I forgot to mention that I saw four new MLB caps at the ballgame the other day: the Rays, Nationals, Marlins and Mariners.
The list of caps I've seen now looks like this:
Atlanta Braves
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Florida Marlins
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Twins
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Oakland Athletics
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays
Washington Nationals
I did see what looked like an Angels cap with a retro logo once, but I'm not sure if that should count. I also saw an old Diamondbacks cap on TV, but I'm only including ones I've seen in person. In addition to those two teams, the ones I'm still waiting on are the Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. How long before I'll be able to check them all off the list?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
I've Made It to My Annual Ballgame
In 2009 I attended a White Sox game, in 2010 I attended a Cubs game, and in 2011 I attended a KIA Tigers game. I'd been wanting to go for a while now, but every weekend the Tigers were out of town, and my schedule doesn't allow me to go on weekdays. This Saturday they finally had a home date, so I jumped at the chance to go.
My original plan was to take a cab and go by myself, but since I didn't know anything about the stadium, I decided to ask someone who might know: Mrs. Kim's son. He's a baseball fan, so I figured he'd been to a few games in his day. He told me plenty of things about the stadium, like how much tickets cost, how early to arrive, good places to sit and all that. I appreciated his advice.
I figured that would be all there was to it, but something even better happened: he asked if he and one of his classmates could go with me. I figured "sure, why not?" It was a win-win. They got to do something on Saturday, and I got to to have some companions who could also serve as experienced guides for my first Korean ballgame. Mrs. Kim's younger son heard we were going, so I invited him to join us, giving us the full four that would make up our party.
In Korea, each team has a sponsor, though they do represent actual cities. Gwangju's team is the KIA Tigers. Their opponent was the SK Wyverns from Incheon, who've appeared in the last four Korea Series (winning three times, their only loss coming to KIA in 2009). Needless to say, it was a pretty big matchup. In case you were wondering, a "wyvern" is a dragon-like creature.
We arrived at Mudeung Stadium at about 4:30, half an hour before game time. There are actually two stadiums in the complex, one for baseball and one for soccer. We had to walk past the soccer stadium to get to the baseball stadium. We didn't spend much time standing in line before we got our tickets, and they didn't cost an arm and a leg either. 8,000 Won covered my ticket (about $8 in American money).
We ran into an unexpected delay when we went to the wrong entrance and had to navigate through a crowd of people to get to the other side, where our seats were. I remarked aloud, to no one who would understand, that it felt like something out of Spinal Tap. It wasn't a huge deal to walk to the other side, as the ballpark was smaller than most MLB parks.
We ended up in our outfield seats (not quite bleachers, but similar freedom to sit wherever) less than five minutes before the game began. This ballpark, as I said above, was much smaller than an MLB ballpark. It felt sort of like a minor league game because of the setting.
I'm certainly not complaining about the smaller venue size, as we got to be closer to the action than we would be at an MLB game. The outfield seats aren't elevated nearly as far above the field level, so I could read the left fielder's name on his uniform.
There's a lot of chanting from the crowd, often incorporating the name of the player at bat. They don't chant as much for the pitcher. Thundersticks are a big part of the stadium culture, as the accompanying noise figures into many chants (though some of us participated with clapping instead).
There wasn't much drama to this game. The Tigers scored all their runs in the first two innings, and it was more than enough for them to win, especially when they had their ace pitcher, Yoon Seok-Min, on the hill. The first inning featured two two-run homers (neither of which, unfortunately, landed in our area). In the second inning it was clear that the SK pitcher didn't have his best control, as he walked the first four batters before being pulled. KIA managed to score three runs in the inning for a 7-0 lead.
From then on it was smooth sailing. Yoon Seok-Min kept them in check most of the way (I believe he even struck out the side in the third inning). While the aforementioned fan involvement is famous in Korea, there was a bit of a lull in the middle innings. It made me feel a little less guilty about my own country's relative lack of enthusiasm that even these passionate Korean fans sat back and relaxed at points in the game.
The time between innings seemed to be significantly less than the two and a half minutes we get in the U.S. Despite that, they still managed to squeeze in several between-inning diversions, like the Kiss Cam, a beer-drinking contest, and a foot race with four people in car costumes (KIA cars, of course). They played music between innings too, but the only Western song I recognized was "Back in Black" by AC/DC.
