The teaching focus just isn’t up to my standards anymore. It could be that I’m studying 2 chapters ahead of where the class is in the book. It could be that the teachers are all volunteers and don’t put their full effort into the class. It could be that the most vocal students all get on my nerves. It could be that I commute (sometimes) 2 hours into Seoul in the morning to study Korean, and I don’t want to dick around in class.

The class was useful when I was starting out, but now its not maintaining the same amount of difficulty for me. I can learn the grammar focus and vocab at home on my own. I dont want to fill out the workbook during class time. I want to spend my time practicing and using Korean in the classroom.

In 2 weeks, they are organizing a field trip for Saturday and Sunday. But the trip isn’t going to any Korean culture destinations. They’re going to a recreational site maintained by the church. The itinerary has a lot of questionable time blocks.

11:20~12:30 “Mission Impossible”
3:30~ 5:00 “We Will Rock You!”
8:00~ 9:00 “U Can Do It!”
10:20~11:30 “We Are Champions”

I’m sorry, but I wont be in attendance for this. My Saturday and Sunday free time is too valuable for whatever team building or motivational activities you have have planned.

My Korean teacher said the supervisor of the club wanted to combine two words, like bakery and coffee shop into one “cutesy” word. I said, “No, we’re not doing that.” I wont have any part in Konglish or the process of mashing words together.

He said, “Yeah, but brunch is a combined word.” I told him that brunch (though questionable) is a universally understood English word made popular by English speakers. When Korean people do it, native English speakers will snicker, because it portrays a misunderstanding of the English language.

Instead, I did a thesaurus search. I wrote down 6 appropriate words and said, “Pick one”.

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Watch on the Vimeo website for the HD version and fullscreen it.

When I drink with him and Korean people, I never speak Korean, even though he says “Mers, you should be practicing your Korean. You have to learn from the people.”

I dont speak Korean in front of him, because I can’t have a conversation without him chiding in. He always has these long winded grammar points or footnotes about Korean language to add.

One time, I was asking the waitress when her birthday was. She said (in Korean), “5 month month”, and he butted in. “See. She said month month. No one knows why they say it like that, but they do. They wont teach you that in a textbook.”

Yeah, … it’s interesting to know, but come on man. Ease off.

Well the other night, he says “Speak Korean with the waitress,” and, I obliged. Naturally, he had to jump in and say, “Mers, you’re speaking too formal. That’s what you get from the classroom. No one speaks like that. Korean people say *blahblahblah*. See. You need to get your nose out of the textbooks and classroom. Start learning on the street.”

That was when I knew I had him.

I replied, “Oh. So proper grammar isn’t important. I should just speak like they do. So, in English, I can use ‘who’ in place of ‘whom’. I can end sentences with prepositions. It’s ok for me to say “drownded” (which he called me out on one time), because that’s how I grew up speaking it.”

He came back with, “Well, what you learn in the classroom, …” and he stopped mid-thought. He stopped. His Grammar Nazi head exploded. Mers 1; You 0.

Boom. You just got fazed, Korman.

The first problem is this Wednesday / Friday class I’ve got. I’m teaching some elementary students, and I dont want to. Period. I dont want to teach the class. The students aren’t monsters; they’re actually sweet. But I dont want to be tied to this class, and I saw that happening after a couple of weeks.

I started the class not really knowing what it was. “The Godfather” set this class up, and I took the class thinking that it was part of my job or duties for the high school…. It’s not.

After a few weeks the topic of payment came up. The employers wanted to wire me the money. For that, they need my bank account and certain information. And I thought, “Nope, you’re paying in cash in a little envelope.” Later, “The Godfather” told me that the employers wanted to set up another class. Back to back. “No. I’m not a hagwon teacher for a reason, and this exactly the direction of this operation.”

Last week, I told the “The Godfather” my reasoning to quit the class. I’m busy with my own personal goals and time. The preparation and scheduling of the class is uncomfortable. He told me that this month I’d have to teach an afterschool class with the high school students. He was going to arrange the class, so that it would be Monday / Tuesday / and Thursday. He said if I quit the elementary class, I’d have to teach High school students on Wednesday and Friday.

