"How do you measure a year?" (1)

My favorite musical Rent is closing this year after a 10+ year run. My blog title, is one of the questions posed in the musical.

Thus begins one of four lists (think Leno's Top Ten). Approximately one list for every week I have left. Although, fun stuff is still happening, so I'll have to recount what's been happening in these weeks too. I'll generally add this after my lists.

Things I'm looking forward to back in America:

10. Driving
9. Having my own shower
8. A bed
7. Food (American, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, etc.)
6. Doing something different than this year- moving on
5. Personal space (at home, shopping, etc.)
4. Personal time (do my own thing: laundry, dishes, gym, etc.)
3. A job?! (we shall see)
2. Seeing friends, catching up, and knowing what's happening in their lives again!
1. Seeing my parents at the airport! ^^


Nothing much happened this week. I had two sets of plans for this weekend, but they both fell through- kinda disappointing and after finding out that I probably don't have that great of a chance getting a job from Korea, I was a little depressed.

I did see The Hulk on Friday night, which was really good. I've also spent most of the weekend making mini movies out of all the footage I've taken this year. (Also kinda made me a little sad/nostalgic.)

I really didn't break out my video camera until the end of my time here, which is probably a good thing, because it takes about 2 hours to actually make a movie. I'm going to need to detox from my computer when I get back home. Actually, I'm looking forward to reading a ton of books. I have a list in my head of books Id' like to read and hope to read at least 5 in the first week I'm back (no joke).

Funny story:

This week I saw my nice relaxing, quiet, personal trip to Vietnam slipping through my fingers. Nothing serious- I still have the trip booked, plane ticket, and as long as I get my passport back, I'm good to go. ^^

However, I decided to tell my host family this week that I was going to Vietnam at the end of the month. (It might seem a little late, but they tell me things last minute all the time- it was fine and actually worked in my favor.) My older host sister was around and I asked her if she could tell her parents I'm going to Vietnam. She couldn't understand my pronunciation of Vietnam and was very confused. Five minutes later, with lots of hand gestures and secondary references (can you believe I've lived here all year with this kind of communication? ^^) everyone understood that I am going to Vietnam. Then the questions started: Alone? Tour? How much? (Korean's don't have issue when talking about money.) Can Han-soong go with you?

And there was the snag. Could my 13 year old host brother go with me to Vietnam? If I wasn't so hell bent on going by myself, maybe. And, if I actually thought the kid would listen to me for 5 days straight, then yes. And, if he didn't act like the punk he's been acting*, then why not? However, I felt like I was treading in dangerous water. I didn't want to say "no" but I didn't want to say "yes" either. So, I said..."sure...but he would need a ticket, a passport, a visa, and a place in the tour and I leave in like three weeks, I think it's too late." I kept stressing the last part over and over again. However, he was really excited at the prospect of not going to school and his mother was trying to figure out where she could call for a ticket. Since the tour group was Australian, it was my job to see if he could join the tour.

Ah-ha! That was my in. I did actually call the company to see if it was still possible and there was the slightest chance (they'd need to contact the group in Vietnam and see if it was possible). However, I told a white lie to my host mom, "They can't add him to the tour- it's too late." I don't like telling lies, I don't like telling white lies, but this was clearly self preservation.

So, my trip is still a go. My host bro didn't seem bummed that he couldn't go which is a plus.

*Side note- my host brother has been really moody lately- I think his teen years have finally settled in. Actually, this weekend he was pretty good- the happy, outgoing kid he's been. I think all the school is finally getting to him- the studying and the pressure from home. He's also been getting in trouble at school and I know his friends aren't the best influence as well. He keeps telling me about one of his friends who smokes sometimes and steals things. About two weeks ago Hansoong and his friends pulled a prank at school (something pretty harmless), but he got in trouble and had to go back to school at night (I'm not sure what the punishment was). Then, last week he got into a fight at school. Supposedly another kid started it and he didn't get in trouble (from school or his mom). I just hope that next year he tests into a different middle school than his friends. He's a pretty bright kid, so I wouldn't be surprised.

-me

It's all about the protests

In a rare mid-week post, I am going to attempt to upload the video I have spent creating tonight. It is a little repetitive. However, I need to justify spending about 2 hours creating this and another 2 hours uploading it.

It repeats a little; chanting, marching, singing, etc. The main thing I find interesting, besides the sheer number of people, are all the different types of people protesting. Young men in military uniforms, middle age business men (ajashi's), families, little children, students, etc. It is also interesting to see the police men (young young men)* and the barricades they've built.

