101 degrees

sorry no post recently
been feelin kind of sick and run down lately
i was bound to get sick sooner or later in this new country, i’m surprised i lasted as long as i did

The teacher is insignificant: part 2

Authors note: This is a two part description/analysis of an event that occurred in my school that I think highlights some of the differences between cultures and classrooms in America and South Korea. Keep in mind that this is not scientific, or carries supports other then my own ideas and observations. I believe what I [...]

The teacher is insignificant: part 1

Authors note: This is a two part description/analysis of an event that occurred in my school that I think highlights some of the differences between cultures and classrooms in America and South Korea. Keep in mind that this is not scientific, or carries supports other then my own ideas and observations. I believe [...]

Somewhere a Korean college student is reading a book and wishing he had more cell phone minutes

It has to do with the basic cultural difference between self independence taught in Western cultures and the giving of yourself to a society that is taught in Eastern cultures.  It would seem probable that this would have an immense impact on the way advertisers can approach customers.
One thing I like about television in Korea [...]

Michael Myers Wrote a Song and it Just Won’t Die

A crowded market place in Seoul. Shops on either side, motorcycles weaving between pedestrians and cars simply forcing them to move. People yell discounts over and over for hours at a time, a few lucky ones get a microphone. Babies cry, people eat in the streets and above all this you hear [...]

Kwangju Massacres: A Video Follow Up

A couple weeks ago I wrote a post about the Kwangu massacres of South Korea in the 1980’s. Recently I was looking around in youtube and came across a couple videos regarding the tragedy and thought I would share with you.
Here are various news bulletins about the massacre from various American media sources.
[...]

5,7,5…because I knew you’d ask

In honor of its Buddhist heritage
Here are my observations of Seoul in Haiku
hopefully they can be as good as this
___________________
Soju one dollar
Jacket pocket carries ten
cigarettes cost two
___________________
feeling very tall
others around appear short
such big nose I have
__________________
Garbage litters street
trash circumvents street light post
the ol’ reach around
___________________
red lights and whistles
cars buses bikes for me don’t stop
move tall [...]

Thoughts and Observations: More Randomness

A few random thoughts and stories that couldn’t really fit anywhere else.
- In America we give our friends charlie horses, or punch them in the arm to show affection. Here the students do something I really can’t define. As a joke they will run their hand up the crack of their friends butt. Kind of [...]

Soulja Dance, Soju Dance, and Dancing Sojus: A Study in Video

One of the first, and most often verbs taught here in the Seoul English Program is that of dancing. I’ve used videos, pictures, charades, stories and my own personal acting to teach this verb. Without fail, each class we talk about dancing one student makes mention of the “Soju Dance.” Until recently [...]

The Mid-Night Ninja Soccer Club

“There’s a baseball diamond down the street where I coach little league. We go there at 2:30 in the morning, dressed all in black. Your hair in a black stalking. And then we have us a knife fight.” – Vivica Fox from Kill Bill, paraphrased from my amazing memory and youtube.
I [...]