Rude Boys, Bus Wrecks,Clogged Toilets and More!

The randomness I record, when I am too lazy and disorganized to write! I promise I'll be back at the writing soon, but for now enjoy another day of my ugly mug!

Where's The Robitussin When You Need It?

I would sell a non-vital organ for some cold medicine right now!

Who's Having The Best Day Ever in Korea?

Ignore the pineapple head! :)

Rugby Day in Seoul

Today I went to a South Korean "Rugby Day," where I watched the men's teams play in a tournament, kids learning touch and played a sevens match. It was an exciting day and just like everything in Korea, I constantly find myself surprised. Most of all, I was surprised by the formality of the day. All of the players had to line up according to height and stand for the national anthem, then a few players were recognized with presents and plaques. Now, I don't speak Korean, but I clapped anyway and I can only assume they are basically a big deal in the rugby world.

Next, our team was introduced and we were gawked at a bit, seen as the example for foreigners playing sport in Korea. The match itself was a lot of fun, although it made me realize just how out of shape I am. It also made me remember how much I just love rugby. It never feels like I am under pressure, the way I used to feel when I played basketball. I literally enjoy every minute of it, even the minutes where I am sucking air and wishing I hadn't had a cheeky little drag of a cigarette on the weekend. 

The best part of the whole day was watching kids running around with a rugby ball and loving every minute of it. I am so glad I still feel that way and I am excited every time I see a kid smile upon scoring their first try. I remember what it felt like and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to play in Korea.

Future Ruggers!

The Fried Chicken Diet

Fried chicken everyday, life is good in Korea!

Since I have been in Korea, I can tell I have already lost a pretty decent amount of weight. Not intentionally, as I don't have the greatest eating habits. Here is a standard day in my Korean life.

Breakfast:
1 Instant Sweetened Coffee (with an additional pack of black coffee to make it stronger)
2 donuts or any crazy flavored Korean pastry

Lunch
Rice
Kimchi
Pickled Raddish/Mushrooms/Fruit
Spicy chicken or beef with eggs (I always skip the fish)
seaweed soup or sometimes spicy meat soup

Dinner
Potato soup

Random snacks throughout the day:
Paris Baguette sausage dog
Paris Baguette egg tart
Paris Baguette donuts
Fried Chicken (at every opportunity I get)
Paris Baguette cheesecake

Delicious cheesecake!

Now, I'm not sure if this means that I just ate everything I could possibly get my hands on while I was living in the U.S and Scotland, or if my eating on a schedule is good for me. I really need to start getting more fruits and veg into my diet outside of school lunch. As good as potato soup is, I'm pretty sure I have made it for dinner for the last week and a half.

Every time I pass a fried chicken shop I find myself lingering in the window, before eventually going in and buying everything I can figure out how to ask for in English or very bad Korean.

Exhibit A

This chicken obsession is getting out of control

My goal for the next month is to eat as much fruit and veg as possible, which should be much easier considering I get paid next week!

Oppa Waygook Style

Going out in Seoul isn't so much different than going out in the U.S. Excect here, since most people don't have phones yet, we will meet up outside of a subway exit (as opposed to someones flat/apartment), go to a 7/11 and do some pre-gaming on the way to the bars. It is strange to be able to drink on the streets again, after leaving Scotland over 8 months ago. Our poison of choice is almost always Soju, Cass or Makgeolli (Korean rice wine). Last weekend we went out with some of our coordinators from Epik and to say it was a shit show would be an understatement. We went out in Hongdae to a club called S Club (I kept thinking of S Club 7 the TV show). Here are a few observations.

1. There are military men everywhere you go, eager to flash their money and drag their knuckles on the ground in some sort of primitive attempt at mating.
2. Koreans love Hip Hop and love learning new dances. On multiple occasions I had women come up to me and ask "Show me how you dance like Beyonce." A Funny request, but a welcome challenge.
3.They don't buy shots, they buy bottles. More than once I had a lovely Korean man direct me over to their table, open a bottle of Jack Daniels or Absolut and pour me a drink. Sharing seems to be a big part of the culture.
4.Korean people just don't seem to sweat! I was dancing like it was going out of style and I swear I was sweating buckets. To the left and the right of me there were Koreans doing the humpty hump, soulja boy, Gangnam style and any other combination of dances and none of them were sweating! At one point I was happy to see a tiny bead of sweat roll down my dance partners face!
5. The Dj's in Seoul are simply the best! It is an amazing blend of Western music with K-pop influence and loads of house and dubstep, done properly! It is some of the most creative DJing I have ever heard.
6.There are always a few who can't handle their liquor...or should I say soju! Case and point below:

I look forward to many more Soju nights to come! Hopefully I will never be this guy!

9/11 Reflections from a South Korean Classroom

Yesterday I had briefly mentioned to my students that today was "9/11." Some  thought it was my birthday and they brought in a cheesecake from Paris Baguette, they smiled, clapped, gave me a few candies and said "Happy Birthday." I said "thank you so much, but it isn't my birthday."

"Yesterday you said 9/11 was a day to remember." One of my multi-co students explained to the others that it wasn't a happy day. They had so many questions, things I never thought I would ever talk about or even be asked for that matter. I was surprised that it made me so emotional. "What happened?" "Can we see the video?" or "Oh, I remember this, so many people died" were some of the responses. More than anything I heard them say "why" and I had no good reason to give them because there wasn't one. It was something I had thought about and asked myself since 9th grade gym class when they wheeled in the televisions and I realized America was about to change so much.

One of my students said something very poignant to me "why will you remember when is something you can never forget?" Even though the English wasn't spot on, I understood the intent. It was very true. This is my third year spending 9/11 in another country, my third year feeling very sad and not having many Americans to confide in, but it is also the first year that I have shared my grief with anyone.

When class was over, one of my students left me this....

"Remember 9/11/01 <3"

I learned a lot about my kids today. I learned about their capacity for kindness and understanding, I learned that feelings transcend language barriers, but I also learned that tragedy is human, not nationalistic.