allanseoul

Good morning back to school in S. Korea! Well, hardly.  I Come into a day of chaos, as usual.  Its back to school and that means a lot, but mainly registration and the lack of organization at this Public School is now evident.  It's not horribly bad, not that i truly would know because i don't understand the Korean language or take part in their daily activities.  I just hear a lot of loud speaking, see a lot of frowns and complaining.  I really need to get out of the office and have my own classroom like im suppose to. All my friends at public school do.  Hopefully the new English teacher, who is extremely fluent and practically native as me is working hard away to make our lives better.  I'm just sitting here minding my own business.

How has it been? Smooth.  Realized i'm like 6 months in, next week i'm turning 26, and i really have to consider applying for teachers college because my third year i want to go home.  I like it here, money and the job is good, but i need to buy a Lexus or BMW because im itching to drive again.

IRONY in my life

Last night, did some Korean studying and then I stopped.  Forget exactly why I began to reflect my days here, but now I realize and know how to live my life happier and so can you.  Read on. Contradictions, opposite, 180's, stereotypical, hypocrisy, you know name it.  

Reason 1: As a Teacher vs becoming a  student
This segment is about the iron in my life, in our lives and how we have to acknowledge it, understand it and accept it to be happy.  For example, it's my first time teaching.  How am i suppose to teach with no experience? You teach yourself on how to teach, or go back to becoming a student.  In my case, i was going to school to learn Korean and still studying at home here and there once a blue moon.  Laughable.  The techniques, theories and activities which come to my mind are often backed by me pondering "what would a student like and how would i feel if i did this as a teacher..."  It works.  I stopped teaching, rather i prefer to instruct at times but balance as well because the stress will kill you.  Teaching can be stressful in many ways, such as all your efforts going to lesson planning goes to waste because you fail to understand how to present your material or fail to realize your audiences demands of that day, your students.   Elementary children are finicky learners to foreign language.  We all are, that's why we enjoy and learn swear words easier.  

Reason 2: Identity: generation clash, becoming who you hate, relationships and personality.
When you were young, didn't you hate that thing(s) your mom or dad did that you complained and thought if you ever became like them your world would turn up-side down?  Well, the world is upside down my friend.  In some way, we are all like our parents.  I hate how my mom stored so much food at home and display it for fun with no intentions of eating it.  I'm doing it here in Korea.  I said its cheaper to go out to eat as a bachelor, yet I still do it.  I'm stopping it.  Again, laughable.  Isn't that ironic? Nothing you can do but make the most of your new found abilities as you become an adult.  Remember to be obnoxious, more so than how you were presented with that pet peeve, to your new generation of yourself. 

Reason 3: Relationships
Why is it that as soon as i stop chasing, in relationships, that i find one? Previously in Canada, i met more girls and friends in 4 month than i usually did because i stopped caring about relationships.  I wasn't trying or looking and i suppose that when this happens, your luck increases with the ladies.  Even in S. Korea, I admit i was checking out the market here and what was on sale my first 3-4 month as a tourist.  Than i stopped.  As soon as a stopped, i met a girl and slowly progress to my current stage in my foreign relationship.  It's going good by the way.  Gave the same advice to my friend because he has been looking like a hound to get into a relationship.  He's trying to obvious and he himself have said that "most of the foreign people who date Koreans only speak English and can't speak Korean".   The problem here, ironically, is that he can speak Korean.  Based on his observation, people who date Koreans cant speak Korean.  Since he speaks Korean, he can't date a Korean.  That would go against his observation and logic, in theory.  He has to stop speaking Korean and chasing.  Will it work? Now its an experiment, and i proposed to him this last night.  Hopefully, the experiment will work.  Science is fun. 

Reason 4: (Sitcom) The Big Bang Theory
Have you seen it? If not, watch it.  I have seen episode like 5 times because i have no life.  No! it's because its more hilarious if you watch it over and over.  I don't have time to download more.  I'm a low tech and maintenance kind of guy, that's good right?  Anyways, basically, the plot goes: 4 genius's who work together at a Science Academy, anti-social and incapable of social adaptation although they have the working knowledge of the universe, become associated with Penny as a neighbor.  Penny is a hot aspiring-actress who is a waitress in L.A.  A dime a dozen.  The challenge is that the almighty intelligence, which has capabilities to understand everything scientific and logical in life cannot comprehend social interaction.  The genius can do anything but get a date or make friends outside of their social group.  That's irony at it's best.  Their interaction with Penny is their attempt to overcome their inability of social interaction's as nerds.  Every episode, they attempt to use science in everyday life activities and challenges.  For instance, Kutherpoli has selective mute-ism in the presence of women (ironically he does better in dating), Leonard is in and out of relationships because he is a failure in science and women, he cannot balance the two.  Same goes with Howard.

