Today we prove the stereotype that asians really are bad drivers. Case in point, if you come to Korea you will see that every driver, especially the taxi drivers think they are The Transporter (Jason Statham). Traffic lights... whatever (they also don't work), road lanes... who needs them, going in reverse?... no problem!, pedestrians... get the eff out of the way before I run you over with my Hyundai. How there aren't more accidents boggles my mind.
One of our favorite new snacks is dried squid. We bought one squid with dark stripes and ate it in front of Kurt, who absolutely despises it, and remarked with a newly enjoyed term- "that looks like lepressy". Speaking of Australians... We went to Wonju one fine Saturday morning on the Korean train system. The trains are actually quite nice and affordable. The Aussies were in awe of ice over a river but when encountering ice on the street, they took a straight b-line away from it with a "i'm not getting anywhere near that stuff" look on their face. As in true western fashion, we decided to head for the Outback Steakhouse. The Aussies felt right at home with all the boomerangs, didgeridoos, and photos of aboriginals.
We were introduced to a nice little bar called U2 bar. It was small but cozy, the female bartender spoke English and they had a sweet computer system where you could upload your favorite music videos from youtube and it would be played over the flat-screeen tv at the bar. One of our "buddies" even tried to get a little too friendly with one of the US soldier's girlfriends so we promptly left. Some of us caught the late night train home where we almost slept throuhg our stop but thankfully I awoke in time and realized the train had stopped. We quickly got off but Blake lost a glove in the process. The other boys stayed in Wonju and stayed at a jimjilbang (roman bath house) and slept in the extreme temperatures there but were unable to enter the scolding hot waters again in the morning for some reason.
A great thing though, I found pick-up soccer on Sundays here and I plan to be running clinics every Sunday that I can. The middle school lads all thought I was Beckham but other things were said about our other American buddy. On a similar note, Koreans love to play Choku, which is basically soccer tennis but with more players on each end and with three allowed bounces between three people.
I've also occupied my time with writing letters to people home and I even received a package from my parents recently and a lovely Christmas letter from the Harrisons! Thank you so much!
We've been doing winter camps so far which have gone alright. I drew a picture of Old Gregg & the Funk and gave it to one of my elementary students. If you don't know The Legend of Old Gregg, please acquaint yourself with this scaly, man-fish.
Also one of our elementary students brought and pointed an airsoft gun at another student in class. Blake almost had to karate kick the shit out of him. Thankfully, no form of punishment was given? The kids can be frustrating at times, which makes me want to smash their heads into a jelly when they don't care about our glorious language...
Also on this week's - Why the Hell Did You Do That - , I wanted to use the projector in the auditorium but the repairman for the screen came by the other week and ripped out the screen but even better, he ripped the monitor cable in half and taped the two pieces together and left, never to return...
If you're bored these cold, winter days you could write your own songs with the help of an aerosol spray and sniffing it out of a sock...
Oh, I just love It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. If only it was always sunny in Yeongwol.
Here's an early present of my lyrics to Vince Guaraldi's Christmas Time is Here from Merry Christmas Charlie Brown.
Christmas time, stuck in Yeongwol
But Pam is here with loads of cheer
I don't know how I should feel
Sometimes wonder about Kim Jon Il
he had a stroke like Lenin did
i time my runs when i cross the street
asian drivers will have their car for you to meet
if i smell kimchi for much longer
i think i'll grow a cabbage sized tumor
Squatted kimchi lady wash your kimchi
but as you turn to look and see
do me the favor of not farting at me
To this tune...
Happy Holidays from us to YOU!
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