So I left Seoul last June and spent 3 wonderful months home - road tripping with my pals and spending quality time with my family and friends. At the end of August, I decided to come back to Korea but not to the hectic and polluted Seoul metropolis; instead, I chose to come to Jeju island.
I was amazed to realize how much I had missed Korean culture, food, customs and the like. Given, there are things I still disagree with but overall, i'm a big fan of Korean culture.
That being said, my new blog about my life in Jeju is: www.quebecjeju.blogspot.com
Cheers!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Spectacular Ilsan
Seoul is an amazing city. I've always said so - it is efficient, the architecture (especially skyscapers) are impressive and it's a place where overconsumption coexists with beautiful parks and breathtaking Bukhan moutain.
Although air pollution is a serious problem here (not as bad as in India or China but still...), Koreans are environmentally-friendly on a daily basis. There are numerous examples:
- Apartment buildings have recycling bins and COMPOST bins!
- Starbucks gives you back 10 cents if you recycle your cup (it's automatic too!)
- When you order at Starbucks, they give you a plastic thing that you bring with you to your table. When your order is ready, it buzzes, vibrates and lights are flashing
- Street food is an interesting industry; it's everywhere at night time and quite cheap to buy and to run. Everything is in their pick-up truck and they just set a big tent for people to sit, eat and drink.
- McDonald's have a recycling system as well
- "Umbrella cover": that's so smart! You know when it's raining and people walk in shops or restaurants with water dripping all over the place and making the floor both slippery and dangerous? Well the solution is simple: an "umbrella-cover" dispenser! You slip it in that long and thin plastic bag that fits your umbrella, just as shown by my good friend Woo Kyung ^^
And toilets are WELL-THOUGHT! :
- The courtesy bell....... people have a tendency to flush the toilet when they're going for number two and that is just a waste of water. So the courtesy bell is a button you press that makes the sound of a flushing toilet!
- Toilet paper always goes in the garbage, not the toilet- Auto toilets are public bathrooms; you pay 10 cents and get full service including a welcome message, classical music, and it's very very clean. I recall those in France... they'd sometimes cost a buck and be some sort of junkie paradise.
Last night as I paid a visit to Kyungah in Ilsan, a town outside Seoul, we got to see a kind of outdoor and live Korean-made Disney show at the local Lake Park. The place was filled with people and little kids running around!
It's basicallya lights and water show out of a huge water fountain. It's quite spectacular because the show revolves around music themes and whenever the musical tension would build up, the gush would go higher.
We ended up going the the game room and I kicked her ass at a car race game ^^ Then we went for delicious ice cream, sitting on swings!
Outside there were beautiful lights that looked just like Christmas time!
I thought it's funny that even Korean mascots are thin as hell! Look at those legs hehe
Although air pollution is a serious problem here (not as bad as in India or China but still...), Koreans are environmentally-friendly on a daily basis. There are numerous examples:
- Apartment buildings have recycling bins and COMPOST bins!
- Starbucks gives you back 10 cents if you recycle your cup (it's automatic too!)
- When you order at Starbucks, they give you a plastic thing that you bring with you to your table. When your order is ready, it buzzes, vibrates and lights are flashing
- Street food is an interesting industry; it's everywhere at night time and quite cheap to buy and to run. Everything is in their pick-up truck and they just set a big tent for people to sit, eat and drink.
- McDonald's have a recycling system as well
- "Umbrella cover": that's so smart! You know when it's raining and people walk in shops or restaurants with water dripping all over the place and making the floor both slippery and dangerous? Well the solution is simple: an "umbrella-cover" dispenser! You slip it in that long and thin plastic bag that fits your umbrella, just as shown by my good friend Woo Kyung ^^
And toilets are WELL-THOUGHT! :
- The courtesy bell....... people have a tendency to flush the toilet when they're going for number two and that is just a waste of water. So the courtesy bell is a button you press that makes the sound of a flushing toilet!
- Toilet paper always goes in the garbage, not the toilet- Auto toilets are public bathrooms; you pay 10 cents and get full service including a welcome message, classical music, and it's very very clean. I recall those in France... they'd sometimes cost a buck and be some sort of junkie paradise.
Last night as I paid a visit to Kyungah in Ilsan, a town outside Seoul, we got to see a kind of outdoor and live Korean-made Disney show at the local Lake Park. The place was filled with people and little kids running around! It's basicallya lights and water show out of a huge water fountain. It's quite spectacular because the show revolves around music themes and whenever the musical tension would build up, the gush would go higher. We ended up going the the game room and I kicked her ass at a car race game ^^ Then we went for delicious ice cream, sitting on swings!Outside there were beautiful lights that looked just like Christmas time! I thought it's funny that even Korean mascots are thin as hell! Look at those legs hehe
Monday, May 21, 2007
Roof fiesta!
Quick memo: I don't check this site's emails too often so pardon the delays!
So. Like Sarah said, "I'm so excited I could crap in my pants. Seriously."
Roof party turned out to be quite nice with friends, beer, pizza and a really nice view of Seoul. I especially enjoyed Pam grooving to Beck's "Debra" like there was no tomorrow!
So. Like Sarah said, "I'm so excited I could crap in my pants. Seriously."
Roof party turned out to be quite nice with friends, beer, pizza and a really nice view of Seoul. I especially enjoyed Pam grooving to Beck's "Debra" like there was no tomorrow!
Yuni (poor thing, for a while she was the only Korea speaking person there and she tried so hard to speak English!), Ben and me
Yuni kept screaming every time I went up that ladder and Twyla mentionned something about CPR...
Isn't that a nice roof? It's all set up for people to enjoy but they keep it locked, unless you bribe them 50 bucks and promise not to tell anyone... aaaah, corruption!
Sunset view from ma roof in Seoul! I ain't forgetting that one.
Erika and me and a beautiful sky.
Sunny and Ben. Yuni was in heaven to finally be able to speak Korean.
Vanessa got Twy "THE key!" I told her not to pose...
Pam and Erika.
Katherine, Yuni, Erika, Rachelle and Ben
Of course we ended up at Tinpan and I had a wonderful time with Katherine, Erika and Lourdes. I met really cool people and had a lot of fun until... 7 or 8am? I can't remember but the sun was up. All I know is that I woke up the next day at 5pm!
There were post-its all over my apartment begging me to come back to Korea next year. It totally made me smile.
I headed to the sauna just to relax and at least get out of the house. I love saunas. I even enjoyed the "massage chairs" - basically plastic balls hitting your back but I like to think it helps blood circulation...? ^^
As most of you already know, I lost my cell phone grrr not sure if it was in the cab or at the bar? My battery was dead so it's no use calling it. My 400$ Motorola Razr. Fortunately there's a silver lining: my addiction is over! I feel free. It's nice not to feel metal vibrating against my hip whenever someone feels like talking to me. And text messaging? Seriously? Now I must overcome my computer addiction... a hard one.
Today was a great one at work and it was hilarious to see all the teachers/staff walking as if they had been in a car accident or something... They met on Sunday to play kick ball... it's easy to see who works out hehe
Tomorrow morning i'm packing. I so don't want to leave so soon. Today again one of the guys at the organic food store chased me - this time, to give me free grapes. The "hello girlfriend!!" always brighten up my day... what will I do now?
I'm going home in 10 days and it's brutal! I still haven't figured out my plans for the summer, or even after, but i'm thinking 6 months of volunteering should be enough? I really think I need the reality-check, but I know i'll come back to Korea.
It's far, ajummas do cut in line and grab my butt, people are always in a rush, I do get stared at a lot, there is too much pollution and most men really are control freaks but... I love it here. The food is delicious, people are nice, I love the culture, the history, I want to learn the language, the kids are adorable, the city is so efficient...
Thursday and Friday are off so we're going to Deokjeokdo, the nice island close to Seoul. As for the week-end, I should visit the demilitarized zone and finish packing. My housewives are taking me out for lunch next week, it should be interesting.
I'm not ready for the 20 hour flight. I never am.
Once again, here are my lovely ABC students. Seriously. I love them more than chocolate.
Friday, May 18, 2007
17-year-old girl stoned to death
We, Occidentals, enjoy passionate affairs and complicated love stories. Things such as cheating, getting divorced, dressing provocatively or even having orgies are just part of everyday life. Moreover, there is little racial/religious barrier when it comes to marriage. We are basically free.
Tonight as I was working out at the gym, I almost fell off the threadmill when I saw on BBC News this 17-year-old Kurdish girl being kicked and stoned to death in Iraq. It ends when a man smashes her head with a stone and blood spills all over the ground. Some guy has filmed the whole thing on his cell phone. Ironically Rhianna's "SOS" was on my ipod...
The girl was accused of have a realtionship with a boy "from the wrong religion". Reports from Iraq said a local security force witnessed the incident, but did nothing to try to stop it. Now her boyfriend is in hiding in fear for his life.
The girl, Du’a Khalil Aswad, was condemned to death as an “honour killing” by other men in her family and hardline religious leaders because of her relationship with the Sunni Muslim boy.
Miss Aswad had taken shelter in the house of a Yezidi tribal leader in Bashika, a predominantly Kurdish town near the northern capital, Mosul.
A large crowd watched as eight or nine men stormed the house and dragged Miss Aswad into the street. There they hurled stones at her for half an hour until she was dead.
The stoning happened last month, but only came to light yesterday with the release of the Internet video.
It is feared her death has already triggered a retaliatory attack. Last week 23 Yezidi workmen were forced off a bus travelling from Mosulto Bashika by a group of Sunni gunmen and summarily shot dead.
An Amnesty International spokesman in London said they receive frequent reports of honour crimes from Iraq – particularly in the predominantly Kurdish north.
Most victims are women and girls who are considered by male relatives to have shamed their families by immoral behaviour.
Kurdish authorities have introduced reforms outlawing honour killings, but have failed to investigate them or prosecute suspects, added the Amnesty spokesman.
Kate Allen, the organisation’s UK director, said: “This young girl’s murder is truly abhorrent and her killers must be brought to justice.
“Unless the authorities respond vigorously to this and any other reports of crimes in the name of ‘honour’, we must fear for the future of women in Iraq.”
(source )
There's of course a video and I must warn you that it is REALLY disturbing. It totally freaked me out. Sometimes I can understand how people might turn to crime after a shitty life, but this is BEYOND understanding. It's sick. Barbarian. NOTHING could ever justify anything like that.
They think she committed a sin? She was in love! They're the ones who'll be burning in hell.
God bless her soul. And all the other ones.
It's too horrible to even post this here. It's on a fellow's blog though and seriously... it's really harsh. http://ballyblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/warning-uncensored-video-iraqis-stone-girl-to-death-over-loving-wrong-boy/
Tonight as I was working out at the gym, I almost fell off the threadmill when I saw on BBC News this 17-year-old Kurdish girl being kicked and stoned to death in Iraq. It ends when a man smashes her head with a stone and blood spills all over the ground. Some guy has filmed the whole thing on his cell phone. Ironically Rhianna's "SOS" was on my ipod...
The girl was accused of have a realtionship with a boy "from the wrong religion". Reports from Iraq said a local security force witnessed the incident, but did nothing to try to stop it. Now her boyfriend is in hiding in fear for his life.
The girl, Du’a Khalil Aswad, was condemned to death as an “honour killing” by other men in her family and hardline religious leaders because of her relationship with the Sunni Muslim boy.
Miss Aswad had taken shelter in the house of a Yezidi tribal leader in Bashika, a predominantly Kurdish town near the northern capital, Mosul.
A large crowd watched as eight or nine men stormed the house and dragged Miss Aswad into the street. There they hurled stones at her for half an hour until she was dead.
The stoning happened last month, but only came to light yesterday with the release of the Internet video.