Continue here, im tired: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_big_bang_theory

Reason 5: Learn to hate yourself!
Say what? Well, spend some time to reflect on yourself and all your flaws, mistakes, regrets and negativity.  Just do it. How do you feel? Like mud.  Dissatisfied.  Disgusted.  Shamed.  Stop. What will you do? Mop and forget about it?  You will but you can't and hopefully you are strong enough to realize you need to change those bad habits or qualities and become better.  Step two, after realization, strive to become better and stop being poor at what you do.  Finally, love yourself more in the end for trying to be better and doing something.  Ie, learning a language, losing weight, or failing in something.  Try harder, at least just try.  You wont hate yourself so much anymore once you learn to hate yourself, and then love yourself. Make sense? Trust me, it works. 

Time to get back to work, or whatever it is I do here.  Sure ain't teaching today.

Another month, its almost 6 months since i have been here. Time flies, when you are busy working, keeping up with social life, a gf and playing games lol.  This week my friend Amy is here from Canada! Too bad, because this will be my last chance to see her in a while because she will be moving to Australia for Med school.  I'm happy for her.

Snowboarding and Skiing
I learned how to board and Ski this month!  I went 4 times and paid less than $200 in total, so i think i got a good deal over hear. And my awesome friends who taught me.  According to Derek, lessons cost like 100 dollars an hour or something!!!  I tried skiing first because all my friends said its something to learn first.  Then my friend Alex said boarding is more fun than skiing, and yes he was right.  Just more painful if you fall, so you have to wear a helmet and pads, the impact just rattles your brain and im sure i lost alot of brain cells in one day. I didnt need them anyways.  :)

Gaming
Man, i'm getting addicted to playing games again, which is ok because im spending WAY TOO much money going out and stuff...  I didnt realize 6 months has gone by and that i probably should consider saying more money, even though i tutor to make extra cash, im wreckless with money lol.  Makes me realize i really should go back to Canada for school because i need more money and a better job.  Korea is fun... but im on vacation.  A temporary job. Time to grow up and stop playing games? Hell no. When is Final Fantasy 13 (already here in korea but jap version) and Diablo 3 coming out? Might play MS Korea (or global) again.

Dating
She is great, but sometimes... haha. It has really been a month yet and we went through so much.  Time is going by slow.  We argue like everyday, but immediately kiss and make up.  I guess every argument or obstacle makes the relationship stronger and better? Its not so much about the difference in culture, well its half, the other half is a quarter me and a quarter her. Things will not change but we working on the system of 3 rules, despite the cultural difference and language barrier.  She speaks good english, not great, but its my sarcasm, demeanor and difficulty of expressing one-self in a 2nd language makes understanding and communication challenging.  Native speakers have problems communicating one dating one another as well, and still have problems understanding each other in the relationship.  I know, we all know what its like for dating.  It has its up's and downs.  In essence, we're doing great.  We still understand each other and try to compromise after we are able to communicate our thoughts.  Dictionaries, translations, body language and deep thinking makes everything more interesting.  I'm learning a lot about things I THOUGHT i knew in life or have experienced.  It's like reviewing or re-learning something you forgot about when you were 10 years old. I need to make more of an effort to learn korean, i live here dammit. Also, not only is she trying harder to improve her English everyday, but she has taken the incentive to learn Vietnamese, i was just joking about that!. To my surprise, she is doing better than I am by far. On top of that, I recently found out she can play the Piano! that is sooo sexy. My gf is not clumsy (joking) and DOES have better skills than me after all.

Things are going well, currently its public school vacation, yes, again.  They come back for 2 weeks graduation and off for another 2 weeks.  I still teach, but like 3 hrs a week, lmao. I love my job.  My birthday is in March, time is coming, im getting ooooold.

Nice to be back! I forgot about my blogs even since Christmas. A lot has happened since Christmas break, and i will continue to write them here regularly now.  Mainly because im starting to forget myself and my memories of Korea because im so busy here and time is going by fast.  This is why i blog, to reflect and capture my memories and moments before i forget them.  Which I have forgotten some already, shame.

Christmas party with Tom
As decided, me and Tom would through a Christmas 'slash' Birthday party for Anh Jun Keon ( im a bad friend for not knowing how to properly spell his name).  It was great.  I invited these girls we met at a cafe a week before and two of the showed up.  (Who is now my "Lady Friend", i will explain below. ) We cooked for our friends, played music, entertained and drank the night away.  It didnt quite feel like Christmas without the old family and friends in Canada, and perhaps Korea does not put much emphasis on Christmas.  No presents were exchanged, no real Christmas food for dinner.   Dont matter, we had Christmas in Korea with our friends and that was important to celebrate on that day in anyway, better than nothing is what im saying.   That night, while sleeping, i woke up in horror to find Tom's arm around me, but not spooning.  I am traumatized.  Grossed out.  Its a good thing the girls didnt wake up to see two guys laying together arm over another.  Anyways, that has passed.  For the next couple of slow and boring holidays, it was just me, June and Tom hanging out because everyone went away.  It was either flights back to Canada, Qatar, Japan, Norway, or home towns in Korea to spend time with family.  We had each other, thank god.  

