Not to talk about food again but something interesting has been going on at the place I work at. We have a listserve at my job which basically means you can send out one email to everyone who works at my place of business. This sounds like a great idea and it is when you want to get important information out to the masses. However, people have been using this list-serve to have....disagreements with other people. Disagreements is putting it nicely by the way. I love a good debate but to me there is something disingenuous about having an argument on email? Is it just me? I mean, if you're going to argue with somebody about something and you see this person in your daily interactions do it face to face. I don't think people should hide behind their computer screens. That's why when I'm bothered by somebody and I talk to them directly and then I blog about it for everyone else to read.....
Anyways, here's the argument and it goes so much further then food by the way. While you're reading this I'd like you to think about how you're feeling and why you are feeling that way. You'll understand as you read further.
So some people in this country eat dog (I forget the name of the dish) on special occasions. It's a pretty big myth that all Korean or Asians for that matter eat dogs and cats. It's not just a myth its kind of a way to dehumanize an entire group of people. Because we attach such great importance to our pets we can not understand why any one would eat one. So if a person does eat one they are obviously inferior to us, right? Well, no, that's just another trick used by the MAN to keep people apart and scared of each other. I'm already getting off track here though.
OK. So some of the people at my work were thinking about getting together and going out to try some dog at a place that serves it. Well the listserve was jumping with action when this came to light and someone posted a U-Tube video of how the dog is prepared and how the dog is treated before being served. He then said that the people who were thinking about eating this meal "owed it to their meal" to see how it was prepared. It was this statement that made my eyebrow raise and I'll tell you why later. Anyways, I did some research before I came to Korea on the whole dog thing and these dogs are really put through the ringer. They are beaten and burned and tortured and killed very slowly. This is all done to increase the amount of testosterone and some other chemical in the dog meat. I will say this right off the bat. I too, could never eat a dog or a cat or a horse for that matter. I have attached to much emotion to these animals. I also couldn't eat a cow or a chicken if I had to kill it myself. I just don't have the stomach for it.
So lots of westerners banded together at my job and were trying to stop some other westerners from going out and trying dog. OK....whatever! But then this Korean teacher here got kind of sick of they way people were talking about it and asked people to stop posting messages on the listserve and to use it for work purposes only. The Korean teacher then said "If you don't like the culture then don't eat it". I found myself reading between the lines of this message. In a very Korean way this teacher was telling non Koreans to shut the fuck up! I can appreciate her position on this. Even though I find the way these dogs are prepared stomach turning I can't as easily denounce it in the way so many other Westerners did. Maybe it's because I'm Black. Now some of you might be saying "What does being Black have to do with anything right now Chris?" Well be quiet and I'll tell you. Pretty much everyone who commented on the listserve was White. Actually, everyone has been white who commented about the barbaric practice of eating dog. When the Korean teachers chimed in with her two cents she was instantly attacked (on email) by one of the foreign teachers. It was a very personal attack actually. This teacher basically called the Korean teacher a coward for not putting her name at the end of the email and then proceeded to tell her that she was wrong by saying eating dog was a part of Korean culture and she has Korean friends who can prove it. Historically, the practice of eating some dog is here. I don't think the Korean teacher was saying that it's a major part of Korean culture or the Korean diet. I think she was getting sick of people who are no Korean looking down on a practice that has been done in Korea. We (by we I mean people of the WEST) have this way of trying to force our ideals on other people. Usually we do it in a very abrupt and very clumsy fashion. I think this most recent event is a perfect example of this.
Now here's the thing. I'm torn because I find the way these dogs are treated to be extremely disturbing. But I eat meat. I don't just eat it, I love it. Do we treat chickens that well before we kill them? No. Sometimes we dont' even let them move. They never see the light of day. Some beef ranches treat their cows like shit. and I have a feeling don't appreciate being knocked on the head and gutted! The thing I find most ironic is that the people who had a problem with the dog thing eat meat. As a meat eater I find it hard to open my mouth on the matter. I owe it to my meal to know where it came from? Very interesting, and I agree with the statement. But I don't like the way it was used. If I owe it to that meal I owe it to every meal. I owe it to the cow, the chicken and the fish. Turkey's are stupid and they deserve to die so I don't owe them a damn thing! But you know what, even if I don't eat meat, do I not still owe it to my meal to know how it came to be on my place. Do I not owe it to all those workers who picked or pulled my food from the earth? Don't I need to fess up and acknowledge the horrible conditions in which some of these people live to provide me with my life giving meal? Don't I need to open my eyes and see that by them being paid pennies an hour for hard hard labor I'm able to eat my apple very cheaply.
