I've always wanted to be able to know the future. I like to plan and I like to try to do this and that. I have right close to every day planned out for a week in advance. Most of the time, I end up doing most of the things that I have planned. However, I think I've passed into being anxious about the future at times. I know that they ain't nothing that I can do to change the future. Many of the times, there is almost nothing that I can do to even control my life in even the smallest way. The lucky thing is that I am finally getting to the point again that I realize that I ain't in control of my path. I walk the path, but my steps are on the ground ahead of me as I walk. I just put my foot right in the print. Sometimes, I ain't smart enough to realize that I have misstepped. Who knows? I don't... that's for sure.
I come to Korea with 300 teachers. We done orientation together and went off to our schools all over the 'Land of the Morning Calm'. All of the areas have told their teachers if they gonna stay for next year. I mean, most of the people have signed the contracts and done the blood tests. We have to get AIDS tests cuz the are a-scared that we foreigners might could have the bug. So, there I sit in my school just thinking about how my city was the last of the cities to send out the renewal papers. I emailed the main office and they give me the news that the papers would be sent out by the end of this month. Despite all of this, I asked my co-teacher if she knew what would happen. I figure that they must know if they gonna keep me after 2/3 of the year. They talked it over and finally told me that I am gonna stay. Well, that's the word now. Let's see what next month brings.
I'd like to go home for the holiday, but I get 4 weeks vacation in summer, so I plan on doing that. That means that I'll be here and I won't be a doin' much over the Christmas break. I hope that the holiday is not so bad. I 'member that the last time I was here during that time
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sex Slave
So, my church had a screening of a film called Nefarious. It documented how girls get picked up off of the streets or sold to the sex trade industry in many places. I guess South Koreans are the most frequent people who are sold into the sex industry in the US. I saw how people in Cambodia often sell their girls. How does people treat their kids as property? I just don't get it.
I guess these girls just get used to feeling as if they are worthless and without hope. So, if someone offers them another option, they rarely accept it. If they do accept the new option, 90% or more return to the industry within a year. The whole thing was just creepy to me. It give me chills. Either seeing no other option or wanting to go back to beatings and rapes rather than confront the cold hard facts. This ain't cool. Wow.. It just made me sick to watch.
Where there is legal activity going on, you can be sure that there is illegal activity going on as well. Why does a legal industry publish safety ideas for their workers if it has truly made their work any more safer? I just feel that we need to be more vocal for human rights about this. Sweden has almost got rid of the industry because they decided that they have to do it to provide equal rights for men and women. How much more do believers have responsibility to tackle this evil industry.
I guess these girls just get used to feeling as if they are worthless and without hope. So, if someone offers them another option, they rarely accept it. If they do accept the new option, 90% or more return to the industry within a year. The whole thing was just creepy to me. It give me chills. Either seeing no other option or wanting to go back to beatings and rapes rather than confront the cold hard facts. This ain't cool. Wow.. It just made me sick to watch.
Where there is legal activity going on, you can be sure that there is illegal activity going on as well. Why does a legal industry publish safety ideas for their workers if it has truly made their work any more safer? I just feel that we need to be more vocal for human rights about this. Sweden has almost got rid of the industry because they decided that they have to do it to provide equal rights for men and women. How much more do believers have responsibility to tackle this evil industry.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
F-hole
I used to go to this cafe about 5 times a week named 'F-hole'. Don't get no nasty thoughts in your mind. The owner didn't speak English, but he was a music major in university. He had a dream to open a cafe and he did just that. He named it after the pattern on a violin. He had no idea until we foreigners started to frequent his awesome little shop. Well, them days are gone. The little cafe with real ham sandwiches is long gone. One of my favorite things is gone. I loved it because he'd play exactly the kind of music that I like and I could call him and place my order then show up and it would be all ready.
They's this new place that my friends have started going to. It's called 'Beyond'. It ain't no F-hole. The drinks are terrible and the prices are high. We had singings there and some people used to read poetry. Most of the people would read some serious funny things that they had wrote, but others just sit there and listened. It was so chill. Wednesday nights ain't the same no more. The F-hole sort of moved on to 'Beyond', but it is beyond lame at 'Beyond'.
