Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Canada and the U.A.E in a Dispute

and in what is not a big surprise, it's Stephen Harper's fault.

Now the only reason I bring up this dispute is because the United Arab Emirates is somewhere that i would like to eventually work in. Good working conditions, nice weather and a good salary make it a solid place to work. But for me getting a visa will be an expensive process. Why? Transport Canada and the Harper government are refusing to allow Ethiad and Emirate airlines additional landing rights in Toronto.

Apparently the six a week they do is enough, and Air Canada doesn't want Emirates to expand in to Canada (I guess they don't want Canadians to know what a good airline looks like). Now I supported the Chretien government when they wouldn't grant landing rights to Garuda Indonesia, because they don't meet international safety standards (they are also banned from flying in the European Union and the United States) and Harper hasn't changed that. But with Emirates?

I've flown both Air Canada and Emirates. Emirates (based in Dubai) is among the best I have ever flown, as opposed to Air Canada where I paid for peanuts. It and Ethiad airlines (based in Abu Dhabi) meets and exceeds every safety standard in existence and both are regularly rated among the best airlines in the world.

So why refuse them landing rights? To protect Air Canada.

Now I am not always against protectionism in a domestic market. For example the Japanese or Korean governments sheltering their automobile industries UNTIL they become globally competitive and are sold abroad, didn't bother me. I don't object to Air Canada's protected status IN CANADA (though I wish I could fly Korean Air from Vancouver to Toronto), but in a global market you can't behave like that. Air Canada NEEDS cooperation with international destinations as much as they need it in Canada. Also, this spills over in to other areas. Canadians and Canadian companies will be passed over in the UAE and the GCC in general for US and European companies. While the same is true in Canada the 35 million person Canadian market is not the loss that the Arabian Gulf is to Canadian business.

Now if it was a safety issue sure, but it's not. It's because no consumer would fly Air Canada if Emirates is available at a comparable price. So instead of adhering to the principles of fair and open trade global competitiveness and the Harper government harps on about with the U.S (like that pun?) or uses to justify building oil pipelines through Indian reserves to get that black gold to China faster it shuts down a very reasonable request by the UAE transit authority for more landing rights in Canada. How much did Air Canada contribute to his re-election campaign again?

SEI Buses for Sale

Walking to the gym today I saw two buses belonging to my old school SEI. I had seen one around for a while in Sangin but I had assumed that it was just leftover from the SEI that Geoff worked at that went under. As far as I knew the one that I worked at was still going, but with a reduced staff.

Well the two buses were actually being painted over and replaced by "Einstein" Academy. While it COULD be a name change the fact that both buses were in Sangin, where there hasn't been an SEI in over a year, suggests otherwise.

I have no idea if that old school still exists, and one day I may have to go look, but my guess is it's not if both buses are being sold and repainted.

Wonder what happened.

Monday, January 28, 2013

New Phone

I got a new phone this week.

A Galaxy SII with all the features.

To be honest I don't know much about phones but this one seems solid and gives me 4G. I also have a new phone number if anyone wants it.

I went with my friend Haemi, who was a big help with all of it.

So anyway, a great new phone.

Monday, January 21, 2013

The 100,000 won Bill

The long discussed Korean 100,000 won (around $90-95 USD) is again up for discussion as a new image has been released featuring Kim Gu on one side and Dok-do on the other.

Now Kim Gu makes sense. He was a major figure in Korea;s independence movement during the colonial period. He was also the man that should have been President of a united Korea after WWII. He worked hard with Kim Il Sung on unification and against Lee Syng Manh who was the right wing military dictator of the south. His death has led to wild conspiracy theories including CIA plots and northern assassins though in reality he was probably killed by political rivals. He is also a good image as he is revered in both the north and the south.

It's also interesting that he is the first person from the 20th century to be on a Korean bill. the rest have been honored scholars or Kings from Joseon, the so-called Korean golden age. It's interesting to me that they have chosen a modern figure for this bill.