The problem isn't eating dog, the problem is failure to understand that we are all connected to each other. It is difficult to take your blinders off on one issue and keep them securely fastened on the others. I don't like the practice of eating dogs because I like dogs. I dont' like the practice of abusing any animal. That's my personal opinion. I also understand that as a consumer I'm a huge hypocrite on the issue.
We all have our hot button issues. For some it's eating dogs and the way they are treated before they die. One of my hot button issues is female circumcision. I don't like it, I don't understand it and I think it's wrong. You're not going to convince me otherwise. It's abuse. It's just that simple for me. Women are being abused by this practice. I am willing to own that statement completely. I am also willing to sit down with people from cultures who practice this act and have a conversation with them about why they believe it's important. Will I judge them for it....absolutely. But I will also listen to them and I will not ridicule them for their beliefs. I realize this is very easy to write and not so easy to put into practice. I think we owe it to ourselves to try and understand those who are different then we are.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Do fish have balls?
Some people gain weight when they move out of the country. Some people lose weight. I'm one of those people who lose weight. I'm down about ten pounds or should I say 4.2 Kgs. I'm not trying to lose weight though. I'm actually trying to eat as much as I can lately but that's not working out to well for me. I'm always on the move and when I do have time I don't want to go out so I just make myself something quick. I've relying way too much on carbs right now. Here's my theory on why I'm having trouble at the moment. It's quite simple actually...I never realized how bad I am at using chopsticks. I mean I'm really really bad. Danielle is trying to teach me but it's not working out right now. I'm ok with the wood chopsticks but give me some metal ones and gameover. I don't know what it is but I'm not giving up. I think as soon as I can master the chopstick my weight should go back up. I refuse to use a knife and a fork right now so I suffer through my meals when I go out...or I just eat a lot of soup.
Speaking of soup can I describe this seafood compilation Danielle and I had last weekend. It was a traditional restaurant which means I was sitting on the floor which is fine for those of you who do yoga and have strong backs. I do not do yoga and I have a weak lower back right now. The car accident I was in four days before departing for Korea didn't help I'm sure. Anyways, we sat on the floor and they brought out this huge iron bowl full of seafood and fresh veggies. It was wonderful. They also bring out about ten different side dishes (more veggies, some noodles and egg cakes) and water of course. They place the bowl on top of this open gas flame in the middle of the table and warm it all up. Once it's hot you eat it up. In Korea the oldest person at the table is served first by the youngest person. This means whenever we go out Danielle will be fixing my plate for me....who am I to argue tradition!
So we're sitting on the floor, my back is aching but I'm eating this seafood soup. The name escapes me at the moment. We don't speak much Korean yet and the place we were eating at spoke know English so our meal consisted of a lot of smiles, some pointing and me saying "yes" and "thank you" (in perfect Korean mind you) a lot! There was know way we could have finished what they brought out for us to eat. It was enough to feed a small family of traditional Mormons. No disrespect to my Mormon peeps! I don't really know everything that was inside of this bowl but 99.5 % of it was great. Now lets talk about the .5% that was not.
At first I thought I had put some type of fish testicle inside of my mouth. It was nasty! I'll try anything once when it comes to food and for some reason I tried this twice. Each time the most vile juice burst inside my mouth. At this exact moment some nice Korean women would come by the table and check on us so I had to swallow what was festering inside of word box. Danielle seemed to think this was hilarious. This fish nuts were about the size of the tip of my thumb. After drinking lots of water I realized that fish don't have balls and if they do have balls there no way their that big, so I decided I was eating some kind of seafood brain. What ever it was it was nasty. I will eat that soup again but maybe I need to learn how to say hold the fish testicle/brain things in Korean.
By the way I love being in a place where no one understands me and I don't understand them and you have to communicate with each other. There's something wonderful about it. There are foreigners who have been here for months and sometimes years and none of them speak any Korean yet. They don't speak any??? I was talking to Danielle about this and we think that's just odd. I mean, who comes to live in a country and doesn't pick up any of the language. I hope by the time I decide to come back to the states I hope to know all Korean swear words and to be able to have basic communication. There's one thing to just have difficulty with other languages, but it's another thing to not even attempt to know the culture of those you come into direct contact with on a daily basis. There's almost something rude about that. Just my opinion.
