Alright alrigh alright. I am making my way in this crazy town, and work is very interesting. Very laid back compared with New York schools. Actually, as I am known to be a laid back kind of guy, and hold a Masters Degree in English (did I mention that before..lol.) It looks like some smooth sailing. Organization will be the only challenge I see coming. The school is nice (3-4 floors) and I will be posting some pictures of these adorable and absolute genious students. As I've said before (what me repeat myself?), these kids know more about the world and everything in it and around it than I did at the ripe age of 12. The thing is, they are 5-7 (I observed my younlings today). No big deal right. So they're a lot smarter and razor sharp with responses about anything. The catch is, they are not fricking native English speakers. They are Korean and can speak, pronounce, understand, and are actually learning how to "master" the English language. This may seem undescribable but they actually "think" in English. I hope that makes sense for the layman. Bottom line-I am absolutely impressed with all the classes I observed and hope these students have a bright future and will use this language they are learning for something. They can spell better than almost all of my former students from New York. Not really a big deal unless you consider the age difference and fact that they are Koreans. They are better at our language than the students in America, and I'ts not thier native tongue. What's more is that they have personality. You all know that goes a long way in my book.One student today quizzed me on the ecomical downfall of the United States, the sub-prime loan scandal and what it's fallout would be. He's 6. (no I kid but you get the picture). I felt so welcomed today as they were walking up the stairs I heard "Chris teacher, you coming to my class again today. Please?" This little bugger looked so funny and cute. He had on the what I guess is the YBM ECC uniform. Grey vest and pants that have a little YBM log on the vest. These kids are friendly and I know I have truly found my calling as a teacher. It's funny because my nephews and nieces showed me passion for working with kids. Thanks guys.

The city of Seoul makes New York City look like a younger brother. I live near the Lotte World Department Complex and it is just absolutely phenomenal. The people in this city----I never told anyone before I left, but I had heard they actually were a little racist (like that elder woman on my first night that I had to "persuade" a drink from with jetlag stubborness.), but I am so happy to hear "anyonghaseyo" when I walk in a restaurant, and they take their time with you about ordering food and everything. They generally are a unique people and I think this is all going to lead somewhere. I'm a pretty friendly guy myself. I'm soo happy right now. I can't believe I left all of you 8,000 miles away. Comment on my blog. It means the world to me. Also, there are going to obviously be good, great, OK, and horrible blogs. Last night I woke up at 2 am with 2 hours of sleep (Jetlag is a literal nightmare). I've been up since. I wrote some crazy furucking emails with doubt laced upon them, and mustered up the courage to complete the day in pain and misery, but nonetheless successfully. I came home to my apartment/shoebox and am venting right now. It's a beautiful thing. This blog has actually given me so much outlet. It is truly helping me. Anyways, I could write for hours (see, you all said I should be an English teacher but never expected the responsibility of the stack of papers....lol... personal joke) Tomorrow's lesson for my readers is how to stay alive while walking around Seoul. Cars, buses, bikes, motorcycles, people, children and pets will all be out to get you. I swear to God. These people make New York drivers look like Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy. Unbelievable.

My co-workers are very chill. The guys are from all around America and the girls are all from Korea and have studied in America. I't so cool to see the various ranges of teachers and hear about their different stories of their journey from the U.S. to South Korea. We all share a common bond (I would like to believe) in the fact that we left everything in search of something. The reasons vary and are quite interesting. I still can't believe I am here and have a million things I want to tell everyone about.

Hello Growing Pains

Alright. What's up. Yeah, I'm really feeling great right now. I slept for 2 hours, woke up at 3 AM and have been up since. The Korean sun is rising, I have a big day of work in a foreighn country that I have basically just been dropped off on. And I can't spell. Here comes the pain. I look and feel as if I have been partying for several days and I passed through Jabba the Hutts lower intestines. Jetlag. It's the worst hangover you've ever had without the exciting extasy of the actual partying. Good times. Actually, my soul (no pun intended) was just saved by listening to Roger Waters' song Every Stranger's eyes. Talk about genious. Do yourself a favor and take a look and listen to this song on Youtube: http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=MWK-lUyoLkU
If you can concentrate on the lyrics and get past the cheesy 80's video and actually not like this song, then I think you don't have a soul and should be shot on sight. Once again, Kim Jong Il is very close to my current position and I can make things happen.

Back to this craziness. Did I really fly by myself to Korea for a year? Hmmm. I got some serious balls. I've always said that I appreciate a person that can suprise themselves. After all, what is life without the ability to surprise oneself and make it entertaining. Complaceny has it's drawbacks. Been there and done that. The Korean sun calls me right now to a future so uncertain and unpredictable. I like that. I am going to find out why the hell I came here, and what I was missing in my complacent life back in New York. Jetlag or no, I am standing my ass up right now and facing a day that could have any possibility. Yeah, I feel like donkey dog shit, but I grow stronger day by day by day. I am alone. But I am truly not alone. You are all with me. Plus, I have little future South Korean Nobel Peace Prize winners that are waiting for me. Unbelievable.

