Another weekend

Had to go to some kind of Hagwon lecture for the area in Damyang. I was told that all Hagwon bosses and foreign teachers had to go. Did I see any other foreign teachers there? Of course not. But, we got out at 11:10 (it was meant to finish at 12pm). The boss had a tennis match to go to, and I had Geomdo practice. Besides, it was as boring as fuck.



The boss dropped me off at the Bamboo Museum in Damyang, since I was meeting my Geomdo teacher there. At the museum, there is a place to buy bamboo for cutting practice. Every year, Damyang has a Bamboo festival, which involves a national cutting competition. It's where I first met my current teacher (he's friends with my previous teacher) and his wife. Anyway, I walked around for a while, checking out the stuff. There's places that sell things make out of bamboo and wood, and a park to walk around (filled with bamboo, obviously).


we stopped for some lunch at an outdoor restaurant that served 국수 (Guksu). It wasn't too bad. I never really eat it (because all it is is noodles with sauce, or noodles with broth) because its a bit boring. But keeping with the Damyang/Bamboo theme, this place has boiled eggs, that are boiled in water with bamboo in it, to give them a different color and flavor. It was alright. We took the scenic route from Damyang to Jeoneup - via Naejang Mountain (내장산).

Only practiced Bamboo cutting at Geomdo class, which is okay. I still did okay. Okay as in, when I make a mistake, i know why. I got the bus back to Jangseong, and then my apartment, just in time for dinner. Except that when I got home, I broke the handle of the tap that's in my bathroom, so I was unable to turn it off, so water was continuously running. Had to turn the mains off.

Coz of the tap problem, I went to the public baths in my town. Normally, I'm not a fan of it, mainly because of the naked thing, and with Koreans starting at me, basically because I don't look asian (did you notice that too?!). But, after being a few times, I don't give a shit anymore. I'm more comfortable when I go with Korean friends (It seems to be a Korean family/friend bonding thing here). Also, Some public baths have sleeping halls attached (called 찜질방) which are a cheap alternative to motels.

Anyway, got the tap fixed. The boss' brother in law came to fix it, just as I was about to leave to go to Gwangju. I planned on meeting IS for lunch, but had to delay that by an hour. After it was fixed, I got the bus to Gwangju, and met IS. He called me and asked me if one of his friends could join us, and I was okay with that. But, I assumed that it would be a guy. Turned out to be a girl who he studies with. IS's and her major is English Education, so their English was really good. Because I came late, the had already had lunch, so when we met downtown, we went to a bakery, and i just had a sandwich, and they had a drink, and we talked. IS had to go and teach a class at 4pm, so we didn't have much time.

After meeting, I went to Sangmu, to get some stuff at eMart. They didn't have the new Epik High album, so I got everything else that i was after, and bought "Pieces, Part One" at the bus terminal. Also got the Pieces Part One poster as well, when I bought the album.


There was something the boss said to me on Saturday, that made me think about staying longer in Korea, as in 6-8 months more (not a whole year). I get the feeling that he wants to keep me here (because its easier than hiring a new person), but we get along well. It's just an idea. Also, I'm not 100% certain if he wants me here longer, but from what he said, made me think that he wouldn't have a problem with it. If I stay longer, I can save some more cash for when I go home, and the timing will be a lot better for re-starting my teaching career back home.

Still an idea floating around...

Vagueness, Randomness and Apple Love

I woke up on time today, to the sound of my alarm at 7:30am. I got up, had some breakfast, and made my way into Gwangju. I got there just after 10am, and walked to Geomho world, a place near the Bus Terminal in Gwangju, that is about 7 floors of heaven for people who want to buy anything electrical, musical, and house-ical. I've got some dust inside my iPod Touch, and wanted to see about getting it removed. But, not gonna happen. Basically, you can't open an iPod Touch. It's a sealed unit. When major "manufacturer defects" happen, they just replace. Dust getting inside isn't a manufacturer defect.

I hadn't been to the Apple store in a while, and I've been wanting to see and play with a Macbook Air, and today I did. It's a nice little mac. Small, light enough, and sexy. Basically, you're paying for the smaller size, with some sacrifices. Minimal ports available (video out, only one USB port and sound out). Had Wifi, Bluetooth, Camera and mic built in. It would be a great computer for someone who is away on business, and would use it when when out of town, and when coming back, sync everything back up to the main computer. Also would be a good computer for someone with some extra cash, who wants a good looking machine, but didn't want to do much, rather than just surf the net, some typing and keeping your occasionally snapped photo from your digital camera on there.

Anyway, while I was there, I bought a Time Capsule (English info, Korean info). Basically, its a kick arse Wireless Internet device, and an External hard drive in one. I was contemplating buying a Airport Extreme (English info, no Korean info, not available in Korea), which is the Time Capsule without the built in Hard Drive, but, like I said in the brackets, they're not available in Korea. Also, their power supply's aren't universal. The Time Capsule's is. I bought the 500Gb model, which is big enough. With the exchange rate as it is at the moment, a 500Gb Time Capsule is $60 cheaper for me here, compared to Australia. But, only an extra $100 for a 500Gb Hard Drive to be built in.


Anyway, after buying that (okay, it's my really really last big purchase until I go home!), i stopped to get some coffee at a coffee shop in the terminal, and to use some free Wifi, only to find out it was a bit shit. Wifi was a bit unstable. Stopped by the book store, and bought a "이지 (easy) 여행 일본어" (easy travel Japanese) book, for when I go to Japan.

