Well it's that time of year, Christmas is again upon us. This year, as with a few others, I will not be in Vancouver with family but in Korea. Of course, as I've blogged about other years, Christmas just isn't as big a deal here and I was working until 940 on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day is just a regular work day. In that respect Christmas felt more like any other lazy Sunday, where I relaxed, watched some TV, read a bit, played Civ 4 and chatted with friends and family.
I guess with so much else going on Christmas actually kinda skipped my mind. Next week I'll be relocating branches for work and in March I have a holiday and school is starting. May I also have a big holiday where I'm looking seriously at Beijing (god knows I've talked about it long enough). I guess with all that going on Christmas just snuck up on me. Still it was nice to hear from family and know that some things never change.
Anyway, no matter where you are in the world I hope you had a good one^^
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Korean Presidential Elections
In what was not a big surprise Korea elected the daughter of President (dictator) Park Chung-hee, Park Geun-hye of the Conservative Party as president.
Western media has already jumped on the fact that a woman has been elected in one of the more conservative countries in Asia. In fact she is the first elected leader in any north-east Asia nation. However, it's not quite the surprise that is seems. First off Korea is a two party system. Much like the U.S they do have third parties and people COULD vote for them, but only fringe libertarians, communists or radical isolationists ever do. People also vote along party lines in much the same way. I mean if the republicans had put a monkey in an Elvis suit up against Obama he would have pulled 40% of the popular vote. It's similar in Korea, though perhaps less partisan. She is also the successor to outgoing President Lee Myung-bak who has a very mixed legacy. On one hand his aides and family members have been involved in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Korean history. While no one can prove he had any knowledge doubts will exist forever. That being said he weathered the economic collapse of 2008 better than just about any world leader and in a country where the economy will always be the number one issue he was a solid leader.
Also, western media will inevitably mix up a woman leader with progress. Park Geun-hye is as conservative as they get and her support base comes almost entirely from people over 45. Her opponent, liberal leader Moon Jae-in, was actually imprisoned by her father in the 1970's for engaging in pro-democracy rallies. However, General Park is responsible for the Korean economic miracle in the 1970's and many older people remember that era as a time when every year they ate more and North Korea seemed more distant rather than as an era when opposition leaders disappeared in the middle of the night and union leaders and student activists were gunned down in the streets by the police. The younger generation who grew up with the wealth of modern Korea seem far more interested in getting jobs and affordable housing and have more mixed feelings about General Park. Women also want more equality in one of the most gender dominated societies in east Asia. Many of them voted for Moon because he is the more socially liberal one.
Other issues were the ever increasing gap in wealth, un- or under employment and North Korea's recent satellite launch. Wealthy Koreans are as rich as any Koreans in Korean history but poor Koreans haven't really had their lot improved since the 1960's. The Korean job market just isn't creating enough full time jobs and given that virtually every Korean goes to university a university degree means much less than it did twenty years ago. Also, because Korean universities often lack international standards only people with overseas degrees are getting these jobs (ie - the super rich who can afford to send their kids to study in New York for four years). The north launching a satellite in to space hasn't made waves that you might think it would, I mean at the end of the day it's still an impoverished nation that can't feed or house it's own people, but it did make hard line Park Geun-hye more appealing than reconsilliatory Moon Jae-in.
Park Geun-hye may be the better candidate for me, as she is very friendly to foreign investment and commerce. Liberal ideology can be much more isolationist so on an entirely selfish note it's probably good for me that she won. However she ensures that Korean society has five more years of fiscal and social conservatism and as someone who wants Korea to succeed I feel that needs to change. I'm sure it will as the war generation dies off and make room for their more worldly children and grandchildren. However in the short term (almost certainly the rest of my time in Korea) the status quo is in place.
Western media has already jumped on the fact that a woman has been elected in one of the more conservative countries in Asia. In fact she is the first elected leader in any north-east Asia nation. However, it's not quite the surprise that is seems. First off Korea is a two party system. Much like the U.S they do have third parties and people COULD vote for them, but only fringe libertarians, communists or radical isolationists ever do. People also vote along party lines in much the same way. I mean if the republicans had put a monkey in an Elvis suit up against Obama he would have pulled 40% of the popular vote. It's similar in Korea, though perhaps less partisan. She is also the successor to outgoing President Lee Myung-bak who has a very mixed legacy. On one hand his aides and family members have been involved in one of the biggest corruption scandals in Korean history. While no one can prove he had any knowledge doubts will exist forever. That being said he weathered the economic collapse of 2008 better than just about any world leader and in a country where the economy will always be the number one issue he was a solid leader.
Also, western media will inevitably mix up a woman leader with progress. Park Geun-hye is as conservative as they get and her support base comes almost entirely from people over 45. Her opponent, liberal leader Moon Jae-in, was actually imprisoned by her father in the 1970's for engaging in pro-democracy rallies. However, General Park is responsible for the Korean economic miracle in the 1970's and many older people remember that era as a time when every year they ate more and North Korea seemed more distant rather than as an era when opposition leaders disappeared in the middle of the night and union leaders and student activists were gunned down in the streets by the police. The younger generation who grew up with the wealth of modern Korea seem far more interested in getting jobs and affordable housing and have more mixed feelings about General Park. Women also want more equality in one of the most gender dominated societies in east Asia. Many of them voted for Moon because he is the more socially liberal one.
Other issues were the ever increasing gap in wealth, un- or under employment and North Korea's recent satellite launch. Wealthy Koreans are as rich as any Koreans in Korean history but poor Koreans haven't really had their lot improved since the 1960's. The Korean job market just isn't creating enough full time jobs and given that virtually every Korean goes to university a university degree means much less than it did twenty years ago. Also, because Korean universities often lack international standards only people with overseas degrees are getting these jobs (ie - the super rich who can afford to send their kids to study in New York for four years). The north launching a satellite in to space hasn't made waves that you might think it would, I mean at the end of the day it's still an impoverished nation that can't feed or house it's own people, but it did make hard line Park Geun-hye more appealing than reconsilliatory Moon Jae-in.
