SUWON BY THE WAY!

Good-lordy was it gorgeous this weekend!  After a week of near shivering temperatures Suwon was surprisingly graced with summer-like warmth and sunshine.  I could have spent the weekend in flip flops had I not already stowed them somewhere under my bed in exchange for a fresh pair of Etnies.

After a quick sprint to the mountain I showered and joined a small part of the Topdang crew for an early dinner at Heejay's.  Then it was on to Bundang for a Book Exchange and Capture the Flag.  I didn't bring any books to trade as (per Perky's enthusiastic suggestion) I am currently spending what little reading time I have on a mediocre Steven King novel called Duma Key.  I'm about a fifth of the way through and still hoping that the plot takes an interesting turn somewhere but it starting to seem like Mr. King doesn't even care anymore.  There's none of the passion he had for novels like The Stand, Pet Cemetary, The Regulators, etc....but I'm getting off topic.  Having no literature to contribute to the collective, I spent my time cleaning up on the pool table and taking in native English conversation like a starving man eating double cheeseburgers. 

Late in the night the crew migrated to a nearby park for Capture the Flag.  Having no stealthy qualities about me I was taken prisoner early in the game.  Aside from tattooing gang symbols on fellow inmates and crafting shivs from beer cans and plastic bags I spent my time in prison trying to find the enemy's flag...but to no avail.  Eventually I was back in the game but it was called short when a friend fractured his collar-bone and had to go to the hospital.  Though variables such as wet-grass and alcohol undoubtedly had a hand in the incident I am ashamed to say that it was my awkward, lumbering mass that delivered the blow.  I'm deeply sorry that you spent the weekend in surgery buddy.  It's all fun and games till someone invites a 240lb Polish gorilla onto the field.  Sometimes I see myself as Lenny from Of Mice and Men; a tragic gentle giant who, not knowing his own strength, destroys all that is good and beautiful around him.

Saturday went well in that I managed to make it through the day with out breaking anything or injuring anyone.  I dragged myself out of bed around noon because the two Matt's were banging away at my door.  As you can see Matt #1 had an equally engaging evening, having awoken with a swollen eye, the cause of which he cannot accurately remember.

After a pot of black coffee and loud heavy metal I met the group up at Pizza School for an event I have been putting off all summer: A Suwon Bluewings game.  Yes, I had been meaning to go to one of the local soccer games for quite a few weeks now but it always seems as if something of slightly more consequence is occupying my weekend.  Well, not this Saturday.  As it was the last home game of the season (and Josh gave me his season pass (which I think was once Jareds so thanks to both of you)) I was committed to attending.  From Topdong we piled into two cabs and having a penchant for friendly competition combined with provoking taunts from Perky, I offered the cabbie a hefty tip (about $2) if he could beat the lesser group to World Cup Stadium.  There were some hairpining turns, near wrecks, and blind manuevers...much like any other taxi ride in Korea...but in the end it wasn't much of a competition at all.  Our man had clearly taken to the challenge and was the superior autoist, a seasoned and cunning chauffeur who knew every inch of the road as well as he knew the performance thresholds of his trusty machine. 

The World Cup Stadium is an impressively clean and modern complex.  A great part is that (unlike in America) prices aren't marked up 500% at the concession stands.  I got a large beer and a chicken sandwich for about the same price as I would have paid at a convienience store.  We sat next to the Suwon Bluewing Skullcrew, an enthusiastic group of soccer hooligans who don't cease their banging of drums, waving of flags, or cheering for a single moment of the game.  Their dedication is heartmoving.  Since all the cheers were in Korean I usually just joined in by uttering whatever gutteral noise my primitive western brain could similarly conjure.  Though I was often sure they were literally screaming "SUWON BLUEWINGS!" all I heard was "SUWON BY THE WAY!"

Aside from being my first time at a Bluewings game, it was also my first time at a professional soccer game.  The scoring in soccer is a little slow but the game play is exceptional and worthy of adoration.  I'd give it 7.5 out of 10 as far as live sporting events I have attended.