…fine.

If you cancel the elementary class, I’ll teach the high school students M-F. He accepted, and that was that. He called the employer, and they notified the parents that the class would stop. They were dismayed, but I said farewell to the students and parents. That night I celebrated with some ddukbeoggi and makkeolli. Thursday, “The Godfather” asked if I finished the class, and I said “Yup.”

WELL… This Morning, “The Godfather” stops me in the hall, “Can you teach the Wednesday / Friday class with the employer?” MotherF$%#$#$L. “What the fuck did I tell you last week? You talked to the employer. The employer talked to the parents. The class is canceled. Fini. Why are you bringing this shit up, again?”

I obviously didn’t say this to his face or blow up at him. I pressed him with questions in my passive aggressive nature.

“What obligations do you have to this employer?” He said some of the parents had already paid for a second class. “So, the employer cant just refund the money?” He said they couldn’t do that. “My ASS they can’t refund the money.” You’re full of SHIT. “So, now you want me to teach high school students M-F, and this other class on WF. You’re a real class act. I told him I would teach the class as a favor to him, and this was the last month. As I walked away, he says to me, “You have to teach today.”

RAGE!!!!!! During my first break, I went to the gym to work of some steam.

So, to lessen the tension, “The Godfather” personally, drove me to the employer after my afterschool class with the high school students. He tells me that after this month he has to find another English teacher. *pfffff* Not my problem. It shouldn’t be your problem either. Again. “What obligations do you have to this employer?”

I had 20 minutes to kill, so I went to the convenience store. I bought some candy for the students. 10 minutes before the class, I arrived at the employer and the assistant tells me that there was no class, today. None of the students were there.

!!!!!!

And yes, I had issues with the high school students as well, but I’ll save that for another day.

First of all, they make you fill out a shit load of personal questions that I dont know the answer to to begin with. And then I can’t remember what I filled in a month later. If you can’t log in with 3 tries, they lock you out completely, and you have to call a number.

I can’t remember the year my Mom and Dad were born. I can’t remember the person I wrote as I childhood best friend. Gimme a different question.

I CAN remember passwords and numbers, but NOT personal info. Come on.

In class, the Japanese student was responding to the teachers questions lightning quick. He’s much better than in the previous months. I spoke with him after class, and he said he practices Korean 30 min/ a day, and English 30 min/ a day… *crap*. I can’t lose my place as “top student” in the class. He’s been honing his English skills, because the teacher introduces all the grammar points in English.

Next week, my town of Anseong was supposed to host a traditional Korean festival. I was going to take a multitude of photos. However, due to the H1N1 flu outbreak, the government has canceled all festivals.

The third-ish major holiday, Chuseok, is in 2 weeks. It’s when families pilgramage back to their hometowns for ancestral rites and traditional eats.

I got my shipment of yerba mate in the mail. I have the traditionals and 3 specialty blends. One has been inriched with ginseng; It’s supposed to kick start you. The second has been inriched with cocoa. The third has been inriched with some blueberries. This shipment should last me the another year.

In Seoul, there are some programs to help underprivilaged children; like orphans and low income families. I looked into the programs, and my major issue is that these places are out of the way for me and conflict with my schedule. Then, I thought, “Well, teaching in the country, I’m kind of already reaching out to lower income families.” Anseong doesn’t have the educational prowess of Seoul. Maybe I should focus on reaching out to the students at my school who want to study English.

Along the lines of education, I feel a little disappointed with the performance of the 3rd grade teachers at my school. (This is only my outsider opinion, but…) Most of them are dinasours at my school. They have the most seniority through time at the school. Due to this, they are lazy as shit. (The current Head of the English Department, the “Godfather” falls in this category) Most days, it seems like the 3rd grade students are goofing off and not taking their courses seriously.

