"Feels Like Today"

Happy Chuseok!

How's it going everyone? I miss you all back home, but I'm having a blast here! This is one amazing place to visit, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to experience Asian culture but not pay an arm and a leg for a vacation (like Japan can be).

I feel as though I had rode the subway all day yesterday, but I had a great time in the neighborhood of Insadong in Seoul.
It's an ecclectic area, similar to that of Greenwich Village, NYC. (or so I'm told)

I accompanied Hwayoung, to pick up a traditional rice cake for her fathers birthday and just to look around the area.

We had a great time, ate some amazing food, and visited Jongro to see some palaces, and just have some overall fun.

I got to see how rice cakes called "tteok" are made - and now and pretty much dead set against eating them raw. They're very sticky and have little flavor, but are not bad when cooked in some spicy pepper sauces.

I also got to see how a traditional honey based string candy is made. I don't remember the name of it, but it was simply amazing to see (if what the guy says is true in the video). They make it out of a block of hardened honey, and separate it by hand (you can hear them counting) all the way up to over 16,000 separate strands.

Here are some photos I took of our little excursion, plus you can find all of them HERE, or by clicking the photo itself.

Hwayoung mixing the seafood and veggie bibimbap 

that is served on a hot plate rather than a stone bowl.

I'm guessing we should go right...

I'm pretty much speechless at this one...

Traditional board games played during Chuseok...

The famous tin man of Insadong...

"Stand By Me"

I just returned from a 3 day, 2 night seminar for the CGE's (Center for Global Education's) GEPIK's (Gyeonggi English Program in Korea) September Orientation, as put on by the Provicial Office of Education.

I was not really looking forward to this seminar for some pretty selfish reasons.

1. I had heard a lot of it was a waste of time.

2. I would rather be at my school because we have half days this week.

3. I didn't have to teach any classes this week.

4. The seminar ran into my vacation time for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving).

After attending the session, I realized that the seminar has a couple benefits.

1. I made some great new friends, and met some inspiring people.

2. I learned some interesting and new ideas on how to be more engaging to my students.

3. I learned some more Korean culture.

4. I got to share my teaching experiences with my fellow foreigners.

For anyone who must go to this in the future, I would say that even though you may think it is a complete waste of time, it really is not, as the benefits outweigh the inconveniences to your personal schedule.

I do believe the whole thing could have been pushed comfortably into only one and a half, to two days, rather than three, as some of the sessions seemed like complete time wasters, plus at moments we were given an absurd amount of free time, that I would be willing to miss out on to leave a day sooner. Yet, it does give you time to mingle and meet more people from the province.

The highlight of the entire seminar was the presentation on how to make more effective lesson plans that keep your students interested. This is the core reason for attending if nothing else. It was given by a Canadian couple named Simon and Martina Stawskii from Bucheon. Their presentation was amazing and gave many people (including myself) some interesting ways to keep your students engaged. And most of all, they provide all the materials free - at their awesome website EatYourKimchi. These two deserve a huge salary increase if you ask me, as I'm sure most people would agree who attend their lecture.

Other than that, there isn't much to dwell on, but instead, I'll provide you with some videos of the traditional musician/dancers that were so interesting to watch - as well as some photos that you can find HERE.

"Touch My Body"

I just have to post this because it is simply hilarious...

Warning - some of the language may not be suitable for younger viewers (or those easily offended).

I also had to add this video, as it cracks me up how accurate it can be about almost every dong in Korea...

The first music video for the EV Boyz first hit about a little town called Geumchon.

"Puppet On A String"

 It's not like me to write this many posts within a few days, but today calls for an "emergency session of the joint chiefs" as I need to vent my frustration and disapproval with the Gunpo Education Department's Web Cam Class.

I have been teaching this webcam class for the past few weeks, which frankly, I am not thrilled with - and have told my co-teachers this. There are many reasons why I dislike this webcam class - the top being:

• I really, REALLY, don't like being on camera.
• I think teaching over the web is frustrating as it's so much easier to teach in person.
• I'm teaching adult teachers rather than children.
• There are always issues with the audio/video.
• Those issues waste about 10 min of time out of a 30 min class.
• The adults I teach are also teachers with busy schedules, so their attendance is spotty (and always late).
• The textbook is horrendous, and has a complete lack of flow.
• I think it's a complete waste of my time and runs later than my normal school day.