New Years in Seoul, S. Korea
I vaguely remember.  It was Tom, June and Brittany who accompanied  me to Seoul for New Years.  It was nice, but very cold.  Milions, im guessing of people still came out to celebrate new years on the streets.  There were riot police ready everywhere lol.  People would light their fireworks in the streets, dangerous, during the course of an hour.  Live, city sponsored stage shows with musicians, entertainers and celebrities.  They made it a big deal in Seoul.  The streets are wide, i'd say 7-8 lanes and side walk but at the intersection of the stage, you were being pushed and humped by everyone aggressively.  I like that.  Just joking!. Good thing i didnt go to Japan, i rather stay with my close friends.  Clair went to Japan ALONE, brave women.  She had a good time, but spent it alone and with a friend she met up later.  Again, many friends were abroad or with family for New Years.  Oh yeah, Hannah couldnt meet with us because she was late at the city streets were really packed so we were not able to find each other.  Im starting to remember how we got home, we didnt.  We spent a night at a Jim Jil Bang in Sinchon area i think.  The worse night ever!, Too many teeny boppers, highschool kids who wouldnt shut up.  We were dying to go home after 1 -3 hours of a lousy sleep.  I had my contacts in too, but when i got home, man did i sleep.  The next day.. i forget what i did.  Recovered for Beijing i think.

My unpleasant experience in Beijing, China
Beijing, never again.  We hate Beijing, Kevin, Liz and I.  Perhaps we were cold, hungry, and lost, but we blamed it on the inhospitable tourist city of China.  Loud, rude, and deceiving locals cheat us of our experience.  Constant yelling everywhere, lies and broken promises to make a dollar from us and dirty looks.  We were unlucky, we got hit with a snow storm that weekend and were restricted of a good experience in China.  It was a hundred years since a snow storm hit Asia on that weekend.  In some ways, it worked out because me and Kevin got to slide down the Great Wall, not many people can say that! Kevin was really crabby, he called it the Good Wall. haha. We ran through everything, it was too cold and we were short on time.  Still an experience.  I wouldnt go back anytime soon, but its our fault for going in the winter. Stupid huh? Who the heck goes to Beijing, North, for winter vacation.

Skiing for the first time, Yanji Pine Resort
I 'm now a professional Skier after 2 tries.  Thats a lie.  I fell like 30 times in one day, broke my rented skis, had a sore back for 2-3 weeks but i still had a good time and i learned a new sport. YAY! So im proud of that, i would snowboard next time though.  Ironically, I live like 5 minutes away from a Ski hill but never learned how to ski in my life, until in come to Korea.  Like i have mentioned in my other blogs, the never ending experience of irony, coincidence, satyr, fate and other unimaginable things that could happen to a person living on the opposite side of the world.  Life is very, peculiar if you think about it.  I'm glad for all of this experience.
Second time, with Sangmi, Milk, Kazuka, Asami etc., we got a free Condo Suite room to crash at the Hotel, compliments of my buddy Derek.  I didnt get much sleep, in fact the mofo Kevin kept bugging me all night, trash talking me or tickling my feet.  Knowing damn well i gotta wake up at like 6 45 to catch a bus back to Suwon to work at like 8 30, it was like 4 30am and i dont know how i survived the day or night. Im tired just thinking about being tired.  Busy life, gotta sloooow down.  

Lady Friend,
I dont know if she will read this, but i like her alot so i dont mind talking about her.  We met randomly at a cafe.  She and her friends were staring at us because we spoke English and I'm not Korean so I interested them?  Who really knows why they were staring.  We walked in on a English Cafe meeting and pretty much took over the group and conversation.  Me, Tom and Clair, the newbies became the topic of the nights discussion.  We never returned to that cafe since then, but i feel i am in great debt to that place because i eventually met someone i really like.  For now, her name is a secret, like our initial relationship.  Although she was dating her ex at the time, she resented him and soon broke up with him by New Years, while we were just friends.  Perhaps there was some interest but I dont believe i was a home wrecker because there was no dram and I wasnt the reason or cause of the break up.  Not soon after, upon my return from Beijing, she called me.  I admit i did miss talking to her while i was on my trip, which made it worse because missing someone on a trip makes the trip lousy.  Anyways, her birthday was the 9th of January and the relationship began to start really fast.  There is a definite cultural and language barrier, but we overcome it with understanding, efforts and support.  Because of this difference, we are already learning to communicate, compromise and understand each other, more than what i can say for my previous relationships in the Western culture.  Too many lies, mis- communication, no compromise, understand and differences in opinions.  Again, irony. 

