some education conference, and I met them through my aunt.I met Weon for dinner once in October, and she invited me to her wedding. Last weekend was the second

Speaking of plastic surgery...

2005-12-20T19:33:00.001-06:00

I went to a wedding last weekend, and the woman who accompanied me, Seon (the bride's sister) had had some freckles removed the week before. Seon is a professor in Pasadena, and she flew over for the wedding and for some touch-ups on her already barely blemished face. I must have changed my facial expression a little, because after telling me of the freckle removal, she explained how looks are

"Andrew Teacher, why no black hair?"

2005-12-09T05:29:00.002-06:00

"Why don't I have black hair? Because (I have European ancestry? No, too complicated for kindergarteners. God made me that way? No, not good enough for Clara.), I am from America." Clara went back to her seat, her brow in a crease, dissatisfied with my answer."New teachers? Yellow hair?" Kids asked when Amber and Kate visited wonderland yesterday. The children at

"Give Peace a Change"

2005-12-09T03:40:00.000-06:00

Appears as a quote on a John Lennon poster I saw in Seoul. Funny, but I'm more taken by the fact that they care about his legacy out here.

Wonderful wonderland

2005-11-28T05:16:00.001-06:00

Josh just had two classes dropped from his Thursday schedule - parents keep pulling kids out of the school - they don't like our director, according to our supervisor. I don't think us teachers are in trouble. wonderland is a corporation - they have other schools across Seoul. We'll see how long our current school can stay afloat, then if shit finally hits the fan, excitement!

Severe Throat Infection

2005-11-16T20:09:00.000-06:00

"I have one?" I ask the doctor in the clinic."Yes."I look over at his computer screen: the program is in English, and he's typed in all of the symptoms I told him. A list of conditions follows the symptoms, including Severe Throat Infection. Remember that Simpsons episode with the virtual doctor program?: "You've got Herpes."I'm lucky the doctor knows English. The aides at the front desk did

Girl Hair

2005-11-11T03:47:00.000-06:00

One of my classes is obsessed with looking at my hair, laughing at it, and then telling me that I have "girl's hair." Lots of older women like to perm their hair, I've noticed, and my hair is curly. I think I know why they laugh at me. Only that one class.I got boxes of little cookie sticks from students today. The Korean version of Valentine's Day is in progress, and they give each other

Movies in a moleroom

2005-11-02T23:55:00.000-06:00

I caught up on a couple of movies this past week - the city has its assortment of PC rooms, one type being movie rooms. These have nice comfy reclining chairs at every computer, and a pair of headphones with each as well. There is a network full of (most likely illegal) movies. They have subtitles, but most are english-speaking movies.I watched "Sideways" finally. The best was while he's

they suck

2005-10-27T05:49:00.001-06:00

Headaches, especially when teaching. I have to do report cards and I feel confused because I can't think. "Eric is a good student. Go Eric!" "Grace is nice. She does her homework." These are some examples of my extensive criticism.In one of my new classes, the kids cry a lot because I'm not like Jaron teacher. They're not a bunch of hellraisers like the other kindergartens I had, so I

Seoraksan: a big, beautiful mountain park

2005-10-19T18:21:00.000-06:00

I climbed a mountain last weekend. The leaves are starting to change color, so it was very pretty. I looked at a poster of the animals that supposedly live in the park. Lemurs were the first animal. That would've been AWESOME. But, no cuddly big-eyed lemurs, only a couple of stupid chipmunks.Field Trip today! I have to make sure my kids don't get hurt or die. Fun.Taster's Choice coffee

'twas a fight 'n turds

2005-10-10T22:20:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I did a pronunciation exercise with my kindergarteners. The tool I used is like a rolodex with three changable parts. Each part has letters, example: [k] [or] [t] = kids say "court." Flip the last part to "s," "cores." Get it?The very first letters in the rolodex are [t] [er], "tur." Guess what letter I picked to finish it off? I had my kids say "turd" individually. They had no

Gim-Chee

2005-10-09T02:50:00.001-06:00

I returned to Cheonpung Land (bungee) with Josh, and we braught along the rest of the Wonderland crew plus Amber and Kate. This time, I came as a spectator only. My stomach was in knots after a night of wolfing down red-hot cabbage at a Korean barbeque. A glass of wine, a couple shots of soju, one Manhattan and two Long Islands (thank you New York), and a tall dark beer may have assisted the

Whitewater Rafting

2005-10-06T02:02:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, Josh, Jaron, Amber and Kate joined me as we rafted down some river two hours from Seoul. (Everything we've done everywhere is two hours somewhere from Seoul). I forgot to take my cell phone out of my pocket until halfway through the trip. It still works. I got soaked. My wallet still works, too. It still has some dampness to it, as do the dollar bills. We had one guide, who's

DMZ

2005-09-27T18:24:00.000-06:00

Howdy,I'm inside the smokey PC Bung, this is where I go to use the internet and do my lesson plans for school. This is also where many Koreans go to play games for several hours a day (or for 48 hours straight until they die).Anyway, last weekend I went to the DMZ with Josh, Amber and Kate. Last time we tried, it was cancelled because the North decided to open its dams in preparation for a

Fan Death

2005-09-23T02:42:00.000-06:00

I learned about this from fellow Koreans, then I found a website:www.fandeath.net

Jungee Bumping

2005-09-21T02:21:00.000-06:00

On Monday, the 19th, Josh and I made a 2 hour bus ride from Seoul to Jecheon, where we hailed a cab to Cheongpung Land, another 20 minutes drive up through winding mountains. We arrived and entered the first building we saw.There were men wearing orange "staff" shirts, harnesses in hands. They pointed us toward a desk to our right. There we received greetings from a man who took our names and had

Eating Live Octopus

2005-09-11T01:29:00.000-06:00

Yes, that's right. I ate live octopus last night. They bring out a plate of freshly chopped up live octopus, and all the tentacles and pieces move when you poke them. They also suck on your tongue and teeth when you try to swallow them. I dipped mine in garlic butter and hot sauce, about six or seven pieces. It tasted kind of like calamari, but chewier and uncooked.Some kid in my class chucked a

Black...

2005-09-06T03:19:00.000-06:00

is the color on the Kleenex when I blow my nose in the morning. The air in Seoul is so polluted, I feel wheezy all the time. Allergies don't really bother me, though, so lose one ailment, add another. I don't have much free time during the week, I'm in school teaching from 9am to around 6pm Monday through Friday. Kindergarten takes a lot of energy out of me. Those kids are in the morning