That being said here are some of the reasons I think it is a good thing.

• It gives adult teachers in the district a chance to practice English.
• It lets them take a class without leaving their office.
  
• that's about it...

 My "student" - how would you like staring at this to teach?

Now for my ranting...

Today I was told that the Education Office wanted to come and videotape me teaching my webclass and then give me an interview. I was pissed because they didn't give me any heads-up about this, and I hate being on camera - never-mind being interviewed for their new web program that I have very little good to say about. I even told my co-teachers "I hope they don't want me to be honest - because I'll tell them how lousy I think it is!"

The Ed Office said they would be over around 4:00 (the time my class starts) to videotape/interview me. I was wrapping up my first class - of which I have 2 students, when one of the Ed Office's administrators (who went to school in Canada and speaks very good English) jumped into my lesson and told me that the videographers would be there soon. She then told me I should really be wearing their issued headset (which I didn't use because I initially couldn't get it to work, and because it makes my ears too damn hot). She instructed me to reinstall the web program in order to get it to work, which I did as her boss came in to my office (a rather pushy, fake looking, and annoying lady I might add).

We both started becoming frustrated with one another, because I was reinstalling the program as her administrator instructed, and because no one signed into my web class (I only had one student, and she was probably busy preparing her mid-term exams). So she got on the phone with her administrator who told me to log in to another teachers room. The other foreign teacher began teaching the lesson as the videographers rolled their cameras watching me watch him teach. The administrator (also logged in to make it look like there was more than 2 students in the class) stopped him and told him that I should teach his class because the Ed Office was filming. Great - now I'm teaching someone else's class! I couldn't even teach my own lesson because I wasn't the moderator of the 'room' and ended up bullshitting my way through their crappy textbook. (excuse the language, but that's how I felt!) Halfway through a sentence to these other students, the supervisor tapped me on the shoulder and said "That's enough teaching, now let's do the interview." I ignored her the first time because I thought it was rude to the adult students in the class - and wrapped up what I was saying.

For the "interview", the supervisor put me back on the phone with her admin - who said "So, this is what they want you to say, tell them the program is a great program and that it gives teachers a chance to practice and learn English without having to leave their offices, and that it is a new program that very few school systems offer, and that it is very good and fun." My reply (in my head), "So, you want me to lie??" This is what I really said "Ooooooookkkaaayyy" [insert a mix of a frustrated/sarcastic tone in there why you're at it]

So, I gave them the interview they wanted - they pay my salary I suppose, what can I really do without looking like a jerk and jeopardizing my employment with the district? - (besides blog about it to retract what I said in the interview) I felt like a complete sell-out, no better than those Fox News commentators.... (groan!)

As I've said before, almost everything in Korea is about image. From the high rates of people getting plastic surgery to give off a better image, to things like this promotional video to make the class look better than it really is. It's too bad things have to be so fake, but I guess I'm no better as I contributed to it, and gave them my fake "opinion".

Here's the kicker. After the supervisor left, my co-teacher told me that they chose me because I supposedly, "am more handsome than the other teacher" whose class I took over. I'm taking that as a fake compliment - everything else seems to follow that theme today.

"Sushi Chef"

The other day a bunch of us went out to celebrate the birthday of our new friend, Meredith. She has been in Korea for less than a week, and luckily found a group of crazy American's to help make her feel a little bit older!

We treated her to a place referred to us as "The Sushi Train". Apparently there are at least 3 of these places around Sanbon - all which I must try being a huge fan of most sushi. The restaurant is all-you-can-eat for about 15,000w Not too shabby if you ask me, as I could spend a good 2 hours polishing off plate after plate.

Speaking of which - here is a picture of our accomplishment (about halfway through)

We finished off the night at Pirate Bar and had a wonderful cake as well. All in all, it was a good night with good people. 

Happy Birthday Meredith!

"Walk It Out"

One thing that has really annoyed me since I arrived in Korea is their sense (or lack thereof) of instinctual direction.

With such a large population crammed into a small space, there is always a little discomfort when navigating your way through crowds. In Seoul, you can be packed into subways during rush hour like sardines, and my biggest pet peeve so far - you have to walk with caution even when it's not crowded because people don't know how to walk on the right.