Life is funny like that, its just the way it is.  The world is unknown and unpredictable but perfect without attempts to justify, reason and perfect everything in life.  It cant be done.  Being able to branch away from home and live on the other side of the world is amazing.  You cant learn everything until you traveled and experienced the world.  You're not experiencing life unless you open your eyes and mind to unknown territories.  Coming here, i had nothing to lose, but all to gain.  My friends and family at home are not lost, they are just waiting.  I will be home one day, i will visit, but Suwon has become my new home for the next 2 years as expected.  I'm happy, don't worry about me. I'm having a blast!

Hi guys, again its been a while since my last post.  Even though i've finished my night school and applications to teachers college, there is always something to keep me busy.  Which I like, but regret in the morning from less than 7 hours of sleep.  I shouldn't complain, considering a of my students only have like 5.  Maybe it's because im getting old. Geeze, im turning 26 in March.  Lets talk about that.

New Friends
I love how its so easy to meet new people and become friends here.  Its going a little too fast and im starting to forget names and faces.  Its hard to keep in touch because everyone is so busy here.  It was exams, holidays, work etc.  I love meeting new people here in Korea.

Holidays
Wow, so this holiday is going to be fun.  Me and my friend Tom planned on throwing a Christmas dinner at his place this Thursday.  It wont be too packed, alot of our friends are going home, vacation or other plans.  Still, im looking forward to a little bit of Christmas, i think i need it.   I took a time out on Sunday, usually do, and thought to my self: "wow, i've been here for nearly 4 months and i know my 6 month stay will go by fast.  Where does the time go? What am I gonna do next year, my 2nd and 3rd year because time is flying.  Realizing im turning 26, time is so short for me.  My life should slow down, i never want to get old.  I like it here, not just Korea, but stage in life. 

Vacation and Days off Work
In korea, its now Winter Vacation. Instead of 2 months in the summer, its split 1 month between the two seasons.  Good idea.
Anyways, i have a huge break from Dec. 24th to February like 22nd!!!  Not really, but my work load is cut in 2/3rds!!!! It's not straight, sporadic and spread. I get 24th to Jan. 5th off.  Even though i only work 14 days in January ( 6th to 29th, excluding 6 days ), i have like Mondays and Fridays off on top of only teaching 10hrs a week .  In February i work back on the 3rd to the 11th and off for another 1 weeks???  I'm still trying to understand if thats right.  I need to find something to do with all my spare time.  God, i love my job and life here.

Beijing
Im almost done planning my trip to Beijing with Kevin and Liz for Jan. 2-5th.  Its a pain, but i found a really cheap site and agency to give us a tour, accommodation, Visa Fees and Airline ticket for less than 400,000KRW.  Non korean tourist agencies would of cost us like 800 USD

Im gonna be broke if i dont control my lifestyle. Im not buying or spending much but still, money goes by quick, even though i have extra jobs.

Here is a list of topics I will write today, which you can select to read or not, but i recommend reading everything because today will be a fun (long but not boring!) and good read. I promise. I will also make it short and sweet this time, details not needed (that's a lie, of course they are).

Today's topics:

1. Korean Language Progress
2. Teachers College Progress
3. Addicted to Chicken Disease
4. KyungHee University Association
5. Vietnamese: Food,People and my neighbors
6. Jim Jil Bang Fun Experience, Always
7. Movies: Ninja Assassin, Pandorum 2009, The Year 2012 (2009)
8. Korean Music and Entertainment
9. Nanta Theater Show
10. Weddings on 12/12: This week! - Also, its my friend Liz's birthday, and my neighbours mom is going home and they insist I spend time with them.
11. Kindergarten + any kids
12. Dead Cactus plant vs pet bunny - suggests my inability to raise anything
13. Appearance and stereotypes in S. Korea
14. My philosophy and religion

Hello again Blog, its been weeks.

1. Korean Language Progress - its been bad, i havent had a chance to study with my busy schedule. Work, class 3 times a day, teachers college application until the AM's every night, meeting people for work (extra job i have)... and i was sick for like 2 -3 weeks on and off. Last night, Sunday, I actually sat down and had some down time to review my Korean notes and this week is the last week for class, 3 nights in a row. Therefore I should learn as much as I can this week. That means cancelling and postponing other plans. I'm not complaining about my busy schedule, rather i like it because i get bored if i dont have anything to do for like 30 minutes. Anyways, its time to seriously learn the language because I want to stay a second year. Read Teachers College Progress to find out. Good and bad news.

