One More Year

OKAY! So Epiphany time. For some oddly irrelevant reason as I was walking the halls of my school I nearly stumbled with the realization that I ONLY GRADUATED LAST YEAR! The first few years out of College I hear are often the hardest, yet despite that I've landed myself in a comfortable, well paying and challenging job, have the opportunity to travel- all that Jazz. Its not impressive to anyone anymore. Baut actually only now at this very moment on the Eve of Christmas does it finally seem impressive TO ME!

So far I've been vastly underwhelmed with my own development, especially when I take a look at my student debt and think "I hate the idea of being a debt slave for the next 20 years- Cant it just be all paid nooooow?" So i often imagine prioritizing my cash into repayment thinking I could live each month on $200 no problem. But i'll have at least a lifetime to pay back all that krap and for now i'm still sexy, free and single (title of current K-pop song in my head.) 

Not only do I have the opportunity to travel like so many others but I AM GOING TO! Primarily Singapore this coming February and though this is where I would enter a self-depreciating comment to make it seem modestly unimpressive, I can't think of any because that IS just awesome.

So what seems like bragging is actually just a partial emergence from the sea of agonizing terror that is living on my own in a foreign country and this happens to come a mere hour after resigning for another year. ONE MORE YEAR! ONE MORE YEAR! (I'm not sure though if it is a full opportunity or a partial condemnation.) ¯\(°_o)/¯

I've Lost My Sense of Self Due to the Cold

Maybe as a way of keeping the writing thoughts constant I could just make this a weekly thing. Its better than ignoring it completely I suppose- then again I hate talking about myself when people cant see me flex my impressively thick bones and try to pass them off as muscles.

 So Winter is here. No surprise to anyone living OR dead in the last decade. Because chances are that no matter where you are at this given moment, your bones are shaking to the.... well bones. Even my bone of brevity and wit seem extra chilled as of late.If you cant catch my [snow]drift then let me [cold]snap to the point.

Its cold. Its really Damn Cold.

At night- "Aww man that looks nice. Even Winter has its great beauties."

In the Morning- "Aww man i gotta go out in that Krap."

Its a good thing my thick leather jacket is an all sort of weather accessory, otherwise without it my students may get a peak at my overstuffed build and prod questions as to why I need to wear three shirts everyday. And two pairs of socks. And unfashionable ear muffs. Its a stinging reality to see how shallow Korean fashion can be- being so proud of your 300.000won Nike sneakers that you'll wear them out into an ice storm for lack of anything better looking. Makes me feel cheap for wanting to keep feeling in my toes.

 The number one complement I get nowadays is that i'm "Very Practical." Speaking specifically of my BIG LEATHER CONSTRUCTION BOOTS. Hell ya its practical. I can actually walk down the street as opposed to ski. And they don't even know about my obsessive use of Long Johns for the last two months.

This time of the semester is a gauntlet of relaxing and fun having, neither of which is particularly easy. (sarcasm implied). As Final testing has finished, every class for the Korean Teacher's Subjects are break and free time. But not in English- OH NO. It MUST be some activity or game. Gotta wring that Waygooki for as much language as he's worth. Which I don't mind all that much actually.

So with the free time now I've got plenty of English Games to plan and fine tune and come work hours- its time to play them. English sure is Tough Stuff. (Partial Sarcasm Implied).

A lot of free time lately goes towards two things- playing Video Games or experimenting with cooking (namely leftovers)
This Bread Pudding was one of my better accomplishments. It took much more than just mixing junk together so i actually feel this sickening weight in my chest which is often described as pride in your work.

 As with during the warm season- filling the free time with friends in a small city is harder than expected. Even more so now when so many have mates of their own or moving to a new location. That goes double for it BEING SO COLD that i don't actually want to go anywhere. Aww hell i'll just admit it. I'm going into hibernation. I'd live out the rest of winter on stale crackers and peanut butter if it lets me avoid that Jack Frost jerk. 

