The Amazing Race

I'm not feeling the least inspired tonight, as I've been sick for the past couple days, but I must sally forth despite upset. Upon my arrival in Korea, which just so happens to be exactly 30 days ago, a very likable and scholarly man (David) - who just so happens to be married to my boss - forewarned us of the perpetual cold and flu-like symptoms we'd experience due to environmental adjustment. Heretofore illness hasn't reared its ugly head...that is until now. My head is so congested I have difficulty hearing, and the phlegm is a deplorable sight. I'm not trying to evoke any sympathy from you, I'm simply attaching a disclaimer to my blog ;)

Sullivan School. Sullivan School, Sullivan School, Sullivan School... The hogwon where I spend most of my waking state has been an eye-opener as of late. (You might catch a pang of negativity here, but know first that I do appreciate the work that I'm doing.) Just today I discovered, slightly hinged on conjecture, that my students have been given twice the workload compared to that of last years Dolphin class. After speaking with Marie (my boss), she has explained that the language curriculum currently in place is scheduled to be completed in six months time, whereas it would normally take one year according to developmentally appropriate practice. Keep in mind that these kids are 5 years old! If I were to complete all curricula handed me, it would leave my students absolutely no time for spontaneous interaction, free time, or play. In my mind that's unequivocally ludicrous. Regardless, the issue that I'm having the most difficulty approaching is how unaffected parents can be. All they seem to care about is homework, and lots of it... With regard to focus on homework and grades, yesterday I completed report cards for kindergarten. Report cards, in the first three weeks...for kindergarten! I'll stop ranting, but ponder that if you will. Private English schools in Korea are in a category all their own...

Very much on a lighter note, this last weekend we participated in an event that I discovered on AdventureKorea.com called the "Amazing Race." It was a competition planned by an animated girl named Jihee, a native South Korean, who wanted to organize something fun and exciting that would also benefit charitable causes throughout the world. There were 15 teams of four that entered the "Amazing Race," and each paid 20,000 Won (the equivalent of about $20 US). Not too shabby for an excellent day of sport and play, along with altruistic contribution. Maybe Jasmine posted more about other teams, but I'll pony up only with the details surrounding ours. Jasmine, Trena, Morgan and myself chose a somewhat campy name: Team I (Heart) Lamp. Lame, maybe...but entertaining to the lot of us. Ironically, one of our team members hasn't even seen the movie. That might even make it more lame, and I'm down with that, ha! :) With this slogan shall I run for president one day..."Adam Van Straten - no one's ever been more down with lame!" Aand moving forward once again... I'm sure most of you are familiar with The Amazing Race tv show in the States, so I'll spare you any kind of long explanation. The gist of it was, we were given clues telling us where to go. Along the way there were trivia questions and side-missions that could be completed for extra points at the end. Team Lamp succeeded at finishing in 9th I believe. Unfortunately, because it was a race (not that we were really moving all that fast, but still...), it was difficult to remember the names of many of the places we visited. However, we will visit them yet again...especially the fish market, which was spectacular. I've never seen so much fresh seafood! You'll also notice the Cheonggyecheon River in one of the pictures, where I miserably attempted a hacky-sack mission :) It may not seem like much, but amazingly, this river has only recently been in plain view. About four decades ago it was paved over due to South Korea's "determination to catch up economically." Just last year, it was uncovered and reclaimed by the city in an effort to focus more on culture and the environment. Good stuff!!



As far as other aspects of Korea are concerned, and to be perfectly mundane, the weather is fairly nice. Spring has finally signed in. Trees and flowers are beginning to bloom, and I can occasionally smell the beautiful bouquet of rebirth amidst all the smog. I'm now just anxiously awaiting the day when I can take a weekend trip into the mountains to see the woods in full chlorophyll-choked glory.

I just recently purchased a cell-phone...or should I say, it was purchased for me. (Thank you Duskim!) My new number is 010-7222-2201 ...and the international dialing code may still apply with this (011-82 ...before the number) If ever you want to call, just pick up a cheap international calling card, and dial away. I'll most likely answer, if I'm not in the middle of a lesson that is.

OK, love you guys, goodnight!

Seoul Shamrock

No reminder is needed for many of you, as I'm sure you're urine was green from all the shamrock suds you consumed, but yesterday was St. Patrick's Day...even in Seoul. In fact, Seoul hosts a fairly large celebration for the holiday in Marronnier Park in Hyehwa. We consummated such an event the same as most around the world - with good food and beer (and a little too much soju, a deceivingly potent alcohol in Korea, almost tasteless - I'll have to send some home). There was even a Korean traditional Irish band with some good jiggin' to boot!! Marronnier was filled with foreigners of every shape, size, and color (...makes them sound akin to candy...it was pretty sweet, ha ha lame). However, and this may sound strange, it's a little unnerving to have seen so many white people again. It almost makes you feel self-conscious. There's comfort in that I think. It lets me know I've grown accustomed to life in Seoul. I no longer look out my window and feel estranged. It is home.

I will write more tomorrow, as I've more time this week. It was just a matter of letting things settle down at the beginning of the new school year. Time to dream up some good transition techniques (my kids are the most energetic bunch I think I've ever encountered). Minus the hitting and kicking, they're so fun! Happy St. Pat's! Shamrock it up!!

