Out of Town

Leaving for six days in you know where. That's life - if you don't like it change it, right?

Contact lens progress...the right one was in on the second try, the left on the first.

Annyong hi gye se yo!

Manna, Mike.

Check This Out

If you haven't heard of this before...check it out:

www.blogexplosion.com

Manna, Mike.

Dictionary

What a scoop. Not only did I get a Korean dictionary, I got a map of Seoul as well. The map is Seoul proper, mostly north of the Han with Kangnam and just the tip of Yeouido. I'm sure I'll look at it once I realize I'm lost. The dictionary is Korean-English and vice-versa. It is 'completely new' with '40,000 entries' and 'thousands of idioms, phrases, and common expressions'. It has an amazing amount of info. Plus it's easier to transport than my scribbling on letter size paper.

While downtown I stopped in at a Variety store I sometimes go to. The people that run it are from Mapo-gu. The lady is pleasant and pretty and younger than me. Her English is very good. I was able to get in a quiet 'kam sa ham ni da' on my way out. This caused her to let out a very natural giggle.
Her husband is all business, pleasant, but all business and in English only please. He always answers my Korean with English only. That's ok though, I get my Korean lessons four doors down the street from my house. So far, so good!

I had ripped one of my contact lenses the other night, so I got a free replacement from my optometrist this morning. I really like them...it's the freedom I think. I can get them in both eyes within 3 or 4 tries. It takes a week or two, before you can stop blinking, when you stick the lens in your eye. It's worth it. So far.

It's cloudy and rainy here today, but still mild. Winter has arrived in Mongolia.

Manna, Mike.

Hello?

Needless to say it has been busy! Incredibly, my life has gone from being sedate and predictable to being turned on end. If nothing else it is now extremely interesting to see how things will play out on a number of fronts.

I was down at the Korean Mall that is close to where I live. I was there to get some pictures, which didn't turn out all that good, and to see if I could obtain an English- Korean and vice-versa, dictionary. So I'm still searching for both still.

Recently I was able to see the rice riots in Seoul on tv. How different from here...here we've had our ' race riots' and there they have their 'rice riots'. There weren't any rice riots at the Korean Mall when I was there.

While at the mall I did get to speak with an elderly Korean woman. Once she understood that I would be going to Korea next year, she asked if I was married. Once she knew that I wasn't hitched, she suggested that I could find a very good wife in Korea. I replied that I like the Korean people very much. This kind lady then reassured me that there are many Korean women that would be very good as a wife. I was able to successfully change the subject before we got to far along in the wedding plans.

But seriously I would like to meet some nice Korean ladies. I'm sure once I get working and settled in and the time is right I'll be able to socialize in that direction. Language or lack thereof will have a lot to do with it I think.

One of my friends is leaving for 14 days in Negril, Jamaica and another is leaving for Aruba tomorrow. I'm looking on with envy, because I want to go to Asia! It will happen and, no doubt, it may seem like it's happening to soon once the time to leave arrives. Oh well.

Back to Korea. I do intend to live in Korea with Koreans. I think Anyang will be good for that. I realize that I will be living life as a foreigner working there, but I would still like to assimilate as far as possible. Watch me end up in Itaewon.

Korean lessons down at the corner store are coming along. The adishi gave me an intro into Korean grammar the other day but it will take some practice for it to sink in. Obviously I will be grateful for whatever I can learn from him. His son in law is good at teaching me small phrases and words. The azuma is very good at pronunciation and diction. None the less I am learning, albeit slowly but it is coming. Recently I learned ' An nyong ha ship shay yo ' and I'm not really sure what it means but hyun, (...big son?), suggested it is nice to say to the azuma. When it's raining or cold I am able to say things like....An nay mogi! One day at a time.

Contact lenses. They are working out, I love them for the freedom. I'm still in learning mode. The fastest I've been able to get them in is 7 minutes for both eyes. I just went to put them in and discovered that one had been ripped when I took it out last night. Another one day at a time.

The weather is reasonably good here. The cities I check for weather are London Canada, Vancouver Canada, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ulan Bator.

That's all for now. Manna, Mike.