Since the game started in the evening, the lights had to come on after the sun set.
I tried to get a video of the final out with my camera, but for some reason they just couldn't nail it down while I was filming, so I gave up. I did get a shot of the final scoreboard, though:
As you can see, those walks killed the Wyverns. Seven runs on six hits is pretty ridiculous. It's nice to see our guys (yep, the KIA Tigers are already "our guys" to me) being patient at the plate. Also note that the game ended at 7:45 after a 5:00 start time. Despite all the offense in this game, it moved at a reasonable pace that kept people from dozing off. As much as I hate it when people call our game "boring," I can understand it to a degree when the games drag on forever. A balance of fast-paced excitement and tension between pitches is baseball at its finest, and I definitely got that from this game.
After the game the boys wanted to get some autographs from the players, which unfortunately didn't happen. We did, however, get to see the Wyverns walk out to their buses in full uniform a few minutes after the game ended. I guess they must not have locker rooms inside the stadium.
The security guards shooed everyone away before any KIA players came out, so we all walked toward the exit of the complex. As we were walking, the two buses pulled out, right through the crowd. It was surreal to me to realize that last year's Korean Series Champions were in a large vehicle that I could reach out and touch if I wanted to. I'm not sure how often fans are allowed this close to team buses in America, though I have read stories about fans pelting the opposing team's bus with garbage back in the 1950's.
All in all, it was a great way to spend a Saturday. Would I do it again? Without a doubt. I haven't watched many games since I've been in Korea, but this experience of bonding with the team in a live setting may be the catalyst for me to start getting into and enjoying the Korean game the way I do with MLB.
My original plan was to take a cab and go by myself, but since I didn't know anything about the stadium, I decided to ask someone who might know: Mrs. Kim's son. He's a baseball fan, so I figured he'd been to a few games in his day. He told me plenty of things about the stadium, like how much tickets cost, how early to arrive, good places to sit and all that. I appreciated his advice.
I figured that would be all there was to it, but something even better happened: he asked if he and one of his classmates could go with me. I figured "sure, why not?" It was a win-win. They got to do something on Saturday, and I got to to have some companions who could also serve as experienced guides for my first Korean ballgame. Mrs. Kim's younger son heard we were going, so I invited him to join us, giving us the full four that would make up our party.
In Korea, each team has a sponsor, though they do represent actual cities. Gwangju's team is the KIA Tigers. Their opponent was the SK Wyverns from Incheon, who've appeared in the last four Korea Series (winning three times, their only loss coming to KIA in 2009). Needless to say, it was a pretty big matchup. In case you were wondering, a "wyvern" is a dragon-like creature.
We arrived at Mudeung Stadium at about 4:30, half an hour before game time. There are actually two stadiums in the complex, one for baseball and one for soccer. We had to walk past the soccer stadium to get to the baseball stadium. We didn't spend much time standing in line before we got our tickets, and they didn't cost an arm and a leg either. 8,000 Won covered my ticket (about $8 in American money).
We ran into an unexpected delay when we went to the wrong entrance and had to navigate through a crowd of people to get to the other side, where our seats were. I remarked aloud, to no one who would understand, that it felt like something out of Spinal Tap. It wasn't a huge deal to walk to the other side, as the ballpark was smaller than most MLB parks.
We ended up in our outfield seats (not quite bleachers, but similar freedom to sit wherever) less than five minutes before the game began. This ballpark, as I said above, was much smaller than an MLB ballpark. It felt sort of like a minor league game because of the setting.
There's a lot of chanting from the crowd, often incorporating the name of the player at bat. They don't chant as much for the pitcher. Thundersticks are a big part of the stadium culture, as the accompanying noise figures into many chants (though some of us participated with clapping instead).
There wasn't much drama to this game. The Tigers scored all their runs in the first two innings, and it was more than enough for them to win, especially when they had their ace pitcher, Yoon Seok-Min, on the hill. The first inning featured two two-run homers (neither of which, unfortunately, landed in our area). In the second inning it was clear that the SK pitcher didn't have his best control, as he walked the first four batters before being pulled. KIA managed to score three runs in the inning for a 7-0 lead.