It is feared her death has already triggered a retaliatory attack. Last week 23 Yezidi workmen were forced off a bus travelling from Mosulto Bashika by a group of Sunni gunmen and summarily shot dead.
An Amnesty International spokesman in London said they receive frequent reports of honour crimes from Iraq – particularly in the predominantly Kurdish north.
Most victims are women and girls who are considered by male relatives to have shamed their families by immoral behaviour.
Kurdish authorities have introduced reforms outlawing honour killings, but have failed to investigate them or prosecute suspects, added the Amnesty spokesman.
Kate Allen, the organisation’s UK director, said: “This young girl’s murder is truly abhorrent and her killers must be brought to justice.
“Unless the authorities respond vigorously to this and any other reports of crimes in the name of ‘honour’, we must fear for the future of women in Iraq.”
(source )
There's of course a video and I must warn you that it is REALLY disturbing. It totally freaked me out. Sometimes I can understand how people might turn to crime after a shitty life, but this is BEYOND understanding. It's sick. Barbarian. NOTHING could ever justify anything like that.
They think she committed a sin? She was in love! They're the ones who'll be burning in hell.
God bless her soul. And all the other ones.
It's too horrible to even post this here. It's on a fellow's blog though and seriously... it's really harsh. http://ballyblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/warning-uncensored-video-iraqis-stone-girl-to-death-over-loving-wrong-boy/
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Fun for me
Tuesday was Teachers Day ! Yes my friends, being a teacher is celebrated in Korea! And believe me… I got spoiled with flowers, chocolate, tea, pencil case, agenda, Korean traditional fan, stickers, a pin and free tickets to the movies! Yeeeeeeah!
On Monday I met a friend for dinner in Gwanghwamun and we ended up having too many drinks and celebrating along Chonggyecheong – this beautiful stream downtown Seoul. I love that place so much. Went to bed at 4am and I was very thankful that I only teach at 3pm on Tuesday/Thursday. Oh yeah. I peed in Chonggyecheong too.
Things are going well and I only have 15 days left in Korea. It’s heart-breaking. This Saturday I’m having a party on my roof – watch out! A 16th floor roof in Seoul, with trees and flowers, and my going away party = …. Uh, just watch out ;)
I joined Facebook and it’s amazing to see what old friends have become. But I'm getting tired of it pretty quickly...
Marc ordered me my first Ibook so I’m thrilled. Aurélie got me tickets for a cool concert in Quebec City (http://www.listentofeist.com).
Pete is planning our road trip en Gaspésie! Patrice invited me to Edmonton. Bella invited me to Madrid. Patrick invited me in France and Cédric/Paolo might visit me in Quebec. And I’m sooooooo looking forward to seeing old friends when I get back home (Rosane! Nono! Janvier! Kev! JF! JC, Bergeron, Emilie, AndreaneS ;), Vero, les Brodeur ?????????)
And my brother and sister, boy I just can’t wait to see you!! Je vais yéller!
I’m looking for volunteer opportunities in Latin America. Most of my stuff here is already sold. A dude bought my pink couch for his dog. I’m not judging hehe
Today I had a blast with my students! They are my big chunk of love; I adore them more than chocolate! We took many random pictures and I thought I’d share a few.
Eddy is as wide as a sheet of paper!! He floats in his clothes and he is soooo adorable and smart! Every class he yells "teacher!!!!!!!!!" and won't quit until I help him unzip his crappy bag.
Julie always begs for me to pick her up. She is totally in love with me and I love her too! Plus she's my top student with a 99.8% average!!
Class at work!
Still not sure what was with that... the kids were obsessed with the big "Freedom" written on its chest.
Sophia showed me the ultimate sign of adoration when she gave me a comb... she always gives me that cute look that's impossible to resist!!
Korean kids go insane when it comes to stickers! So they have a sticker sheet and I give them one every class if they complete their homework. Stickers are also used as bribes to keep them quiet, ensure class participation and prevent them from speaking Korean. They're also good rewards!
As you've probably noticed, Koreans are obsessed with Caucasians. My students particularly enjoy staring at me and discovering my body - especially my hands and face.
And my feet!!!
Amy is always spaced out. So is Paul, who blissfully smiles when I snap my fingers next to his ear. Today he spent 40 minutes SMELLING his peppero (chocolate stick). The other kids ate the thing in a second.
Harry took most of these pictures. He's Korea's next greatest artist. He is so smart. Average? 99.6%!
Cobi always looks at me with a big smile and whenever I say something, he says "Yes! I understand!" He's my first ABC student to ask "May I go to the bathroom" when the other kids still struggle with the word Apple.
Average? 99.5%!
I had to put the flowers between those two because Charlie kept accusing Brian of cheating. The kids always make fun of Brian and accuse him of every single thing. The flower idea was good cauz they both laughed and forgot about it.
Remember Chandler in Friends? "Kids! Roll your way to child obesity!"
That's basically what Paul does, but look at his ankles... he's so skinny! This kid is a rebel but totally in love so last week when he heard it was my birthday he got me a gift. But he tried not to make a big deal out of it....
He "rolled" up to me in the hallway and said "here teacher. happy birthday" It was a funny prank he had brought to class the day before and I had laughed so hard when I saw it. He remembered. aaaaw so cute!
Time for Pisa after the big final test! An all-boys class and they're just lovely!!
John is the most interesting kid i've ever met. I love him so much! He wears shoes twice his size and baggy pants because his mom just got divorced and she want to save on clothes. He is nice to everyone and always smiles.
I’m sick of work. Sick of 5 minutes break. Sick of some people. Sick of city life. Sick of pollution. Of traffic jam. Of people in a hurry. Of hang overs. Sick of negativity. Of not knowing. Sick of mind games. Of temptation. I love Korea so much that I hate it. Doesn’t make much sense but Annabella you understand, right?
Fortunately those guys at the organic store by my place always yell a nice “hi girlfriend!” every time I walk by. It’s endearing, really.
Life is a wonderful gift!
Except when they put this giant ad at the end of the alley... believe it or not, the bright light reaches my 15th floor and gently prevents me from sleeping...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mothers Day
Koreans don't really celebrate Mothers Day - they have Parents Day, which was last week actually.
Rumor has it that this day was originally Mothers Day, but fathers complained it was unfair and so it became Parents Day. It think it's clever to combine it all in one day. Back home we have two separate days - Mothers Day and Fathers Day.
I called home to wish my mom a happy day. Before hanging up my day said something quite hilarious to me: "tu es un superbe spermatozoide ma belle!" hahaha
Rumor has it that this day was originally Mothers Day, but fathers complained it was unfair and so it became Parents Day. It think it's clever to combine it all in one day. Back home we have two separate days - Mothers Day and Fathers Day.
I called home to wish my mom a happy day. Before hanging up my day said something quite hilarious to me: "tu es un superbe spermatozoide ma belle!" hahaha
Saturday, May 12, 2007
The time is now
Fortune tellers are an important part of Korean culture. So are Chinese astrology and the four pillars - the Hour, Day, Month and Year of one’s birth, which contain some sort of esoteric code and have a positive/negative energetic influence on one’s life.
From time to time, Korean women will have a C-Section in order for their baby to be born at the exact date and time that is supposed to generate a genius. A second later might prevent the newborn from being the next Sejong Wang!
One of my housewives students is having marital problems. When she first met her husband, the fortune teller said that, according to their birth dates, the chance of them getting divorced was 100%. But they were so in love!
So they lied to each other’s parents. She told her mom his birthday was in June. He told his mom her birthday was in September. Of course both moms went to a psychic and were told that, according to the birth dates, the relationship would last. So they gave their blessing.
It’s ten years later and she’s giving up her beauty and liveliness… just waiting for her daughter to be old enough to handle a divorce. In ten years she’ll be fifty. The fortune teller was right... OR was it just a coincidence?
If you like spooky stories, there are tons of them over here.
A little girl was really sick. Her mom was so worried that she went to a psychic. She was told there was a spell on her daughter. Actually, it was meant for the husband but something had gone wrong in the process and the little girl was “paying for it”.
The mom was desperate. She bought a very expensive piece of paper on which the psychic wrote some Chinese characters intended to break the spell. She still carries it in her wallet. She showed it to me. A month later her daughter was cured and never sick again.
The only problem I have with such a belief is actually the same I have with Calvin’s theory of predestination: so there are no accidents? No twist of fate? Everything’s already planned ahead and supposed to happen?
If so, what about free will? What’s the point of me living my life? Is this just a big show to entertain some sick almighty?
I look at all those pictures, think about all those memories, recall conflicting emotions and I can’t help but think that I’ve just been very fortunate. People are lucky. People are unlucky. They make things happen for themselves.
In the end, aren’t we the ones making the decisions? As I get older, the line between “blame it on society” and “take responsibility for yourself” gets blurry.
Anyway. No matter what, even if life is fucked up, the best you can do is keep trying. Like Moloko sing – the time is now.
From time to time, Korean women will have a C-Section in order for their baby to be born at the exact date and time that is supposed to generate a genius. A second later might prevent the newborn from being the next Sejong Wang!
One of my housewives students is having marital problems. When she first met her husband, the fortune teller said that, according to their birth dates, the chance of them getting divorced was 100%. But they were so in love!
So they lied to each other’s parents. She told her mom his birthday was in June. He told his mom her birthday was in September. Of course both moms went to a psychic and were told that, according to the birth dates, the relationship would last. So they gave their blessing.
It’s ten years later and she’s giving up her beauty and liveliness… just waiting for her daughter to be old enough to handle a divorce. In ten years she’ll be fifty. The fortune teller was right... OR was it just a coincidence?
If you like spooky stories, there are tons of them over here.
A little girl was really sick. Her mom was so worried that she went to a psychic. She was told there was a spell on her daughter. Actually, it was meant for the husband but something had gone wrong in the process and the little girl was “paying for it”.
The mom was desperate. She bought a very expensive piece of paper on which the psychic wrote some Chinese characters intended to break the spell. She still carries it in her wallet. She showed it to me. A month later her daughter was cured and never sick again.
The only problem I have with such a belief is actually the same I have with Calvin’s theory of predestination: so there are no accidents? No twist of fate? Everything’s already planned ahead and supposed to happen?
If so, what about free will? What’s the point of me living my life? Is this just a big show to entertain some sick almighty?
I look at all those pictures, think about all those memories, recall conflicting emotions and I can’t help but think that I’ve just been very fortunate. People are lucky. People are unlucky. They make things happen for themselves.
In the end, aren’t we the ones making the decisions? As I get older, the line between “blame it on society” and “take responsibility for yourself” gets blurry.
Anyway. No matter what, even if life is fucked up, the best you can do is keep trying. Like Moloko sing – the time is now.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Saeng-il chuka haeyo!
My dream come true: at work they got me a cake and the staff and teachers sang me happy birthday in Korean, French and English!! Yeeeeeah! ^^
Turning 24 could be depressing if I chose to see that I didn't do much for other beings this year... it wasn't exactly a selfless year.
On the other hand, I've had incredibly new and exciting experiences and I'm still a little shaken by them all. In Canada, China, Japan, Thailand, and especially in Korea!!!!
Last night the girls invited me to dinner at Skyview. Gosh i'm going to miss the view from that 41st floor and their delicious food! Twya and Kyungah made me a really cool picture frame with pictures of our year together!!
Unfortunately I am terribly sick, my tonsils hurt as hell and I've had nightmares and cold sweat last night so my actual birth day wasn't so cool. Nonetheless, my ABC students sang me happy birthday and I got beautiful flowers!
Turning 24 could be depressing if I chose to see that I didn't do much for other beings this year... it wasn't exactly a selfless year.
On the other hand, I've had incredibly new and exciting experiences and I'm still a little shaken by them all. In Canada, China, Japan, Thailand, and especially in Korea!!!!
