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.
Monday, January 21, 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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