2. Teachers College Progress - Good news ( well for me) is that i've decided what to do next year. Stay in Korea. Bad news for my family and friends, but i'm really not happy with going back to school after obtaining such a good job and lifestyle, one that i have desired for so long. Spending 6 years in school sucks, but 1 more wouldn't hurt if i can make more money. Or money can wait, happiness comes first, right? How am I gonna tell my mother, she is gonna disown me. I'm not disappointed that i've failed to stick to the plan, but honestly, you get sick of making plans in life. Not to say i wont get back on track, but now is not the time to go back to school. I felt forced on applying, every click online and phone call was tedious and strenuous, very regretful. I wasted 600 dollars on applications, i messed up alot. My documents are not sent by Dec. 1st, i no longer care. A weight has been lifted. Dammit, leave me alone, i dont want to go to school! LMAO... so sad.

3. Addicted to Chicken Disease - Funny huh? Don't laugh at my theories because its contagious. Really! I guarantee you (the readers) will crave some delicious chicken after reading. Here goes, I saw "Divorce Court: Chicken Addict". The case is about a Momma's Boy - Chicken Addict ( no lies ), not money, divorce or anything, just chicken. He spend his entire pay check on booze and chicken.

Ever since i saw this show, i've become addicted to chicken. No lies, i ate chicken like 5 days a week, 10 times a week. Ask my new Korean friends, they will tell you "All Allan talks about is chicken. Chicken, chicken, chicken!" Now they eating chicken whenever they can too.

"Divorce Court: Chicken Addict" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnuAnk9esgI

Articles
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/08/25/addicted-to-chicken-nuggets-for-18-years-115875-20711006/
Comedy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6CtMm0C-8U


4. Kyung Hee University Association - In my Korean class, i meet people from vietnam, thailand, Thailand, India and even NewFoundland (Canada)!!! Very interesting. So Huyen Anh is my new vienamese friend! Cool huh? She introduced me to a bunch of vietnamese masters and ph-d students playing soccer. Of course i joined and made a fool of myself, i kicked the ball into some guys back and then scored on my own net hahaha, (i was passing it ok!!??!?!?!?!). Anyways, i'm now cool with the Vietnamese people. ( I think)

5. Vietnamese: Food,People and my neighbors - My neighbours finally got a hold of me and invited me to their house last night to have dinner and meet the other vietnamese-korean wives. All were reluctant on telling their stories, but I already know from reading News articles and Paris by Night show dedication in S. Korea about Korean men marrying women from Indochina because of high standards and the difficulties of dating in S. Korea, so sad. Anyways. One lady i ask said she didnt have kids, only been here for 2 years. Yes, she ran away from her husband, normal. They either split or get separated. Funny? sort of. Anyways, its no secret by now. So my friend Nguyen's mom cooks the best vietnamese food (in korea only, Canada would be my mom's, dont you biotches argue with me on this :) hahaha ). You can always tell who is vietnamese in Korea, no you cant. Only when you hear them speak. Asians, we all look alike. Allow me to explain below. Keep reading.

6.Appearance and stereotypes in S. Korea - Do I look Korean? How do you know? How do you tell? I'm Vietnamese/Chinese - Canadian Dammit! But you know... i dont blame you if you think im Korean. Psychologically, we always look for the easiest answers to explain things. Children at my school do not understand the concept that my parents met in Canada and got married and had a half breed good for nothing child like me, hahaha. joke! And im Canadian? How? I'm not white! Its ok... dont confuse the children by speaking Korean, vietnamese, chinese, or any other language besides English. Thats my job. Everywhere I go, and Whomever I meet: Annyong Haseyo! or 처음 뵙겠습니다 (How do you do). I pause and smile. Then i speak english. Still perplexed, are you Korean? I pause and smile again. No, i'm CANADIAN. No further details about my asian apearance, gives me a headache everytime. But compared to non-asian foreigners, the headache and attention is relatively minor, going under the radar is fun but has its downs too. Like not meeting more koreans. Koreans love to meet foreigners... not so much if your asian...

7. Jim Jil Bang Fun Experience, Always - God i love saunas. Take of your clothes and walk around naked everyone! Jump in cold water for 4 seconds, contract those muscles, jump in hot water, feel the nerves pull and relaxe... ahhh... now do it 5 times!!! fun!. Dry Saunas, steam saunas, scrub scrub scrub!, Hot dry 88Degree igloos, freeze rooms, heated floors, Korean Dramas on fullscreen, sleep anywhere you want, eat smoked eggs and drink Nostalgic Shaekye (rice, water and sugar), stay up late talking... its chill. Less than 10 dollars, you can crash there overnight. No sex in champagne room.

8.Movies: Ninja Assassin, (The watchers) Pandorum 2009, The Year 2012 (2009) - just go watch them, but watch the story as well as the movie. Movies that will make you think and feel, because the same themes will make you realize that the world is going to hell, is that what they are saying?