One last thing, we stopped just North of Seoul in this area close to the U.S. army bases to get something to eat. The area is called Itaewon(I spelled that wrong) and there are a lot of foreigners who live here. Mostly Africans and people from the Middle East. We ended up eating at an Indian place. The food was amazing but it was this surreal experience eating great Indian food in Korea. By the way, this place was the most diverse I've seen yet in this country. There were people from all over the globe sharing food there.
I've been talking a lot about food in this blog but I think food is a great way to understand people. Maybe if our world leaders were forced to go to each other countries and eat a few traditional meals with people we would not have so many problems. Even Dick Cheny might have trouble planning to take over the world with a nice fish ball in his mouth!
Speaking of soup can I describe this seafood compilation Danielle and I had last weekend. It was a traditional restaurant which means I was sitting on the floor which is fine for those of you who do yoga and have strong backs. I do not do yoga and I have a weak lower back right now. The car accident I was in four days before departing for Korea didn't help I'm sure. Anyways, we sat on the floor and they brought out this huge iron bowl full of seafood and fresh veggies. It was wonderful. They also bring out about ten different side dishes (more veggies, some noodles and egg cakes) and water of course. They place the bowl on top of this open gas flame in the middle of the table and warm it all up. Once it's hot you eat it up. In Korea the oldest person at the table is served first by the youngest person. This means whenever we go out Danielle will be fixing my plate for me....who am I to argue tradition!
So we're sitting on the floor, my back is aching but I'm eating this seafood soup. The name escapes me at the moment. We don't speak much Korean yet and the place we were eating at spoke know English so our meal consisted of a lot of smiles, some pointing and me saying "yes" and "thank you" (in perfect Korean mind you) a lot! There was know way we could have finished what they brought out for us to eat. It was enough to feed a small family of traditional Mormons. No disrespect to my Mormon peeps! I don't really know everything that was inside of this bowl but 99.5 % of it was great. Now lets talk about the .5% that was not.
At first I thought I had put some type of fish testicle inside of my mouth. It was nasty! I'll try anything once when it comes to food and for some reason I tried this twice. Each time the most vile juice burst inside my mouth. At this exact moment some nice Korean women would come by the table and check on us so I had to swallow what was festering inside of word box. Danielle seemed to think this was hilarious. This fish nuts were about the size of the tip of my thumb. After drinking lots of water I realized that fish don't have balls and if they do have balls there no way their that big, so I decided I was eating some kind of seafood brain. What ever it was it was nasty. I will eat that soup again but maybe I need to learn how to say hold the fish testicle/brain things in Korean.
By the way I love being in a place where no one understands me and I don't understand them and you have to communicate with each other. There's something wonderful about it. There are foreigners who have been here for months and sometimes years and none of them speak any Korean yet. They don't speak any??? I was talking to Danielle about this and we think that's just odd. I mean, who comes to live in a country and doesn't pick up any of the language. I hope by the time I decide to come back to the states I hope to know all Korean swear words and to be able to have basic communication. There's one thing to just have difficulty with other languages, but it's another thing to not even attempt to know the culture of those you come into direct contact with on a daily basis. There's almost something rude about that. Just my opinion.
One last thing, we stopped just North of Seoul in this area close to the U.S. army bases to get something to eat. The area is called Itaewon(I spelled that wrong) and there are a lot of foreigners who live here. Mostly Africans and people from the Middle East. We ended up eating at an Indian place. The food was amazing but it was this surreal experience eating great Indian food in Korea. By the way, this place was the most diverse I've seen yet in this country. There were people from all over the globe sharing food there.
I've been talking a lot about food in this blog but I think food is a great way to understand people. Maybe if our world leaders were forced to go to each other countries and eat a few traditional meals with people we would not have so many problems. Even Dick Cheny might have trouble planning to take over the world with a nice fish ball in his mouth!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
I am almost 100 percent again. My nose has suffered the most from my illness however. I hope it will one day forgive me. It feels like it's about to fall off actually but other then that I am feeling myself again. I went to visit a palace yesterday. Most of it was rebuilt though because it got destroyed during the Korean War. That war took out a lot ancient structures in this country actually. I guess wars have a way of doing that though. They kind of end up robbing you of your history or in the case of the US they could end up robbing us of our future....ok, this will not be a political blog....I promise.