From then on it was smooth sailing. Yoon Seok-Min kept them in check most of the way (I believe he even struck out the side in the third inning). While the aforementioned fan involvement is famous in Korea, there was a bit of a lull in the middle innings. It made me feel a little less guilty about my own country's relative lack of enthusiasm that even these passionate Korean fans sat back and relaxed at points in the game.
The time between innings seemed to be significantly less than the two and a half minutes we get in the U.S. Despite that, they still managed to squeeze in several between-inning diversions, like the Kiss Cam, a beer-drinking contest, and a foot race with four people in car costumes (KIA cars, of course). They played music between innings too, but the only Western song I recognized was "Back in Black" by AC/DC.
Since the game started in the evening, the lights had to come on after the sun set.
I tried to get a video of the final out with my camera, but for some reason they just couldn't nail it down while I was filming, so I gave up. I did get a shot of the final scoreboard, though:
As you can see, those walks killed the Wyverns. Seven runs on six hits is pretty ridiculous. It's nice to see our guys (yep, the KIA Tigers are already "our guys" to me) being patient at the plate. Also note that the game ended at 7:45 after a 5:00 start time. Despite all the offense in this game, it moved at a reasonable pace that kept people from dozing off. As much as I hate it when people call our game "boring," I can understand it to a degree when the games drag on forever. A balance of fast-paced excitement and tension between pitches is baseball at its finest, and I definitely got that from this game.
After the game the boys wanted to get some autographs from the players, which unfortunately didn't happen. We did, however, get to see the Wyverns walk out to their buses in full uniform a few minutes after the game ended. I guess they must not have locker rooms inside the stadium.
All in all, it was a great way to spend a Saturday. Would I do it again? Without a doubt. I haven't watched many games since I've been in Korea, but this experience of bonding with the team in a live setting may be the catalyst for me to start getting into and enjoying the Korean game the way I do with MLB.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Hello, neighbor! Since you're my guest at this blog, I thought you'd like a tour! Thanks to my new digital camera, I'm able to give you one!
Here's what my computer area looks like. If you've written anything to me on the internet, just picture me sitting here reading it.
This is my bed, or as I never call it, "The Sleep Zone." I think the scratched wallpaper adds character.
Why lookie here! A box from Nantapizza 5000! This is the XXXL size.
Whoa! A Sun Chips sighting!
The kitchen always feels a little empty without a box of Corn Flight, presumably part of a balanced breakfast.
Here's a bottle of blackberry-flavored Hong Cho, Korea's world-class Vinegreat Drink. Everyone drinks it, from insignificant little people like me to members of Secret.
Let's step outside my room and go for a walk! What does it look like...out there...in Korea?
Here's the outside of my building. Pretty, ain't it?
If you look to your left, you can see the school building. Pretty, ain't it?
A little trip down the alley and we come to...
...the coffee shop connected to our school! Say! Let's take a closer look at that sign!
Huh. Well, I think I sort of get what they were trying to say...maybe...kind of. Whatever. Hick the aroma, y'all!
Here's the scene across the street from the coffee shop. That place with the yellow sign is the restaurant I mentioned in this post.
Here's a quaint little cobbler's booth just down the street from there. The translation of that sign is "shoe hospital."
Here's that stationery store where I finally found the postcard I was looking for. It's also where I got my awesome alarm clock.
Since I took these pictures on Monday, which was Gwangbokcheol, Korean flags were on all the posts.
Here's the store where I do most of my grocery shopping. It's one of many on the street, and while it isn't the least expensive, it offers more selection than the one that is. For certain items it's my go-to place.
These motorbikes are everywhere in Korea, and these circular black things are quite abundant as well. What are these circular black things, you ask? They hold inflatable signs that light up at night time to advertise for various businesses.
They can be used during the daytime too. Here's what they look like.
Finally, the place you've all been dying to see ever since I started this blog...
...Nantapizza 5000!
Here's a look at their menu posted on the wall outside:
Da-rool, da-rool.
I hope you enjoyed this look around my neighborhood! May I take off this cardigan sweater now? It's August, for crying out loud!
Here's what my computer area looks like. If you've written anything to me on the internet, just picture me sitting here reading it.
This is my bed, or as I never call it, "The Sleep Zone." I think the scratched wallpaper adds character.
Here's a cramped shot of my kitchen! I have a refrigerator and a microwave and a trash can and everything! What matter of goodies can you find about my kitchen?