As for all the past events that I've neglected to mention, here is a randomized gallery of all those extravaganzas.

Halloween Lumberjack. A costume classic overshadowed by the fact that I was one of three ax wielding Joes. I happened to have the worst one.

There was a video reel showing all the girls at the volunteer dog shelter petting and cooing over how much they love dogs. We men were not featured because we were to busy hammering in fence posts.  

Our Waygooki Turkey day was a fantastic feast. Just be greatful my feast frenzied face isn't in focus  here. 

Ah- Nevermind.

Also- I caught a cold this last week, which for those who don't know, that means I may as well have been a lung heaving, tea suckling corpse for three days straight. I'm almost UNdead now though. That's a plus.

i'm threw tough. (and why spell check in a pain)

Oh man I tell ya what its been a great time lately. Computer on the Fritz, compuer goes down, having to rush all overthrow place, even now i'm having to write this from my phone, which is why odd words may pop up here and there. First world problems ok tell ya. The papercutting of life. But really in truth its been all okay. In fact its been a half blessing. Since I can't surf the Web on hours I have to entertain myself elsewise. Just yesterday I made a strong and delicious whiskey sauce to go wit huh my pancakes and boy howdy it was foolproof. Today was especially eventful since it was the big scary Korean SAY tests. Supposedly air tragic across the country is delayed for two hours just for the listening portion. Owes just happy to have a while.day off, so I took a solo vacation to Daejon. Being a bigger city makes it a bit intimidating when looking for company, but before I even made it through GB the three hour ride, I already made a friend of a grandpa that happens to know a further knows a guy that knows me. So fast friends of course. I had to turn down dinner and drinks because- well its Thursday I got class in the morning and after drinking with Koreans go uh will not be being anywhere in the morning. Randomly picking a spot on a map to visit in a new city isn't exactly a good idea. ever. But it worked for me this time XP tally ho. The daejon expo center was just awesome. The Sibley art exhibits were awesomest and the gardens were so peaceful, I was glad to be on my own or else chatter would.nave killed the ambiance. Most of all though was the facilities themselves. Polio so much great inspiration for writing. It was a short but fantastic time all for me. This is what it is to be a journey man, to explore and learn and be capable on your own. Amazing that i'm living like this. Pics.to follow once internet up

One of them days...

Today has been too much a pain in the rear. I swear everything has been breaking around me today. Its like some invisible black-luck tribble has been gnawing on me all day. I wouldn't mind jumping in an Ion Shower if i thought it might wash the little bugger off. What do ya say Bones? think it'll work? (Also, i'm on a re-run binge)

I don't mind the trivial things too much, just a large piece of chalk stuck in my chalk pen- so I cant use it. Its a simple problem though. no need to come up with come elaborate plan of attack that takes most the free time of your day and makes you feel like a monkey with round block and square peg... right?

Well obviously wrong. And though I appreciate the assistance from my much more level headed co-teachers, its my problem to fix my own stupidity. And fix it I did, though not before ruining another perfectly good pen and having to clean up a huge mess after myself.

I don't want to talk about it.


So what is better after a bothersome day at work than taking a long bike ride along the river and along the way, nonchalantly drop your 16gig memory card into the depths of the rushing currents. Nothing- truly nothing came come close to such a thrill.

I am smart enough to have backed up MOST of those files, but it was too wild of a chance accident to really be upset. I mean, the thing was pocket sweat-glued to the back of my phone. There was no telling it was there. It was more of a mastermind escape than accident. If it really wanted out that bad- well no use in theorizing now. The big fella is gone.



So luck likes to screw some fellas over- i get that. But this.... this is too much...

I like to be a tidy person, so i clean my utensils well enough. A word to the wise though, when washing your one and only decent coffee press that was shipped all the way from home and finds constant use within your kitchen every morning, don't shake it dry!

Chances are you might tap the thing on the sink lip- which just might crack the whole thing and render it useless. Then again, chances are that if you do this, your just as dumb as me and therefor have no real hope left. Just give up kids. That's the moral here.

