For the Kid in You

Generally speaking, I dislike watching movies. I think it has a lot to do with a very short attention span that often times I’m more obsessed with watching the clock than the film (and that’s when I’m not already asleep). And since I know I’m missing out on some good entertainment, culture, learning, thinking etc.., I make an effort to watch them now and again… and I think that Korean theaters may help me with my problem. The other day I tagged along with a group that was going to check out the new Simpson’s movie which was playing in the kids section of the theatre. (yes, it seemed strange to me too) Heading to the late show meant that we were the only ones watching this particular film, and walking inside we were all stunned and excited by what we found.. a theater filled with plushy couches to seat 2 or 3, brightly coloured and uber comfortable, with drawers underneath to store your goods… but that’s not even the best part… The 20 feet or so in front of the screen was just a huge soft pleathery mat. Lying down during the movie, in a theater, was cozy, and the wrestling and tumbling we could do on it afterwards was heaps of fun. Having to overlook the fact that probably a dozen kids pee on these mats weekly was just about the only problem. So perhaps these comfy surroundings won’t help keep my interest in movies, or help me find a new passion for film, but at least they provide I comfortable place to fall asleep!

A Holiday from my Holiday Life

Getting out of the country would have been optimal, but the lack of a travel companion and a body in dire need of rest were driving forces to make me stick around – which came with no regrets. The 5 days I had off were occupied with all the wonderful things that make my time here so wonderful: drinking, beaching, boardgaming, bowling, eating, and countless hours of shopping…

Shopping for me has always been a sort of therapy. Yes, I am a victim of consumerism, but having new “things” always brightens my day. Lucky for me, (unlucky for my bank account) shopping is easy to do here, and I certainly do a lot of it. But, in this country, it comes with a new set of quirks and adjustments for a westerner like myself. (beyond the facts that you can’t try on shirts, most clothes are one generic size small, and shoes for my foot size are a rarity) Take for example the shopping process itself… Upon entering a shop, employees hover around the shopper, often mere inches away, staring, waiting, intimidating. If I take one step forward, they take one step back.. and so we dance throughout my entire time in the store. I’ve left a few stores simply because I couldn’t handle the pressure, and sometimes I feel like it really impedes on my shopping. But that’s just one of those differences I have to accept living here, even if I don’t understand it. And then again it really hasn’t been that harmful given the expansion of my wardrobe over the past 5 months!

English Camp

Better late than never ... as I'm only writing now about my camp experiences of two and a half weeks ago.. but times are busy, so I hope you'll understand.

Well, over the months I've learned a lot about Korean children from my experiences here.. I've learned that they don't sleep a lot, they study like crazy, and they spend more time studying than indulging in carefree childhood fun... So, taking our students to "English Camp" proved to be an experience which they both needed, and enjoyed... and which I was happy to be a part of.

In a resortish type area, on a beautiful island not far from Busan, 40 Korean Kids, 5 Korean Teachers, and 3 Foreigners played in the sun for 3 days, in the name of English. Having been out a little too late the night before departure, my first day was a bit rough. So once the kids were in bed around 1230, I was quick to change into my pjs and rest my weary body.. Much to my dismay, my bosses felt I needed to demonstrate my drinking skills, and literally dragged me out of bed (and by bed I mean mat on the floor) to chug beer with them until 330am. Waking up at 730 had never been more torturous, and acting like an energetic counselor for my children had never been more difficult.. but I did and I lived, so all is not lost. Some key moments of our trip included seeing MC'ing the Mr and Mrs Pagoda Drag contest, Dancing onstage for my students, the lighting of a 6 foot high campfire dosed in gasoline via a shooting fire ball, spending a day in the pool, having my group win the most challenges, and a harmless ash fight that was all fun and games until I poked one of my students in the eye.

Getting away and having fun was a break these kids really needed, and so consequently I was denied one. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat, provided I could avoid the bus ride home.

Rockin' In the Free World

On one of the lesser frequented, but equally vast beaches of Busan, thousands of Koreans and a mix of foreigners gathered to party at Busan’s International Rock Festival. Musicians from around the world took to the stage to perform for a very diverse crowd of all ages. From my previous rock concert experiences, I wouldn’t have expected this one to be what it was: definitely a full family affair. Older women and men got their groove on around blankets *littered with empty soju bottles of course* at the back of the crowd, parents held their babies while rockin’ it out in a sweaty mob of fans, while dads taught their 3 year olds how to shoot roman candles. And though it made for a grueling 9am camp departure with my students the next morning, it was amazingly entertaining to witness it all. This was one I couldn’t miss.

Seeing Is Believing

Some days I think about how strange it will be to go back home one day… true, there’ll be a lot of readjusting and reverse culture shock… but one of the things I’ll miss most is the excitement and randomness of everyday life that I experience here. Take this past weekend for example: two full days in the sand and surf, where Haeundae beach has become a sea of Koreans and umbrellas….and with this sheer density of people, it seems only natural that it would exhibit many of these very quirky things which help make my time here so entertaining. Common findings at the beach are Koreans swimming in full clothing (or too small speedos), women sporting high heels, people buried in the sand, and couple photo shoots. These are just a few behaviours that are odd and wonderful and have come to be expected of a day at the beach… so my weekend hit a new level of wonderful, with an experience that topped them all.... Befriending and photographing with Korean bodybuilders. How can you top that?

The Bane of my Existence

Dried Squid. They eat it here like potato chips, it’s sold cheap and people love it. I hate it.
Aligned with my repulsion for anything fishy, this snack is close to the worst thing I’ve seen or smelt yet… and it always seems that those people around me love to use it as torture .. in their eating and enjoyment, I am left gagging and uncomfortable.. it’s just not fair really. Then today, I had the worst of my dried squid experiences yet.. Walking into the classroom of my youngest students, one of the kids had been kind enough of to bring in this horrid snack for the class. The room stank something fierce, and all my 9 year old wonder children were chomping on the fishy nastiness. I wanted to heave, but this class is slightly crazy and I knew I’d lose all control if I showed any signs of weakness.. Thankfully I’d already instilled the no food in the classroom rule.. so it wasn’t difficult to stop them from eating, but the bits on the floor continued to emit gaggerific odours into the space I would be occupying for the next 45 minutes… as if the stench of sweaty, dirty children wasn’t already enough to knock you out cold. Sigh.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

In a nicer and quieter part of town sits Sajik stadium. And inside Sajik stadium are the rowdiest group of Koreans I have seen yet. According to Wikipedia, “Busan is known as the capital of baseball and has a reputation for very enthusiastic baseball fans”, so I thought I’d check it out for myself… and let me tell you, I was in no way disappointed.. Even just approaching the stadium, I had a feeling I’d be in for something unique… Fans transported bags or coolers of beer and soju and bought newspapers outside the gates that would assist them in making pompoms to wave during the game. Once the game was in action, there were cheer leaders to keep the crowd entertained, and a white gloved cheer-leader who kept the fans energized and chanting away. It seemed there was a ditty or song for just about everything.. and all the “Gal-mae-ki” (seagulls, as the fans call themselves) knew each one of the words. Lotte was down 8-1, but it didn’t stop the energy in the stands. In the 8^th inning orange bags were passed around for garbage which the crowd then blew up, tied them to their heads, and continued to cheer and watch their team lose. It truly was a sight to behold, and just not your average day at the park.