So I may've gone off the deep end maybe just a bit (hence the Vonnegut/Explosions in the Sky/Bush? references), but I think the things going through my head while I was walking home tonight make a creepy, perfect sort of sense.
[gone fomatose.]
I'm pretty sure I've landed myself three Saturdays of work this month. Yeah, I'm not supposed to have to work on Saturdays, blah blah blah... the idea is that the end of the term is coming up and the students I was given aren't even remotely close to being caught up to where they need to be. No surprise, the last foreign teacher in charge of them left two or three months ago. Naturally, they're going to need make-up classes. In fact, some of the classes seem like they won't be caught up by the time they need to be even if I work three Saturdays in a row, so I'm going to have to pull off some sort of bloody miracle because it has to be done. It's totally not my fault, but they still need make-up classes. I'm supposed to schedule said make-up classes myself. Upon hearing all of this, I wasn't in the least bit pleased. Can you blame me? No. It's bollocks and everyone knows it's bollocks; I'm not at all supposed to teach on Saturdays, and I'm certainly not supposed to teach for three Saturdays in a row. On top of that, I'd be teaching for four hours on each Saturday, which goes above and beyond the expectation in place for those who are supposed to work on Saturdays. What I was told about my position before I got here, well, it's all foma. Lies. Either malicious lies (which I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they're not) or lies born by a sudden policy change. There's no way that I should befall the consequences of anyone's inability to have gotten them to an at least reasonable place of progress by now... but note the key word in that last sentence: should.
[the earth is, in fact, a cold dead place]
No, I shouldn't have to. But what does "I shouldn't have to do this" make me sound like? An eight year-old. "But but but Jimmy's parents bought him a Nintendo, so why can't I have one?"
Life. Isn't. Fair. It's not about who's right, who's wrong, who's brilliant, who's slow, who's kind, who's a bastard, etc etc etc... it's about who's strong and who's weak. Who's holding the right cards. I have cards, sure, maybe, but I doubt they're really good ones. Who knows, I can't quite read them. Even if I were to try to strongarm anyone with any sort of anything I was given, would it really do anyone any good?
I'm starting to understand how power between people ebbs and flows- I've been on the losing end of numerous power struggles in my life. And you know what? It's okay. If anything it's made me realize that I'm pretty resilient and, if need be, I can take a punch to the soul. Maybe two. Or, fuck it... go nuts. Don't stop. It's not a jackhammer to the concrete, it's a chisel to the stone.
I want you to hit me as hard as you can.
[everything zen]
So how does a person become strong? In the professional world, it's sometimes by being weak for long enough- the reliable, dependable people get pushed up the ladder. Sometimes you have to strongarm a little to get pushed up the ladder, yeah, but that doesn't seem to be quite as common in my opinion. So perhaps by being weak, one can become strong.
A lot of power struggles, though, come down to whether or not the weaker really cares. Hope and caring, these things are vulnerabilities; but they do indeed keep us going and, to a greater degree, keep us human. But to show these things instead of cold indifference is to expose your weakness to others. So to that I say this: keep your fingers crossed, but only where no-one can see them. It's necessary, especially now, to portray an "image of success at all times."
There are a lot of facets of my personality that I wanted to overhaul while in Korea, and a good number of them will be difficult to overhaul should I find myself at work six days a week... but let's review: I have nothing here but a home, a job, and a handful of people who are basically acquaintances at the moment. I came here because I was offered work; I found the location to be quite nice, a fringe benefit, but I came here because I was offered work. Not only that, but I have a plan for the money; so what's it matter if I'm working a good amount of overtime each month? We're looking at anywhere from 12-18 hours of overtime this month for the three Saturdays, plus the regular 2 hours of overtime I can expect to work each week due to my overflowing-with-classes schedule. So 18-26 hours of overtime this month at the overtime wage would be... well, let's just say it'll be well worth my time.
Furthermore, I can really work on a specific facet of my personality that I really would like to- the talent to (and unfortunate habit of) fighting claw and tooth for what I believe in. My seemingly natural affection for this has gotten me into a fair amount of trouble. Now how exactly is it 'working on myself' if it's really just learning to roll over and play dead? It's 'working on myself' because it's not in my nature, that's how. And fighting against your own nature, well, that's a massive exercise in and of itself.
So let's do it. It's only after I learn to command this massively overclocked processing unit I call my mind on my own that I'll really be ready to venture into adulthood.
Keep your fingers crossed, but only where no-one can see them.
-토맛
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
My Inventory Is Full Of Many Things
So, yesterday was incredible. Let's do this in chronological order:
1. Work. Work was a bit rough. The students weren't responding to most of what I was doing, the stuff I'd thrown into the lesson despite massive time crunches simply for the purpose of engaging them and getting them into the lesson a little. It's bizarre because they're always so participative with their Korean teachers, and some even with the other foreign teachers. I think they're still getting used to me, but hopefully I'm not coming across as too stern or, even worse, boring. Also, my first two classes were moved, so that was a bit of a headache. A chaotic work day when I wasn't teaching, and a grind when I was teaching. It's a damn shame. I think it'll get easier with time, though. And at least I've learned that I'm a pretty flexible person. Sure, it's frustrating to have to deal with constant change and madness, but I can think of three things off the top of my head that are way, way worse: heartbreak, extreme feelings of alienation and cancer. In that order.
2. ARC. I got my Alien Registration Card yesterday, and now it's mine. Mine to do with what I want. So I can go to Hongdae and go to clubs and go crazy. I can get a cell phone, which I'm planning on doing today. I can hold a bank account, which I'm already doing. Basically, I have official Korean identification.
3. Subway Map. I'd made arrangements with a fellow foreigner, Richard, to purchase a rice cooker from him. Found him on Craigslist, which I find highly amusing. So on my way to Sindorim to meet with him, I went up to the subway map on the train to look at it and figure out what was going on just so I knew. While I was staring at all the multicolored lines, an older man sitting next to the map kept saying 'hello'. When I turned to look at him, he was holding a pocket-sized subway map towards me! How nice, right? The great thing is that all of the station names are in Hangul, so I get to practice it in a practical way with realia (real-life objects) while I'm on the train. It's great to realize that I've come far enough with my ability to read Hangul to know which stop is coming next well before the train gets there.