The back of the bill almost had me packing my bags. Dok-do. Dok-do are a collection of rocks east of Korea that are disputed between South Korea and Japan. Now Korea has the much stronger claim, but neither side has taken it to an international court yet. The fact is that both sides want the fishing rights that go with ownership of these islands. However in Korea the issue has taken on a life of its own. It's labelled a new struggle against Japanese colonialism, it's used shamelessly in advertising and the Sea of Japan is now called the East Sea here, as though the sea having Japan's name gives everything in it to Japan (you know how the Gulf of Mexico is owned by Mexico and all...........). While I think if it goes to court Korea will win the Dok-do case it seems very petty to put it on your bill, especially as Kim Gu could easily be seen as a shot at Japan too (though not any more than George Washington on the US dollar bill is a shot at Britain). Canada is currently disputing several islands with Denmark (near Greenland). I would be embarrassed to see them on Canadian currency. Are we six? How about we sit down with Denmark and talk like adults to work out our differences? If anything, that petty act would harden people against Canada as I think it will harden people against Korea, which is a shame because if you take away Korea's excessive nationalism and look at it from a legal standpoint Korea IS right about this, the islands ARE theirs.

As to the bill itself. In a cash culture it's about time. Cab drivers and convenience store clerks will hate it but everyone else will love it.

How I'm Doing Photo's

For anyone who follows my photo's on facebook I'm opting for a change in how I do them. In the past, I've created albums labelled "Around Korea" and albums labelled "Daegu."

In 2009 when I moved to Daegu this made sense but now it really doesn't. The fact is that I rarely do much in Daegu anymore. I work here, but every weekend I'm out travelling or being low key. Last year I managed 77 photo's in Daegu, most of which were just shots of apartments, my neighbourhood or downtown.  Up against that is over 300 "Around Korea".

Also, around Korea included Busan, Seoul, Gimcheon, Cheongdo, Gumi, Gyeongu and Incheon. That's a lot to lump in one album. Finally, I find that I do less touristy stuff. I travel more than ever, but it's not stuff that needs lots of photo's. Beers with Ange and Chris or playing NBA 2K13 at Mikes place just aren't things that require excessive photo's. Not that I won't do lots this year, but I feel that it an be broadly lumped in to one album. So from now on it's "Korea 2013." (with II, III etc.).

A Great Cheongju Weekend

Big thanks to Ange and Chris for a wonderful weekend up in Cheongju. It was a lot of fun to go back and hang out again before they move on and Cheongju fades in to distant memory for all of us.

Not that I'll never go back to Cheongju, there's a fort there I still haven't seen, but lets be honest, it probably won't happen. If you have any interest in the city read about it here.

I took the KTX to Osong and a 18000 won can ride later I was at Ange's front door. We hung out, had a beer and chatted about future plans before heading out to meet their friend Liz and hit Cheongju proper. We were joined by Chris' friend Phil and went downtown. It was mostly a few beers in a great small bar and dinner before calling it around 3. Not too crazy and a lot of fun. I was up at 10 and made coffee and chatted with everyone until my train at 5 to go home.

It was a great last visit to Cheongju and I'll be sad to see Ange go (Chris is in Seoul til the summer and possibly longer) but her next six months, five of which are in Bali and Thailand, sound amazing. Also, hearing about how she is finishing school makes me very excited to get going on my own.

Anyway, I'll hopefully see them again over solnal in Seoul so it wasn't goodbye just yet, just a great weekend.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Two Trips to Seoul

Well despite my need to save cash I have booked back to back trips to Seoul for feb 2-3 and feb 9-11.

It's a bit excessive but Feb 2nd is Kris's birthday and being that feb 9th is mine I thought two weekends of big city living may be in order. Feb 10th is also lunar New Years when Daegu essentially shuts down so it seems a good time to get out.

However, after this I will need to slow down and save for school in April.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Winter Camp

I just finished two weeks of morning winter camp for Moonkkang and actually it was a bit of fun. I mean I hated being up at 6am but loved being home at 2pm (go figure?). The kids were good and the classes were fun to do. I would certainly do that again if the opportunity came up.