So, they's sort of a bit of a hole in my schedule. I've filled it with Korean lessons with a friend, but I kind of miss getting out of the Korean feeling and meeting up with some of my international friends. It's people from just about every English speaking country that you can think of and many of them are pretty funny. I miss it.
They's this new place that my friends have started going to. It's called 'Beyond'. It ain't no F-hole. The drinks are terrible and the prices are high. We had singings there and some people used to read poetry. Most of the people would read some serious funny things that they had wrote, but others just sit there and listened. It was so chill. Wednesday nights ain't the same no more. The F-hole sort of moved on to 'Beyond', but it is beyond lame at 'Beyond'.
So, they's sort of a bit of a hole in my schedule. I've filled it with Korean lessons with a friend, but I kind of miss getting out of the Korean feeling and meeting up with some of my international friends. It's people from just about every English speaking country that you can think of and many of them are pretty funny. I miss it.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
What is it?
I've growed angry at this point. They ain't a doctor in the world that can explain what is going on. Well, let me rephrase that. Every one of the 5 that I've went to has told me what I have. The problem is that each and every one has told me something different. I've followed what they've said, and it ain't made a bit of difference. What's up with that??
I've decided that they's worse things in the world to have other than spots here and there all over my body that comes and goes. I feel great, and I go to the gym and do whatever I want there. I don't feel sick. I need to be be thankful for that and not pay no mind to the doctors on some level. If they's been 5 doctors and 5 ideas, either 4 or 5 have been wrong. I can't focus on any of that. I just keep thinking of all the good things rather than the annoying bad!
Korea is a place of conforming. You must conform or else. I sometimes have a few spots on my hands. The people here on the subways looks at you like you have some serious disease on public transportation. What is a good man gonna do? LOL
I've decided that they's worse things in the world to have other than spots here and there all over my body that comes and goes. I feel great, and I go to the gym and do whatever I want there. I don't feel sick. I need to be be thankful for that and not pay no mind to the doctors on some level. If they's been 5 doctors and 5 ideas, either 4 or 5 have been wrong. I can't focus on any of that. I just keep thinking of all the good things rather than the annoying bad!
Korea is a place of conforming. You must conform or else. I sometimes have a few spots on my hands. The people here on the subways looks at you like you have some serious disease on public transportation. What is a good man gonna do? LOL
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Spit
It's many things that are annoying here. I met up with some friends for a costume party yesterday. I didn't dress up because I find it odd to gather in a small house and sit around with several other professionals and wear odd clothes. I'm sorry, but I've growed out of that. I just don't see myself doing it ever again. Perhaps, but not in Korea. They's too many other weird things around me. I don't wanna dress up weird.
We got to talking about how some things here are just so odd. The most common thing that people brung up was spitting. Guys and sometimes even girls in miniskirts decide that they want to spit. I mean..., they just spit everwhere they want. They have no care in the world. It is strange to be sitting in a restaurant and have someone just spit on the floor next to you. Then you look up at them and they are dressed up in their Sunday best. One has to wonder.
I find the several puke piles at the ground on the way to work more annoying. I'm rather tired of the morning and I don't wanna pay attention. So, if I ain't a lookin' out, I find myself with a few chunks at the bottom of my shoes. Nasty! I druther have a few spit spots than a few piles of puke. It is out of control. One time I saw a guy sleeping in his suit outside my house. He just slept there after a night out on the town and then turned around and went off to work. How crazy is that?
Then they's this line of women in their 40s or 50s that works at a make-up shop. They line up at morning time and bow all together at the 8 lanes of traffic that pass. I've learnt to pass behind them. It is so funny to me. you should see them look out of the corner of their eyes as they see a foreigner approach and walk up to what is just beside of them. They bow like robots. I wonder if some of them spit as they bow sometimes. So, needless to say, walking to work can be interesting.
We got to talking about how some things here are just so odd. The most common thing that people brung up was spitting. Guys and sometimes even girls in miniskirts decide that they want to spit. I mean..., they just spit everwhere they want. They have no care in the world. It is strange to be sitting in a restaurant and have someone just spit on the floor next to you. Then you look up at them and they are dressed up in their Sunday best. One has to wonder.
