and submitted.
My second of six papers is finally off and I am very happy to see the last of it.
Our topic choices this time were very broad and, I think, too much for the 4000 words allotted. I have decided to take the paper and apply it directly to what I do, both because it made all that academia relevant, and because it gave me a focus for such a short paper.
Overall I was happy with it, but in a month or so I'll know if it was good. Anyway, a week of relative rest and then on Tues or Wed I head to Seoul and Hong Kong!
Monday, November 25, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Daddy David
I saw my friend David on skype this morning, went to say hi. He wrote back:
"can't talk, baby just born :)"
"chat later."
So a big congrats to David and his lovely wife Em who are now a proud mom and dad. Great to see life in Beijing working out so well for two such amazing people.
I hope I can see the little one when I finally make it to Beijing.
Congrats bro.
"can't talk, baby just born :)"
"chat later."
So a big congrats to David and his lovely wife Em who are now a proud mom and dad. Great to see life in Beijing working out so well for two such amazing people.
I hope I can see the little one when I finally make it to Beijing.
Congrats bro.
Orientation, It Was Better Than I Expected
Man these orientations are always amazing, and this one didn't disappoint.
It started with a woman who runs KOTESOL is Daegu. She was giving a speech on ESL instruction that was, in reality, a sales pitch for her husband's books. While she actually had some great ideas the simple fact is that 99% of us would be unable to implement them solely because we work at private companies with set curricula. Also, well lets be honest, 90% of people in that room were not actually certified EFL teachers. Korea shops bargain basement for its instructors and while there are many that are actually quite good, many would not have the skills to do what she is suggesting or even the interest in doing so. Well meaning but not useful.
Then we had a western guy talking to us about Korean etiquette. His sole qualification seemed to be that he had lived here for twelve years. His presentation, entitled "Life in the Gu" was a fantastic start (Gu means administrative district, and while a few newcomers like to call Daegu 'the Gu' they quickly figure out how dumb it sounds to call their home 'the municipality'). Twelve years, I can learn nothing from him. He started by telling us about the research he had to do to find non-drinking activities in Daegu (I know what he does every weekend). He scrolled through such great organizations as the Daegu sports clubs, theater troupe and language exchange groups in about a minute (there were more but he scrolled through too quickly to read them). He then presented a video, clearly made as a comedy by some local expats on Daegu's foreign friendly bars (which is a misnomer as every bar is friendly to non-GI's, they are just not western style). I felt bad for people featured in that video as I am sure they would never have agreed to do it if they knew they would wind up there. Plus we all look like drunk idiots to the Koreans in attendance. Twelve years he has been here. Then I get to hear about how important it is to make inroads in the foreigner community. Go out with them lots. Introverts, explorers and people who want down time need not live here. So at this point I know that there are lots of bars to drink in and something else and it is all white people. Great. Then comes Korean interaction. First, don't show up to work drunk. I have never done that, nor would most people. If they do they should be fired immediately. Though he assured us all that he wasn't being patronizing, so that was nice. Second, his buddy had two Koreans lie and say he beat them up in a bar so he paid a bunch of money to them and had legal problems, be careful of those Koreans or you'll end up like his buddy. Third, learn Korean. He reads and speaks hangeul well (hangeul being the Korean alphabet, he speaks alphabet well. I'd say it was an honest slip of the tongue that I have made as well except he said it three times and never corrected himself).
The end.
What I took away from this was:
-drink lots, but only with westerners.
-In fact, make sure you go out every night you can with foreigners.
-Koreans are scary.
-Learn to speak the Korean alphabet.
-sober up enough for work.
-There are other things to do but you'll be too hungover to do them.
Well if I took his advice I wouldn't have my current and wonderful girlfriend, friends such as Kwangho and his family, other Korean or any non-western friends in general. I would also be unable to do an MA or Moonkkang stories and editing cause I'd be hungover all the time. Plus all the great food, exploring etc. that his game plan would make impossible. These include most of my fondest memories in Korea.
To be fair, people who know him said they were surprised, that he is actually a very nice guy and that speech didn't reflect him at all. I am sure that is true, and in another context he may very well be a decent guy. In fact I bet it is hard to do that and he tried to make something that a new person may find useful. The problem is that it was just such bad advice.
Anyway after those wonderful speeches I left and had a great afternoon downtown with Eddie, Jarrod and Hayley. We had sushi and coffee and hung out until we had to go to work. Jarrod is working with us this week so we all jumped in a cab. Actually that afternoon made the whole seminar worthwhile I guess, though I could have used the time far more productively or just spent it all downtown eating and drinking coffee.