Park Geun-hye may be the better candidate for me, as she is very friendly to foreign investment and commerce. Liberal ideology can be much more isolationist so on an entirely selfish note it's probably good for me that she won. However she ensures that Korean society has five more years of fiscal and social conservatism and as someone who wants Korea to succeed I feel that needs to change. I'm sure it will as the war generation dies off and make room for their more worldly children and grandchildren. However in the short term (almost certainly the rest of my time in Korea) the status quo is in place.
Nice Seoul Weekend
Last Saturday I made the trip up to Seoul to visit Jenny, Kwang Ho and baby jenny, swap gifts and hang out. He ended up having lunch out in Bundang (where they live) before heading downtown to see Cheongbukgun, a royal palace I had never seen and then eat Thai food. It was a lot of fun and there is something really nice about having a kid running around, positive energy and all that. Mike joined us for Thai food before they left and we went to Craftworks, a brew house in Seoul that makes their own delicious craft beers. A quality beer is a rare treat in Korea and these IPA's didn't disappoint. After that we bounced around before I ended up crashing with Bobby (who was also there with friends of his who were really fun to talk to). Not tons to talk about but it was a fun night in cold weather. I plan to head up again just after New Years when Kris gets back in. Should be good.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Palgongsan in Winter, Bobby Down From Seoul
On Saturday I met Bobby at Dongdaegu station at 940 to head up to Palgongsan to see the giant Buddha I had previously visited last summer. It was a world apart
winter
summer
The trees alone give it away. It was freezing but with enough layers it was actually cool to see it like that. It's one of my favourite things to see in Daegu and despite the mission to get there well worth the effort. The Buddha itself is not that old, 1992 as it turns out, and was built as a prayer for Korean unification.
winter
summer
winter
summer
ice melting on Buddha's head
While I'm sure I'll go back again before I leave Daegu, it will be in the spring.
After that we dropped off our stuff and showered, watched Seinfeld and had a beer before going out to Sangin for dinner and drinks. Not an exciting as Japanese stuff in Busan but fun.
Sunday we got up, had sushi and then I headed home and had a relaxing afternoon.
Snow Day
Friday saw the first real dump of snow this year as we got about 3 inches in an afternoon. I arrived at work and was told that classes were cancelled for the first half of the day. My Korean coworkers were calling parents and we were just hanging out. At around 4pm I was told we were told late classes and would run until around 10pm for students who wanted to come that late. Normally I'd be off by 940 with papers graded so an extra 20 minutes wasn't that big a deal, especially given how the Korean teachers had been working since before I got there. I had to pull almost 7 hours of work..... :)
Anyway, the real stress was the ice, as again this year no one is icing the roads. It made for a slippery weekend and I've seen more than a few casts this weekend.
Anyway, the real stress was the ice, as again this year no one is icing the roads. It made for a slippery weekend and I've seen more than a few casts this weekend.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Yankee Stadium in 1939
I came across the amazing colour footage of Yankee Stadium from game two of the 1939 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
It's mostly warm up, there's no sound and obviously they had not figured out where to stick T.V camera's yet. Despite all that it's an amazing four minute video.
It's mostly warm up, there's no sound and obviously they had not figured out where to stick T.V camera's yet. Despite all that it's an amazing four minute video.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
South Korean PM in Ottawa. No More Rob Ford.....
First, the newly re-elected Korean prime mimister is in Ottawa to talk free trade. The President Lee Myung Bak is due to step down in two weeks when Korea has new presidential elections. Anyway this sort of free trade could benefit Canada, which has no indigenous auto industry and already buys Korean electronics by the shipload. It would also be a decent market for Canadian raw materials, especially natural gas which powers Korea but which Korea has little of within it's own borders.
I also saw Rob Ford is out. I'm sad. I love Rob Ford. It's like the people of Toronto were watching Trailer Park Boys and went "man, Ricky would make such a good mayor." Then they found a guy who not only had his grade 11, but also his grade 12 and in he went. I mean if you live in Toronto and you voted for him you are an idiot. Not like people who voted for Harper. I may not like Harper personally but there are logical reasons to vote for him. Ford. No. If you voted for Rob Ford you are less intelligent than someone who didn't, or at least you couldn't be fucked to read or research anything before you voted. For the rest of Canada it's been a godsend. The self appointed centre of Canada being run by Ricky. Amazing. This article sums him up fairly well. Fighting reporters, kicking people off the bus so he could use it to take his football team to a party, reading while driving, getting drunk and fighting and a Maple Leafs game, attacking reporters who were reporting on his property extension not to mention falling off a scale. Now he's gone due to a conflict of interest scandal after his last appeal failed...... I guess the judge wouldn't let him smoke or swear. As a western Canadian I do take a selfish joy in watching a city that so desperately wants to be London or New York continue to act like trailer trash (the mayor before Ford once said he was afraid to go to Africa because he's be boiled in a pot and eaten). Well done Ford, well done.
I also saw Rob Ford is out. I'm sad. I love Rob Ford. It's like the people of Toronto were watching Trailer Park Boys and went "man, Ricky would make such a good mayor." Then they found a guy who not only had his grade 11, but also his grade 12 and in he went. I mean if you live in Toronto and you voted for him you are an idiot. Not like people who voted for Harper. I may not like Harper personally but there are logical reasons to vote for him. Ford. No. If you voted for Rob Ford you are less intelligent than someone who didn't, or at least you couldn't be fucked to read or research anything before you voted. For the rest of Canada it's been a godsend. The self appointed centre of Canada being run by Ricky. Amazing. This article sums him up fairly well. Fighting reporters, kicking people off the bus so he could use it to take his football team to a party, reading while driving, getting drunk and fighting and a Maple Leafs game, attacking reporters who were reporting on his property extension not to mention falling off a scale. Now he's gone due to a conflict of interest scandal after his last appeal failed...... I guess the judge wouldn't let him smoke or swear. As a western Canadian I do take a selfish joy in watching a city that so desperately wants to be London or New York continue to act like trailer trash (the mayor before Ford once said he was afraid to go to Africa because he's be boiled in a pot and eaten). Well done Ford, well done.
