Korea Life Blog

Korea Life Blog
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

This very nice young lady is Hyun Hee. She is here in London until December. After she has spent her year here she will return home to Seoul. Hyun Hee is here to improve her English pronunciation. At first I thought she was joking! This lady sounds like a native in her pronounciation already. Hyun Hee has been studying English, in Korea, since she was 13 years old. It seems there may be a number of Korean students here improving their English.

Anyway she was kind enough to let me photograph her with this book. I explained to her that it is sometimes difficult for me to find new things Korean, or things about Korea to post on korea-bound. So she was kind enough to let me get a shot of her with Shawns book.

While taking this shot of her, Ryan my waiter friend from the Asiana Restaurant, came out of the Library behind her! Ryan is returning to Seoul at the end of July after spending a year in London improving his English.

It was kind of neat for me to be introducing two Seoulites to each other here in London. Anyway, the three of us went inside the nice air-conditioned library and sat down and had a chat. Ryan and I will be getting together for coffee next week, Hyun Hee won't be able to make it as she is working.

My daughter is in Toronto until next week visiting, so for now it's me and my son holding down the fort. I wanted to get this book shot with my daughter holding the book, but she won't have any of it. I think she thinks I'm a geek.

I finished reading Island Of Fantasy yesterday, so I'm saving the Special Edition for the weekend.

Bye for now.

Korea Life Blog

Korea Life Blog
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

Korea Life Blog - in book form! The laughing starts right away. If you don't have them yet, you should get them. This book strikes me as the kind of read that has something for everyone. Excellent value for the money.

Unknown Flowers

Unknown Flowers
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

Summer arrived early this year, it's hot, but alot of us don't mind that much really. I thought if it gets too much,I could get on an air-conditioned bus and go to a mall. I think carrying an extra shirt and a small towel is a small price to pay.The gardeners are happy,things are blooming!

An acquaintance who really didn't enjoy the year she spent in Korea, has had a change of heart. It seems that if she doesn't get into school this September, it's off to Korea to teach some privates. My ears almost fell of my head. Golly, that is good news! She should go to Korea! She already paid her price...completed her apprenticeship. Anyway, now I'm kind of hoping she doesn't get into school so she'll go to Korea. She can always go to school next year. Education is priceless, but in the short term cash is king. A year working there, now that she is debt-free, will pay for a few years of school.

My best and longest friend, whom I'll call Jaemi-ssi, wants to return to Korea with his wife, who shall remain nameless at this time. However they're in a comfortable groove of sorts here in Canada. Spent some time with them looking at Korean stuff and pictures. They worked there for nearly 4 years, so with all the photos and first hand experience, the visits are always a great Korea fix. Sometimes it's a little like somebody trying to describe a flavour you've never tried before. You get the idea, but until you actually taste the flavour, it's just a mental vision at best. Wonderful visits.

The computer has been acting up a little, but it seems to be working well enough. I arrived home on Saturday and I am finally able to upload these postings...I hope!

Bye for now.

오늘너무더워요!....Again.

It's been so hot here, I had to check out a picture of snow from one of last winters postings. It sure looked cold in that photo......anyway the child psychology must have worked 'cause I felt a little less sweaty after I looked at it.

Finally, back in London after slaving for the corporation for 10 days in Detroit/Windsor. Ten freaking days in a freaking hotel room, while my kids are here at my home in London. Oh well, we're all paid volunteers....anybody is free to quit. They have nice glossy pamphlets about how they care about our families. Apart from the pamphlets and the Family Assistance Program, you're up the creek mate! Damn they're ruthless! Oops, is somebody a little freakin' frustrated? Maybe McDonalds is hiring, hmmmm....

On a brighter note, I have a new Korean friend. The family that bought the convenience store are all settled in. They have been in Canada for three years. The lady and I have become language friends, and I have finally developed enough of a rapport with the ajosshi, that he doesn't mind helping me with my on again, off again Hangeul. Kimseonsangnimpuin (the wife), is kind enough to give me their homemade kimchi, which is really hot, but excellent. Mrs. Kim is a very nice lady with a 16 year old girl and an eleven year old son. She doesn't look anywhere near the fourty-three years old she claims to be. I have come to believe that Mr. Kim is a gentleman, and that it is highly unlikely that he will shoot me for being language friends. I don't think he is spiking the kimchi that she brings for me.....my being alive is proof enough for me. Maybe he is lulling me into a false sense of kimchi comfort. She warned me it is spicier than the commercial stuff at Danny Han's, and it is, but I love it, I'm addicted to the stuff. Recently I was reading how good it is for our health, so I don't feel nearly as bad about jumping out of bed and shlurping down Koreas most famous health food first thing in the morning. They are a very nice family. There is this very charming, sincerity or niceness about Korean people that is very refreshing or uplifting.

We all had a great visit with my brother, and he is back doing his thing in West Vancouver.

Life is good, people make it great. Peace.

Wrought Iron Face

Wrought Iron Face
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

Here are the individual faces on the window bars. There are nine per window. I don't remember ever noticing these before, but then I never needed to because I never carried a camera around with me.

Now that I have my camera handy, I look for stuff like this.

Cool, huh?

Bars On Window

Bars On Window
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

These are really cool window bars. Downtown London. They are on the windows of a building renovated into apartments.

For years this building was warehouse for a shoe retailer.

Speaking Of Books.....

Yes! I finally ordered Shawn Matthews books! I had been intending to do it for a while now........as evidenced by the money sitting and waiting already in my Paypal account. I want to be perfectly clear that I was not publicly shamed or humiliated into it by Shawn asking, in the comments of my last posting, where his book was!

Of course, now having ordered the books, I can hardly wait till they arrive here. I hope there's lots of pictures in 'em! Solemnly I promise, upon having read the books, I will give my honest unsolicited opinion on them. If I have any suggestions, I promise to share them with you as well.

Actually, I know how good of a read it is going to be! When I started reading Korealife Shawn still had part of his pre-published book on there. So truly, it was a no-brainer that I would order them.

I would like to thank Shawn publicly for rousing me from my procrastinating ways! As a matter of fact, since reading Shawn's comment, I have made an addition to todays to-do list. Wow, I love the alliteration!

And of course, as soon as they arrive there will be a picture.

Must run...life calls.

Peace.

Books

Books
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

Here are the three books I purchased today. There aren't many books on language there, but there are a few on other aspects of Korea.

I was pleased to find any at all. The one on the readers left is a Korean-English Hymnal. The one in the middle is a light read about Korea in general.... a sort of introduction to the country, culture and people. The one on the right is some sort of book to teach children. A textbook it seems.

The place where I got these will become one of my regular haunts to see what shows up there.

The hymnal, in particular, will be useful because it is a line of Korean, with the translated English line right below it.

Tolsotbibimbap

Tolsotbibimbap
Originally uploaded by korea-bound.

Here we are again at the Asiana Resraurant. My brother from West Vancouver, is in town for ten days. I'm in town for four of those days.

We haven't seen each other for eleven years, so his visit is long overdue.

The three of us, my brother, myself and my daughter ended up having tolsotbibimbap and tangsooyuk at the Asiana.

For both of them, it was their first time trying Korean food. I am very pleased that they both like Korean food. Especially my daughter, who will be travelling to Korea for visits etc.

I have discovered more Korean stuff here. City Lights bookstore has both a little language stuff, and a fair bit about Korea. Also picked up some thinner guitar picks for junior and myself.