Anyway, I just laugh and put the whole orientation experience under that file of absurd stories that can only happen if you live abroad. Twenty-four hours later and I am joking with Mike about it. Life in the Gu I guess.
It started with a woman who runs KOTESOL is Daegu. She was giving a speech on ESL instruction that was, in reality, a sales pitch for her husband's books. While she actually had some great ideas the simple fact is that 99% of us would be unable to implement them solely because we work at private companies with set curricula. Also, well lets be honest, 90% of people in that room were not actually certified EFL teachers. Korea shops bargain basement for its instructors and while there are many that are actually quite good, many would not have the skills to do what she is suggesting or even the interest in doing so. Well meaning but not useful.
Then we had a western guy talking to us about Korean etiquette. His sole qualification seemed to be that he had lived here for twelve years. His presentation, entitled "Life in the Gu" was a fantastic start (Gu means administrative district, and while a few newcomers like to call Daegu 'the Gu' they quickly figure out how dumb it sounds to call their home 'the municipality'). Twelve years, I can learn nothing from him. He started by telling us about the research he had to do to find non-drinking activities in Daegu (I know what he does every weekend). He scrolled through such great organizations as the Daegu sports clubs, theater troupe and language exchange groups in about a minute (there were more but he scrolled through too quickly to read them). He then presented a video, clearly made as a comedy by some local expats on Daegu's foreign friendly bars (which is a misnomer as every bar is friendly to non-GI's, they are just not western style). I felt bad for people featured in that video as I am sure they would never have agreed to do it if they knew they would wind up there. Plus we all look like drunk idiots to the Koreans in attendance. Twelve years he has been here. Then I get to hear about how important it is to make inroads in the foreigner community. Go out with them lots. Introverts, explorers and people who want down time need not live here. So at this point I know that there are lots of bars to drink in and something else and it is all white people. Great. Then comes Korean interaction. First, don't show up to work drunk. I have never done that, nor would most people. If they do they should be fired immediately. Though he assured us all that he wasn't being patronizing, so that was nice. Second, his buddy had two Koreans lie and say he beat them up in a bar so he paid a bunch of money to them and had legal problems, be careful of those Koreans or you'll end up like his buddy. Third, learn Korean. He reads and speaks hangeul well (hangeul being the Korean alphabet, he speaks alphabet well. I'd say it was an honest slip of the tongue that I have made as well except he said it three times and never corrected himself).
The end.
What I took away from this was:
-drink lots, but only with westerners.
-In fact, make sure you go out every night you can with foreigners.
-Koreans are scary.
-Learn to speak the Korean alphabet.
-sober up enough for work.
-There are other things to do but you'll be too hungover to do them.
Well if I took his advice I wouldn't have my current and wonderful girlfriend, friends such as Kwangho and his family, other Korean or any non-western friends in general. I would also be unable to do an MA or Moonkkang stories and editing cause I'd be hungover all the time. Plus all the great food, exploring etc. that his game plan would make impossible. These include most of my fondest memories in Korea.
To be fair, people who know him said they were surprised, that he is actually a very nice guy and that speech didn't reflect him at all. I am sure that is true, and in another context he may very well be a decent guy. In fact I bet it is hard to do that and he tried to make something that a new person may find useful. The problem is that it was just such bad advice.
Anyway after those wonderful speeches I left and had a great afternoon downtown with Eddie, Jarrod and Hayley. We had sushi and coffee and hung out until we had to go to work. Jarrod is working with us this week so we all jumped in a cab. Actually that afternoon made the whole seminar worthwhile I guess, though I could have used the time far more productively or just spent it all downtown eating and drinking coffee.
Anyway, I just laugh and put the whole orientation experience under that file of absurd stories that can only happen if you live abroad. Twenty-four hours later and I am joking with Mike about it. Life in the Gu I guess.
Monday, November 18, 2013
So Many Papers! A Little Free Time.
Well I am swimming in work this month. It is not enjoyable.
I was able to get out a bit on Saturday night as Matt, a coworker of Mike's and his girlfriend Cate were in Daegu for the weekend to hike the local mountains and see the temples. Yen and I went to meet them.
We met Saturday night for BBQ and a couple beers but Cate and Yen were ready to sleep by around 10. We did manage to eat Obama BBQ, which is pork strips in black pepper sauce (black pepper, Obama, get it?). Despite the minor racism it was a great meal. However, travel/hiking or work after four hours sleep will knock you out and it was an early night. It was still a lot of fun though and Matt is a very interesting guy with a lot of great stories. The next day Yen and I went to see Thor 2. I was surprisingly impressed, especially after the moderate disappointment of Iron Man 3. I am by and large sick of these comic book films but I do admit I have a soft spot for the Avengers... or Thor and Iron Man anyway. Especially after Chris Nolan's Godfather 3 finish to his Batman trilogy....