4. Rice Cooker. I met up with Richard in Sindorim and we chatted for a good bit, exchanging stories and discussing how we ended up in Korea. We also talked about how to find a few certain items; it was then that I realized I'd been asking the staff at Lotte Mart if they had any purses or backpacks I could put in my trash can. :X
It was really nice to meet another foreigner who isn't a co-worker; not that I dislike my co-workers at all, they're all really cool people, but it's nice to branch out a bit, you know? The ride from home to Sindorim was about fourty-five minutes one-way, which isn't bad at all. I really love riding the subway here because of all the sights you can see from inside the cars. Plus, it's interesting to see people from all walks of life in one place at the same time- just being on the subway can give a person some idea of the culture here. Anyway, this rice cooker isn't half bad. I got it for a third, maybe a fourth of the price I could get a new one for. I tried it out and, while the rice came out a bit chewy, I'm sure it's something more to do with me than with the cooker. I would've done more for a meal instead of just cooking some rice, but it'd been a long day and I really didn't feel like doing much else. Next time I'll throw some egg in there, maybe buy some vegetables and some chicken.. throw it all together.. and figure out how the Hell to prepare the sauce packets they sell at grocery stores here.
So I'm really starting to get things together not only here, but with myself. I've spent more time using public transportation here so far than I did in the past five years in Denver. Easily. Sure, I had a car in Denver... and the public transportation in Seoul is far better than that in Denver... but I've also been walking a lot more. Once again, sure, everything is closer here than in Denver, but still- it's nice to get the exercise and to feel a little more worldly. I do still miss driving, but it's probably a good thing to get away from for a while.
I'm also slowly starting to get into the whole cooking thing. Don't ask me why, but I never really figured out how to cook a proper meal. I mean, I tried here and there... but all of my attempts were half-hearted ones. I really want to get better at this so that I'm not spending all of my money eating out when I'm thirty. I want to be able to rely on myself and provide for others.
I'm also getting far better at rolling with the punches when necessary- I remember a time when I'd object to just about anything that bothered me in the slightest, being as stubborn as humanly possible. There are a number of things that have happened so far that would've set me off if I were the same person that I was then, but I'm not. Hell, they might've even set me off if I were the same person that I was when I left, but I don't think I am.
You really start to learn to appreciate things you'd long taken for granted after a bit of time in an environment where: you don't know how to get hot water for your shower, you don't understand your washing machine, attempts to find one particular item can take two or three hours and still be completely fruitless, finding a new place to eat involves arbitrarily walking around for twenty or thirty minutes as opposed to pulling up a website, 95 degree days in Denver sound like a bloody cake walk, you dry clothes by hanging them, you wash dishes with your hands and soap, you don't have a subwoofer, it takes you thirty seconds to read a sign and even then you have no idea what it means, you're not sure if you'll end up at your destination when you tell the cab driver where you're going, you wonder if members of the opposite sex are shyly looking at you because they think they're attractive or simply because you're different, you almost exclusively use utensils you're not at all used to for eating, you have to leave home to use the internet... you get the idea.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm complaining. I'm not complaining at all- I'm simply appreciating the things I had in Denver that I'd previously taken for granted. Like Good Times and loyalty card websites in English. I really do like it here despite the demeanor of my previous posts- I've had a lot of time to search through my brain and start fitting things together, which I think is something I really needed. I had plenty of time to do this in Denver too, but it's easier when you feel as alone as you would if you moved to the other side of the world. Note that there's a difference between feeling alone and feeling lonely.
Also- if you're reading this, it means I have the internet at home.
If you haven't already received a call by this point, my 303 number is 303.719.8562
Just please remember that I live fifteen hours in the future and, thus, it might not be a great idea to call at three in the afternoon. Though you'll probably just get my voicemail.
I'll also probably be on Skype, AIM, MSN and Google Chat over the weekend. My weekend, I mean.
So feel free to hit me up there, too.
In fact, if I'm posting this, it means I'm on the internet at home. XD
Hope everything's going well back home.
Keep me posted if anything crazy happens, okay?
-토맛
1. Work. Work was a bit rough. The students weren't responding to most of what I was doing, the stuff I'd thrown into the lesson despite massive time crunches simply for the purpose of engaging them and getting them into the lesson a little. It's bizarre because they're always so participative with their Korean teachers, and some even with the other foreign teachers. I think they're still getting used to me, but hopefully I'm not coming across as too stern or, even worse, boring. Also, my first two classes were moved, so that was a bit of a headache. A chaotic work day when I wasn't teaching, and a grind when I was teaching. It's a damn shame. I think it'll get easier with time, though. And at least I've learned that I'm a pretty flexible person. Sure, it's frustrating to have to deal with constant change and madness, but I can think of three things off the top of my head that are way, way worse: heartbreak, extreme feelings of alienation and cancer. In that order.
2. ARC. I got my Alien Registration Card yesterday, and now it's mine. Mine to do with what I want. So I can go to Hongdae and go to clubs and go crazy. I can get a cell phone, which I'm planning on doing today. I can hold a bank account, which I'm already doing. Basically, I have official Korean identification.
3. Subway Map. I'd made arrangements with a fellow foreigner, Richard, to purchase a rice cooker from him. Found him on Craigslist, which I find highly amusing. So on my way to Sindorim to meet with him, I went up to the subway map on the train to look at it and figure out what was going on just so I knew. While I was staring at all the multicolored lines, an older man sitting next to the map kept saying 'hello'. When I turned to look at him, he was holding a pocket-sized subway map towards me! How nice, right? The great thing is that all of the station names are in Hangul, so I get to practice it in a practical way with realia (real-life objects) while I'm on the train. It's great to realize that I've come far enough with my ability to read Hangul to know which stop is coming next well before the train gets there.
4. Rice Cooker. I met up with Richard in Sindorim and we chatted for a good bit, exchanging stories and discussing how we ended up in Korea. We also talked about how to find a few certain items; it was then that I realized I'd been asking the staff at Lotte Mart if they had any purses or backpacks I could put in my trash can. :X
It was really nice to meet another foreigner who isn't a co-worker; not that I dislike my co-workers at all, they're all really cool people, but it's nice to branch out a bit, you know? The ride from home to Sindorim was about fourty-five minutes one-way, which isn't bad at all. I really love riding the subway here because of all the sights you can see from inside the cars. Plus, it's interesting to see people from all walks of life in one place at the same time- just being on the subway can give a person some idea of the culture here. Anyway, this rice cooker isn't half bad. I got it for a third, maybe a fourth of the price I could get a new one for. I tried it out and, while the rice came out a bit chewy, I'm sure it's something more to do with me than with the cooker. I would've done more for a meal instead of just cooking some rice, but it'd been a long day and I really didn't feel like doing much else. Next time I'll throw some egg in there, maybe buy some vegetables and some chicken.. throw it all together.. and figure out how the Hell to prepare the sauce packets they sell at grocery stores here.
So I'm really starting to get things together not only here, but with myself. I've spent more time using public transportation here so far than I did in the past five years in Denver. Easily. Sure, I had a car in Denver... and the public transportation in Seoul is far better than that in Denver... but I've also been walking a lot more. Once again, sure, everything is closer here than in Denver, but still- it's nice to get the exercise and to feel a little more worldly. I do still miss driving, but it's probably a good thing to get away from for a while.
