앤디오빠

All Good Things...

2010-02-01T07:25:00.000+09:00

With February 2010 being my last full month in Korea, account issues with Google and YouTube, and just wanting to start fresh, I've decided to start a new blog - leaving the old behind, and starting fresh.

The new blog is called "Andy is not here.", and you can you can check it out at andyisnothere.blogspot.com.

I know I haven't posted much here lately, and to be honest, mainly because I really haven't had anything positive to post about. But, with the new blog, I'm going to try to post more often than I have been and write as much as I can about Korea, and my 2nd working experience here (plus other things as well ^_^)

So, yeah, Andy is not here.

The Sequel Rules

2010-01-25T12:53:00.003+09:00

Something that got me thinking, when I was watching some random stuff on Youtube the other day.

There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to create a successful sequel. Number one: the body count is always bigger. Number two: the death scenes are always much more elaborate - more blood, more gore - *carnage candy*. And number three: never, ever, under any circumstances, assume the killer is dead.

Yeah, Randy's rant about the rules of a sequel, and it made me think about my 2nd time in Korea.

Rule 1: the body count is always bigger
Well, I haven't killed anyone, but I feel that I'm wasting a lot more time than I used to in my previous job in Korea. My main issue is that I have to be at school from 9 - 5 (40 hours a week), when I don't have enough work to justify being here for 40 hours a week.

Also, with my previous job in Korea, I was there for 3 years, in a hagwon, in the middle of nowhere. Now, I'm in a Korean public school, and handed in my resignation after 3.5 months.

Rule 2: the death scenes are always much more elaborate
This is the first teaching job I've ever resigned from. All the other teaching jobs I've had, I've just seen out the contract (in a few, I have been offered/been told to re-apply for but have decided not to).

Rule 3: never, ever, under any circumstances, assume the killer is dead
I've decided that It will very unlikely that I will be coming back to Korea for work in 2010. My next challenge in my life is to get my life started in Australia. Long term job, house, car, etc... I'm 30, i gotta start acting like it.

So here's the deal...

2009-12-23T22:05:00.004+09:00

Have decided to leave Korea early. Gave my letter of resignation to my school on Monday, stating that my last day will be February 28. I didn't realise that it was a Sunday, but they are cool with it. The teachers handling the situation are being very understanding and supportive. Since Feb 28th is exactly 6 months, I don't have to pay back the re-imbursed airfare and settlement allowance of 300,000won. Also, since it's exactly half of my 1 year contract, they are allowing me to have half of my holidays. I've got 5 days in Jan (the first full week of Jan, so 1st through to the 10th), and then 5 days in Feb (from Lunar New Year - Feb 13 to Feb 22), and then the last 4 days at work, preparing things for a new (possible) replacement.

It wasn't a decision that I made lightly. I haven't been enjoying my job pretty much since I got here. I have no big regrets (small ones, yes, but not big ones) about taking this job and trying something new in a place I've been before. One thing that this experience has emphasised more for me, is that you're the only person who can truly look after you. I now know that Korean public schools aren't my thing. Outside of work, I am enjoying my life here in Korea, but to have to go to a place you don't want to go to 5 days a week, is hard.

I've got issues that I have to deal with back at home as well, and I'll be honest, if these issues didn't come up, I would have tried to stay in my job for 12 months, and I think I could have. But, this is just the way it is. You gotta do the best with what you've got.

As Kenny has said:

You gotta know when to hold 'em
know when to fold 'em
know when to walk away
know when to run

For my own sake, it's time for me to fold 'em and walk away, so I can come back feeling better than ever.

Yeah, I do want to come back to Korea. This chapter in life has taught me to look before you leap, test the waters before jumping in. I think a part of me was so eager to get back to Korea, that i jumped into this job a bit too quickly. If you have to go to a place 5 days out of 7, you should may as well enjoy it - and I'm not.

So this is how it works:
Feb 26 (fri) - last working day
Feb 28 (sun) - last official day, and moving out of apartment day
Mar 1 (mon) - public holiday (independence day)
Mar 2 (tue) - first day of the new semester
Mar 3 (wed) - meet my co-teacher in Suwon so that I can cancel my visa/sojourn properly
Mar 5 (fri) - get to incheon airport by 9, so that I can check in for a flight that leaves at 11am.

From my experience, Koreans can plan stuff pretty well, when they need to. I've given them more than 60 days notice as to when I'm going to quit (sure it's only 10 days, but any bonus is good), so that they have a bit more time to try to find a replacement. I've told them if they would like any help from me, then all they have to do is ask - it's the least I could do since they're helping me out too.

I've also sorted out places to stay from Feb 28 to Mar 5. Friends are awesome when they help out - I'd like to think that they know that I would do the same for them as well.

Possible move to tumblr?

2009-12-04T07:42:00.002+09:00

I've created a tumblr account, and have been posting some stuff on that. I find the layout and usage a lot more cleaner and easier than here in Blogger. Sure, Blogger can do more stuff (like comments ^^ hehe), but tumblr has a design factor that I love. Anyway, I'll be posting random stuff on my tumblelog that doesn't really need a full post to go here.

andyoppa.tumblr.com
Check it out ^^

I had GEPIK orientation from Monday to Wednesday this week. Overall, it wasn't too bad. Too many young, arrogant people there for my liking. No life experience, with the idea that coming overseas to "teach" would be a walk in the park, and then having a whinge and a cry when things in Korea are different and not what they expected and not trying to understand what's going on, and then telling Koreans that they have to be open-minded because they come from a different place.

As Anrie said in Kindergarten Cop (I think):

You're in my world now!

I'd often have Korean friends tell me that parents who said their kids to hagwons and other English learning places that have a foreign English teacher, that they're worried about the foreign teacher not being qualified, and only just being there for show/to make more money. After being in a room with 250 other "teachers", I finally understood what my friends were talking about. Don't get me wrong, I met some awesome people there, who are trying their best to teach, without a background in teaching - they have their students' learning and well-being in consideration at all times. But a lot of others I met (mainly young ones who just got out of college, who didn't study either English or Education) are the ones I was talking about in the above paragraph.

They're also the ones that kept me up at night, until 2 or 3am, with noisy drinking - only making that bad stereotype about young foreign english teachers in Korea stronger.

Daejeon Science Museum and Expo Park

2009-11-22T22:13:00.006+09:00

Pictures from last weekend in Daejeon (대전) - National Science Museum and Expo Park

2012

2009-11-16T20:32:00.003+09:00

Went to see this on Sunday in Daejeon. 2 things stood out for me.

1: They mentioned the East Aea, not the sea of Japan. It looked like they were forced to say it, instead of saying "you should visit your son in Japan", when his son actually lived in Japan.

2: When a grandfather, in which his son had moved to Japan, married a japanese woman, and had a child, called his son in Japan, he pulled out a picture of his granddaughter, which of cause looks asian. A lot of the audience laughed at that moment.

Greek food in Itaewon

2009-11-08T10:51:00.001+09:00

After studying Korean for 2 hours with Banannas, we got some lunch.

Was very tasty.

It's been a while...

2009-11-03T12:50:00.004+09:00

Well, I've been in Anseong for 2 months now. I'd say that I've adjusted pretty well. I just wanna write an update to let people know what's going on.

1. The job.

I thought it would be different (in a good way) to my old job because it was in a public school. It's not. It feels worse. I feel that I have less support in my current job, than I have ever had as a teacher. I had more support from my hagwon boss back when I was in Korea the last time - and a whole lot more support from schools/teachers when I was in australia.

My co-teacher, who doesn't co-teach, has approached me twice and said that he wants to be included in the lessons, and wants something to do rather than just stand around (and he just spaces out - a few times i've seen him just staring into oblivion, so I've just done behavioural/class management myself in Korean, which I can deal with, because I was working in a hagwon for 3 years, where I had to do it myself). But, when it comes to actually planning together, he never shows up, and the one time he did, all he said was "Is there anything I can do?". If he had shown some initiative, and picked up a book and said "I'd like to look at the lesson for tomorrow, so we can plan something together.", I'd be a lot more impressed. He's a nice guy... but... yeah...

So, I have 6 classes with the co-teacher. They're the official curriculum classes. Then there are "bang-gwa-hu" classes (방과후 means the dismissal of class for the day), but these classes are basically after lunch anywhere between 1pm and 4pm. I have 2 of these with every class, and 1 with kindergarten. They're basically hagwon-style classes, where I'm by myself doing my own thing. Which I'm also used to doing, because of the hagwon thing. At first, I had behaviour issues with Grades 1, 2 and 3, but grade 1 and 2 have settled down, and are getting better, but there are some students who have some issues, and are really testing the limits of my patience and my skills. Still have a few things up my sleeve, it's just a matter of finding out what what's gonna work.

I also have a teachers' class on Friday afternoon. It's meant to start at 4pm, but if they turn up, it's between 4:10 and 4:20. Last Friday, only my co-teacher turned up and after seeing that he was the only one to turn up at 4:20, he thought that he should call the other teachers that normally come and remind them. I told him not too, that it's their responsibility to come on time (and gave him a bit of a look, since he turned up 20 mins late).

I've also got 3 mornings of no class, so I'm very bored at times. I've been using a bit of that time to study Korean.

2. The lifestyle

One of the first things I did was join a Gumdo place, and started doing Gumdo again. I'm in the 6:40pm class, which a good bunch of kids (and a couple of adults). It's my winding down from work time, where I can get a bit of exercise, and enjoy Korea. My teacher is pretty cool as well.

This week, gumdo is closed for the week, due to the paranoia around swine flu (and that the teacher decided to close for the week, since Anseong Elementary is closed for the week as well).

I've been travelling around to see old friends, which is nice, and have made some new friends here in Anseong too. Since I'm living in another place in Korea, I'm able to go to places that weren't easily accessible compared to where I was last time in Korea. The plan is to travel to a few of those places to check them out.

3. The future

I've got 10 months to go in my job, and I'm considering what I want to do after that. I don't think I can stay for another 12 months, if I'm offered. The plan is to save a lot of cash, and maybe even study Korean for 6 months at a uni here in Korea. Or, go home and get a "real" teaching job. I am starting to regret giving up the teaching job I had before in Mildura, to come here to work here.

Just gotta seriously think what I wanna do, and the means of which to do it.

I like Korea, just not the work.

남사당놀이 사진

2009-10-12T09:36:00.001+09:00

Here's some photos from Namsadang Nori.

남사당놀이

2009-10-11T14:00:00.001+09:00

Went to watch this 90-min show with H last night. Was good. Enjoyed it a lot.

Here's a few random bits from it.

한글날

2009-10-09T13:02:00.001+09:00

Happy Hangeul Day~ ^^

Last Night

2009-10-07T18:18:00.001+09:00

Pizza: 6,000 won ($6)
Cheese Spaghetti: 4,000 won ($4)

Pizza place's name: priceless

(Yeah, I know it doesn't say "gut" in Korean, but still made me laugh.

Ancient Tranquillity (태고의 평온)

2009-10-04T20:47:00.001+09:00

My first track, using Logic Express.

A bit of an update

2009-10-03T19:25:00.007+09:00

Not much happening lately. Have survived a month here, and things aren't going too bad.

Here's a few recent pics:

Met up with Bogeum and Hyunmin a week ago, and hung out. It was good to see them. Since I left Korea last year, they've got married (I missed their wedding by 2 days), and have moved into a new place.

Met up with another old friend, Taejin. We hung out in Anyang, and caught up.

A watch I bought in Anyang.

Met up with Dohyung on Friday, and relaxed at Lake Park (호주공원) in Ilsan. It was nice to see a decent sized park in Korea. But, was even better to meet up with Dohyung. Known each other for over a year, but it was the first time to meet.

Some Nike slipons I bought in Ilsan. They feel very comfortable.

Can has!

2009-09-17T08:22:00.000+09:00

Got a bank account, so now I can get paid.
Got a phone, so now I can contact people.

Yay!

Something that could be useful from The Korean Times

2009-09-16T10:10:00.003+09:00

The Korean Language Section (which I didn't know exist, since I don't look/read at the Korean TImes very often) seems pretty interesting if you're interested in learning Korean.