Though if i try really hard, I might be able to pick through the glass shards in my morning cup...

Ma cheeks are burnin.

Its been quite a while since i wrote much at all, but thats just because i've been so busy moving and shaking all over the place. Most recently, all along the bike trails of Korea.

Spent a whole saturday navigating along the Nakdong river with my bud Jiro. Nearly 8 hours on a bicycle. Now plenty of people had ridden longer and harder i'm sure, but do you know what 8 hours on a bike does to a mans bum? Makes it sore. Really REALLY sore.

My actual view for about 80% of the trip

Jiro was absolutely appalled I could ride my bike with no hands,
let alone take a picture.

The days weather at about 8:35 am

It was still so foggy, it was like being pelted with rain when going down hill

Feeling victorious after riding up a looooooong hill.

a well earned break.

This is the face of TRUE PAIN

Thankfully we had markers like this, because we got lost regularly.

Dont tell anyone, but we stole a few persimmons off of this tree...

A mist enveloped shrine.  

This was the general scenery the entire time.

Eventually the sun popped up about 10 

Even short bridges like this broke up the monotony of concrete road.

The scenery did change the further we went along. Here, a yellow sea right outside Yechon

At least i was able to listen to some music on the way... and maybe play a game or two.

Korean Sweet Persimmons are just in season. Though they're not the best of cuisine,
they grow a plenty and you're sure to eat your fair share.

PAN-

A-

RAM-

IC!

This was such a huge hill, it left even the hardcore Koreans weeping. Practically needed climbing gear,
but after this it was all down hill. 

After a long day ending up in Songju, this was as kawaii as I could get.

It was a really memorable trip and i'm glad just the two of us took it, otherwise a crowd wouldn't have been able to handle it as much. (Or maybe so but with a ton more complaining.)

I wouldn't do this on a regular basis, but even so I already feel anxious just siting around doing nothing all day. Could this be what they call... healthy?

A glorious beginning

I had a dream... that a wise man told me-

Pour the milk BEFORE the cereal,

And i wondered at his genius.

"With this, I can measure how much cereal to use! Amazing"

And when I woke up, i did as he said. Milk first- then cereal.

The portion was perfect. Just enough of both.

Providence!

As I basked in the serendipitous state of the world, the intervention of a life from the other side- that's when I truly realized-

The Milk had gone bad.

A Damn Fine Vacation

Everyone needs a break now and then. So whats a good way to take a break from living in another country where I barely speak the language and stand out way too much? Do the same thing In another Country!

It was hot as hell but I was still cool.

We all know that vacations are rests from work- but I tell ya, going through the whole process of being lost and feeling completely incompetent again for 7-days straight aint much of a rest. But believe it or not its been more fun than that.

The most notably new experiences include- Sleeping in Capsules. Not as small as you'd expect and rather comfy. Even for a big fella like me. Other hostels had good accomendations but in a shared cabin space. So in a way these were bigger. Out of all Japan, these things were sizable enough to  fit me properly.

As for the Trains and Planes and even Bicycle lanes, thats something completely different.

The highlight of the trip was our day of tours. Earlier we had met up with a few local friends of my guide Jiro. We all got along quite well, but to my dismay only on of them spoke fluent - nay- any English. Leaving me to e the outcast for most of the day. Even So, we were able to communicate well enough to teach each other kids games and order food and have an overall good time.

And Said good time started out as a mistake. On our special day of tours, we were scheduled to visit the Suntory Whiskey Factory. Delicious sipping and a free tour to boot? Yes please.

Unfortunately, we jumped the wrong bus and ended up at the other Suntory factory tour- for Beer. Oh the sorrow! Not only had we to go through TWO factory tours, but we had to sit through TWO free tastings. CRIMINEY!

Even though we, or at least I, didn't understand a word, these things are pretty universal. Especially since everybody really just wants to get to the tasting at the end.

