Making Molehills out of Mountains

"My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing."  ~Aldous Huxley


I went hiking last Sunday, and it was wonderful. No, really. I was able to get out so much anger and frustration and have some really good alone time. 


I am a self-proclaimed anti-hiker, but so many people love it, and I'm living in a valley, for god's sake, so why not give it a try? So I did. I went on about a three hour hike, and I didn't love every minute of it, but I didn't hate every minute of it either. 


I'm slowly beginning to grasp why it is so popular. One reason is obvious: It's healthy and produces endorphines that make you happy. But my favorite part was just sitting at the top and looking out over Geochang and feeling completely free and relaxed. While at the top, I relaxed and had a picnic and read. Ahhh...nothing better than reading without any distractions from the rest of the world. It was so simple, but I constantly forget the best things in life are. 


It was also very nice hiking alone. It was my first time to hike alone, and it's my cup of tea. I like to go at my own pace. And while I would not call myself a gloomy gus, I'm definitely not what one would call a giant ray of sunshine. I can only take so much perkiness, and I definitely don't want to engage in perky small talk while hauling my fat butt up a mountain. "Yes, I see the beautiful trees. It's wonderful to be surrounded by nature. It's all very majestic. Now, for the love of all things holy, stop talking,  so I can enjoy it!" (typical inner monologue)


I'm going to challenge myself to pick a new area to hike each week. There are few really nice mountains behind my dormitory that I would like to take advantage of in the morning before work, to clear my head and meditate. 


Laziness is an easy and vicious cycle, but "The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer.  ~Henry Clay"


I want to say "Winter, I was absorbing all the world has to offer and making molehills out of mountains!"

A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.  ~Paul Dudley White



Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.  ~Henry David Thoreau

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Muir


Nothing like a nighttime stroll to give you ideas.  ~J.K. Rowling, "The Egg and The Eye," Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000, spoken by the character Mad-Eye Moody


People say that losing weight is no walk in the park.  When I hear that I think, yeah, that's the problem.  ~Chris Adams


How can you explain that you need to know that the trees are still there, and the hills and the sky?  Anyone knows they are.  How can you say it is time your pulse responded to another rhythm, the rhythm of the day and the season instead of the hour and the minute?  No, you cannot explain.  So you walk.  ~Author unknown, from New York Times editorial, "The Walk," 25 October 1967

I haven't got any special religion this morning.  My God is the God of Walkers.  If you walk hard enough, you probably don't need any other god.  ~Bruce Chatwin,In Patagonia, 1977

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty.  She's ninety-three today and we don't know where the hell she is.  ~Ellen DeGeneres

(personal favorite)

Starcraft: The Korean National Pastime

In Korea, there are two, yes two, television channels dedicated to Starcraft. They show starcraft matches 24 hours a day. 

Last night, I fell asleep with my television on CNN, (Yes, I actually watch the news) and woke up with my television on the Starcraft channel at 4am! Either my television is possessed; I accidentally hit a button on my remote in my sleep; or my subconscious has officially Koreanized itself. 

The sad thing is, it is now 4:43 am, and I have yet to change the channel. I'm a bit intrigued. Next thing you know, I'll be a regular at the PC Bang, all jacked up on ramen noodles and canned coffee.

Professional Starcraft gamers in South Korea have even gained television contracts. Lim Yo-Hwan is the most popular player, from what little research I've gathered, with something like a million fans, including screaming girls who want to date him. (Don't see that very often back home, now do we?)

And get this! Out of  the 10 million copies of the game sold, over half were sold in Korea! When Starcraft 2 comes out this year, I'll have to give up all hope on my students doing any homework...OK. I now officially know WAY too much about Starcraft. And why have I STILL not changed the channel??? I need an intervention. Someone get me to a Shinsagae, immediately!

You Arirang, Sir?

As most of you know, I have only recently started watching Korean television. Last weekend, I discovered Arirang TV, which is an English language channel based out of Seoul.

Korean History Lesson For the Day (get those pencils ready): "Arirang" is arguably the most popular and best-known Korean folk song, both inside, and outside Korea. Ahrirang is an ancient native Korean word with no direct modern meaning. 'Ahri' means "beautiful" (For example the native Korean word 아리따운 means "beautiful", "lovely", "charming") 'Rang' can mean "dear". (Thanks Wiki!)