Here's that cute cat comic I mentioned before that appears on the back of the boxes.
Let's step outside my room and go for a walk! What does it look like...out there...in Korea?
A little trip down the alley and we come to...
...the coffee shop connected to our school! Say! Let's take a closer look at that sign!
Huh. Well, I think I sort of get what they were trying to say...maybe...kind of. Whatever. Hick the aroma, y'all!
Since I took these pictures on Monday, which was Gwangbokcheol, Korean flags were on all the posts.
Here's the store where I do most of my grocery shopping. It's one of many on the street, and while it isn't the least expensive, it offers more selection than the one that is. For certain items it's my go-to place.
These motorbikes are everywhere in Korea, and these circular black things are quite abundant as well. What are these circular black things, you ask? They hold inflatable signs that light up at night time to advertise for various businesses.
They can be used during the daytime too. Here's what they look like.
Finally, the place you've all been dying to see ever since I started this blog...
...Nantapizza 5000!
Here's a look at their menu posted on the wall outside:
Da-rool, da-rool.
I hope you enjoyed this look around my neighborhood! May I take off this cardigan sweater now? It's August, for crying out loud!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Happy Independence Day!
Today is South Korea's Independence Day, AKA Gwangbokjeol (광복절). On this day in 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces, freeing Korea from the rule of Imperial Japan. As an American and a Korea lover, I'm proud that my country had something to do with it.
Celebrate!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
The Burden of Emotional Involvement
In the past I said I don't care if the kids like me, since I'm not here to be their friend, I'm here to be their teacher. It's true that I still view myself as a teacher first and foremost, and when I made the original statement it was fairly easy for me to have that mentality. After all, this is my job, isn't it? Isn't professionalism about giving your job duties priority over your personal feelings? The longer I'm here though, and the more I get to know my students, the more I feel a connection to them. No longer are they a crowd of random faces I can barely associate the right name with; these kids have become individuals whose personalities I constantly have to know how to manage.
The truth is, a lot of kids don't like me, or if they do, they do a pretty good job of hiding it. It shouldn't bother me as a professional, but it's getting to a point where the constant abuse I have to endure from the students wears me down emotionally. Now that we're not strangers anymore, it feels personal. Not only that, but these kids don't know how much I care about them.
I realize that children don't usually have a wide enough perspective to appreciate everything adults do for them. Heck, I was probably a little ingrate at that age too. Still, I wonder how the kids would treat me if they were aware that this strange foreigner who they taunt and mock at every turn genuinely wants the best for them and is doing as much as he can to shape them in a positive way.
I'm sure there are lots of people who come to this country as English teachers because they think it's an easy paycheck and they'll have plenty of opportunities to party (at least, that's the impression I get from the internet). I, however, am not one of those people. I sought out this job because I love the English language and getting to work with it every day is fun for me. Not only that, but the older I get, the more I feel a sense of duty toward the next generation.
I know it's a cliche, but children are the future, and what is humanity driven by if not a hope for a better future? In our lifetimes we become all too familiar with the world's problems, but we remain optimistic that posterity will improve upon what we built. I'm not a parent, but I'm still someone who can influence the next generation by guiding these young minds as best I can. These kids aren't just my job, they're a responsibility I take very seriously.
Of course, as I said, kids don't often understand such things. I guess I just need to suck it up and realize that when these children call me names, kick me, disrupt my class and the like, they should be forgiven, for they know not what they do.
Anyway, on a lighter note, I just got paid earlier this week, and I hope to buy a digital camera soon. This blog would be greatly enriched by photographs, don't you think?
The truth is, a lot of kids don't like me, or if they do, they do a pretty good job of hiding it. It shouldn't bother me as a professional, but it's getting to a point where the constant abuse I have to endure from the students wears me down emotionally. Now that we're not strangers anymore, it feels personal. Not only that, but these kids don't know how much I care about them.
I realize that children don't usually have a wide enough perspective to appreciate everything adults do for them. Heck, I was probably a little ingrate at that age too. Still, I wonder how the kids would treat me if they were aware that this strange foreigner who they taunt and mock at every turn genuinely wants the best for them and is doing as much as he can to shape them in a positive way.
