Samsung sucks

Went to Gwangju today, to sort out the camera thing. I got a call from the technician on Tuesday afternoon, after going to Gwangju to take the camera to the A/S centre, and show them the problem I had. He said that he checked the camera, and said that there is nothing wrong with it. So, he asked for me to come in again and to check the problem, and for him to see the video file himself.

So, I went to Gwangju, with my notebook and showed the problem. Basically, it was 40 minutes of me talking in Korean, him talking in Korean and my trying to understand. Him indirectly saying that I am a liar, by saying there is no fault with the camera, the light level was too low when i recorded the video (you can see the problem easier when the light level is low), and things were getting pretty frustrating for both of us. He just wanted me out of there, and I wanted something to be done.

So, I dropped the ultimate question: If my camera doesn't have a problem, why does the video that I recorded have the distortion lines? Then I got the look, which I think is almost a genetic thing in Korea, which I normally get from my students when they play dumb. Yes, for people who have been in Korea and have taught English, YOU KNOW THE LOOK. Its the "dumb look" that students give you, when they don't want to work, study, and generally want to be lazy. I saw that look, on the technician. So, I followed it up with "When the problem first happened, I was annoyed. It happened again, so I was more annoyed. If I take the camera, and it happens again, I will be too annoyed.", using hand gestured so show how just annoying (자쯩난 기분) would be.

His looked changed from the dumb look, to the "I don't want to make the foreigner angry" look. This is the look that I was trying to get for 40 minutes. Because, I knew that if I wasn't able to get satisfaction, I would have to use this technique. Anyway, he said to me that he can replace it, and asked me where I bought it from. Luckily, the place that I bought it from, was only one subway stop away. So, he called the place, printed out some kind of special receipt, and said to take it to the place, and they will exchange it. Something that should have taken 5 - 10 minutes, took 40 minutes, because I was being treated like a dumb foreigner.

One of the basic rules of customer service: The customer is always right. I have a problem with a camera, you don't call the customer a liar by saying that you couldn't find a fault. If a malfunction happens, there is a fault, end of story. You fix it, replace it, or refund it. Due to Samsung's refund policy, you get a refund at the 4th time the same fault happens, of the 5th time of different faults to the same product. In my opinion, it's 2 or 3 times too many.


Anyway, with that sorted, I went to the place I bought it, and got it exchanged. That place, at Sangmu Station, is just across from an Adidas shop that I know, in Sejung Outlet. I resisted the urge to check out the Adidas and Nike stores.

With the camera sorted out, I was taking photos and video all the time, to see if the fault would re-occur, but it hasn't yet, which is good. To the left is a picture of my latest hat. For me, its still strange how Korean fashion has random English words and sentence on it, but it is so hard to find clothes with Korean on it.

The picture below, from a book that I was teaching my youngest class, reminded me that I need to get back to the gym. I know its late now, but I will try to go there tomorrow, and Friday. I've got a long weekend, so I wanna go to the gym tomorrow and Friday, because the next day that I can go is next Tuesday.

Rooms, Back and Manners

No matter what I do, i find that I can't get organised in Korea. As in "keeping things tidy and in their place" organised. I have concluded that it comes down to living in one room. Yes, I have a small, concrete room that I live in. Sure it is big enough, but I can't get things organised. Things don't have a place when your house is one room. In this one room, I eat, cook, sleep, use the computer, study, read, dry my clothes... everything. I need rooms to put things in. If I had a bedroom with a desk, then I could put stuff there. If I had a living room, the TV, some books and my computer could go there. If I had a real kitchen, the fridge and all the other stuff could go there. I have tried to keep stuff organised, but it doesn't happen.

I hurt my back on Monday at the gym, but I went to the gym on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday I had no motivation at all, but still went. Only did 250 calories on the stepper and that was it. And today, with my back + no motivation, I didn't go. I think my back needs a rest to get better, because I don't think it is really healing.

One thing that always shits me, and that after 2 and a half years, students don't seem to understand the "The door is closed, so there must be a class" concept. Here, its more like the "The door is closed, so there MIGHT be a class but I'll open it anyway, barge in, and see what's going on" concept. So, they say "sorry", but the next day, they do it again. Compared to the standards I expect from children (from teaching in Australia, and just in general), a lot of Korean children don't have a concept of manners. Not all, just most. I have a lot of good students that are fantastic, polite, and never rude. But many... just... damn! One factor, in my opinion, comes down to the parenting style. It seems that good grades is seen to be preferred than good behaviour. Which is basically saying "you can be a bastard as long as you get 100% on your tests". Totally not cool.