ISAK (Pops in Seoul VJ)

   

While flipping channels, I caught a show on Arirang called "Pops in Seoul." It kinda reminded me of a Korean version of Top of the Pops or TRL (Do those shows even exist anymore? God, I'm old!) Anyway, on this particular episode the VJ, ISAK, was counting down the top 5 K-Pop singers with glasses. Say it with me, now. "RANDOOOOOOM!"


Actually, I suppose it is not too terribly random since glasses are THE fashion accessory these days, the bigger and dorkier, the better. My college students are all about the huge glasses right now and come to class wearing huge black frames, with no lenses if they don't really wear glasses. I've also heard that it is currently trendy to pop the lenses out of 3D Glasses (I'm assuming they steal them from CGV *tsk, tsk*) and rock them out on the town. 

I know you are all on the edge of your seats, dying with anticipation, so I won't withhold the results of the "celebrities with glasses" countdown any longer.


Here we go!!!


5. Kim Jin Pyo

He doesn't wear glasses. He wears sunglasses. Not the same, last time I checked. 

Err...Maybe they're prescription?

4. Lee Seok Hoon 

He is a member of SG Wannabe. "SG" is in honor of "Simon and Garfunkel." 

3. Lee Chang Min

He is a member of 2am. Random Fact: He is the only celebrity to enter the entertainment scene AFTER completing his mandatory military service. 

2. Kim Tae Woo

He's a former member of the boy bad, g.o.d. 

and has just returned from his mandatory two year military service. 

1. Sung Si Kyung

He's known as Korea's "Prince of Ballads." I love his crystal clear voice. 

I have a HUGE problem with this list! Hello? Where's my Alex Chu???

DIRTY THIRTY!

As of April 8, 2010, I joined the amazing 30 year old women club. It feels no different from 29, but age is just a number, right?
I had a very nice and quiet birthday. It was most definitely not the dance floor party of last year, but it was still a great birthday. My students, especially, made it extra special.

The first birthday incident was pretty hilarious...No, REALLY hilarious.

I was gazing out my classroom window at the beautiful mountains that surround Geochang...

Then I noticed one of my students getting out of his car in the parking lot. Next, I saw my student walk over to a nearby dumpster and glance bothways over his shoulder. 

I immediately thought, "Surely he's not going to...ARGHHH!!!!"

I shielded my eyes and ran screaming away from the window as my student unzipped his fly and proceeded to urinate in public!

Student's car and dumpster

I then noticed the time was two minutes past the class' start time, and there were no students to be found, which was really odd. Then I heard them talking in the hallway, which prompted me to open the door irritatedly. Then one student walked through the doorway and turned off the lights.

All I could think was, "Are they drunk, or have they just lost their minds?!?"

Then a student emerged carrying a chocolate cake, topped with lit candles! It was so sweet, especially since they are all twenty and thirty-something men. I'm not implying that men are not thoughtful, but let's just say women tend to get more excited about these kinds of things. (Personal opinion! Don't get your matching couple-wear panties in a bunch!)

And who, might you ask, was carrying the cake? None other than Mr. Pee-in-the-parkinglot Magee! And you KNOW he did not wash his hands! I just tried not the think about it as I ate my piece.

This is the cutest part. The cake was actually a pyramid of 20 Lotte Choco Pies with candles on top. They all get 'A's for resourcefulness. 

My camera was on the fritz, so I do not have an actual picture of the choco pie cake. :(

That night, I had an appointment in Daegu, but unbeknown to me some other students had planned a small surprise party for me. My absence did not stop them, however. For at 8am the next morning, I heard a knock at the door. I thought it was my neighbor and coworker Sarah, so I answer the door with my body and hair wrapped in towels. "SURPRISE!" I was three of my female students with cakes, snacks, and a cards. I told them to bring everything to class, and we would have the party there. (It was still technically my birthday for four more hours) But they refused to leave until I blew out in the candles, wrapped in a towel in my doorway! 

I think it's safe to say that I am lucky to have such a great group of students, public urination aside!

Grammatical mistakes included (some even misspelled their names), this was VERY sweet! And, yes, that says "Dookie." He is not one of my students, but I am assuming that he got the name from an athlete. The students have much difficulty grasping the concept that the name printed on a jersey is an athlete's family name, not given name.