Anyway, now I am at Yongsan Moonkkang, which so far has been great. I know one of my western coworkers from around Daegu and it was his first day on Monday too. Not that Sangin branch was bad, but I was the new guy in with a bunch of people who were very established and had routines. They were also mostly teaching couples, so many weekends seemed to involve watching Dexter and cooking for them. Not that that is a bad thing at all, but it's just not really where I am in my life and it made it harder to gel I think. Starting with fresh people who are also fresh and a bit more my speed has so far been a great thing, and it's only day three. Still, I hope it continues.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Mobile Uploads

I've been snapping pics with my phone for ages, thought I'd share them:


Gotta love that copyright infringement

Why do schools teach that vocabulary?

The cutest part was that no one understood this shirt and
thought WE were strange for laughing so hard,
even our Korean co-teachers thought it was a maple leaf.
After all, he bought it in Vancouver.

Kongalishee

A&W in London

Hampton Court

Hampton Court Again

Sajik Stadium in Busan

MY favourite part.

Is

I ate everything on this menu (not kidding).

After a few beers at the local Beer Mart I got this
as a gift. Travel shampoo and beer.......

Mountain near my place.

A great English Ale in Korea (ignore the Cass).

BBQ in Daejeon

"Don't Lonely"......
I guess "me love you long time" got old.

On the KTX to Ulsan.

The demolished the old Reading Town!

 
I love a bar that has just given up.

as opposed to an "after the fact" warning.

Found it!

It's on the tube.

3000 year old hieroglyphs, just sayin'.

More delicious Korean bbq.


Seoul Again

Last weekend I finished my winter camp class and so decided to head up to Seoul early to hang out with Mike and get out of Daegu. It was mostly spent in Goyang, playing NBA 2K13 and out in Ilsan/Goyang. Kris was also there, who is just back from two weeks in Melbourne with family and friends.

The more time I spend up there the more I like it. Large apartments, great neighbourhood, an expat community that does more than drink at the same four bars every weekend (or at least more of one). If Taipei doesn't work out that is certainly plan B.

It wasn't a big sightseeing weekend but it was fun and great to catch up with Kris, who I hadn't seen in ages and chill in the big city. I think I'll have to head up again before long.

Sangin is Finished

Well my two months at Sangin Moonkkang are finished and I am now doing morning winter camp and paperwork before transferring to Yongsan near where I lived my first year in Daegu. It's a bit of a hassle but to be honest, as I've mentioned many times previously I feel the need for a change and if getting out of Daegu isn't an option a move within it might be exactly what I need.

Not that I don't enjoy Sangin a lot, but it's played out, so a move to Yongsan could be just what I need. I'm also happy that it's happening now, rather than later on when I'm in school.

The winter camp itself is fun, even though it's a 30 minute commute at 730am. Still it is nice to be done and home by 2 in the afternoon. The kids are also cool for the most part, so that is a bonus.


Monday, January 7, 2013

The Year 2012

Well another year has come and gone, and in most ways what a great year it was.

First off I turned 30, which is scary and awesome at the same time. I don't FEEL that old, but I am aware that I'm not 22 anymore, which has given me a real motivation to get somewhere in life. With that in mind I have enrolled in a graduate program for 2013. Getting in was probably the greatest accomplishment of 2012.

I also added Japan and England to my list of countries visited. I managed Fukuoka in August and England in October. Both trips were amazing and I plan to get back to both at some time in the future (Japan first I'd wager). To see two countries that have shaped so much of the world is truly amazing, especially London, a city that exudes it's global status. Though I did not visit Tokyo so until I do I'll hold off on a direct comparison until I do. There is something about global cities, they just have a feel to them, when you are at the centre of them you can almost touch it. Walking along London's south bank you get that vibe. It's similar to Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong and I'd imagine what Manhattan feels like. London is only the second place I've ever felt it (Hong Kong being the first) and I hope to go back and experience more of it someday.

I also got a much better job, moving from Reading Town to Moonkkang. Better pay, a structured curriculum and better vacation all make for a solid move.

All that being said I feel a bit stale for the first time since I moved to Korea. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it's lost the magic it had. Dare I say it feels normal. I've been talking with Mike about a switch to Taiwan next year more seriously than I have before, though I think school will have to be the final determiner of that. In any event I think 2013 could top 2012, though it would be tough.