I see a select group of 3rd grade students in the library, during class periods, everyday. Every. Day. I assume they’re studying and preparing for the upcoming ‘University Exams’. That has me wondering, “If they’re using the regular school hours to self-study for the University exams, than the 3rd grade teachers are therefore not doing enough to prepare these students.” Have the 3rd grade teachers given up? Are they accepting that most of these students have little chance to do anything more than work in a factory or a labor job? These select groups have to learn on their own?

…Sorry, I wont rant.

I’m reading “Understanding Language”. It’s an introductory book on linguistics.

This Friday, before leaving school, I was delighted to see so many new programs to download: Survivor, the Office, ANTM, SYTYCD, ‘Sunny in Philly’, and TUF. I’m going to have to moderate my time between studying and entertainment. Merp!

I ordered another year supply of yerba mate. 3kgs I think…

I think this is the first time this ever popped into my head, but I really want to watch some football. In Chicago, we used to order Mexican food and drink cheap beers on “Bears-ing” night. I miss that.

I also need a beer, cheese, and bread night.

Speaking of beers, I never weigh myself, but I’m always checking myself out in the mirror. Since, I ran out of homebrew beers. I think I’ve started losing the chub I think I put on. Especially since, soju cocktails and tea have worked their way back into my evening drinks.

North Korea unleashed a recent flood offensive against South Korea. SRSLY, North Korea. Use your money more constructively.

If the North Korean regime ever collapsed and the two countries merged, I wonder how many South Korean Protestant missionaries would flock to the North, where religion isn’t officially recognized. Probably, a lot. I think that’s what happened after the Korean War. According to the CIA factbook, how else would 2% of Japanese and a whopping 26% of Koreans be Christian?

I hate all the tech stories that brag about Korea’s internet. Yes, South Korea has fast internet, but it is lagging in so many other areas of technology and electronics. And computers are expensive.

I started listening to Ximena Sarinana. I think she’ll have an album with Mars Volta members soon.

I started playing Dragon Quest: Hand of the Heavenly Bride.

And, I guess Korea wants it’s own towering robot icon. LOO!

Because of the school semesters, September and February are big hiring seasons for English teachers. Schools in Seoul are the most sought after positions. Because some teachers quit or drop out, Seoul overhires teachers.

I read that this semester 100 teachers, who had been accepted and purchased tickets, had been turned away for jobs.

Given the economic conditions, I hear that more people are trying to work in Korea. It’s getting more competitive. I guess this is good news, as long as the people are more qualified and checked.

We were hit by a cold spell over the weekend. I was in Seoul on Saturday, and I couldn’t help thinking how cold it was. It’s cold on Sunday too. The low and high are 16-20. (Yes, I think in Celsius, now)

I plan on buying a new mountain climbing rain jacket and coat this year. No expenses will be spared. I plan on buying The North Face or another reputable label. I still have nightmares of the time I went to Jeju-do island in Korea and climbed Mt. Hallasan. I was ill prepared for what layed ahead.

What the hell are toe shoes for? I’m gonna show the picture to my students and see what they think. It 2 years, I’m sure it will be a big fad here. Most Koreans have now caught on to Crocs.

My Korean class at the church re-started this weekend and I was … bored. It was myself and the other regular. However, he is the one who doesn’t bother to study outside of class. During class he asks question after question. *argh* My second peev is that there aren’t enough speaking activities. I need to tell the teacher about that.

The teacher invited us to a traditional Korean wedding for next Saturday at 1PM. I would like to go, but I have my 2nd Korean class at 2PM. Darn-nit.

The teacher also asked us to contact the other students in the class and remind them to come. :eye roll: Man,… these guys are obviously too lazy to study or show up. Why do I want them coming to the class? (Maybe the “too many” questions kid frustrates them too, and they study at home)

The air conditioner in my classroom wasn’t working, so I had some miserable students who wouldn’t participate in the lesson.

I guess the school hasn’t had any more sinkholes in the new basketball court. They painted the lines, and it looks nice.

There is a lot of construction going on at the school.

Over break, they replaced all the windows in the Annex building.

At the school, there were 2 one floor buildings. The roofs are now being torn up to to add additional floors.

