Interesting Weekend (I hope)

Besides the fact of my ever growing nostalgia that Hillary Clinton is actually two blocks away from me right now giving her first Asian Summit meeting at the Seoul University for Women(scan for sarcasm), I have the best weekend linup.....ever. Chen is coming over and I'm taking her out to a nice seafood dinner at this really cool seafood place for 20-somethings. Every time I go there, all the Koreans harass me like I'm a rock star, and try out their English on me. They literally grab me and tell me I'm "handsome." Great liars they are. I think they just want to practice their lifetime of Engilish training on me. That's cool. That's what they pay me for. Right?

Well, I just got back. The Korean chef didn't like the fact that I wanted to actually enjoy my beer before ordering, and he made my food spicier than the Devil's armpit on Christmas. Just to make the bald foreigner cry at every mouth watering bite of a mix of seafood. I swear to God, it was intentional Spice-a-cide. I was crying. To boot, I'll never let Chen drink again. She had two beers at dinner and acted like I did when Bry and Dan got me drunk for my first time. Such a lightweight. I had to carry her out of the restaurant. And not in the romantic hero kind of way. I almost thought that that was where our relationship was going. Not soo much.

She's passed out right now and hogging the clean bedsheets I just washed and dried for 15 hours; being that doing laundry here truly sucks. It literally takes days to wash all my washables. The worst part is is that i can only use cold water to wash things in my closet sized bathroom, and everything dries as comfortably as sand paper. I can't wait to come home to America and just use a bathroom for the necessities and not for showers, laundry, washing dishes, and way too much stuff. I miss a bathtub. I miss not stepping in water every time I go to use the bathroom. It sucks.

I hope tomorrow will be better. I will jam out with my band in Hong-Dae, and have some beers and chill with the guys. Chen will not become the Yoko Ono of my musical romance. It sucks that I still can't sing with my Seoul-laden voice. But I know it will be - Good stuff. Gotta go. Miss you guys.

A King of Korea (The Count of Gangnam)

Well, I hope everyone is doing well and feeling fine. I am doing phenomenal here in Korea and absolutely loving life. I don't care so much for being narcissistic; but I must tell you that I am loving life over here tremendously. I label myself jokingly as the "Count of Gangnam" due to the way I've turned my life around for the better. Asia has opened all the doors that were closed for me in America. Ironic, I know, and I still miss all of you greatly. It is a wound I cover tightly and try not to think about, being that I have a long time before I see any of you.

What does make me feel good though, in this crazy Asian megopolis, is the great food and beautiful women. I just finished some caviar and sushi for lunch, and I am dating this "philappina" girl named Chen. We had a great date on Friday, and a very nice Valentine's on Saturday. Hey......She even cleaned my apartment.....that's what I like to call the BONUS ROUND. NICE>

Yes, life is really good here. Like I said, I don't want to give false pretenses of narcissism. It's just that they say "The sun shines on even a dog's ass every once in a while," and I see the light coming through my window right now. Love and peace from Seoul. Miss you guys.

P.S.-Chen, although unknowingly, is giving the British F*&* You sign in the first picture. AHH. I guess ignorance is bliss. Poor girl.....lol.

Seoul Survivin' Mind Today

So what's on the mind of the original "Seoul Survivor" you may ask? Many things, and nothing. Today was an interesting day, as all of mine have been so far in the "Land of the Morning Calm," an ironic name that gets me every morning as I hear cars squeek and crash, and my annoying Landlord sweep by my window. Not so calm, but I love it.

So I have been feeling my true independence lately. It is one of those feelings that is undescribable, and very fulfilling. It is one that I must trade for my desire to be with my family and friends in America. I guess we can't have the world as we would like to, so sacrifice must be strategically called upon for one's happiness. I must say that I am truly happy here. I have lived my previous life in America very close to my family and friends: and very close to an incompetent lifestyle of not being on my own, and not truly experiencing life. Unfortunately, the two could not mend together, and I had to pick a very challenging crossroads. The road less traveled if you will. Break the cycle. Break the complacency. Break the one way road I was on for another that would lead me ultimately to a greener field. It's not easy. I miss the family I have that I would not trade for the world. I miss my friends. I miss my dog. I miss the comfort of my whole reality in New York. But I knew from the beginning, this break is the break that needed to come to pass. I am living on my own and truly becoming stronger and the independence is something I've strove for for so long. I have a job, I have medical benefits, I am dating several Asian girls, and I am truly free. It is a beautiful moment in my life. One I hope to never reminisce about and feel like this was the best moment. I want to take this moment and build many moments on top of this one. I am free to do whatever I want. That, is a beautiful, spiritual, and independent stream of conciousness.