I'm sure there are lots of people who come to this country as English teachers because they think it's an easy paycheck and they'll have plenty of opportunities to party (at least, that's the impression I get from the internet). I, however, am not one of those people. I sought out this job because I love the English language and getting to work with it every day is fun for me. Not only that, but the older I get, the more I feel a sense of duty toward the next generation.
I know it's a cliche, but children are the future, and what is humanity driven by if not a hope for a better future? In our lifetimes we become all too familiar with the world's problems, but we remain optimistic that posterity will improve upon what we built. I'm not a parent, but I'm still someone who can influence the next generation by guiding these young minds as best I can. These kids aren't just my job, they're a responsibility I take very seriously.
Of course, as I said, kids don't often understand such things. I guess I just need to suck it up and realize that when these children call me names, kick me, disrupt my class and the like, they should be forgiven, for they know not what they do.
Anyway, on a lighter note, I just got paid earlier this week, and I hope to buy a digital camera soon. This blog would be greatly enriched by photographs, don't you think?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
A Sunday Like an Improv Scene
Sunday was a pretty active day for me. I realize I'm posting this almost a week after the fact, but it was so noteworthy I felt I should document it.
You know how the best improv scenes often start in one place and end up somewhere totally unexpected? Not an improv nerd? Have no idea what I'm talking about? OK. Well anyway, Sunday was kind of like that for me. I wouldn't have guessed I'd end up doing as much as I did when the day began.
One of my co-workers told me about a local church where they have English services. I figured it was time for me to start branching out socially, so on Sunday morning I decided to attend. The service didn't start until 11:30, so I still got to sleep in some.
I took a cab to the church (first time I've ever done the whole cab routine by myself!) and when I got there I wasn't sure which building to go to. Fortunately, a man who spoke English noticed me and asked if I needed help, and he showed me where to go.
The English service wasn't very populated, but I was told that it's because most of the foreigners had gone home for vacation. I didn't really mind that most of the people there were Korean, so it was kind of funny to me when they seemed to assume I was looking for other foreigners. Because I was a new face, many people wanted to meet me. It was almost like being a celebrity.
The service was good, and after it was over they served food on the floor above. I got to meet several people, and learn just who it is that goes to this church. Whenever people asked where I was from I told them Chicago, and that got some interesting responses. A few people told me they had children living in Chicago, and I could only wonder if they'd been to the area near my grandmother's house. One Korean guy told me he knew Barack Obama was from Chicago and that he wanted to let me know he likes the Democratic Party. I told him I didn't support the Democrats (hey, I'm not going to lie about it), but it was cool if he did. It ended up as a slightly awkward moment.
Most people left after chatting and eating for a while, but the pastor and another foreigner guy were planning to meet some people downtown to see a movie, so they asked me to join them. I figured I might as well, since I'd been hoping to go downtown anyway. A bunch of the men had to have some sort of meeting first, so they asked me to stay in the room where we ate while they had their meeting in another room.
I ended up spending most of my time talking to this one girl while I waited. She had been to America before as a foreign Korean-language teacher, basically the opposite of what I'm doing. She said being in America helped her English get better (I assume because it's easier to find an English speaker in Korea than it is to find a Korean speaker in America). I've noticed that I tend to discuss the same subjects with Koreans: language, culture and improv. I guess the first is due to my love of words, the second is due to my fascination with this new environment I currently find myself in and the third is due to my wanting to raise awareness of a life-enriching art form. I told her how much I like the Confucian hierarchy system, because it fits my sensibilities perfectly, and she told me "you'll do well in Korea." She also seemed interested when I told her about improv, and I even wrote down the phrase "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" for her so she could see it for herself on YouTube.
After the meeting thing was over I went to a coffee shop with the other foreign guy and the pastor, and while I was there I got a small container of mint chocolate chip ice cream. We sat and talked for about half an hour before heading downtown. I learned that the pastor, though he was born in Korea, has spent most of his life traveling around the world, so a lot of the stuff in this country is new to him too.
We then walked downtown (where I finally saw someone wearing a Cubs hat, then later saw a Twins hat) and met up with two other guys who were friends of the American guy. We ate at a Japanese ramen place before the movie. I'd never heard of Japanese ramen, but it's a lot thicker and meatier than the stuff you buy in the store. It was delicious, so I can safely add another item to my list of acceptable places to eat.