To Move or Not to Move
Well I've accepted the move to Yongsan branch for January 14th. I'll work a two week camp over New Years and then start there. I'm looking forward to it as I'll be teaching middle school kids again (my favourite kids are grades 5-7) and it'l be a new neighbourhood.
However I do have the option to stay in my apartment and commute 30-40 minutes to work everyday. Not that that is a long time but I'm a 15 minute walk to work now. The upside of a move is of course a new neighbourhood, new apartment and new people. However I have Korean class, friends and a gym right here in Sangin that I'd be commuting to anyway (well I'd probably get a new gym). My current apartment is quite nice and gets lots of sunshine too. I'm not sure if my new place would be better or not (I'll probably go see it next month).
Anyway I'm sure I'll figure it out, just not sure how keen I am to pack up and move again.
However I do have the option to stay in my apartment and commute 30-40 minutes to work everyday. Not that that is a long time but I'm a 15 minute walk to work now. The upside of a move is of course a new neighbourhood, new apartment and new people. However I have Korean class, friends and a gym right here in Sangin that I'd be commuting to anyway (well I'd probably get a new gym). My current apartment is quite nice and gets lots of sunshine too. I'm not sure if my new place would be better or not (I'll probably go see it next month).
Anyway I'm sure I'll figure it out, just not sure how keen I am to pack up and move again.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Winter Blues
Well we're in to December and with daytime highs in the 2-7 degree range and overnight lows firmly below zero the winter blues have set in across Korea. I'm not sure why winter is so much harder here, I know being away from home on Christmas sucks, but I've done it enough times to where it's okay, and with family scattered across the globe this year it's not like there's a big Christmas thing anyway. I miss Christmas at home, but thats not all of it. There's the New Years blues which are global, where we are encouraged to think about the year and all the ways we failed in it and how we need to improve. First of all a ridiculously unhealthy way to go through life but also, well, my 2012 has been amazing. Better job, accepted to school, travelled to Japan and England, have gone to the gym regularly all year, have made new lifelong friends and did a lot here in Korea tourist wise. At the risk of being boastful, it was an epic year. However that resolution nonsense does creep in despite all logic and I certainly think that contributes more than anyone gives it credit for doing, but that's not totally it either.
Without trying to blame Korea, I do think that it is Korea. It's an amazing place to be when it's warm outside. Mountains to hike, night markets to visit, patio bbq's to enjoy, temples to hike to, cities to visit and see, islands to go explore, ocean and beaches everywhere and sunny weather for days in a row. In winter the only real activity in Korea in drinking, and I'm not trying to be funny. Indoor activities are almost non-existent and of the very few that there are, chain smokers ruin them. There are noraebangs (private karaoke rooms for you and your friends - you can't see me making a gagging sound with my finger in my throat, but I am), PC rooms (where I can leave the comfort of my computer to go in to a smoke filled room full of loud Koreans playing Starcraft, Sudden Attack and all my other favourite games from 1996 and use their computers), screen golf (actually kinda fun for about 45 minutes), coffee shops (which often don't actually serve real coffee at all, but Americano's - and $4 ones at that) or bars and restaurants. Given that I have a percolator, a computer and an ounce of dignity at home three of those are out the window (anyone who says that they go to noraebangs sober and have fun is flat out lying*).
I do love a day at home, but two in a row and I have full on cabin fever. I do stay busy in the winter and virtually every weekend from now to Christmas I either have people visiting me or I'm out of town, and I am willing to get outside for a while despite the cold. However, I do find that my whole outlook changes remarkably come April and May. I've even started chatting with Mike about moving to Taiwan next year, where money is good and weather is never that cold (rainy, but not cold), but that is a long way off.
Anyway, not to make out like I'm all depressed or anything, far from it, but I do find it amazing how weather can really change your outlook and mood from day-to-day.
*To avoid a backlash, Noraebangs aren't THAT bad, I've had fun in them before. It just seems like something that you do once or twice, experience it, and never need to do again. Certainly a few beers does make it a bit more enjoyable, but the need so many people have to go there after every night out baffles me. Think about it, in a 5x7m room having Billy Idol screamed at you by a drunk guy. It's as fun as it sounds.
Without trying to blame Korea, I do think that it is Korea. It's an amazing place to be when it's warm outside. Mountains to hike, night markets to visit, patio bbq's to enjoy, temples to hike to, cities to visit and see, islands to go explore, ocean and beaches everywhere and sunny weather for days in a row. In winter the only real activity in Korea in drinking, and I'm not trying to be funny. Indoor activities are almost non-existent and of the very few that there are, chain smokers ruin them. There are noraebangs (private karaoke rooms for you and your friends - you can't see me making a gagging sound with my finger in my throat, but I am), PC rooms (where I can leave the comfort of my computer to go in to a smoke filled room full of loud Koreans playing Starcraft, Sudden Attack and all my other favourite games from 1996 and use their computers), screen golf (actually kinda fun for about 45 minutes), coffee shops (which often don't actually serve real coffee at all, but Americano's - and $4 ones at that) or bars and restaurants. Given that I have a percolator, a computer and an ounce of dignity at home three of those are out the window (anyone who says that they go to noraebangs sober and have fun is flat out lying*).