But, the romanization sucks, in my opinion *^^*

Weekend in Busan

2009-09-14T09:19:00.010+09:00

Made my way to Cheonan-Asan Station (천안아산역), via Bus 370, a train to Cheonan, and then taxi to the station. Got tickets to Busan, and a ticket to come back Sunday afternoon.

My friend and I didn't have any lunch, so we had a late lunch - McDonalds. The McDonalds in Nampodong is huge. This is only one small section of it.

We then walked around and did a bit of shopping, and we found Frisbee - an Apple Premium Reseller. The staff there were so helpful and kind (and did the whole "한국말 잘하시네요" (you speak korean well, in a surprised voice) thing - I think I got that about 5 or 6 times this weekend). Maybe they just enjoyed their job, or maybe it was because I spent $400 there. Anyway, I had a good experience there, so the next day, I bought them some Krispy Kream donuts.

Later on that evening, we had dinner at out most favourite Galbi (갈비) restaurant in ALL of Korea, 생수갈비, met up with some of 성진's friends, and went to a bar and did a bit more shopping. They had to go, so after that, we got some Krispy Kream donuts, some drinks, and went to 용구산 공원 (Yongdusan Park) and chatted.

Sunday Morning breakfast - 소육백반, or as I called it "모닝 갈비". It was very good. A nice selection of 반찬/side dishes, and the meat wasn't overcooked, and was thinner than regular galbi/samgyeopsal.

We did a bit of internet research, and found 나무그늘, a place that has the skin care fish for your feet. So, we got some drinks, and paid for Dr. Fish. It was not busy at all, when we got there, there were only about 7 or 8 people there, including the staff working there.

Since it was very quiet there, they let us have Dr Fish for 30 minutes. It was 성진's first time to have fish eat his feet, so he was more surprised and shocked than I was when I put my feet in.

After that, went to Busan station, and made my way home. Decided to treat myself to Pizza, and got Domino's. Wasn't anywhere as good as Domino's back home, so I think I'll try some other cheaper Korean Pizza places near my house next time.

Week 2

2009-09-14T09:09:00.007+09:00

First week of work, and first week of Geomdo, so things were pretty full on. Was pretty tiring, but survived ^^

Here's a few pics.

Added some more words to my "Word's I'm learning" wall. Have taken a few off since then, since I've used and remembered some ^^

The new washing machine arrived Wednesday afternoon. It's a lot bigger than what I thought it would be. It's very quiet, and does an awesome job.

Dinner with my Geomdo teacher, and two if his friends.

At Geomdo. I think this was one of the students who was going to Seoul on the weekend to take the Black Belt 1-dan test. Will find out the results this afternoon.

Week 1

2009-09-06T11:01:00.009+09:00

Well, I'm here, and i've had the week in "quarantine", which means... just don't go to school for a week - you might have H1N1. But you're free to roam around and do whatever. So i have been ^^

I've joined a gumdo place and will start tomorrow. I'll also start going to work tomorrow. I've met some of the other local English teachers, and went to Seoul yesterday to meet up with some old friends. Here's a few pics.

Dinner with some local teachers on Wednesday night.

The co-teacher left a piece of paper at the school, when we were going to go to Suwon to get all my immigration stuff sorted out. I wasn't allowed to go into the school. I'm in "quarantine" holiday, remember? But, I was "lucky" enough to see this sign at the school's entrance.

3 buses go past my school. There buses are the ones I need to take to get to work, and to get back to my place in the afternoon.

Us at Dr Fish. After having some deeee-licious Samgyeopsal for lunch, we went to the Dr Fish cafe, got some yummy treats, and then out feet were the treats for the fish for 17 mins ^^ Very ticklish, but was good. Felt bad by putting the same socks on afterwards.

After that, we did a bit of shopping, and took a photo using some new touchscreeny camera things on the street. Was cool to meet up with friends again.

Other highlights and lowlights of the week were: going to Anseong hospital to get a medical thing done for my Foreigner Card, waiting for 1.5 hours at Suwon Immigration Office for 5 mins of time with a clerk for dropping in paperwork for my Foreigner Card. Going to noraebang 2 times this week, having my first "bored" day on Friday.

I think my first phase of culture shock is over. When I get into a regular routine next week, with work, and gumdo, that's when the second phase will kick in. I'll see how I go.

So, yeah, I'm here

2009-09-02T18:19:00.001+09:00

3rd day, and I haven't taken many photos. Tried today:

My "Words that I'm learning" wall.

My new Gumdo place that I'll start at from next monday.

Before we go...

2009-08-30T13:50:00.000+09:00

Had a nice breakfast (spaghetti on toast) at the motel, and had a very long shower, since I won't be having one for a day and a bit, and got ready to go. Met up with family, got some photos, and dad dropped me off at the airport.

Official weight of the luggage: 20.4kg, carry on with the computer was about 6.5kg. No issues what so ever. Got some delicious (but expensive) wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce, and a large bottle of water afterwards (they were pretty salty).

Went through customs with no issues. Things are all going pretty smooth. Was temped by some of the stuff in duty free, but decided not to get anything. the HD camcorders were VERY tempting. huh

Installed Snow Leopard last night. Thanks to my sister's bf who got it for me (because she was too lazy). Saved about 14Gb of Hard Drive space, and things seem to be running all right, except for Spaces, which has a weird thing going on sometimes.

Have a window seat to Malaysia, and then an isle seat to Seoul. 2.5 hour stopover in Malaysia (1 hour behind Korea time, 2 hours behind East Australia). iPod has a few movies on it, with a battery pack, so it should be all good. The noise-cancelling headphones worked a treat in the car yesterday, so looking forward to testing them out on the plane. *^^*

1 day to go

2009-08-29T20:59:00.002+09:00

Drove to Adelaide today. Stopped at the Waikarie Bakery for lunch, and had lunch at Watermark, an all you can eat place in Glenelg. Fly out at 3pm South Australian time tomorrow. *^^*

2 days to go

2009-08-28T18:27:00.000+09:00

Suitcase is sorted
Carry on pretty much sorted
Everything else is pretty much sorted ^^

Driving to Adelaide tomorrow, and fly out on Sunday, arrive in Korea Monday morning.
Won't be online all that much from Saturday until Monday (and possibly longer)

Yay!

Copy and Paste

2009-08-20T20:56:00.002+09:00

I don't mind a bit of YG Family Electro Pop now and then. Se7en is alright, and so is Big Bang. I also didn't mind 태양's first EP (i refuse to call it a "mini album", it's an EP!). G-Dragon's latest effort, Heartbreaker, is sickly sweet to the ears, like when you've just eaten too much double chocolate chip chocolate ice cream with quadruple choc pudding with chocolate fudge sauce with white chop chips on top, just for the color contrast.

For me, it looks like some people have watched a Lady Gaga video, listened to Right Round by Flo Rider, and listened to any american rapper trying to sing and fixing with Autotune.

But hey, I'm still listening to it :p

2 weeks 1 day - update

2009-08-15T17:53:00.003+09:00

Since the time to go to Korea is getting closer, the theory is that I'll be blogging more often. With 15 days to go, it's starting to sink in that the next weekend, will be the last weekend that I'll be in my hometown. Will be driving to Adelaide the next weekend to get my flight to Korea.

I'm very much over the suitcase situation. I called the airline and they told me it would cost me $25 for ever kg over 20kg. I got the suitcase down to 20.5kg, with most of the essentials in it. If it ends up being 22 or 23kg, then I'll just pay the extra cash.

Saved another wad of cash to go with the savings for when I get to Korea. Not exactly sure when I'll get paid and all that - coz have to go though the whole process of getting my Alien Registration Card, and then making a bank account. So, the more cash I take with me, the less stressful it will be.

Had lunch with a friend at centro today. It made me think that i'm at that stage (again), where I'll be meeting up with good friends for the last time in a while. My list of friends to see in the remaining two weeks is pretty short. It's my last 2 weeks, and I'll spend it how I like. ^^

Saw this t-shirt at Target today, and since it was 20% off, I decided to get it.

It's only 1 t-shirt. It won't mess with my luggage limit too much, will it?

Is or Isn't?

2009-08-10T21:01:00.005+09:00

Every now and then, I'll read a few articles from the English newspaper websites in Korea, and after clicking on a title that catches my interest, i'll read the opening paragraph to see if it's worth reading.

Here's what I read, from the Korean times, titled "1.1 Million Foreigners":

The number of foreign residents topped 1.1 million in May, meaning one in every 50 people living here are foreigners. Korea can hardly be called a multicultural country yet, but it may only be a matter of time before it becomes one, given the ongoing pace of increase in foreigners, whose number has doubled in just three years.

So, what I got from that, is "2% isn't multicultural, but soon "Korea" will be tolerant."

It then talks about "finding" SE Asian brides for rural guys, discrimination, and what some of the things the government are doing to help the foreigners adjust to Korea.

Then I saw an article called "Face Korea's Racial Divisions" in the Joongang Daily, so went on to read the opening paragraph:

The number of expatriates living in our country has exceeded 1.1 million, according to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security’s survey of non-Koreans of foreign nationality who have lived in Korea longer than 90 consecutive days or have acquired Korean nationality. The statistics show that our country has become a multicultural society.

So, what I get from that is "2% = multicultural". It then talks about the reason for why there are racial/discriminatory problems in Korea, and what steps are being taken (for both Koreans and foreigners) to try to improve the situation.

After reading both articles, the one that gave me the positive feeling about have had lived in Korea, and the feeling about goin back, is the Joongang Daily article. Because of the final paragraph:

What’s most important is to have open hearts and a warm attitude to accept foreign residents as our neighbors. Employing a foreigner as the head of a public corporation does not suddenly make our society international and advanced. When all foreign workers and spouses in Korea feel they are welcome here, only then will our country become global in the truest sense.

That's the kind of "feel good" stuff that is refreshing for me, rather than other articles aimed at over-exaggerating already over-exaggerated stereotypes for both Koreans, and foreigners in Korea.

2 weeks, 6 days

2009-08-10T19:38:00.003+09:00

Worked two days last week, and have two days this week so far. Suitcase is pretty much packed. Will be getting a bus from the airport to Anseong, assuming I don't have customs officers trying to frame me.

3 weeks, 6 days (update)

2009-08-03T20:22:00.001+09:00

9:15pm update: Checked with my recruiter about the whole "rural benefit" thing (extra 100,000won a month, and an extra 1 week holiday a year). This school I'm working at isn't in a rural area. She said, this evening:

yes, first I told you would get the rural beneficary because I thought the school is in rural area, but after I checked with vice principal, he said, the school is not considered as rural, so there will be no rural beneficiary.

She didn't mean it, but it did annoy me/slightly piss me off that she told me information she wasn't sure about, and then didn't tell me what the vice principal said.

I'm also disappointed with her saying "I'm really bad....I make a lot of mistakes" then "I don't want to make an excuse.". But, this is something you don't really want to hear from a recruiter. In her defence, this is the only mistake/problem she's made, and I really hope it's the last. I've lost some confidence in her skill and professionalism, but I still have the job, and things are still going to planned for getting to Anseong.

She convinced me to let her call him asking about information today, but because of this incident, I can't trust her as much as I used to.

I'm just glad that I found out now, rather than when it was my first pay day, and 100,000won was "missing"...

3 weeks, 6 days

2009-08-03T14:06:00.004+09:00

Mini-update:

The school has found an apartment for me, but is waiting to hear from GEPIK about how much cash they to use, etc. I've been told it's in downtown Anseong. I'll know the address and all the info when a contract is signed.

The recruiter convinced me to take the van from the airport to Anseong, but I made it clear that I want to go to the apartment, rather than the school. By the time I get to Korea, and then Anseong, it will be a day since I've had a shower, with being on planes, and being in humid Kuala Lumpur for 2.5 hours.

Most likely will have a week off work, or as they put it "not let you go to work", because of the whole swine flu thing. Probably because I'm not eating my gimchi. I've been told that it won't be a "week in your apartment and you can't leave" thing, more of a "don't go to your school for a week" thing. Something I don't get the point of. I'm not going to call it quarantine, since it's not really that.