Last night the girls invited me to dinner at Skyview. Gosh i'm going to miss the view from that 41st floor and their delicious food! Twya and Kyungah made me a really cool picture frame with pictures of our year together!!
Unfortunately I am terribly sick, my tonsils hurt as hell and I've had nightmares and cold sweat last night so my actual birth day wasn't so cool. Nonetheless, my ABC students sang me happy birthday and I got beautiful flowers!
Thanks for the emails and phone calls, y'all very sweet!
And watch out this week-end because it'll be my actual birthday party!! I'm thinking... the roof?
Last Saturday, as I was getting in the elevator to go out I heard sounds coming from the roof... i'm glad I live on the 15th floor: there was a party on the roof of my building!! Apparently they paid the security guard 50 000 won and it was done. I'll see if I can do the same... ^^
Friday, May 04, 2007
Cast away?
There u go. Thailand was amazing. What else could I possibly say? It's always amazing. Life is beautiful.
Sea kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, i got scared of the underworld down in the ocean. Innocent fish swimming right at me and I thought they'd eat me or something. At times, I'd never felt so lonely. I met locals and despised myself for being this metropolitan alien. The usual, you know.
Jumping off a fisherman's boat right in the middle of the ocean, on the other side of the world, 11 hours ahead of Quebec, was pretty cool.
Pollution hit me as soon as I got back to Seoul. So did the impatient Koreans who were pushing my back on the plane. I'm claustrophobic. Thank God I can control myself. Sometimes.
The tsunami pretty much devastated Ko Phi Phi - where I spent most of my time. People lost family members. As this one amazing woman named "nah" said referring to her husband, "him die. him die..."
I feel like i live in a big fat bubble. If I lived in those bamboo houses on the shore it wouldn't be fairer. I still can't figure out the meaning of life. That's all.
Cool video of the fire dude. He's been doing it for 3 months so be indulgent. Same for those drunk Thai women singing the Karaoke.
On vit comme on peut.
Sea kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, i got scared of the underworld down in the ocean. Innocent fish swimming right at me and I thought they'd eat me or something. At times, I'd never felt so lonely. I met locals and despised myself for being this metropolitan alien. The usual, you know.
Jumping off a fisherman's boat right in the middle of the ocean, on the other side of the world, 11 hours ahead of Quebec, was pretty cool.
Pollution hit me as soon as I got back to Seoul. So did the impatient Koreans who were pushing my back on the plane. I'm claustrophobic. Thank God I can control myself. Sometimes.
The tsunami pretty much devastated Ko Phi Phi - where I spent most of my time. People lost family members. As this one amazing woman named "nah" said referring to her husband, "him die. him die..."
I feel like i live in a big fat bubble. If I lived in those bamboo houses on the shore it wouldn't be fairer. I still can't figure out the meaning of life. That's all.Cool video of the fire dude. He's been doing it for 3 months so be indulgent. Same for those drunk Thai women singing the Karaoke.
On vit comme on peut.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Spring in Seoul
Have you ever had so many bills that your money doesn’t fit in your wallet? I actually have such a problem quite often in Korea…
See, the biggest bill you can get here is 10 000 won – which is like 10 dollars. So if you’ve got 300 bucks on you, it means there are 30 bills in your wallet.
That’s what it looked like before I emptied it to buy D&G super sunglasses! 50% off! Sion bought Prada’s and Twyla also got D&G. I love that you can do that here. We make good money, don’t pay rent, sweet deal.
So it’s the week-end and I’m really happy. Right now the flowers are blooming all over Korea and it’s phenomenal. Azaleas are especially beautiful.
Last night we went out to the “luxurious” noraebang (karaoke bar) in hongdae. Look at this!
The concept is very simple: you get a private room with your friends and sing, dance and scream as you like. It’s usually cheap, and this one was 18$/hour for the four of us. Sweet deal.
There was a street festival so the area was very lively. I actually think those artists are really good!
We ended up at Tinpan once again and I’m incredibly thankful that Twyla’s friend is still here because he is a GREAT dancer! We had a really good time and ended up going home at 8AM this morning.
Going to Thailand next week-end and I’m really really really excited! Life is pretty good, I’m really thankful.
Plus I got a basketball today. It so made my day! When you're single, doesn't take much to make you happy!
See, the biggest bill you can get here is 10 000 won – which is like 10 dollars. So if you’ve got 300 bucks on you, it means there are 30 bills in your wallet.
That’s what it looked like before I emptied it to buy D&G super sunglasses! 50% off! Sion bought Prada’s and Twyla also got D&G. I love that you can do that here. We make good money, don’t pay rent, sweet deal.
So it’s the week-end and I’m really happy. Right now the flowers are blooming all over Korea and it’s phenomenal. Azaleas are especially beautiful.
Last night we went out to the “luxurious” noraebang (karaoke bar) in hongdae. Look at this!The concept is very simple: you get a private room with your friends and sing, dance and scream as you like. It’s usually cheap, and this one was 18$/hour for the four of us. Sweet deal.There was a street festival so the area was very lively. I actually think those artists are really good!
We ended up at Tinpan once again and I’m incredibly thankful that Twyla’s friend is still here because he is a GREAT dancer! We had a really good time and ended up going home at 8AM this morning.
Going to Thailand next week-end and I’m really really really excited! Life is pretty good, I’m really thankful.
Plus I got a basketball today. It so made my day! When you're single, doesn't take much to make you happy!
Friday, April 13, 2007
My butt in Korea
Never have I been so aware of my butt.
Butt-grabbing in Korea is shameless, and a sign of curiosity. I’ve had my hair touched by total strangers on the street (given, you don’t find lots of blond curly hair in Asia), my skin patted and of course I’ve been stared at. But my butt??
On my very first day in Seoul I hopped on the bus and two ajummas (women over 50) slapped my tushi and just laughed their head off! It was like their “dare moment” of the day.
Today one of my housewives students literally put her hand on my butt as the other housewives giggled. She asked “is this sexual harassment if I do this?” Of course I smiled and so she did it again! How am I supposed to react?
I chose to think it’s funny. I know they're not gay r pervert; just curious.
I feel like an alien here, but in a good way. When I got to Korea, I was expecting to be on the other side of the wall. I thought I would experience racism.
As it turns out, it’s reversed racism. Like I said before, being a white girl in Korea is a ticket to heaven!
Yesterday at the gym I got my membership extended 3 weeks for n-o-t-h-i-n-g! On top of that I joined spinning class for only 20 bucks. It think it’s safe to say that I love Yuni :D
Reversed racism also includes the free food, incessant compliments and special treatment. It’s really nice. But sometimes it’s too much.
One of the guys at the organic fruit market by my place yells every time he sees me “hello girlfriend!” and then he turns to the costumers and says “MY girlfriend!” While it was cute the first time, it kinda gets tiring.
Moreover, white girls here are often seen as sexual objects that can fully fulfil men’s desire. Of course it’s not true, but how do you get rid of that image?
Tonight at the jimjilbang (sauna) Twyla and I were asked by a very bad-looking pathetic Korean man if we are Russian. Roughly translated it means "are you hookers?"
Russian women come here as prostitutes because the money is good and Korean men are horny for white chicks. It's one of the biggest insult when you get asked that.
I understand the curiosity of that little Korean girl staring at me because she probably never sees a 5"11 naked white girl. It's just curiosity. Ajummas grabbing my tushi is understandable too. I chose to laugh, but of course I could be mad and insulted.
It's all about the attitude.
But you don't see me slapping the butt of Chinese women back home!!!
Butt-grabbing in Korea is shameless, and a sign of curiosity. I’ve had my hair touched by total strangers on the street (given, you don’t find lots of blond curly hair in Asia), my skin patted and of course I’ve been stared at. But my butt??
On my very first day in Seoul I hopped on the bus and two ajummas (women over 50) slapped my tushi and just laughed their head off! It was like their “dare moment” of the day.
Today one of my housewives students literally put her hand on my butt as the other housewives giggled. She asked “is this sexual harassment if I do this?” Of course I smiled and so she did it again! How am I supposed to react?
I chose to think it’s funny. I know they're not gay r pervert; just curious.
I feel like an alien here, but in a good way. When I got to Korea, I was expecting to be on the other side of the wall. I thought I would experience racism.
As it turns out, it’s reversed racism. Like I said before, being a white girl in Korea is a ticket to heaven!
Yesterday at the gym I got my membership extended 3 weeks for n-o-t-h-i-n-g! On top of that I joined spinning class for only 20 bucks. It think it’s safe to say that I love Yuni :D
Reversed racism also includes the free food, incessant compliments and special treatment. It’s really nice. But sometimes it’s too much.
One of the guys at the organic fruit market by my place yells every time he sees me “hello girlfriend!” and then he turns to the costumers and says “MY girlfriend!” While it was cute the first time, it kinda gets tiring.
Moreover, white girls here are often seen as sexual objects that can fully fulfil men’s desire. Of course it’s not true, but how do you get rid of that image?
Tonight at the jimjilbang (sauna) Twyla and I were asked by a very bad-looking pathetic Korean man if we are Russian. Roughly translated it means "are you hookers?"
Russian women come here as prostitutes because the money is good and Korean men are horny for white chicks. It's one of the biggest insult when you get asked that.
I understand the curiosity of that little Korean girl staring at me because she probably never sees a 5"11 naked white girl. It's just curiosity. Ajummas grabbing my tushi is understandable too. I chose to laugh, but of course I could be mad and insulted.
It's all about the attitude.
But you don't see me slapping the butt of Chinese women back home!!!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Forced to be gay
I love those morning classes with Korean housewives. We just have some tea and discuss whatever topic comes up. They are adorable, funny and very sweet (when they don’t scare new students away)! Plus, they teach me a lot about Korean culture.
Like this morning. Sue told us this story about a woman who was worried that her son never married. One day, she found out he was gay. Apparently, his boss had “forced” him to become gay.
This story came up after Stella showed up with a baseball cap on (meaning “bad hair day”), telling us that she HAD TO drink last night. She’s a freelance translator for LG and the Chinese clients she’ll be translating for this Friday invited her out for dinner.
In Korea, you can’t say no to that. You can’t refuse a work-related invitation; otherwise it’s seen as rude and could be really bad for business.
But not only do you HAVE TO show up for dinner. You CANNOT refuse a drink. And God knows how wasted those businessmen can get. So you basically drink the whole night long and end up being totally drunk.
Some people have this trick where they hide a bucket under the table and empty their glass when no one’s looking. Stella couldn’t find one I guess…
So anyway, they told me how Korean bosses basically own you and you pretty much have to do whatever they ask you to do. Thus Sue’s story about the gay dude.
I thought it was quite funny because where I come from, you’re born gay; you don’t “become” gay. Maybe in some developing countries people are forced to have sex with people from the same sex for money. But that’s not being gay; it’s sexual slavery!
I found out that Korean mentality towards homosexuality is very conservative. The housewives insisted that public opinion has improved a lot on the matter, but it still seems to be a hell of a ride to be gay in Korea.
Ironically, it’s a very touchy-feely society. Girls hold hands, touch each other and so do boys, who would especially look gay in a foreign country when they’re drunk and hug each other.
Moreover, people see naked bodies every time they go to the sauna. Back home, nakedness is a very private thing… except for nudists and strippers!
Like this morning. Sue told us this story about a woman who was worried that her son never married. One day, she found out he was gay. Apparently, his boss had “forced” him to become gay.
This story came up after Stella showed up with a baseball cap on (meaning “bad hair day”), telling us that she HAD TO drink last night. She’s a freelance translator for LG and the Chinese clients she’ll be translating for this Friday invited her out for dinner.
In Korea, you can’t say no to that. You can’t refuse a work-related invitation; otherwise it’s seen as rude and could be really bad for business.
But not only do you HAVE TO show up for dinner. You CANNOT refuse a drink. And God knows how wasted those businessmen can get. So you basically drink the whole night long and end up being totally drunk.