Communication

I am in the convenience store down at the corner, it's only four doors away, alot. It used to be I only went in there when I needed to buy something. Now however, I go in there often when I need a dose of Korea. My friend Chun, who is the son-in-law or hyun of the adishi and azuma, has become a good acquaintance. He has the best English of them all, however, it is still limited. The adishi speaks very little English. He is very quiet,probably because of his lack of English. For the past few months I have always used what little Hangul I know on him. I rarely got a look from the gentleman let alone a verbal acknowledgement from him.
My last two visits there, he has started to respond. He has taken an interest in my plans to go to Korea and he has started to speak. The shoe is on the other foot. We speak Hangul, and because of my very limited knowledge of the language, situations arise that I would not have had, were it not for J & M planting the Korea bug in my head. I must admit, I was a willing target.
Regardless, the adishi and I are communicating. The progress is slow, but it is progress. This has motivated me to work on Korean phrases harder. This is another benefit of having some time to prepare before I go.

Teresa is in Daejon since last April. Originally, she had made plans to go to Japan to teach. A week before her departure Japan called and cancelled. Within three weeks of that occurrence Teresa's feet hit the ground in Daejon. Teresa is in her early twenties. Korea is her first time ever living away from her childhood home and parents. I couldn't help thinking the other day, what a huge accomplishment that is. October 18 was her six month anniversary in the Hermit Kingdom. Teresa's trip to Korea, is already a huge success. Whether Teresa realizes it or not, her experiences have helped me and will be of great value to me. Most of the Korea pictures are from the photos she takes there. So to Teresa: congratulations on your six month anniversary. And thank you again for the photos and e-mails.

I am resolved: my feet, on the ground in Korea - 120 days or less. MARCH 9 2005.

I will miss the two loves of my life, my children, immensely. The price to pay is very high, but, R & A will get to see Korea, Japan and China - if they want. Right now they both still want. I need to get there soon. Teresa is there till April 18. It would be so incredible to see her there.

Manna, Mike.

Good News

Hi there! It was a busy but good day. One of my favorite blogs had a new post today. The pictures and descriptions were as intriguing and entertaining as usual. Shawn posted on http://www.korealife.blogspot.com. Check it out if you're not familiar with it. I think you'll enjoy it.

Snow last night and snow today! The streets are clear - there is snow on the grass and it does look so nice. Lake Hurons winter magic has started already....but it's supposed to be 16 degrees by Thursday.

I had the passport photos taken today and tomorrow the application will be off to wherever. Slowly the wheels are starting to roll toward Seoul. I will be spending the next few months closing down my life here so that when 'fly away day' arrives everything will be as organized as possible. 'Possible' is becoming reality, slowly but surely. The advice I'm getting is ...'...do your homework and arrive healthy'. Hopefully that will be the case. If not, I'll still go, but it will be a four or five month vacation instead.

I am planning for an April '05 arrival in Korea, maybe a month earlier - maybe a month later. Researching the net has paid off. I have found some very good sites where the writer's have established themselves quite nicely in Korea. This blog will still be around once I get there but I may change the name.

Anyway, back to life in Canada. Off to Windsor on Wednesday for five days, so I'll take the camera and take some photos down there. It hardly ever snows there. Last Christmas was the first white Christmas they had in 47 years. Will lightning strike twice? We'll have to wait and see. Knowing this might be my last Canadian winter for a few years is kind of fun. I still remember last year when we had three snowfalls of more than a foot in less than two weeks. I know I won't miss that.

It's late...of to bed. Manna, Mike.