I do love a day at home, but two in a row and I have full on cabin fever. I do stay busy in the winter and virtually every weekend from now to Christmas I either have people visiting me or I'm out of town, and I am willing to get outside for a while despite the cold. However, I do find that my whole outlook changes remarkably come April and May. I've even started chatting with Mike about moving to Taiwan next year, where money is good and weather is never that cold (rainy, but not cold), but that is a long way off.
Anyway, not to make out like I'm all depressed or anything, far from it, but I do find it amazing how weather can really change your outlook and mood from day-to-day.
*To avoid a backlash, Noraebangs aren't THAT bad, I've had fun in them before. It just seems like something that you do once or twice, experience it, and never need to do again. Certainly a few beers does make it a bit more enjoyable, but the need so many people have to go there after every night out baffles me. Think about it, in a 5x7m room having Billy Idol screamed at you by a drunk guy. It's as fun as it sounds.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
House Guests
This week I had Mike staying with me for two nights as he came to hang out before moving in to his apartment of Saturday in Ilsan. It was cool to hang out, though we mostly just went out and ate after work, as I was still working. It did keep me busy on Wednesday and Thursday. We mostly chatted about his vacation to Thailand, upcoming school and an idea I had last year about moving to Taiwan for a year (it's 3 degrees in Daegu right now and 20 in Taipei). I had originally thought Geoff would want to do it but when he opted for home I forgot about it. Mike's interest has me thinking again. Mike left Friday morning and I settled in to work and a quiet night.
On Saturday I woke up and headed down to Paul's place in Ulsan. We just played a bit of Civ and ate dinner. Paul was clearly not feeling well though so when I offered to head home on the 10pm bus he didn't put up much of a fight.
Now time for a quiet Sunday.
On Saturday I woke up and headed down to Paul's place in Ulsan. We just played a bit of Civ and ate dinner. Paul was clearly not feeling well though so when I offered to head home on the 10pm bus he didn't put up much of a fight.
Now time for a quiet Sunday.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Anyone Else Over Gangnam Style?
I am.
The Gangnam Style video is now the most watched in Youtube history.
I mean as a song it's catchy and as a video I love the message that the massive and shallow consumer culture that Korea has adapted in the last 30 years is ultimately un fulfilling and that real happiness is found with other people, not things.
However, I think someone needs to explain to people that:
1 - Psy sold out after ridiculing Korean consumer culture.
2 - Psy does not represent Korea.
In Gangnam they are now building a Psy/Kpop themed park (seriously) to promote tourism and Kpop. It's like no one realizes that Gangnam is being ridiculed here. But I guess when Psy is now hawking sell phones, cars and beer it's hard for him to keep his image as an anti-corporate, anti-consumer guy. I wish he had spent a bit more time pointing out that part of his song and his ideas, get people thinking about what really matters. It's not like we aren't ultra-consumerist in the west. Bill Gates married a model for a reason. I just think we feel bad about it. However, blatant consumerism and status seeking ARE met with resistance. Anna Nicole Smith was called a gold digger (with just cause) but here she'd be admired in a few circles. That IS a problem. It's one of the soul and culture but it's a problem and it's one that Psy had ridiculed. It could have been a springboard for a real soul searching discussion. Instead we get a new theme park and kids are buying LG brand Psy cell phones.
Psy is on record as saying that he does not represent Korea or want to, yet everything he does in analyzed and discussed here. Pictures of him smoking in Toronto are panned, yet virtually every Korean male smokes (ie - he IS representing the reality). Psy is, in fact, the opposite of what Korean pop culture is about. Kpop is SO youth and sex appeal focused that it's debatable what real music there is. It's catchy, very catchy actually, but it's nine girls in tight clothes. This video by T-ara is a much better example of the average K-pop video. A post apocalyptic future where the women still manage to have $200 worth of makeup on, have no muscle or fat to speak of and spend time playing with cute rabbits while being hunted by hordes of homoerotic men also wearing $200 worth of makeup. The Walking Dead it is not. This is what Korea has been pushing as it's pop music successfully in Asia but without any real success in western markets for years. There's a reason for that. There is no substance. Psy is a fat, 34 year old man. In Korea he was not well received before this. He had a fan base but he was old and not attractive to far too many people. Suddenly he breaks in and now he represents Korea? He is what Korean pop culture has been loathing for 15 years and why he did a parody of that lifestyle the way he did.
In any event I think Psy is more Ricky Martin that John Lennon and in six months some new thing will have replaced him internationally. For now though it seems an opportunity lost.
The Gangnam Style video is now the most watched in Youtube history.
I mean as a song it's catchy and as a video I love the message that the massive and shallow consumer culture that Korea has adapted in the last 30 years is ultimately un fulfilling and that real happiness is found with other people, not things.
However, I think someone needs to explain to people that:
1 - Psy sold out after ridiculing Korean consumer culture.
2 - Psy does not represent Korea.
In Gangnam they are now building a Psy/Kpop themed park (seriously) to promote tourism and Kpop. It's like no one realizes that Gangnam is being ridiculed here. But I guess when Psy is now hawking sell phones, cars and beer it's hard for him to keep his image as an anti-corporate, anti-consumer guy. I wish he had spent a bit more time pointing out that part of his song and his ideas, get people thinking about what really matters. It's not like we aren't ultra-consumerist in the west. Bill Gates married a model for a reason. I just think we feel bad about it. However, blatant consumerism and status seeking ARE met with resistance. Anna Nicole Smith was called a gold digger (with just cause) but here she'd be admired in a few circles. That IS a problem. It's one of the soul and culture but it's a problem and it's one that Psy had ridiculed. It could have been a springboard for a real soul searching discussion. Instead we get a new theme park and kids are buying LG brand Psy cell phones.