Timetables, Randomness and Weight

Today, the scales at the gym decided to be my friend. Since last Monday, I have lost 1.8kg, which I am very happy about. I just was sensible about what I ate, and went to the gym 6 days last week. This week will be only 5, because I will have Geomdo class on Saturday. But, that is fine, because I can have a full workout (instead of a short one), since middle school students are back at school today.

Speaking of work, it wasn't all that bad. It was a bit of a write-off though. With the new timetable, and school finishing early, kids just turned up whenever they wanted. Hagwons, in my opinion, can be more like babysitting at times. If you have a class at 3:20pm, don't turn up at 2:30pm and play around, be noisy and whatever. Your class starts at 3:20pm, get there by 3:10pm at the earliest. It starts at 3:20pm, so be in the room by the time the class starts.

Because of new classes, and arranging students, I was getting used to who was in my class, and things like that. The student had homework from Friday, so I just went though that, tested them on that, and played a game of hangman with each class. One class had the sentence "Study hard, but play harder" (공부를 열심히 하지만, 더열심히 놀으세요). When I play hangman, I use Korean and English, and students get to chose one letter from each alphabet. Kinda helps them give each other sentence clues, compare the grammatical structure, and for me to use some Korean. lol

My last two classes, which are both TOEIC, aren't too bad. First class is with 4 students, a mixture of Grade 7, 8 and 9 students, and the last class is a class of 1, a Grade 9 student. They're English is good enough that I can talk at regular speeds, understand, and reply back without too much error or lag time, due to err... um....

Tired!

The week of not using my computer in the morning (so that I'm not stuck in front of it all day) worked. Been to the gym for 6 days out of 6 days (its not open on Sundays).

Friday was good. Its the last day for the grade 3 middle school students at the hagwon, since our hagwon doesn't teach high school students, so we had a Samgyeopsal (삼겹살) party (thin slices of pork, that you put in a lettuce leaf, with a sauce, and whatever you want). I didn't know we were gonna have that party, so after the gym (only 2 hours, but still decent) so I bought some drinks and a few packets of chips, but we ate those while we were waiting for the meat too cook.

While I was up on the roof, I took these photos of things around my town, just to show readers how countryside it is here ^^


I had a package sent from home last week, and it arrived today. My Japan books arrived, along with a few colored markers that I asked for (Korea only has blue, black, red and occasionally green - so boring) and a few treats from home. I shared a few with the boss, other teachers and a few students.

Played some Guess Who with the last middle school class after lunch after some study. This class is normally pretty rowdy, due to one student that now has the name Gloria. His Korean name means "glory" in English, so one of the other students called him Gloria, and its just stuck. Anyway, every time we play guess who (in any class), everyone laughs at Andy, only for the reason that that character has the same name as me. I don't look like him though, do I?

Went to the restaurant again with the boss' sons, and had spaghetti. Was pretty good. As usual. One of the guys got Pizza Dongas - fried pork cutlet with basically a pizza toppings on top, with melted cheese. A heart attach waiting to happen, but tasted so damn good!

Gym again on Saturday morning. A good friend of mine, GY in Seoul was keeping track of my new workout plan in my cyworld, and gave me some advice. So, i tried to follow that today. Was there for 3 hours, and if I follow his advice, from next week, I will be there longer. Basically, he said to do 5 sets of each exercise, and lately, I just do 3. So today, I spend an hour working out my legs (5 sets - got up to 200kg on the Leg Press, a record for me), but only did 3 sets on triceps. I hate triceps. Then the usual Stepper and Treadmill (565Cal there). The usual place I go for lunch after the gym during the week was closed, so I went to the place next door, chinese food and had 우동면. Got to the bus stop near my apartment (on the right), and waited for the bus.

I thought that IS' Daehan Geomdo demonstration was today, and I was going to be late, so I called a friend who was going, HN. Turns out that its next weekend. haha. But, I had things to do in Gwangju anyway, so I did those today. Went to the book store to buy some books for new classes, then went for a walk around the block, which got me to the 5.18 Memorial Park.


I was getting pretty hungry, so I got a bit of a snack, and kept walking. They are filled with "red bean" paste. At first, I didn't like them, but, like Gimchi, it kinda grows on you.



Kept walking around, and found a new place which has a few shops, a few restaurants and stuff, so will have to check it out on my next trip to Gwangju. Made it back to Uncheon station (which is where I got off), and took the subway back to Nongseong station, to walk to the bus terminal. Went to eMart to get a few things, then got the 8:20 bus back to my town.