Walking down the street, up some stairs, or in a hallway shouldn't be a game of dodge-ball - but it seems to be. I find myself constantly juking left and right, slowing down and speeding up to pass people, and worst of all - facing an incoming crowd of people walking on MY side of the sidewalk.

In the West, we generally walk on the right hand side of everything - and mimic how we walk to how we drive. I makes perfect sense, it's human instinct, and because of this, the flow of pedestrian traffic works wonderfully. However, Koreans love to make life just a little bit annoying. An old law has had people walking on the left for years - (thanks in part to Imperial Japan when they occupied Korea).

That's not even the worst part. When I have to walk on the pedestrian bridge on my way to work, the traffic is intertwined with many people just dodging each other in a chaotic battle of chicken to see who will move out of the way first.

When I'm walking on the stairs at school, I have to dodge kids going up and down the right and left sides of the stairs. One of the gym teachers a couple weeks ago put up a few signs saying "Keep to the Right" in both Hangul and English (the kids still don't). But at least they move out of my way out of respect for their elders (or out of pure fear of the big white dude). 

To my surprise - and happiness - I got to read this lovely little article in the LA Times about how the SK Government is bringing about a much needed change with the "Keep Right" campaign.

I'm also going to post it below as I'm not sure if it will be available after a few days.

South Koreans do the 'right' thing

As part of a government campaign to get pedestrians to stop taking the left side, the directions of escalators and stairs in the capital have been switched. Surprises await those not paying attention.

Commuters negotiate a crowded subway station in Seoul. (Ju-min Park / Los Angeles Times)

 By John M. Glionna and Ju-min Park

September 21, 2009

Reporting from Seoul - Lee Young-soo sees a social revolution happening before his eyes: South Korea's fundamental shift to the right, a move that has many here fretting about a looming collision.

It's not politics they're talking about, but walking in public.

As he hurries through the chaotic pedestrian flow at a local subway station, Lee moves instinctively left to take the down escalator toward his train -- only to see the mass of commuters rising toward him.

Narrowly missing slamming into someone, he scurries over to the right side and joins the others moving down.

"For a while," says the 48-year-old, "this might be uncomfortable."

A new government campaign is bucking the "stay left" law in force here for decades, forcing pedestrians on escalators and moving walkways in the city's massive subway system to move to the right.

The direction of Lee's escalator was recently reversed, and in coming weeks, hundreds, if not thousands, more will follow as the plan is introduced to the rest of the nation.

Officials say the move makes perfect sense -- falling into line with international practice and increasing the pedestrian flow, presumably by cutting down on collisions. And because nearly 90% of South Koreans are right-handed and the country drives on the right, keeping left goes against instincts, they say.

"Our country is the one that started all the trouble by initially forcing people to walk in a certain direction," said Hwang Duk-soo, head of the National Movement of Keeping Right.

"In the past, when Koreans go abroad, they hit foreigners. And vice versa, foreigners come to Korea and bump into Koreans."

Hwang has become a bit of a philosopher when it comes to bodies in motion. He's done his research.

In 1921, during the Japanese occupation, South Korea required both pedestrians and cars to stay left -- following the custom that still exists throughout Japan. Then, in 1946, under the U.S. military administration after World War II, South Korea moved vehicles to the right but left pedestrians where they were.

Sociologists say the latest changeover won't be smooth.

"It could take a bit of trial and error since the custom that we have used is going to be thrown away," said Gihong Yi, a sociology professor at Hallym University. "There could be some repercussions. However, walking on the right has been proved good in a sense of human engineering."

Such elemental shifts have been going on elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific. This month, the island nation of Samoa switched from driving on the right. Contrary to official fears, chaos did not ensue.

At the Express Bus Terminal in Seoul, which made the switch with escalators and walkways before the program's official kickoff next month, some people are worried.

"It sounds good," said Jin Ho-jun, 68, a former banker. "However, I am worried because many elders who are used to the old way use subways so often."

Seoul transportation officials are gearing up for the official switch starting Oct. 1, when they will have hundreds of volunteers during congested rush hours at 163 subway stations citywide.

Many stations have already been papered with promotional posters showing a smiling, happy family and reading: "Keep to the right! You are beautiful for taking part."

The Korea Transport Institute expects that the move will eventually increase walking speed within the subway system and reduce pedestrian collisions by as much as 25%.