Psy is on record as saying that he does not represent Korea or want to, yet everything he does in analyzed and discussed here. Pictures of him smoking in Toronto are panned, yet virtually every Korean male smokes (ie - he IS representing the reality). Psy is, in fact, the opposite of what Korean pop culture is about. Kpop is SO youth and sex appeal focused that it's debatable what real music there is. It's catchy, very catchy actually, but it's nine girls in tight clothes. This video by T-ara is a much better example of the average K-pop video. A post apocalyptic future where the women still manage to have $200 worth of makeup on, have no muscle or fat to speak of and spend time playing with cute rabbits while being hunted by hordes of homoerotic men also wearing $200 worth of makeup. The Walking Dead it is not. This is what Korea has been pushing as it's pop music successfully in Asia but without any real success in western markets for years. There's a reason for that. There is no substance. Psy is a fat, 34 year old man. In Korea he was not well received before this. He had a fan base but he was old and not attractive to far too many people. Suddenly he breaks in and now he represents Korea? He is what Korean pop culture has been loathing for 15 years and why he did a parody of that lifestyle the way he did.
In any event I think Psy is more Ricky Martin that John Lennon and in six months some new thing will have replaced him internationally. For now though it seems an opportunity lost.
Sometimes I Just Have to Laugh at my Wacky Northern Neighbour
They have now built a 1800 foot slogan on the side of a mountain praising Kim Jong-Un.
I mean, they don't have food or heating for the coming winter, but clearly this was more important. I wonder if the North Koreans know that to the rest of us the Kim dynasty is a bit of a joke or that no one is impressed by this.
However it is visible with satellites and is uniquely North Korean and so is an oddity in itself. This comes on the heels of Kim III teaching the military band to play and training air force pilots himself despite having never flown a plane (this new training method being well received in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington).
Anyway, worth a share.
I mean, they don't have food or heating for the coming winter, but clearly this was more important. I wonder if the North Koreans know that to the rest of us the Kim dynasty is a bit of a joke or that no one is impressed by this.
However it is visible with satellites and is uniquely North Korean and so is an oddity in itself. This comes on the heels of Kim III teaching the military band to play and training air force pilots himself despite having never flown a plane (this new training method being well received in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington).
Anyway, worth a share.
It's Daejeon
That's the slogan of the city I was in this weekend as Kris, Mike, Darren and I met to explore a new city and catch up after vacations to London and Cambodia and job moves and city moves etc etc etc.
To be honest we found an all you can meat bbq buffet with a 10000 won price tag so that was 2-6. Then it was hotel, train tickets and off to explore the city. It was a great, if very late, night out that I rarely do these days but am glad to once in a while. We found some great bars and restaurants and saw a lot of the city core of the "old downtown".
Daejeon is also cool because it's a bit more working class, so you meet more people who don't necessarily have access to western education or private academies. A very different look at Korean life when you meet these people (though Daejeon is also a major university town, so there's plenty of higher education there too).
"It's Daejeon" is already my favourite slogan in a country that has given us "Dynamic Busan", "Ulsan for You" and the Tommy Wiseau inspired "Hi Seoul" (replacing the MUCH better "Seoul: Soul of Asia"). But heck, it IS Daejeon and it was a good visit.
To be honest we found an all you can meat bbq buffet with a 10000 won price tag so that was 2-6. Then it was hotel, train tickets and off to explore the city. It was a great, if very late, night out that I rarely do these days but am glad to once in a while. We found some great bars and restaurants and saw a lot of the city core of the "old downtown".
Daejeon is also cool because it's a bit more working class, so you meet more people who don't necessarily have access to western education or private academies. A very different look at Korean life when you meet these people (though Daejeon is also a major university town, so there's plenty of higher education there too).
"It's Daejeon" is already my favourite slogan in a country that has given us "Dynamic Busan", "Ulsan for You" and the Tommy Wiseau inspired "Hi Seoul" (replacing the MUCH better "Seoul: Soul of Asia"). But heck, it IS Daejeon and it was a good visit.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Branch Move
Yesterday I was asked if I would mind transferring to the Yongsan branch of Moonkkang in January for a few months, as Moonkkang is doing some restructuring and needs more teachers there and less in Sangin. Yongsan is two stops away from Keimyung where I worked my first year in Daegu and is a decent area to live in. Being that I'm kinda new (and it was an offer that wasn't really an offer anyway) I decided to accept if it's a go. It was actually my second choice of location when I got the job, something they were kind enough to remember, and so I'm not that upset.
Actually part of me was relieved. I had begun to wonder if Sangin for another year was a mistake. I had already lived here a year and visited lots my first year when Geoff lived here. I am feeling very comfortable and settled and while to most that sounds great, if I'm going to be settled and comfy in west Daegu, why not go be settled and comfy in western Canada? Isn't the whole point of this life exploration, adventure and cash and all while you're young enough to enjoy it? With Crystal, Danny and Darren all still here I'll be making trips out anyway, but Monday-Friday I'd be exploring a new area.
The only downside is that I have a sweet apartment that I may have to give up (the commute would not be fun). It's not finalized yet but if it's offered on Tuesday when I meet Lynn I will accept.
Actually part of me was relieved. I had begun to wonder if Sangin for another year was a mistake. I had already lived here a year and visited lots my first year when Geoff lived here. I am feeling very comfortable and settled and while to most that sounds great, if I'm going to be settled and comfy in west Daegu, why not go be settled and comfy in western Canada? Isn't the whole point of this life exploration, adventure and cash and all while you're young enough to enjoy it? With Crystal, Danny and Darren all still here I'll be making trips out anyway, but Monday-Friday I'd be exploring a new area.
The only downside is that I have a sweet apartment that I may have to give up (the commute would not be fun). It's not finalized yet but if it's offered on Tuesday when I meet Lynn I will accept.
Protests at Wal-Mart
This made my day.
Geoff got me on to this and man I've been smiling since I read it. I'm not sure what it will amount to but Wal-Mart employees are walking out across the U.S.A on Black Friday in an effort to protest low wages, strange hours and lack of health care.