I'm tired. Goodnight *^^*

Weights, Freebies and Photocopiers

Item 1: Gym etiquette

This is a no-brainer, really. Not only at the gym, but EVERY-f**King-WHERE! If you use it, you put it back in the same place. Why? So that the person who wants to use it after you do, doesn't get pissed off, when he/she can't find it when he/she wants to use it. A great example of this lately, is the weights at the gym. I kinda noticed before, that the guys who work out at the gym (in the afternoon and evening, since I only go in the mornings) do not put the weights back where they are meant to go, after they use them. I don't care how heavy they are, how much your arms hurt, how far away they are, or even the excuse of "I pay to use these, so it's not my job to tidy up". You use it, you put it back. The previous trainer used to tidy things up in the morning, but the new guy is hopeless. I notice is more now, because I'm using the weights every day. I don't think that I should go looking around for the weights, if I want to use them. If the people who use them are being like 5 year old when they leave their wet towel on the bathroom floor, and expect mummy to pick it... um... wait... that's what they do here. If its not their mum, it's their wife that picks up the wet towel.

Anyway, every day, before i lift weights, I go on the hunt, find them, and put them in order. Maybe I'm being slightly obsessive-compulsive. But, its annoying. My way of dealing with it, is to just do it. Lol.


Item 2: Freebies

One of the cool things about being a Foreigner/American/외국인 in Korea (and yes, I know I'm not American, but I'm white, and in Korea, White = American) is getting free stuff from shops that you go to. In Korea, it's called "service". Today's freebie, was a cupcake from the bakery in the supermarket near the gym. I bought a jam donut after I had lunch, and got the cupcake for free. So, I saved the donut (will have it with breakfast tomorrow), and had the cupcake on the way to work.


Item 3: The Photocopier

Yesterday, this wonderful piece of office machinery that so many people have become dependant on in the modern world (including me) was a complete bitch. Today, It had completely forgot about the altercation yesterday, and pretended that nothing happened. And yes, it is a girl... I know those mind games that its playing. I wasn't born yesterday.

Is it spring yet?

Weather wise, last week was great. Sunny days, and weather not going below zero at night.. Until this week.


Not a bad frosting indeed, and not all that cold. Not enough for it to be a pain to walk anywhere, or to be slippery. Was able to make it to the gym with no problems. Most of it was melted by lunch time anyway.


Every now and then, I'll buy something sweet after lunch. These tasty buggers, are 5 calories a gram :p


First thing I do when I get to my classroom, is open the windows, to let some natural light in. The windows here are double layered. The outside windows are covered with yellow plastic, with the Hagwon's name on it. The inside windows are normal. I find that the lights in Korea give me headaches sometimes, so the natural light helps. This is the view out of one of the windows.


Just a view of the front of my classroom.


The 똥광 on my iPod. It comes with me to the gym, for when I'm on the treadmill. Lately, House or Boston Legal is what I watch when I'm on the treadmill.


Most of my students aren't too bad. It can get a bit roudy at times, but they know the basic rules. Some of them don't really have the best behaviour, compared to the students I have taught back in Australia of the same age. But hey, different country, different everything.

Another average day

I still can't get back into a regular rhythm since i stayed up all weekend fixing my computer. Today, woke up at 7am, feeling shitty (I think I'm coming down with a cold), and just laid in bed for the next hour and a half.  So, here I am now, eating breakfast (some bread, tangerines and water) and doing the usual of checking out the blogs I usually go to, logging into messenger and shit like that.  I do plan to go to the gym gym today.  I know I can go a 600cal cardio workout, i just gotta be in the right mindset to do it.  Yesterday, I was totally not in the mindset for a good working, and with my left knee playing up, after 2 mins in, i just thought, fuck it.

Yesterday was just another regular day.  My kids are alright, but I'm pretty sure that either South Korea has no idea about ADD, or they just ignore mental problems, hoping that they go away.  I have a few kids that need to be constantly reminded to do work, and its not a lazy, "i'm gonna fuck about and waste time" thing, its a "I can't concentrate for longer than 2 seconds, unless there is someone there with me telling me what to do" thing.  With being in the Education industry for a few years, I can tell which one is which.  Job/Career wise, Teaching English in Korea is a waste of time.  Overall, its a good experience, but doesn't really get you anywhere.  Its just felt like a long holiday, that has slowly gotten worse.  Which is why I'm not renewing my contract.  I was meant to get paid yesterday, but for the first time, the boss asked me if it was okay if I pay you on Saturday.  I have no problems with that, coz I have enough cash to last me until then, but the boss gave me 200,000won to get me through until then (coz I mentioned that I was going to Seoul on Saturday).