I got home and installed my Time Capsule, but had a problem with the internet. One hour later, I had it fixed, only because i used Firefox, and not Safari, Apple's own browser. Basically, i had to log in to my ISP's site, so that I could use the internet, but Safari wasn't letting me do it (but I could log into various messenger apps). With that fixed, it was time to go to work.

I thought that I would have only 3 classes today. Normally I teach Middle school on Friday, but since they have mid-terms soon, I don't teach them. Normally, when this happens, I'm finished after my elementary classes are done, and nothing was said otherwise. I was meant to finish at 6:10. The boss asks me at 6:12 to do the other two classes that I would regularly do on Monday to Thursday, but with two of the kids missing in the first class (because they didn't know that this change would happen, so they didn't come. It was very last minute). Also, I get told that they have an "English Contest" at school on Wednesday and need to get them ready for that, and that Reading is the most important.

This is how vague and random working in Korea can be, and the regular argument that Foreign English Teachers will receive when they argue last minute changes, and vague ass instructions is "This is Korea. This is how we do things".

So, i just kept my cool, and said "thanks for letting me know so I can get organised.". It was sarcasm, which my boss took as a joke. I had only worked for 3 classes that day, so wasn't really gonna argue. I've been here for 2.5 years, and have just learned that this is how things are done in Korea, vaguely and randomly.

After the two classes, I checked with the boss what time he's coming to meet me tomorrow, because we have to go to some kind of seminar tomorrow. Another pointless waste of time for me and my job. A 2 hour seminal, in which this is the first time that foreign teachers have to attend, with a 2 hour lecture, that is going to be in Korean. The boss also hates going to them too. I would rather be in Jeongeup, doing Geomdo. But, the Geomdo teacher is gonna meet me in Damyang. He wants to buy some bamboo for cutting practice, and Damyang is the place for bamboo. They even had a Bamboo festival there every year.

I was glad to get out of work, and to get to a restaurant for dinner. I didn't have anything to eat since the coffee and cheesecake at 11:20am. Also, today is payday, so I sent a bit extra home to cancel out my "purchase" today. This month is gonna be tight, but i think it'll be okay. I'll be saving money for Japan this month and next month, and then after that, just saving money for being back in Australia.

46 days until Japan, 184-ish days until Australia

Surprises

Lately, the weather had been all sunny, except for a few rainy spots. Today was a nice cloudy day, with a bit of sunshine.

Going to Fukuoka is not going to happen on the days off. Getting there on the 11th is no problem, but getting back on the 12th is a bit difficult. When I say a bit difficult, i mean, there are no seats available on the ferry back to Busan, and I'm not a good swimmer. Will go another time.

I got a nice parcel in the mail today. Some late Easter chocolate, a few bags of lollies and two bottles of deodorant. It was a nice surprise. I shared some of the chocolate and lollies with the students. The Racing cars were a big hit. But, the bag of Chicos had a "free songs at the iTunes store", so I sorted that out when I got home. Nothing wrong with a free track from iTunes.

Speaking of Music, one class of mine were up to the "chant" section of the book. And for some reason, with the structure of it, it got me thinking about how cool it would sound if it was done in the style of the B-52's, with the girls chanting "Socks! Socks!" and the guy doing the other part. Maybe its because I have been listening to the latest B-52's album, and their single "Funplex".

Funplex



Also found this in my search, which was kinda cool:

Toxic Love Shack: The B-52's vs Britney



Here is an example of some of the English study that Korean Middle School students do. Notice at how FUN it is!

Long Weekends, Work

I was talking to one of my friends, who lives in Seoul, on Monday about the two long weekends coming up next month here in Korea (3rd ~ 5th of May and 10th ~ 12th of May), and she suggested to go to Fukuoka by Ferry for a day or two. Now, that idea has been playing on my mind since she suggested it.

Finally got a new photocopier at work. Well, it looks 2nd hand, but a bit improvement on the first one.

It's good that this week has gone by fast already. Normally, after awesome weekends, coming back to the usual crap at work is a big downer.

Geoje Island

Build came along, and got me at the roundabout, and we headed off to Geoje Island. We were talking so much, that we ignored the computer navigation a few times, and it took a bit longer than it should to get there, but it was okay. We stopped at a service area to get some petrol, and to have a break.

When we got to Geoje, we found the Jjimjilbang (찜질방) we were staying at, had a shower and get ready to attempt to sleep. Basically, Jjimjilbangs are public baths (segregated) and then a large communal sleeping room. So, in otherwords, with the way some Koreans are (basically, rude and selfish), didn't get to sleep until about 1:30am. There was a young couple near by, which were talking until about 1am. It would seem that, even though they are annoying other people and being noisy, no-one told them to shut up, so I didn't wanna be the grumpy foreigner. Just do what I do in Korea, ignore the shit that pisses me off. lol

Got about 5-ish hours sleep. Build woke me up at just after 7, and we got showered and went to a close by restaurant for some breakfast, and made our way to catch the ferry to Oedo (외도).





Basically, Oedo is a Garden of Eden. Just check out the photos:








After our time at Oedo, we got the ferry back to Geoje, and went to Mongdol Beach. Mongdol beach is kinda famous in the area, because it is a pebble beach, not a sand beach.


We had lunch there, and relaxed on the beach.

We went back to Geoje city, and checked out the POW Camp/Museum.






Time was getting on, so we made our way back to Jinju, via Tongyeong, a coastal city. Kind of reminded me of Mokpo and the seafood market at Nampodong in Busan, with all the boats. My bus was at 7pm, and it arrived just in time for me to get the bus back to Sachang. Good timing.

Thanks for the awesome weekend, Build. Hope to see you soon.