A long time ago, I heard a rumor that my classroom would be moved. Leaving school on Friday, I got confirmation. The HoEDs invited a contractor to look at the right wing on the 1st floor. I will get a new classroom on one side. The other side has 3-4 classrooms, which will be renovated to be … (I can’t think of the word) But they will be romodeled to look like a hospital, a cafeteria, and airport.

In the office, the female teacher next to me had a baby. So, a young contract teacher was hired to teach Korean history. I dont know her English abilities yet, but she seems friendly.

The teacher, who used to take me to school, has some kind of cancer or medical problem. So, I get a ride with the librarian.

I go back to school on Thursday. The University profs still have the rest of the month off. Time to start making lesson plans again. Which reminds me, I need to get some photos printed.

I’ve been getting about 5-6 hours of battery life off my iPod Nano. I’ve been looking at the Cowon S9 as a possible replacement. My electric razor is also losing its kick.

Since, the markets tumbled all my mutual funds have been down … except for one. New Markets Income has made a tremendous comeback. Pretty impressive.

I’ve been downloading the new episodes of No Reservations. Some of them are in HD and they look amazing. This weeks “Tailand” episode is supposed to be good. Where are the new episodes of LA ink?

I need to order more yerba mate, and I’m down to my last bottle of beer. There is nothing fermenting or conditioning in progress.

I didn’t go to the NIN Seoul concert. Sorry, Ceej. I’ve noticed though that Reznor is playing numerous old and rare songs on this tour.

The church I attend for my Saturday Korean class is at a mega church. The organizers of the class keep the class and church seperate. Sunday afternoons, I was meeting one of the teachers after her English worship. Later, she asked me to attend English Worship with her. Out of curiosity and reluctance, I went.

The first worship surprised me. I didn’t “grow up” in the church, but this is not the worship I was accustomed to in my youth. After the service, the teachers asked me, “What did you think of the service?” My response was. “It’s ok, but I’m not Christian.” However, I wanted to go off on them. I want to break down and dissect the service. I want to share my true feelings about Gee Ohh Dee, but I know that I would offend them.

I went a second time. It felt more toned down than the first service. Maybe, I reacted too harshly.

Well, this Saturday, I met with the teachers, again, for dinner and a fairwell party. This time a different teacher asked me to a different service that night. The group was going, so I went, too.

…mistake.

Throughout the service, the call of King Leonidas rang in my head. “This is not worship. This is madness!” “Madness…? THIS IS MEGACHURCH!” I wanted to grab my bags and walk out.

The service began with not one, but four Jesus songs. I was so happy when one song ended, but then they went straight into the next. “*sigh*…I want to sit down!” Later, I did. Next, the band transitioned into prayer mode, where they jammed out to the pastors opening prayer. Chrrriiiiist, it was long. The teachers, whom I attended with, kept it toned down. They bowed their heads, raised their palms, and said a low key prayer. Most people did as well. However, the rest were hysterical. I wanted to smack about 30% of them.

A lot of the ruckus came from the peanut gallery behind me. People were jumping up and down. Some of the other pastors, I had seen, were shouting prayers and pumping their fists at the speakers words. A few people fell to their knees. Two girls in the back stole the show. They said their prayers out loud and with increasing intensity. Then,…oh Yes, they would go into tongues. They were *right* behind me, so I couldn’t turn around and give them the stink eye. I kept trying to catch the eye of my group members and give them one of my pattoneded face squenches. “Are you fucking serious?” And did I mention the prayer was long.

The speaker for the night was from IHOP, or the International House of Prayer, in Kansas Ciy. He said A LOT of things that I wanted to raise my hand and interject. 2 things stuck out.

He incouraged the attendees to openly pray for people on the street. He said, “If you see someone on the street with a *cast* on their legs, extend your hand and bless them with the power of God. When that person’s bone heals, 30 people on campus will talk about the power of God.”

… what? You just said that person was wearing a cast. Medicine and hospital visits healed this person. Dont spread what’s happening in this room out into the public.

I cant remember the exact words, but in his closing statements he specifically said “conquer the Middle East”. This, hit me like a punch to the gut. This felt like my turn to speak out in disgust. Where is the compassion, here? Where is the open discussion for mutual understanding. I think we have much to learn and gain from other’s religions. Fortunately, two people from my group were leaving before the closing prayer. I left with them.

