Soju in Boy Band Land

Teen Top: Don't Spray Perfume ......what a name for a song.....

Apparently I've stumbled into the land of boy bands.  I've been going to sleep around 11 or even earlier and waking up at 6 or 7...MTV here actually plays music videos like they used to do in the States! Maybe I'll start a series of music on the blog? There are enough boy-bands to post a new one every blog for the whole year!

I've managed to go to school and observe some classes and see my desk. It's one big communal office. Looks fine. The students stare at me perpetually. One student kept walking by the window to sneak a peek at me. The like to try and touch my skin....this is the only time I'm not trying to be funny when I say  "It's because I'm black" : )  If a new student shows up, I might even get a chance to give him or her their English name. Knowing me I'll name them after my friends at home : )

The books I teach from openly instill values in the kids. The lessons include chanting things like "brush her hair" while the page the students are open to says something like "my value: stay clean".

My cell phone ring is named "diligent student"...it was between that or "outstanding employee".....wow....what an embedded culture

I've got Korea's Next Top model and Discovery Channel Korea to keep me interested in TV. The essentials. THERE ARE SOOO MANY CELL PHONE STORES. I counted 10 within 6 minutes of each other. And you thought you were technology-savy?? My students have split screen and 3D phones here! I saw a toilet-seat for 700 dollars at Lotte-Mart (Korean walmart) yesterday!

After taking the very polished, clean, fast metro to downtown yesterday, the other Seth and I (my friend and colleague) explored the city. I plan on taking intensive Korean at the YMCA and trying to get in some exercise at a martial arts gym somewhere. Everyone is so friendly. Starbucks, Burger King and Baskin Robins downtown make it feel like home. Lovin' it here!

One bad thing about Korea so far: you stand out....accept it and move on
One great thing about Korea so far: you stand out....and so does everyone else who speaks English

It was easy to ask someone we saw on the street that looked foreign where the foreign hang-outs were. I had Soju last night with grape-juice. KOREAN VODKA/CRANBERRY yessssssss not to mention that the "drunk munchies" choices here include fried chicken tenders and plain old corn from a can....and sour kimchi of course!

As I right this I am watching the Starcraft channel.....Asia is the only place in the world where grown men can be sponsored by huge corporations to wear shirts and play video games. Its sort of like America's obsession with Poker as a sport.

Ok, more later...don't want to make this blog so long that people get bored with me....cause lets be real... I  get bored with me sometimes.

I leave you with the Monroe Middle School paradigm: Be Good, Be Careful, Stay out of Trouble

~CP

"Annyongha-say what?"

So I've done it. After months of talking about it and debating with myself and driving my friends and family up the wall due to chronic indecision--or my insatiable desire to be the center of a conversation (which one it is I haven't decided yet). It's a little past 1 am here. I'm jet-lagged after the plane ride and some awesome in-flight Korean movies. Check out the movies "Heartbeat" (the Korean version of John Q) and "Meet the In-Laws" (aka Meet the Parents). 

I caved and started a blog. Who knows how long I will actually keep it up. Please excuse the bland context of this first post. I am in no mood for creative juices to be flowing....26 hours of being awake does that to you. But I might have lots of free time on my hands. I have a phone that calls internationally for next to nothing and WIFI. OH! And a cat named Charlie who is deathly afraid of me as of right now, but that's just a couple of bags of catnip away from being friends.

I live on the east side of Daegu. About a 25 min metro ride away from downtown and the ex-pat hang outs. I don't work weekends and my days start at 2pm and end at 10pm....so far so good. I actually live in a multi-room apartment by myself...and the cat Charlie of course. The bathroom is a room itself but SURPRISE no sink. Guess Im cleaning the pearly whites in the kitchen every morning.

I heard that I wont get much of a Christmas break (sorry Luther, lets plan later) but I will get 3 days plus a weekend for something like a Korean thanksgiving and about a week for the Lunar holiday off in January. Japan is only a few hours away by TRAIN (underwater apparently?!?!) and Seoul is the same in the opposite direction. I plan on getting a tailor-made suit while I'm here.

I had my first dinner with my boss tonight. I managed to spill only one plate and did so with copious amounts of bowing and Kor-englishing some sorrys afterward. I love the food though. Lots of vegetables and kimchi but no gym in sight. Must get insanity mailed to me for bored cold Korean winters.

I look forward to hanging out with the other ex-pats my age on my street and exploring downtown soon since I don't actually teach until August 2nd.

I HAVE MADE A GRAVE ERROR..............I have misplaced my Olympus USB chord that connects to my computer....so no pic downloading for now....I'll send you the address as soon as I get it!

Stay classy San Diego,

~CP