I find the several puke piles at the ground on the way to work more annoying. I'm rather tired of the morning and I don't wanna pay attention. So, if I ain't a lookin' out, I find myself with a few chunks at the bottom of my shoes. Nasty! I druther have a few spit spots than a few piles of puke. It is out of control. One time I saw a guy sleeping in his suit outside my house. He just slept there after a night out on the town and then turned around and went off to work. How crazy is that?
Then they's this line of women in their 40s or 50s that works at a make-up shop. They line up at morning time and bow all together at the 8 lanes of traffic that pass. I've learnt to pass behind them. It is so funny to me. you should see them look out of the corner of their eyes as they see a foreigner approach and walk up to what is just beside of them. They bow like robots. I wonder if some of them spit as they bow sometimes. So, needless to say, walking to work can be interesting.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Pre-Christmas Blues
I hate that I am not going to be at 'home' for Christmas. Christmas will be on a Sunday this year. Crazy enough it come on the same day the last time I was in Korea. I hated that day. It was one of the worst days in my life. I just sit in my house all day doing nothing. Christmas is almost nothing here in Korea even though there are more people that practices Christianity than anything else. Weird.
I found out today that I will not be able to travel back 'home' for the holiday. I just listened as my co-teacher told me the news. It give me a different feeling on the inside. I dread missing Christmas without certain people. Of course, there will be others here too, but no Christmas party at my house. I do not like that. My house is far too small for a X-mas party. I have 2 chairs and some steps to sit on. They just ain't no room for a party here. There will be no church filled with people singing Christmas songs either. I like Christmas songs. Some are dumb, but I can handle even dumb ones just because it is somehow related to my most favorite day of the year.
I found out today that I will not be able to travel back 'home' for the holiday. I just listened as my co-teacher told me the news. It give me a different feeling on the inside. I dread missing Christmas without certain people. Of course, there will be others here too, but no Christmas party at my house. I do not like that. My house is far too small for a X-mas party. I have 2 chairs and some steps to sit on. They just ain't no room for a party here. There will be no church filled with people singing Christmas songs either. I like Christmas songs. Some are dumb, but I can handle even dumb ones just because it is somehow related to my most favorite day of the year.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Funny Things Today
I had a relaxed day at work today. It was just a normal school day. However, some of the students are just so funny in Korea. It was one who come to my office to remind me that I was going to his class today. I go to each class about once every 2 or 3 weeks. Sometimes it is longer in between each visit. I opened the double doors and shook his hand and his friend was on all fours on the floor. His friend reached around and grabbed on to my ankle as a joke. I went to laughing so hard. These kids are 15 years old! Are you serious?
I come home and took me a good ole' nap. I need to take those these days. They ain't no way around it. I take too many pills. They make me tired, but I power through it and go to the gym. I refuse to not go. While leaving the gym I saw a Canadian guy who goes there too. He asked me about costumes which was fairly random. I don't know the first thing about them. I guess that since I speak English he assumed that I must know about costumes too. Just then, one of my students, who I didn't recognize, rolled up on his bike and said, "Teacher, how are you? I go to the house." Then he shook my hand and rolled off. Korea is so random. It was funny. As he rolled off, the Canadian guy said, "I go to the house too!" Ha!
I met with my language exchange partner today. It was pretty funny as always. I eat some 'pat-bing-su' which is shaved ice with sweet milk, red beans, fruit cocktail and ice cream on top. I eat it all myself. We talked about everything going on in our lives. It is a super fun time.
I come home and took me a good ole' nap. I need to take those these days. They ain't no way around it. I take too many pills. They make me tired, but I power through it and go to the gym. I refuse to not go. While leaving the gym I saw a Canadian guy who goes there too. He asked me about costumes which was fairly random. I don't know the first thing about them. I guess that since I speak English he assumed that I must know about costumes too. Just then, one of my students, who I didn't recognize, rolled up on his bike and said, "Teacher, how are you? I go to the house." Then he shook my hand and rolled off. Korea is so random. It was funny. As he rolled off, the Canadian guy said, "I go to the house too!" Ha!
I met with my language exchange partner today. It was pretty funny as always. I eat some 'pat-bing-su' which is shaved ice with sweet milk, red beans, fruit cocktail and ice cream on top. I eat it all myself. We talked about everything going on in our lives. It is a super fun time.
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