*Military service for men is compulsory in Korea. It is a mandatory service of two years and there are only a few circumstances where you can "get out" of it. However, most of the time you cannot. If Korea has conscientious objectors, they are rare. By law if you do not want to complete your military service, you are sent to jail for two years (the same amount of time you would serve in the military).

There are a few options of when and what type of service you can serve. If you are a first son, of someone who was a war hero or someone high ranking, you are considered a "son of God" and get to complete an easy "military" assignment...like park services or something. If you are a good (amazing) athlete, you can complete your assignment as a team member for a national sports team (no joke). If you have good English skills, you can apply to be a translator and serve with the American army (few positions). You can also choose to complete your military service before, after, or during your university career. If you choose the first choice, most likely you end up as a police "man", which is why all the police officers in the pictures look so young. If you choose to complete your military service after university, you have the option to go into your branch as an officer. I think you need good grades to do this, but there are advantages to this. A slightly more interesting post and it looks good on job applications.

Hm, this post is longer than I expected. Enjoy!

-me

There is always more...

I have just spent the past hour or so reading the blog of someone I have never met. Another Korean adoptee, raised in America, died last week from cancer- she was 25 years and 2 days old. Her name is Julia Ji Hye Mendelson and reading her writings from over the past two years reminded me that there is still so much to learn about myself.

I was ready to start reflecting upon my year here in Korea and I will get to this eventually, maybe even next week. Yet, just within this hour I have thought about and felt things I have never entertained before- simply because they never entered my consciousness.

This post seems to be very different than the majority of the others- it could be because it is a little late here in Korea and I'm tired from my weekend in Seoul, but also because I was moved so much by Ji Hye's story. It can be found here: juliasworld.wordpress.com/

Thursday evening I checked into the adoptee hostel up in Seoul and was informed about a memorial service to be held the following night for someone I never knew. I think it was expected of me to attend, even though at the time I felt no connection or obligation to go. However, after hearing a little about Ji Hye (albeit, some wrong info) I decided to go. After all, I figured I would appreciate it if people attended a memorial service for me.

It was a very nice service- attended in a small number due to the traffic problems (aka protesters). Many of the people attending and putting on the service never even met Ji Hye. Yet it touched everyone.

I got back to Daegu this evening and decided to search for her blog and glean what I could from her writing about her story. I am glad I did.

I made some preliminary lists reflecting some of my experiences over the past year, but one of the most important experiences has been meeting and connecting with other adoptees and finding within this similar, yet very different group of people a community that bands together and values one another above all.

-me

in memory of julia ji hye mendelson

Winding Down

Good morning,

So, I seem to have spoken too soon, as I was downtown in Daegu this weekend and saw a medium-ish protest/march against US beef and the Korean President, Lee Myung-bak. This was held in response to beef imports from America being approved a few days ago. There's nothing that Korea can actually do about it, it's going to happen anyways.

Besides this, I spent most of my weekend downtown hanging out with friends who came in from out of town. It was nice to catch up and show people around Daegu.

I now have less than 50 days left in the country. I'll be going up to Seoul this weekend for help proctor a CFA exam (I get paid). Other than that, nothing really new- just trying to keep teaching.

However, as it is nearing the end of this year it is natural to reflect upon my experience here and many ETAs are asking these types of questions. So, future blogging will be geared toward looking back upon the year.

-me

P.S. Some pics from the bigbang concert last week can be seen under Daegu. Nothing from the concert, since you couldn't take your camera into the concert.

FTA, Busan and Bigbang

Hi All,

Yes, I have been remiss in my blogging the past several weeks. It isn't because I have been terribly busy, rather it is the fact that there just isn't much happening. The year is winding down and I am taking it slow. I hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day weekend back in the states.

I'm not sure if it has made the news a lot, but for the past three weeks or so, American beef has been a huge issue in SoKo. Korean's don't want American beef. The reason is simple- mad cow disease. As I stated, the reason is simple- I didn't say it made sense or was justifiable. The media here- along with leftist politicians and celebrities have vilified American beef making the general Korean public scared out of their minds. Special reports on American beef have told horror stories about mad cow incidents in America, have presented irrefutable evidence that Koreans are genetically more susceptible to mad cow than any other "race", etc. This has led to many protests- national and local (see my picture from Daegu) against American beef and thus the FTA with America. Thankfully, it seems that the fervor this issue had about three weeks ago is beginning to cool. I haven't heard of any more candle light vigils or petitions.