Didn't sleep very well at all last night, so that's when school decide to tall me at 7am in the morning. Just before 7 was when I actually started to get some sleep. Some extra cash would be nice, but honestly, I'm not a fan of being woken up - especially if I hadn't had sleep the night before. Considering telling schools that I'll only be doing pre-bookings only.

4 weeks to go

2009-08-02T17:51:00.005+09:00

With 4 weeks to go, and with my departure date being in the same month as the current date, things are feeling more real. You're probably thinking "yeah, whatever, you've been there before, so why are you so excited?". Sure, I am going back to Korea. There will be things that are the same in Korea no matter where you go. But it's the things that are different that I'm looking forward to.

I've been away from Korea for about 9 months, so my Korean skill will be a bit rusty. Also, since I'll be living in a different place, the Korean spoken will be in a different accent. I'm sure that there will be situations where I'll have to tell people that I've lived in another province before, so when I speak/use Korean, it might be a bit different.

I'll be in a different city/town, with a different job. So, different people, different things to get used to, a different group of kids, and a different group of people that I'll see every day, both at work, and both outside of work. I plan on re-starting my Geomdo classes a few weeks after I get there. I'll have to take a weekend trip to Jeongeup and Jangseong to collect my old swords, and to meet up with my previous hagwon boss, students and previous geomdo teacher - a kind of end of chapter event, to start a new.

My latest challenge is to be able to put my life into a 20kg suitcase, with 5kg of carry on stuff (My 17" Macbook Pro weighs 2.8Kg!). I'm going to have to send one package over, either just before I go, or get a family member to send it just after I leave. The main culprits of weight are my geomdo uniforms and Korean text books. I'll also set up another box to be delivered later, with some winter clothes. I'll have enough to survive the end of summer, and the autumn. I can also make a trip to Itaewon to get some clothes after I arrive. I just need to take enough to survive for 2 months.

I was sick with a bad cold for a few days in the last week. I was expecting a lot of schools to call then, since I was sick, asking me to work that day or the next. But, no calls. This week (Week 4 of this term) will be the first week out of four when I haven't had any days pre-booked. This means I'll have to wake up at roughly 6:30am, and man the phones, just incase someone calls me for work. With being sick last week, I've decided that I won't work in my last week in Australia. The last thing I want, is to have a cold when I'm travelling, mainly for the fact that people will think it's swine flu, and get all super paranoid about it. If I can limit my contact to snotty nosed kids, the better my chances are of not getting sick. It also gives me a week to drink heaps of water and orange juice, if I do catch a cold in the second last week I'm in Australia.

The recruiters that I went through offer a pickup service from the airport to your school. I'll be arriving at Inchoen Airport just after 7am, Korean time, and by the time i get my suitcase and get through customs/immigration, It'll be 8am-ish. I've decided that I'll get one of the buses from Incheon Airport to Anseong, rather than get in a van with a stranger. I've seen too many scary movies and the news to just randomly get in a car. Stranger Danger and all that.

Also, I want to do it myself, to test myself. I want to see how bad my Korean has become, and also just to be stubborn and independent. I'd rather get a bus, and relax on that, and take it all in.

By this time, in exactly 4 weeks from now, I'll be on a plane heading towards to Malaysia, and the 2.5 hour stopover there, before I get the flight to Korea.

"new" Scooter Single

2009-07-24T17:31:00.002+09:00

I'm using the term "new" very loosely here, since Scooter do use a lot of elements from other songs, to make their own songs.

The latest instalment, due out next month, is most definitely not an exception.

It was sent, just not tracked

2009-07-24T09:24:00.002+09:00

Firstly, a big 미안 미안 to the Korean Embassy. They actually sent it. It was Australia Post that fucked up, and didn't track it properly. All I got this morning, when checking online, was saying that it arrived and was awaiting delivery as of 8:02am this morning.

Now, it's time to buy tickets. 아싸!

Is it sent or not?

2009-07-23T19:06:00.003+09:00

Yesterday afternoon I sent an email to the Korean embassy, politely asking where my passport and visa was. I got this reply:

Hi there

I sent it out yesterday. You will receive it today

Thanks.

If it was sent yesterday, I would be able to track it online from sometime yesterday. Also, since it is Express Post Platinum, it means it would have arrived in my mail box today.

It wasn't there.

So, I called Australia post, and they confirmed that it hadn't been sent. If it had, it would be on their computer system somewhere, and I should have been able to track it. The call rep also told me about another person who has been in a similar situation, but had to wait 5 weeks for their passport/visa.

So, it got me thinking of possibilities... since that's what I do with stressful situations - overanalyse:

1. They guy from the embassy is bullshitting me - so that I don't worry about it. This is something that Koreans do well (with my experience). It falls under the "tell him what he needs to hear so he doesn't freak out, and we don't get into trouble" category. Firstly, telling me that it's been sent, when I can check that it has or hasn't, is just deep fried stupidity on a stick.

2. It's somewhere between the visa department after being processed, to the place where it needs to go to be in the embassy, to be taken to the post office to be sent. In other words, they've misplaced it. Which I think is also pretty silly.

3. It's somehow been lost at the post office where it was lodged. But then, it would have been scanned, and therefore would have been showed up when tracking. If it has been lost, then the call rep at Australia Post has said that the sender has to call Australia Post to start an "inquiry" to find it.

My bet is on either 1 or 2.

But, shouldn't have happened anyway.

I've cancelled a day of work, and $200, so that I can get this bullshit sorted.

Mid July Update

2009-07-19T17:48:00.004+09:00

The Blog
I've decided to put my "Andy in South Korea" and my "Andy in Real Life" blogs together, and (as you can probably tell) have decided to call it just 앤디오빠 (Andy oppa). You can find out what oppa means from here. With the new-ish blog, decided to revamp a few things. Some of my decent stuff links have gone missing. If you used to have your blog listed there, and it's not there now, let me know. It only shows the latest 10 that have been updated.

Current situation
I finished my contract with my old school, and survived the 2 week winter break. Didn't want to spent too much money, since I wasn't sure about how much substitute teaching work I would get, and how nice my tax return would be. The tax return is very nice, and it means I'll be going to Korea debt-free, which is nice. Also, any substitute work I get will be a bonus, trying to save a bit of that here, so that if I use my credit card while I'm in Korea, I won't be in a rush to send money back.

First week in the term, I've had 2 days work, with one of them at my old school. It felt a little strange being there, but I wasn't in the computer lab. It seems that they're just filling the gap that i left there. Had an interesting, but non-surprising chat after a day of subbing there, about the lack of things being done/fixed. It's one of the main reasons why I'm glad that I left (I don't have many of them).

I've got four days booked next week, with three of them at my previous school. I've had a lot of calls about working as well, which is good. The good think about working casual, is that I can, in a way, pick and choose which days I will work, and which I can have off.

Back to Korea
I've gotten a job through GEPIK, working in an elementary school a few kilometres outside of Anseong, which is about an hour from Seoul. There's a map in a previous post, showing where I was, and where I will be. I sent my visa application to the Korean embassy (don't get me started on how the Korean consulate in Sydney doesn't seem to have it's act together, when it comes to appropriate and correct information) last Monday, and it arrived at the embassy the day after. I was looking though my blog, and noticed that when I was living in Melbourne, the whole process took five days - from posting it on a Monday, to receiving my visa on the Friday of the same week. It would make sense that the Embassy might be a bit busy now, going though visa applications, since the new semester in SK starts in about 6 weeks time, on September 1.

After checking out heaps of different flight options, the plan is to get a flight from Adelaide (which is only a 4~5 hour drive from where I am), using Malaysia Airlines, with a 2.5 hour stopover in Kuala Lumpur, and arriving at Incheon Airport 7am-ish the next morning. That's the plan. As soon as I get my visa, I'll but the tickets. If that's not an option, then I will have to get a plane from there I am to Melbourne, and fly out from Melbourne.

I've met a few of the people who are in Anseong already, and they seem like very decent people. It's good to know that I'll have a kind of "support network", but more importantly, good friends there when I arrive. I've sent a friendly email to the Vice Principal of the school I'll work at, in Korean, and he wrote one back. Almost 2 weeks ago, he got notified from GEPIK that I would be working there, but according to the information he got, it said that the person coming was female, so he called the recruiter and checked. It literally made me lol.

New ATB Single

2009-07-18T21:46:00.005+09:00

When I first heard Future Memories, this song stood out as one of the best from the album, and I'm so glad that it's a single.

ATB pres. Flanders - Behind

I got it from the Australian iTunes Store. You can also get the original version and an ambient version from the album Future Memories.

Location! Location! Location!

2009-07-06T16:26:00.000+09:00

Here's a map of South Korea (thanks to Naver Maps), to give people a bit of an idea of where I worked in Korea before, and where I'll be working from September. Where I used to work was about 300km from Seoul. This time, I'll be a lot closer.

Saturday Night's Dinner... Cooked by me :p

2009-07-04T18:41:00.000+09:00

Last Day

2009-06-26T20:07:00.000+09:00

It was my last day at work today. I'll be back there a few times next term, but it won't be in the computer lab. I'll be doing substitute work before I go to Korea.

Thought I should add some photos to my blog, since I haven't taken any lately:

I cleaned my room last night, and opened up my suitcase. The first thing I put in was my Korean Language books. I plan on making more of an effort to study Korean when I go back.

I got this from the principal in the staff room at Recess. It was nice to get something, and be acknowledged by everyone, even if I was only there for half a year. I've received a few glasses like these from other schools I've worked at. It seems to be the standard gift for teachers who leave. hehe.

This grade 1 student made the effort to write me a letter, since I was leaving, and also made the effort to find me after school, when everyone was rushing around to go home. It was from one of my best students in Grade 1, and felt a little happy and sad when I read this. ^^

2009-06-25T12:25:00.000+09:00

Got told today that the school I was going to work at, decided to get their own English teacher, but only told the 경기 education board today. The education board called my recruiter to offer me a different job, still in Anseong, but in a different Elementary school. Already told my recruiter that I'll take the job, but already wrote on my application form that I accepted the job at the previous school. Was assured that it's okay, and there's no problem with that.

My main issue is with getting an apartment in Anseong city, and then getting the bus to and from work each day. I don't want to be living in another small town (or smaller than last time) again. Being only an hour from Seoul should help.

My Top 40

2009-06-24T19:29:00.000+09:00

One Step Closer

2009-06-23T20:30:00.000+09:00

I got my Police Check with Apostille back today, which means that tomorrow, I'll be sending all my paperwork to Korea, to get my "Give this guy a visa" letter processed and sent back to me.

In my last week of work, and things are okay. I like the job, and if I didn't want to go back to Korea, would stay there. Feel a bit sad that I'm leaving, but I know where I wanna be.

Looking forward to the holidays. Got 2 weeks off, starting next week. Then, for about 6 weeks, will be doing casual teaching, until i go to Korea. Already got 3 days booked at my current school during the first two weeks. The plan is to visit some schools on the first day of term, to get my name, number and face out there.

Update

2009-06-13T10:39:00.000+09:00

Got all my reports done yesterday. Feels good to have them all done as well. Writing 480-ish reports for each kid was a bit daunting, but got it done.

Still waiting on my police check for my Korean visa paperwork. I sent it off three weeks ago, and with a long weekend, has probably delayed it a bit. Once I get that, I need to get an apostille (which only takes 4-ish days), and got some uni transcripts, all sealed up (Korean visa paranoid style), and I'm good to go.

I'm hoping that I can come to Korea in the week before I start work. If my apartment in Anseong isn't ready, I've got friends I can stay with for a while, until I go there. I'm looking forward to living and working in a new place. Hoping to start doing 검도 again when I get used to being in Anseong - gotta get my swords from my old teacher.

2 weeks to go until the end of term, then 2 weeks holidays. I'll be (hopefully) doing substitute work until I go. There's plenty of work around (apparently), and I'll find out in the middle of July, when term 3 starts, if there is or not.

돌아가다

2009-06-03T17:26:00.000+09:00

I've accepted a job to work in an Elementary school just outside of Anseong city (안성시), and will start in September.