Down The Tubes

London, Ontario is a beautiful city. One of the nice things about London is the diversity of the people that live here. I don't know what size the Korean-Canadian community is in London. I know of one Korean church here. There are good Korean Restauraunts here. There are a lot of convenience stores that are run by Korean families. My daily loaf of bread is produced by the Korean Businessmans Association. My own personal experience with Koreans in London is that they are very nice people and they work hard. They adapt to Canadian society and they endure.
They are a good example to me for once I go to Korea.
London has not had a downtown grocery store for many years. Recently, one had been opened. It was owned by Korean-Canadians. Downtown citizens, of which I am one, were very happy that we had a grocery store downtown again. It was a welcome change to not have to travel to the 'burbs' to do the groceries. So it was a sad moment when I noticed that, for whatever reasons, the downtown store with it's Koreans is no more. This is the place were I first tried cuttlefish snacks. I was able to go in there for fruit and vegetables and study up on the Hangul alphabet at the same time. The people that worked there will be missed. I am still able to get my pronunciation lessons at the corner store from Chun and his relatives. They appear to be a Christian family. The father has a bible printed in both Hangul and English. The mother quite often is singing hymns in Korean when I stop in to buy something. Chun used to live in the Shinchon area of Seoul. They are very pleasant and seem to enjoy my interest in their homeland. How ironic that when I go to Korea, some of the people I will miss in London will be Koreans in Canada!

As always I had a very nice chat with my friend Jennifer Rex, ( cool name, huh?), Jennifer is the link to Teresa who is teaching in Daejon. I get the photos of Korea from Teresa, thanks again Teresa. Well, I have to go and get familiar with some more of the Korean Alphabet.
I hope you are all fine wherever you are. Manna, Mike.

Korea Lady

Check this girl out! Ain't she sweet?

Life Is Good

Life is good! The doctor said this is as bad as it will get. So I still have my health, I still have my life. The diminished feeling is inconvenient but that's it.
Having said that, it is unnerving (pun intended) to one day notice, that the feeling is diminished. But....it is almost certain that it is not a stroke, aneurysm, tumour, or anything worse. Is it a hundred per cent? No, but then nothing ever is except perfect math. I have been examined by two GP's, a neuroligist, two residents, a neurology intern, and a dental surgeon. For all it's shortcomings, I am grateful for the care I have recieved from the Ontario health system. I don't think this would have been possible in most countries of the world. One of the many reasons I am so glad I am a Canadian. Yes, there are some things I don't like about Canada, but I love this country. And that's why I know I will miss it when I first get to Korea.
It is an unfortunate fact of life...there are too many people looking for fault, and too few people looking for solutions. The ones trying to find solutions are too busy to sit around complaining. I'll get out of the pulpit now.
Anyway, the bottom line is, I'm going to Korea all the sooner, so that if the my health becomes an issue, at least I'll have done that. Quitting smoking is probably part of the solution.
Enough about the writers health.

Back to Korea. How should it be done? Clearly being recruited in Canada and signing a contract in Canada appears to be the kiss of death. The advice I am getting from people who are there presently, or who have spent a minimun of two years there is this. Save some money to be able to survive four months in Korea. Buy a return air ticket. Go to Korea as a free person. Choose where you want to work in Korea and, above all, choose who you want to work for. In other words why would you want to get into a year long contract with someone you don't even know let alone trust. Clearly, it is a recipe for failure and grief. Unfortunately, this is how it is usually done.
So, let's allow C$500 for a yeogwan, $300 for food, and $200 for miscellaneous expenses. That adds up to $1000 a month. That means I will need $4000 to ensure survival for four months, plus around $1500 for the return air ticket = $5500. Now that's a pile of dough even though it is Canadian dollars. However I will probably get a job within a month paying roughly $2000 to $2500 a month and by month four will probably have 5-8 privates paying $1000 to $1600 per month. Let's say we'll go with the lower figures, that means... after four months I should be earning at least $3000/month. So the payback time on my $5500 loan, er, I mean investment, should be three months time- 3x$2000= $6000. That way if I do get a won jon nim who tries to not pay me around month 8 or 9 of my contract, he/she doesn't know where I live and can't throw me out of his dumpy lodgings, I am still earning some money and am already self sufficient, and, if all else fails at least I have a plane ticket out, if I decide I want to leave Korea. This way I still have some control and choice. I can still give Korea a chance. I won't have to bail, or even worse, be forced by circumstances to work for free. Hmmm, I may even have saved enough to not have to work for a month.

Well, it all sounds good on paper, I better sleep on it and see how it feels in the morning. Good night all, sleep tight. Manna Mike.