Following the game it was back to the station for the second night in a row at HeeJay's.  Man, I love that place.

When we were full of meat and beer Brian convinced a good number of us to go to norebang.  I have said before that I prefer karaoke over norebang, the fundamental difference being that karaoke is done in front of a large group of strangers whereas norebang is conducted in a small room with just your friends, but after this particular experience I'd have to say that I now rate the two almost equally.  This bang was hot!  Floor to ceiling mirrors, leather couches, a second floor loft, chandeliers, tasteful disco lights, and a music selection unlike any I've seen yet in the country.  Thanks for a great time Brian.  You will be missed.

So that's another unforgettable weekend in The Land of the Hazy Morning Subway Rides.  Thanks again for reading.

Cool Thing About Korea #33:Mondu

Halfway Home

As of today I've been in Korea for six months.  When you consider a milestone like that it puts things in perspective and you can't help but reflect.  I think about that first night walking through the door of my Topdong apartment and wondering, "What the hell are you doing here?" I think about things I didn't realize I had till they were gone.  I think about the ways I've grown and changed in the past 183 days.  But most of all, I think about the reasons I wanted to come here in the first place.  In my first blog entry I wanted to come to Korea for self-satisfaction, adventure, and to save money.  Let's reflect on those sentiments and see where they stand today.

Have I found satisfaction as an English teacher?  There are rewarding moments when you see one of the kids grasp a concept and it's ridiculously easy for a full time job, but if there is anything I have learned in this field it is that I don't want to do it for the rest of my life.  I suppose it's fine for now but I need something a little more technical to keep me interested and I'm not sure an English degree is going to help me in that direction.  It is a realization I would not have come to without the time spent here but with that in mind I think I'll be returning to school when my contract is over to pursue a more scientific degree.

Well how about adventure then?  With that one we undoubtedly hit the nail on the head.  There is always something exciting going on in Korea and the foreigners who live here have a daring zeal about them unlike many other people I've ever met.  It's hard to walk down the street without being intrigued by something and if you can't find a far-out way to spend the weekend then you're either fresh in the country or you just don't go out much.  But adventure doesn't always have to be whitewater rafting or bungee jumping.  At least four times a week I run to the top of Chilbo San and simply gaze out at the ever expanding city, lost in thought and amazement.  It's both epic and humbling at the summit.  A place of sanctuary and clarity to work through uneasy thoughts.  I love that mountain and will carry its memory with me throughout life.

So have I saved any money?  I've thrown a couple bucks at the student loans but with the opportunities for travel and experience here I am unfortunately not as wealthy as I originally anticipated.  Oh well, still have six more months to straighten that out. 

There is quite a bit I am excited to accomplish in the short time I have left here (exploring Thailand is situated at the top of the list) and though the prospect of finishing it all seems unlikely the thought of wasting even a moment on trivialities concerns me.  On the other hand there is a lot to miss about home and I think only the most intrepid of globetrotters would be telling the truth if they said they weren't even a little homesick.  I miss family and friends, American food, and driving a convertible late into the night through the West Chester countryside amongst other things.  But as the past six months have evaporated behind me like wisps of temporal mist so I expect shall the remainder of this term persist in a fleeting march and thus I am dedicated to seizing this beast of a nation by the throat and throttling every bit of experience, culture, friendship, and fun out of her.  I have given up small comforts to be here.  Sacrificed things I held dear that I know I will never get back.  But I am a better, smarter, and more mature man because of my time in Korea and I regret none of it.  May the next six months be as enlightening, rewarding, and action-packed as the last.