Anyways, I saw this palace with some people from work yesterday and it was pretty cool for the first 15 minutes and then it was kind of the same thing over and over again. This has always been my problem. I can't spend all day looking at the same thing over and over again. When we went to Ireland the castles and ruins all started to look the same after a while. When I lived in Colorado I lived directly under Pikes Peaks which are beautiful. But waking up everyday getting ready to go to class you just get used to seeing them in the background. I feel bad about this. I feel like I take these things for granted. I've been lucky enough so far to see and live in some pretty amazing places. The odds are I will continue to see really amazing things, but it is so rare to have something take my breath away.
I feel like the Egyptian pyramids might knock me on my ass. When I went to Costa Rica and stayed in the cloud forest there was this moment when the clouds actually cleared up and I could see across the whole forest and there was this beautiful lake and then a volcano across from where I was standing....I could have looked at that for a long time....I did look at that for a long time actually. I wish I could have more experiences like that. That's what I love about Art. Really good art stops me in my tracks. I'm not just talking about paintings and sculpture either. I'm talking about music and theater too. Maybe I'm greedy. I want to wake up everyday and go somewhere or see something that takes my breath away. Maybe I just miss my girlfriend. She usually has that affect on me.
So back to the palace. We're walking around the palace and some of the teachers decide to go on the guided tour and some of us just walk around. I can't do the whole guided tour thing. I like to walk my own path, guided tours are like Christmas sweaters...they just feel uncomfortable and I look stupid in them. So I walk around with the non guided tour teachers and we see some pretty neat stuff but then it gets old. So we go back out to the front and wait for the guided tour people to come back. While we are waiting this pretty cool show starts happening where these guardsmen dressed in traditional clothing start marching in a pattern and hitting this huge drum and swing their swords. It's pretty cool and I'm no long bored at this point. So they are yelling some stuff in Korean which I don't understand and walking in formation when I start to feel like I'm being stared at. Then this group of Korean girls tap me on the shoulder and ask to have their picture taken. So I take their camera and say sure thinking they want their picture taken with the guardsmen doing their thing in the background....NO.....they want their picture taken with me. All this cool shit is going on and they want their picture taken with the black guy. So I smiled and they took their picture with me. Then about ten minutes later another group came up to me and it was the same thing. This happened about five times while we were waiting for the other group to finish their tour of the palace. So I started thinking, am I an attraction? I still don't know how I feel about it. I mean, they were all very friendly but it was kind of weird. I mean if you go to the Grand Canyon you don't take pictures of the stranger waiting for his buddies to come out of the bathroom do you? I know they don't have much contact with foreign folks here but WOW, I never thought it would be like this.
One of the Korean teachers I work with and teach with told me that for about 95 percent of the Koreans I will come in to contact with while I'm here I will probably be the first live African American they have ever talked to and been close to. Now that's a lot of pressure! No wonder I get stared at so hard on the subway. I'm thinking about having some business cards made. I'll be the ambassador of American Black folk. Better me then Snoop Dogg I guess.
Today is Thursday which means it is Thanksgiving. But back in the States it is only Wednesday. For those of you reading this blog today I hope you have a very very exciting or relaxing (which ever one you most want) Thanksgiving.
I have a phone finally (not that I expect anyone to call but if you find yourself lost in Korea feel free) My phone number is 010 8682 6952. In Korea, like in most other foreign countries, incoming calls are free...yet another thing they do better then the United States. It doesn't matter what company the other caller is from, all incoming calls are free.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Chris
Anyways, I saw this palace with some people from work yesterday and it was pretty cool for the first 15 minutes and then it was kind of the same thing over and over again. This has always been my problem. I can't spend all day looking at the same thing over and over again. When we went to Ireland the castles and ruins all started to look the same after a while. When I lived in Colorado I lived directly under Pikes Peaks which are beautiful. But waking up everyday getting ready to go to class you just get used to seeing them in the background. I feel bad about this. I feel like I take these things for granted. I've been lucky enough so far to see and live in some pretty amazing places. The odds are I will continue to see really amazing things, but it is so rare to have something take my breath away.