9.Korean Music and Entertainment - I love it, cant get enough. Dont want to talk about it now though.

10.Nanta Theater Show - 50,000 KRW is worth a good show. Silent (they speak very little dialogue in english and korean). Percusions with kitchenwares and multi-talented actors, comedy, action, pure entertainment. Go watch it!

11.Weddings on 12/12: This week! - Two weddings this week. One is my Korean Language teachers, cant go because I have to go to my one - co- teachers weddings ( the cute kindergarten girl). The korean women said the date 12/12 is popular date for people to get married because its easy for the Men to remember!!! WTF kind of sexist comment is that? Nah, fare enough, i just remembered today it was her wedding. Also, its my friend Liz's birthday, and my neighbours mom is going home and they insist I spend time with them.

12.Kindergarten + any kids - kids are cute. I love teaching them and they dont give you the same headache as dealing with drama or arguements like adults do. They can make you laugh and smile at anything. For some reason they will laught at socks, pants and you will lose half a class because you laugh at a picture or silly acts... teaching is great.

13.Dead Cactus plant vs pet bunny - I over watered my plant. My friend Clair said, only water it once a month to mimic the desert habitat, i know i know i said.... still, i watered that plant like a mother.... Bugs ate up, half of it dead, so sad. i almost cried. That was my baby!!! I also wanted to get a bunny! But this failure to grow a plant suggests my inability to raise anything. Lets try raising a bunny anyways... i met forget to feed it, water it, clean it, play with it... ehh long list of things to do... I would kill it.

14.Personally, I like my philosophy and religion - I stayed up late last night thinking what my life is about and how i live it, dont know why. I just do that. My brain wont shut up after 12AM. Here goes. You dont have to read or like but I think:

There is Science and Math in everything
When people, like my self, lose weight = you meet more people. haha. Irony in life. Comedy makes you think dont it?
Simplicity = happiness
Focus+plans+goals=achievable success
A busy life = better experiences in life
To be carefree = to have sanity
heart + love = humanity
Fear + belief IN A God (any) + intuitions + instincts = survival
Too much of anything = bad + disaster + chaos (ie, too busy means you cant focus and stay on track)
Make priorities, have priorities, but separate and organized them.

I just burned 1+hrs typing this and not doing my work, I wonder if other co-teachers notice im not working. haha. I better go for a walk and disappear, then of course go back to work. I hope you enjoyed reading this. I better only post blogs once a week from now on... If i can find the time.

Allan

Hello again!
Thanks for following me here... this site is a whole lot better because it has more options and every time i post an entry it gets sent to facebook and notifies everyone.  Convenient right? Anyways, so in my short time here... over 2 months now, I have met alot of new interesting people, even some old friends from Canada and it feels like i am building new and stronger relationships in S. Korea.

Friends from Canada.
Part of the reason why I chose Korea ( besides similar economy, the pay, the best job in the world etc. ) was because I had friends with similar interest, but this was a decision I made solely on my own 3 years ago.  Them being here was more of a push to immediate follow through with the plan.  Last night I hung out with my Korean-Canadian friends Chris Ma (his presence in Korea is a secret.. but nobody he knows will know me, or even find this blog) and Julian Nam.  I haven't seen Chris since... well the night of my going away party to Korea... so not that long... Julian, since University.  Still, it's so weird and surreal to meet old friends and people you know in a bizaare country, thousands of miles away from home where we originally met... its a different feeling and mind blowing concept.  It's like "I will see you on the other side of the hill, but this is the other side of the world in a small town which i never traveled or have heard of before."  You feel lost in space (not outer space, but probably the same concept), but then at home when you have people you know. So the saying is true, "its not where you go or what you do, its who you are with" which makes everything better.  Some other friends like, Brittany, Hannah, Jessica (irony at its best; she is a Canadian I met in Korea who lives 15 minutes away from me in Korea and Canada!!!).  Nikhil is another friend who came to Korea for the same purpose (TESL), who lives near Busan (gwangon do??), way too far (loser i told you to come to Suwon, joking). 

