Wayne's Korea blog

So I know I haven't updated in forever, and I know I really should, but you know what - I don't think i will that often - I have enough trouble maintaining one blog - two is just not working for me.

But I though I would have to post this entry here for those few of you who still pop by to have a look at what I'm up to.

copied from my other blog:

I've just got back from four fabulous days in Jeju. An island off the south of Korea. So good to get away from the kids. So good to get out of Seoul. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do any beach bumming (too much other touristy stuff to do, not-so-fantastic weather, and ill-fitting board-shorts to blame) but it was most definitely fun.

We got lost multiple times thanks to my lovely friend (who was driving) somehow speaking a very different Korean to the Korean that the GPS navigation system was speaking in (these things are cool!!! I want one!). I will be posting photos of some of the highlights over the next few days, though I think the best experiences were love-land (giggle), Hiking up Mount Halla and the food.

Now the food. The food was good. The food was interesting. The food pushed my boundaries... hell, they've been stretched beyond recognition.

Firstly, I would like to remind you all that this is coming from a person who will not eat steak that is anything less than medium-well done. I like my meat to be cooked. If I stick my fork in it, and it moos, there is a problem. I have issues with eating animals that could be bought back to life by a good vet. I expect my meat to be cooked.

Being an island, Jeju has some food specialities that are different to the mainland. The first day we had a different sort of Pork Galbi (grilled pork - though it didn't taste that different). Pheasant was the next day's special dinner. It was quite good - to get a good tasting of it, we had the meal set that was prepared in several different ways - shabu-shabu (hot vege soup that you cook at the table and then dip shaved meat in to cook) which was quite of, some fried pheasant (not-so-good), fried pheasant balls (yumm) and raw pheasant (actually quite good, and I don't appear to have acquired bird-flu)

The highlight of special dinners came on the Sunday when we went hunting for a horse-meat restaurant. I don't really have much of an issue with eating horse as it really is just another animal. I know some people see them as pets rather than food, but I've also had pet cows, sheep and goats - all of which are also very tasty animals. Given my thoughts on horse (an animal I like less than others I have eaten) I was not really that put-off by the idea of eating horse. However, I did still have that little socially-conditioned voice in my head screaming out "OMG you're going to eat horse, OMG!"

So we went to this fantastic horse restaurant where we were very warmly treated (Jeju has some really hospitable people). Like the pheasant restaurant we decided to get the set so that we could try horse in a variety of ways (it was expensive but we nearly had to be air-lifted out of the restaurant). This included Horse steak, horse stew-type-thing, horse casserole-type-thing, horse shabu-shabu and then there were the other two dishes. One which I can't remember the name of. The two dishes - indeed the first two to come out, were horse sashimi and horse strips marinated and chilled served over frozen strips of radish. Yes people, not only have I now eaten horse, I have eaten it raw!

The horse sashimi was quite good. Nice little piece of raw horse dipped in either oil an pepper or soy-sauce and wasabi. My preference was for the oil dipping sauce. It was actually quite pleasant - subtle flavour and it just melted in your mouth. The second dish was amazing. I don't know what it was marinated in, but it was fantastic.  When the dish was brought out it was semi frozen and I think that it was much better this way - as it defrosted and came to room temperature, it was less delicious, but still good. So there we go - I have now eaten two types of raw horse. And frankly, every time I walk past a horse now, I will be tempted to lean over, hack off a chunk, dip it in oil, dust it with pepper and garlic and let it dissolve in my mouth. YUMM!

So this is what happens when you use students as examples in your class. They start to flame you. I have taught Alice for about a month and I have viewed her as a fairly average student. She is smart, she generally behaves in class. She is cool with a little spunk. I no love the kid!!!! When I used her and Harry to make examples she said I should be prepared to receive an email from her, and looky here I have! This is brilliant!

This is the email I just received....

