My love affair with the Seaman’s Club March 31, 2008

Some, maybe a lot of people, wonder why someone like myself who doesn’t like korean food is teaching in South Korea.

Well, I knew I could survive here because there is no lack of american food here.  And then I found the Seaman’s club.

Seaman’s club is behind Busan Station.  It is a quaint little place with great management.  The best part is the food and the price.  I am in love wiht the texas burger.  I visit once a week and thats my treat for the week.  The cheese and crisp bacon mmmmm and sometimes i will treat myself to dessert.  But the onion rings are amazing, just like back in North America at your local bowling alley.  You can get a cheap glass of wine.  Occasionally you will even be treated to endless sightings of soldiers.  And if you are like me, a woman on a man drought, sometimes the artwork is worth admiring, knowing you’re not going to buy it.

The Seaman’s Club has a great buffet for thanksgiving and christmas.  This past Easter, my fellowship group and I went and we had a blast.  A big shoutout for that cherry cheese strudel.  I had too much…it was too good.  The breakfast is also amazing.  And the prices are more than reasonable and the food is so satisfying.

North Korea punching a gift horse in the mouth…. March 30, 2008

It amazes me the arrogance of North Korea.   First off, it amazes me that North Korea has arrogance.  What does it have to be arrogant about?  Ok, so it has nuclear weapons. But it certainly does not have a robust economy.  Nor doesi t have world presence.

So it astounds me that North Korea continues to make threats against South Korea.  Especially after the recent aid South korea gave North Korea to help with flooding in the north.  South Korea appearrs to be quite charitable to North Korea and yet that is not enough for North Korea to mellow out.

It would not be in North Korea’s best interest to annihilate South Korea.  To do that, would cut off any money they are receiving and it would come back to hurt them more.  Furthermore, South Korea really shouldn’t give any more money to North Korea.  THe north appears to be so foolish as to spend the aid money on nuclear weapons rather than on food for its people.

If North Korea was a relative of mine that I kept inviting for dinner out of the goodness of my heart, and not only did it keep declining my offer but threatening violence, not only would I stop issuing invitations, I would ignore them all together.

Funniest thing a Korean has said to me… March 30, 2008

I am used to having Koreans come up and talk to me.  I remember at Haeundae beach swimming and I used to get families come up and talk.  I enjoyed it.  But the conversation usually consisted of where are you from?, what is your job?, are you married?  But still, I thought it was nice that they went out of their way to talk to me.

That being said..the other week I was on my way to walk along Gwangali beach and I was at a crosswalk crossing the street.  Right across was an older Korean gentleman on a scooter.  He started to drive in my direction. I thought he was going to run me over.  Instead, he looks over at me and says ‘You have a nice body.’.

After I got over my shock, I laughed.  What an interesting phrase to come out, totally unexpected.  I of course wondered where he picked that phrase up.  It did however put a smile on my face.  And it does to this day.

Foreigner hangout ideas… March 30, 2008

I know the city was trying to come up with way to improve it for foreigners.  I didn’t do the survey because I didn’t have any ideas until now.  The culture for foreigners here is to meet at bars and clubs.  What about 24 hour coffee shops?  So people that like to stay out late can hang out without getting drunk.  Or even a coffeehouse?  With a stage, and desserts and coffee and no alcohol, where there could be noraebang nights and open mic nights and book clubs and movie events.  Or even social mixers, board game nights….  There are some of us that just like to hang out.  This would be perfect.    What other ideas do you have? 

God and his almighty wisdom. March 30, 2008

For months, I have been hidden away from the world and reading the bible, exploring South Korea on my own and attending church.  For months I have not let the world in.

There are an infinite number of truths you can get from the bible.  One very clear truth, that I have learned through trial and error rather than just believing, is that the ten commandments were designed so we do not hurt ourselves.    Covetness causes dissatisifaction with our lives, with what we have.  It causes breakdowns in marriages, in the workplace.  It can influence people to desperate measures, resorting to crimes.  But most of all, it brings on many forms of heartache.

It also causes us to place material things, things we cannot take with us when we die, above God.  When we engage in sin, we engage in a war with our soul.  We become torn inside.  It brings up all kinds of illnesses, paranoia, heartbreak, depression, desperation and most often fear.  This is not how God wants us to live.  He wants us to worship him, to love him.  But as long as we are engaging in sin, we are separate from God.  

I recently have engaged in sin that I am repetent of now.  But there are still ramifications of my actions occurring everyday and what I most didn’t want to happen.  I was content to be alone, I was content with my circumstances.  Now I am restless, regretful, sad, and separated from God.

I am still content.  I have everything I need.  However, I am now aware of how truly alone I am and thats caused the restlessness.  This feeling is one of the biggest temptatioin makers of all time.  It will be interesting to see how I develop over the next few weeks with this feeling in my stomach.

Wasn`t that a party…. March 29, 2008

Its never a question of having fun.  I clearly had a lot of fun last night.  But..when you wake up….have you ever knew a charleyhorse was coming, before it did?

Usually I wake up with a charleyhorse.  That is bad enough.  But this morning, I went to stretch my leg which was fine.  And then I felt the first cramp, tried to move my leg and whoaaaaaaaaaaaa.  Full on charleyhorse.