Some people have this trick where they hide a bucket under the table and empty their glass when no one’s looking. Stella couldn’t find one I guess…
So anyway, they told me how Korean bosses basically own you and you pretty much have to do whatever they ask you to do. Thus Sue’s story about the gay dude.
I thought it was quite funny because where I come from, you’re born gay; you don’t “become” gay. Maybe in some developing countries people are forced to have sex with people from the same sex for money. But that’s not being gay; it’s sexual slavery!
I found out that Korean mentality towards homosexuality is very conservative. The housewives insisted that public opinion has improved a lot on the matter, but it still seems to be a hell of a ride to be gay in Korea.
Ironically, it’s a very touchy-feely society. Girls hold hands, touch each other and so do boys, who would especially look gay in a foreign country when they’re drunk and hug each other.
Moreover, people see naked bodies every time they go to the sauna. Back home, nakedness is a very private thing… except for nudists and strippers!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Too young to be old... and North Korea
Ain’t got no idea how my friend got up this morning. She’s visiting the DMZ, I’m still dizzy. What a week-end!
Do we need to party so hard in order to have a good time? I’m too old for this now^^
Friday night we had a great time with Kyungah, Rachelle, Twyla and her friend Sion. Christine got us a table at Skyview (41st floor!) for dinner after work. The food was good, great wine, great atmosphere. Except maybe when the opera singer kicked in.
Everyone was tired so we called it a night, right after some delicious ice cream at Cold Stone – where Rachelle totally danced the whole time. It was hilarious!
Saturday we met with Erika, Sion, the hairdressers, Erin and her boyfriend for dinner in Itaewon. Right behind KFC there’s a small alley that goes up. Then turn left, walk to the end and go up the hill. There’s a French restaurant called “Mignon”. Exquisite!
After that we headed to a cool nearby bar called “Bungalow”. You basically sit in swings and the floor is covered with sand. Nothing better than enjoying your cocktail with your feet in the sand! Plus the waitresses have that "exotic" thing going! And there's a hottub on the roof!
As if this wasn’t enough, we ended up in a gay bar. As you probably guessed, the gay society in Seoul is very low-key and/so there are about 2 gay bars in Itaewon. Where are they located? Right on hooker’s hill! Apparently it’s another form of sexual deviance hehe
Back in Montreal my gay friends would take me out dancing. I just love gay bars! Men there know how to dance and it’s such a fun atmosphere! So I was glad to feel that energy, as opposed to everyone drinking their head out at straight bars.
Unsurprisingly, there were more foreigners there than Koreans. Sion made me dance the whole night long and it was phenomenal! I hadn’t had such a great dance partner in a really long time!
We left when the bar closed, and we got home around 6am. We tried staying up until the sunrise in order to catch a ferry to Deokjeokdo, but we totally passed out.
Woke up in the afternoon, had some McCrappy and spent the afternoon by the Han River. I’m lucky it’s close to my place. And it felt nice to just chill out a little.
I showed Sion and Annabella the Korean convenience stores – go to a 7/11, get your beer bottle and sit outside at a picnic table. Much cheaper than going to the bar. We tried some dry octopus and it was disgusting!
Then we tested our strength with the punching and kicking games. Quite fun.
Also found ourselves on the scene of an accident - this motorbike had crashed into this green bicycle... wasn't me!
Finally I took them to the sauna. First experience for them both – totally naked with strangers. Of course men are on one side, girls on the other. We got massaged. The usual way – spanking, hitting, rubbing, I was in pain. The ajumma yelled “Shower! Shower!” and then I came back for the scrubbing. Ouch mama!
Thank God I don’t usually drink this much. I can’t believe tomorrow is already Tuesday!
Here's a quick peek of the DMZ... thanks Bella!
Do we need to party so hard in order to have a good time? I’m too old for this now^^
Friday night we had a great time with Kyungah, Rachelle, Twyla and her friend Sion. Christine got us a table at Skyview (41st floor!) for dinner after work. The food was good, great wine, great atmosphere. Except maybe when the opera singer kicked in.
Everyone was tired so we called it a night, right after some delicious ice cream at Cold Stone – where Rachelle totally danced the whole time. It was hilarious!
Saturday we met with Erika, Sion, the hairdressers, Erin and her boyfriend for dinner in Itaewon. Right behind KFC there’s a small alley that goes up. Then turn left, walk to the end and go up the hill. There’s a French restaurant called “Mignon”. Exquisite!
After that we headed to a cool nearby bar called “Bungalow”. You basically sit in swings and the floor is covered with sand. Nothing better than enjoying your cocktail with your feet in the sand! Plus the waitresses have that "exotic" thing going! And there's a hottub on the roof!
As if this wasn’t enough, we ended up in a gay bar. As you probably guessed, the gay society in Seoul is very low-key and/so there are about 2 gay bars in Itaewon. Where are they located? Right on hooker’s hill! Apparently it’s another form of sexual deviance hehe
Back in Montreal my gay friends would take me out dancing. I just love gay bars! Men there know how to dance and it’s such a fun atmosphere! So I was glad to feel that energy, as opposed to everyone drinking their head out at straight bars.
Unsurprisingly, there were more foreigners there than Koreans. Sion made me dance the whole night long and it was phenomenal! I hadn’t had such a great dance partner in a really long time!
We left when the bar closed, and we got home around 6am. We tried staying up until the sunrise in order to catch a ferry to Deokjeokdo, but we totally passed out.
Woke up in the afternoon, had some McCrappy and spent the afternoon by the Han River. I’m lucky it’s close to my place. And it felt nice to just chill out a little.
I showed Sion and Annabella the Korean convenience stores – go to a 7/11, get your beer bottle and sit outside at a picnic table. Much cheaper than going to the bar. We tried some dry octopus and it was disgusting!
Then we tested our strength with the punching and kicking games. Quite fun.
Also found ourselves on the scene of an accident - this motorbike had crashed into this green bicycle... wasn't me! Finally I took them to the sauna. First experience for them both – totally naked with strangers. Of course men are on one side, girls on the other. We got massaged. The usual way – spanking, hitting, rubbing, I was in pain. The ajumma yelled “Shower! Shower!” and then I came back for the scrubbing. Ouch mama!Thank God I don’t usually drink this much. I can’t believe tomorrow is already Tuesday!
Here's a quick peek of the DMZ... thanks Bella!
Friday, April 06, 2007
Food, stream, spaceship and ABC
First of all I must say that I LOVE my students! Especially the little kids. They are ADORABLE!
Second of all, Seoul is a great city! Last night I took my friend to Chonggyechon, this nice man-made stream downtown Seoul. There, we had Samgyeopsal (fat pork) and a few shots of soju.
Then we headed to the stream, it’s really nice at night with all the lights.
A Korean dude joined us. He’s studying cardiology in Germany and we ended up having a fun night.
You know how you always have to pay for public bathrooms in Paris? And usually they’re dirty and the meeting point of drug addicts?
Well public bathrooms are free in Korea. But there’s one in Gwanghwamun that costs 50 cents I think.
Oh my! It’s like you’re entering a spaceship! In the middle of the sidewalk. It’s the cleanest place on earth, with a lady talking to you in several languages, some classical music coming out of the speakers and a self-cleaning "bidet". Wow!
I’m sad I’ve got to work and so much grading to do, but at least I spend some tome with Annabella and she’s seen quite a lot of things so far. She said she knows Seoul pretty well. It’s fun to look at her pictures and hear the “tourist” stories. Reminds me of my first weeks in Korea. That is, without the throat infection of course ;)
Second of all, Seoul is a great city! Last night I took my friend to Chonggyechon, this nice man-made stream downtown Seoul. There, we had Samgyeopsal (fat pork) and a few shots of soju.
Then we headed to the stream, it’s really nice at night with all the lights. A Korean dude joined us. He’s studying cardiology in Germany and we ended up having a fun night.You know how you always have to pay for public bathrooms in Paris? And usually they’re dirty and the meeting point of drug addicts?
Well public bathrooms are free in Korea. But there’s one in Gwanghwamun that costs 50 cents I think.
Oh my! It’s like you’re entering a spaceship! In the middle of the sidewalk. It’s the cleanest place on earth, with a lady talking to you in several languages, some classical music coming out of the speakers and a self-cleaning "bidet". Wow!
I’m sad I’ve got to work and so much grading to do, but at least I spend some tome with Annabella and she’s seen quite a lot of things so far. She said she knows Seoul pretty well. It’s fun to look at her pictures and hear the “tourist” stories. Reminds me of my first weeks in Korea. That is, without the throat infection of course ;)
Here's a few of my ABC students. They can be little monsters but don't they look adorable?!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
French it!
It’s usually when you have friends come over that you realize how much you love the place you live in because you suddenly become very aware of everything/everyone! Korea is a fantastic culture! And a freakish one too...
Annabella brought saucisson and cheese directly from Spain so I bought wine and we had a “French” night yesterday. It totally feels awesome to speak French.
On the other hand, we only slept 3 hours and it was quite hilarious in my housewives class this morning – our discussion topic was pornography. This is going to be a long day.
Annabella brought saucisson and cheese directly from Spain so I bought wine and we had a “French” night yesterday. It totally feels awesome to speak French.
On the other hand, we only slept 3 hours and it was quite hilarious in my housewives class this morning – our discussion topic was pornography. This is going to be a long day.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
April 1st in Seoul
Wow. It totally feels like April’s fool! Except they don't really celebrate it in South Korea. Where does it come from anyway?
Annabella’s plane landed at 8am and I was still passed out in my apartment. Last night Erika and I got our hair done and then we decided to go out. Bad idea. I was tired and had so much stuff to do.
Anyway, we had shabu-shabu for dinner; a really cool Korea typical dish. They bring this broth to your table and you drop in vegetables and meat. When you’re done, you cook rice in there, with a raw egg. Delicious!
We ended up at this great Thai lounge in Hongdae - where we had shisha and way too many drinks. Among others, I got a “Chocolate kiss” and a few “Naked Canadians”. Erika’s ex-boyfriend showed up with some of his friends. It was really cool.
The end of the night was disastrous. Something to do with her ex. Thank God Twyla’s door was open even at 5am and we had a great talk.
I felt terrible for not being at the airport when Bella got here, but I hopped into a cab and we enjoyed a very expensive cab ride back to my place. We napped and then I showed her around Insadong. I bought a really cool tea set!
Having a friend here totally helps me realize I've been in Korea for over 10 months now. And yes, I LOVE Kimchi!! ^^
Annabella’s plane landed at 8am and I was still passed out in my apartment. Last night Erika and I got our hair done and then we decided to go out. Bad idea. I was tired and had so much stuff to do.
Anyway, we had shabu-shabu for dinner; a really cool Korea typical dish. They bring this broth to your table and you drop in vegetables and meat. When you’re done, you cook rice in there, with a raw egg. Delicious!
We ended up at this great Thai lounge in Hongdae - where we had shisha and way too many drinks. Among others, I got a “Chocolate kiss” and a few “Naked Canadians”. Erika’s ex-boyfriend showed up with some of his friends. It was really cool.
The end of the night was disastrous. Something to do with her ex. Thank God Twyla’s door was open even at 5am and we had a great talk.
I felt terrible for not being at the airport when Bella got here, but I hopped into a cab and we enjoyed a very expensive cab ride back to my place. We napped and then I showed her around Insadong. I bought a really cool tea set!
Having a friend here totally helps me realize I've been in Korea for over 10 months now. And yes, I LOVE Kimchi!! ^^
Friday, March 30, 2007
Work me, Lord
When Twyla left tonight (or this morning) we could hear the rain falling so hard, it sounded like a waterfall. She called me describing how amazing it looked with the rain drops bouncing off the ground as the city lights were reflecting on the water.