I feel like the Egyptian pyramids might knock me on my ass. When I went to Costa Rica and stayed in the cloud forest there was this moment when the clouds actually cleared up and I could see across the whole forest and there was this beautiful lake and then a volcano across from where I was standing....I could have looked at that for a long time....I did look at that for a long time actually. I wish I could have more experiences like that. That's what I love about Art. Really good art stops me in my tracks. I'm not just talking about paintings and sculpture either. I'm talking about music and theater too. Maybe I'm greedy. I want to wake up everyday and go somewhere or see something that takes my breath away. Maybe I just miss my girlfriend. She usually has that affect on me.
So back to the palace. We're walking around the palace and some of the teachers decide to go on the guided tour and some of us just walk around. I can't do the whole guided tour thing. I like to walk my own path, guided tours are like Christmas sweaters...they just feel uncomfortable and I look stupid in them. So I walk around with the non guided tour teachers and we see some pretty neat stuff but then it gets old. So we go back out to the front and wait for the guided tour people to come back. While we are waiting this pretty cool show starts happening where these guardsmen dressed in traditional clothing start marching in a pattern and hitting this huge drum and swing their swords. It's pretty cool and I'm no long bored at this point. So they are yelling some stuff in Korean which I don't understand and walking in formation when I start to feel like I'm being stared at. Then this group of Korean girls tap me on the shoulder and ask to have their picture taken. So I take their camera and say sure thinking they want their picture taken with the guardsmen doing their thing in the background....NO.....they want their picture taken with me. All this cool shit is going on and they want their picture taken with the black guy. So I smiled and they took their picture with me. Then about ten minutes later another group came up to me and it was the same thing. This happened about five times while we were waiting for the other group to finish their tour of the palace. So I started thinking, am I an attraction? I still don't know how I feel about it. I mean, they were all very friendly but it was kind of weird. I mean if you go to the Grand Canyon you don't take pictures of the stranger waiting for his buddies to come out of the bathroom do you? I know they don't have much contact with foreign folks here but WOW, I never thought it would be like this.
One of the Korean teachers I work with and teach with told me that for about 95 percent of the Koreans I will come in to contact with while I'm here I will probably be the first live African American they have ever talked to and been close to. Now that's a lot of pressure! No wonder I get stared at so hard on the subway. I'm thinking about having some business cards made. I'll be the ambassador of American Black folk. Better me then Snoop Dogg I guess.
Today is Thursday which means it is Thanksgiving. But back in the States it is only Wednesday. For those of you reading this blog today I hope you have a very very exciting or relaxing (which ever one you most want) Thanksgiving.
I have a phone finally (not that I expect anyone to call but if you find yourself lost in Korea feel free) My phone number is 010 8682 6952. In Korea, like in most other foreign countries, incoming calls are free...yet another thing they do better then the United States. It doesn't matter what company the other caller is from, all incoming calls are free.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Chris
Monday, November 19, 2007
Hello there
Wow. So in the past three days I've received Skype messages and emails from a lot of people. A lot of you were asking about my blog address again which means I either forgot to give it out or you just forgot. First of all I'd like to say that I really appreciate those of you who have taken the time to call me (skype me) and email me back and forth. It means a lot to me. I'm really busy here learning the schedule and the way they like to teach at my school but I always have time to read funny and important or even just boring ass emails from you guys. I'm the kind of person who remains in pretty good contact with those who I want to remain in touch with so I really do take your messages seriously as a sign of our friendship. Now to those of you who I have not heard from....I guess we are not good friends. Just kidding. I know some of you are not good at keeping in touch with people and I'll keep that in mind when you need a blood transfusion and my O-blood is the kind that will save your lives.
Korea is great and the kids are really fun most of the time! Write me, skype me, or send me gifts.
My email is geromeshanklin@yahoo.com and my skype email is cdubsla@yahoo.com
laters,
Chris
Korea is great and the kids are really fun most of the time! Write me, skype me, or send me gifts.
My email is geromeshanklin@yahoo.com and my skype email is cdubsla@yahoo.com
laters,
Chris
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Korean Flu
Let me tell you something about the Korean flu....it sucks! Now, I have not been sick for almost two years. I arrive in Korea and on the second week, I get sick as hell. I forgot what it was like to be sick like that. Snot all over the place, can't sleep cause I can't breath, fluid in the ol' lungs! I was feeling like crap for a whole week. I'm just now feeling better. I went to the gym for the first time in a week, which is the longest I have not worked out in a very very very long time. I'm still hurting a little bit but I think I'm over the worst of it. I don't have my ARC (Alien Resident Card) yet so I couldn't see a doctor which meant I had to go at it with no pills no nothing. That was not fun.