4 AM- Jetlag Really Furucking Sucks

4 in the Morning. Jetlag. Sleeplessness. I feel constantly hung over and only wish to sleep. My body is in f-ing meltdown. The only thing keeping me going is the emails from Paul and my Madre, and the comments on my blog. Certain people need to really step up and let me know how much they miss me by actually sitting down for five minutes and writing me. I'm not being narcissistic. I just want to hear from anyone right now. I'm in the middle of frickin South Korea for God's sake. Alone. My bed is actually really comfortable and the city does infact sleep at night. I hear the sound of a few passing cars but there is no chaos like New York City. That's cool. I have been drinking this drink called Soju over here. It is like Vodka and sprite and it really makes you feel like shit after two of them. Is it the jetlag? Probably. I am in the mood right now for some of these rice cakes they sell at the market. They have a spicy sauce in the middle and are absolutely delicious and cheap. Food in Korea is cheap in general. You get a gourmet meal for 5 bucks. No tip. I have not even begun to explore the city. My neighborhood is like a clean Brooklyn street ( except for the open air market that is awesome and indescribable). When I walk to the closest big road, however, it turns into what Manhattan should look like. It's huge though. I think several times bigger than Manhattan. I am a little taken back by it, and a little scared. I am very lucky that I found my way home from work today. A lot of stuff is in English and a lot of stuff is not. I'm still doing alright. I'm Seoul Survivin', but I need some sleep. I wonder if it would be cool to knock on my cutie Korean neighbors' door right now and see if she wants to chill. I bought her some Kimbap and delivered it to her as an "American" housewarming gift (which I kind of made up because it's usually the "new person" that's supposed to get the gifts). But after all is said and done, I really am a genuinely nice person that's just trying help a beautifully lonely Korean girl out. I hope I don't scare her. I have that tendency. I'll come back to my place with a bag full of food and a chopstick lodged in my eye. It wouldn't be the first time.

Anyonghaseyo mo fo's,

First of all, let me tell you that the internet is the new T.V. Living without it really sucks. I have been trying to get on my blog for the last 48 hours since I've been here and It has been so nerve racking. By the way, these past 48 hours (actually 42 HOLY SHIT!) have felt like a lifetime. I can honestly say I am a new man. Seoul is beautiful. For all of you waiting for calls, please give me time. I don't know how to use the phone yet. There's numbers involved and it gets tough...lol. I emailed my telephone number to my mother, so if you want to call me, please give that beautiful, brilliant, and excellent woman a call. I'm not sure how to dial internationally from America, but find out and wing it. Keep in mind this jetlagged mind is on the fritz. Basically wha t I'm trying to say is that there's a 12-13 hour time difference and if you call me when I'm sleeping I will get Kim Jong Il all up on your ass. He is sooo ronery.

Here's how this blog is going to work. I am going to tell you about my first day of work, and then I'll post what I wrote the last day or so because I couldn't send over the internet. First day of WORK. Here we go: The teaching profession has called me. I've waited tables, I've sold cable door to door to f-ing door. I've worked as a salesman for the most shady advertisement company imaginable. When I mean "fly by night," I'm talking "fly by evening." So, some sort of calling to Korea has obviously called me. For reasons I can't get into, this opportunity stared me in the face for so long, and I know it is the right one. Being jetlagged and strung out, 6 AM called me to wake. I walked out of my apartment building to this little side road that I live on. Koreans are setting up their fish markets, walking to work, and getting ready for the busy day as I find out that Starbucks doesn't open as early as a tired man truly needs coffee. To wake up in a city like this that I'm going to call my home is truly exciting and invigorating. Manhattan with a broom. I swear to God. Amazing. You'll hear about that later on in my post-blog of my first day. I know, the anticipation and flashback is so alluring!

I arrive at YBM ECC Education building at 9 AM so I can unsuccessfully email everyone and post this blog which I am doing afterwards.....and enjoying a wonderful Soju (Vodka drink for the layman). Bachelor life does indeed have it's privelages. One of my co-workers, a good guy walks me the 12 minute walk to our building. The building is really nice. We have 4 floors that we work in. One a library, the others just classrooms. I realized I truly am meant to be a teacher when I observed the first class. These little Korean kids are the cutest f-ing things I've ever seen. Thanks to my brothers Bry, Dan, and Chip for having such adorable kids. That has truly led me to see the beauty and innocence of children. That made teaching a whole lot easier. So, these Korean kids range from kindergarten to middle school, and they make American kids look like Corky from the show Life Goes On (it's a joke relax). These little kids were years ahead compared to with the students I've been working with. The highlight of my day was talking to Thomas ( all Korean students choose an English name that they will be called....thank God!). Thomas spoke to me more intelligently than my 7 year old nephew Devin (miss you buddy). He was only one year older, but it was in a language that was different from his own. It was like he grew up in the U.S. I could not believe it. Also, regarding teaching, I will be teaching my students basic stuff like science and drama and music. One of the classes I observed memorized an entire play and did a read through of it without looking at anything. These kids are smart. These kids are friendly, and they have personality to go with it. I am looking forward to getting to know them.