( Chuseok Update )

And photos that match with the above news are here

So I have discovered that World Cup Park is not actually A park, but rather a collection of 6 or 7 parks that are all linked. The park that features in this album ( I forget it’s name) is a load of rubbish.... literally....

Some years ago, before Korea jointly hosted the World Cup, Seoul was quite happily dumping their refuse on the banks of the Han, forming a mountain of rubbish. It was decided that this would not do for a city that was preparing to welcome millions of international guests. A solution was needed. Seoul answer? Lets grab that mountain of rubbish, wrap it up in plastic, cover it with some dirt, put in some plants, and call it a park....

The results, and actually quite impressive.... Photos

I had previously joked that the mountainous nature of Korea could possible as a result of millions of people wanting to hide all their rubbish in a very small country and not having much room for landfill... I had no idea that I was actually on to something there... I wonder if my slightly more morbid joke about some of the mountains being mass cemeteries has any relation to reality???

Well look at that.. it’s been another month already.

( Clickity click click click )

Photos from the last two months or so...

Life in Seoul

And a day at World Cup Stadium Park

Wow... time is just going by so quickly here, I can’t believe it. Work has been intense of late... I don’t know how I used to pull the workload I did at uni, because what I’m doing now is less, but it is still draining. Children - they are like energy leeches. Thankfully they are cute energy leeches. I have noticed that I am a lot less patient with them when I have taught morning classes too. I think they have noticed it too.. woopsies.

I guess i haven’t had that much to update of late. The weather has seen me turn into something of a a recluse. If it’s not raining then the humidity is utterly unbearable. I walk home from work at 10pm and it takes me all of 6min; yet, by the time I get home, i am drenched with sweat from head to toe. The heat is fine, yet I am using my air con far more here than what I ever did in Australia. I am beginning to wonder if, rather than steaming my mandu (dumplings) on the stove, I could simply hang them out the window for a few minutes.

With thanks to the weather, adventures have been very few these last few weeks. The most adventurous I have been is to visit Olympic Park with Steph, which was a rather nice little outing over the other side of Seoul. The park is very nice there, and it is a good way to escape the city without actually leaving it (which seems to take hours to do). It inspired me to go in search of a cool park a little closer to home, and thus I discovered World Cup Stadium Park. Whilst in is not as grand as Olympic Park, it definitely offers an escaped from the city and is quite a nice place to spend a day. I would be there today if it weren’t for the rain and general yuckiness of the weather.

To make up for the lack of day time adventures, I have been going exploring at night instead, Saturday nights in particular. I am slowly discovering many cool bars and cafes. I am especially loving the North African and Indian styled venues. one bar in particular I love as it makes me feel like I am sitting in some 1920s opium den (only there is Hookah instead of opium). Seoul appears to have me finding the all nighter in me again. No matter how good my intentions may be, I seem to see the sun rise before heading home on a Sunday morning. It was with this knowledge in mind that I made the decision that I was not going to leave the house at all last night. It was good. I slept, I slept lots. It was needed. And yet I still have giant dark rings under my eyes... will my eyes ever be non purple again!?!?

A very special thing happened to me a week ago. Something that made me really feel like I belong. I went to my usual little cafe (another place I would likely be now if it weren’t for the weather *glares out the window*). On this particular day, not only was the owner there, but also his brother. His brother, as it turns out, is a snowboarder and has been to Aus/NZ/Can/Anywhere in the world where there is snow, and thus has a smattering of English. Thus with his help, the owner took a polaroid of me. That polaroid is now placed up on the wall of the cafe along with other regulars. It made me feel sooooo special!! YAY. The owner (whose name I only have a vague idea of) obviously read the little message i left on the polaroid as when I visited the cafe yesterday, he greeted me with a “hello Wayne”. needless to say, I was most chuffed :)

Today has been a continuation of my lazy weekend. I just went to Kyobo book store and did nearly $100 damage by buying 8 books. I am slowly getting back into reading after uni - this is making me rather excited.. It feels like years since I have been an active reader of non-academic material. Though, two of the books are to help me learn Korean, and another is The Wealth Of Nations so there is academic material in there too.