Cool Thing About Korea #32: Lotte

Traditional Korean Village

This month has been flying. Last week I didn’t even have any work to do because of mid-terms so I slept at my desk until noon and then got to go home early. This week I’m playing Battleship with the kids and it’s a bunch of fun. The Merkles are exploring the southern end of the peninsula for a few days but I’m sure they’ll be back for some Seoul action before their plane leaves on Friday. Last weekend was pretty hardcore. I’ll keep the grittier details out of this PG publication but we tore up Itaewon until after the sun came up. Exactly a week ago we visited the Traditional Korean Village. Here’s a video I threw together while watching episodes of Entourage.


Cool Thing About Korea #31: In a Seoul bar we discovered an interesting tonic known as Agwa that I have never seen before in the states. I wouldn't surprise me if it's illegal in many places.

Global Fair 2009

Wow, my friends Derek and Heather came all the way from West Chester, Pennsylvania to hang out with me and see the Land of the Morning Calm. The day after they got here we went to Global Fair 2009. Thanks for the free tickets Mary Beth. Here's a video chronicling some of the festivities.



There was also a 3D movie that I didn't mention in the film because I didn't have any video or pictures of it...but let me just say that it was really weird. If the flying cars and geodesic spheres portrayed therein are any indication of what Korea is hoping to accomplish in Incheon than they are either over ambitious or have a lot of work to do. Anyway, I have mid-terms at school this week so no classes. I'll try to have another video up in a few days and churn out some lesson plans in my free time. Peace

Cool Thing About Korea #30: Rice Patty Hats

Happy Chuseok

Thursday afternoon I sat at my desk abusing Facebook and Youtube, glancing at the clock every few moments as the minutes crawled lethargically onward. When the hands finally registered 4:30 I grabbed my coat, skipped down to the first floor, and let out a relieving sigh as I pushed myself into the cool October afternoon. I couldn’t help but smile on the walk home, listening to the new Alice in Chains album, taking in the scenery, anticipating Chuseok weekend adventures.

Rounding the alley to my apartment I said Anyong and waved to the group of school girls smoking cigarettes on my wall. As I dug in my pocket for my keys it occurred to me that the ground around my door way was  unusually damp. I was thinking that I was going to go running up the mountain for a few hours but as I turned the key in the lock the door shot open, my running shoes riding a wave of water down the stairs. I wanted to swear but found composure. I took off my loafers and socks before wading through the pond that had formed in my kitchen. The sound of spraying was unmistakable and was coming from behind the washing machine. I turned off the valve then tried the light switch but all of the electricity was dead. I emerged from my apartment just as the girls had begun to take interest in the waygookin’s misfortune. I began calling my landlord and one of the teenagers offered me a cigarette. I usually don’t smoke but under the circumstances I figured “why not?” Two of the girls came back with buckets and a mop and began bailing water off of my floor. In half an hour everything was dry. Good kids.  For their efforts I offered some mechju and we sat around shooting the breeze until it was dark. My Korean is non-existent but their English was adequate to maintain a conversation. I learned that most of them were my neighbors and all of them were Josh’s students. In time the landlord’s sister showed up and we managed to get the power back on.

Needing to cut loose I met some of the crew near the Yuk for bowling and beer. What else can I say? It was a night on the town. I rocked out.

Yesterday I kept my promise to myself about running and did 8 miles. 2 miles to the base of the mountain, 2 along the ridge, and 4 back to Tapdong. I’m getting way better than I was only a few months ago. Lots more stamina. I never get tired of the view from on top of Chilbo San.

A couple of people went into Seoul to hit the Casinos last night but seeing as how I only ever gamble with my life, never my money, I invited Matt and Matt over to play power hour with crappy beer. It’s great having people around who can appreciate loud heavy metal until the early hours of the morning. Eventually we made our way to Jokki Jokki for fried food and Stout, many of the patrons fleeing in the wake of our confident American demeanor.

Well today is Chuseok and Tapdong is abandoned. In an hour I’ve got to go to the airport to pick up Merkel and his sister…then the real fun begins. Tomorrow is the Global Fair in Incheon. Monday is the Hite factory beer tour. I’m sure both will add up to make a great blog entry.

Cool Thing About Korea #29: The fire show at the Laos Bar