As far as my co-workers go, they all seem cool. Some of the women that work there are absolutely beautiful. The guys seem cool and I'm sure I'll make a good friend out of one or two of them. Some of them play instruments and are looking to make a band. Hmmmm. I wonder where they'll find a guitarist and singer? I'll let them know about this big, bald-headed American I know that knows how to jam out.

Alright, eneough already I know. I'm chewing your eyes up. This blog is my therapy and my outlet. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do writing, but I'm not stupid. Above are my first pics, and my flashback posts (I'm a Quentin Tarintino novelist) should be below. Did I mention that there is a really cute Korean girl living in the apartment next to me who's only wish is to learn English and move to Canada? I know, I can only help so much. Canada.

The Flashback:

Greeting from Seoul/Anyonhaseyo,

Days like these come few and very far between. The bittersweet farewell I said to all of you was exactly just that. Bitter, because I will miss all of my loved ones tremendously, and sweet, because this journey is already turning out to be what I so desperately needed.
The traveling involved leaving JFK International Airport at 7 AM on Friday morning. When I said goodbye to my father and brother at the airport and walked alone through the gates, all the anxiety and uncertainty left me immediately. I felt a cool calmness, and looked to what I like to call the “wanderlust” that I am in such need of. To go off. To say goodbye to the comfort and complacency that has coddled and warmed me, and a soul that needs to expand and search. Spread my wings. I have said that jokingly for quite some time now but do any of us truly believe and appreciate the metaphor? I know at this moment my wings are resting and they have felt the thrill of an 8,000 mile journey into the unknown chasms and storms of life. They have been so broken and disregarded that the feel of them opening up as I looked out the window of the plane (for a mere 21 hours) not only pulled them open uncontrollably, but made their master realize there is a plan for these wings and they must fly…..now. I saw more of the earth than I ever imagined. From concrete jungle to concrete jungle, I saw the in between. The snow capped Rocky Mountains and Sierra Desert. The San Francisco Bridge up to the Icelandic and majestic Alaskan white desert. Then, the Pacific Ocean forever and ever remaining the horizon. All of this beauty and untouched country with the soundtrack of a Malaysian infant crying, and screaming, and crying, and screaming next to me. Nonetheless rendering epiphany.
When I arrived at Incheon International Airport near Seoul, Mr. Shin (my own new personal Mr. Miyagi and boss) drove me an hour and half to my apartment in Gangnam (pronounced kangnam and just below the Han River in the middle of Seoul). I talked to him as if I had known him my whole life. Not as a person who is from a different country, but someone from the same world. He is a truly exceptional and genuine human being. Very nice, very courteous, and answered all my questions (while congratulating me on my Korean knowledge and pronunciation---who the hell would have thought….right? Chris--in the middle of Korea ready to show the world what he‘s made of…lol. I have had a lot of time to study. Or as some call it “research.” Who’s laughing now Bry, Dan, and Paul…IN YOUR FACE!….lol.

Mr.Shin took me to my apartment which is basically like a dorm room with a bathroom. I have a gas stove ( from which I hope the 2009 Korean Great Fire is averted), and that’s pretty much it. Oh, and a most comfortable bed that has new bedding thanks to Shin. After that, Shin took me up the street and up some stairs for my first authentic Korean meal. They serve about 7 dishes in little bowls that everyone shares. Let me tell ya, 10 years of eating with chopsticks made me look like I was the American Ambassador to Gangnam (which I now am), and that food was ridiculously healthy and sooo good. In Korea, their food is furuckin SPICY. Mr. Shin took me back to my apartment and left. To be seen Monday morning at work. That’s it. I asked him if it was safe to walk around as I saw many people hanging around at the markets. He said I would be very safe. He was off, and my first mission of grabbing some Kimbap (sushi roll with meat, egg, veggies) and Soju (Korean Vodka drink) was on. I walked out with some Won (money) in my pocket, feeling like I had just awakened from an ignorant slumber (which I unfortunatley have) and made my way into the dark Korean night. The signs were alight, but they blended into one. One step into the unknown that I have been searching for. Stagger and an uncontrollable confidence in the steps.