I'm also slowly starting to get into the whole cooking thing. Don't ask me why, but I never really figured out how to cook a proper meal. I mean, I tried here and there... but all of my attempts were half-hearted ones. I really want to get better at this so that I'm not spending all of my money eating out when I'm thirty. I want to be able to rely on myself and provide for others.
I'm also getting far better at rolling with the punches when necessary- I remember a time when I'd object to just about anything that bothered me in the slightest, being as stubborn as humanly possible. There are a number of things that have happened so far that would've set me off if I were the same person that I was then, but I'm not. Hell, they might've even set me off if I were the same person that I was when I left, but I don't think I am.
You really start to learn to appreciate things you'd long taken for granted after a bit of time in an environment where: you don't know how to get hot water for your shower, you don't understand your washing machine, attempts to find one particular item can take two or three hours and still be completely fruitless, finding a new place to eat involves arbitrarily walking around for twenty or thirty minutes as opposed to pulling up a website, 95 degree days in Denver sound like a bloody cake walk, you dry clothes by hanging them, you wash dishes with your hands and soap, you don't have a subwoofer, it takes you thirty seconds to read a sign and even then you have no idea what it means, you're not sure if you'll end up at your destination when you tell the cab driver where you're going, you wonder if members of the opposite sex are shyly looking at you because they think they're attractive or simply because you're different, you almost exclusively use utensils you're not at all used to for eating, you have to leave home to use the internet... you get the idea.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm complaining. I'm not complaining at all- I'm simply appreciating the things I had in Denver that I'd previously taken for granted. Like Good Times and loyalty card websites in English. I really do like it here despite the demeanor of my previous posts- I've had a lot of time to search through my brain and start fitting things together, which I think is something I really needed. I had plenty of time to do this in Denver too, but it's easier when you feel as alone as you would if you moved to the other side of the world. Note that there's a difference between feeling alone and feeling lonely.
Also- if you're reading this, it means I have the internet at home.
If you haven't already received a call by this point, my 303 number is 303.719.8562
Just please remember that I live fifteen hours in the future and, thus, it might not be a great idea to call at three in the afternoon. Though you'll probably just get my voicemail.
I'll also probably be on Skype, AIM, MSN and Google Chat over the weekend. My weekend, I mean.
So feel free to hit me up there, too.
In fact, if I'm posting this, it means I'm on the internet at home. XD
Hope everything's going well back home.
Keep me posted if anything crazy happens, okay?
-토맛
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Where To Go Once It All Comes Full Circle?
So once everything in your life comes to a head and everything makes a creepy sort of sense, where do you go?
Jjokki Jjokki, where you can get Fish and Chips with a Guinness in Hambakmaeul, Yeonsu-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea.
Tonight I ate Sweet and Sour Pork and Shrimp and drank Strawberry Soju.
And if you do that, it doesn't really matter what else is going on.
Work was lacking today.
A few less than ideal changes came about.
Might have to work every other Saturday- but it's so unlikely, honestly, that I shouldn't stress about it as much as I have. And if push comes to shove, I can always gracefully explain that the contract states that middle school teachers aren't required to. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.
What else? I was told that carrying a bag around made me look more like a student than a teacher. I'm not Korean and I'm wearing a shirt and tie- I figured that'd be enough, but okay. I'll carry my books in a cardboard box and rush back to the classroom when it turns out that the room I'm teaching in is actually a whiteboard room and not a chalkboard room. It's cool. Not a big deal, though I've been under a bit of stress over the past few days so I've made it a bigger deal in my head than it really is.
At least I got my bank account set up today. I get my ARC tomorrow after they do some fancy teacher registration stuff, which means I can get a phone. Thing is, I'm taking the subway up to Sindorim after school tomorrow so I can meet up with someone from Craigslist and come home with a fancy-pants rice cooker. All hail fancy-pants rice cooker, do not doubt its power!
I'm also getting the internet on Saturday morning between 11:00a and noon, which is 8:00-9:00p Friday night to the rest of you. Fight friends can expect calls regarding Friday night's bouts, friends with Skype can expect Skype action, all of that fun stuff... so as of then, my 303 number will be live, Skype will be go, and I'll be able to USE THE INTERNET FROM MY OWN COMPUTER AND MY OWN HOME AGAIN. So Saturday will more than likely be spent catching up with the world outside of Hambakmaeul- checking to see if any yellow dust storms are coming, reading more about BILL CLINTON SAVING THE AMERICAN JOURNALISTS, things like that. I'm so excited, I simply cannot, by any means, hide it.
Then on Sunday, I'm headed back to Yongsan, the place responsible for taking a good chunk of my money, to meet with a girl named Meghan for some delicious Red Mango action. At least that's what I believe the plan is. This'll be clarified once I have a cell phone. Which will hopefully be tomorrow or Saturday. I'll figure it out.
So the weekend approaches with recreation in one hand and relaxation in the other- and it does so with great intensity! I just need to get through tomorrow and we'll be good.
By 'get through tomorrow', I mean 'figure out a way to get my students to say a Gods damned word in class'. They've been pretty stubborn. I'll ask them the same question five times before one of them says anything, and even then it's hard to hear because the other students are making so friggin' much noise. Speaking of which, I gave two detentions out yesterday. I don't feel good about it, but it had to be done. They wouldn't stop talking, so they got detention. They know the score, I know the score, and they still persisted. Life is uneasy for detention-bound pancake.
People around me are playing this crazy awesome-looking FPS. I wish I had any idea how it worked, because it looks like a riot. Unfortunately, it's all in Korean so I've no idea where to start. Is k, I'm sure I'll give it a shot sometime.
Well, I'm full of food and soju... the only thing to do now is sleep.
Have a nice Thursday, Denver- mine's already come and gone. :D
-토맛
Jjokki Jjokki, where you can get Fish and Chips with a Guinness in Hambakmaeul, Yeonsu-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea.
Tonight I ate Sweet and Sour Pork and Shrimp and drank Strawberry Soju.
And if you do that, it doesn't really matter what else is going on.
Work was lacking today.
A few less than ideal changes came about.
Might have to work every other Saturday- but it's so unlikely, honestly, that I shouldn't stress about it as much as I have. And if push comes to shove, I can always gracefully explain that the contract states that middle school teachers aren't required to. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.
What else? I was told that carrying a bag around made me look more like a student than a teacher. I'm not Korean and I'm wearing a shirt and tie- I figured that'd be enough, but okay. I'll carry my books in a cardboard box and rush back to the classroom when it turns out that the room I'm teaching in is actually a whiteboard room and not a chalkboard room. It's cool. Not a big deal, though I've been under a bit of stress over the past few days so I've made it a bigger deal in my head than it really is.
At least I got my bank account set up today. I get my ARC tomorrow after they do some fancy teacher registration stuff, which means I can get a phone. Thing is, I'm taking the subway up to Sindorim after school tomorrow so I can meet up with someone from Craigslist and come home with a fancy-pants rice cooker. All hail fancy-pants rice cooker, do not doubt its power!