After work, I met up with some of the Geochang waygooks for dinner and drinks, then had an extremely relaxing weeking with beautiful weather! 

Hello, 30! It's great to be here!

Favorite Blogs

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING BLOGS: 

Two Mommys are Better Than One!
My best friend Darcie is having a baby girl! Check out her blog, and take a peek into the most random mind imaginable!

Eat Your Kimchi!
These two Canadian English teachers in Korea constantly crack me up. I seriously want to be friends with them! That's not creepy, right? (Caaaaable guy!)

Latest Korean Obsessions

IRIS is a South Korean espionagetelevision drama series, which began in 2009. With a budget in excess of $20 million, it is the most expensive Korean drama ever produced. It stars Lee Byung Hun (Storm Shadow of GI Joe) and T.O.P. (Big Bang member). If you want to check it out with English subtitles, you can watch it here. 

We Got Married (우리 결혼했어요) is a super cheesy Korean reality show. The show pairs up Korean celebrities to show what life would be like if they really married. It is mindless reality television at it's worst, but it sucks me in EVERTIME!!!

Yoo Jae Suk and Kang Ho Dong are the "Ryan Seacrests" of Korea. Randomly turn on the television, and you will find one or both of them hosting a game, talk, or variety show. I'm becoming more and more Korean because I actually find them to be funny (oh the shame!)

Choco Boy is a skit on the Korean sketch comedy show, Gag Concert. I guess it is best described as Korea's Saturday Night Live, and Choco Boy is Korea's equivalent of the Spartan Cheerleaders. Here is a clip. 

Gochujang is a spicy fermented Korean condiment. It is fermented in large pots outdoors. I eat it on rice at EVERY meal, and I carry a container in my purse at all times. 

IOPE skincare and makeup rock my face! I will be so sad if I ever leave Korea, where it is not readily available:( 

K-Pop! This is not a new obsession, but I'm just letting the world know that just because I'm a more mature 30 year old woman, I still love my k-pop with a passion! Believe me, at first you hate it, but as soon as you embrace it, you're done for. I dare you to watch this video and not fall in love with K-Pop!

Alex Chu fell from heaven September 2, 1979. It's nice to have a crush on a Korean celebrity that is not a baby! (Not that I love Rain, G-Dragon, and T.O.P. any less.) He is a Korean-Canadian singer and actor. He is the male vocalist of the band Clazziquai. And he is BEAUTIFUL, not to mention his killer vocals. 

Bakjwi is another great movie by my favorite Korean director, Park Chan Wook. The fact that it is about vampires is just an added bonus. 

Where in the World is Laura Sandiego?

SHE IS IN GEOCHANG, KOREA!
What's that? You want to know more about this magical land? Well, here you go....

EMBLEM OF GEOCHANG

Geochang is located in Gyeongsangnam Province (See above).

Location of Geochang in its province. 


Geochang is 3 1/2 hours south of Seoul (the largest city) and one hour from Daegu (the third largest city).


RANDOM FACT FOR THE DAY:
Geochang is a county, not a city. Why? Because to be classified as a city, it must have at least 150,000 residents. Geochang only has 70,000 residents. 


NOW FOR YOUR KOREAN LESSON FOR THE DAY:
Si (city)
Gun (county)
Gu (district)
Eup (town)
Myeon (township)
Dong (neighborhood)
Ri (village)


Geochang is VERY small. It makes my hometown of Amite, Louisiana look like New York City. But it is very beautiful. It is in a valley, surrounded by ten mountain ranges, which includes Deogyusan national park. The apples and watermelons of Geochang, I'm told, are famous throughout the entire country.


One of my students recently informed me that his parents are apple farmers in the area, and I am looking forward to delicious homegrown apples this fall!


There is not much to do in Geochang. There's bowling, billards, beer and soju consumption, norebang (karaoke), hiking, and a tiny cinema. Thankfully, there is a great group of foreigners in the area, which has made for interesting times. Yeah, interesting times. We'll just leave it at that. 


In fact there is a lot to be said for small town life. My second day in town (county?), I walked into Dunkin Donuts with my new coworker Sarah, and we were IMMEDIATELY greeted by two complete strangers (Shout out to Tim and Graham!).


