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Friday, 06 November 2009

  • " Let's talk poverty. In most parts of the world, that's not a problem, it's a way of life. And rights? They're liable to give you a blank stare because they may not know what you're talking about.
    "The fact is, more people are living better right here than anyone else ever before in history. So don't expect us to roll over and play dead when you say you're dissatisfied. It's not perfect, but it's a great deal better than when we grew up: a hundred men standing in the street hoping for one job; selling apples on the street corner-- that's one of the things we were dissatisfied about; and you don't see that much anymore..." Sergeant Joe Friday, Dragnet

    My mom's on the plane someplace now, doubtless as bored and cramped as she's ever been in her life.  It was a great visit.  I enjoyed her time here, and she did too.  But I recharge in my "alone time," which I haven't had for two weeks.  So, tonight after work will likely involve computer games and listening to old Dragnet shows.  How do you veg on your own?

Wednesday, 04 November 2009

  • The Fusion of Two Problems

    I started out with my elementary students many weeks ago.  I had no curriculum, just a few questions at the end of a section in their writing books.  I drilled them on the questions with the vague idea of developing some kind of game after they got some proficiency.  I haven't been able to think of one.

    Since starting to teach about body language with my middle-schoolers, I have thought that charades would be a good way to loosen them up and empasize the concept.  However, most charades I can think of are based on culture-specific subjects, such as TV shows or music groups.

    I'm slow, but it finally occurred to me today that the solution to these problems might be related.  I wrote the questions on cards, and the students are acting out the answers.  It's probably even educational.  This is not Korean teaching methodology.  Can you add any enhancements to make this even better?

Sunday, 01 November 2009

  • Wrapping the Weekend, by efarns

     We went to the foriegner's church yesterday morning.  There were only about 30 there.  Several ended their contracts recently and not many new members have come in yet.  Our previous minister got a new job closer to his school, so one of the members is preaching for now.  We agreed on a minister from Tanzania, but working through the immigration will take some time (don't I know it?).

    Regarding Maria, it doesn't look like we'll be able to get anything substantial done until my contract is up next spring.  So, if you want to come, the "big wedding" (not sure what to call the first one) will be in April.  The Philippines is a great vacation spot, so plan to spend a week or two.  We always had a planned to do a big wedding for her family there.  It's just going to be later than we'd planned.

    We had time to stick around after church for lunch and then Korean class.  I have learned some vocabulary, but need to learn more grammar.  I decided to focus on learning food names;

    Speaking of food . . . ugh!  I take back what I said about losing any weight!  I took my mom out for barbecue on Friday night.  Saturday, after the trip to the mountain, the church took us out for chicken (one plate deep fried, one plate on spicy sauce).  Last night, after church at Sungnam, they took us out to a Japanese place.  We had deep fried pork and chicken cutlets, dipped in sauce and crushed sesame seeds (they give you the mortar and pestle to crush them yourself).  All very good!  Today, one of the ladies from church wants to take my mom (I get to go, too) to the Samsung Buffet for lunch.  Tomorrow, she's offered to take us to Namhae Island, so there should be some good pictures from that.

    Speaking of pictures . . . Friday night, we went down to the riverfront just in time to get some nice ones.

    CastleatNight Bridge

     

Saturday, 31 October 2009

  • UsTogether

    Dear friends, relations and others,

         As you can see, Ed and I are seeing Korea together still.  Today we went up to Jirisan Mountain park.  It is the second highest mountin in South Korea.  The weather was great and the leaves have changed.  We went to a traditional Korean medicine museum which was interesting, but would have been moreso if more of the information had been in English

         Yesterday we went to the bath house.  Sorry there are no pictures for you. I do know one thing though.            BeforeI go again I am getting some new matching underwear, and someone who speaks English will have to tell me how to get all the thiongs I need to really get the benefit of the experience.  The warm tile floors were very relaxing.  After Ed left for work, I slept for several hours and woke up refreshed and then slept the night through just as if I had never had that nap.

         I made a foray out on my own and found some sandpaper and bought it without knowing enough Korean to fill a thimble.  I was very happy with myself.  I will admit though, I had to go to 2 stores before anyone would help me.  In the first, there was someone up on a pile of stuff and didn't seem to notice me and the other person was working on some books in the back of the store.  In the second store a lady  came to my aid immediately and tried to get me what I asked for.  She understood the word paper and we were off to the races.  She took me to the back of this hole in the wall hardware store and found the sandpaper.  The next order of business was to pay for it.  She said something in Korean which I didn't undersstand at all, so I took out a 5000 won bill and she took it.  Then she gave 4000 won in change and said something else I didn't understand and took off running to a little nook.  I was slow in picking up the sandpaper which she did not wrap or bag, and she came running back and handed me some change.  She thanked me in Korean and I thanked her in Korean and I left.

         Next I went to the grocery store to find some dish washing liquid.  I found it with no trouble.  There was a picture of clean dishes on the front  of the bag and it was on sale.  Life couldn't be any better.  All at once a store worker swooped down on me and took the bag from my hands and shook her head no and headed off to another part of the store as if to say I didn't know what I was doing.  She consulted a young man who also worked at the store and he convinced her that I had the right thing. Then I asked for coffee.  he understood that and was able to direct me to that section of the store.  Maybe I should say he took me to that section of the store and showed me all the different flavors, etc.  I told him I just wanted coffee, and he let me pick a bag.  After all that good help I checked out and Paid for everything.  There is a sign that tells shoppers how much the bill is, so I didn't have to understand anything the checkout girl said.

    Steps           

         On our trip to the mountains we saw a lot of farmland and much of it was terraced.  It is very attractive and mekes land useful that was once hilly terrain.

    That is all for today.

    Love to all,

    Jennie (Bee)

Friday, 30 October 2009

  • While my mom's sleeping, I'll sneak in a blog with some extra pictures . . . saving some good ones for her to show tomorrow . . .

    We went along the river side of the fortress.  It was only her second day off the plane, but my mom looks rested and ready.  Though, she was disappointed the gate is closed.

    2009_1027Oct09Korea0006

    We went to the farmer's market on Wednesday and experienced the rare joy of randomly running into people we knew.  It was right outside the place selling . . .

     2009_1027Oct09Korea0012

    That, my friends, is a bag of bees.  Some of them were maybe a couple of inches long.  Why do they sell the bees along with the honeycomb?  I have no idea.

    Today, on the way to market, we got to see a bunch of kindergarteners on their way to trick or treat . . .

    2009_1030RiverfrontwithMom0024 2009_1030RiverfrontwithMom0026  

    They were cute, but there wasn't a Joony or Austin among them.  So sad.

    Tomorrow, we're supposed to take a church trip to Jirisan Mountain to see the fall colors. 

  • Visit efarns's Xanga Site
    • Name: Edward
    • Country: South Korea
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 3/25/2004

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  • My blog is about me. I am a 30-something guy from a small town in Ohio, currently living and teaching in Korea. I think you will find a practical, matter of fact perspective on the differences between the two unique cultures I am caught between.