Monday, August 26, 2013

Another Set of Phone Pics

Yen at BBQ in Sangin

Singapore's Finest

A Solid Dinner in Beomeo

d'oh!

Very Clean 

A Light With the Word "Liquor" on it.

I Found in in Sincheon.... for $12.

Entrance to Bobby's Place

Yongsan University

Again

Ehwa University

Seoul Near 이대

At Ehwa, Kinda Cool 

I Like many Kinds "Chicken".

The Beer That Makes Other Korean Beers Taste Good

Chris and Kris

An Actual Poster From Portland c. 1992.

Good Beer

Zombie Coffee

An Amazing Film

Tommy Wiseau

Shit Just Got Real

Hwajeong

Hwajeong

Haengshin

Me at BBQ

Yup

Kris, Mike and I in Hongdae

Focus!

As I have said like 50 times already, it has been a summer of planning my next step and saying goodbye to many people. I think with so many people going, and my own plans being settled, I can't help but think about life after Korea. I had been getting down about another year in Korea. Not that I should. Great job, good vacation, school going well, but I do think I have been here too long.

In fact, I have been putting so much time in to what I will do this time next year that I haven't really been thinking much about the next 12 months, a fact Mike reminded me of this weekend in a less than subtle manner after I had been going on about it for a lengthy period of time. However he is right. School is happening now. I can't think about dissertation when I am barely a third in to my coursework. Fourteen months is also plenty of time to do anything I haven't done in Korea or do stuff I love for a last time. I have never been to Gwangju or Boseong or Seoraksan. There are several cities and islands I have not seen. These fourteen months should be a great opportunity to explore them.

I have sixty or so weekends left to me, which is a lot. Obviously a few will be given over to school, rest, vacations etc. However, I should spend a few of them doing the rounds here. It'll all be over before I know it.

So Many People Going

This week I managed to say goodbye to Kris, Chris and Diana, who are all off to various places outside Korea. All have been here a few years and all seem ready for the next chapter.

I saw Diana, my coworker, off on Friday. Friday night I went up to Seoul and actually said hi to Bobby, who is here for his last stint in Korea. On Saturday I went out with Chris, Kris and Mike for too many beers but some nice goodbye's. I then crashed at Mike's and left Sunday morning.

It is strange to think of so many people going. It does have me thinking far too much about my own last day (in 14 months). But I think saying goodbye to three friends, and Kris is particular, who has been a great friend for years, is hard.

That being said I did have fun in Seoul, here are a few pics-


Yonsei area

Yonsei University

Ehwa University

Ehwa

Everything Looks "Great"

Quite Possibly the Worst Beer Ever

Chris and Kris

Oh Hai Spoon

Ilsan

Ilsan

Kris, Mike and I





Friday, August 16, 2013

Glad the Kids Get to Swim... and Learn to Swim

Cause the only pool white people go to seems to be at the casino where Koreans aren't allowed (just when you thought the 19th century was dead).

But for the kids, there are many opportunities to swim, but until recently none of them knew how. I found it interesting to hear from my kids how many of them took swimming lessons this summer (most for the first time). Korea is surrounded by ocean and filled with rivers and yet this is the first time the majority of my students (or more than 1-2 really) seem to be able to swim (and yes, I have asked in years past).

So good on parents for teaching this important skill and getting these kids some much needed exercise.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Russia Should Keep the Olympics.... Even Though They Are Dicks

I am not a fan of Russia's new laws, which prohibit dissemination and discussion of homosexuality. However, contrary to what MSNBC or George Takei have told us, it is NOT a law that allows you to go around beating up homosexuals. There are no special protection laws for homosexuals and gay pride parades are illegal. However, assault is also illegal and assaulting someone who is gay IS a crime, just no different from assaulting someone who isn't. Gay marriages are not recognized but homosexual relations are not illegal. It is a national 'don't ask, don't tell' law. Gay men may serve in the military and even adopt children (any single person can). These are not draconian laws such as are found in Uganda. The big issue is that it is illegal to speak out about homosexuality or teach children about it. While I personally find this barbaric, if censorship was an issue then how did China, Korea, Germany or the former USSR get the Olympics? If having anti-gay legislation or attitudes bars hosting the Olympics I guess they will be held in Western continental Europe forever.

Read about Russia's laws here.

I personally find the idea a bit outdated, but in a country where around 80% of the population are opposed to homosexual rights perhaps it is not surprising. Also, Russia's ideas are in line with how most of the world feels about homosexuality. The fact is that "the world" is not changing its views on homosexuality, just a few countries in western Europe and North America.

Now I personally support gay marriage because, well frankly, I have never heard a compelling reason not to. However, not doing so should not be cause for an international boycott. The fact is that gay rights is the hot issue of 2013 so Russia gets a lot of hate, but what if we judged a country by another, less current but equally important issue. Maybe the way it treats its minority or indigenous populations? If THAT was the hot button issue no one would suggest moving the Olympics to Canada. Look at how the Canadian government ignores, abuses and mistreats its aboriginal population (here and here and here). So we can't have the games in a country that bans discussion on homosexuality but instead should have it in a country that bans UN envoys from visiting aboriginal communities who are in dire need of assistance? That seems reasonable?