I worked at Wal-Mart as a kid and it is the only employer I have had who I would not speak highly of, or at least respectfully of. To this day I will not shop at Wal-Mart (I have not since I left the company after Christmas in early 2002). Low wages are the norm, 'Wal-Mart" full time in 28 hours a week in countries where they can get away with it, they have a multi-million dollar union busting team and even shut down a store in Quebec when they did unionize and they are, well, dicks.
I did other retail in my day, working at Future Shop (a Canadian Best Buy) while going through university. While it wasn't always fun and I certainly had a few questionable managers the overwhelming majority of staff and management were good and I actually keep in touch with people there who I worked with. It's not a career place for me but if I had an interest in selling electronics and could make a killing off of commission or wanted a retail management career I'd think about it. Not so with Wal-Mart. I remember one of our managers, he was 28 and had just gotten married. Upon his return from his honeymoon it was, "Congratulations, now you're off to Whitehorse." Always wondered how long that marriage lasted.
It's also not like these employees are asking for 12 weeks paid vacation and $50/h to run a till. They are asking for healthcare and a pension. I've looked at jobs in Bangkok (admittedly as a university) that offer healthcare and a pension. If it can be provided in a developing country it can be provided in California.
Anyway if you want you can make a donation to help striking workers. They're pushing $90,000 in just a few days so obviously people outside the company care.
As to Black Friday, or in Canada on Boxing Day. I have a crazy idea. Stay home, eat leftovers, talk to your family and friends. You have more shit than you need anyway. Believe it or not the acquisition of things is not that fulfilling. You want to spend your excess income on these days might I recommend this instead.
Geoff got me on to this and man I've been smiling since I read it. I'm not sure what it will amount to but Wal-Mart employees are walking out across the U.S.A on Black Friday in an effort to protest low wages, strange hours and lack of health care.
I worked at Wal-Mart as a kid and it is the only employer I have had who I would not speak highly of, or at least respectfully of. To this day I will not shop at Wal-Mart (I have not since I left the company after Christmas in early 2002). Low wages are the norm, 'Wal-Mart" full time in 28 hours a week in countries where they can get away with it, they have a multi-million dollar union busting team and even shut down a store in Quebec when they did unionize and they are, well, dicks.
I did other retail in my day, working at Future Shop (a Canadian Best Buy) while going through university. While it wasn't always fun and I certainly had a few questionable managers the overwhelming majority of staff and management were good and I actually keep in touch with people there who I worked with. It's not a career place for me but if I had an interest in selling electronics and could make a killing off of commission or wanted a retail management career I'd think about it. Not so with Wal-Mart. I remember one of our managers, he was 28 and had just gotten married. Upon his return from his honeymoon it was, "Congratulations, now you're off to Whitehorse." Always wondered how long that marriage lasted.
It's also not like these employees are asking for 12 weeks paid vacation and $50/h to run a till. They are asking for healthcare and a pension. I've looked at jobs in Bangkok (admittedly as a university) that offer healthcare and a pension. If it can be provided in a developing country it can be provided in California.
Anyway if you want you can make a donation to help striking workers. They're pushing $90,000 in just a few days so obviously people outside the company care.
As to Black Friday, or in Canada on Boxing Day. I have a crazy idea. Stay home, eat leftovers, talk to your family and friends. You have more shit than you need anyway. Believe it or not the acquisition of things is not that fulfilling. You want to spend your excess income on these days might I recommend this instead.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Free Stuff in Korea
Last night I went out for bbq and to a beer mart with a couple friends. Nothing too crazy but at the beer mart I was able to drink Chang and after talking to Mike about his recent adventures in Thailand I was feeling a bit nostalgic for the place.
Anyway on my way out I was given a "service" (pronounced so bih see) gift. Getting free nacho's or cola at restaurants is common here but at a beer mart it's not usual. However that fact that we got gifts is not half as strange as what they were:
Just.
Anyway on my way out I was given a "service" (pronounced so bih see) gift. Getting free nacho's or cola at restaurants is common here but at a beer mart it's not usual. However that fact that we got gifts is not half as strange as what they were:
My Cafri beer travel kit.
The beer mart doesn't serve Cafri.....
A travel kit with shampoo and body wash. I guess it makes sense, import beer, travelling, personal hygiene ......
Just.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Just
Not a lot to write about this weekend. I had a fairly quiet one overall with only a Friday night out at all to Fish and Grill and WaBar. The rest of the weekend was spent cleaning, relaxing skyping etc. I found that after an October of travelling and moving and then a weekend in Busan I was ready for a quiet day and that is exactly what I got.
I also think I'm settling in to a bit of post adventure depression that I'm hoping to overcome this weekend with a trip to Daejeon to see Mike and Kris (who are coming down from Seoul and Ilsan respectively). Not that I am really that depressed but I have spent August-October travelling in Japan and England, changing jobs (a quasi promotion in fact) and now it's done and I'm settling in as winter is commencing with no real plans to get excited about until April when school starts and I can hopefully get a week off. After a three month high it's odd to be back to normal life.
That being said I'll spend this weekend hearing all about Mike's trip to Thailand and Cambodia, a trip I did in 2008, and about Kris' potential move and trip home. I also have a few England stories left and I haven't seen much of Kris since I got back so it should be a great weekend.
I'm also going to look in to vacations this week. Beijing or Vietnam?
I also think I'm settling in to a bit of post adventure depression that I'm hoping to overcome this weekend with a trip to Daejeon to see Mike and Kris (who are coming down from Seoul and Ilsan respectively). Not that I am really that depressed but I have spent August-October travelling in Japan and England, changing jobs (a quasi promotion in fact) and now it's done and I'm settling in as winter is commencing with no real plans to get excited about until April when school starts and I can hopefully get a week off. After a three month high it's odd to be back to normal life.