Foreigner Friends
I have met people for Qatar ( first time), New Zealand, Australia, Russia, India, Sweden, Japan, North and South America and recently Vietnam! Last night, walking home from a trip to meet up with my Canadian friends in Seoul, I heard this dude talking Vietnamese near my apartment (not the first time I heard Vietnamese spoken in Korea), but this time I approached him confidently (with my lousy Vietnamese accent) and ask him if he could help me with finding Nuoc Mum (fish sauce), good ice breaker right? HAHAHA... so he was like, wait here... came back with his wife and showed me a store that sold Nuoc mum, which was 30 seconds from my apartment.  IDIOT!!! I walked everywhere in my area and I didn't even think of going down that ONE alley which opens up my experience in Korea!!! IDIOT.... Anyways... I finally accomplished making Vietnamese friends in Korea, its cool, because I won't forget how to speak it, though my Korean is getting better (oh yeah, I'm gonna go to Kyunghee Dae to learn korean and mack on girls hahaha)

Cultural Difference?
Do you think Canada is the only multicultural place and that Asian countries are entirely occupied purely by Asian ethnicity and backgrounds? Heck no! This is what i thought, prior to coming to S. Korea.  "You don't know until you experience it"... true to that.  In so far, I have met people who speak a lot of English, almost fluent or fluent but the oddest and peculiar  thing is they all learned it in their native country, not once did some of these people step food in a Western country.  I've met (gorgeous) flight attendants speaking fluent Chinese and English at the same time.  Makes me think, how am I different then they are?  Because of my western English speaking nationality?  Although I speak fluent Native-English, have a TESL certificate and have a Minor in English literature, I still don't consider myself a professional English speaker. 

Peppero!!!!
Do you know those Chinese stick biscuits dipped in chocolate or strawberry, plain or seasoned called "Pokari".  You should know.  Well, in Korea, its been made a special day, Nov. 11th (11. 11th) is the day where you buy these treats to give as a present to people you like! Its been advertised and commercialised into a sort of Valentine celebration.  Cool huh? Of course, today I received loads of chocolate!! muahahahahahahahahaha I friggin love chocolate, don't you?

Financial
Damn... living on your own is expensive... and i'm spending way too much money... I have to learn how to save... but how? I go out alot when im bored and i'm planning a trip to go to Japan!!!... CRASH... Bankruptcy! I'm just kidding, im not broke, just need to control my MULLA, gotta save to buy a LEXUS when i come back to Canada.

Kindergarten
Came to a conclusion today, most definite.  "teacher! saran haye yo!" aww the kid loves me and gave me a big hug... they are the cutest, funniest, wildest and yeah.... the greatest to teach.  I was teaching body, head and shoulders knees and toes! So long ago since I played that... If your a boring, grumpy, depressed and mean adult... kids will make you feel happy and teach you to remember to be a kid and be happy. HAHAHA... I love my job.

Hello, thanks for arriving at my new blog spot here on allanseoul84.livejournal.com.  Just getting use to the system, but you can view my old blogs from blogspot.com.  The options there are limited, compared to livejournal, this is why i moved (thanks for the advice Quyen). READ ON!!!


Monday, November 2, 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

25th.09.2009

Posted by AllanSuwon at 7:26 AM 1 comments

an old post i put alot of though in... maybe you want to read it... but i like to record it on livejournal as well:

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

25th.09.2009

Howdy ya'll!!!
(this is long, to make up for have not been blogging)
Right... so i met some Americans, at my GEPIK training/orientation get away the past 3 days, t some rural military training academy. It was fun! Made lots of new friends, met many kinds of people from around the world, America, Canada, Australia, S. Africa and Britain who come to S. Korea to teach english like me. They all come from different backgrounds, have different reasons for teaching and have different perspective in life, teach and S. Korea. Think some of them should of stayed in their country because they wont last with their mentality... but its not my life so i dont care how they end up lol. However, i did meet like a crew of people in my area ( i'm finally having a geographical grasp of my province Gyeonggi-do) and we scheduled to hang out often.

Absent minded, going crazy?
I goofed though, i had most of the peoples contacts and then today when i got off the bus in a rush ( i fell asleep), i forgot my booklet and sandwich and was sitting at the bus stop pondering: "dammit, im forgeting something... (gasp!) the book (and sandwhich!) was left on the bus!!!! I got the biggest migrain for 10 minutes (inner voice kept repeating your a flacking idiot Allan... ) . I'm losing my cool... not good. Im so sad... its such a downer... i keep forgeting my camera, my papers, the things i have to do... im so stressed... so much to do. I hope its stress thats making me absent minded and that i am not going insane. I talked to Ji-Sook, she will try to ask the co-ordinator to locate the bus drive and find my book, it really is priceless because it has my only contact info of my new friends (i remembered 3 and found on facebook) and my ideas for lesson planing, class room management etc. ... i mentally told myself to put that damn book in the luggage before i forget on the bus.... didnt listen to myself... LISTEN TO YOURSELF PEOPLE!!