I'm also getting the internet on Saturday morning between 11:00a and noon, which is 8:00-9:00p Friday night to the rest of you. Fight friends can expect calls regarding Friday night's bouts, friends with Skype can expect Skype action, all of that fun stuff... so as of then, my 303 number will be live, Skype will be go, and I'll be able to USE THE INTERNET FROM MY OWN COMPUTER AND MY OWN HOME AGAIN. So Saturday will more than likely be spent catching up with the world outside of Hambakmaeul- checking to see if any yellow dust storms are coming, reading more about BILL CLINTON SAVING THE AMERICAN JOURNALISTS, things like that. I'm so excited, I simply cannot, by any means, hide it.
Then on Sunday, I'm headed back to Yongsan, the place responsible for taking a good chunk of my money, to meet with a girl named Meghan for some delicious Red Mango action. At least that's what I believe the plan is. This'll be clarified once I have a cell phone. Which will hopefully be tomorrow or Saturday. I'll figure it out.
So the weekend approaches with recreation in one hand and relaxation in the other- and it does so with great intensity! I just need to get through tomorrow and we'll be good.
By 'get through tomorrow', I mean 'figure out a way to get my students to say a Gods damned word in class'. They've been pretty stubborn. I'll ask them the same question five times before one of them says anything, and even then it's hard to hear because the other students are making so friggin' much noise. Speaking of which, I gave two detentions out yesterday. I don't feel good about it, but it had to be done. They wouldn't stop talking, so they got detention. They know the score, I know the score, and they still persisted. Life is uneasy for detention-bound pancake.
People around me are playing this crazy awesome-looking FPS. I wish I had any idea how it worked, because it looks like a riot. Unfortunately, it's all in Korean so I've no idea where to start. Is k, I'm sure I'll give it a shot sometime.
Well, I'm full of food and soju... the only thing to do now is sleep.
Have a nice Thursday, Denver- mine's already come and gone. :D
-토맛
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Doubts, With the Waxing and the Waning and the...
It's been a sort of rough twenty-four, maybe twenty-eight hours.
I spent a lot of it wondering 'where am I, what the Hell is going on,' etc.
Feeling like I'd left my heart in Denver.
I think it was just a trademark bad day, which I'm known to have here and there.
It happens, and it doesn't matter which time zone, country or continent I'm in.
These phases come and go.
And luckily, this one's come and gone.
Today consisted mostly of working on music and ironing everything that got all wrinkled in my luggage... which means everything, down to my plaid awesomejacket. I was ironing in my laundry room, which proved to be quite a task- I didn't know it was possible to get so hot that your temples start hurting and your eyeballs feel like they're going to come out of your mouth, but it does happen. I bought an ironing board at the lovely Lotte Mart today, though, so I'm ironing in my room with A/C and a large, opened window. Add some Radiohead to the mix and it's perfect.
As for music, well, I started reading up on another issue of Computer Music that I grabbed before I left and, uh, it's really useful. Who'd have thought that not overloading effects devices would make such a difference? And who'd have thought that EQing out a little niche in the bass for the kick drum to rest in was really that important? I might've relocated to Korea, but the music isn't gonna stop. It's just on a very, very temporary hiatus as I'm still getting used to the speakers, the laptop setup and I don't have internet. Soon, though... soon I'll come back stronger than a powered up Pac Man. It don't matter to me.
Tried shipping things yesterday and forgot the addresses at home. Think I'll end up express shipping everything- it's only a 5,000 Won difference per package, and it's already a little pricey as is so I don't really understand the 'value' of sending parcel through regular mail.
Just got back home from 만구 with Joel. Mangu (as you'd romanize the characters there) are dumplings- mine were steamed and filled with meat. And I'm getting better with chopsticks, to the point that I can actually pick up a steamed dumpling and eat it with some degree of success. I can only imagine how many people are going to be like 'o man I showed you how to chopstick la la la' but it's really Meaghan's fault that I can use them at all. Trust me, guys... the 'no, look, it's really easy, you just go BOOM BOOM BOOM I'M USING CHOPSTICKS NOW' approach isn't a good approach to teaching anyone how to do anything. :P
I'm supposed to be to work at 10:00a tomorrow so I can get my ARC and get my bank account going. Supposed to have internet by Friday or Saturday. This means Skype, this means 303 number, this means a lot of stuff. So I'm really excited. I'll also have a Korean cellphone tomorrow, which is huge as well. Now I can call/text co-workers and new friends, which will help me ship my heart to Incheon. Nobody's anybody anywhere until they have the internet and a phone, damn it.
Not much else to report. Oh, I'm probably going to Yongsan for Red Mango on Sunday. Either that or it's coffee/tea time in Seoul (pronounced Suh-ool, by the way). I'll be meeting with a foreigner like myself in an attempt to broaden my social horizons 6,100 miles from home. It's gotta happen if I'm going to survive out here; otherwise I'll spend all my time thinking about Denver, etc. And doing that would defeat a large part of the purpose of this adventure now, wouldn't it?
So yeah, that'll be nice. I'm hoping for Red Mango, honestly. It's like Pinkberry in L.A. or Kuulture in Denver (which is, you know, a Pinkberry rip-off that nobody working there will ever admit to). Just have to figure out how to say 'strawberries' and 'bananas' in Korean before I go there. I guess the whole 'topped frozen yogurt' craze started with Red Mango, and Red Mango started in Seoul... so I hear. So that's pretty awesome.
Anyway, back to the point.
It's good to get a bad day out of the way.
Just to know how I'll react in such a situation.
And to start adapting to life here.
Because life isn't just sightseeing and soju.
I'm almost entirely sure that it was Denver stuff that triggered all of this, and that's okay.
Like I said, I'm working on shipping my heart to Incheon.
And once that happens, I can really start working towards one of my main reasons for being here: learning to master the orange fret button. Only by improving myself and becoming more self-sufficient and reliable can I do so.
So bring it on, life.
There's nothing I can't do.
-토맛
I spent a lot of it wondering 'where am I, what the Hell is going on,' etc.
Feeling like I'd left my heart in Denver.
I think it was just a trademark bad day, which I'm known to have here and there.
It happens, and it doesn't matter which time zone, country or continent I'm in.
These phases come and go.
And luckily, this one's come and gone.
Today consisted mostly of working on music and ironing everything that got all wrinkled in my luggage... which means everything, down to my plaid awesomejacket. I was ironing in my laundry room, which proved to be quite a task- I didn't know it was possible to get so hot that your temples start hurting and your eyeballs feel like they're going to come out of your mouth, but it does happen. I bought an ironing board at the lovely Lotte Mart today, though, so I'm ironing in my room with A/C and a large, opened window. Add some Radiohead to the mix and it's perfect.