Next time I dance as crazy as i did last night, I think i should warm up first.

Jinju..a great escape from the big city. March 29, 2008

After a week of rejection, a new discovery for the love of blogging and bad news from home, I need to escape.  So my friend Joyce and I went to Jinju.  I had been to Jinju before as I visited the Lantern festival in October.  I fell in love with it then at night.  Now I needed to see it during the day.

To some it may not be much.  But to myself, who loves to walk along a beautiful pathway everyday, the paths along the river in Jinju are so long…I want to live there just to walk them every day.  The views are spectacular, but thats my opinion.  On top of that, Jinju’s main attraction,  Jinju fortress has great paths to walk through as well.  I love walking over the bridges.  At times, it didn’t feel like I was in Korea.

I finally ate at Zio Ricco`s.  I had read about the place.  It is an Italian restaurant in Jinju.  The ambiance is amazing.  The outside looks quaint.  On the inside, as soon as I walked in, an aroma of spices went through my nose and made me instantly hungry.  I had an italian cherry soda (which was good) and meat lasagna (which was very good).  There is a bar on top but it was closed.  My friend Joyce and I have decided to come back sometime and spend the night in Jinju just so we can see the bar at night.  Plus, I have heard it is a foreigner hangout and I am all for meeting new foreigners.

That last statement is funny because for the last 8 months I have been avoiding them.  Now I want to meet them all.  Maybe I am like a bear coming out of hibernation.

Definitely go to Jinju, the cherry blossom festival is next week, and the Jinju Lantern festival is in October.   

My night out on the town.. March 29, 2008

After a long trip to Jinju, made longer by the fact that I got on the wrong subway going in the wrong direction, I decided to head out for a night of fun and fantasy.

I’m pretty conservative so I don’t generally let loose.  But the last few weeks, I have gone the way of the average foreigner and imbibed my share of alcohol.  But tonight was exceptional.  The dj played music i loved and so i danced for what seemed like days.  I felt all the stress leave me.  The stress of foolish mistakes and missed chances…is now gone.  In its place is again hope for the future and fun :)  I am smiling, my loneliness put into its little box once again.

I definitely suggest you frequent ole ‘55 if you are a. from the 80s generation, b. not into hip hop music c. generally prefer music from past decades.  The live band was great and so was the music and company.  Thank you Bill for making me  laugh and smile again.

Busan…a big city or a small town? March 29, 2008

Busan, city of over 3 million people.  Big city right?  Or is it?

Yes there are many subway stops and suburbs and lots of people.  Yes, there are hundreds of apartment buildings, shops, restaurants and countless cars.   Yes there are numerous noraebangs, bars and movie theatres.

But…

there is also a small town aspect to Busan if you are daring.

I walk Gwangali beach every morning.  It is very popular with some Koreans for exercise.  To me, the views are breathtaking.  I can’t get enough.  I remember one morning, one of the two times we had any resemblance of snow here, and the snow was falling in big clumps, the bridge disappeared.  It was so awe-inspiring when as the snow slowed, the bridge appeared like a mirage in a desert.  Anyways..I digress.

Every morning, and some nights i walk the beach.  Now my presence is a bit awkward for some because of course, I am a foreigner.  Some Koreans pretend I don’t exist, some just stare, some try to speak english.  I smile.  I bow my head to them in respect for their culture.  And you know what happens?  Most of the time they will smile and nod back or even say hello or anneyo haseyo.  This is not something you read in Lonely Planet.  This is something I have discovered on my own.  It brings me such joy to be acknowledged in a country dominated by Koreans.   So many people have written about being ignored.  You’re only ignored if you ignore back.

On the subway, nod and smile at any Korean that looks at you, instead of saying some snide english remark or just staring back.

In big city North America, we have become accustomed to not acknowledging each other.  But in small towns, where everyone knows your name, its expected for you to acknowledge each other.  It is not such a bad thing.  Try it, and see how it feels. 

Korea…a life changing experience…or just a facade maker… March 28, 2008

Being here 8 months, and speaking with other foreigners, as well as drawing from my own experience, I have contemplated a serious question.  Many foreigners either think that KOrea has done nothing for them, that they are the same person they were before they came here.  Or they think that Korea has changed them completely.  Someone who was antisocial is now the life of the party. 

For me, I think I am the same, with some refinements.  I enjoy being on my own now, instead of looking it as a burden. I have learned to let my parents handle their own mistakes, instead of trying to parent them.  I have started to leave the past where it belongs, in the past.  I have become more devoted to God as i wanted to.  If I say I am going to do something, I do it.  But i haven’t become the life of the party, I’ve developed a funky sense of humour.  I haven’t strived to be MS popularity.  And not for one moment, have I considered that friendships here are permanent.

This is the danger.  Some foreigners think this is the life.  They now have a full social calendar when before it was empty.  It is a facade that can be easily broken by one foreigner’s contract ending.  Enjoy it, but don’t let it become you.  For what happens when you return home..and life was as it was before you went to South Korea?  The shock could be disheartening.

The ideal thing would be to look at this as an extended working holiday.  You meet great people, hango ut, and hten you go home.  I wish you all well, with whichever method of thinking you choose.