I don't know what it is, but I hate the way that Koreans knock on the door.  Rather than a few polite knocks, not too loud or heavy, and with a bit of space in between, they bang on the door, using their fists, and just bang a few times.  Then, if you don't call out in the next 1 or 2 seconds, they do it again! Shits me!

Anyway, I don't start until 3:20pm today, which means I've got a bit more time at the gym.  I just hope I'm in the right mindset today.

Here's another pic, from my grade 6 artist, who was drawing Seongbin sleepwalking:

Not in the mood for a long blog ^^

Quick summary of today:

Got to the gym just after 11am, and was there for 2 hours. After some machine work, did a 500cal cardio workout. 350cal on the stepper, 150cal on the treadmill. Showers wern't working at the gym, so had to go to the public baths. Was only 2500won and not busy.

My Elementary Classes were okay today. First middle school class, kicked a kid out for swearing (first one was Fuck you, gave him a "you only get one chance" warning. 10 minutes later, he says 씨발, so, kicked him out). I'm sick of kids thinking they can get away with shit like that in my class, and not expect me to be pissed off. Also, they make a scene saying, sorry sorry, and they don't fucking mean it. DON'T FUCKING WASTE MY TIME.

Oh yeah, and the grade 3 middle school student who thought it was a good idea to slap me on the ass as he walked past. Show some f**king respect and keep your hands to yourself.

The 2nd middle school class was okay. I don't see the point of students being in my class, if they're not gonna talk English. Sitting there and listening does nothing. In Korea, being able to speak English well at their age isn't important. English is just another test for them in School - about grammar and vocabulary. One one hand, I feel sorry for them, because most of them grow up to hate English, but one the other hand, I really do feel like I'm wasting my time with most of them. Not all of them - the ones that do make an effort in my class, I feel sorry for, coz I'm too busy telling off the other kids that fuck around.

Only had 2 students in my last middle school class, and had way too much Pepero to give away, so they got most of it ^^

Went to Geomdo, and did another practice test. I really wanna be ready for my test on the 17th. It would be great to leave there with a pass, a black belt, and a smile so large that it would defend me instantly from Korea's bullshit (which I've been trying to deal with a lot this week). I bought my Gwanjangnim Chicken from BBQ tonight. I rarely eat with someone, so it felt really good to sit down with him, relax, eat some chicken, and just chat away in Korean. Yeah, Korean. I spoke Korean ^^ Even with good pronunciation (but my grammar needs some work ^^).

Thank F**k its Friday

Just glad that its friday. Worked hard at the gym yesterday, which made me more tired, and grumpy. Things were just pissing me off, and still are a little. My boiler still hasn't been replaced, which means, showers at the gym after exercising. I'm getting closer to that 500Cal cardio workout. 475cal yesterday. My knees were f**ked when trying to do Geomdo last night.

Work was work... same old crap.

I had Cheese Ddeokboki for dinner, which was a bad idea. Kinda gave me an upset stomach, and also set my heart of a little, so was beating a bit faster than what it should have been. Sometimes, its really hard to get to sleep when you're heart is pumping faster and harder that what it should. (that's why i'm on heart meds and going to the gym, so i don't have to have heart meds, coz i won't be fat and unhealthy). But hey, I've lost that 1kg I put on in the past two weeks from only going to the gym 3 times in 2 weeks, so its all good. Sometimes I need a break from the gym (and Geomdo) just to re-focus. But, I think i just need to use my weekends better, so that I can use them to focus, and come back Monday, hitting it hard, and giving it all I got.

At Geomdo, I've been practicing for my Black belt test that I'll have on the 17th. I've only seen one black belt test before, but it will be the first time to have one. So, Gwanjangnim has been taking me though a practice test, so I can get used to it, without laughing, and doing all the right things (like bowing, and knowing what to say, and just doing everything right). I've got today and next week to prepare for it. I should be okay, but if I don't pass, then I get a second chance next time (without paying for it).