However, one of the teachers I work with here got sick at the same time I did and he went to a doctor. He explained his experience to me and he said the health care system in the US should be ashamed. I have to agree with him. First of all the whole experience for him took 15 minutes...total. In the US it takes 15 minutes for them to call you name...and that's quick. He said he met with the doctor right away, he check him out, gave him six pills and charged in around 15,000won, which is around $17.00 US. Come on! My co pay was $20 dollars alone. Pills were always extra. I think we would all agree that Kaiser sucks ass!!
It seems like the US does a lot of things ass backwards. I think we are still a great young country but we have our heads up our ass's on so many things. The health care system is one of them. It's not the present administrations (who I can't stand by the way) fault either. Bush and his people have just managed to highlight ALL that is wrong with the USA. Seriously, they took a gigantic highlighter marker and they colored in everything that sucks about the USA. They put it out there for the whole world to see and then tried to do a little razzle, dazzle (which worked for about 6 years by the way) to convince the rest of us that their way was good and helpful....yeah...I feel so much safer.
I tell you what, if we don't start taking care of our internal problems, instead of ignoring them and pointing the finger at countries all over the globe, we are in for a world of hurt. You know that saying "when you point a finger at someone else, three other fingers are pointing back at you"? That should be the new logo for the US. We are everything that we talk shit about other countries for. It's just that nobody seems to care enough to do anything about it. We are all too content (myself included). People like George W. and Cheny will always take advantage of a mood like that. Our country is so desperate for a true leader right now. A uniter not a divider. We've had enough division to last a very long time.
However, one of the teachers I work with here got sick at the same time I did and he went to a doctor. He explained his experience to me and he said the health care system in the US should be ashamed. I have to agree with him. First of all the whole experience for him took 15 minutes...total. In the US it takes 15 minutes for them to call you name...and that's quick. He said he met with the doctor right away, he check him out, gave him six pills and charged in around 15,000won, which is around $17.00 US. Come on! My co pay was $20 dollars alone. Pills were always extra. I think we would all agree that Kaiser sucks ass!!
It seems like the US does a lot of things ass backwards. I think we are still a great young country but we have our heads up our ass's on so many things. The health care system is one of them. It's not the present administrations (who I can't stand by the way) fault either. Bush and his people have just managed to highlight ALL that is wrong with the USA. Seriously, they took a gigantic highlighter marker and they colored in everything that sucks about the USA. They put it out there for the whole world to see and then tried to do a little razzle, dazzle (which worked for about 6 years by the way) to convince the rest of us that their way was good and helpful....yeah...I feel so much safer.
I tell you what, if we don't start taking care of our internal problems, instead of ignoring them and pointing the finger at countries all over the globe, we are in for a world of hurt. You know that saying "when you point a finger at someone else, three other fingers are pointing back at you"? That should be the new logo for the US. We are everything that we talk shit about other countries for. It's just that nobody seems to care enough to do anything about it. We are all too content (myself included). People like George W. and Cheny will always take advantage of a mood like that. Our country is so desperate for a true leader right now. A uniter not a divider. We've had enough division to last a very long time.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
My subway adventure
So yesterday I decided to make the trek into Bundang which is a little south of Seoul. I took the train from Paju and then I caught the subway in Seoul Station. Now, those of you who know me know that my sense of direction is really really bad. I'm not the guy who you come to when you get lost, but I think that's all about to change. The reason is because I have to pay attention now. When I'm traveling all by myself I have to pay attention to signs and read maps like normal people. Who knew. You look at the map, find where you are and then find where you want to go. The map actually shows you how to get there? I don't know what kind of new technology I'm dealing with here but if those crazy explorers back in the day had maps they could have really done some things you know.
Anyways, I got lost in the subway system of Seoul for a while but I'm glad I did because I quickly realized that I can take care of myself. I looked at the subway map and quickly figured out where I had gone wrong. Bundang is where Danielle is going to be and I think it only took me about two hours to get there but I got lost so it felt more like 3 and a half.
