Seoul pictures

Ok, so first things first. Last Thursday I heard from a Daniel at church, he told me that his university he teaches at is looking for someone to fill a position in a weeks time. So, he gave me the contact person’s name and number and I called her up. I told her I was Daniel’s friend, and she wanted to send a courier over to my hagwon to pick up the copies of my passport, visa, and the like the same day. It was a little surreal. When I told her my hagwon is in Chilgok, about 45 minutes away, we set a time the next morning to meet and have an “interview.” So, Friday I rode with Daniel down to Kyunpook National University, as he was going there as well and so he could introduce us. The pay at the university is not that much more than the hagwon, but it more than makes for it in vacation days. So, I asked some questions and met the head teacher who is from South Africa.

Saturday morning I took the KTX to Seoul. It was an hour and a half. It cost about $40, and considering that the normal slow train takes 4 hours and just cost like 10-15 won less than the KTX, it is worth it. I got off the train at Seoul Station which is the last stop. I wanted to go to the electronics market, it is several buildings that having nothing but electronics and computers. So, I got on the subway and went to Yongsan Station and perused around. Then, I went back to Seoul Station and saw a sign for the city bus tour. So, I waited with other people and got on the bus and saw some sights. It was a good way to see the city. I got off at the “traditional Korean village.” This was the only place that I have seen postcards, amazing. And I stopped at Etaewon, it is an international district. I had lunch at Quizno’s, and it was next to Cold Stone. There were a lot of foreignors there walking the streets, especially American people. There was a Hard Rock Café store, no restaurant though. I had planned to meet up with Myron in Seoul. He lives in Incheon, which is about 30 or so minutes away. I met him at a Chinese restaurant at about 6pm. Then, after talking awhile, we walked a bit, then sat a spell at Starbucks. I texted Jenny when I was on the KTX as we were passing Daejeon to say I was going to be in Seoul. She replied later Saturday that she and a friend were going to Lotte World and would like to meet up later that night. So, Myron and I took the subway down and switched trains and finally found the exit that the girls were at. It was nice to see Jenny and her friend, just to see familiar faces is a big deal. Her friend, Christine, is Canadian Korean, her parents were born in Korea, but she doesn’t know much Korean. So, we were in line at the express bus ticket booth, this guy came up and asked Christine something in Korean. It is funny because she doesn’t know what he is saying, but she is a good actor. So, it was getting late, and Myron wanted to make sure we could take the subway back to his apartment before the train closed down for the night.

soccer volleyball

The last week or so.

On Saturday, August 8 I helped out at vacation Bible school at church. Except they do not call it VBS, they just say Bible camp. That was fun. We started out singing and then we went to small group, which I led. Then we played with modeling clay. Every kid made a man. I don’t know if the other Korean teacher told them to do that or what. Someone told me that Koreans are not taught to think for themselves. If the older kid made a man, then the rest of the kids would follow suit. And then a Korean missionary who is serving in Canada spoke and showed a video of the horrid conditions in North Korea. Rob spoke about the orphanage he helps at. Then, we finished by having fried chicken and pizza. Sometimes I think Koreans are more American (in food anyways) than we are.

Well, first the bad news. I found out on Tuesday that August 28 is my last day at my English academy. My boss told me that we don’t have enough students. So, I have been looking high and low for a job. I have talked to people at church that have a lot of contacts as well as I applied to several jobs online. I have gotten several responses back via email. One recruiting agency called me to set up an interview. On Thursday I had supper (at 10pm) after class with a Korean teacher at McDonald’s no less. That was about the first time we really talked to any degree. She gave me the dish on the academy, the boss, and the Korean teacher that left after less than a week. A Korean teacher left a week ago, and her replacement sat in on her classes for a couple of days. But, she worked for three days, then abruptly quit. Supposedly she did not like all of the work that was required of her. And I learned my supper partner, Daisy, wants to study in Canada. I always like it when people pursue their goals.
I have been thinking about things I want to do if and when I leave Korea. For one, I want to go to Seoul. I want to go there, especially to see the electronics market that stretches for several blocks. And I want to go to China. I had tentatively planned to go to Beijing over Christmas, but I have not heard any response from people. Jenny is planning on going to China, she has her visa now. That is one country I want to visit before I leave. I do want to see the Cherry Blossoms in Japan though.

I met a girl a few weeks ago who last taught in Egypt. That sounds interesting to say the least. She said she did not have to wear the head to toe garb.

School Vacation

I had a three day week last week. Tuesday, a friend came down and we watched Transformers at Cinus Theater in Chilgok. I have a new class at 2:55 now, well it started a couple of weeks ago Monday through Friday, but I have to be at work at 2pm, go figure. So, my friend and I bought our tickets, then went down to McDonald’s and had breakfast, it was about 9:30am. We took a little long eating or talking or something and we had to rush back to just catch the start of the movie. Then, we walked toward my apartment then I had to leave for work. Thursday and Friday were my days off, so on Thursday I went hiking with Vanessa from Oklahoma, she got the shaft from the bus driver, but found a taxi and made it to the mountain eventually. I hiked some, before I could not go much longer. It was really steep going, so I turned back and took the bus back to the city. I stopped downtown and had a double bacon cheeseburger at Burger King. Well, I say bacon, but is was more like Canadian bacon, ok HAM. Then, the next day I went with some folks to Woobang Tower Land, an amusement park in Daegu. They had roller coasters, bumper cars, arcades, and sweet squid. I managed one roller coaster, that was a very high drop. I think I would have lost my lunch, but I have not eaten yet. We walked up to the tower, up to about the 72nd floor, which has a panaramic view of the whole city. It was quite a vantage point.
On, my way home, well just after I got off my bus at my bus stop, my friend called. So, I went to my apartment to ‘freshen up’ and then got back on the bus. I met Christie at the Outback and we ate at Kraze Burger. Other than the gross misspelling of “omelette” on the wall, it was great fun.