That being said I'll spend this weekend hearing all about Mike's trip to Thailand and Cambodia, a trip I did in 2008, and about Kris' potential move and trip home. I also have a few England stories left and I haven't seen much of Kris since I got back so it should be a great weekend.
I'm also going to look in to vacations this week. Beijing or Vietnam?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Staypuff Is Die
My good friend David, who I worked with in 2009 and 2010 at SEI has decided to hang up his blog, staypuff.net. It was his amazing blogging that was my inspiration for this site, as I had already lived in Korea a year and had travelled in SE Asia and Australia with no real record of it except through photo's which I rarely bothered to caption. Even though it is finished it details an amazing seven years in Korea and Beijing and gives a real insight in to what expat life is all about and how to do it properly. Although it's been very neglected this year I still enjoyed reading it when it came up.
Although our writing styles and topics differ a lot (David had 25-30 posts a month with much more day to day details than I do) it was reading through it that made me realize how important a record like that is and I'm a bit sad to see it end, though I fully respect David's rationale for doing so.
I guess this means I'll just have to visit him and Em this spring in Beijing to catch up on their adventures. :)
Although our writing styles and topics differ a lot (David had 25-30 posts a month with much more day to day details than I do) it was reading through it that made me realize how important a record like that is and I'm a bit sad to see it end, though I fully respect David's rationale for doing so.
I guess this means I'll just have to visit him and Em this spring in Beijing to catch up on their adventures. :)
Monday, November 12, 2012
Starting To Get Colder
This morning I decided to go for a little hike up the mountain. It seemed a sunny enough day and I was tired of the gym.
I think I won't be on that mountain again until next April. It wasn't freezing, but the wind and temperature made it a bit too uncomfortable. I'll admit I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold weather, but despite the views I was missing the heaters of the gym.
I know it's only going to get worse and by January I'll be wishing for this temperature. Ah well, maybe next year I should teach English in Taiwan :P
I think I won't be on that mountain again until next April. It wasn't freezing, but the wind and temperature made it a bit too uncomfortable. I'll admit I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold weather, but despite the views I was missing the heaters of the gym.
I know it's only going to get worse and by January I'll be wishing for this temperature. Ah well, maybe next year I should teach English in Taiwan :P
Belated Congrats to Obama
Like virtually anyone who has finished High School I was happy to see Barack Obama re-elected as president in the States. Not that it affects me that much (or really at all) but it's great to see a guy who says that he doesn't care about half the people he means to govern lose so convincingly.
It's also nice to see that the sort of conservatism practiced by republicans in the US has proven so unpopular with anyone who is not a college dropout or a rich white guy. You'll note that both in the UK and Canada conservative governments have been elected and stayed in power. This is because they preach crazy stuff like financial responsibility and job growth while downplaying or ignoring stuff like gay marriage. While I may not agree with all of their platform it is a stance that can appeal to younger voters. Ron Paul managed to galvanize younger voters but his treatment by republicans ensured that they stayed home, voted for Gary Johnson (the libertarian candidate) or even Obama. Not that I think Ron Paul would be a good president (at the end of the day libertarianism works best with rich white folks just as Romney did) but at least he left the god hates fags stuff at home. Heck as a secretary of the treasury I bet he'd do great.
However it was not to be and Obama won a very convincing victory. It will be interesting to see how republicans respond to this loss. Will they move away from the tea party crowd towards a more British style of conservative or will they go crazy religious right. It's hard to listen to Romney go on about personal freedom when he wants to restrict what I can put in my body, who I can have sex with and what god I can believe in. I can't see a tea party driven republican party faring any better in a country that has approved marijuana use in some states and has allowed gay marriage in over ten States so far (and all in the last 8 years). The simple fact is that there are not enough rich, white guys and high school dropouts left to vote for that sort of conservatism.
Not that I agree with everything Obama has done. Intervention in Libya and budget cuts to NASA piss me off but overall he's batting around .900. He ended one of two colonial wars, he has made it so everyone can see a doctor, he allowed a tax cut to expire that does not effect 99% of the US population anyway (and didn't raise taxes except for healthcare). Remember those conveniently timed "amber alerts" in 2004 and 2008? No more fear for the win. Border crossings are secure but no longer military checkpoints. Job growth is slow but steady. I mean this guy inherited the worst mess since FDR inherited and I think he's done okay. Certainly the improvement of the eight years that preceded him can not be overstated.
So well done Barack Obama.
It's also nice to see that the sort of conservatism practiced by republicans in the US has proven so unpopular with anyone who is not a college dropout or a rich white guy. You'll note that both in the UK and Canada conservative governments have been elected and stayed in power. This is because they preach crazy stuff like financial responsibility and job growth while downplaying or ignoring stuff like gay marriage. While I may not agree with all of their platform it is a stance that can appeal to younger voters. Ron Paul managed to galvanize younger voters but his treatment by republicans ensured that they stayed home, voted for Gary Johnson (the libertarian candidate) or even Obama. Not that I think Ron Paul would be a good president (at the end of the day libertarianism works best with rich white folks just as Romney did) but at least he left the god hates fags stuff at home. Heck as a secretary of the treasury I bet he'd do great.
However it was not to be and Obama won a very convincing victory. It will be interesting to see how republicans respond to this loss. Will they move away from the tea party crowd towards a more British style of conservative or will they go crazy religious right. It's hard to listen to Romney go on about personal freedom when he wants to restrict what I can put in my body, who I can have sex with and what god I can believe in. I can't see a tea party driven republican party faring any better in a country that has approved marijuana use in some states and has allowed gay marriage in over ten States so far (and all in the last 8 years). The simple fact is that there are not enough rich, white guys and high school dropouts left to vote for that sort of conservatism.
