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March 1 memorialises countless Korean independance fighters who began their Anti-Japanese activities on this day in 1919. Their struggle was of course realised in 1945 when Japan capitulated to the advancing Allied forces and in the wake of atomic weaponary used against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Groups of Koreans gathered not only in Korea, but all over the world to create forged Chinese currency to fund their activities and discuss how to free their national bretheren. It is now a public holiday welcomed as a midweek respite from the hurly burly of English Education.
March 1 also commemorates the day a rather conflicted, yet forward thinking (and much thinner) young man set foot on Korean soil for the first time. (Actually it was February 29.) It was a bitterly cold night and despite hope, winter had yet to roll over and die. The scarf he had thoughtfully wrapped around his neck 10 hours prior on a balmy 28 degree Auckland afternoon did little to prevent the bone numbing cold. He had scarcley a minute to suck down a cigarette before being bundled into a bus to Daejon, some 2 and a half hours from the airport in Incheon. A bus ride which he will remember as being straight from the depths of hell - not because of the dodgy driving but because the heater was turned up to about 38 degrees and by the time of arrival in Daejon the young man was drenched in a sleepy sticky sweat.
That was two years ago and the young man was of course me.o years.
Older, but not necessarily wiser it is time to reflect on how I have spent the last two years. Well The best thing of the whole two years is how comfortable I have become teaching. At first I found it unbelievably difficult - the language barrier being the biggest thing. Nowadays The kids have gotten used to the way I do things during class - a testiment to the fact that while new ones are added at the bottom - most of the students have stayed at the same Hakwon the whole time. I do believe ‘The Boss’ was asking himself quite a few questions earlier on in the piece, but having invited me back for a third year I am sure he is quite happy with my performance thus far. I am particularly proud of the progress I’ve made. So much so that whenI do return home on a permanent basis I will be going into teaching. (And maybe even middle school!)
I spent the first 6 months getting over arguably the hardest decision I have ever had to make, and in the ensuing 18 months have (almost) come to terms with that. On reflection the Move to Korea has been overwhelmingly positive on all levels. Overall I think living here is far too easy. Everything a single man could want is readibly available, beer, pizza, good looking girls…and its all so cheap! Having kept a steady eye on the exchange rate for the last couple of weeks now I can’t help but think I won’t get as much bang for my buck at home as in Korea. Having spent a number of years barely able to make it from pay-day to pay-day - living in Korea has not only allowed me to purchase some neat stuff, (PSP, PS2, iPod, Laptop, RAZR…) more importantly I have been able to take care of (niggling and continuing) bills at home and save a little. (although I should have saved much much more).
I have come to appreciate the Korean people are truely a good lot. Despite numerous reports of rampant anti-foreigner sentiment I have never been told to "Get out of my country White Devil!" (Although I would consider it an increadible compliment). I have only ever encountered the most generous of intentions (despite my usual suspicious bent) and can count some very fine Koreans amongst my closest friends.
I think I have gotten a little better at writing, and, as with a couple of other things that come to mind, I would probably get even better if I applied myself a little better. Amazingly this blog has been around for 10 months, and remains the only true record of what’s going on for me at any given time. Sadly the inspiration for The Bimbo, "Lost Seouls" by James Creegan - will soon be no more as James is apparently heading off to Shanghai (obviously to work at the airport there.) I think Lost Seouls is arguably the funniest expat blog and the photos were particularly good, followed closley by "What Not To Do in Asia", which of course is now What Not To Do In AuStralIA so isn’t quite as relevant anymore. I would never claim to be as popular as either of these two blogs for good reason (i.e. I’m not popular at all) but until I started reading them I largly discounted blogs as silly self indulgant type things (really?!) and would never have thought of keeping one myself.
Other things I wish I could apply myself to more: Chief among them would have to be the study of Korean. This post from David at staypuff.net rings oh so true for me. It would help too if I stopped ignoring Sophia’s messages to me saying "do you want to study". If it’s in Korean and on my phone I immediately think it’s crap marketing spam SMS or NATE asking me if I want to connect to see lusty Korean girls in Bikinis, so i just ignore it until I go through my inbox 2 days later deleting them all and think "ooooh shit…It’s from Sophia" - oooops. She must think I’m so rude! BTW someone pointed out to me the other day that the NATE messages asking me if I want to connect to the mobile internet to see lusty Korean babes in bikini’s is a subscription based thing - i.e. you have to set it up to do that…I don’t remember doing that at all. Honest.
I would like to spend the next 12 months getting out of Nonsan a bit more often. I remember when I first got here I was out and about almost every weekend. Of late (and in no small part due to the weather) I have become a bit house-bound. So I promise I will go to more places than just Seoul and Daejeon in the coming 12 months. One place I havn’t been is Daegu. Apparently it is just another big Korean industrial city. (Famous for textiles if memory serves me correctly). I am continuely intrigued by the Advertisement on Arirang TV calling it "Biztopia" Daegu, and so want to go just to be able to say I have been to "Biztopia" Daegu. I also really really really want to go to "The Southern Resort island" of Jeju by ferry from "The Southern Port City" of Busan. (Why does Arirang insist on using these terms whenever each is mentioned.) BTW why can’t I get Arirang VOD news on the internet anymore?
Finally - yeah I know a bit of a long one - and no pictures to break up the prose. ‘The Boss’ rang me on Tuesday night, a rare occurence, to let me know that all is in order for my Visa and that he is no longer stressing about it. Just as bloody well considering the crap I, and by extension, Mum had to go through to get my original Degree over here and a copy of my transcript sent to Immigration in Daejeon. I’m definately not doing it again next year. I’m off to New Zealand (as I keep reminding everyone.) On Saturday night. I am so excited! While I meant to spend today paking I really have done nothing to prepare, but have managed to clean the house completly from top to bottom. Which is quite satisfying. In that vein This will probably be the last post until I get back from NZ and have a chance to look through my photos and sort out what I actually did while I was away. Until all quiries can be directed to my email - click the link above.
끝