As for music, well, I started reading up on another issue of Computer Music that I grabbed before I left and, uh, it's really useful. Who'd have thought that not overloading effects devices would make such a difference? And who'd have thought that EQing out a little niche in the bass for the kick drum to rest in was really that important? I might've relocated to Korea, but the music isn't gonna stop. It's just on a very, very temporary hiatus as I'm still getting used to the speakers, the laptop setup and I don't have internet. Soon, though... soon I'll come back stronger than a powered up Pac Man. It don't matter to me.
Tried shipping things yesterday and forgot the addresses at home. Think I'll end up express shipping everything- it's only a 5,000 Won difference per package, and it's already a little pricey as is so I don't really understand the 'value' of sending parcel through regular mail.
Just got back home from 만구 with Joel. Mangu (as you'd romanize the characters there) are dumplings- mine were steamed and filled with meat. And I'm getting better with chopsticks, to the point that I can actually pick up a steamed dumpling and eat it with some degree of success. I can only imagine how many people are going to be like 'o man I showed you how to chopstick la la la' but it's really Meaghan's fault that I can use them at all. Trust me, guys... the 'no, look, it's really easy, you just go BOOM BOOM BOOM I'M USING CHOPSTICKS NOW' approach isn't a good approach to teaching anyone how to do anything. :P
I'm supposed to be to work at 10:00a tomorrow so I can get my ARC and get my bank account going. Supposed to have internet by Friday or Saturday. This means Skype, this means 303 number, this means a lot of stuff. So I'm really excited. I'll also have a Korean cellphone tomorrow, which is huge as well. Now I can call/text co-workers and new friends, which will help me ship my heart to Incheon. Nobody's anybody anywhere until they have the internet and a phone, damn it.
Not much else to report. Oh, I'm probably going to Yongsan for Red Mango on Sunday. Either that or it's coffee/tea time in Seoul (pronounced Suh-ool, by the way). I'll be meeting with a foreigner like myself in an attempt to broaden my social horizons 6,100 miles from home. It's gotta happen if I'm going to survive out here; otherwise I'll spend all my time thinking about Denver, etc. And doing that would defeat a large part of the purpose of this adventure now, wouldn't it?
So yeah, that'll be nice. I'm hoping for Red Mango, honestly. It's like Pinkberry in L.A. or Kuulture in Denver (which is, you know, a Pinkberry rip-off that nobody working there will ever admit to). Just have to figure out how to say 'strawberries' and 'bananas' in Korean before I go there. I guess the whole 'topped frozen yogurt' craze started with Red Mango, and Red Mango started in Seoul... so I hear. So that's pretty awesome.
Anyway, back to the point.
It's good to get a bad day out of the way.
Just to know how I'll react in such a situation.
And to start adapting to life here.
Because life isn't just sightseeing and soju.
I'm almost entirely sure that it was Denver stuff that triggered all of this, and that's okay.
Like I said, I'm working on shipping my heart to Incheon.
And once that happens, I can really start working towards one of my main reasons for being here: learning to master the orange fret button. Only by improving myself and becoming more self-sufficient and reliable can I do so.
So bring it on, life.
There's nothing I can't do.
-토맛
Friday, July 31, 2009
I Love Malling.
Phewwwww. What a day yesterday was.
Joel took my to Seonhak Station, which is about a ten-fifteen minute walk from my place; he showed me how the reloadable T-Money transportation card works, then I was on the subway and off to Yongsan Station.
Yongsan is one stop West of Seoul on the 1 Line. But why stop in Yongsan instead of Seoul? I'm glad you asked. Yongsan Station is attached to the I-Mall, which has just about anything and everything you'd ever want. Really.
The signs for I-Mall all say 'I Love Malling,' which makes me wonder if they meant 'Mauling' or even realized the similarity. Regardless, it's funny stuff.
I ran into Jay and Evan at I-Mall! They were just looking around, but had big plans to scale a big mountain and wanted some food first, so we went to a Thai place- I had chicken fried rice which, to my surprise, included some yellow curry. Was pretty damn good! Cultural note: the phrase 'yuh-gi-oh' means 'you, over here' and is a perfectly acceptable way to summon a waiter/waitress.
After the fried rice adventure, I wandered around a good bit until I found the music section of I-Mall. Yeah, there's a music section. Complete with everything from violas and cellos to big, button-covered Ableton Live specific MIDI interfaces. I... had to drop a bit of money. I couldn't help it. But I came out with two Korg MIDI controllers, the nanoPad and nanoKontrol. The Pad has a Kaoss pad built in (YES YES YES) and ten drum buttons with roll/flam features- the Kontrol has nine channels, each with a fader, knob, and two buttons along with play/stop/rewind/ff/record/loop controls. The best part is that every button on either device is fully assignable through software, so I'm stoked as Hell.
Anyway, more about I-Mall. They have bloody everything. I've seen red and lime green PSPs, vending machines with Bomberman figurines in them, shirt/vest combinations that put American ones to shame, sick ass USB hubs... there was a really nice LG LCD TV on sale for some 300,000 won... marked down from 1,500,000 won. Uhm. They have two floors for computers! Some really amazing machines, too.
The place is amazing. I love malling. It wasn't too hard to get there, either. Just take the Incheon line North to Bupyeong, transfer to Eastbound Line 1, and boom.
The subway is really cool, I enjoyed it. A little crowded at times and I got my fair share of weird looks, being one of three foreigners in my car at best.. but it's neat. There are TVs in the Incheon Line subways, and they announce which stop you're coming to (along with a voice announcement). A neat experience.
Then, last night, I went out with Tom and Joel. We went to a foreigner bar in Bupyeong. The first song that played when I walked in the door was MGMT's 'Kids,' of course, because I can't escape that bloody song no matter how far I fly. Not that I hate it, it's a good song, but.. anyway. I drank a bit too much last night and got pretty quiet. Actually, I was kind of quiet the whole time. It's a damn shame because there were new people there, could've gotten to know them, la la la... but I'm still kind of humbled/overwhelmed by all the newness here. I still feel very much like a guest here, and it's hard to get into the swing of things socially under those circumstances. I think once I feel more at home here and really understand the length of my stay, I'll be better about it. What I need to do is realize that everything that's happened to me so far, my entire past, it's just a story. And once I'm able to crumple that up and start again, I'll really get into the swing of things. I've always had a problem with pushing myself to socialize; I never really do it. I think there's a sense of entitlement behind all of that- I'm used to being liked, so I feel like it should happen immediately without any effort on my part. This is something I noticed happening to me before I left, even, and I really need to get out of that rut.
I slept until about 11:30a today and I'm still a bit hungover. Jay and Evan are going island hopping today- there's an archipelago area not too terribly far from here, and the ferry that goes between the islands is pretty cheap. I woke up a bit too late, though, and I'm a bit wary of spending any more money after my adventure in Yongsan. I'm still doing alright, but I want to play it safe until Wednesday when I open my bank account and am able to exchange my traveler's checks.