2nd year in S. Korea?
Speaking of listening to myself, i should stick to my plans... 1 year in korea ... 2nd year back in teachers college for my bachelors of education. Im currently weighing my options... i know damn well i would make more money in the long run and establish a solid career in teaching if i go back to teachers college in Ontario, Canada.... make 15K plus a year ( do the math for 10 years)... and i could always go back to S. Korea with 1 years experience, a bachelors edu. degree which all enables me to make more money in the long run if i just sacrifice 1 more year to go back to school... but there is always a BIG BUT.... i really like korea at the moment... i have an awesome job. I believe that no one can out-luck me in my current position with work and living situation. I get what i want... i am offered a 2nd job so an extra 4 bill a month... i dont work the full 22 teaching hours because its a new school, the kids are the cutest ever... dont argue with me... im telling you that my life is great and it doesnt get better than this... if i go back to Canada for school... its the same grind and a dead end part-time job... still... i cant make up my mind to choose either, 50/50... its too soon to know... OMG what if i meet a girl here... i know damn well, and so do you all, that i would be hooked easily by one of these gorgeous, smart and captivating korea girls here lol... i already met a few... i;ve never falling in love so manytimes in one day hahahahaha... just joking.

Korean people
They are absolutely different in personality than the rest of N. American... and other N.Americans have repeated this in my experience at GEPIK orientation. They are very concerned and kind when it comes to your happiness and wellbeing. They really know how to respect and treat other people with respect and care. Foreigners and elders are treated well in high esteem, we get the royal treatment. This is part of the reason why i would like to stay in korea... the people are pleasant... not to say Canada is not, just on a higher scale... you know we're not that nice, admit it. lol. Anyways... im a guy... and of course i will meet girls... i met some... they are all so nice to me... im hooked. I saw this girl at my orientation and im in love hahaha... (joke..???) she is the cutest, doesnt even look korea... a foreigner like me but i dont have time to chase girls... too busy chasing my career and settling down here...'work now, play later Allan'... being righteous is so hard these days hahahah load of crap...

How i spend my lonely time
Reruns of "Big Bang Theory"... i love it... 'holy crap on a cracker', 'bazinga!', 'rock,paper,scissors, lizard, spock!'... you have to love it... i gotta get internet next week. I try to hang out with people everynight, but obviously dont because that gets annoying, oh no, i dont get annoying ... it does... im cool... :) uhh... yeah but i have to spend more time blogging or learning korean and korea as a whole... time to bump up my game... been slacking. Need to be more productive i guess??? i spend too much time trying to keep my flat nice and clean... thats impossible. working 9-5, coming home 9 at night from outings and dinner. touring local cities and tourist spots... no time to hang dry, do dishes, be neat... its obserd to waste time cooking and cleaning... free time is meant
for relaxing, recovering and planning another outing lol. really... cutting back on the domestic
chores...so much to do, so much planning, living a double life as a teacher and tourist who wants to see and do it all... i cant get enough or be bored of the fantastic city lights here... its so eye catching everywhere you go... people are colourful here.

Completing ERRANDS!!!
They are endless here... they take forever to complete... something goes wrong... not organized?? who knows... i got my ARC (alien registration card) to open a bank account, get a cellphone, buy internet... (sign contracts etc..)

Cellphone!
Frigging FINALLY... i got a cellphone. felt so naked and lost, and i was for 3 weeks. I love my new celly, its white, it slides, 3.0 mega pixels cam, front (for self portraits)and back its techy options are cooler than N.americans... i got it for free! hahaha... well activation etc... 1 year contract... was it free... some feess.. whateves.. im happy. pictures and video record are just as good as my 10 mega pix Kodak cam... good focus... its awesome,... so happy.. ahhh....

Dancing in the Subway
WEIRD... this dude was wearing a girls pink skirt, pikachu face mask-bag... tank top and dancing to wondergirls routine, stereo in his backpack... it was in the subway basement with the 15 similar cellphone stores (yes they sell the same product but commission is a big deal here so they all do it). It was weird... maybe im weird... i dont get korea yet... maybe another 3 months.

Posted pictures and videos on facebook
I dont know how many times or who i should announce it... its there waiting lol. I went to Korean Folk village... awesome! if anybody comes to Korea... im taking you there! its like going back into feudal times. i went with Jess and JS. I hope everyone can access them.

I like taking pics and vids... i will try to satisfy your eye candy and preserve my current experiences of korea and post them on facebook. Time for bed... good night all from half way around the world, till next time.
Allan

For those who have been following my blogs, thank you very much for reading and keeping up.  I changed to "livejournal" because its more 'livelier" haha... its better than blogspot... it was limited... this way i think i can link to facebook easier...  read on fellow readers!!

Today i found out that the school is shutting down Nov. 4th to the 9th... i get another break... well i actually have to be at school, so i can get paid... i'll just play all day ... and maybe do some work. Finally have time to learn korean too, finish my application to teachers college (documents), pay them bills, book a trip to japan/beijing... hahahahaha... i love working in korea... how is korea treating me like all you ask? well... it just keeps getting better. 

Omg... i found a kid in my class that looks exactly like my friend Eric... i have so much time now... what to do!?