The movie we saw was Captain America. I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up liking it a lot. I was pleasantly surprised that it took place during World War II. There's something about World War II that really stirs my patriotic spirits, because it reminds me that there was once a time when my country banded together and stood for what was right. As the movie's protagonist breathed red, white and blue, you can bet that I left that theater with an extra tinge of pride. The transition was strange, though: after the lights went up on a movie bathed in Americana I walked out into a world where everyone was speaking Korean.
It was time to get going after that. I stopped at the music store to buy that last Secret album I didn't own that was on the shelves ("albums" in Korea are usually more like EP's or extended singles, but that's what they call them), then I hopped the train home. I was amazed at how many new things I'd done that day.
I definitely hope to go back. It'll be nice to get involved somewhere and hopefully make some strong friendships.
You know how the best improv scenes often start in one place and end up somewhere totally unexpected? Not an improv nerd? Have no idea what I'm talking about? OK. Well anyway, Sunday was kind of like that for me. I wouldn't have guessed I'd end up doing as much as I did when the day began.
One of my co-workers told me about a local church where they have English services. I figured it was time for me to start branching out socially, so on Sunday morning I decided to attend. The service didn't start until 11:30, so I still got to sleep in some.
I took a cab to the church (first time I've ever done the whole cab routine by myself!) and when I got there I wasn't sure which building to go to. Fortunately, a man who spoke English noticed me and asked if I needed help, and he showed me where to go.
The English service wasn't very populated, but I was told that it's because most of the foreigners had gone home for vacation. I didn't really mind that most of the people there were Korean, so it was kind of funny to me when they seemed to assume I was looking for other foreigners. Because I was a new face, many people wanted to meet me. It was almost like being a celebrity.
The service was good, and after it was over they served food on the floor above. I got to meet several people, and learn just who it is that goes to this church. Whenever people asked where I was from I told them Chicago, and that got some interesting responses. A few people told me they had children living in Chicago, and I could only wonder if they'd been to the area near my grandmother's house. One Korean guy told me he knew Barack Obama was from Chicago and that he wanted to let me know he likes the Democratic Party. I told him I didn't support the Democrats (hey, I'm not going to lie about it), but it was cool if he did. It ended up as a slightly awkward moment.
Most people left after chatting and eating for a while, but the pastor and another foreigner guy were planning to meet some people downtown to see a movie, so they asked me to join them. I figured I might as well, since I'd been hoping to go downtown anyway. A bunch of the men had to have some sort of meeting first, so they asked me to stay in the room where we ate while they had their meeting in another room.
I ended up spending most of my time talking to this one girl while I waited. She had been to America before as a foreign Korean-language teacher, basically the opposite of what I'm doing. She said being in America helped her English get better (I assume because it's easier to find an English speaker in Korea than it is to find a Korean speaker in America). I've noticed that I tend to discuss the same subjects with Koreans: language, culture and improv. I guess the first is due to my love of words, the second is due to my fascination with this new environment I currently find myself in and the third is due to my wanting to raise awareness of a life-enriching art form. I told her how much I like the Confucian hierarchy system, because it fits my sensibilities perfectly, and she told me "you'll do well in Korea." She also seemed interested when I told her about improv, and I even wrote down the phrase "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" for her so she could see it for herself on YouTube.
After the meeting thing was over I went to a coffee shop with the other foreign guy and the pastor, and while I was there I got a small container of mint chocolate chip ice cream. We sat and talked for about half an hour before heading downtown. I learned that the pastor, though he was born in Korea, has spent most of his life traveling around the world, so a lot of the stuff in this country is new to him too.
We then walked downtown (where I finally saw someone wearing a Cubs hat, then later saw a Twins hat) and met up with two other guys who were friends of the American guy. We ate at a Japanese ramen place before the movie. I'd never heard of Japanese ramen, but it's a lot thicker and meatier than the stuff you buy in the store. It was delicious, so I can safely add another item to my list of acceptable places to eat.
The movie we saw was Captain America. I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up liking it a lot. I was pleasantly surprised that it took place during World War II. There's something about World War II that really stirs my patriotic spirits, because it reminds me that there was once a time when my country banded together and stood for what was right. As the movie's protagonist breathed red, white and blue, you can bet that I left that theater with an extra tinge of pride. The transition was strange, though: after the lights went up on a movie bathed in Americana I walked out into a world where everyone was speaking Korean.