Going back!

2009-06-03T17:23:00.000+09:00

I've accepted a job to work in an Elementary school just outside of Anseong city (안성시), and will start in September.

Just because I can...

2009-05-16T21:19:00.000+09:00

I downloaded Windows 7 Release Candidate (64-bit Version), and used Boot Camp on my Mac. Install went okay with no problems at all. But a few messages made me laugh:

Just Imagine...

2009-05-05T13:52:00.000+09:00

14 out of 21 computers giving you this message (including the one you're demonstrating on), in a class of Grade 1/2 students, and the only way to fix it is to restart the computer.

Now, imagine, on a regular basis, 5 or 6 computers doing that, every time you use Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. EVERY LESSON.

Weekend

2009-05-03T19:18:00.000+09:00

Bought Future Memories (the latest ATB album) from iTunes on Friday, and had a chance to listen to it. It's not too bad. I also ordered the 2CD/1DVD version from Amazon Germany. Here's what I thought of it.

Last weekend, when I got home from Adelaide, I set up the bookshelf that I bought from IKEA, and put it in my room, and got it all full of my junk. I like the design (I've a very design conscious person), and like the way it looks. Other than a bookshelf, it's acting as a desk, and an Entertainment Unit. And, for $129, it's doing a very good job.

While cleaning my room, I found 3 of my old mobile phones that I had used before I left the country. I took them into a phone shop to recycle them. From left to right: Sony Erricson, Nokia, LG. Japan 2, Korea 1. hehe

Lately, I've been playing Star Trek: Conquest on my Playstation 2. It's a strategy game, where you have to take over the galaxy. It's kinda like Risk, but with a Star Trek theme. I'm not doing too bad, i think.

Post from Adelaide

2009-04-26T08:21:00.000+09:00

Came to Adelaide this weekend. To meet some friends, and to do some shopping. IKEA, Marion, Harbourtown, and possible Rundle Mall...

Lately, I've thought about my options for 2010, and I've come up with my Top 3. These are no particular order:

1. Stay in Mildura. This is the most boring option. This is the "life" that I would have had a few years ago, if I didn't go to Korea. I would have bought a house, and started to settle down. Mildura isn't a bad place, but it's damn boring. This style of middle-agedness is not for me.

2. Move to Adelaide. I've been to Adelaide a few times this year, and it's not too bad. But, It just reminds me of just a bigger version of Mildura. There are things to do, but eventually, it would get boring as well.

3. Go back to Korea. I really miss Korea, and until recently, I saw going to Korea as putting my life on hold, and then would restart it when I'm back in Australia. I've realised that that isn't the case. Life is life, no matter where you live it. Compared to now, my life in Korea was simple, enjoyable, and even though there was bullshit to deal with (everything has bullshit to deal with), it was different bullshit to here, and it doesn't feel as bad as the bullshit here.

and seriously, I'd rather get middle-aged in a country where I'm enjoying myself, rather in one that I'm not.

2009-04-23T21:18:00.000+09:00

First week back hasn't been all that good. Teaching computers, in a computer lab that has regular problems and annoyances - in other words, borderline unusable - gets frustrating pretty quickly. Also, being told that you have to use Office for Mac, because it's cheaper (but not user-friendly, and shit interface) does get frustrating as well.

Word crashing as you open it - and only temporary fix is a restart.
Word crashing after you save a document - it does save, but you've gotta reopen it.
Powerpoint crashing as you open it = and only temporary fix is a restart.

Having those problems makes it very frustrating to do work. Frustrating is an understatement.

There are other issues at work that I'm trying to deal with, but taking things a day at a time. I'll be honest - I'm not enjoying the job as much as I thought I would be. I enjoy it enough to stay for the whole year (assuming that I get the 2nd semester contract). Assuming that things don't really improve - 1 year would be enough for me.

Just see how it goes... see how it pans out.

2009-04-20T18:25:00.000+09:00

Back to work today, which wasn't too bad. Holidays were getting a bit boring. Set the alarm for 6:20am, but was a bit early, and hit snooze a few times. Got up, had breakfast, checked facebook and a few other sites, had a shower, and got ready to ride to work. Only took 25 minutes - which isn't too bad.

Work was okay. I've got 3 classes on Monday - a prep class and two grade 1/2 classes. Most of them were still in Holiday mode, so were a bit restless and easily distracted. Probably still hyper on all the chocolate they ate during easter. Unit meeting dragged on a bit, but to be expected since it's the first one back.

The ride home was more difficult than the ride to work. 35 minutes. Highlight of the day was using the Boseong Green Tea powder (보성 녹차 가루) I bought when i was in Melbourne, and sprinkled and mixed it in with some Peter's Ice Cream. 맛있어!

Plan is to ride my bike to work tomorrow as well. Wanna do it for the whole week to see how it goes. Also got a plan to hit the gym 2 times a week, but with a fair bit of stuff on this week (both work and personal life), might only get there once.

Something to make me laugh?

2009-04-19T08:56:00.000+09:00

Watch Pac Man in Real Life on CollegeHumor

Watch Lion King 300 and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

Easter Weekend

2009-04-18T16:25:00.000+09:00

Went to Melbourne, and Great Ocean Road (went to Colac, and stayed overnight in Warrnambool, then Great Ocean Road the next day). Had a good time with friends (that could actually make it, and didn't fuck with my plans).

Here's some photos ^^

Weekend

2009-03-15T15:41:00.000+09:00

A couple of things I got up to on the weekend:

A friend sent me some 한글 stickers for my keyboard, so put them on:

Made a award for the best class I have for computer class for the week:

Lately?

2009-03-04T11:30:00.000+09:00

I haven't had much to blog about lately, just going to work (which isn't too bad). I joined a gym, but recently, I've got a bad cold, and haven't been going. Once I'm better, I'll go again.

But, a few weeks ago, I ordered a new 17" MacBook Pro, and I got it yesterday. It's a big improvement on the previous Black MacBook I had.

Last week, I was thinking about going back to Korea for work again, but not so sure about it now. I don't mind my new job, even if it is a bit random at times. In Korea, there isn't much room for career advancement, when it comes to teaching English there (in my opinion), so it would be better to work on my teaching career here in Australia. If I can, I'm thinking about going to Korea for a 2 week holiday in either early July, or late September (just before Chuseok). See how that goes.

Got 4 and a half weeks to go until the Autumn Break, and am planning to go to Melbourne for about a week. Looking forward to it. One thing that was (and still is) hard to get used to, is being in a country where travelling for 4 hours doesn't get you very far (where as, when I was in Korea, 4 hours got me to Seoul or Busan ^^).

새로운 시작?

2009-02-15T20:23:00.000+09:00

I've made a naver blog, to practice Korean, check it out: 난 영민오빠다!

Nike Hyperdunk

2009-02-14T15:46:00.000+09:00

Not much choice of Nike and Adidas shoe in my town, but found something I liked.

Korea Sparkling Widget

2009-02-07T05:54:00.000+09:00

The little cartoon things made me laugh (for many different reasons - mainly not because they're funny)... helps to so how Koreans think about others in Korea.

Australia Day

2009-01-26T20:00:00.000+09:00

Temporary Close

2009-01-19T19:10:00.000+09:00

Not much to blog about lately. Life is boring, I'm missing Korea, and can't wait for my new job to start, so I can get some cash. The thought of going back to Korea is still in my head, even the same job with the same boss, if that's possible. But, gonna see how my new job goes first, and how I feel about it.

First term will be getting back into the swing of things. It's been a bit over 3 years since I've been working in an Australian Primary School. I just hope that the main reasons why I left Australia and teaching, aren't at this school too. Like buying my Black Macbook, I regret leaving Korea. Still gonna get a new MacBook Pro (and I hope it's monitor quality will be as good as my old MacBook Pro.

The main things I'm still missing from Korea are my good friends there. I'm missing my simple life in the countryside. I'm missing the delicious and cheap food. I'm even missing speaking and learning Korean, and dealing with all the weird and wacky situations that Korea has to offer. I left Korea because I needed a break.

I've had a break now. I feel like it's time to go back.

But, things can change. I might feel different after working, and getting some cash. But, if it's just the cash that's cheering me up, then I know where I have to go.

New 17" MacBook Pro

2009-01-08T22:23:00.000+09:00

I"m thinking, it's pretty sexy, and I've never been happy with my Black MacBook since I got it, so I think it's time to go back to a MacBook Pro. With Apple releasing the new 17" MacBook Pro with the new Unibody design and up to 8-hour battery, I'm thinking "fuck it, i'll spend the extra cash and get something decent".

I miss my old MacBook Pro since i got my new Black MacBook... ㅠ.ㅠ

Resolutions and Revelations, Part 1

2009-01-03T06:55:00.000+09:00

Before, while I was still in South Korea, I was looking forward to coming home, being with family for a while, and getting my life back to the way it was. But that's just it - you can't take a break from life, and then restart it whenever you want. For 3 years, South Korea was my life. As much as I was telling myself that things will be different when I get home (people would have moved on, done stuff, etc), I wasn't really mentally prepared for that.

I left South Korea 11 weeks ago, and to be honest, it feels longer. But, at the moment, I'm really questioning my motivations for coming back to Australia (notice that I didn't say "coming home"). I thought it would be good to be with my family for Christmas and New Year/Birthday, but actually now, i somewhat regret it. Sure, it was nice to see most of the extended family on Christmas, but it didn't do anything for me, emotionally. Put simply, family doesn't feel like family anymore, with one exception.

I also thought that having a birthday with family would be nice too. Basically, it wasn't. I have never felt more alone - even compared to times when I was South Korea. The only real person in my family who made an effort, was my mum (hence my Facebook Status update that said "Andy loves his Mum. She's fucking Awesome"). This also comes back to the idea that I wasn't ready for things being different when I come back. I didn't expect 3 extra people in the house, that I don't really know. But, I also didn't expect one family member to actually forget my birthday as well.

I'm feeling a bit like Ron Burgundy at the moment - in a glass cage of emotion.

My Top 30 for 2008

2008-12-31T06:45:00.000+09:00

Thought I'd make a list of my Top Tunes in my iTunes for 2008. Here's the parameters for the smart playlist I made to get my results (and is sorted by how many times played):

Date Added: From 16/11/2007 To 31/12/2008
Last Played: From 1/1/2008 To 31/12/2008

30: Alcazar / This is the World We Live In
29: 이효리 / U-Go-Girl (featuring 낯선)
28: Josh Gallahan / 1st Strike (Radio Edit)
27: Seal / Amazing (Kaskade Edit)
26: Peter Gabriel / The Tower that ate People (Steve Osborne Mix)
25: iiO vs Freemasons / Rapture vs Love On My Mind
24: Alcazar / This is the World We Live In (Almighty Radio Edit)
23: Scooter / Behind the Cow (Radio Edit)
22: Army of DJ's and Vanessa Amarosi / Absolutely Everybody (Army Liberation Mix)
21: Alphabeat / Fascination (Bimbo Jones Remix)
20: Scooter / I'm Lonely (Radio Edit)
19: Nature One Inc. / Wake Up in Yellow (ATB and Josh Gallahan Short Mix)
18: Moony / Dove - I'll be Loving You
17: ATB / Justify (Club Mix)
16: T-Funk featuring Katie Underwood / Be Together (Video Edit)
15: George Michael / Amazing
14: 태양 / 나만바라봐
13: 빅뱅 / Always (Korean version)
12: Alex Party / Wrap Me Up (Radio Edit)
11: Fedde Le Grand vs M/A/R/R/S / Put Your Hands up for Detroit vs Pump Up the Volume
10: Marcia Hines / You (2005 Radio Edit)
9: September / Cry For You (Spencer and Hill Remix)
8: Scooter / Neverending Story
7: YMGA / Tell It to my Heart (featuring 엄정화)
6. DJ Bobo / Somebody Dance With Me 2002
5. Scooter / And No Matches (Radio Edit)
4. Madonna / 4 Minutes (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)
3. Jaybee / Shattered Dreams (featuring Morris) (Radio Edit)
2. Alcazar / Physical (feautring Londonbeat)
1. Se7en / Girls

Other decent tracks in my Top 100:

36: David Guetta / Delerious
40: B-52's / Funplex
41: Kylie Minogue / Wow (CSS Remix)
54: 에픽 하이 / One
62: Yelle / A cause des garçons (TEPR Remix Edit)
67: Daft Punk / Touch It / Technologic (Live)
75: Alex Kunnari / Lifter (JS16 Remix)
84: Daryl Braithwaite / As the Days Go By (Extended Mix)
99: Tim Minchin / Inflatable You

Random 2008 Wrap-up

2008-12-28T15:00:00.000+09:00

Saw this on Joia's blog, and thought I could do it too, since it's almost the end of the year, and almost my 28th (29th Korean age) birthday ^^

1) What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Went to Japan.

2) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make any, but something that was kinda one was to lose weight. Kinda did that, then came home, and put some back on. haha.

3) What countries did you visit?

South Korea, Japan.

4) What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Can't think of anything, except get a decent job in Australia, which I have got sorted out already - will be working in a primary school, teaching computers.

5) What dates from 2008 will remain etched in your memory and why?

January 1 - My birthday
January 26 - Two of my best friends got married
April 12 - Went to Geoje Island with Byeongseong
June 4 - Went to Japan *^^*
June 14 - Went to Gongju
June 20 - Got my new Macbook
October 18 - Left South Korea
October 19 - Arrived in Australia
December 25 - First Christmas with Family since 2003

6) What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Going to Japan, Improving my Korean, getting a job in an Australian Primary School after getting back from Korea.

7) What was your biggest failure?

Loosing motivation at the gym.

8) Did you suffer illness/injury?

No.

9) What was the best thing you bought?

New Macbook, New Digital Camera.

10) Where did most of your money go?

Travelling (around Korea and to Japan), Retail Therapy ^^

11) What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Meeting friends, and going to new places in Korea with them.

12) What song(s) remind you of 2008?

나만 바라봐 by 태양, Justify by ATB, anything by 빅뱅 (it was everywhere!)

13) Compared to this time last year, are you:

a. happier or sadder? - A bit of both.

b. thinner or fatter? - If you asked me 10 weeks ago, I'd day thinner... but now, I think I'm a little fatter. hehe

c. richer or poorer? - money wise, poorer. experience wise, richer.

14) What do you wish you'd done more of?

Saved money while in Korea. More travelling (I didn't go to 충천북도 and 강원도... there's always next time ^^).

15) What do you wish you'd done less of?

Being lazy.

16) Did you fall in love in 2008?

Hmmm... maybe *^^*

17) How many one-night stands?

None. I behaved myself this year :p

18) What was your favorite TV program?

Don't really watch TV - I'm more of a movies at the cinema person.

19) Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Let's just say, there are a few people I don't waste my time on anymore :p

20) What was the best book you read?

Didn't read any good books this year - only bad, or boring ones.

21) What were your greatest musical discoveries?

빅뱅, 태양, 세븐, 더 자두, 'Tell it to my heart' by YMGA, 'Cry for You (Spencer & Hill Remix)' by September, 'Dove' by Moony.

22) What did you want and get?

Wanted to go to Japan, and made that happen. Wanted to go back to Australia, and made that happen. Wanted to get a job in Australian Primary School for 2009, and that happened by chance *^^*

23) What was your favorite film of the year?

Korean movie: 울학교 이티. English movie, Dark Knight.

24) What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I can't remember, and I turned 27 (28 korean age).

25) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not losing my motivation to go to they gym.

26) What kept you sane?

Friends and travelling (and really fast Korean Internet ^^)

27) Who did you miss?

My good friends in Korea.

28) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

이효리 is damn hot :p

29) Who was the best new person you met?

Too many to mention.

30) Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2008:

You only get one chance on this Earth, so why should you give people more than one chance? ;)

31) Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

That was when you said
"You least expect it"
That was when you asked
How did we get this far
So far

That was when I wanted
To correct it
But I guess there's nothing
Wrong with being wrong
At all

I can't do it any other way
Repeat I'd do it all the same way
And I won't justify
One more time

Christmas Update

2008-12-28T05:41:00.000+09:00

My last christmas at home was in 2003, so it was good to have a christmas at home with the family. But, to be honest, I am used to just doing my own thing during Christmas and New Year, especially in Korea, where Christmas isn't really Christmas.

Anyway, since I ate a ~~fuckload~~ bit too much food on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as of yesterday, i started back on my diet again. The plan is the same as last time - stop eating so much crap, stop snacking as often (and if i do, it's gotta be healthy), have a small dinner, and do some exercise.

I got some cool christmas presents, and also did some shopping on boxing day (boxing day sales ^^), which means I don't have much money until I start my new job in late January - really looking forward to that.

It's been 10 weeks since I've been home. Some of my friends have said that I've got my Australian accent back. But, I do miss Korea - mainly my good friends and hanging out with them, and all the cheap travelling around Korea I used to do. I miss some of the kids from my old workplace, and going to Gimbapnara and chatting with 이모. hehe.

Drive

2008-12-21T19:27:00.000+09:00

When I was in Korea, on almost every weekend, I was travelling to meet friends, going to see tourist/historical things, or just for shopping. It's been 8 weeks at home, and it feels weird that I haven't travelled out of the area. So today, I went to Renmark. Renmark is a small-ish town in South Australia, about 140-ish km west of me. I went for the shopping. Renmark has a Big W, and Mildura doesn't. Also, being in South Australia, it has different water restrictions - so, things were a lot greener there.

Here's a few pics:

South Australia is in a different time zone than Victoria - it's 30 minutes behind. It's the longest drive I've had, since I've been home. Driving 130km to Renmark, and then 130km back took a while, but it was nice.

맞고 할래?

2008-12-20T10:37:00.000+09:00

Thought I'd make a 맞고 t-shirt. Even printed it up on the special paper, and put it on a t-shirt. If you want the high quality design to make it yourself, just email me ;)

5 Gwang: 15 Points

Do you wanna play matgo?
*^^*

Found some old stuff

2008-12-16T07:21:00.000+09:00

While I'm at my parent's house, I found a lot of my old stuff that I had left behind before moving to Melbourne early 2005, and before moving to South Korea in October 2005. One of the things being a folder, with a few "How to Draw Manga/Anime" books, and a few of my attempted drawings. Here's some scans of what I drew:

Recent Update

2008-12-15T12:29:00.000+09:00

Found my old Mac, and it still works. It's a Director's Edition PowerMac 5500/250. 250MHz Power PC Processor, 64Mb RAM, 10Gb HDD, AV Kit. Also 4x SCSI CD-Writer.

Another scene from bike riding, on a good day.

A nearby lake, which used to be used for a yachting club.

Other things:
* Had an Echochardiogram (a fancy word for an ultrasound on your heart) on Friday, and a heart specialists appointment this morning. Basically, I'm fine, just gotta loose weight and keep eating all healthy, and stop eating crap, keep up the exercise.
* No news on the job yet. Only 4 school days to go this year - new year starts late Jan.

Let's Make a T-shirt

2008-12-08T21:09:00.000+09:00

One new idea, and one re-designed idea:

I don't know English, too.

Korean Beginner: Please speak Slowly

Creamy Thai Chicken

2008-12-08T16:59:00.000+09:00

Every now and then, I "cheat", and buy sauces to make stir fries and stuff, but I normally mess with the recipe on the back, just for something to do. So, here's what I did:

Ingredients:

1 Masterfoods Creamy Thai Chicken Recipe Base
1 can of Coconut Milk
500g of Chicken
1 red onion
1 red capsicum
2 sticks of celery
1 of 2 large handful of snow peas
enough rice
a bit of garlic, ginger and coriander.
a small lemon

What to do:

Get some rice on the go.

Get a large enough bowl (that will fit your chicken in after you cut it up), and squeeze the juice of the lemon into it. then add some coriander, ginger and garlic to the lemon juice, and mix it all in together.

I saw these in the supermarket, and thought it was decent ^^ I didn't add any chili, since a family member gets heartburn from it.

Once that's all mixed up, cut up the chicken into strips, and then put it in the bowl, and mix the marinade all though, so that it's covering everything. Put a lid on it, and put it in the fridge. If you want a stronger flavor in the chicken, maybe do this 12 hours before you wanna cook.

Slice up the celery sticks, red capsicum and red onion. If you want a bit of seasoning, just put a bit of salt and pepper in, and mix it around.

Wash the snow peas.

Get a wok super hot, and put in a bit of olive oil, and when that's hot enough, put the chicken in, and fry it until it's cooked, or until it's golden brown (your choice ^^).

When the chicken is done, add in the vegetables, and stir fry for a couple of minutes. If you don't like your vegetables as crunchy as I do, then stir fry for a bit longer.

Then, add in the snow peas and stir fry for a couple of minutes.

Add the Creamy Thai Curry recipe base, and also about 180 - 200mL of Coconut cream, mix, and them simmer for 8-10 minutes.

I randomly found some frozen peas in the freezer (obviously), and added them in.

After you think the sauce it thick enough, put some rice on a plate, and also the stir fry you just made.

Other serving ideas could be, instead of with rice, drop in some Hokkien noodles about 3 mins before it's finished. Or even, keep simmering until the sauce is really thick, and then serve in some greek yiros wraps (I plan on doing that with the left overs ^^)

Vegetable Garden - Day 31

2008-12-08T15:23:00.000+09:00

Here's some updates from the vegetable garden.

Some seeds haven't grown yet. I think I sewed them too deep. Others are doing really well. The corn is doing really well ^^

I did a bit of weeding yesterday, especially around the carrots and some of the lettuces, just so that I could see what was going on. I also transplanted some of the red onions to a new place, so that they would have some room.

I can has registration!

2008-12-04T19:20:00.000+09:00

I called the VIT (Victorian institute of Teaching) this morning, just after 9 am. My application went to a registration meeting Tuesday afternoon and was approved, so, I was able to teach as of yesterday. Yay! I was thinking it would take forever, and would get my registration approved just after the end of year.

I finished writing on my application for a teaching job today. I haven't written one in at least 4 years, and am a bit rusty with all the terms, but when i read up about all the stuff I've missed, it all feels very familiar.

Wish me luck *^^*

So, I was watching some mid-morning TV...

2008-12-03T19:37:00.000+09:00

and a cooking show came on, called "alive in kicking", and it has a nice veal recipe. But, since I don't eat babies of any kind (except for baby carrots now and then), I decided to use chicken as the meat in the dish. Here's what I did:

Chopped up a red capsicum, a green capsicum, a red onion and a celery stick. Cut a lemon in half, and squeeze the juice of a half, and grate some of the zest from that half as well. Toss the salad to get the juice and zest all mixed in.

Get a decent sized round bread, like a continental loaf, and cut slices about 3cm thick, and then spread garlic butter or garlic oil on both sides, and put it in the grill (but don't turn it on yet - do that later).

Get 500 grams of your favorite meat (i went with chicken) and slice it into strips.

Put a splash of olive oil in a pan...

...and seal the meat.

Take the meat out (we'll cook it though later), and then put in the chopped vegetables in the fry pan, to soften them up.

Turn on the grill and get the large garlic bread started.

When the vegetables has softened a little (but still have some crunch, add 300mL of cooking cream, and about 300mL of chicken stock (or a stock to suit which meat you're using).

Don't forget to turn over the garlic bread.

Turn up the heat, to thicken the liquid.

When the garlic bread is done, put it on a plate, and squash it with a fork. Make a simple salad (i used lettuce and tomatoes), and if you've kept the other half of a lemon, squeeze a bit of juice over the salad.

(forgot to take the last photo ^^).

Place the meat and vegetable mix from the pan, and place it into the squashed garlic bread, using it like a bowl. Then, pour some sauce over the meat and vegetables.