All in all, that’s about all there is to tell.. I’m sure I could dig up some juicy gossipy stories if i thought hard enough, but that may have to wait until I am feeling a little more inspired (read: when the humidity actually allows my brain to function).

I’ll try not to let it go more than a month before the next update.

Marriage in Korea

( Update hidden behind these words. Click it watch it appear like magic. Magic!!!  )

Ok, so here we go… lets see if sitting in this glorious little café will keep me in the right mood to re-write the massive update that I wrote over the weekend, only to have my computer gobble it all up when I went to post in online.

For those who don’t have a few hours to spare (ok, an exaggeration, but it is a long one), I am doing well. Teaching is for the most part quite enjoyable, Seoul is good, Life is good. ( For those with the time, click to read on... )

So I had written a fantastic big funny update

It just disappeared. I thought I had it saved, I cannot find it.

No words can express my feelings right now....

Today was teacher’s day. This is similar to Mother’s or Father’s day. Korea has a lot of different days to remind its citizens to thank each other for what they do.

On teachers day, students give their teachers little (and sometimes not-so-little) gifts to show their appreciation. I got one yesterday from one of my older kids which i thought was really nice. Two soybean handkerchiefs; I’m not sure soybean is the best translation, but that is what the label says - guessing it is made of what ever thread you can make from the soy plant... Today I got a nice little flower arrangement from a boy in my younger class who said “I love you teacher” as he gave it to me - so sweet, slightly disturbing perhaps, but ever so sweet! I also got a little origami flower and flower pot from a girl in my class. She is one of my best students and I just adore her. She wouldn’t let me read the letter that was in tucked in the flower pot until after class. IT WAS SO CUTE! I think it was a good idea of hers to wait until after glass. I would not have been able to resist picking her up and giving her the BIGGEST HUG ever. Totally made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.. had to put it away before I started feeling too emotional. Most adorable thing!!! *sniffles*

Didn’t get anything from my Giga students... ungrateful little turds.. I am about to enter their grades now. I shall fail them all - Muahahahahahahaha

EDIT:: oooh!!! look at that! Only 5 days between posts - YAY!
School also took all the teachers out for a BIG buffet lunch today - ahhh - the food was soon good. There was cheese. I may have squealed at the sight of mozzarella and parmesan...

yep. I’m sucking at updating at least once a week, aren’t I? Sigh... I thought that by keeping an Travelblog on LJ that I might be a little better at it than actually writing in a diary or sending out mass emails - not so much ey...

( well here we go.. the last month or so in the life of Wayne.... )

Went to COEX today (12ha of shopping!!!!!) to meet some friends that were up from Busan. They were shopping while in Seoul. I should have known that it was a bad. bad idea to go there... I managed to NOT buy the bags that I liked, not the shirts... the jacket, however... I don’t think i have much will-power when it comes to jackets....

It is a lot more casual than the last one though... still trendy rather than casual... but still.. it looks different.. and is HOT... AND it was a lot cheaper than the last jacket I bought... AND I did just get my first full paycheque.

It’s sooo hot.. I love Korean clothes shopping....

YAY

Other than that... not a terribly eventful weekend... Cleaned... discovered another supermarket that is closer to my apartment. Bought a mop to mop with (much easier than using a rag!). Just finished prepping for tomorrows classes. Tomorrow morning I shall study more Korean. A quiet, but very nice weekend.

Dear Websites

Please, PLEASE stop asking me for a postcode when I fill in my address. I do not have a postcode, well, actually, i have heard that do have one... it’s just that no-one knows what it is, and no-one uses it. I do like how Get Up acknowledges that I may be overseas, but they still require a bloody postcode. ARG!!!!

i suppose I should be happy that most websites don’t demand number-only postcodes... At least i can get away with putting in ‘.’ or ‘NA’

still.. frustrates me...