One of the teachers said to me, “I’m sorry, Mers.” What? Why are you apologizing? Is it because it is late, or because what happened there was more absurdity then actual worship. Nevertheless, out of rudeness, I didn’t ask this. But, it’s not as if I would have got a straight thoughtful answer from her.

So, I’ve rambled, which is not what I meant to do. But this experience really frustrated me. I’m not anti-religion. I think religion can be good. But, it’s not for me. I think these services are scarring my relation with this group of people. Because, I look at them and think, “This is what you do?”

- drink more tea
- drink more beer
- make an awesome beer recipe
- read more books
- play more games
- educate myself
x take more photos
- take my photography to a new level
- buy a new camera lens
- get my photo gallery on the web
- blog more
- get a plant in my apt
- exercise more
- possibly get into running
- punch an a$$hole
- dust off my sketchbook
- stop eating ramen at home
- discover new food
- discover new Korean artists
- explore Korea
- possibly learn guitar
- possibly work on my hapkido
- have a profitable year of trading
x study Korean
- find a good girl
- get a new tattoo
- donate money to worthy cause
- passively influence others
x change the floral pattern on my Korean blog
- keep in touch with people better
- be less of an a$$hole

Crap. 3/31.

Drink more tea: I’ve been drinking my yerba mate, everyday off. I never eat breakfast, so that kind of replaces it.

Beer Recipe: I haven’t made beer in awhile. My apartment is too hot at this time, and I wanted to buy hops from this guy I know.

Buy a new camera lens: When I return to the Miguk-land (US), I plan on buying a new DSLR. So, I wont worry about a new camera lens.

Exercising: Man, … I’m lazy.

Profitatble year of trading: Still chipping away at all the minus signs.

Get a new tattoo: I wonder if I’ll ever do that. A Led Zeppelin tattoo would be cool. But that doesn’t fit into the Grande Piece.

Stop eating ramen: I was good until this summer. It’s just an awesome snack.

Punch an a$$hole: I should have seized the opportunity when I saw Simon.

My first HDR abstract renderings. This is one of the Anseong downtown streets in the afternoon. That’s why it’s empty… (Though, even on a Friday night, it still wouldn’t be busy).

Inverse Pinhole

Through the clouds.

Poor attempt at nothing.

When I returned to Korea, I knew I had to buckle down. I used the handed down books to study on my own during winter vacation: January and February. During that time, I learned of 2 classes in Seoul. One was at a church; the other was at a Korean hagwon. I signed up for both of them, knowing, “I might as well. I’ll be going to Seoul every weekend for one class or the other. So, I might as well do them both.” Until now, it’s had been working out well.

At the hagwon, I was placed below my level, but I accepted it. It was barely above reading the Korean alphabet, and the other students struggled to read. However, the teacher only spoke Korean and there were only 5 students. I knew I’d get some quality speaking and listening time. Month after month, the students dwindled. Some couldn’t keep up. Some were leaving Korea. Until finally, there were two. Technically, 3 students is supposed to be the minimum amount of students to hold a class. But, I think the hagwon knows that the Summer is a low attendance period, and they’d rather have a few students than none.

Last month, the 3rd student dropped, because he is returning to the States to get his Masters. He starts at the end of August, so he decided to call it quits. Student #2 is in the same boat. He’s returning to Canada for a Masters, but he would do one more month. However, at the end of this month, that leaves one Mers standing.

I intend to speak with the director about putting me into another class. But I don’t know if that’s possible. I go to the afternoon classes, but there aren’t many classes to join in this time slot. She would probably encourage me to attend a morning class. However, I have my church class is in the morning. Therefore, I can’t attend. If the hagwon class fell through, … well, no matter. I would still have the church class, and I could go through the hagwon book on my own self-study.

/queue dramatic music “Duh-don-duuuuuh.”