Last night, after getting back from Geomdo, i just was in a shitty mood. I kept making stupid mistakes in my practice test. Even for a practice test, I was getting nervous. I had to take my recycling and rubbish out, which seemed to take forever. So, when i get a chance to sit down in my comfy chair, turn my computer on, I get a call from a Korean friend, which is nice, but I wasn't really in the mood for broken English, and also wasn't in the mood to deal with his recent breakup shit that I've been trying to help him with. I don't think he's all that emotionally aware, as in, his level of emotional maturity is lower than his real age.

Also, when it comes to broken English, sometimes I like to help my friends out, by fixing their mistakes. Most of the appreciate it, and try their best to fix it, but there is one thing that I have to keep repeating to this guy, and he never gets it! It can be so frustrating.

Everyone has their faults, but there are days where it's just too much to handle.

But, today is Friday... Weekend is just around the corner ^^

Wednesday's Gym Playlist

Long Way Home / ATB
Shopping / West End Girls
Fugitive (Richard X Extended Mix) / Pet Shop Boys
Rock Bottom / Scooter
Apache Rocks the Bottom (Radio) / Scooter
It's a Fine Day (ATB Club Mix) / Miss Jane
Can't Sleep (Edit) / Above & Beyond
Mr. Brightside / Jealous Guys
Borderline / Michael Gray
Strict Machine (Benassi Sfaction Remix) / Goldfrapp
Don't Give Up 2004 (Alex Gold & the Sound Xpress Radio Edit) / Chicane featuring Bryan Adams
King's Cross / Foretaste
Wild Wild West (Featuring Dru Hill and Kool Mo Dee) / Will Smith
Flawless (Go to the City) (Shapeshifters Remix) / George Michael
Outro Medley / Pet Shop Boys
In the Dark (Radio Edit) / Tiësto featuring Christian Burns
It's Home and Dry, Alright?! (Original Version) / Pet Shop Boys
The Sound Of Breaking Up (Paul Mac's After Dark Remix) / Paul Mac featuring Peta Morris
Illusion (featuring Sandy) / Benny Benassi
Time Now (ATB Remix) / Woody Van Eyden
Weekend! / Scooter
Run away / Real McCoy
End of the World (Andy's mix) / Pet Shop Boys
Flamboyant (Single Mix) / Pet Shop Boys
Party Song / Pet Shop Boys
Rudebox / Robbie Williams
White Lies (Radio Edit) / Paul van Dyk
Get That (featuring Perry) (Andy's Remix) / Lexy

Just Wednesday...

Woke up at 7:30am today, which is very strange for days of late :p Been trying to get organised and getting to the gym on time, and get a bit of time to myself, so i'm not always in a rush. The internet is like my coffee in the morning, so I normally chat to a few friends, and check the regular sites, while I eat breakfast, then wait a bit to have my heart meds and multivitamins.

Got to the gym at about 11am. first 30-40 mins just worked on chest, arms and did some situps. Nothing too hard core, because I'm concentrating on cardio more, to lose weight. After loosing some more weight, I'll get into weights more. So, thought about just going a little harder than usual in cardio today. Normally I aim for a 200 ~ 250cal cardio work out, but since I'm not going to Geomdo today, I just pushed myself - 200cal on the stepper, 250cal on the treadmill. That's the most I've done - 450cal.

Went to a restaurant for lunch, and had 돌솥비빔밥 (Dolsot Bibimbap). I find that Bibimbap gives me enough energy to get through my 6 classes a day, and i try to have a small dinner, because I don't finish work normally until 7:50pm, and then go to Geomdo class.

Bought some Pepero for class today, since Sunday is Pepero day. Classes were really good today. It rarely happens, but is damn good when it does. Just went with the flow ^^

Only had Gimchi Mandu and Side dishes (Raddish and Gimchi) for dinner. Didn't wanna eat too much, since I wasn't gonna do Geomdo.

That's pretty much my normal day... ^^ Really looking forward to Sunday ^^

I didn't go to the gym again today! I got up on time, and eat breakfast, took my medication, and quickly called my mum, but then, other people started to call me... and after talking to them, it was too late to go to the gym. Today was the only day when I really felt like going this week, but I couldn't! haha.

I will try to go tomorrow.. I promise! I will even turn my phone off, after I wake up ^^

I haven't been to the gym since last thursday! Lately, i have been feeling so tired and worn out. I almost fell asleep in class yesterday!

I woke up today at 7:20am, the time I normally woke up, feeling shitty and tired, and it was raining heavily outside. So, I went back to sleep, and woke up at about 9am.

I really have to get back to the gym. I have to go tomorrow. I have to push myself harder, to get to the gym, no matter what the weather is like, and no matter what my feeling is.. just, go go go!