Last weekend I was in Busan (see Around Korea) celebrating two of my friends' birthdays. I spent Friday and Saturday afternoon on the beach- it was great!

This weekend two other friends came into Daegu and we went to the Bigbang concert. Bigbang is a very popular boy band (think nsync). The concert was pretty good and it was an interesting cultural experience. To begin with, the concert was held in a convention center- on the fifth floor. Plastic patio furniture chairs were set up in the hall for seating. Security guards spent the majority of the concert trying to get screaming adolescents to sit in the chairs. Since there wasn't stadium seating they wanted to ensure everyone could see- even though they couldn't. Security checked everyone's bags before entering the hall- cameras had to be left outside (they were checking them in little plastic bags) and no, you couldn't take pictures with your cell phones. The whole evening was a bit ridiculous! Although, it was a good time.

I think some friends will be in town next weekend- I hope so. In two weeks I'm going to Seoul and then at the end of June I'm taking a vacation to Vietnam! Then, I fly home towards the end of July- difficult to believe!

I've been applying for jobs like crazy, but haven't heard anything. Please keep this in your thoughts!

-me ^^

24+ hours on a bus, 3 festivals, 5 days later

Hi Everyone,

Hope all is well back home! I spent the past five days traveling around Gwangju, the only province I had yet to see. Like the title suggests, I spent over 24 hours in a bus during the five days and went to three festivals. I also got to spend time with friends and had a great time seeing everything I wanted to see. Here's a short summary of my trip (see pictures in Around Korea- I should have them up in a day or so):

Friday evening- left for Mokpo, via Gwangju (approx. 4.5 hours) Met up with friends.

Saturday- woke up, ate breakfast with friends' homestay family, then met up with friends at Dunkin Donuts (new to Mokpo and a big deal!) Walked down to the water (Mokpo's a harbor) and walked along the coast, it was pretty- nice weather and hot! Had lunch at a restaurant near the beach. Went to the Maritime and Natural History museum of Mokpo. Went to another part of the city and ate dinner watching the sun set. Then met up with another friend downtown Mokpo- walked around, had a cup of tea.

Sunday- woke up really early and went to the bus station. Took a bus to Gwangju (1.5 hours). Had breakfast in the terminal and then took a bus to Damyang for the bamboo festival (2 hours round trip). The festival was cool and there was even a bamboo park which was neat. I just hung out and relaxed. In the afternoon I met up with a friend and we went downtown in Gwangju for dinner and a movie, Ironman. It was really good!

Monday- we woke up and then headed out for Jindo and the "Mysterious Sea Parting Festival", yes, I hope you're thinking Moses here (8 hours bus round trip). Every year at a particular time, the tides recede in this one place from Jindo (the mainland) to an island close by. The point is that this creates a land bridge and you can walk across it to the island. It's a pretty neat thing and a ton of people come every year. I did not walk across because I did not have boots, but it was still neat to see. I also was able to get the footage of a special dish, live octopus, here. See below. If you're squeamish I'd advise not watching. ^^ Later that night we had dinner at TGIF's.

Tuesday- woke up and went to Boseong, to see green tea fields/plantation (3 hours round trip). It was a beautiful day and it was cool to see all the bushes. I also had green tea noddle soup, a pot of green tea, and green tea ice cream- yum! In the evening we went to try and see the national cemetery of Gwangju/memorial to the May 18th Independence movement, but we got on the wrong bus and went to a different memorial park (1.5 hours round trip). It was okay.

Wednesday- woke up and went to the national cemetery of Gwangju/memorial (1.5 hours round trip). I was really happy we found it. It was really interesting to see. Pretty much in 1980 the government in Korea was a dictatorship and many people wanted democracy. Over a series of days in May the people in Gwangju protested- then the government came in and brutally suppressed the movement. Those who died are buried in this memorial. There is also a small museum about the event. Gwangju is famous for this in Korean history and it's super recent, which is really interesting. After this, I hopped on a bus bound for Daegu (3 hours).

Overall I had a really great trip, even if I did spend an inordinate amount of time on a bus! I got to see some great things and took some cool pics.

Have fun with the videos and pics!

me ^^

Updated pictures

The pictures links are all updated. I took off the old pictures to make room for the new ones. This should also help with the loading time for the website.

also be sure to check the new post below & the video I added from the relay.

^^