Bukhansan

I've much to say, but zero time during this particular AM for such enjoyment. I can offer this much until later: I stepped from my bedroom onto what appears to be our invariably disused atrium (all will change with warmer months...plants I say, plants!!). I peered down to the street below, and in the center of road stood an older guy with a pack and a curiously bewildered look, as if he had just woken from a trance and found himself unaccountably in this place. It was a very surreal moment, and I couldn't but help thinking that this may be a vision of me sometime in the near future. We've only begun to explore the humble vastness of this country, and I predict we will find ourselves in precariously sublime situations of confusion; I look forward to it... My eyes wandered upward, eventually coming to rest on an eminence that is only visible certain mornings, given the forecast of smoggy obscurity. Baekundae is the highest point in Bukhansan National Park in Seoul. It's just 2,744 feet to the top, but, surrounded as it is by much smaller hills, it looks considerably bigger. It has in any case a certain imposing majesty that beckons.

On a lighter note, here is some video footage that I uploaded onto YouTube last night of our Sunday meal yesterday, enjoy :

Sunday Splurge
Sunday Splurge 2

Wipe the Slate Clean

I suppose it's about time I contribute to the unyielding guilt that is a blog. Regret consumes me each time I forgo the opportunity to update all of you, but I've been so busy lately! With the beginning of the new school year - 13 tireless 5 year-olds to watch over - an incessantly dirty apartment, the exploration of an endless city, the gym, and finally...yet seldom happened upon, time to myself in order to ponder the entirety of this great experience. It should get easier after this hellish week of orientation... No time, no time...

I mentioned a gym. South Korea is a country dead-set on the importance of appearance. It's everything (citizens are allowed tax breaks for having had plastic surgery!!). None-the-less, Jasmine, Trena (another teacher at Sullivan) and I have all joined California Fitness, an out-of-this-world workout facility. To give you an idea...five levels - each the size of a normal gym - hundreds of people any time of the day, catalytic club music, escalators, stores and salons, and the most amazing locker room I've ever seen. I'll include a picture that I captured to further your musing...

Aside from narcissist land, I'm becoming more and more comfortable living in such a large metropolis. We've discovered many interesting foods, some that I really really like... Gweggie-galby (spelled phonetically for myself and you) is a traditional Korean dish that is served to your table as fresh as imaginable. A grill is provided you, and you thus cook marinated meat and fresh vegetables over the heat, do-it-yourself style. I can already tell that this approach to dining will be something that I miss when I return to the west. On a related note, if any of you enjoy california-rolls or sushi of all kinds, we've discovered what are referred to as "kim-bpop" (the b and p combined when you say it..."bpop" meaning rice) restaurants, where you can get the equivalent of ten dollars worth of sushi for about two! Anyway, the food is great, great, great...and if ever I'm in the mood for western food, I can find about a million places for that as well. Seoul's got the haps! (Today, one of my 6 year-old after school kids asked me "what be the sitch yo?"...I couldn't help but laugh :)

Today was officially my first day with my kindergartners. We had about an hour with the kids, and then herded them down to a commons area where we sang songs and spoke to parents for a first-day-orientation. Good times...long day. My boss, Marie Chung, has just recently added a new sector of classrooms to her school, and I am the proud recipient of the newly finalized Dolphin room. I teach 6 year-olds (Korean age, so five in the States) who have already been at Sullivan for a year. So, returnees. Also, because of my rooms infancy, I've virtually nothing to work with. At the same time, working with a clean slate is always capital. Those of us with new classrooms can order anything we need (budget doesn't matter, as far as I've been told). I can make that room anything I damn well please...yes, Marie gives us that much freedom. Like I said, I think I'm really very lucky to have found this job.

Well, goodnight for tonight...I've dreams to dream, plans to plan, minds to...min...mold, that's it.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Today was a national holiday in South Korea...more specifically "Independence Movement Day." On March 1st, 1919 independence fighters announced Korea's declaration of independence from Japanese colonialism, which unfortunately resulted in the deaths of thousands of unarmed protesters. On a happier note, this meant that schools were closed, and that yours truly had a day off. What better to do on one's day off you ask...why, lug 60 lb. suitcases up five flights of stairs of course!

Today we moved into our home away from home, and I honestly couldn't ask for more. Our apartment is part of a building that's actually considered a villa, by Seoul standards. I'm not sure if I mentioned this, but Sinsa-dong (the province where I live and work - "dong" meaning neighborhood...loosely) is the most affluent portion of Seoul. Affluence = nice apartment for Adam and Jasmine, apparently. To be honest, I think we lucked out. We have some pretty great views from a 5th floor apartment, it's extremely spacious (comparatively), and the previous occupants left us damn near everything that we'll possibly need over the next year. We're talking and iron, ironing board, toaster, towels, sheets, cleaning supplies (which were utilized diligently this afternoon and evening), cooking oils, spices, food stuffs, pharmaceuticals, bathroom supplies, etc...

I lie in bed now, periodically glancing at the midnight cityscape, outside one of many windows enclosing our atrium. Good stuff I tell ya, good stuff. I've had a grin on my face most of the day :) Tomorrow is my first day of teaching my after-school classes. I'm awesomely excited for that, but the paramount moment doesn't arrive until Monday, when I'm unleashed upon my wicked 6- year-olds!! This is going to be a blast!

Until next time... "If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."