And then once again, i recalled acid rain... damn Seoul! I love Korea, but all this pollution is bad. And as for global warming...
Annabella is coming all the way from Madrid in 2 days!!!! How awesome is that?! She'll be staying for 10 days and ever since she's told me she's coming, I've started to realize how much I feel at home here. How much I know about Korean culture. It's amazing!
Tonight we had a girls' night, with my famous shrimp curry and Kyngah's delicious kimchi pancakes. And Sangria. It suddenly hit me that i'm leaving in 2 months. I'm going to miss those people so much.
After Annabella leaves, i'm going to Thailand and i'm really looking forward to this vacation! Then i'll be back in May and i'm leaving four weeks later. Insane.
I HAVE SPENT A YEAR IN SOUTH KOREA!!! France was nothing compared to this!
So here's my big dilemma now: i'm definitely coming back next year, but where should I work? My current school, or at a public school?
My boss came up to me and said they want to keep me so they're willing to let me keep my apartment for free, even though the price will rise. That means keeping that perfect place with flat screen TV, piano, pink couch, AC and all the brand new appliances.
But I don't get a raise because, well they're paying for the apartment. And they let me go home for a month and a half. So i would have to be back mid July. And for next year, I would only get a week vacation. As for the rest, it's the usual deal with the plane ticket paid by the school.
HOWEVER, IF I work at a public school, I could spend 3 months home this summer, come back for a year contract that pays more than my school, get PAID sick days and two weeks vacation.
My schedule would be regular, i.e. 9 until 4 instead of 2pm until 8pm at my school. That's cool.
But i'd lose my apartment and I would need to pay to get all my stuff stored. I don't know if my new apartment would be better or worse. I don't know if people at public school woud be awesome or assholes. At least at my school now I get along with the staff and they're not on my back.
At public school I'd have to spend more time at work, but no grading. Right now i'm going insane with grading. Also, what if i'm in a crappy neighborhood? The reason why I love Korea so much is because I feel comfortable here. And my apartment (i know it sounds incredibly shallow) has a lot to do with this.
So what should I do?
I want to spend 3 months home just chillin' with friends and family. Plus a friend of mine is supposed to come from France in August. But I guess he could visit in Korea, that's more exotic! I mean, a month and a half home would be alright, wouldn't it?
I'm confused. And tired. I have so much grading to do. Tomorrow gym and getting my hair done with Erika. Then going out but not too late cauz Annabella's plane lands at 7am Sunday!
Also thinking about buying a new laptop: should I get a mac (performant, no viruses, no bogs but heavy), or that Sony SZ48 (light, performant, lots of space, but runs with stupid Windows)?
Hey you know what? This post is probably the most ridiculous one on earth. Who cares??????????????????????? People are starving and here I am talking about all this. Maybe I should volunteer in developing countries to set my mind straight... none of this matters in the end.
Ever heard Janis Joplin's "Work me, Lord"? Pretty good.
Seriously, get yourselves some Janis, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Massive Attack, get in a jazzy mood with Holliday, Armstrong, Simone and Fitzgerald, sing your soul with Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, even John Lee Hooker!
And you're never wrong with some good old reggae a la Bobby Marley, Peter Tosh, Tiken Jah Fakoly or Jimmy Cliff. Oh! Do you know Louisa Mark's "keeping it like this", or Janet Kay's "Loving you", both delightful reggae love songs.
Or kick in some Eminem and try to sing along. How about Chingy's "right thur"? That's all we sing at work, along with 50 cents' "in that club"... just because, they're catchy tunes ^^
I also recommend watching Chris Rock's one man shows, they're all good. But it's not for puritains...
And then once again, i recalled acid rain... damn Seoul! I love Korea, but all this pollution is bad. And as for global warming...
Annabella is coming all the way from Madrid in 2 days!!!! How awesome is that?! She'll be staying for 10 days and ever since she's told me she's coming, I've started to realize how much I feel at home here. How much I know about Korean culture. It's amazing!
Tonight we had a girls' night, with my famous shrimp curry and Kyngah's delicious kimchi pancakes. And Sangria. It suddenly hit me that i'm leaving in 2 months. I'm going to miss those people so much.
After Annabella leaves, i'm going to Thailand and i'm really looking forward to this vacation! Then i'll be back in May and i'm leaving four weeks later. Insane.
I HAVE SPENT A YEAR IN SOUTH KOREA!!! France was nothing compared to this!
So here's my big dilemma now: i'm definitely coming back next year, but where should I work? My current school, or at a public school?
My boss came up to me and said they want to keep me so they're willing to let me keep my apartment for free, even though the price will rise. That means keeping that perfect place with flat screen TV, piano, pink couch, AC and all the brand new appliances.
But I don't get a raise because, well they're paying for the apartment. And they let me go home for a month and a half. So i would have to be back mid July. And for next year, I would only get a week vacation. As for the rest, it's the usual deal with the plane ticket paid by the school.
HOWEVER, IF I work at a public school, I could spend 3 months home this summer, come back for a year contract that pays more than my school, get PAID sick days and two weeks vacation.
My schedule would be regular, i.e. 9 until 4 instead of 2pm until 8pm at my school. That's cool.
But i'd lose my apartment and I would need to pay to get all my stuff stored. I don't know if my new apartment would be better or worse. I don't know if people at public school woud be awesome or assholes. At least at my school now I get along with the staff and they're not on my back.
At public school I'd have to spend more time at work, but no grading. Right now i'm going insane with grading. Also, what if i'm in a crappy neighborhood? The reason why I love Korea so much is because I feel comfortable here. And my apartment (i know it sounds incredibly shallow) has a lot to do with this.
So what should I do?
I want to spend 3 months home just chillin' with friends and family. Plus a friend of mine is supposed to come from France in August. But I guess he could visit in Korea, that's more exotic! I mean, a month and a half home would be alright, wouldn't it?
I'm confused. And tired. I have so much grading to do. Tomorrow gym and getting my hair done with Erika. Then going out but not too late cauz Annabella's plane lands at 7am Sunday!
Also thinking about buying a new laptop: should I get a mac (performant, no viruses, no bogs but heavy), or that Sony SZ48 (light, performant, lots of space, but runs with stupid Windows)?
Hey you know what? This post is probably the most ridiculous one on earth. Who cares??????????????????????? People are starving and here I am talking about all this. Maybe I should volunteer in developing countries to set my mind straight... none of this matters in the end.
Ever heard Janis Joplin's "Work me, Lord"? Pretty good.
Seriously, get yourselves some Janis, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Massive Attack, get in a jazzy mood with Holliday, Armstrong, Simone and Fitzgerald, sing your soul with Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, even John Lee Hooker!
And you're never wrong with some good old reggae a la Bobby Marley, Peter Tosh, Tiken Jah Fakoly or Jimmy Cliff. Oh! Do you know Louisa Mark's "keeping it like this", or Janet Kay's "Loving you", both delightful reggae love songs.
Or kick in some Eminem and try to sing along. How about Chingy's "right thur"? That's all we sing at work, along with 50 cents' "in that club"... just because, they're catchy tunes ^^
I also recommend watching Chris Rock's one man shows, they're all good. But it's not for puritains...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
(acid) rain drops keep falling on my head
The school gave us masks to put on. Yes, those little white masks everyone in America saw Asians wearing at the outburst of SARS in 2003. Apparently those are intended to protect us from air pollution.
A lot of people usually wear them, but now... it's a must because it's:
YELLOW DUST season in Korea!!!
Indeed, China's dirty pollution and dust is blown by the wind and reaches Seoul (which is an hour and a half from the coast). This adds up to the usual pollution making Seoul one of the most polluted cities in the world.
A few days ago the sky was grey, yet the sun looked like a giant ball of fire through clouds of dirt.
About 85% of air polluants are emitted from cars, in a city where traffic jam is never ending.
Ironically enough, the subways system is probably one of the cheapest and most well developed in the world. Moreover, Koreans are very environmentally-friendly, with mandatory recycling and composting everywhere in town including apartment buildings. You get fined if you don't recycle or compost. How cool is that?!
While some people say it's usuless to wear a mask because the particles are so tiny that they get through the fabric, I'm putting mine on. Seriously. I'm sick and tired of speaking like a French whore who smokes 3 packs of cigarettes a day! It burns down my throat!
I don't want to lose my voice again... when I got here, my poor lungs were in shock! After having spent my life in green Quebec and then a year in the moutains of Southern France, all this acid shit was filling my lungs. Man was I sick!
Seoul is a very convenient city and I love it. But when I think of coming back, I keep in mind that people living in such a polluted city are at risk for lung infection, cancer and shortened life expectancy.
Fortunately, most Koreans do exercise a lot and they are generally moutain-lovers so that's gotta be a plus.
But how do you react when you see some of your students with weird red dots and weird heaps of skin all over their body? Whenever I ask about it, they answer "oh teacher, really bad!" but they can't explain.
I was told by my housewives and Korean friends that those are skin diseases caused by air pollution. It's a shame, really. Many Koreans are already obsessed with being skinny and beautiful...
A report published by the Blacksmith Institute says mental retardation can even be an outcome of air pollution!
Today it was raining a lot. I liked it, until someone reminded me about acid rain.
I'm trying to go to the gym every day now, hoping it will help me feel better. It actually does, but i'm still sick.
Tonight I joined spinning class, oh my! I've never been so hot!! In fact, the whole room was foggy (i'm not kidding! my hand left a mark on the glass window!) and we were working it to the beat of a wonderful dance remix of "can't keep my eyes off of you".... i love you baby! and if it's quite alright i need you baby...
So what's the deal? We can't reduce gas emission? Come on, years ago we were doing damn fine without them. Now the earth is sick and so are people.
No matter what, I'm wearing my mask!
Just like little Ryan... ^^
A lot of people usually wear them, but now... it's a must because it's:
YELLOW DUST season in Korea!!!
Indeed, China's dirty pollution and dust is blown by the wind and reaches Seoul (which is an hour and a half from the coast). This adds up to the usual pollution making Seoul one of the most polluted cities in the world.
A few days ago the sky was grey, yet the sun looked like a giant ball of fire through clouds of dirt.
About 85% of air polluants are emitted from cars, in a city where traffic jam is never ending.
Ironically enough, the subways system is probably one of the cheapest and most well developed in the world. Moreover, Koreans are very environmentally-friendly, with mandatory recycling and composting everywhere in town including apartment buildings. You get fined if you don't recycle or compost. How cool is that?!
While some people say it's usuless to wear a mask because the particles are so tiny that they get through the fabric, I'm putting mine on. Seriously. I'm sick and tired of speaking like a French whore who smokes 3 packs of cigarettes a day! It burns down my throat!
I don't want to lose my voice again... when I got here, my poor lungs were in shock! After having spent my life in green Quebec and then a year in the moutains of Southern France, all this acid shit was filling my lungs. Man was I sick!
Seoul is a very convenient city and I love it. But when I think of coming back, I keep in mind that people living in such a polluted city are at risk for lung infection, cancer and shortened life expectancy.
Fortunately, most Koreans do exercise a lot and they are generally moutain-lovers so that's gotta be a plus.
But how do you react when you see some of your students with weird red dots and weird heaps of skin all over their body? Whenever I ask about it, they answer "oh teacher, really bad!" but they can't explain.
I was told by my housewives and Korean friends that those are skin diseases caused by air pollution. It's a shame, really. Many Koreans are already obsessed with being skinny and beautiful...
A report published by the Blacksmith Institute says mental retardation can even be an outcome of air pollution!
Today it was raining a lot. I liked it, until someone reminded me about acid rain.
I'm trying to go to the gym every day now, hoping it will help me feel better. It actually does, but i'm still sick.