It was delicious, even if I do say so myself *^^*

paper, hearts and smell

2008-12-02T09:56:00.000+09:00

So, after 2 calls to DHL and 2 called to Australian Air Express, my paperwork from Korea finally arrived. One thing I couldn't get my head around, was that it took just 16 to 17 hours to get from the National Police Offices in Seoul, to Sydney, but almost 3 and a half days to get from Sydney, to my front door. I was not impressed, but I was glad that I got it early-ish during the day. It meant that I could now sort out all my Victorian Institute of Education application stuff - which was sorted by late lunch time on Friday, and sent off to the VIT Friday afternoon. I just called them today to make sure that they got everything and that stuff was okay (which it was), and it should be going to a registration meeting this week. When I was talking to a VIT person on the phone, they said to call back Friday, then I mentioned that I was in Mildura, and Mildura Schools are SCREAMING for CRTs, even with 3 weeks of school to go, they can't really get anyone, so she put me on hold for a minute or two, and then came back and said that there were no problems with my registration form (all the right paperwork all filled out and signed, and the right amount on the cheque), so she said to call back Friday. They're having registration meetings three times a week, so, if things are done super duper fast, hopefully, my application will be viewed on Wednesday, and if approved, when I call on Thursday, they should say "Yeah, Andy, You can teach! Go get 'em, tiger!", or something similar ^^

Had a appointment with a heart specialist on Friday, to get some specifics on why i'm on blood pressure meds for 2 years, and why my heart feels a bit funny now and then. I had a lot of blood tests for stuff a while ago, which helped a little, but I'm getting a few more specific tests done soon (had some blood taken out today), and have got an echocardiogram booked for Friday next week (that's a big fancy word for having an ultrasound done on your heart), since there's a bit of a murmur somewhere. Better to be safe than sorry. But, with the price on an echocardiogram, my wallet/credit card will be a little sorry :p

Maybe this was my problem with being single in Korea: No Lynx shower gel and body spray. ㅋㅋㅋ

한국에서는 닝크스 샤워젤이랑 보디 스프레이가 없었어서 여친이 안사귀었거든요 ㅋㅋㅋ

bike, choc and paper

2008-11-28T08:18:00.000+09:00

I've been a bit lazy since I've been home. When I was in Korea, I tried to do some hiking almost every day, but since the part of Australia where I live is pretty much flat, I dusted off my old bike, and have been riding that almost every day. Today, not yet... it's a rainy day today.

Anyway, I made a bit of a graphic to show the distance I ride.

The blue line is just what I was doing the first few rides, to get used to sitting on a bike seat again. Took about 20-30 mins (depending on head winds).
The green line is what I've been doing for about a week and a bit, and it's not too bad, takes me 30-40 mins.
The orange line is what I'm thinking of starting next week, since the green line is getting a kinda easy. My guess is 40-50 mins.
The red line is after the orange, for more distance. There are a few other variations I could take, but just wanted to put one up for comparison ^^

The good thing about being outside of town, is less traffic, so don't have to worry too much about being run over. Also, I try to ride in the morning. My alarm is set for 6am, so that i can ride before all the work/school traffic. If I leave the alarm off, I'll go for a ride at between 9:30 and 10:30am.

When I was going to the gym in Korea, I'd mix up the cardio work - use the stepper, the bike and the treadmill, and it felt great after a leg workout. The gym I went to in Korea was pretty small, but wasn't too bad.

This the leg workout I used to do (before I stopped going to the gym and did hiking almost every day):

Leg Extension: Warm up set: 15 reps @ 70kg, then 4 sets (15 reps) at 100kg (machine max)
Leg Curl: Warm up set: 15 reps @ 20kg, then 4 sets (15 reps) at 30kg (this one was difficult, but felt good afterwards)
Hip Extension: Warm up set: 15 reps @ 60kg, then 4 sets (15 reps) at 80kg (machine max)

Then, if i had time, i did a lot of cardio.

I lost about 25kg in my 3 years in Korea, and most of it was all from lifestyle changes - eating different (mostly healthy) food, not having a car, so having to walk everywhere. Doing the martial arts class after work for 2 years, and going to the gym and hiking. I've put on a few kgs since I've been home (with Korea having terrible snacks and chocolate, and then coming home and going to Target, Kmart, Coles and Safeway, and them all having Cadbury 250g blocks of chocolate on special doesn't help), and when I get working again, I'm gonna check out the gyms in my town, and see what's on offer.

When I was in Korea, i used to work out before I went to work, and that really helped with the shitty mood (as in getting rid of it) before I got to work. It really helped me deal with shit a lot easier. If I can work out for 2 hours at the gym, have a shower, and go directly to work (do not pass go, do not collect $200), I'd be happy.

Speaking of chocolate just before, I organised a parcel to send to a group of friends in South Korea (Who I affectionately call the Scooby Gang - me included... there's 4 of us, 2 guys, 2 girls, but that's as detailed as I've gone into it) which ended up being 5.7kg (12.5 pounds) of chocolate and lollies. A couple of days after I left Korea, it was G's birthday, so I sent him 3 blocks of Cadbury Chocolate, and he loved the Rocky Road stuff, and with M missing some things from Canada (Crunchie bars!), I gathered up some of those, and a few others, and then some lollies. Luckily, different supermarkets had things on special this week. Anyway, here's what it looked like, pre-sending:

I pixelated some things, so that there's some surprises when they get the box next week.

Well, I'm still waiting on my police check from Korea. I called the courier service AGAIN, and they're looking into it. I checked in on the new a few mins ago, and it says it's going to be delivered today: "Onboard with courier driver" is it's official status. This document is holding up my whole application, so it would be great if I can just sort all of this shit out today.

Not Fappy!

2008-11-27T06:38:00.000+09:00

(Fappy - based on words like "fungry - fucking hungry" and "fugly - fucking ugly").

I'm not fappy :p My police check that was meant to get delivered yesterday, didn't. I'm gonna have to call DHL people, and use my angry teacher voice.

Went to Subway for lunch, and had a vegie pattie sub. It was fuge! (fucking huge ^^)

Also, went for a bike ride last night. Didn't do much exercise in the past two days, so just gotte keep motivated - it's fard (fucking hard) at times.

Level up?

2008-11-25T15:06:00.000+09:00

Since I didn't do too bad on the Elementary korean test yesterday, I thought I'd give the Intermediate level test a go. It was damn hard - a lot of words I don't know, and it doesn't help when the voices in the recording speak slow enough so that it's irritating. - especially after listening to real speed Korean for 3 years. Also, with taking a Korean test yesterday, my brain was a bit mushy anyway.

Also, After doing Grammar & Vocab, Listening, Writing (where I just halved my score from yesterday for the 30-point open question. I know I can write the 400-600자 amount, but with my grammar and vocab limited, it would get less points, so I just halved what I got from Equinox in the Elementary test), and then Reading. After all that, a few questions in, when it got damn hard quickly, i just gave up, and I did what any person would do if they gave up in a test - hope for the best by choosing answers at random.

Here's what I got:

Listening (듣기): 36/100
Reading (읽기): 15/100
Vocabulary and Grammar (어휘 및 문법): 33/100
Writing (쓰기): 22/100

Total (총액): 106/400
Average (편균): 27/100
(technically 26.50, but i rounded up.) ^^

I think, if I persisted with the Reading section, I could have got 20~25, but, meh... I have a good idea where I'm at with Korean.

Also, once I get a job, I won't be online as much and also won't have much time to study Korean. So, it's kind of cool to know, without any real study, how well my Korean was.

I'm still toying with the idea of studying Korean for a year in Korea somewhere, but at the moment, I think it's mainly driven by me missing Korean food, the lifestyle and my friends. Holidays to Korea are more likely, and if I can keep my Korean level roughly at where it is, so that when I go to Korea again, it won't be so hard to get around.

I will admit, the Korean that I was using in Korea, is very different to the tests. If there was a section on the tests about giving/listening to directions, buying multiple bus/train tickets, while asking about where bus/train lines go, then I'd be awesome ^^

Basically, if there was stuff based on real life experiences, I'd be alright ^^

Ah, and my Criminal Record Check, that I need from Korea so that I can become a registered teacher again in Australia, is on it's way. I should be registered by... summer break! ㅋㅋㅋ

화이팅~!

TOPIK 시험 볼까? ㅋㅋ

2008-11-24T15:45:00.000+09:00

Before going for my morning bike ride today, I decided to print off the latest TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) test that people took (elementary level only) this year. For me, the test name is a bit meh... it sounds similar to TOEIC, and the word "topic", which I guess is what they were after, but "Test of Proficiency in Korean" feels clumsy. Korean Language Proficiency Test sounds better, but can't make any funky abbreviation. KoLapt, maybe? :p

Did the practice test after shopping with my sister. Here's my results for the elementary test:

Listening (듣기): 94/100
Reading (읽기): 79/100
Vocabulary and Grammar (어휘 및 문법): 91/100
Writing (쓰기): 73/100

Total (총액): 337/400
Average (편균): 84/100
(technically 84.25, but i rounded down.) ^^

There is a 30-point free writing question (150~300자로), which says:

어느 계절을 좋아합니까? (Which season do you like?)
왜 그 계걸을 좋아합니까? (Why do you like that season?)
그 계절에 특별한 무엇을 합니까? (What's special about that season?)

Here's what I wrote, on pen and paper, without using a dictionary:

한국에서 저는 가을을 진짜 좋아해요. 옛날에 전라남도의 시골에 살았는데 여름이 아주 습해서 편하지 않았어요. 그런데, 가을이 나왔을 때 날씨가 따뜻하게 편해져서 여행하러 갈 수 있어요.

전라남도에서 유명한 산은 "내장산"라고 있어요. 다른 계절에 가면 "예쁜 산이 아닌데"라고 생각하겠지만 거울에 가면 단풍나무의 잎이 빨간색, 노란색과 주황색으로 아름답게 바꿔요.

갔을데 여친이 없었어도 거기서 진짜 좋은 시간 아직도 보냈어요. ㅋㅋ

There you go. I'm hoping, that an online friend of mine, Equinox, over at Mountain and Field, who has taken a few TOPIK tests, could give me a mark (and maybe some comments, if he has a bit of time ^^) out of 30. Thanks for the email, Equinox, and the 18/30 for the written part.

Just after I took the test, I went to check out Brian in Jeollanam-do, and found this interesting article.

Sometimes...

2008-11-23T08:08:00.000+09:00

Sometimes it how you achieve something, then the result at the end...

...but it's always good when you're ship comes in.

General Update

2008-11-20T15:15:00.000+09:00

This week, i've been waking up early, and going for a bike ride in the morning for exercise. Also, I've been trying to study Korean. I downloaded the latest TOPIK test questions and answers (thanks Equinox). I've been going to the library to study some Korean now and then. Mainly covering 초급 (elementary) stuff that I rarely used, or didn't learn, when I was in Korea. But, luckily, it's fairly simple, so it's not messing with my mind.

After 2 weeks, my 채소밭 (vegetable garden) is going well. Here are a few pictures.

What i miss / What i hate

2008-11-16T16:05:00.000+09:00

Jennipal, over at jennipal.blogspot.com, asked for a bit of an idea about reverse culture shock - the things I miss about Korea, and the things I hate about being home. So, after a month of being home, and the idea of being here for a while has finally sunk in, i thought I'd write something about it. Here's the main three things I miss from Korea, and three things I hate from being back home.

Things I miss from Korea:

My Friends. I made some really good friends in Korea, and I miss them. A whole fucking lot. I miss doing the usual things we would do hanging out, whether it be shopping, eating 갈비, going to 노래방, or even getting naked in 짐찔방 (ㅋㅋㅋ). It sucks that I have to spend a fuckload of money to just be able to see them, and a smaller fuckload of money to call them. The good friends I made in Korea, are ones I'll (hopefully) have for life (whether they like it or not ^^). Students that I saw on a regular basis (I've got 3 that I call my younger brothers), I miss them too.

The Food, and how cheap it was. Almost every weekday before work, I'd go to 김밥나라 in my town, and get some 비빔밥 for 4,000 won. I'd have a small chat with the women there, if they weren't busy. All that cheap Korean food in places like that, i really miss. I miss 갈비 (especially with 성진 in 남포동, and with 강모 with the 갈비집 near his house in 대구). Also, how cheap it was, compared to eating out in Australia.