Anyway, that aside it is second paper crunch time and more Moonkkang stories. Should keep me busy this week.
I was able to get out a bit on Saturday night as Matt, a coworker of Mike's and his girlfriend Cate were in Daegu for the weekend to hike the local mountains and see the temples. Yen and I went to meet them.
We met Saturday night for BBQ and a couple beers but Cate and Yen were ready to sleep by around 10. We did manage to eat Obama BBQ, which is pork strips in black pepper sauce (black pepper, Obama, get it?). Despite the minor racism it was a great meal. However, travel/hiking or work after four hours sleep will knock you out and it was an early night. It was still a lot of fun though and Matt is a very interesting guy with a lot of great stories. The next day Yen and I went to see Thor 2. I was surprisingly impressed, especially after the moderate disappointment of Iron Man 3. I am by and large sick of these comic book films but I do admit I have a soft spot for the Avengers... or Thor and Iron Man anyway. Especially after Chris Nolan's Godfather 3 finish to his Batman trilogy....
Anyway, that aside it is second paper crunch time and more Moonkkang stories. Should keep me busy this week.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Orientation
Well Daegu's yearly "orientation" for hagwon teachers is upon us and I have been unable to dodge the bullet this time.
It is basically an introduction to Korea with helpful tips such as how to get up a bank account and how to be polite in Korea. Now if I had been here for thirty days or so this might be very useful, but I am going on five years here and going with people who have been here as long, or longer, than me.
Some folks are already complaining about the 930am start as most of us work evenings, but I think they are kids whining. I was up at 8am today, get your fat, lazy asses out of bed! But seriously it isn't the time so much as the fact that it will be utterly useless to 90% of the people there.
Now an orientation for new people might be a good idea, in fact it would be. A booklet on "how to_______" would help newbies out immensely I am sure. But at this point it is rather ridiculous for me. I am on my Korean back nine for sure and whether I leave to do my dissertation (Feb 2015) or after my dissertation (Oct 2015) I will be gone by one of those dates, if I haven't figured out Daegu by now I never will now will I?
Finally, the last half is an "introduction to Korean culture" lecture and, I believe, a Tae Kwon do show. Now I get that my fictional handbook should have a few do's and don't's for Korean society, but we are not cultural ambassadors. I have been hired to do a job, that is all. Now I can CHOOSE to get out and explore a bit, but if some guy wants to come here and spend two years getting drunk at pajama parties and scavenger hunts at MF Bar and Thursday Party that is his choice/loss. If you choose to be adventurous great, if you choose to learn a few things about Korean great, but it is not a responsibility nor the governments job to enforce you doing that.
Anyway, I'll be up at the usual time tomorrow :D to be off to learn how to open a Korean bank and that kimchi is very famous in Korea.
It is basically an introduction to Korea with helpful tips such as how to get up a bank account and how to be polite in Korea. Now if I had been here for thirty days or so this might be very useful, but I am going on five years here and going with people who have been here as long, or longer, than me.
Some folks are already complaining about the 930am start as most of us work evenings, but I think they are kids whining. I was up at 8am today, get your fat, lazy asses out of bed! But seriously it isn't the time so much as the fact that it will be utterly useless to 90% of the people there.
Now an orientation for new people might be a good idea, in fact it would be. A booklet on "how to_______" would help newbies out immensely I am sure. But at this point it is rather ridiculous for me. I am on my Korean back nine for sure and whether I leave to do my dissertation (Feb 2015) or after my dissertation (Oct 2015) I will be gone by one of those dates, if I haven't figured out Daegu by now I never will now will I?
Finally, the last half is an "introduction to Korean culture" lecture and, I believe, a Tae Kwon do show. Now I get that my fictional handbook should have a few do's and don't's for Korean society, but we are not cultural ambassadors. I have been hired to do a job, that is all. Now I can CHOOSE to get out and explore a bit, but if some guy wants to come here and spend two years getting drunk at pajama parties and scavenger hunts at MF Bar and Thursday Party that is his choice/loss. If you choose to be adventurous great, if you choose to learn a few things about Korean great, but it is not a responsibility nor the governments job to enforce you doing that.
Anyway, I'll be up at the usual time tomorrow :D to be off to learn how to open a Korean bank and that kimchi is very famous in Korea.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Haiyan
Well I guess the big news out of Asia is the massive typhoon that hit the eastern Philippines this week.