I'll probably go on another picture quest sometime soon, and should be able to update picasaweb.google.com/thefinalthom relatively soon. Keep an eye out! :)
Wishing everyone back home the best,
-토맛
Joel took my to Seonhak Station, which is about a ten-fifteen minute walk from my place; he showed me how the reloadable T-Money transportation card works, then I was on the subway and off to Yongsan Station.
Yongsan is one stop West of Seoul on the 1 Line. But why stop in Yongsan instead of Seoul? I'm glad you asked. Yongsan Station is attached to the I-Mall, which has just about anything and everything you'd ever want. Really.
The signs for I-Mall all say 'I Love Malling,' which makes me wonder if they meant 'Mauling' or even realized the similarity. Regardless, it's funny stuff.
I ran into Jay and Evan at I-Mall! They were just looking around, but had big plans to scale a big mountain and wanted some food first, so we went to a Thai place- I had chicken fried rice which, to my surprise, included some yellow curry. Was pretty damn good! Cultural note: the phrase 'yuh-gi-oh' means 'you, over here' and is a perfectly acceptable way to summon a waiter/waitress.
After the fried rice adventure, I wandered around a good bit until I found the music section of I-Mall. Yeah, there's a music section. Complete with everything from violas and cellos to big, button-covered Ableton Live specific MIDI interfaces. I... had to drop a bit of money. I couldn't help it. But I came out with two Korg MIDI controllers, the nanoPad and nanoKontrol. The Pad has a Kaoss pad built in (YES YES YES) and ten drum buttons with roll/flam features- the Kontrol has nine channels, each with a fader, knob, and two buttons along with play/stop/rewind/ff/record/loop controls. The best part is that every button on either device is fully assignable through software, so I'm stoked as Hell.
Anyway, more about I-Mall. They have bloody everything. I've seen red and lime green PSPs, vending machines with Bomberman figurines in them, shirt/vest combinations that put American ones to shame, sick ass USB hubs... there was a really nice LG LCD TV on sale for some 300,000 won... marked down from 1,500,000 won. Uhm. They have two floors for computers! Some really amazing machines, too.
The place is amazing. I love malling. It wasn't too hard to get there, either. Just take the Incheon line North to Bupyeong, transfer to Eastbound Line 1, and boom.
The subway is really cool, I enjoyed it. A little crowded at times and I got my fair share of weird looks, being one of three foreigners in my car at best.. but it's neat. There are TVs in the Incheon Line subways, and they announce which stop you're coming to (along with a voice announcement). A neat experience.
Then, last night, I went out with Tom and Joel. We went to a foreigner bar in Bupyeong. The first song that played when I walked in the door was MGMT's 'Kids,' of course, because I can't escape that bloody song no matter how far I fly. Not that I hate it, it's a good song, but.. anyway. I drank a bit too much last night and got pretty quiet. Actually, I was kind of quiet the whole time. It's a damn shame because there were new people there, could've gotten to know them, la la la... but I'm still kind of humbled/overwhelmed by all the newness here. I still feel very much like a guest here, and it's hard to get into the swing of things socially under those circumstances. I think once I feel more at home here and really understand the length of my stay, I'll be better about it. What I need to do is realize that everything that's happened to me so far, my entire past, it's just a story. And once I'm able to crumple that up and start again, I'll really get into the swing of things. I've always had a problem with pushing myself to socialize; I never really do it. I think there's a sense of entitlement behind all of that- I'm used to being liked, so I feel like it should happen immediately without any effort on my part. This is something I noticed happening to me before I left, even, and I really need to get out of that rut.
I slept until about 11:30a today and I'm still a bit hungover. Jay and Evan are going island hopping today- there's an archipelago area not too terribly far from here, and the ferry that goes between the islands is pretty cheap. I woke up a bit too late, though, and I'm a bit wary of spending any more money after my adventure in Yongsan. I'm still doing alright, but I want to play it safe until Wednesday when I open my bank account and am able to exchange my traveler's checks.
I'll probably go on another picture quest sometime soon, and should be able to update picasaweb.google.com/thefinalthom relatively soon. Keep an eye out! :)
Wishing everyone back home the best,
-토맛
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
You'll Allllllways Be Way-yi-yayyyy-tinngggg
Cake got stuck in my head. It happens.
So! It turns out that I won't be getting my ARC until next Wednesday. Total bummer. Because of that, I can't get a bank account until probably Thursday. And because of that, I can't get internet until probably Friday morning. This, my friends, is no good. I won't be able to get a cell until then either, so contacting anyone will be a pain.
What else is going on... let's see. I didn't have classes today, and I don't have classes tomorrow. My day basically consisted of finding ways to look busy even though I have the majority of my work done. And that's even with the meeting that I had this evening... if that hadn't killed an hour, I'm not sure what I would've done. I did get to leave early though, mostly because there wasn't anything for me to do.
So tomorrow I'm sure I'll drop a few Won on another pretty little pink box of chocolates (they're essentially Koala Yummies, so don't front because you know they're delicious) and maybe a few shots of espresso. Then I'll sit around, maybe get a few lesson plans for next Friday done, do a few Powerpoint presentations for some of the Elem. School teachers, probably hit Facebook a few times, check my e-mail more often than necessary, and try to leave an hour before my shift would normally end so I can go bowling with the co-workers. Since I won't have any work to do.
The vacation sounds like it'll be interesting. I guess there's something going on in Seoul this weekend, so I may end up over there. Might stay the night there, too. Not sure what the details are on that yet, but... where I land, I don't really care. I don't need a plan.
Well, that's pretty much that for now. I'll try to find a good, reliable wi-fi spot that I can make calls from on Friday. Maybe try to Skype a bit. We'll see what happens.
Be well,
-토맛
So! It turns out that I won't be getting my ARC until next Wednesday. Total bummer. Because of that, I can't get a bank account until probably Thursday. And because of that, I can't get internet until probably Friday morning. This, my friends, is no good. I won't be able to get a cell until then either, so contacting anyone will be a pain.
What else is going on... let's see. I didn't have classes today, and I don't have classes tomorrow. My day basically consisted of finding ways to look busy even though I have the majority of my work done. And that's even with the meeting that I had this evening... if that hadn't killed an hour, I'm not sure what I would've done. I did get to leave early though, mostly because there wasn't anything for me to do.
So tomorrow I'm sure I'll drop a few Won on another pretty little pink box of chocolates (they're essentially Koala Yummies, so don't front because you know they're delicious) and maybe a few shots of espresso. Then I'll sit around, maybe get a few lesson plans for next Friday done, do a few Powerpoint presentations for some of the Elem. School teachers, probably hit Facebook a few times, check my e-mail more often than necessary, and try to leave an hour before my shift would normally end so I can go bowling with the co-workers. Since I won't have any work to do.