This would not have happened in one of the big cities. When I was living in Suji, foreigners who did not know one another usually acknowledged each other, but it was by using the awkward-slight-eye-contact-nod. But that was in an area with hundreds of foreigners. Here, we have less than fifty. So when two newbies walk into Dunkin Donuts, it's a big deal. 


We sat and chatted with our new friends...Then they told two friends....Then they told two friends....And it turned into an entire afternoon, evening, and early morning of chatting, eating, drinking, bowling, and partying with the Geochang Waygooks (foreigners). 


A few days later, a Korean professor (who we had never met) stopped by our office to chat and said, "I heard you meet other foreigners at Dunkin' Donuts." How on earth he heard that I will never know. Ah small town gossip...


Here are a few pics of the County known as Geochang.

Dunkin' Donuts...Where it all began...sigh...

Suyouki....For those who fancy more than Hite or Cass...

The rotary (roundabout) in the center of town. 

The street market...

The most famous building in town!!!


So that's Geochang, folks. It ain't home, but it's much!

RISE TO THE OCCASION....At Korea Lift College

Time has flown by (up?) here at the good ol' Korea Lift College. I can't believe that I have already been here six weeks. If you're cool and in the know, it's just "The Lift." If you're Korean, it's Hanguk Seungganggi Daehak (Remember this. It will be on the quiz later.)

Korea Lift College is brand spankin' new, with March 2010 being it's first semester. It is located in a beautiful valley in Geochang, Korea.

"We are committed to turn Geochang into a `lift valley` -- with which we will try to emulate the success of the Silicon Valley in the United States -- a city of a lift standard and research bases," Korea Elevator Safety Institute president Kim Nam-deuk, said.

We have approximately 260 students, and enrollment is expected to double each year. The majority of the students are male, but we do have 12 female students. It is the WORLD'S FIRST college to specialize in elevator technology and engineering (impressed yet?). The college is currently working with Russia, China, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan to develop next generation "green" elevators, and they are hoping to recruit involvement from the United States and Europe, which I'm sure will happen sooner than later. No one wants to be left behind in eco-friendly, state-of-the-art elevator technology, right? I think not!

Mind-blowing Fact:
Korea Lift College does not have a single elevator on its campus. Two MASSIVE escalators are being installed, however, for hands-on instruction. The escalators freak me out a bit. They speak to you in a creepy female robotic voice as you walk past them. In my mind, they are saying "Going down??? To the fiery depths of Hell!!!" They are actually saying something along the lines of "Please keep to the right."

Please note that one must walk up concrete steps in order to reach the escalator. Ah, completely-blind-to-special-needs Korea, you make me chuckle.

We are also hoping to recruit students from all over the world in the next few years. Which means that all faculty and students will need to be fluent in English. There are three English professors at KLC, and, naturally, we speak English. But the other professors speak little or basic English, so we will soon be teaching the Korean professors, as well as the students. Considering we teach less than 20 hours per week, it's no sweat off our backs.

I think it will be extremely interesting to have students from all over the world. The word on the KLC street is that the first crop of international students will be coming from China and Vietnam.

Also, we are featured on the Elevator World and Elevator World India websites. Yeah. We're a big deal.

OK. Enough of the boring stuff....
Let's talk about my wonderfully hilarious students. They are so much fun, but it is very hard to imagine ANY of my students getting their hands dirty in order to repair an elevator. They are VERY metro-sexual, as are most Korean men, which I love. I wish more men around the world would jump on the well-groomed bandwagon!

The majority of my students are here because, and I quote, "My father told me I must go to Korea Lift College." I'm pretty sure, if given the choice, each and every one of them would drop out of school and form K-Pop boy bands. Because get THIS! Our college offers three elective courses: History of Cinema, Opera, and K-Pop Dance!!!! I, personally, am obsessed with K-pop and constantly ask my students to show me what they learned in dance class. I'm secretly wondering if it would be frowned upon if I showed up for the class!

This job is definitely a dream come true, and I hope to stay here for a few years. It provides two months vacation, so I will still be able to see my family once a year. I actually have not seen them in two years, so a trip home in June is way over-due!!!!

To sum up:
Love my job
Love my students
Love two months vacation
Love K-pop