Tonight I joined spinning class, oh my! I've never been so hot!! In fact, the whole room was foggy (i'm not kidding! my hand left a mark on the glass window!) and we were working it to the beat of a wonderful dance remix of "can't keep my eyes off of you".... i love you baby! and if it's quite alright i need you baby...
So what's the deal? We can't reduce gas emission? Come on, years ago we were doing damn fine without them. Now the earth is sick and so are people.
No matter what, I'm wearing my mask!
Just like little Ryan... ^^
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Afghanistan: drugs, guns and money
"Afghanistan: Drugs, Guns and Money" is an astonishing documentary about the socio-political landscape in Afghanistan - where opium crop is one of the largest ever.
Afghanistan and its near neighbours still supply around 80 percent of the heroin sold in Western Europe.
Afghanistan and its near neighbours still supply around 80 percent of the heroin sold in Western Europe.
Like a cancer, the heroin trade has spread its tentacles through almost every level of society. In Afghanistan there is mass local addiction, local HIV epidemics, an unending cycle of violence and crime, and the corruption of state institutions......
When I first got to Korea, the first thing I noticed in my crappy apartment was this sticker on the obsolete computer - it said:
It's a messed up world but I love it anyway.
When I first got to Korea, the first thing I noticed in my crappy apartment was this sticker on the obsolete computer - it said:
It's a messed up world but I love it anyway.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Gold digger
A lot of you emailed about Hadaka Matsuri… I’m glad you enjoyed the little Japanese tushis ;)
So it’s official: I’m going to Phuket for 8 days at the end of April. I was originally supposed to go to Bali, or Fiji, but the flights don’t go very often and my parochial boss refused to give me Friday off.
Who cares? I’ve been to Thailand during my first year of college and it was blissful!
So it’s official: I’m going to Phuket for 8 days at the end of April. I was originally supposed to go to Bali, or Fiji, but the flights don’t go very often and my parochial boss refused to give me Friday off.
Who cares? I’ve been to Thailand during my first year of college and it was blissful!
On a related note, my contract ends on May 30th so I’m coming home for two or three months. I’m really looking forward to it!
I hope I’ll get to see everyone I love! Have a blast at my sister’s with, among others, my brother. If he shows up. Go on a road trip with my best friend. Discover Gaspesie. Kayak and camp with Cedric and Paolo, coming all the way from France.
I’m also thinking about spending a month volunteering in Latin America… building houses or teaching English or something.
As for next year, chances are I’ll be back in South Korea. I love it here. And y’all welcome to visit!
Since I won’t be returning to the hagwon/academy I’m working at now, things will be very different but I like change. Plus I hate a lot of things about my hagwon.
Most of my “white” friends aren’t coming back so I’ll definitely miss our shopping, movie nights, dinners, nights out, etc. I’ll also miss my killer apartment just 5-minute walk from school and the organic food store right on the corner of my building – for the delicious food, but also the guys who give me free stuff ;)
I’ll especially miss my gym, and the “sex and the city”-like habit of Twyla and I chatting all the way through the work out, bitching about work and men ;)
Work is fantastic and I totally LOVE my students! Yesterday in ABC class Paul, a little boy, came up to me and he said “teacher!” I turned around, and he gave me a big wet kiss on the cheek. Then he went on to tell the other kids “my… kiss… teacher!!!” it was so adorable!
Teaching ABC is awesome because you see them progress a lot faster than, say, in higher levels. During break time, my students all write the alphabet on the board, or spell their names, or draw a heart and yell “teacher! I love you!” It’s priceless.
As for teaching TOEFL, it’s really challenging. And those middle school students are sooooooooo self-conscious… every class I have to remind them that they’re at school, not at a funeral!
Anyway, life is great and I am very thankful. Once in a while I’m reminded that I’ve got it real good and I wonder how I could help even things out.
There was this homeless woman near Kyobo, begging for money. What I gave her probably bought her a meal (or boose but I prefer the first option). As I was walking away, I felt awfully guilty. I had just spent 20 bucks on a lonely planet for a trip to Thailand. Is life unfair? Or do we only get what we deserve?
Take a look at those pics from the trip with Youri and Genevieve… I guess we all are, in our very unique way, gold diggers!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
White Day!
So I thought i'd definitely be eating black noodles on April 14th but apparently I won't!!
Kids gave me candy, and I was chased down the street by one of the guys working at the organic food store next to my place. He had a big smile as he gave me three lollipops ;)
If you recall, February 14th is Red Day in Korea - when women give chocolate to the man they like.
Then March 14th is White Day - when men give chocolate to the women they like/love.
And finally there's Black Day on April 14th - when people who didn't get any chocolate in Feb and March go to the restaurant and order black noodles (noodles in black beans sauce). It's ironic, sometimes sad, sometimes funny. But it's a way to meet single people.
A cheap dating service if you will...
Kids gave me candy, and I was chased down the street by one of the guys working at the organic food store next to my place. He had a big smile as he gave me three lollipops ;)
If you recall, February 14th is Red Day in Korea - when women give chocolate to the man they like.
Then March 14th is White Day - when men give chocolate to the women they like/love.
And finally there's Black Day on April 14th - when people who didn't get any chocolate in Feb and March go to the restaurant and order black noodles (noodles in black beans sauce). It's ironic, sometimes sad, sometimes funny. But it's a way to meet single people.
A cheap dating service if you will...
Saturday, March 10, 2007
10 000 half-naked men in Japan !
Japan was… surprising ! Of course I didn’t get to see Tokyo, but I’m actually glad I was in Nagoya because i think our week-end was far more exciting than the girls’ in the capital city (yikes! didn't you read the title?!)
Seoul – Nagoya is a 2-hour flight and I noticed the flight attendant had a permanent smile on. Erika said that’s the difference between Nippons and Koreans; the Japanese are constantly happy.
As it turns out, those were escorts – another big thing in Japan. Actually, the next day was my other cultural shock: a full size ad promoting “being an escort”. Where else on earth would you see that?!
We grabbed a cab and I was reminded that Japan uses the British style – that is, they drive on the other side of the road!!!
The cabs in Nagoya are all fancy, black cars. The drivers wear a uniform. And they should because the fare is incredibly EXPENSIVE!!! It starts at 8 dollars and it cost us 45 dollars for a 20 minute ride. Fortunately there were four of us.
Tim’s apartment is typically Japanese: the outdoor looks Occidental but inside there are sliding doors, the bathtub is the size of my butt but higher than my knees, and of course we sleep on the floor – which is covered with some kind of bamboo carpet.
Other than that, don’t ask retarded questions. Japan is one of the leading industrial countries in the world so of course they have refrigerators, microwaves, couch, tv, etc. One thing though – Tim has a kitchen table but, just like in Korea, most Japanese eat at a low table, sitting on the floor.
I was getting really sick, coughing like you wouldn’t believe, so I didn’t sleep well.
The next day we met Jun, this amazing Japanese guy who’s very short but so smart, pretty and kind of an oriental doctor. He’s dating a very annoying British girl whose legs are the size of my wrist. But she’s funny and we had a blast.
That’s when we saw a Japanese castle, on our way to Hadaka Matsuri – the festival of 10 000 half-naked men! There’s a great article explaining this here.
They wait for a little bold half-naked man to come out of the temple. This man is called “shin-ottoko” and he is believed to be the “chosen one”. All the men try to touch him (imagine the claustrophobia!) and if they’re successful, legend has it that they rid themselves of their sins and negative energy.
Every year, 1 or 2 men die in that huge crowd. The celebration takes place all over Japan, not just in Nagoya. The grandpa who escorted us told us he’s tried to touch the shin-ottoko for 50 years but he’s never been able to!
I don’t really know what to say. I was speechless. You NEVER expect to see that in your lifetime.
I forgot to mention that Jun’s friend lives near the temple so his family welcomed us for a meal! I was so sick I couldn’t eat, but I wish I had!
It was a traditional Japanese house – low, sliding doors, bonsai trees in the garden, the backyard connected to another house – where the grand-parents live.
We sat on the floor and the table was FILLED with all kinds of food – seafood, tofu soup, fish soup, vegetables, salad, weird looking traditional stuff. Behind us the stove was heating bottles of sake – thus the incredibly strong smell of alcohol as you walk in the house.
Everyone was joyous and talkative even though we didn’t speak a word except countless “arigato”.
All of a sudden we heard people burst into laughter, as the father walked into the living room, naked except for the loin cloth and sandals (white, look like ape feet!!). He stood proudly for pictures with us, and then ran to the festival. Priceless moment.
Seoul – Nagoya is a 2-hour flight and I noticed the flight attendant had a permanent smile on. Erika said that’s the difference between Nippons and Koreans; the Japanese are constantly happy.
We were greeted by Tim, Erika’s brother, and Yukari, his girlfriend. That girl is a party animal, always happy and soooo interested in everything! She speaks fairly good English and taught us "yata!" - which means "awesome"! Similar to Korean, which is "yassa!"
Meet Erika (right), Yukari, and me!
First shock: Tim and Yukari had beer cans in their hands. Indeed, you can drink alcohol anywhere you like; in the subway, the street, at the airport, ANYWHERE.
Next, the porn. Japan is a hotbed for the pornographic industry! So in the train, instead of cell phone ads you see boobs and numbers to dial if you’re horny.
We headed to a bar downtown – pretty usual scene, except that the Japanese bartenders are kinda cute. And the girls are REALLY outgoing!
That's Erika (left) and some random girls we met.
I bumped into a crowd of Quebecois working for Bombardier in Nagoya. Needless to say I spoke Frrrrrench and discussed the health benefits of la poutine!
I was surprised to notice the non-smoking signs ON THE SIDEWALKS! In some parts of Japan, you can smoke in bars, but not on the street. If you do, you get a fine. And you actually do (policemen here have nothing to do with the ones back home!)
As we left the bar to go get some sleep, we saw a group of Japanese men who looked totally gay to me. No offence; they were just so beautiful, mannered and wearing more make up that Britney Spears.
As it turns out, those were escorts – another big thing in Japan. Actually, the next day was my other cultural shock: a full size ad promoting “being an escort”. Where else on earth would you see that?! We grabbed a cab and I was reminded that Japan uses the British style – that is, they drive on the other side of the road!!!The cabs in Nagoya are all fancy, black cars. The drivers wear a uniform. And they should because the fare is incredibly EXPENSIVE!!! It starts at 8 dollars and it cost us 45 dollars for a 20 minute ride. Fortunately there were four of us.
Tim’s apartment is typically Japanese: the outdoor looks Occidental but inside there are sliding doors, the bathtub is the size of my butt but higher than my knees, and of course we sleep on the floor – which is covered with some kind of bamboo carpet.
Other than that, don’t ask retarded questions. Japan is one of the leading industrial countries in the world so of course they have refrigerators, microwaves, couch, tv, etc. One thing though – Tim has a kitchen table but, just like in Korea, most Japanese eat at a low table, sitting on the floor.
I was getting really sick, coughing like you wouldn’t believe, so I didn’t sleep well.
The next day we met Jun, this amazing Japanese guy who’s very short but so smart, pretty and kind of an oriental doctor. He’s dating a very annoying British girl whose legs are the size of my wrist. But she’s funny and we had a blast.
That’s when we saw a Japanese castle, on our way to Hadaka Matsuri – the festival of 10 000 half-naked men! There’s a great article explaining this here.
They wait for a little bold half-naked man to come out of the temple. This man is called “shin-ottoko” and he is believed to be the “chosen one”. All the men try to touch him (imagine the claustrophobia!) and if they’re successful, legend has it that they rid themselves of their sins and negative energy.
Every year, 1 or 2 men die in that huge crowd. The celebration takes place all over Japan, not just in Nagoya. The grandpa who escorted us told us he’s tried to touch the shin-ottoko for 50 years but he’s never been able to!
I don’t really know what to say. I was speechless. You NEVER expect to see that in your lifetime.