I walked around the block and found darkness. Big streets, no one driving on them. I remembered the market area and went down there. Markets were closed with tarps on everything. I looked further down my road (as I didn’t plan on leaving this one road that had become my sudden home) and saw people. It was on.
I finally found a “pa” (bar) and it was packed out with nicely dressed 20 somethings. They wouldn’t give me a seat, so I asked the older counter lady (it was a sit down and serve bar) for a Soju. She was busy and not happy. She was about to tell me some bad news. Being an older lady, and from what I have “researched” about elder ladies feelings towards foreigners, I felt unwanted but I kindled my stubbornness. Thanks Karen. What she didn’t know was that I woke up in New York on Friday morning and traveled 8,000 miles for this Soju. I charmed her. The smile, my atrocious attempt at Korean. The smile again. Her dismissal. My smile again that pierced her wall. She smiled. She gave me Soju and a barrel of nuts. I took a sip of the Soju. She was offended. “You no eat nuts?” “Eat them”. I smiled. I enjoyed that Soju. The nuts, not so much. But a thirsty foreigner should be a hungry one as well. I looked at her in the eyes and realized the true beauty of human nature. She looked at me as a mother who knew she wouldn’t get her way. I bowed to her and said “Kamsahamnida” (Thank you).

After that, some young Koreans were outside and I made acquaintances with them as Chris Farley or some out-of- place clown would. It worked. They bought me some Mek Ju (beer) and we laughed together about many unimportant things. The communication barrier was a fun challenge to take a stab at but was worth it. An interesting day.
Today I woke up after 4 hours of sleep (????). The sun was shining through my shoebox window ( I mean apartment) and I embraced it. Who the hell would know that I have a Starbucks 2 blocks away. Thank you Big Man in the Sky. Lunch consisted of me ignorantly trying to find a sushi joint. Mission failed. What I did have was a great lunch of Kimbap: Rice, veggies, egg, meat, seaweed slices wrapped in toasted seaweed and looks like what Americans would call sushi (served with never ending Kimchi and soup) for a whopping 3,000 Won (less than 3 dollars. Holy shit. Me Likey!

Supposedly my American co-workers are going to be contacting me this afternoon. So far, I have never been so alone in this world as of the last 48 hours. I look at it this way: I have never felt so alive, and I know I am in good company. Anyongheekaseyo-

"The key to change is to let go of fear" -Rosanne Cash

A Great Farewell

Well This will be my last post before I leave for Seoul on Friday. This past weekend was my "farewell" party where I hung out with my friends and family at the Irish Times Pub, had some good food at my house, and then went to my brother Bry's with everyone and had a campfire until the wee hours of the morning. It was quality stuff.

Right now I'm off to meet my family to "break bread" one last time before I leave for this logically expert yet crazy journey I have gotten myself into. The airlines said I can bring 2 fifty pound bags and a carry on. I'm going to be living over there for a year so that's like putting "me" into a lunchbox. I'm wishing myself luck.

The rest of the week has been bittersweet. Saying goodbye to everyone and knowing that I will not see them for a long time. I'm keeping strong, and I know that a phenomenal world changing, life adjusting, crazy Korean adventure awaits me. Seoul is my oyster and I plan to schuck it. No, I said schuck it.



"Wherever you go, there you are"" -Some brilliantly simplistic philosopher

One Week Left

In exactly one week I will be on an airplane headed to San Francisco and then to Seoul. I'ts going to be a long 21-hour journey to the "land of the Morning Calm," and I'll probably be in good spirits but cranky as a person that has just travelled continuously for 21 f-ing hours. I'm also a little claustrophobic.

On a better note, I woke up this morning feeling really pumped about everything. These last few nights I haven't really slept and I've been freaking out. Today, however, I feel very confident in my decisioin and the great experience that awaits me. This whole thing is definitely a roller coaster ride of a lifetime.


When all is lost, all is left to gain" -Matt Kearney

The New Messiah of the United States of America

So, history has been made. Obama is the first African-American to become President of the U.S.A. On my way to the voting poll I actually had second thoughts on voting for him (as I am a Republican), but I think the economy and our foreign policy need a Democrat right now. So, I put aside my differences, and as a true American have to back up the Big Man in the White House. So here's to the Messiah/Antichrist. He'll truly become one or the other. God bless America. We need it right now.

As far as my anxiousness goes, I did'nt sleep to well last night. I think the dream I had definitely made me pumped to embark on my journey. I can't go into all the crazy details (I have some crazy dreams all the time, as I''m sure we all do). It did involve, however, a cage around my head and me wishing to get out of it. Freud could have a field day. I think it's a metaphor for my readiness to go face the world and become what I need to. Let's leave it at that..lol. I have a lot to do before I leave, so let me get to it. Good luck Obama. I defiinitely would not want your job right now, but with that vote I gave you I expect a lot.