Another One Bites the Dust

So, my second semester has come to a close at Avalon. i think we all generally feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. i received two little notes from my students "Hannah" and "Sally." Who would have dreamed that these small gestures of gratitude from CHILDREN could have me walking on cloud nine months prior to starting this gig? Not many, i have to say.

To celebrate the end of the semester, we all went out to eat dinner to relax and catch up. Everyone had pork barbeque, while i dined on delicious seafood and tofu chigae [stew]. My co-workers expressed concern that i wouldn't have enough to eat, which is just laughable. Besides the stew, [which is served with rice and is quite filling by itself] i indulged in the numerous and delicious panchan [side dishes]. Koreans get down on food unlike anyone i've ever seen. i don't know where they put it all. The same can be said for the consumption of alcohol.

One of my very animated co-workers told me that my very "flushed" appearance after downing a glass of beer was a sign of good health. Here i just thought it was an indication that i actually lack the enzyme to break down alcohol. Oh, and they have an expression for the facial redness. In Korea, they call people "burning carrot." i can't help but laugh heartily at this apt description.

The Ones With Black Hair

These are some of my students from the past semester. i was extremely lucky this time around and really loved just about all of my kids. They work remarkably hard and are also silly at times. They test my patience on a daily basis, but the experience is rewarding. They're frighteningly astute and are wildly funny. The woman in the last photo is one of my favourite co-teachers, Jin.

Music to My Ears...

If you haven't yet, check out Beirut's new album...and Bon Iver's new EP. Both albums are great leaps and new sounds for the respective artists. Also, there is a compilation CD with Feist, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine, etc. called Dark Was the Night. It's a benefit CD for AIDS with some serious rockin' new tunes.

It's Been a Long Time, A Long Time Comin...

Okay, okay. i admit it. i've been procrastinating. Maybe procrastinating isn't the right word for it. Perhaps i'd say i've even been avoiding making a new post. But i suppose someone else can put it more eloquently than i can. Janis Joplin once said, "i can't talk about my singing, i'm inside it. How can you describe something you're inside of?"

i truly understand that sentiment she's describing. The main reason i have been hesitant to document anything new is that i've been busy just experiencing it. Prone to being an over-analyzer, i usually don't allow myself to indulge in the moment and just relax. My silly little thoughts are habitually bouncing about my brain. Sometimes, with such fury that i'm convinced they've taken physical form, making themselves arduous pin balls and ricocheting off the weary recesses of my mind.

So, being that i moved across the world, over several bodies of water and a few continents to boot, i decided to let myself just be. i've been kind of like a little sponge...experiencing things and trying to document them with mind, senses, and with my camera as best as possible.

i am going to leave you with a laundry list of things i've experienced, eaten, had spiritual epiphanies about, loathe, love, [etc.] in the past few months. It's kind of a cop-out i realize... i promise to be better about posting on a regular basis. i know, my blogging is REALLY significant and people are losing sleep over not being constantly updated on my travels. Worry not, fine citizens of the Western hemisphere, my silence has been broken. Hehe. Okay, over and out. Miss you all very much.


1. i spent Christmas Day with a bunch of people i really dislike at a restaurant i despise even more. Nothin like celebrating Jesus' b-day with social derelicts and dippin into some fine cuisine at Outback Steakhouse. Amen.

2. Koreans don't flush toilet paper. i don't know why. i've always flushed the stuff here and their flushers seem more than capable of getting the job done. They've got a little "sanitary" bin next to the porcelain thrones to dispose of the paper. i think it'd be a hell of a lot more sanitary if that stuff was flushed down with the rest of the stuff...just sayin....

3. i ate at this Indian restaurant called India House in a part of Itewon [Seoul] claiming to be the best restaurant in Seoul. Suffice to say, they are promoting some major false advertisement. Your curry wasn't all that.

4. i've learned to navigate the Seoul subway system. Honestly, it's quite a feat. You can refer back to a previous post with a map. i think it has something crazy like 13 lines [rivaled only by Paris]. It's the first time i've been intimidated by a public transpiration system. Although, once you've figured out how to get around on one...they're all the same...scale is the only intimidating factor.

5. i miss bougie things like Whole Foods, the New York Times Sunday edition, and going to brunch. i have become a soulless, consumer. Is there hope for me?

6. i eat squid on a semi-regular basis. i've eaten snail [thanks to my friend, Susan]. Don't worry, won't be dipping into the local specials such as silkworm stew anytime soon ;)

7. For the Lunar New Year, i received a giant box of seaweed from my employer. Only in Asia. It DOES make your hair shiny.

8. In Korea, shopping is a hands-on experience. i mean, the salesperson's hands on YOU. i've been practically man-handled in stores. It's a vast contrast from what i'm used to and comfortable with! Oh, and they aren't shy about telling you that you're too big to fit into their clothing as well! Koreans don't mince words. Gotta love the honesty here.

9. A friend of mine here, asked me if i wanted to go with him to volunteer a couple of Saturdays ago at this home for the mentally disabled. It was a pretty rad experience. We got to cook and hang out and sing. i hope to do it on a regular basis.

10. i received an apology slash Valentine from one of my students. It's a real gem. He had referred to his member as a sausage and banana [fully knowing the connotations] in my class. Of course, it took restraint for my own sense of 5th grade humour not to appreciate these colourful word choices...