So I'm on the train and then I'm on the subway and I'm looking around at all the lovely Korean faces pretending like they are not interested in me. To bad I can see them all in the reflection of the subway window staring at me. The little kids are the best though because they don't mess around. They walk in the subway, see me, and their eyes get huge and the yell something I don't understand and then come up to me and touch me. They are friendly enough but like I've said at times one does feel like a freak show. I love the little kids though. They are so curious and have no fear. I've met some nice people on the subway too. A lot of the stops sound alike so it would be easy to miss your station to get off so sometime I have to ask people what stop I'm at.
I also find that as much as people stare at me I'm staring at them too. I have seen some very sharply dressed people. Some really sharp outfits on the guys. Too bad nothing here will ever fit me. For the most part they are very petite and lean.....and I am not. But it's the women who steal the thunder. I have never seen so many knee high boots in my life. Knee high boot and tights with mine skirts that would make Paris Hilton blush.
I'm sure I will get more used to the subway system the more I use it. I ended up getting pretty sick last night. I think this whole voyage in general took a lot out on my system and I'm finally paying the price. My throat started hurting on the subway yesterday and it got really bad last night. I'm still not feeling so hot right now actually. I hope I feel better tomorrow because I have to go back to work. I'm glad I have a strong immune system usually because there are a lot of people in this tiny country. The subway is hot and packed. I was sweating my ass off. You can't be a germ a phob and live here, that's for sure. I guess in the summers it gets really bad because all the pollution from China blows over the country with the trade winds. They call it the "yellow dust" obviously because it's yellow. But I guess you have to wear those white face masks a lot of the summer, especially in the Seoul area. Good thing for me I'm more in the country but it still gets bad here I guess.
Well, that's all I have for now. I'm going to try to rest up some. Peace from Korea.
Anyways, I got lost in the subway system of Seoul for a while but I'm glad I did because I quickly realized that I can take care of myself. I looked at the subway map and quickly figured out where I had gone wrong. Bundang is where Danielle is going to be and I think it only took me about two hours to get there but I got lost so it felt more like 3 and a half.
So I'm on the train and then I'm on the subway and I'm looking around at all the lovely Korean faces pretending like they are not interested in me. To bad I can see them all in the reflection of the subway window staring at me. The little kids are the best though because they don't mess around. They walk in the subway, see me, and their eyes get huge and the yell something I don't understand and then come up to me and touch me. They are friendly enough but like I've said at times one does feel like a freak show. I love the little kids though. They are so curious and have no fear. I've met some nice people on the subway too. A lot of the stops sound alike so it would be easy to miss your station to get off so sometime I have to ask people what stop I'm at.
I also find that as much as people stare at me I'm staring at them too. I have seen some very sharply dressed people. Some really sharp outfits on the guys. Too bad nothing here will ever fit me. For the most part they are very petite and lean.....and I am not. But it's the women who steal the thunder. I have never seen so many knee high boots in my life. Knee high boot and tights with mine skirts that would make Paris Hilton blush.
I'm sure I will get more used to the subway system the more I use it. I ended up getting pretty sick last night. I think this whole voyage in general took a lot out on my system and I'm finally paying the price. My throat started hurting on the subway yesterday and it got really bad last night. I'm still not feeling so hot right now actually. I hope I feel better tomorrow because I have to go back to work. I'm glad I have a strong immune system usually because there are a lot of people in this tiny country. The subway is hot and packed. I was sweating my ass off. You can't be a germ a phob and live here, that's for sure. I guess in the summers it gets really bad because all the pollution from China blows over the country with the trade winds. They call it the "yellow dust" obviously because it's yellow. But I guess you have to wear those white face masks a lot of the summer, especially in the Seoul area. Good thing for me I'm more in the country but it still gets bad here I guess.
Well, that's all I have for now. I'm going to try to rest up some. Peace from Korea.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Where to begin?
First of all I'd like to say that I am very happy with my choice to live and work in South Korea for the upcoming year. I have not been able to get out and see the country as much as I would like to yet but I'm getting used to my class schedule at the moment. The country is full of people and I have been treated very well so far. I work at a large school and teach in the Science building. For those of you who are laughing right now because you know I don't know the first thing about science calm down. It's not really about the science when you are teaching English. It's more about the language. Getting the kids comfortable with speaking complete English sentences. I work funny hours at the moment. I have Wed and Th off. There are around 100 teachers at the school I work at. It is about 65% Korean teachers and the rest are from all over the globe. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South African, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, etc. It's nice to be around people with so many different world experiences and perspectives.