Not that I agree with everything Obama has done. Intervention in Libya and budget cuts to NASA piss me off but overall he's batting around .900. He ended one of two colonial wars, he has made it so everyone can see a doctor, he allowed a tax cut to expire that does not effect 99% of the US population anyway (and didn't raise taxes except for healthcare). Remember those conveniently timed "amber alerts" in 2004 and 2008? No more fear for the win. Border crossings are secure but no longer military checkpoints. Job growth is slow but steady. I mean this guy inherited the worst mess since FDR inherited and I think he's done okay. Certainly the improvement of the eight years that preceded him can not be overstated.
So well done Barack Obama.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Busan. Lions vs. Lions. Izakaya's etc.
This weekend was a Japanese themed trip to Busan with Bobby to see the Lotte Giants (Busan) take on the Yomiuri Giants (Tokyo) for a spot in Sunday's final against the Lamigo Monkeys (Taiyuan, Taiwan) in the 2012 Asia Series. We then planned to head to Nampo-dong for some Japanese food with the tourists and see what happened.
It started with the almost routine KTX trip from Dongdaegu to Busan where we met around 1130 (Bobby coming all the way from Seoul had a rather longer trip). It was then off to Sajik Stadium to get tickets for the game. Sajik is much larger than the tiny stadium in Daegu and at 28,500 capacity can hold more people than Jamsil in Seoul, making it the largest stadium in the country (though dwarfed by every MLB park and the Tokyo Dome). It's an older stadium but still a great place to watch a game. I was a little disappointed by the low turnout for the game. It wasn't the final but it was likely to be the last game played by the hometown Giants. However we had a section of seating to ourselves and despite a strong wind were fairly comfortable.
It started with the almost routine KTX trip from Dongdaegu to Busan where we met around 1130 (Bobby coming all the way from Seoul had a rather longer trip). It was then off to Sajik Stadium to get tickets for the game. Sajik is much larger than the tiny stadium in Daegu and at 28,500 capacity can hold more people than Jamsil in Seoul, making it the largest stadium in the country (though dwarfed by every MLB park and the Tokyo Dome). It's an older stadium but still a great place to watch a game. I was a little disappointed by the low turnout for the game. It wasn't the final but it was likely to be the last game played by the hometown Giants. However we had a section of seating to ourselves and despite a strong wind were fairly comfortable.
Left to right:
Lotte Giants, Yomiuri Giants, Perth Heat
the outfield
the infield
Rowdy Japanese fans.
The game itself was a blowout with Yomiuri scoring one run in almost every inning (though never more than one) and Lotte unable to get a run at all. Yomiuri are considered the best team in Asia (Yankees of Japan is a common comparison) and they went on to win the championship the next day so perhaps it wasn't that surprising. Still, fun to see that calibre of baseball in Korea.
After the game we headed to Nampo to find a hotel. My regular one was under renovation but we found another one for only 5000 won more with better heating, better bathrooms and no noise. Well worth the extra $4.70.
By that time it was only four and dinner wasn't on until seven so we ducked in to watch the new Bond film. I'm a huge 007 fan and while I did like this one a lot I do still think that Casino Royale is the better film. Still an cool movie.
We then opted to had out to see several of the Japanese places in Busan. Busan has a large Japanese expat community and many Japanese tourists visit every weekend looking for cheap clothes and food and a decent tourist city. As a result many Japanese bars (Izakaya's) are in Nampo with Japanese food, Japanese beer on tap and a few Japanese tourists inside. It's a real taste of Japan without the hefty Japanese travel costs. We spent the night drinking sake, Kirin and Asahi and eating sushi, seafood pancakes and assorted skewers of meat including beef, pork, cow tongue and chicken hearts. The deep fried chicken intestines were also a real treat (though a bar of soap would taste good if you deep fried it). It was a lot of fun and was a night out of Korea without leaving Korea. A pricey night by Korean standards but well worth it. We called it at about 2.
The next morning we got up, had breakfast and a coffee and had a few hours left. we decided to go and see the now largest department store in the world. I wasn't sure how much fun it would actually be but when you walk in to a four story fountain it's okay. On the 11th floor is an observation deck with some nice views of Busan.
Lotte Department Store
Four Story Fountain
Youedo from the observation deck
Busan Port
Busan Tower
After a while there we headed up to the train station, ducking in to pass the new Busan Modern History Museum along the way. I liked it though the anti-Japanese rhetoric was in full overdrive as is too often the case in Korea. The section on US-Korea relations was much more interesting and balanced.
Then it was off to Busan Station and home. One of the better trips to Busan for sure.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
How We Remember Stuff
Pursuant to a conversation I was having I'd throw this up, a great way of looking at how we remember stuff vs. how it really was (nostalgia is a powerful thing).
1993-1995. Great years for music. Nirvana, Soundgarden, The Offspring, Stone Temple Pilots, the Melvins, Pantera, Alice in Chains, No Doubt, Sublime. We were awesome. Our music was awesome.
Here's the top ten songs of 1994:
No Kurt Cobain but an awful lot of Ace of Base. But that's just 1994, an anomaly?
1993:
1995:
1992?:
(you'll find Nirvana down at 32 in 1992 and never appearing again, the other above mentioned bands never even get a top 100). I can say honestly that I was listening to most of the above mentioned bands, but apparently I was in a minority. But yeah, Sir Mix-a-lot was a better financial investment than Pearl Jam or Nirvana in 1992.
But if it makes you feel any better, our parents are as full of shit than we are. The 60's, that decade of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Beatles and Janis Joplin.
1967:
1968:
Well the Doors and Clapton do sneak in there and there are the Beatles all the way up there with Lulu! .......... okay, maybe they weren't quite as full of it. I can't hate on a list that has Otis Redding, John Lennon, Clapton and Morrison but you get the idea. I mean the Monkees did better than both the Doors and Eric Clapton, as did Bobbie Gentry and the great Paul Mauriat!
Anyway no real point to this, but remember, you've had fifty years to forget Lulu and twenty to forget Tag Team. Nostalgia is fun but things weren't better back then.
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