Real Public Transport. Maybe it's because South Korea is a bit smaller than Australia, but they public transport system is awesome there. Even in the countryside, there are shit loads of buses, and the cost is pretty good too. I'd travel from Jeonnam to Seoul, and it would end up costing me $50 (if I took a bus from Gwangju, or a Mugunghwa train from Jangseong) return. Where I am now, I've got 7 buses that go past during the day (latest one being just after 6pm) a few buses on Saturday, and 2 buses Sunday morning. Compared to the bus that I'd get from my apartment to Jangseong, the bus from my place into my town here - the distance is shorter, but it costs 2.5 times as much.

Things I hate about being home:

Everyone asking me the same questions. Sure, I know people wanna ask how it was, what I got from it, and what I'm doing now that I'm back home, and what I'm going to do. But, when everyone asks the same questions all the time, it does get rather frustrating. They don't do it on purpose, but it has got to the point where I don't meet too many people too often, because it just gets frustrating. It's up there with meeting new Koreans who ask "have you tried Gimchi before?" after you toll them you've been in the countryside for a long time.

Explaining Everything. I haven't really used real English for an extended period of time for a few years. So, sometimes, I make silly mistakes in English, or I just don't remember stuff (like accent stuff, or what "sandwich" or "toast" means when you're at the baker and they ask you if you want it sliced), or people with strong accents. Since a had a lot of Korean friends, I just got used to being surrounded by Koreans, speaking Korean and doing stuff in Korean. Now that I'm home, it feels that I'm learning thing again. So, when I do make a mistake, I get a weird look, and I tell people in my not-so-australian accent (which I like, and hope I can keep it. lol) that I was overseas for ages and didn't really use English.

Shit is the same, but different. The other day, I was driving around trying to find places that I used to go to, but finding out that they had relocated, or closed down. If feels like that I am a few years behind friends, since they've continued their lives here, and I've gone off on a tangent, and come back. Friends say that they wish that they could do something similar to what I did, but I can't help but feel that I'm back at square one.

Friends that were, but aren't anymore. In a way, I will find out who my good friends are in Korea too, because they will make the effort to keep in contact with me here, but not many friends that I had while I was in Australia, kept in regular contact with me, and there were only a few who I would make the effort (or have made the effort) to meet/see/contact, since I've been back. When I go back to Korea for a holiday (as early as late next year, if things work out well here), it will be interesting to see which friends I will see, and which ones who will make the effort to see me when I'm there.

Great Day for a Picnic

2008-11-15T18:31:00.000+09:00

I met up with 성국's housemates, and we went for a picnic in town. They were all good people, and were surprised that I could speak Korean well enough. But, since I haven't really used Korean in 4 weeks, i can tell that it's not as good as it used to be. we had lunch (i prepared some stuff), and then played some 고스톱. I had a great time. It's a little sad that two of them are moving out of the area. Here are some pics.

Almost a month...

2008-11-14T11:35:00.000+09:00

It's been almost a month since I've been home, and the feeling has finally sunk in. Hit me yesterday, as I started taking new medicine for my heart (which was one reason why I was getting tests done earlier this week). Met up with some friends on Wednesday night, and then with another friend on Thursday night. Both meals were good, but the company of familiar friends is even better ^^

Something that I used to eat now and then when I was young. It's called a "Monkey Face" ^^

The sweet corn and zucchini seeds have started to sprout. The tomato plants are still being temperamental - the hot wind yesterday and the warm weather the day before really messed with them. Hopefully they'll come good.

BBQ

2008-11-10T21:10:00.000+09:00

Every now and then, I'll cook at home, to give mum a break. Tonight, was something simple.

I went to a party last night, to meet up with some old friends from DJing days, and i took some meat and a salad with me, but the meat was already organised, so my friends insisted that I take it home, so I decided to cook it tonight.

There was also some salad left over from lunch yesterday, so I made some more salad, similar to what was left over, so that there was enough for everyone, and set up the table outside, since it was a nice day *^^*

Going for a series of tests tomorrow, so I can't eat/drink anything, except water, from 10:30pm tonight.

Vege Garden, day 2

2008-11-08T16:54:00.000+09:00

Decided to expand the garden, and make a second section.

So I bought some tomatoes, onions, red chillies and zucchinis.

I planted the remaining sweet corn (closest to camera), and planted the zucchinis and chillies in the middle, and then planted the tomatoes and onion. Also watered both gardens with Seasol, a type of liquid fertiliser that it based on seaweed. Basically, it looks like 간장 and smells like 김밥. ㅋㅋㅋ

4 photos

2008-11-07T18:59:00.000+09:00

Something that I haven't eaten in at least 3 years... Snowballs. Saw these on special while I was shopping yesterday. Delicious, soft marshmallow on the inside, with a thin covering of chocolate. On the outside, coconut *^^* Also, on another chocolate story - a couple of days after I left Korea, it was a friend's birthday, so when I got home, I sent 3 blocks of Cadbury's Chocolate to him. It arrived today, and said it was good ^^

Also, while I was shopping, there was a gardening section in the supermarket, so I decided to buy some seeds. With vegetables being a lot more expensive than when I was here 3 years ago, I thought it would be a lot cheaper to buy some seeds and grow my own.

So, while the rain had a short break, I decided to get a bit of dirt out the back, and plant some of those seeds. Should have some delicious vegies in about 3 months.

I'm hoping that tomorrow will be a good day tomorrow. I'm meeting the Korean friend from last week, with some of his friends, and I've got a picnic planned. But, just incase it's a bit wet and/or rainy tomorrow, I should make a back up plan.

야채 뜰?

2008-11-07T18:07:00.000+09:00

Every now and then, I have a "유치" (kindergarten) moment when I use Korean. What i mean by a 유치 moment, is when I use Korean, it sounds childish - not intentionally by the way. I just use what I know, pull meanings from English, and put it together.

When I was first learning Korean, before I knew the word for socks (which is 양말), I used 발 옷 (meaning foot clothes). Its one thing I used to try to do in Korean, was to describe what it is/was. Most of the time, this style of getting meaning across, also needs that the listener needs to know some kind of English.

Today, was "vegetable garden". I know the word for vegetables, which is 야채, and I know the word for garden (which also means backyard), which is 뜰. So, I was trying to explain to a good Korean friend (who is studying something to do with plants at university), that I am starting a 야채 뜰. Now, his English is pretty good, so I thought that he would get it *^^*

But no.

When i use Korean, i try to not use my electronic dictionary, to see how much I know and can use, but I needed to use it to get the right word.

채소밭.

채소 is another word for vegetables, and 밭 means field.

More Shopping

2008-11-05T17:59:00.000+09:00

Went for a walk around town again. When I walked past the library, I thought that I could go and study Korean there for a while, rather than doing it at home. I'm not sure what Korean library hours are like in small-ish kinda towns, but, I would imagine that closing my 7pm is way too early. haha

I thought it was funny to have Alien, Predetor, Alien vs Predator, Thank you for Smoking and various other movies, in the Childrens' section.

The Plan, Part Two

2008-11-05T08:08:00.000+09:00

I talked about what the plan was last week, but there are still some things I need to get out, so that, basically, when more people unintentionally, and unknowingly piss me off by asking "what's the plan?" and "What are you going to do?". A previous post, The Plan, was an attempt to answer this, but it seems I need to get into more detail for some people.

Teacher Registration

This is the main thing I need to sort out, so that I can work as a teacher in Victoria. I was already registered, and for the people who know me, I'm not a fan of paperwork. Luckily the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) doesn't need me to fill in everything, since some of the sections will have the same paperwork/information as my previous registration.

But that isn't the main problem/delay. There is a section about living overseas, as follows:

So, Since I've lived in Korea for 3 years, I need a criminal record check thing from Korea. So, I emailed the Korean embassy, and this is what I got:

1) We, at the Embassy will send your application form back to you after certify them.

2)You forward them to National Police Agency in Seoul.

3) They will check your records and will return the result to you.

4) Finally, you can bring the result to DIAC to obtain your visa.

After explaining that I don't need it for a visa, and how the form is more suited to Koreans, rather than people who have lived overseas, I sorted out the process, which is:

1) I fill out the form, and attach certified copies of passport(s), and I also included print outs of my visa and alien rego card (which i took a photo of before I handed it over at immigration at Incheon), and then sent it to the Korean Embassy in Canberra.

2) They then send it back to me, with their special stamp.

3) I send all that stuff to the National Police Agency in Seoul, with a funky ass return envelope with funky International Coupon Response things, and the process it, then send it back to me.

That can take about a month-ish. Once I get that, I can then sort out my teacher registration. In Korea, they do tests to get a teacher license, but in Australia, you get Provisional Registration, and then after some time of teaching, you make a portfolio, showing that you're awesome, and then a group of people check it out, sign some papers, wave a magic wand and make you a fully registered teacher.

I'll just be getting provisional registration. Once sent in, that takes about 4 to 6 weeks to process, because it includes a criminal record check from Australia. So, in total, about 2 and a half months, which means, i should be registered by January. The school year starts at the end of Jan 2009. I miss out on jobs that are being advertised now, since I'm not registered, so I gotta wait until late Jan 2009, and hopefully get some substitute work, which will hopefully lead to a school liking me, and then them offering me a short-term contract, or applying for jobs at a later date.

This then ties into my plan to get back to Korea. I'd like to go back to Korea eventually, either for a holiday or studying Korean for a while. But, I'd need to save up a lot of cash. But, getting a decent job (an ongoing contract would be awesome, so that income is regular) is the priority.

If that means moving away from here, and getting another job in another area of the state, that's cool too. Just see how it goes.

That's the main thing I wanted to clarify. I'm also thinking of going to Melbourne to meet up with friends late Nov / early Dec, depending on the cash situation.

Other than that, things are pretty much what I said before in the The Plan post.

쇼핑 하러 갈까?

2008-11-04T17:01:00.000+09:00

Today was a public holiday in Victoria, Melbourne Cup Day - yep, a day off for a horse race. So, it's a good day for shopping.

One thing that I'm still not getting used to, are the closing times here in Australia, compared to Korea. There's no "real" shopping after 5-6pm here. And, with today being a public holiday, things were open at a local shopping centre, from 10-11am, to 2-4pm. For people in Korea, imagine a store being open for only 4 hours, on a public holiday!

Andy는 타짜 아니거든! ^^

2008-10-31T20:03:00.000+09:00

On Friday, i met up with the Korean guy that I met the week before. We got some snacks from Kmart, and then went to a park on the river for a chat, and played some 맞고. He came up with the following idea: First to 100 points is the winner, loser has to buy dinner. Anyway, I got to 100 points first, and by the time we finished playing 맞고, it was almost dinner time, and since we were close to Apex Park, he was interested in seeing a beach on a river, so I took him there.

성국 decided that thai food would be nice, so we went to the new thai restaurant in town, called Thai-riffic.

A little pricy, but it tasted pretty good.

The Plan

2008-10-30T08:32:00.000+09:00

A lot of people have been asking me "So, what are you going to do now?" or "What are you doing next year?" and things like that. Sure, after being in Korea for 3 years, they wanna know what my next step is. But with ~~fucking~~ everyone asking that, it gets damn annoying. So, for the people who wanna know, here's a bit of a plan that I've got going in my head.

Get my Victorian Teacher Registration sorted out (which is gonna take time)
Possibly to go Melbourne to visit friends in November or December (depending on the money situation)
Get some substitute work, so that I can get back into the feel for "real" teaching (What I was doing in Korea, I wouldn't call "real" teaching).
After getting some substitute work, actually get a contract position in a decent school, which could lead to an ongoing position somewhere.
Try to budget my cash, since I don't/won't have much until I do get some work
Exercise now and then so that I don't put on the weight that I lost in Korea, and if possible, lose some more
Stop eating as much delicious Cadbury Chocolate (It's been on sale in three different places since I've been home!)

Ah, and one more thing I've thought about:

Try to keep my Korean at a decent level, and not loose too much of it, since I won't be speaking Korean almost at all here. In a previous post, I said that I met a Korean guy in my town, so I might use a bit of Korean with him, but other than that (other than on Skype now and then with Korean friends I made in Korea), I won't really use that much Korean.