A Korean Sunday

as I sit anticipating a a somewhat expensive but well-worthy lunch of Caviar and Sushi, I contemplate the differences in culture over here. Such an eyesight each and every time I leave my apartment. Today, I saw a small child Aiden's age doing the grocery shopping for his parents. Walking along the dangerous streets and avoiding traffic the way Devbot kills bad guys on Call Of Duty 4 (His favorite vidoe game). I also looked into one of the small bodegas lining my street, and was amazed to see pig heads and hooves on spivets. Actually, the meat smelled so good, it reminded me of the pig roasts my Puerto Rican neighbors would have when I was a kid, whithout the horrible surprise of seein a pig bludgeoned to death in the next yard on a very innocent Saturday morning. No wonder I have issues...lol... Also, annoyingly, the Korean people refuse to move. It seems that they throw their peripheral (spelling??) vision aside and just don't plain give a crap if you're trying to get by. In the market, they puff themselves up like a blower fish and really don't care that you would like to get by. In the supermarket, they leave their carts diagonal, as if to purposefully not let anyone by. It pisses me off. It seems that they go out of their way to make movement difficult, and don't give a damn. But when they need to get by you, you're pushed. Well, now that I see the pattern, I feel pretty bad for any Koreans in the way of this 6-foot tall bald Banshee who needs his seafood and beer NOW. LOL. I thought N.Y. was bad..............

Seoul Working Hours (Hittin' the Grindstone)

This is an article I recently read depicting the unrelenting Seoul work force. Thankfully, the article does not adhere to me for two reasons: 1-I am a foreign English teacher and have minimal hours (thank god), and 2-I just don't care for Big Macs.

"Seoul has longest working hours in the worldStudy indicates the South Korean capital holds the official record for working hours ahead of 70 other capitals. But more hours do not always mean better wages.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – People in Seoul work the longest hours per year in the world, says a study by the Swiss financial group Union des Banques Suisses (UBS). In a recent report, UBS says that Seoul residents spend more than 2,300 hours at work each year. That's the longest among 71 world cities surveyed.

Based on a 42-hour workweek, the average South Korean worker puts in about 60 days a year more than their peers in Paris who spend just 1,480 hours on the job, the world's lowest. Only official contracts and work schedules were considered,

"My official work hours are from 9 in the morning until 7 in the evening. But due to a heavy workload, I go home at around 8 or 9 about three times a week," one Seoul office worker said.
"On average," he added, "I take off at 10 or 11 p.m. about three times a week. I do this for my company's success and for my own sense of accomplishment. Fortunately, I have my family's full support and understanding."

But longer hours do not mean necessarily better salaries. In fact, in South Korea, dedication and sacrifice come before monetary pursuit, though money is often seen as a measure of success.

The survey ranked Seoul residents only 32nd in wages per working hours. Using New York's salary level of 100 as the benchmark, Seoul had a score of a mere 44. Tokyo led Asia in salary at 18th with 78 points. Topping the list, meanwhile, were the northern European cities of Copenhagen and Oslo.

But salaries must be measured against cost of living. For example, it takes 29 minutes of work for Seoul residents to buy a Big Mac burger, less than the global average of 35 minutes.

Overall, Seoul was the 24th most expensive city in terms of cost of living excluding rent. Oslo topped the list, whilst Kuala Lumpur was at the opposite end of the scale. (PB)"

A Fond Farewell to the "Original" Old Timer

I would just like to send my utmost condolances to the Carfero family. Last night, Pops (Renee's Grandfather) passed away. For those of you who hadn't had the pleasure of knowing him, Pops was a magnanimous man who was always cheerful, and as smart as a whip. I personally connected with Pops and always enjoyed his company. From what I hear, he always enjoyed mine as well. It's these sad times in life when you realize the pain of losing someone you cherish, but understand and evaluate the possibilities on "the other side." I hope Pops is saying hello to his wife and other family members up there and watching "Judge Judy" marathons. I will miss you Pops. Godspeed. Renee, I hope you and your family will be strong through this difficult time, and I express my sincere sorrow for your loss.

Walk On

So,I'm sitting in my King's chair (pleather lounge) that I bought over the weekend. I'm listening to some live U2 (One of my many favorite bands the world has put out), marinading some pork and hot pepper, and I get a call from my boss. Apparently, my lesson plans for the whole month didn't specify the exact page numbers and words I will be teaching my students. Also, I have been writing my lesson plans by hand (which I hate and would rather type, and was NOW told they had to be typed), although I was given a blank photocopy to write on. So, apparently, I should type them (thanks for delayed and crucial notice). So I have to go in to work several hours earlier and revamp my lesson plans for the month. A whole month. Oh, you crazy Koreans and you're provincial attitude of not telling, but always expecting.........Korea.....Do you understand SARCASM. No, I know.

Anyway, do yourself a favor and listen to this live song by U2. Certain family members will love the "hellalleja" reference repeated (especially Mom and Nancy). As for me, I have to go to work 3 hours early to fix a mistake that was fundamentally never brought to my attention in the first place. Oh Korea, you sly and disfunctional entity. I still love you. Keep surprising me in your whole "oh you never learned about how this is, and nobody told you, and we never taught you, and we gave you fake paper to write on,though we totally expected something different from you, and are astonished that you don't know, and can't believe you don't.?????" Mentality. It keeps me on my toes.

Anyway, this song is just as good or better than "Kite". If you comment that you like it, just maybe I'll do my own cover. Maybe.

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=-wfjPmDlCB0&NR=1