The vacation sounds like it'll be interesting. I guess there's something going on in Seoul this weekend, so I may end up over there. Might stay the night there, too. Not sure what the details are on that yet, but... where I land, I don't really care. I don't need a plan.
Well, that's pretty much that for now. I'll try to find a good, reliable wi-fi spot that I can make calls from on Friday. Maybe try to Skype a bit. We'll see what happens.
Be well,
-토맛
Monday, July 27, 2009
Won Rules Everything Around Me.
Hey, blog. It's been a bit since I rapped at ya.
So on Sunday I managed to find my way to a bowling alley. It was a long walk, about 30 minutes I'd guess, but it was totally worth it. Upon arrival, I decided that I wanted to buy my own ball. Korea is an incredibly competitive country (if you lot haven't already noticed, what with the professional Starcraft games and all), so I figured that I'd get a bit of my own equipment so I can at least try to reach that level. When in Korea... anyway. So the cheapest ball was 130,000 Won, so a bit over $100 USD. I didn't have that on me in cash, so I made the mistake of asking if they accepted American credit cards (because some larger establishments like Lotte Mart do). Well, the guy behind the counter told me 'no, this is Korea'. Maybe a little rude, but fair enough, right? I'd imagine the question in itself is maybe a little insulting. But I bowled three games with a few house balls; their house ball selection is insane. They had a Storm (nigh legendary hook ball) sitting on their house ball rack. If the finger holes were a bit bigger, I could've rocked that.. but I went for the Hammer instead. Still a good ball. I didn't have a glove, so I didn't bowl as well as I could've, though I was pretty into it by the third game. I went to buy a beverage from a vending machine and saw that they had Mountain Dew; the label said something about SAME GREAT AMERICAN TASTE and I realized something- as much as I rag on America and Denver in particular, I do love it. It's my home. Everything I love now, I discovered there. But I love it here, too. So it really comes down to this... don't hate where you are, and don't hate where you're from. Easier said than done, but coming here has already given me a bit of perspective... which is one of the things I'm looking for.
Either way, I was pretty proud of the fact that I managed to track down a bowling alley and get there- and now I have bus directions there from work and home, so I can go just about whenever I want. It'll be easy- the bowling alley has an oversized bowling pin out front on the street for easy identification. Pictures soon, I swear it. ;) The bowling alley sells balls and shoes but not gloves, so I have to find this place called N.B. Bowling- it's a bowling supply store in Yeonsu. I'll find it, worry not.
Yesterday I went to Lotte Mart with Tom and Joel after work. Lotte Mart has a KFC inside, kind of like Wal-Mart has McDonald's or Subway. Feeling a little adventurous and maybe a little crazy, I decided to order the TOWER BURGER. It was either that or the Shrimp Zinger Burger, but a coin toss decided on the TOWER BURGER. The thing's enormous, as you'd probably imagine. It's a chunk of fried chicken topped with a hash brown with some sauce on a bun. Okay, maybe it sounds gross, but get your ass over here and try one. It's pretty amazing.
Apartment is smelling a bit funny because the clothes I've hung out to dry are... still drying. I soaked everything when I tried to wash it- I guess I chose the setting that gives me five times the water I needed. Oops. So I went down to the GS25 convenience store and looked around at their selection of air fresheners. I knew the one I wanted when I saw it- it's called the Big Egg. Funny thing is, my dad would always ask my mom to make him a 'big egg', which is essentially a... well... fried egg. Or is it scrambled? Bah, I don't know. But it's funny nonetheless. The clerk there was the same guy I saw yesterday when I picked up my daily Doubleshot- he'd given me a point card and, upon recognizing me, asked me to present it. I guess I can go online and get some sort of crazy rewards with it? I don't know. But it's kind of neat that people recognize me and are being super helpful as a result.
Speaking of which! I also went to Lotte Mart on Sunday and bought a cushion for my bed because it's unnaturally hard, which has made sleeping chore-like. It set me back quite a bit, but that's okay. What was really nice is that the woman in the formalwear section (surprise, surprise) recognized me. I told her that I was looking for bedding in the most broken, basic Korean imaginable and she actually escorted me down the escalator and across the bottom floor to the bedding area. She left her post and walked across the whole store to help me get where I was going. Super nice! The only issue is that I'm having trouble getting out of bed now... it's much more comfortable than it was.
Oh, Placebo- they're playing not this coming Wednesday, but the next. I'm hoping to have my T-Money card for the subway all squared away by then so I can get to Olympic Hall in Seoul to see them after work that day. I'd assumed that this would be an impossibility because I was under the impression that I was working until 11:30p every day, but it looks like I'll actually be able to go now that work ends at 7:30p. The only issue I can see is getting back home... I'm pretty sure the subway will stop running before the concert's over, and it's already an hour and a half-ish subway ride into Seoul from where I am. Problem. If I catch a cab, it'll probably take a while too... and it'll be expensive. Considering that I've been getting to work at 11:30a every day, little sleep will be had.
Tonight is galbi night; every Tuesday night, everyone at work goes out for galbi. I don't think I'll have time to grab my camera today, but every Tuesday night is galbi night... so I'll be able to take pictures later. The crew mostly consists of Elementary School teachers, who leave the office an hour before Middle School teachers. But now that there are two foreign Middle School teachers, myself included, they might wait up. They might not. I'm not sure. I hope they do, though; our schedules are different to the point that I haven't had as much of an opportunity to get to know them, while Tom usually stays at school until Joel gets out. But yeah- I'm very excited about the prospect of more galbi.
Classes yesterday went pretty well. I taught my most advanced class yesterday- they're an advanced-level speaking class, and it's really amazing how good they are. They're a bit disruptive at times, but they participate to the point that I don't mind so much. I really would rather they come to class with a bit of extra energy and misuse some of it than having a classroom full of zombie students. But I will go Chicago Ted on them if need be.
Anxious to get my ARC- once I get that, I can open a bank account and exchange my traveler's checks. Pro Tip: Don't just bring traveler's checks, you'll pretty much be forced to exchange them at the airport; this'll land you a worse rate on your exchange. I've been able to use my American debit card just fine at the GS25 ATM with no fee on my end. Regardless, I really want a bank account here. It'll make me feel more at home, more at ease. I'll also be able to get a cell phone, meaning I can keep in touch with my co-workers and new people I meet. This'll be especially valuable during my vacation at the end of this week / start of next week. I don't want to be holed up at home or at Ghost for the entirety of it, though I might go subway hopping if I get my T-Money card. Lastly, though, I'll have internets at home- I'm like a superhero that draws his powers from internet connectivity. I can really do most anything and solve most any problem as long I have a good bitstream going. Plus, I'll feel a bit more comfortable at home and can hopefully start working on a few tracks with greater confidence; the internet is a great resource to have at your fingertips when you're making music.
