"I'm Feeling Good"

Swine Flu...er, I mean, the H1N1virus (I try to keep things proper) is still going strong. I've read that people lined the streets for vaccinations recently (I did not get one), and that some children even died while being treated.

Citizens line up for influenza A tests at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul, Monday. Inoculations using a domestic flu vaccine will start today. 

Korea Times Photo by Koh Young-kwon

I'm not really worried....yet. I've always been pretty healthy and consider myself to have a strong immune system. I would like to take the time to thank my parents for letting me play outside. (and occasionally practice geophagia, play with animals, and look the other way when I extended the "5 second rule" to a minute and a half).

I would also like to thank my immune system for capitalizing on those events then - and now - as I've shared many community dishes with people from all over the globe. (So I suppose a thank you is also in order for many Asian countries and their ancestors for not knowing how much bacteria can spread by sharing food)

At this point I think I'll live to be 120 years old, and will never be ashamed to "double dip" again.

I was feeling under the weather for a few days - mainly a sore throat that went away today. I just think that it is seasonal though. I ate some kimchi, so I should be pretty much immortal now if what  every Korean says is true about the stuff (as it seems to be a cure-all) and I'm always reminded of the "Put some Windex on it" line from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

As for my school, the kids are dropping like flies. In the past 2 days I've had a third of one class out sick, and an entire different class was told not to come to school until next week because more than half the class had the flu. Of course this was the day AFTER I had taught them. But I just consider myself lucky that the administration doesn't force me teach in a mask like some other teachers at nearby schools.

I've heard rumors that the city's schools might close down for a week because of all of this. (I could only hope for a weeks vacation). Knowing my luck, I'd get sick during it though.

I've been hearing similar news from back in the States- as I believe it probably is worse there than here?

Stay healthy everyone, and have a nice Halloween! I probably won't celebrate it (I've never been a big fan of the holiday). I thought about going as Kim Jung-Il...but for some reason, I don't think that's smart.

oh, and enjoy this video (Kara  카라 - Mister)

"Down With The Sickness"

If Koreans take anything seriously, it is usually health related. With the recent spread of swine flu (which they actually do refer to by it's proper name of H1N1), the government has gone as far as to take everyone's temperature upon entry into the country, and quarantines people with fevers and suspected cases of H1N1. Most of it seems to be stereotyping as well - as it seems a lot of fellow expats who were traveling this summer to places like Thailand or the Philippines are or know someone who has been quarantined for a week upon their return to Korea.

The school systems have been buckling down to try and combat the virus as well. My school, like many, has between 1,000 - 2,000 students, and is located in a very densely populated area - so it makes sense that any outbreak of disease is going spread quickly if not dealt with.

As such, our school system has established the following precautions:

1. All students were shown a video about H1N1 and how to protect themselves from getting sick.
2. Students should wash their hands often with hot water and soap.
3. All homeroom teachers should take their students temperature before school.
4. If a student feels ill, they should report it to the nurse.
5. Students and teachers should wear masks if they are sick or if they want to prevent themselves from getting sick.
6. Avoid infants and the elderly, as their immune systems can be much weaker.

Ok, I don't have a big problem with any of this - it all makes sense. However, let's delve into some of the more realstic aspects of every day life in my school.

1. Students rarely wash their hands - even after using the bathroom, as there is only one sink, rarely soap, and the bathrooms are pretty gross.
2. The homeroom teachers take the students temperatures with thermometers (mouth, ear, and infrared). They don't sterilize them after each use. (the infrared one doesn't need this of course).
3. Most students come to school even if they are sick as their parents force them. Then they just spread it around.
4. The administration gave the teachers hand sanitizers for their offices - but there is none for the students.
5. This doesn't necessarily apply to the schools but: When you go to eat with Koreans, they generally eat community style where you're putting chopsticks into your mouth and then back into a community dish and spread the germs around.

I suppose it's a good thing that kimchie cures all diseases - it's too bad that I don't really eat it though!

"Make Me Smile"

Phrase of the day: [I don't speak (much) Korean] "cho-nun han-googo (chal) mawt-ham-needa"

I figured I might as well use this, since people try talking to me and I look like a moron trying to explain I can't understand them. It's a good thing I trained for Korea by playing charade-style games with my family and friends back home, and a little bit of sign language from my cousin David helps too.

In other news, I am supposedly going to meet my other co-teacher (English name Sarah) on Wednesday. She's going to bring me to the hospital for a physical (aka check the dirty American for H1N1), and then I can go to the bank and open an account and buy a cell phone (but who will call me?). If all is done by the end of the day, Sarah says I could possibly go to the school and meet the principal - that is if the H1N1 lab tests come back negative.

I ventured out on my own again this afternoon, thinking I could probably open my own bank account. According to Jordan, I should be able to. He recommended Woori Bank which he said was near my building. I couldn't find it, but I found one near Outback (near E-Mart). I don't think it was a bank however - more of a commodities and trading company. I looked completely confused, and just left.

By the way this is Woori Bank's logo:

look at all familiar??

I then stopped by the E-Mart. We have a bittersweet relationship. It has what I need, but I don't care for large monopolizing companies - especially ones that have floor plans that confuse the hell outta me.

I picked up some actual food this time. Spaghetti, pasta sauce, some pork to fry up, more oranges, yogurt, canola oil, honey mustard, and some amazing dumplings filled with pork, rice, scallions and onions. I actually had my first real homemade meal that wasn't toast, grilled cheese, or ramen. I had to take a picture it was soooo good it made me smile!



I also felt I needed to point out an interesting aspect of Korean grocery stores that we don't get to experience. Korean's don't really believe in having things "on sale". Well, they do -- but instead of lowering the price of something (in this case my strawberry yogurt) they instead give you more food for the same price as it usually is. How do they do this? Well, they just tape or staple an extra couple pieces of the product to the original (see below). It's an interesting marketing idea, - albeit, time consuming to open the products and tape them to other ones instead of printing out a different sign with a lower price and entering it into a computer. (insert another "such a deal!" for Dad here.)

I went out to dinner with Brittany tonight, we got Bibimbap, a rice dish that is served in a hot iron pot topped with vegetables (in my case also kimchi pork), and you add chili pepper paste to it. (I added too much and my mouth was on fire for a little while).

After dinner, Brittany showed me some local places where I can buy fruit cheaper and stuff for the apartment at a discounted rate (take that E-Mart!).

Before heading home, I walked around and took some pictures of the city at night, and some views from the balcony on my floor (not in my apartment).

Anyonghaseyo!

P.S. - a big THANK YOU to Uncle Gerard for hooking me up with access to his SlingBox. Now I can watch live American TV. (primetime in the mornings before work and mid-morning shows before bed -- but it's all good because NESN replays the Red Sox games at weird hours).