It was time to get going after that. I stopped at the music store to buy that last Secret album I didn't own that was on the shelves ("albums" in Korea are usually more like EP's or extended singles, but that's what they call them), then I hopped the train home. I was amazed at how many new things I'd done that day.
I definitely hope to go back. It'll be nice to get involved somewhere and hopefully make some strong friendships.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Thoughts on Three Dads, One Mom (or...Appa's Got a Brand New Bag!)
I could've gone with "Who's Your Daddy?" for the alternate title, but how cliché would that have been? Seriously, that would've been more cliché than putting "Kimchi" or "Seoul" in the title of my blog. For those of you not in the know, "Appa" (아빠) is the Korean equivalent of "papa" or "dad."
As I mentioned in a previous post, Three Dads, One Mom is quite different than Lovers in Paris. While the drama sites classify it as a romance, the storyline is heavier on philia than eros. It also differs in that there’s a lot more humor.
Plot
Seong Min is a man with three best friends: Soo Hyeon, Kwang Hee and Kyeong Tae. Soo Hyeon is a stock broker whose life is driven by the pursuit of money. He has a very stern personality, and tends to be a tightwad. Kwang Hee is a comic artist and a prolific womanizer. He’s stylish and very vain. Kyeong Tae is a police detective who's slightly dimwitted but has a good heart. He’s a bit of a slob, and has little luck with women. Seong Min marries a woman named Na Yeong, who's extremely devoted to him but can't stand his three immature friends.
Both Seong Min and Na Yeong want to have children, but they're unable to because Seong Min has a fertility problem. Na Yeong, however, is a very demanding woman, so she gets angry with Seong Min one day over the issue. She accuses him of not trying hard enough with the fertility procedures, because, well, that's just the type of person she is.
After this fight, Seong Min goes out for drinks with his three friends and tells them of the situation. The suggestion of getting a sperm donor arises, and Seong Min likes it so much that he asks his friends to be the donors. At first the three are opposed to the idea, but Seong Min is so desperate to make his wife happy that he eventually twists their arms into doing it. Because Na Yeong doesn't like the friends though, they have to keep it a secret that when Seong Min goes to the doctor for the fertility procedures he's actually using their sperm. In addition, Seong Min has to promise his buddies that they won't have any responsibilities toward the child, as none of them wants the burden of fatherhood.
The initial idea was that all three friends would contribute their sperm and Seong Min would keep it a secret which one he chose, but he has so much trouble deciding that he mixes all three friends' sperm together. As planned, the conception is successful and Na Yeong becomes pregnant. The couple is overjoyed and makes many preparations for the baby, but tragedy strikes when Seong Min is killed in a car accident. Suddenly, everything changes. The three friends realize that because Seong Min was their best friend, and one of them is the real father, it's only right for them to help out Na Yeong during the pregnancy, since she doesn’t have any other family (except for an unreliable father).
After Na Yeong gives birth to a baby girl named Ha Seon the friends assume they’re off the hook, because Na Yeong can raise the child by herself. However, issues continually arise which require the three “uncles” to step in and help out. Of course, all three of them are single guys with no experience raising children, so their help often resembles the Keystone Kops. Over time though, they become accustomed to their roles, and the three of them grow closer to Ha Seon and Na Yeong.
Writing and Acting
I'd say the acting in Lovers in Paris was better, but as this one was more of a comedy, high-caliber acting wasn't as necessary. In some of the more humorous scenes it got a little hammy, but in more serious scenes I often felt the characters’ emotions along with them. After Seong Min dies the grief is portrayed perfectly.
I was pleased with the writing too. The jokes were frequently hilarious, and sometimes even subtle enough that you felt rewarded for paying attention. The four main characters started out fairly two-dimensional, and in the beginning Seong Min was probably more likable than any of them. The more you learn about their histories and watch them deal with adversity though, the more you care about them, which (obviously) is crucial to staying engaged in a story.
Music
There isn’t a lot to say about the music in this one, but the soundtrack does contain three western pop songs (that I can recall): “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne (they even blanked out a curse word!), "Dancing Queen" by ABBA and "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B.J. Thomas.