I hope everything is going well at home. I've heard reports of Wheat Ridge tornadoes and other madness since I've left, which was just a bit over a week ago, so I really hope my presence wasn't keeping the Hellmouth from opening under Denver. Hah.
Be well,
-토맛
So on Sunday I managed to find my way to a bowling alley. It was a long walk, about 30 minutes I'd guess, but it was totally worth it. Upon arrival, I decided that I wanted to buy my own ball. Korea is an incredibly competitive country (if you lot haven't already noticed, what with the professional Starcraft games and all), so I figured that I'd get a bit of my own equipment so I can at least try to reach that level. When in Korea... anyway. So the cheapest ball was 130,000 Won, so a bit over $100 USD. I didn't have that on me in cash, so I made the mistake of asking if they accepted American credit cards (because some larger establishments like Lotte Mart do). Well, the guy behind the counter told me 'no, this is Korea'. Maybe a little rude, but fair enough, right? I'd imagine the question in itself is maybe a little insulting. But I bowled three games with a few house balls; their house ball selection is insane. They had a Storm (nigh legendary hook ball) sitting on their house ball rack. If the finger holes were a bit bigger, I could've rocked that.. but I went for the Hammer instead. Still a good ball. I didn't have a glove, so I didn't bowl as well as I could've, though I was pretty into it by the third game. I went to buy a beverage from a vending machine and saw that they had Mountain Dew; the label said something about SAME GREAT AMERICAN TASTE and I realized something- as much as I rag on America and Denver in particular, I do love it. It's my home. Everything I love now, I discovered there. But I love it here, too. So it really comes down to this... don't hate where you are, and don't hate where you're from. Easier said than done, but coming here has already given me a bit of perspective... which is one of the things I'm looking for.
Either way, I was pretty proud of the fact that I managed to track down a bowling alley and get there- and now I have bus directions there from work and home, so I can go just about whenever I want. It'll be easy- the bowling alley has an oversized bowling pin out front on the street for easy identification. Pictures soon, I swear it. ;) The bowling alley sells balls and shoes but not gloves, so I have to find this place called N.B. Bowling- it's a bowling supply store in Yeonsu. I'll find it, worry not.
Yesterday I went to Lotte Mart with Tom and Joel after work. Lotte Mart has a KFC inside, kind of like Wal-Mart has McDonald's or Subway. Feeling a little adventurous and maybe a little crazy, I decided to order the TOWER BURGER. It was either that or the Shrimp Zinger Burger, but a coin toss decided on the TOWER BURGER. The thing's enormous, as you'd probably imagine. It's a chunk of fried chicken topped with a hash brown with some sauce on a bun. Okay, maybe it sounds gross, but get your ass over here and try one. It's pretty amazing.
Apartment is smelling a bit funny because the clothes I've hung out to dry are... still drying. I soaked everything when I tried to wash it- I guess I chose the setting that gives me five times the water I needed. Oops. So I went down to the GS25 convenience store and looked around at their selection of air fresheners. I knew the one I wanted when I saw it- it's called the Big Egg. Funny thing is, my dad would always ask my mom to make him a 'big egg', which is essentially a... well... fried egg. Or is it scrambled? Bah, I don't know. But it's funny nonetheless. The clerk there was the same guy I saw yesterday when I picked up my daily Doubleshot- he'd given me a point card and, upon recognizing me, asked me to present it. I guess I can go online and get some sort of crazy rewards with it? I don't know. But it's kind of neat that people recognize me and are being super helpful as a result.
Speaking of which! I also went to Lotte Mart on Sunday and bought a cushion for my bed because it's unnaturally hard, which has made sleeping chore-like. It set me back quite a bit, but that's okay. What was really nice is that the woman in the formalwear section (surprise, surprise) recognized me. I told her that I was looking for bedding in the most broken, basic Korean imaginable and she actually escorted me down the escalator and across the bottom floor to the bedding area. She left her post and walked across the whole store to help me get where I was going. Super nice! The only issue is that I'm having trouble getting out of bed now... it's much more comfortable than it was.
Oh, Placebo- they're playing not this coming Wednesday, but the next. I'm hoping to have my T-Money card for the subway all squared away by then so I can get to Olympic Hall in Seoul to see them after work that day. I'd assumed that this would be an impossibility because I was under the impression that I was working until 11:30p every day, but it looks like I'll actually be able to go now that work ends at 7:30p. The only issue I can see is getting back home... I'm pretty sure the subway will stop running before the concert's over, and it's already an hour and a half-ish subway ride into Seoul from where I am. Problem. If I catch a cab, it'll probably take a while too... and it'll be expensive. Considering that I've been getting to work at 11:30a every day, little sleep will be had.
Tonight is galbi night; every Tuesday night, everyone at work goes out for galbi. I don't think I'll have time to grab my camera today, but every Tuesday night is galbi night... so I'll be able to take pictures later. The crew mostly consists of Elementary School teachers, who leave the office an hour before Middle School teachers. But now that there are two foreign Middle School teachers, myself included, they might wait up. They might not. I'm not sure. I hope they do, though; our schedules are different to the point that I haven't had as much of an opportunity to get to know them, while Tom usually stays at school until Joel gets out. But yeah- I'm very excited about the prospect of more galbi.
Classes yesterday went pretty well. I taught my most advanced class yesterday- they're an advanced-level speaking class, and it's really amazing how good they are. They're a bit disruptive at times, but they participate to the point that I don't mind so much. I really would rather they come to class with a bit of extra energy and misuse some of it than having a classroom full of zombie students. But I will go Chicago Ted on them if need be.
Anxious to get my ARC- once I get that, I can open a bank account and exchange my traveler's checks. Pro Tip: Don't just bring traveler's checks, you'll pretty much be forced to exchange them at the airport; this'll land you a worse rate on your exchange. I've been able to use my American debit card just fine at the GS25 ATM with no fee on my end. Regardless, I really want a bank account here. It'll make me feel more at home, more at ease. I'll also be able to get a cell phone, meaning I can keep in touch with my co-workers and new people I meet. This'll be especially valuable during my vacation at the end of this week / start of next week. I don't want to be holed up at home or at Ghost for the entirety of it, though I might go subway hopping if I get my T-Money card. Lastly, though, I'll have internets at home- I'm like a superhero that draws his powers from internet connectivity. I can really do most anything and solve most any problem as long I have a good bitstream going. Plus, I'll feel a bit more comfortable at home and can hopefully start working on a few tracks with greater confidence; the internet is a great resource to have at your fingertips when you're making music.
I hope everything is going well at home. I've heard reports of Wheat Ridge tornadoes and other madness since I've left, which was just a bit over a week ago, so I really hope my presence wasn't keeping the Hellmouth from opening under Denver. Hah.
Be well,
-토맛
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