I forgot to mention that Jun’s friend lives near the temple so his family welcomed us for a meal! I was so sick I couldn’t eat, but I wish I had!
It was a traditional Japanese house – low, sliding doors, bonsai trees in the garden, the backyard connected to another house – where the grand-parents live.
We sat on the floor and the table was FILLED with all kinds of food – seafood, tofu soup, fish soup, vegetables, salad, weird looking traditional stuff. Behind us the stove was heating bottles of sake – thus the incredibly strong smell of alcohol as you walk in the house.
Everyone was joyous and talkative even though we didn’t speak a word except countless “arigato”.
All of a sudden we heard people burst into laughter, as the father walked into the living room, naked except for the loin cloth and sandals (white, look like ape feet!!). He stood proudly for pictures with us, and then ran to the festival. Priceless moment.
At night Tim took us to “Bar 3”, a casual place with couches and a guitar. I was sicker than ever.
The next day was St-Patrick’s! And yes, the Japanese do celebrate it. Why? Just because it’s another occasion to drink from morning til night.
That's Yukari (left), Erika, funny dude, and me.
We passed gigantic street markets where anything you’d ever dream to buy is available at very reasonable prices. Then we headed to the center of the celebration, near a Buddhist temple (don’t ask).
Tim, of course (right), me and Yukari.
A crowd of Caucasians, Blacks and Japanese wearing at least a green piece of clothes was gathered, laughing and drinking.
That was probably the most boring day of my life – I was really sick and everyone around me was drinking and talking shit. Seriously, boring conversations of people bragging about how drunk they’ve been in different situations. Given, I wasn’t in the mood, but our “leader” really really likes alcohol and he and his friends spent the day drinking.
At night the girls went shopping so that was my getaway – even though all I wanted was to sleep or go to the hospital. I was coughing non-stop, dizzy, headache, nausea… la totale!
At the shopping mall, I was once again shocked: the saleswomen were incredibly beautiful and totally sexy, but they looked like real prostitutes! Mini skirts that are no larger than a headband, wearing thick and colourful makeup, the hair must have taken them 2 hours to do… Beautiful, but too much.
I told Erika how I thought Japanese women are sexually liberated, but she made a good point; they are in a way, but they still are just sexual objects to Japanese men. And it’s true.
The shops only carried size 0 clothes, and the underwear stores sold the kind of bras you only find in sex shops back home – gorgeous pink and silver leopard ones, flashy red laced panties, etc. Anything to please your man!
I noticed that every single white guy I saw was with a Japanese girlfriend. It’s much more obvious than in Korea. No comment.
Good point for women though: there is a special boarding point on the subway for women during rush hour. This is because there are so many people; women tend to get crowded and sometimes men sexually harrass them.
The night came and we, of course, headed to a bar. I bore the torture for a while – everyone was drunk by then, smoking in my face as I was trying to spare my poor throat… I just felt like the whole day had been so pointless. Maybe back when I was in high school I enjoyed those, but now I was dead sick and really not in the mood.
The next day I woke up to three wasted guys in the living room, and the three Japanese girlfriends giggling in the bedroom. Everyone had slept with their clothes on.
We took the train to the airport and realized that Japan isn’t AS “foreigner-friendly” as Korea. Most of the signs are in Japanese, and many things are confusing – whereas in Korea everything is so smart and straightforward.
We were like two zombies at the airport. Fortunately our plane was pretty empty so we each got an entire row to ourselves.
Back in Seoul it was raining and I was glad. It was one of those days; when you’re sick and you nap in the afternoon, listening to the peaceful sound of raindrops on the window.
Japan is a great country and I can’t really say much about it because I spent so little time there. And I only saw Nagoya.
Nonetheless, when I think of Japan I will always have that memory of 10 000 half-naked men running around with bamboo sticks. That’s something.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Suicidal lifestyles
Enjoying your warm, meaningful, comfortable life? So am I.
But after watching Al Gore's (Oscar winning) documentary on global warming, my conscience hit a wall and guilt started tormenting me. And for cause.
Try to see how yours feel after an hour and a half of "Inconveninent Truth"...
It's one of those amareness-raising movies in the lines of "l'Erreur Boreale". Powerful. Makes you wanna grab a sign and become an activist right away. Wanna change your whole lifestyle and share the scary facts with the whole world.
The fact that we're ruining the perfect and beautiful natural elements on earth is indeed an inconvenient truth because if we chose to see it, we can't just remain inactive. But our minds are so dulled, we just close our eyes and chose not to see it.
See? I just did it. Hopefully we'll wake up on time but, and correct me if i'm wrong, we've obviously reached a point of no return.
But after watching Al Gore's (Oscar winning) documentary on global warming, my conscience hit a wall and guilt started tormenting me. And for cause.
Try to see how yours feel after an hour and a half of "Inconveninent Truth"...
It's one of those amareness-raising movies in the lines of "l'Erreur Boreale". Powerful. Makes you wanna grab a sign and become an activist right away. Wanna change your whole lifestyle and share the scary facts with the whole world.
The fact that we're ruining the perfect and beautiful natural elements on earth is indeed an inconvenient truth because if we chose to see it, we can't just remain inactive. But our minds are so dulled, we just close our eyes and chose not to see it.
See? I just did it. Hopefully we'll wake up on time but, and correct me if i'm wrong, we've obviously reached a point of no return.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Exquisite Busan !
In Korea the four seasons are 100% enjoyable – you can ski in beautiful mountains during winter, admire the leaves changing colors in breathtaking mountains such as Seoraksan during fall.
In spring, anywhere smells and feels good. As for summer, you can lie on several beaches and gaze at palm trees while swimming in the ocean.
In spring, anywhere smells and feels good. As for summer, you can lie on several beaches and gaze at palm trees while swimming in the ocean.
There’s a gorgeous island about 2 hours from Seoul (subway and ferry ride), Deokjeokdo. You can also go to what foreigners refer to as a “honeymoon island” south of Korea, Jejudo. The east coast is filled with crowded beaches in the summer, like in Sokcho. A little South East is Pusan, my greatest experience with nature so far in Korea!
The school gave us a 4-day week-end for Lunar New Year. Since my Vietnam plans weren’t going to happen, Erika and I decided to go to Busan. We flew in on Saturday morning and came back with KTX (Korean version of the French TGV) on Tuesday night.
You wouldn’t believe the awesome time we had there!
I slept about 2 hours on Friday night and we took a shuttle to the airport at 6am. We met Twyla, who was going to Vietnam, for breakfast before going through security. The flight took an hour and we were in Busan!
Our hotel, Novotel, is heavenly! Our room was on the 14th floor with FULL ocean view! In the morning, the sun would rise over the sea and wake us up.
The beds are as comfortable as a cloud! Usually a “suite” like this is 495$ in the summer, but we go it for 150$/night… and a 3rd night for free! Lunar special!
We were both really tired, so we had coffee and then spent the afternoon at the swimming pool. Oh! The swimming pool! Indoor, of course, but with glazed ceiling and walls. And again, ocean view included! We also had a relaxing time in the sauna.
At night we rode the bus for about an hour and got off at one of Korea’s largest fish market: Jagalchi. Very similar to Seoul’s Noryangjin fish market. In a way, it was shocking to see all those fish tanks filled with variety of fish you’ve never ever seen.
Countless little restaurants were open to the public, offering sashimi and soju for your pleasure. Also available were oysters, steamed crab, fried fish, scallops, and so.
Ajashis and ajummas, old men and old women, dressed in plastic aprons and wearing yellow rain boots yelled their “special” prices to the crowd. To us, foreigners, they would say “come in! very good fishi! Good prrrrrrrice!”
We walked around for a while and finally set our mind on a small place where we got sashimi and scallops.
At a fish market you get countless side dishes and the service is never-ending! Salad, marinated mussels, chickpeas, fried vegetables, kimchi, tiny snail-shaped shellfish that you suck at the end and some chewy little creature comes out… and of course, assorted sauces.
Erika took a video of the murder. I had already seen it happen at Noryangjin and couldn’t handle it twice. She picked the fish; they took it out of the aquarium and killed it with a spear. Then, while it was still moving (nerves I guess?), they cut it open, took off the flesh and tiny bones and cut off the head. Funny how there’s only blood in a fish’s head, not in its body…
We had a delicious dinner! But I mentioned that society isn’t logical; if we’re going to do this with fish, why not do it with every single animal?! Go to a steak restaurant, order beef and have it slaughtered in front of you!!! Want bacon for breakfast? Let’s see how they get the fat and meat out of its back!!
We headed back to the hotel, where we watched for a good two hours a live jazz performance at the lounge downstairs. It was quite enjoyable! And the pina coladas too!
On Sunday morning we had a delightful breakfast downstairs while gazing at the ocean. It was a beautiful sunny day and the buffet was the most attractive one I’ve ever seen! We ate like you wouldn’t believe, just because every single food that we like was displayed there.
We walked towards the port and hopped on a boat to Oryukdo, a rocky island about half an hour from Haeundae, our beach.
The boat ride was fantastic! The soothing feeling of floating on the waves, the sparking reflection of the sun on the water, the salty smell of the ocean breeze, and the birds flying high in the sky.
Luckily, the boat was almost empty so we fully enjoyed it. At first a crowd of seagulls harassed us because people were feeding them chips. They followed us for a while.
Back on solid ground, we ran into Lilly and Matt and we all decided to visit a Buddhist temple set by the ocean. The cab ride was quick; until we reached the entrance… we were stuck in the taxi for a good 20 minutes – lunar New Year traffic jam! Everyone single Buddhist was going to the temple to bow and celebrate. Ouh!
There was a huge crowd of course, but the view was totally worth it. Of course, I feel like if you’ve seen one temple you’ve seen them all – and it is partly true. But this one, right on a creek, was spectacular!
Obviously getting a ride out of the temple would be an impossible task. We still tried because of Erika’s leg (she got in a massive accident in Thailand a few years ago) and Matt and Lily’s baby James. But we gave up.
That night Erika and I had a delectable steak at the famous “Outback” restaurant. We ate every Korean woman’s sinful fantasy: huge piece of meat, potato with sour cream, and a beer! It was so wonderful that, back at the hotel, we passed out on the bed!!!
Seriously, we still wonder what was in that food. We literally fell on the bed, to wake up only an hour later. By then, our tickets to a Korean traditional drumming show were expired. And we were still tired and confused.
Nonetheless, went for a walk and had a drink before finally calling it a night.
As for Monday, that was our big fat “doing nothing” day!!! As so we did!
We woke up early, went for a walk on the beach and lied there for a while. The sun was so warm, it felt like summer. I actually got tanned a little ;)
Since Erika’s leg was painful, I went alone for a great walk up to the lighthouse. The view was as gorgeous as in Jejudo. But it was full of Koreans. In Korea, you can enjoy beautiful sceneries but you have to do so with countless human beings surrounding you. No peace here.
Back at the beach I took a nap and read. We then headed back to our hotel for a swim. It truly was as if we were lying on a summery beach! With the sun coming in through the ceiling windows, the magnificent ocean view and, of course, the swimming pool.
Around 5pm we had the BEST full-body massage I’ve ever had! Over an hour and a half of heavenly movements on my body… I still can’t believe those hands!
It was Korean-style, but not as brutal as they usually are. Instead of having me lie on my stomach and slapping my back, the woman let me on my back and slid her hand between the table and my back – thus using the pressure of my body to fully massage. That’s totally the way everyone should do it!
Of course she mixed all my vital organs together when she sat on my hips and started rubbing my stomach, but it wasn’t as bad as the masseuse in Seoul who was apparently trying to perforate my liver!
It was heaven. Erika and I were both really high when we got out of there.
We changed and headed to the hotel’s restaurant. Oh my! They so got ripped off!