First they always take you around the long track of the factory to see every last boiler on display. And considering how hot it was already that day, everybody shuffled through that section real quick. At least they do the kindness of taking you through the storage shed. Hundreds of Kegs all agging in a single storeroom- you could just breath and you'd start stumbling like a drunk sailor.

But boy was the wait worth it.

Here's Jacon being useful. 

Everybody was smiles that day.

The face of Satisfaction

Though Japanese know their brews and broths, the high point for me was truly the many temples and shrines we trotted through. Scenic doesn't even begin to describe it though.

On this particular night, the air was heavy and the night lit by
the occasional Lightning.

These aged gateways of prayers and well wishes ran all along the mountainside. It was a sobering clime, mostly  because it was a tough climb even when our shirts  weren't sagging like wet blankets. Even so it was a blissful contrast to the crowded streets and train cars. 

There isn't much else to say except that I loved Japan despite its unaccommodating size. I'd love to and likely will go back in due time, but first I'd better save up. Japan costs a FORTUNE!

My body is SO HOT but i'm still soooo cool.

So what a party its been round these parts. So wild. I hardly have time to sit or sleep, let alone write! Which is of course a wild exaggeration. Nut hey, its a better excuse than "I'm so lazy it should be a sin." So for those who may have forgotten since i've been away, here is what I still look like.

Same old handsome devil. So dreamy.

 So most regular days i'm just living out my term here as a regular Joe. Enjoying rare eats when i'm able but mostly just back to a base diet of cheep and easy bachelor food. When i'm not to busy with banging korean phrases into my extra thick skull or strumming away at the Bass for my own tone-deaf appreciation of musical slop, I'm often at my neighbors partaking in an early afternoon brunch and wine. We even get crafty at times and whip little things like this up.

This is a spicy one! Had to reseal the bottom
with leather and Glue. Works just fine.

Nice Night Lights, but not real candles.
At least we got to drink all that beforehand.

Recycling our bottles like this keeps us from having to take out the garbage to often. Of course we don't have much else to do with them but give them away, but we may be forming a secret plan with them soon. Though we've yet to see what hatches from that.

As for work, its been a busy summer break, since break is non-existent in Korea. Oh sure, plenty of teachers and students both want their vacation time, but its Korean Governmental standards that all students take optional-mandatory summer classes. Just to get those 9-extra hours of studies in.

What they don't understand is that most kids don't give an owl's hoot about extra classes. Especially English, so i get a handful of 18-year old robots in shut-down mode. After this week, we eventually demoted our class time from actual language studies to just playing Frisbee. In English of course but the only thing they really learned that day was that Frisbees aren't always reserved for just dog toys. They're still wrapping their head around that one though...

This weekend was a particularly dreary time as we all got to venture out to some traditional villages to learn about culture and -what else- ENGLISH! Yet despite the best efforts of our leaders, this was the general mood of the day:

YUP. Right there with ya guys.

The truth is, ITS JUST TOO DANG HOT! The humidity is like nothing I've suffered before. I would compare most likely to a sun scorched desert, but at least in a place like that i'd be able to find a scorpion den to roll into to relieve myself of this sweltering heat storm. 

As such, it shouldn't be a surprise that the most fun had this weekend was in the cool AC'd room.

This was the most energy we were able to muster...

Others though seemed to handle it quite well. 

Since I've been here I've been lucky enough to make some great friends, despite the poor statistical ratio of meet foreigners in the most 'traditional' region of Korea. Even so, the musically inclined despot from Chicago- David Kelly- 

Don't be deceived. He's as bawdy as a sailor!

 And the well  curated chief of all things Japanese, coffee, tea and culture - Jiro Hara-  Who i will be travelling through Japan with very shortly during our actual vacation. 

Certainly looks cultured enough.

 So an exciting time is expected ahead. A full week in Japan. Running to-and-fro in a second foreign country where I don't speak the language is just my idea of a good time too!