So how about other nations who have hosted the Olympics recently. Australia. Amazing place unless you are a refugee or an Aboriginal Australian. Japan, great if you are full blooded Yamato Japanese, less so if you are a Korean Japanese or Ainu. China. Tibet and Xinjiang, 'nuff said. London. The Brits are my favourite as they will tout human rights and international law (and have since the day after the Suez Crisis ended) but will set them aside whenever the US and Russia say it's okay. Ask Iraqi's how they feel about the UK as a model of human rights? How many nations at those games had athletes representing countries that won their freedom from the very queen presiding over the games? The USA. I wonder if Obama's spy network reads this blog? How many drones has he used this year? How about all those US states where there is no equality for homosexuals now?

However, these groups don't have charismatic spokesmen and aren't the hot button issue of the year so no one brings them up when the Olympics are being waved around. Granted a few native groups DID protest Vancouver, but they were simply ignored by all the same people so determined to move the Olympics from Russia.

Also, why do the Olympics get held to a higher standard than other sporting events? South Africa gets the FIFA World Cup? The UAE hosts F1 facing? Russia hosts hockey championships? China hosted the last Asian Games?

Finally, who decided the Olympics were a honour? It's a sporting locust, coming in and sucking up funds, offering little of value in return and then leaving. Yes tourism goes up, but it crashes for six months after that. Yes we now know which European can go down a mountain the fastest. If anyone actually cared they wouldn't need state funding to organize it (when was the last time the Yankees needed funds from the state of New York?).


The Olympics are kind of stupid anyway, but treat them as what they are, a sporting event. If the Superbowl was being held in Texas no one would be screaming to move it because their governor is an idiot. We accept that the NFL and women's rights/gay rights are not connected. Russia's treatment of its homosexual population may be appauling, but Canada's treatment of its native population is equally appauling. Unless you want to host every Olympic event for the rest of time in Oregon you'd better accept that you may not like everything about the host country or city of the Olympics.

Kris' Last Weekend in Daegu

With Kris' departure from Korea imminent he decided to have a last weekend down in Daegu. It was where we met and where he lived for a year so a last weekend seemed reasonable. With that in mind he came down Saturday afternoon. we met downtown for coffee and, later, a few beers. We wound up back in Sangin to finish the night with dinner and beer tunnel.

A regular Daegu Saturday made a bit more special by the fact that it will most likely be the last time Kris ever visits this city. I'll see him again on the 26th but that will be it for a while.

A good, somewhat memorable last night in Daegu.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Internet Explorer 6

While having difficulty on a Korean website I went to the "help" section to see if there was an email address where I could send off a query. Of course there wasn't but I did get this friendly tip:

Korail.com may be best viewed at the following environment.
1. Operating Systems:
- Windows PC except for window vista(Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP)
  ※ On window vista certain function may not operate.
2. Browsers:
- Only Internet Explorer 6.0
  ※ Korail.com does not support Netscape, FireFox and Opera.
3. Settings:
- Screen Resolution 1024*768 pixels
- Javascript Enabled
- ActiveX Enabled




This is the website for Korean rail, the national railway service. They want me to use internet explorer six....... who uses internet explorer anymore, and aren't they on like 9 now? The fact is that in Korea websites are designed for internet explorer and popular sites like naver and gmarket can not be properly accessed using Chrome or firefox.

Korean websites are already notoriously inefficient to the point where most westerners avoid using them at all costs. In fact most Koreans seem to find them confusing but no one seems interested in fixing it. Korail is better than most in that you can use your credit card for purchases and they go through with minimal hassle (I dare anyone to make a purchase on gmarket) but even then you can't look up old reservations or search for connecting trains (you can't look up Daegu to Danyang, but must look up Daegu to Andong and then Andong to Danyang and just know that the connection in there).

It amazes me that the most wired country on the planet can't make a website or use a decent web browser.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Another Piece Falls in to Place

and by that I mean I got my extension at Moonkkang. Contract is signed and so my plan to work until next fall in Korea is really coming together.

I had looked at university or public school jobs but they would both be a pay cut, which is not what I need right now. My foreign boss, Lynn, has indicated that my staying until the end of next November is okay, though for now I am signed through October 31st 2014. It will allow me to leave with three years pension, two years severance and cash for a flight.

The more I talk about this plan the more right it feels. My good friend Kris may well be moving to Taiwan next month which would give me yet another reason to move there. I also have contacts in the Philippines and Thailand. With 2015 being dissertation year it seems the right time to head off. I have talked to Mike (who I am doing this program with) about moving at that time. His contract is up Dec. 2014 and I believe is of the same opinion as I am regarding Korea. Everything seems to point to an exit at or before the February 2015 date I had blogged about previously (though a revised Dec 5th 2014 date seems more likely now).

To finish my time in Korea at Moonkkang is great, as they are far and away the best company I have worked for in Korea. Here's hoping for 15 smooth months.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Out to Gyeongju

On Saturday i went out with Yhen to Gyeongju to see the sights and hang out.

The excessive temperature made it a bit rough, and we ended up crashing rather early. We did manage Bulguksa, among the oldest temples in Korea, Anapji pond and the city itself.

I have been to Gyeongju a few times and, while I do like it, unless my Mom wants to see it it will be my last time out there. The city is great but it lacks the awe of a place like the London Tower, Wat Pho or Haeinsa. I know that with 15 months left in Korea it is a bit soon to begin a farewell tour (many people only get 12 here after all) but it did feel a bit like my last trip to the city, but obviously it may not be. We will see.




Here are a few pics:

On her phone

bell at Bulguksa

Anapji Pond

Again


At the gardens in the city


The oldest building in Korea