I get stared at pretty much every place I go. When I go to the store to get food I have young people following me around pretending like they are not. I don't mind it though. You have to remember that Korea is 99% Koreans. So they really don't get to see foreign faces as much as you would think...at least not live foreign faces. The kids that I work with are great. They don't have filters so they just say what ever is in their head. When you introduce yourself you say ask the class if they can guess where you are from and most of the time the kids guess that I am from Africa. This always makes me laugh because for them that is where people with dark skin come from. The funny thing is that all of the south africans are white so when they tell the kids they are from Africa the kids have a hard time understanding that.
Korean boys and Korean men for that matter are very affectionate towards each other. They hold hands while walking together and give each other hugs constantly. Some of the Western male teachers have issue with this but I think it's great. I hope that our western homophobic issues never infect these guys but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one. You can see the influence of popular western ideas already. In a country where 99 percent of the people are Koreans most of the advertising is of white faces selling everything from cars to underwear. I think that is so telling. Sad too.
I have to admit that sometimes I feel like the animal in the zoo with some of the looks I get. I'm the first black person that a lot of these kids have had contact with. So besides what they get from American movies they don't have anything to compare me to. Lucky for me American movies give black people a great name overseas!!!! Yeah, right. If I have another kid say "yo" to me I might explode. It's funny and it's not funny. I mean that's how they think all black people talk. I can only imagine what else they think black Americans do.
All the Koreans I work with think I'm way younger than I am. When they find out I'm 31 they freak out. It's pretty funny. They think I look like I'm 26 which makes me laugh because I feel old. I will have more to write when I'm able to get out and experience the country more. Danielle arrives in a couple of weeks. She is going to be working in a very very rich part of South Korea just outside of Seoul. It's a brand new city that they built for people who did not want to live in Seoul but worked there. I'm excited to see where her new home. I basically live in the country. I go jogging and there's nothing but hills, so by the time I'm done here my legs should be very strong. It's beautiful here right now because all the leaves are changing colors getting ready for the winter season. I have to get ready for class now but I will write more later.
I get stared at pretty much every place I go. When I go to the store to get food I have young people following me around pretending like they are not. I don't mind it though. You have to remember that Korea is 99% Koreans. So they really don't get to see foreign faces as much as you would think...at least not live foreign faces. The kids that I work with are great. They don't have filters so they just say what ever is in their head. When you introduce yourself you say ask the class if they can guess where you are from and most of the time the kids guess that I am from Africa. This always makes me laugh because for them that is where people with dark skin come from. The funny thing is that all of the south africans are white so when they tell the kids they are from Africa the kids have a hard time understanding that.
Korean boys and Korean men for that matter are very affectionate towards each other. They hold hands while walking together and give each other hugs constantly. Some of the Western male teachers have issue with this but I think it's great. I hope that our western homophobic issues never infect these guys but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one. You can see the influence of popular western ideas already. In a country where 99 percent of the people are Koreans most of the advertising is of white faces selling everything from cars to underwear. I think that is so telling. Sad too.
I have to admit that sometimes I feel like the animal in the zoo with some of the looks I get. I'm the first black person that a lot of these kids have had contact with. So besides what they get from American movies they don't have anything to compare me to. Lucky for me American movies give black people a great name overseas!!!! Yeah, right. If I have another kid say "yo" to me I might explode. It's funny and it's not funny. I mean that's how they think all black people talk. I can only imagine what else they think black Americans do.
All the Koreans I work with think I'm way younger than I am. When they find out I'm 31 they freak out. It's pretty funny. They think I look like I'm 26 which makes me laugh because I feel old. I will have more to write when I'm able to get out and experience the country more. Danielle arrives in a couple of weeks. She is going to be working in a very very rich part of South Korea just outside of Seoul. It's a brand new city that they built for people who did not want to live in Seoul but worked there. I'm excited to see where her new home. I basically live in the country. I go jogging and there's nothing but hills, so by the time I'm done here my legs should be very strong. It's beautiful here right now because all the leaves are changing colors getting ready for the winter season. I have to get ready for class now but I will write more later.
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