Officials say offenders against the new system will not face fines but will be encouraged to go with the flow.

To make the crossover run more smoothly, Koreans need to be patient, advocates say. "Critics should know that nothing is perfect. The one is just better than the other one," Hwang said.

Still, he can't hide the philosopher within him.

"Technically, no one should tell us to walk to the left or to the right," he said. "It is much easier to just go with instinct."

john.glionna@latimes.com

Park is in The Times' Seoul Bureau.

"Take Me Out To The Ballgame..."

Finally, I had a chance to get to see a baseball game! It was the last Saturday game of the season too! I suppose it was a good thing to show up almost 2 hours early to get tickets, as they only had the upper-deck and behind the outfield left.

It was an interesting experience to say the least. I had a good time, and have many things to talk about. Let's begin:

1. If you ever are planning to go to a game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul, and don't already have tickets purchased online. Get there early - especially for weekend games.

Click to Enlarge

2. Bring a newspaper. To read?? - NO - to put on your seat to reserve it. In all their wisdom, Jamsil stadium does not have assigned seats for the upper-deck (yellow) seats $8! You merely buy a ticket and sit wherever you find a spot. People were camped out hours earlier than I reserving 15 seats - of which they used 5. Some had printed signs and taped them to the seats. Others just left their belongings there with no one to guard them. Interesting, but not efficient. Also, my big complaint was that either they oversold tickets and didn't have enough seats, or people moved from the outfield seats. Where? To the aisles. People just sit in the aisles and make it a death trap in case something ever should happen. I didn't even leave my seat for an attempt on grabbing dinner or the bathroom as I didn't want to try and step through the minefield of little children and their parents picnicking on the stairs.

(or in this case - making pom-poms out of newspapers)

3. Bring whatever you want - food, beer, liquor, weapons. They don't check bags. Alcohol below a certain percentage is actually allowed, as well as food. (I saw people carrying pizza's in). That's definitely a plus, and saves money from being forced to buy $7 hamburgers and $8 beers (oh wait - that's back in the States - here it's cheaper).

4. If you're rooting for the home team, get a seat behind 1st base. I entered the stadium on the 3rd base side, and slowly moved my way to behind home plate where I actually found an unreserved seat. I had a great view, but was stuck between 2 sets of fans. You'll also get a better view of the cheerleaders, might learn the cheers, and are in foul ball territory.

Doosan's Cheer Captain - he's basically a drum major for the crowd (and on crack)

5. Don't expect the teams to be great. They're OK - fielding is their strong point. Strategy and skill is not. The teams don't have a lot of power hitters, the pitchers just seem to throw fastballs (and a lot of wild ones too) They steal bases like crazy at the weirdest times too, and then when you expect them to steal, they don't. (Like with runners at the corners and 1 out - might as well steal 2nd, as the catcher isn't apt to throw with a guy on 3rd and a big lead). However, the game was exciting and there were a lot of hits (due to the only throwing fastballs up the middle of the plate). Also, the fans are pretty polite to the visiting team. There isn't yelling, cursing, or even booing for players. In fact, when the opposing team hit a home run, I saw a lot of Doosan fans cheering for him as he did a good job. The umps are polite too - and are known to reverse calls - something that is hard to come by in MLB.

6. Don't go alone. I couldn't get anyone to accompany me on short notice - it was rather boring because of that.

7. Leave early if it's not a close game and they're in the 9th. (well, if you're taking the subway - as it gets really crowded, really quickly). I was lucky enough to leave while everyone was focusing on a raffle at the end of the game.

8. Buy the "thunder sticks". They're cheap and they look like fun. I would have bought them if I had better seats and was sitting with the Doosan fans. Unfortunately, I had a lot more Lotte Giant fans around me.

9. Bring a camera, you'll get some good pics!

10. Try not to notice that there is no announcer, just a Jumbo-Tron. And pray that you don't get shown on it when they're doing the "Kiss Competition". Don't worry - I wasn't chosen for that -- somehow, I don't think the old man sitting next to me would have puckered up...

THE REST OF MY PHOTO'S CAN BE FOUND HERE, 

INCLUDING A PANORAMIC OF THE STADIUM 

(thank you Canon Photostitch!)

Also, here are some videos I took during the game: