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.

Goodbye to a Maple Leaf

This week was interesting to say the least. I had the usual week I guess with some rowdy classes and having to exact “punishment.” But overall my classes are pretty tame. I am running out of material in some classes, we finished the book, so I am having to get material from other books so we can do something in class, instead of playing hangman or the word game. I went to Korean class on Saturday, which went well I suppose. I had planned on going to Daegu F.C. soccer game at World Cup stadium last Saturday, but I sorta took a nap and didn’t set my alarm. So, I want to go to some in August as there are 3 games on Saturdays.

Pastor Kim introduced the last 4 consonants, so now I just have to memorize them. Kim told us the story of a Korean missionary who went to a remote tribe in Africa. The tribe had a oral language, but not written. So, he taught them Korean writing, and the tribe wrote their language in Korean characters. Pretty amazing, huh? After class we went to birthday party at Outback for Karl, who incidentally is from New Zealand. I find that rather amusing, We went to a Australian restaurant for a guy from New Zealand.

Oh, I almost forgot, Tammy (a Canadian) who still says they do not say “aboot” in Canada, is leaving for the U.K. So, we had lunch at Italy and Italy on Sunday. After eating and socialing, some of us went downtown and played some arcades. After blasting aliens and undead people attacking us, we had some coffee. I have 3 days of work, then a 2 day school vacation Thursday and Friday. Not sure what I’m going to do, possibly amusement park or hiking to see some temples. I vote for the latter rather than the former. Because the latter is more amusing for picture taking than the former. And also, I don’t fare too well on rides at the former over the latter.

Soccer this weekend

Ok, a week or so ago, I don’t remember right off. I went to the local U.S. army base here to meet Pete, a guy I know from church. He took me to the barber shop and I got a army style hair cut. It’s not too short, it has a little length on top. But, the base had regular people from America doing their thing. After my cut the lady then started to give me a “massage.” Pete warned me about this, he said some people said it hurts a little. She leaned me forward and grabbed both my wrists and pulled back. I could feel my muscles tightening up. Then she started beating on my back with her fists, she started on my shoulders and then moved over my spine and settled in over a nerve. Quite uncomfortable if I may say so. Then Pete drove to a building that had some restaurants including Taco Bell, Subway, and there was a drive thru Burger King in the base also. Drive thrus are not very common here. And I forgot to mention that the barber shop and food court had ESPN playing, it brought a little rush of home sickness.

Then on Saturday I went to Korean class at 11:30 am, then Christi and Sam and I went downtown going in a few shops and then ate at Papa John’s for lunch. I was surprised we had free refills on our coke pitcher. We then made our way to Sam’s house for bulgogi, traditional Korean food. Sam is a Korean friend I met at church. We all sat on the floor around a table and ate using chopsticks.

First baseball Game in Korea

Ok, so people from church and other friends met at Daegu station and and then we walked over the Citizens Stadium (baseball). The first thing I noticed is that there are 4 mascots outside of the stadium. I bought my ticket which cost 6,000 W, which is under $6. There was a row of vendors all selling chicken, fried chicken, chicken wings. It was kinda creepy because the vendors were shouting at us to buy their food and they held out bottled water and a box of chicken as we passed by to go into the gate. There were about 10 or so in our group, and we saved some seats down the first base line. So, they played a half inning and then started the bottom of the first and then the rains came. After an hour, they called the game. So, Christi, Elise, and I walked to Daegu Station and ate at Subway at the subway, yeah corny I know. Deagu station is a huge building about 5 stories, it has department stores, eating places, movie theaters, subway station, and train station.



On, Sunday we had communion at church, we had a piece of cake for the bread. So, a few of us decided to go the baseball game today since we missed out on yesterday. I sprinkled a bit, but did not rain, thank goodness. The fans chanted and sang the whole game. They would sing a cheer for the batter or just chant “Samsung Lion” (Daegu’s team). It was great fun. Oh, and one thing I have not seen before is a beer drinking contest…with women…with straws. I did not get a good picture of it, they were on the third base dugout area, I was on the first base side. The team had cheerleaders who danced and sometimes led cheers. But, a guy in baseball uniform was next to the cheerleaders, and he was leading cheers. The people in front of us started a cheer “Samsung Lions,” I guess you can tell who the foreignors are.