The church class is run by volunteers from the church, who speak Korean and knowledgeably fluent English. When I first joined this class, I learned that they were using the same book that I had been doing self-study. Score. But, for the first hour, they placed me in a level, which I was chapters ahead of. There were about 15 students, and I couldn’t stand it. During the break, I asked if could move up to the next level, and that worked out. There were fewer students, and they were at the same level, which I had been self studying. Week after week less students attended, but I could care less. I like smaller classes, and it separates the passionate learners from the riff-raff. Around the last few days, we were down to 3-4 students. It was working out well.

After the first semester, there was a 2 week vacation. The vacation was strictly for the teachers, because they are volunteers. They’re not being paid, and they need a break. But, I’ll be honest. It miffed me. I didn’t want to take a break. I wanted to study Korean.

When the new semester began, I missed the first day. Why? Well, honestly, I was hung over. Occasionally, I am the riff-raff, but I regretted it. No more shall I go out on Friday nights. So, I missed the first day, and I didn’t get a semester schedule and itinerary. This semester, we had the dedicated 3, and some additional students. I think there were 9 to start, but once again attendance decreased. Last week, again, we were down to 3.

This semester has also been going well, except some of the passionate learners have been getting on my last nerves. My problem is that they interrupt the class too many times for their own personal questions. I want to yell at them, “SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

They ask grammatical questions like, “Can we say this like thiiiiiis?” “No.”
They try new vocabulary, “Can I say blah blah blah?” “No. you can’t / Yes, you can.”
They ask for clarification, “I thought this meant blah blah blah?” “No, it doesn’t / Yes, it does.”
They’re asking higher level English questions to a mid level English speaking teacher. So, she is trying her best to translate the English into applicable Korean, and it wastes too much time.

Will you please, SHUT THE FUCK UP and learn what’s given to you in the chapter. Whatever your stupid fucking question is will be answered in the future of another chapter. Focus on the given lesson for FUCK SAKE! This is not a private class for you to ask your own questions. Your questions are wasting OUR time. DAMMIT!!

Ok…which brings me to today’s gripe. Today, I learned that the church class is taking a Summer break of 6 weeks! Today, was the last day, and they’d reconvene on August 29. YOU CANT BE SERIOUS!

I just started summer vacation at my school, and I planned on focusing on my Korean studies. I’m not going to put my book down and wait 6 weeks for the class to start again. I’m going to work ahead, on my own, going back to self-studies. After 6 weeks, I might be 3 chapters ahead. When we return, I don’t want to return to this level reviewing vocabulary and grammar simply because YOU wanted to take a break. The Mers keeps turning, yo.

So, after next week, the hagwon class may be no more, because there is too low attendance. I can’t fall back on the church class, because they will be on break. If people wonder why I’m introverted and go about things on my own, it’s because sometimes I feel like I can only count on myself to get things done. I can’t always rely on others to help me in my needs.

I subscribed to boston.com, The Big Picture. It tell the news stories through a set of high detail photos. They have wonderful depth and imagery.

Before, I was really excited about Pentax cameras and the new K-7, which is slowly being rolled out in the US. Now, I’m a little skeptical. Logic is telling me that I should go with a Canon or Nikon. So, I’ve been investigating their arsenal of cameras.

With Wounded Pride, Unemployed Koreans Quietly Turn to Manual Labor – Why is it that I find the best articles about life in Korea coming from outside the country.

Like ‘This is Why You’re Fat’, here’s ‘Fancy Fast Food.’

Sometimes when you visit an old Korean village, they have photos of the village from a long time ago. Occasionally, you see children playing in the streets nude or in their underwear. Yesterday, I went from the school weight room to the gym upstairs. The boys were playing sports in their school uniforms. One kid had taken off his pants, and he was playing in his underwear. I guess the pants were too restricting. “Come on guys, change into your sports clothes, and PUT ON SOME SHORTS!”

A month ago, there was an odd story about 2 Japanese getting caught at Italian customs. In a hidden suitcase compartment, they were carrying $134 BILLION worth of US bonds. Apparently, this wasn’t picked up by the mainstream media, and there hasn’t been much follow up one month later.

Wikipedia