Each song related to what was happening in the scene, so it makes me wonder a few things: Is the average Korean familiar with those songs? Do enough Koreans speak English well enough to understand why those songs were chosen? Are non-English-speaking Koreans familiar with the general themes of those songs even if they don’t understand the words? I ask because surely there must be Korean songs with the same lyrical themes that could’ve been used for those scenes. Certainly, I don’t have a problem with those song choices; I just wonder what the reasoning is behind them.
Of course, I almost forgot to mention one other western song that found its way into the soundtrack: the theme song to The Smurfs. It was extremely random the way they used it, and it wouldn't be nearly as funny if I tried to explain it. Just watch the first episode if you want to see it for yourself.
English
It’s impossible to watch a Korean drama without hearing or seeing English (for my Lovers in Paris recap I forgot to mention that there’s a minor character who’s apparently supposed to be American, and they speak to him in English). Just as English has adopted words from other languages, some English words appear to be the standard for Korean too. “Tent” and “campfire” are the same, and at one point Na Yeong gets a job at a company in a department called the “Research Task Force Team” (spelled phonetically as “리서치 T/F 팀”).
In one scene Kwang Hee’s mother is talking on the phone, and she ends the call with “I love you.” I’m thinking that may be a case where a simple foreign phrase was used in a gimmicky way, similar to the way many Americans sometimes say “adios” instead of “goodbye.” It’s kind of like “hey, I’ll throw in another language just to spice up a commonplace exchange.”
The more English I encounter here in Korea the more I wonder what it looks like through a Korean’s eyes. We native English speakers take our language for granted, as it’s a common lingua franca throughout the world and we can usually get by without knowing anything else. What’s it like for the non-native speakers who see it everywhere though? The very students I teach have parents sending them to this school to learn it, presumably because knowing English will open doors to more opportunities in the future. Is there an implicit message that one’s own country and native tongue aren’t good enough? Does that create some sort of inferiority complex? Obviously I don’t know the answers, I’m just pondering.
A minor recurring theme in Three Dads, One Mom is that Kyeong Tae hates English, apparently because he doesn’t speak it very well and it makes him feel stupid. In one of the last episodes though, he starts singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and the others remark that his English has gotten better. Apparently “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is an English song Koreans are familiar with.
Ending
The ending wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it was still a nice little conclusion. It seemed a bit slapdash, to be honest. The final scene did make me laugh though, I’ll give it that much.
It could’ve been worse. Throughout the final two episodes I was under the impression that it was going to end a different way, which I wouldn’t have been particularly happy about. It was a relief to me that they didn’t go down that path (sorry to be vague, but I don’t want to spoil it on the miniscule chance that someone out there reads this blog and decides to watch the drama).
There were a few minor loose ends that were never tied up, but none of them were crucial plot points, just things I was curious about. To be more specific, I wanted to know what happened to some of the supporting characters.
Other Observations
There was a surprising amount of scatological humor in this series. They definitely weren't shy about showing the baby's excretory substances, whether they were on soiled diapers or hitting people in the face. I ain’t a huge fan of that lowbrow stuff, but I’ll admit some of it made me laugh (often in a grossed-out way). I find it most interesting that it was allowed at all. I couldn’t imagine them showing that on American TV.
There was one point where the setting switched from day to night between episodes. One episode ended with Soo Hyeon walking into a building to get Na Yeong during daylight, and when the next episode picked up they were walking out of the building and it was dark. I’m not sure if that was supposed to signify that the events of the scene took longer than they appeared to or if it was some sort of production goof.
Final Thoughts
While I enjoyed Lovers in Paris, I think this drama was more up my alley as a man. While Lovers in Paris had two male leads, the female lead was really the central character. Three Dads, One Mom split the focus pretty evenly between the four main characters, three-quarters of whom were male, so there was a lot more “guy stuff” in it.
I was surprised when I went online and found that Three Dads, One Mom was panned by some critics. My best guess is that these critics were female and couldn’t relate to a man’s emotions very well. I thought watching the three “uncles” transform from self-focused bachelors into loving father figures was beautiful, and it’s something I understand better the older I get.
Three Dads, One Mom is laugh-out-loud funny at times and genuinely heartwarming at others. If you’re looking for a recommendation you’ll definitely find one here.
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