Aid is getting in very slowly but it looks like donations being made are starting to make a difference already, according to the BBC. Doctors Without Borders is there as is the US Navy, and the Japanese, Koreans and British have all sent ships to aid.
At times like this you really see the best and worst of humanity. On one hand you have people saying "spend at home first" and "what did they give us during _______". The Chinese government has offered a generous $200,000 dollars, about half of what George Takei gave.
On the other hand there has been an overwhelmed amount of giving by people who may not have much to give. Charities matching dollar for dollar up to certain amounts hit those amounts within 24 hours. It has been great to see and I hope it continues.
So far 3500 are dead but the numbers are expected to hit 10000. Anyway, the major charities such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross are collecting but if, like many, you feel uncomfortable with them, there are also charities like directrelief.org (who got my money).
Aid is getting in very slowly but it looks like donations being made are starting to make a difference already, according to the BBC. Doctors Without Borders is there as is the US Navy, and the Japanese, Koreans and British have all sent ships to aid.
At times like this you really see the best and worst of humanity. On one hand you have people saying "spend at home first" and "what did they give us during _______". The Chinese government has offered a generous $200,000 dollars, about half of what George Takei gave.
On the other hand there has been an overwhelmed amount of giving by people who may not have much to give. Charities matching dollar for dollar up to certain amounts hit those amounts within 24 hours. It has been great to see and I hope it continues.
So far 3500 are dead but the numbers are expected to hit 10000. Anyway, the major charities such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross are collecting but if, like many, you feel uncomfortable with them, there are also charities like directrelief.org (who got my money).
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Rob Ford
Amazing man. I love him.
well not politically or anything, but in the same way I love Ricky from Trailer Park Boys.
Rob Ford's highlights include a DUI in Florida, a fight at a Leafs game, a fight with a reporter, a video where he threatens to kill someone, a video of him smoking crack, his suggestion that cyclists deserve to get hit by cars, sexually harassing female opposition leader. It just goes on.
Here is a great BBC story discussing Ford's popularity.
Here is why it is not funny:
-substance abuse/addiction is not funny.
-sexual harassment is not funny.
-while hating on cyclists who ride in rush hour traffic is perfectly acceptable wishing them to be hit by cars is less so. This causes all of our insurance rates to go up.
Now here is why it is funny:
-It is Toronto.
Australians who live outside Sydney can probably relate to this.
Toronto loves to advertise itself as Canada's World City. Torontonians routinely compare their city to New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Paris. I have had Torontonians get angry at me because I don't support Toronto sports teams or Toronto based politicians. Not friendly debate, but full on anger. To support Toronto is to support a world Canada. Toronto beliefs and identities are "Canadian" identities and beliefs while those of Calgary, Halifax or Vancouver are just "regional".
Yet this city, this New York but better, routinely elects Matt Foley as Mayor. Ford, who routinely shows off his drinking buddy persona while arm wrestling Hulk Hogan (seriously).
Now this is not a class thing. Texans elected George W. as governor BECAUSE he wasn't an elitist. No one in Texas is advertising Dallas as New York south. That aspect of Texas is charming, it is what makes Texas Texas to the outside world. But you would simply never see the Mayor of London or the Chief Executive of Hong Kong order two city buses to kick off all their passengers in rush hour and use those buses to drive their football teams around. These are true world cities and those in charge of them act accordingly. The difference between London and Manchester or New York and Chicago are more than just population, it is an attitude, a mentality.
Rob Ford is a reminder to the globe that Toronto is what it hates and tries so hard not to be: a regular North American city. A city where beer swilling, pot smoking, sports crazy, lazy boy loving, big screen TV watching Rob Ford represents the majority and their priorities. That isn't a bad thing at all, unless it is what you desperately don't want to be.
well not politically or anything, but in the same way I love Ricky from Trailer Park Boys.
Rob Ford's highlights include a DUI in Florida, a fight at a Leafs game, a fight with a reporter, a video where he threatens to kill someone, a video of him smoking crack, his suggestion that cyclists deserve to get hit by cars, sexually harassing female opposition leader. It just goes on.
Here is a great BBC story discussing Ford's popularity.
Here is why it is not funny:
-substance abuse/addiction is not funny.
-sexual harassment is not funny.
-while hating on cyclists who ride in rush hour traffic is perfectly acceptable wishing them to be hit by cars is less so. This causes all of our insurance rates to go up.
Now here is why it is funny:
-It is Toronto.
Australians who live outside Sydney can probably relate to this.