Korean is only one of a couple of languages I'm interested in (Japanese being the other one). I'd like to keep learning it, and I've even been toying with the idea of going back to Korea in the future, to study Korean at a university there for about 6 months, after I get some things sorted for my life in Australia (like an ongoing teaching position somewhere).

While I was shopping with my sister yesterday, I noticed this in the "christmas" section of Target.

It's a santa claus chocolate statue, easter bunny style! WTF!

Christmas sucks!

Note to self...

2008-10-27T17:33:00.000+09:00

When looking for my sisters' cats, check the car:

I can haz drive?

Dusty Sunday

2008-10-26T17:29:00.000+09:00

With all the dust from the land that's been cleared, the wind brought a lot of dust today, but unlike the dust from China (when I was in Korea), it's not toxic or metallic or whatever it was.

I've been home for a week now, and I've been slowly getting used to things here. The cost of stuff is still freaking me about a bit. If I don't need to drive around a lot, I can easily catch the bus into town (not as many buses as Korea, and a but more expensive). The price of a daily ticket is abou the same as 2L of petrol, so it works out fine for me, and it's a decent workout as well - walking to the bus stop, walking around town, and then walking home from the bus stop.

Today, it kinda dawned on me - I'm not going back to Korea for a long while. Yeah, I know, I've been out of Korea for a week, but it takes a while for things to settle in and to get things straight in my head. Today was the day I also craved some Korean food, and speaking Korean and things like that. If I didn't have to budget, I would have called a few Korean friends today.

Went to a garden place, to get some ideas for a family member's birthday present.

Some things around there looked nice, but it's not my thing. We chose something out, put it in the car, and came home.

By Chance

2008-10-23T19:03:00.000+09:00

Today was one of those days, where if I didn't get the bus, instead of driving, the cool things that did happen, wouldn't have happened.

I've eaten a fair bit of delicious chocolate since I've been back (and it's damn good), so I decided to walk to the bus stop near my house. Well, kinda near - it's 2 km away. A daily ticket for all the buses in town costs $3.20, which isn't too bad. For the two things I only had to do today, I would have used more than $3.20 of petrol anyway.

Got into town, and walked to a shop close by. I accidently bought a DVI-A to VGA connector, and I just needed a DVI to VGA (which doesn't really happen), and I need to get a Mini-DVI to VGA cable to get my Macbook connected to the awesome LCD TV that my parents have in the lounge room. Anyway, got a refund for that, and then started walking up to the other end of town, which had a shopping centre, and the only real kinda-Apple place in town. I needed a power cable for my Time Capsule that has an Australian end on it, and while I was there, I thought I'd get a Mini-DVI to VGA cable.

the only cinema in town

On the way, I saw someone who was familiar, and she was looking at me. Turns out it was a friend who I've been trying to get in touch with since I've been home. While I was in Korea, her phone number became inactive, and the only other option was going to her parents place, and asking. We had a hag, swapped numbers, and had a quick chat, catching up on what we've missed out on in the past 3 years.

It got me thinking... If I didn't get the bus, or got an earlier/later bus, or was walking on the other side of the street at that same time, I wouldn't have seen her.

on my way to the apple-ish store, i walked past this chinese restaurant. I'm not sure of the chinese characters/hanja, but after being in Korea, i wanna find out what it means
She had other things to do, so we went on our way, and I walked up to the Apple-ish store to get my cables (the Mini DVI to VGA will be in next week). I realised that it was too late to get the 4:05 bus back out my way, so I had to wait for the next one, which was at 5:45. I went to the shopping centre near by, and checked out some stuff.

While I was waiting at the bus stop, there was an asian guy sitting there. About 10 seconds before I sat down, I saw him spit on to the concrete, which made me think, Korean people do that. lol. After sitting down, he opened his wallet, and I saw something that said 카드 on it. So, a few seconds later, I asked him if he was Korean, and he replied "yes" and from then on, until he got his bus, we talked about things in Korean and English, and swapped numbers.

It also made me think again. If I didn't see my friend and stop to talk to her, I would have made it back to the bus stop in time for the 4:05 bus, and I wouldn't have met the first Korean guy in my town.

After walking 10.5 km around my area, I'm a bit tired - and a bit sunburnt. It was a good day today ^^

Sandwich or Toast

2008-10-22T10:51:00.000+09:00

It didn't take long to start feeling overwhelmed with stuff, but it was something simple over bread, when it started to feel a bit weird.

After I dropped my sister off at work, I walked around the shopping centre and did a few things: exchanged some clothes, since the shorts I bought yesterday were a bit too small; bought a new mobile phone; and went to a supermarket for some stuff.

So, yeah, my news phone - a Sony Ericsson w610i. I decided to go on the Telstra network, since most of my friends are on that network. At the telstra shop, most of the phones on Pre-paid options were LG or Samsung, and after my experiences with Korean made electronics, I wanted to keep clear of those, which only left Nokia and Sony Ericsson. I'm not a fan of the Nokia UIs of late, which only left 2 Sony Ericsson phones.

The w610i came with a 512Mb memory card, a 2 mega pixel camera, Bluetooth, and a few other cool features as well, and a headset with the style of headphones that I like, so it's all good. It's also a walkman phone as well, so it can play many different type of audio files.

One thing I'm gonna have to get used to is not having Korean on the phone...

...but I put a few pieces of stuff on my phone. ^^

So, the bread. I was at a bakery, and I asked for a loaf of wholemeal bread...

Andy: I'd like one loaf of wholemeal please.
Bakery Girl: Which kind would you like?
A: Wholemeal.
BG: I mean, which type would you like? Regular, Poppy Seed.. *and a few other that she mentioned but I forgot*
A: Just regular thanks.
BG: Would you like that sliced?
A: Yes, thanks.
BG: Sandwich or Toast?
A: Sorry?

It was at this point where she gave me a bit of weird look, and I was getting a bit frustrated about all these damn options when all I wanted a loaf of wholemeal bread.

BG: Sandwich or Toast?
A: Ah, you mean the slicing? Umm... what's the difference?
BG: *still with the weird look*, Sandwich is sliced thinly. Toast is sliced thickly.
A: Oh, ok. Well, sandwich please.
BG: Sure.

After looking back, I realised that I went thought the same process before I left for Korea, but since I didn't have to go to a bakery and go though all that, I completely forgot. Also, from this point on, it's when I realised that things were getting a bit overwhelming. During the day, I've been sending emails back and forward to the Korean embassy about getting a Criminal Record Check to go with my Teacher Registration, and then being explained the whole process, which could take about 4 weeks.

Then I remembered which country I've gotta deal with *^^*

One last thing: This is one of the t-shirts I bought yesterday:

It has some random Japanese on it. It made me think about all the random English t-shirts in Korea. In Australia, mainly for design purposes, (same reason for English on t-shirts in Korea) there might be some Chinese or Japanese on the shirt. Made me laugh for a bit, thinking "I don't have any idea what it says - must be like Koreans when they buy a t-shirt with English on it".

Day 1

2008-10-20T21:15:00.000+09:00

As of today, I'm credit card debt free... until I run out of cash, hehe. So, i'm trying to budget my cash. I bought some new clothes today, but I gotta take them back to get a size smaller, but not sure how "small" I will stay, since I'm not eating Korean food, and will drive now and then (which reminds me, might check out the bus timetable - it's a good 20 min walk to the bus stop form my house).

When I went though a check-out after getting some clothes, I went though my wallet, and realised just how much change I had in it - plus all the different shapes, sizes and the 2 colors (gold-ish and silver-ish). So, as I was trying to make the right cash to pay for the clothes, I made the comment "Just give me a second, I'm still getting used to Australian money". The middle-aged women behind the counter then said to me "Where are you from?", and I replied "I was living in South Korea for 3 years, and got back yesterday", and we had a small conversation about that. But as I walked out of the store, i realised what she asked me, and it made me laugh.

Met up with my sister after work, and we did some shopping together. She wanted some new headphones, so we looked around for that, and I wanted to check out new mobile phones. There are way too many Samsung and LG phones here, and after my experiences in Korea with Korean phones, I wanna try something else - Nokia or Sony. Will buy one tomorrow.

One thing I missed from Korea was real chocolate, and when I saw 250 gram blocks on Cadbury's chocolate on sale for $3 (regular price is $4.48), i bought 5 blocks! Dairy Milk, Rocky Road, Snack (8 different flavoured fillings), Fruit and Nut and Top Deck (milk chocolate base with white chocolate on top). 맞있지? This was in K-mart, by the way. I haven't eaten too much of it yet, either. it's 1.25kg of chocolate! I had a few pieces of Top Deck after dinner, and that was about it. I've lost about 25kg, and I'm not in a hurry to put that back on.

Then, went to Safeway, and found the "asian foods" section in one of the aisles. I laughed when I saw this:

Then, had dinner at home. Mum cooked the chicken schnitzels, my sister put some chips in the oven, and I prepared two salads. It was delicious.

I'm home

2008-10-19T19:17:00.000+09:00

Arrived at Brisbane airport at 7am, but it was insanely busy at the airport. Took a long time to get though customs and immigration, and then not knowing that the domestic and international terminals at Brisbane were in the same building, so byt he time i got the the domestic terminal, it was too late to check in my luggage (got a ticket in Japan), so I was able to change to the next Melbourne flight, one hour after the planned time, at no charge, which was awesome.

Daylight savings has kicked in early in Victoria, and I forgot that Queensland doesn't do Daylight savings time, so that buggered me up a little.

Had some Subway for breakfast and dinner. Not many healthy and cheap options for food in airports. I had to pay $3.30 because my luggage was a bit heavy for my last flight. My mum and sisters met me at the airport in Mildura, and then came home. My sisters wanted to have Fish and Chips for tea, and just relaxing with family.

3 time zones in 36 hours... Tired and emotional.

Narita Airport

2008-10-18T20:43:00.000+09:00

Got to Narita Airport on time, and then got to terminal 2 with no problems. Just followed the signs, and there was a airport staff member with a list of people who had to transfer from the Korean air flight. Waited for the bus, and got to terminal 2. The girl at the check-in country (who was very kind, and cute ^^) tried to sort out my luggage so that it could go through to Melbourne, but she couldn't, since it's gotta go though customs.

Got some lunch, and checked out the duty free. The only thing I was interested in was a digital photo frame. But, with the exchange rate at the moment, I don't think it was worth it. Just bought a daily thing for using wifi in the airport and chilled. I'm looking forward to sleeping on the plane. If I can.

It's about 15 minutes from boarding time. Will be good to be home.

Last Day, Part 3

2008-10-18T17:14:00.000+09:00

The boss came to my place at about 1:40am, to collect my stuff, and take me to Gwangju bus terminal. On the way, we stopped at his place, to say good bye to his sons. They're like younger brothers to me - I used to see them every day. One of them was already asleep, but the older one stayed up to say good bye. The boss said he'll miss me, and I know I'll miss him.

Got to the bus terminal at about 2:30am, and the boss and I talked for a while, said goodbye, and then I got the bus. I think I got about 30 mins sleep, coz I woke up, and it was damn hot. The bus driver, in thin slacks and a thin shirt, had the heater on 1000% and then some. Other people were complaining that it was to hot, but then he started talking about how it's better to be too hot rather than be too cold or some shit.

The bus got to Incheon International at 7:00, 30 minutes ahead of schedule, which was good, since the check-in lines for my first flight were insanely busy. Took 40-50 minutes to check in, and then i went around checking out the exchange rate (which wasn't too bad, considering that it's gone over 1,000 won per AU$1 a while ago.

Then I finally got around to calling the friends who came to meet me at the airport. I'm so fucking happy that they woke up early and made the effort to come to see me off. They're the kind of friends that made me think twice and a third time about leaving.

After chatting, hugging, a bit of emotion showing a bit of crying, I went through the magical frosted doors, though customs and immigration, handed over my alien card, and got on the plane...

(the internet at Narita is a bit shit.. I'll post some pics later).

Well, that's the end of my Life in SK.

I'll continue blogging at: andyinreallife.blogspot.com