The buffet was 40$ and included wine. We drank a lot, but we mostly ate every single thing on the table! They had king crab, roast beef, curry, sushi, shrimps, salami, shabu shabu, cheese, stroganoff beef, and so on.
As for desserts, aaaaaaaaah! It was the best! Tons of fruits, cheese cake, chocolate mousse, ice cream and berries. And to top it all – a French dessert (it’s a French hotel): la crepe flambée! Fruits flambes in orange juice, sugar and alcohol, then served on a crepe with whipped cream and chocolate. Like summer in your mouth!
We needed a very long walk after such a heavy meal. The ocean was so nice. There were many people but it wasn’t too crowded. We ended up going on those creepy little bumper cars!
Those things are much more dangerous than back home!! Moreover, you get your own little speaker in the car so you hear all sorts of different music playing at the same time. At that time of the night, it felt as if we were in Chucky or something.
An hilarious video (you had to be there though....) is on youtube for more live performance ;) Right here
Afterwards we sat on the beach and lit a few firecrackers. Koreans go insane with those – they love them! So we figured we might as well do it too. It was cool.
The next day we spent the morning at the swimming pool and the headed for Kimchi jiggae (the most delicious one I’ve had so far). I got on the 1pm ferry ride to enjoy for one last time the beautiful ocean. Erika stayed on the beach.
The boat was late, I got back late to the hotel and there was a huge traffic jam downtown. Maybe we would have made it if we had taken a cab, but we didn’t; we missed our train! ... for this breathtaking view!
The train station was as crowded as it would be on Christmas. We finally got “standing” tickets for 6pm. “Standing” means that you sit on the floor near the bathroom. And it costs the same price.
So we ended up spending the afternoon at a café, playing guitar outside in the sun, and going for a walk on hookers hill.
I never ever thought I’d see this in Korea: it’s like Chinatown back in Montreal, but for Russians!
A huge street where everything is written in Chinese and Russian. Blue-eyed, blond hair people on the streets. Russian women sitting outside shops and just waiting for men. Very sad.
Back in Seoul, if you’re blond with blue eyes you often get asked if you’re Russian. I was quite confused the first time it happened. Do I look Russian??
Erika has been asked that very question far more often. “Are you Russian” means “are you a hooker”? Taxi drivers ask. Married men ask. Total strangers will stop you on the street. Sometimes they chase you. They’re horny. It’s pathetic.
The KTX ride turned out to be fun. We got folding seats next to a vending machine (not a bathroom) and ended up reading and chatting for the 3 hours. I also took a nap and woke up with Koreans staring at me. Always nice.
I had fun pretending to be this French girl in Paris coming out of the train at the last minute to say goodbye to a loved one hehe
Back in Seoul it was insanely crowded. At the train station I got 5 DVDs (movies) for 10$! That’s the beauty of Asian countries!! And the quality is quite good. I don’t mind Korean subtitles.
I was only teaching 3 days this week, then I’m going to Japan (Nagoya) for 4 days! I’m thinking about taking a week off in April and get some rest on a beach before leaving Korea at the end of May. But I’ll be back before long.
I’m totally in love with this country and its people.
Saehaebong mani paduseyo!
Monday, February 26, 2007
basil childers
Meeting an artist is always exciting. But there are no words for how I felt when I first met Basil Childers, an actual famous American photographer. We had dinner, drinks and the greatest evening ever.
He had somehow found my blog, contacted me and we met at the Ritz hotel in Seoul. The man, as well as the artist, is simply amazing! From Posco, one of the leading steel companies in the world, to a wrinkled woman smoking a giant cigar in Myanmar, he truly captures the essence of this world through photographs of dance, landscapes, everyday scenes, bigshot CEOs......
http://www.basilphoto.com
Enjoy.
He had somehow found my blog, contacted me and we met at the Ritz hotel in Seoul. The man, as well as the artist, is simply amazing! From Posco, one of the leading steel companies in the world, to a wrinkled woman smoking a giant cigar in Myanmar, he truly captures the essence of this world through photographs of dance, landscapes, everyday scenes, bigshot CEOs......
http://www.basilphoto.com
Enjoy.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Dog cafe, birthday and fiestas
Apparently there IS such a thing as a "dogs cafe" - a cafe where you can bring your dog and the owner's dogs are walking around, pooping on the floor and jumping all over the place. They're barking at ya as you walk in. You pet them as you're sipping tea. Original idea, for sure.
That's Shane, cool guy from South Africa, former Navy officer. And those are the dogs. Plenty of 'em.
Tonight we were celebrating Pam and Rachelle's birthday. Kelly and I met everyone in Hongdae at that cafe, where the birthday girls put on the hats we'd bought them. See that dog by the window? That's what it's like there. I wonder if we have those kinda places back home?
We then headed to a cool Soju place where we had a few drinks and fruit. I love that about Korea: you can order fruit at basically any bar. Healthy eh.
Then we headed for a really creepy walk in dark alleys, up to a Salsa club that was so crowded, we couldn't even get in. There was 10 of us so we didn't want to insist ;)
The girls stopped for sundubu on the street. I love that about Korea too. Even at one in the morning, the old lady is there, selling you typically Korean food from a tired "boui-boui". Given, we were at the heart of Seoul's nightlife. Here's beautiful Jin, having some.
At the back you can see Young, Jeesoo (my school VP)'s sister and the nicest Korean girl you'll ever met! Kevin popped the question about a month ago and they're getting married in the US really soon!!
Afterwards we headed back to the Barbanana, a bar we thought would be more entertaining. Nonetheless, we ended up having drinks, fun and sharing great memories. Pam (left, Californian girl totally awesome whose full name is Pam Cash... totally artistic!!, Ben, and Catherine) just bought a Polaroid and it is the coolest thing ever!
There, you have it. A Saturday night in Seoul. No Tinpan. Still a lot of fun.
That's Shane, cool guy from South Africa, former Navy officer. And those are the dogs. Plenty of 'em.
Tonight we were celebrating Pam and Rachelle's birthday. Kelly and I met everyone in Hongdae at that cafe, where the birthday girls put on the hats we'd bought them. See that dog by the window? That's what it's like there. I wonder if we have those kinda places back home?
We then headed to a cool Soju place where we had a few drinks and fruit. I love that about Korea: you can order fruit at basically any bar. Healthy eh.
Then we headed for a really creepy walk in dark alleys, up to a Salsa club that was so crowded, we couldn't even get in. There was 10 of us so we didn't want to insist ;)
The girls stopped for sundubu on the street. I love that about Korea too. Even at one in the morning, the old lady is there, selling you typically Korean food from a tired "boui-boui". Given, we were at the heart of Seoul's nightlife. Here's beautiful Jin, having some.
At the back you can see Young, Jeesoo (my school VP)'s sister and the nicest Korean girl you'll ever met! Kevin popped the question about a month ago and they're getting married in the US really soon!!Afterwards we headed back to the Barbanana, a bar we thought would be more entertaining. Nonetheless, we ended up having drinks, fun and sharing great memories. Pam (left, Californian girl totally awesome whose full name is Pam Cash... totally artistic!!, Ben, and Catherine) just bought a Polaroid and it is the coolest thing ever!
There, you have it. A Saturday night in Seoul. No Tinpan. Still a lot of fun.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Sorry baby!
How would you react if a 7-year-old Korean kid told you "sorry baby!" with a big smile after he accidently knocked some books off the table? I couldn't stop laughing!
Earlier Jason had handed me over a note written by his mom:
Teacher. I am he's mom. He lose his taste. Pleas help he find his taste.
Pleas dont punch him.
I assume "taste" means "test"..
Once again we laughed our heads off in the teachers' room.
This "ABC" class is really great. I love those kids so much and they always surprise me. They've learned so much in 3 months!! Their spontaneity is a delight.
The girls follow me everywhere I go during breaktime. They wait for me on the other side of the door. They try to teach me to count in Korean - which is funny because today they said
Teacher! Big big big test!!
They were refering to my "big big test" when I told them about the final exam. But now, they want to test ME because they've taught me how to count from one to ten!!! They're adorable!
As for Sally and Katie, i've told Ashley to call the moms. You're right mama, they oughta suffer the consequences of their actions. And anonymous's post also convinced me. Thanks ;)
On another topic, Lunar New Year's coming and Erika, Matt, Lilly, James and I are flying to Busan on Saturday! I'm really excited to get out of the city, enjoy the (cold) ocean and taking delight in eating tons of seafood!!
Moreover, we found plane tickets for Japan (Nagoya) for that 4-day week-end we get at the beginning of March! It'll feel great to travel around a little, even though I'm pissed that i'm not going to Vietnam with Twyla as originally planned (the school saw my going to Quebec for my grandma's funeral as a "vacation"............... don't get me started!)
Now i'd like to share something Eric and Danny taught me tonight about the Valentine's day in South Korea. It's really interesting.
--- February 14th is indeed Valentine's day, but GIRLS must give a gift to BOYS that they like. NOT the other way around!!
--- Then on March 14th, it's White day (which I see as Valentine's day 2 but whatever). On this day, MEN return the favor to WOMEN. In other words if a girl gave you chocolate in February, you should give her chocolate in March.
--- Finally comes the big fat (and depressing) Black Day on April 14th. On this day, people who did NOT get chocolates at all get together in Chinese restaurants and order Jajangmyun (noodles with black beans sauce). Isn't that funny?!
Of course there's also Pepero Day on November 11th - when people give peperos (candy stick dipped in chocolate) to each other. Apparently that's a big commercial scam started by Lotte company. But you can see that those Koreans are true givers!!!
And I guess we all know where i'll be on April 14th........
Earlier Jason had handed me over a note written by his mom:
Teacher. I am he's mom. He lose his taste. Pleas help he find his taste.
Pleas dont punch him.
I assume "taste" means "test"..
Once again we laughed our heads off in the teachers' room.
This "ABC" class is really great. I love those kids so much and they always surprise me. They've learned so much in 3 months!! Their spontaneity is a delight.
The girls follow me everywhere I go during breaktime. They wait for me on the other side of the door. They try to teach me to count in Korean - which is funny because today they said
Teacher! Big big big test!!
They were refering to my "big big test" when I told them about the final exam. But now, they want to test ME because they've taught me how to count from one to ten!!! They're adorable!
As for Sally and Katie, i've told Ashley to call the moms. You're right mama, they oughta suffer the consequences of their actions. And anonymous's post also convinced me. Thanks ;)
On another topic, Lunar New Year's coming and Erika, Matt, Lilly, James and I are flying to Busan on Saturday! I'm really excited to get out of the city, enjoy the (cold) ocean and taking delight in eating tons of seafood!!
Moreover, we found plane tickets for Japan (Nagoya) for that 4-day week-end we get at the beginning of March! It'll feel great to travel around a little, even though I'm pissed that i'm not going to Vietnam with Twyla as originally planned (the school saw my going to Quebec for my grandma's funeral as a "vacation"............... don't get me started!)
Now i'd like to share something Eric and Danny taught me tonight about the Valentine's day in South Korea. It's really interesting.
--- February 14th is indeed Valentine's day, but GIRLS must give a gift to BOYS that they like. NOT the other way around!!
--- Then on March 14th, it's White day (which I see as Valentine's day 2 but whatever). On this day, MEN return the favor to WOMEN. In other words if a girl gave you chocolate in February, you should give her chocolate in March.
--- Finally comes the big fat (and depressing) Black Day on April 14th. On this day, people who did NOT get chocolates at all get together in Chinese restaurants and order Jajangmyun (noodles with black beans sauce). Isn't that funny?!
Of course there's also Pepero Day on November 11th - when people give peperos (candy stick dipped in chocolate) to each other. Apparently that's a big commercial scam started by Lotte company. But you can see that those Koreans are true givers!!!
And I guess we all know where i'll be on April 14th........
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