Toronto loves to advertise itself as Canada's World City. Torontonians routinely compare their city to New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong or Paris. I have had Torontonians get angry at me because I don't support Toronto sports teams or Toronto based politicians. Not friendly debate, but full on anger. To support Toronto is to support a world Canada. Toronto beliefs and identities are "Canadian" identities and beliefs while those of Calgary, Halifax or Vancouver are just "regional".
Yet this city, this New York but better, routinely elects Matt Foley as Mayor. Ford, who routinely shows off his drinking buddy persona while arm wrestling Hulk Hogan (seriously).
Now this is not a class thing. Texans elected George W. as governor BECAUSE he wasn't an elitist. No one in Texas is advertising Dallas as New York south. That aspect of Texas is charming, it is what makes Texas Texas to the outside world. But you would simply never see the Mayor of London or the Chief Executive of Hong Kong order two city buses to kick off all their passengers in rush hour and use those buses to drive their football teams around. These are true world cities and those in charge of them act accordingly. The difference between London and Manchester or New York and Chicago are more than just population, it is an attitude, a mentality.
Rob Ford is a reminder to the globe that Toronto is what it hates and tries so hard not to be: a regular North American city. A city where beer swilling, pot smoking, sports crazy, lazy boy loving, big screen TV watching Rob Ford represents the majority and their priorities. That isn't a bad thing at all, unless it is what you desperately don't want to be.
Monkey's Make the Best Tobacco
according to this complain reported on the BBC anyway.
Now I get wanting to market African tobacco as a cut above what they currently sell now. I am not a smoker but I understand Korean cigarettes are to real cigarettes what Korean beer is to real beer. However, the ad campaign has monkeys dressed as reporters, planters and workers in Africa.
Here is what the company in Korea KT&G had to say:
Now I get wanting to market African tobacco as a cut above what they currently sell now. I am not a smoker but I understand Korean cigarettes are to real cigarettes what Korean beer is to real beer. However, the ad campaign has monkeys dressed as reporters, planters and workers in Africa.
Here is what the company in Korea KT&G had to say:
"We absolutely had no intention to offend anyone and only chose monkeys because they are delightful animals that remind people of Africa. Since this product contains leaves produced by the traditional African style, we only tried to adopt images that symbolise the nature of Africa."
However, she said the cigarette packet images would remain, as the company does not consider them to be offensive.
Amazing..... *slow clap*
The company does not consider them offensive, I wonder what the people who actually filed the complaint think?
Yes, monkeys do live in Africa. They also live in virtually every country that is in a tropical zone or that has a tropical season. What about an animal that only lives on the continent of Africa? I think there are a few.
Also, I rarely think of monkeys doing journalism, though it would explain Fox News, or doing agricultural labour or smoking a pipe.
But to be fair, it wouldn't surprise me if no one at this company thought about the racist nature of this campaign. I have said often that the older generation in Korea (over 40) is responsible for changing Korea from Cambodia to California by generating a true economic miracle while fighting to allow freedom of expression almost unheard of in most of Asia. However, they left the social revolution (racism, women's rights) to their children. While I am happy to say I do see evidence of that social awareness in young Koreans, especially those under 25 but also in my generation, there is still a ways to go.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Hong Kong Booked. Papers Getting Done.
Well Hong Kong is booked. I'll leave Daegu on Wednesday Dec 4th very early and get to Hong Kong by around 430pm local time. I'll be back in Daegu by Sunday afternoon.
Of course I have been to Hong Kong a few times and it is always a favourite place to visit. However this time I am going with a friend and will visit Macau as well. I will also be going with a bit of cash, something I have not actually done before. Should be fun.
But before that I have a very busy November.
My second paper for school is due at the end of the month, and while I like what I have so far there is still lots to do. I am also writing a total of six books to be used for Moonkkang in China. While they are short (700-1500 words) they must conform to a series of outlines to make them teachable. Not an easy task but I do enjoy doing it.
So I have fairly busy days with gym, writing, work and just living. I think Hong Kong will be very welcome.
Of course I have been to Hong Kong a few times and it is always a favourite place to visit. However this time I am going with a friend and will visit Macau as well. I will also be going with a bit of cash, something I have not actually done before. Should be fun.
But before that I have a very busy November.
My second paper for school is due at the end of the month, and while I like what I have so far there is still lots to do. I am also writing a total of six books to be used for Moonkkang in China. While they are short (700-1500 words) they must conform to a series of outlines to make them teachable. Not an easy task but I do enjoy doing it.
So I have fairly busy days with gym, writing, work and just living. I think Hong Kong will be very welcome.
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