( Contains course language (now largely edited out at Mother's request... )

SAVE THE BOGAN (maximumus tightblackjeanus withmulletus)

First identified as a sub-species during the mid-70s, the Bogan is thought to be a close relation of the Booner (found in Canberra’s outer suburbs) and the Westie (spread throughout Western Sydney). It is believed the initial Perth bogan population was introduced to purpose-built habitats such as Rockingham and Balga. However, by the mid-80s, the species had multiplied to plague proportions, spreading through much of Gosnells and outer-Mirrabooka. While authorities considered a culling program, they need not have bothered, as the regional population began a rapid decline from the early O90s onwards. The situation has now reached a critical point, with Bogans rarely sighted in Central Perth, and those remaining clinging to the region’s outskirts.

In the year 2000, the species is now officially endangered. Identifying a Bogan is not difficult. Males sport a distinctive hair growth called a “mullet” (short front and sides, long at back). Some scientists believe the growth is genetic, while others argue it is a product of nurture, as even extremely young males seem coerced by parents to adopt the growth. Other distinguishing male characteristics include a tight black denim covering on the hindlimbs and bright flannelette markings on the forepaws and belly. Males adopt a dominant status within the community, with a vague sense of rank defined by the ownership of aging Ford and Holden motor vehicles. Female Bogans are entrusted with the raising of multiple offspring, a role they perform from a young age and often without the presence of the male. They may be similarly identified through distinctive denim markings, though the color is usually “stonewash”. In warmer weather, females have been known to shed the lower layer of demin to just below the genital area, resulting in a ‘cut-off’ effect. Both males and females have been known to cover their lower hind-limbs with furry pouches called ‘ugh-boots.’

While the wild population of Bogans is dwindling, it is still possible to view them in their natural environment. The species has been known to congregate around regional ‘shopping malls’, where family units often come to settle domestic issues using high-pitched wailing sounds. After sunset, younger males and females meet in small dark enclaves known ‘Taverns’ where they consume large amounts of a liquid called ‘Bourbon.’ There are numerous factors attributed to the decline of the local Bogans population. Scientists have identified the unpopularity of stadium rock as a contributing cause, while the development of adequate social infrastructure (ie. schools, medium density housing) may have fragmented the species. More controversial theories suggest many bogans may have removed their mullets, purchased ‘cargo pants’ and attempted to integrate themselves in Perth’s mainstream population, but these claims are yet to be substantiated. Authorities will have a better idea of bogan numbers early next year when Bogan elders AC/DC visit Perth for a concert at the Burswood Dome, home to other Bogan-centric pursuits such as Supercross, Big Wheel truck racing and the Motor Show. At present there seems little hope of restoring the Bogan population to its previous levels. Recent attempts included the development of a new artificial habitat named ‘Joondalup’, but is seems this area may be too close to Perth to attract large numbers of the species. More successful is an enclosed breeding program called ‘V8 Supercars’, which takes place annually at the Barbagallo Raceway complex in Wanneroo. The program has proven highly effective, combining motor vehicles and bourbon with rampant displays of female sexuality.

The questions below about Australia are from potential visitors. They were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humor. Enjoy!

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks?(Sweden)
A: Sure, it’s only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So it’s true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns,
Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the
Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we’ll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh,forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in KingsCross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?(Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It’s a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It’s called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

So, this is where I live, right in the middle of the little halo thing... you will find my building, not that you can see it, but  it is there.. you can see buildings right near me though... if you click the photo, you will be taken to all the photos I have uploaded (about 60) .  Unfortunately, it appears that the slideshow has changed the order of pictures a little bitt - grrr... that and some of the sizes are a little small... hope you enjoy them anyways...

So it has been a while since I updates... woopsies... Guess I have been busy... I least that is what I shall use as my excuse...

( Click for Update )