It's been a while since I've updated this blog, so I guess I'm about due to throw something up here.
For starters, some of you may not have heard, but my current school decided not to renew my contract. Fortunately, I won't be unemployed for long, as I've lined up my next job. I won't be in Gwangju anymore, but a little bit south in a smaller town called Naju. There'll be more kindergarten teaching, which seems to be a strong point for me, and hopefully a better fit for my abilities. I'm starting as soon as I finish here in a month, so it looks like I won't be able to make a trip home this year. For all the family members missing me, believe me, I miss you too.
Second, my crappy old laptop finally gave out on me at the beginning of this month (seriously, it was on May 1), and I finally got around to buying a new one. I decided to get a brand new one here in Korea, as I'd be able to get service for it if I needed to, and it would be built for this country's specifications. So far I'm not regretting the choice, as this thing runs like a champ (it did act weird on me one time, but I'm hoping that was either a fluke or something that can be easily fixed). I was a little frustrated to find that I apparently hadn't backed up certain files from my old laptop, ones I could've sworn I had. Perhaps it's still possible to retrieve them from the old hard drive, but I don't need to worry myself with that right now.
Some of you may know that karaoke was something that always looked fun to me, but I never had the occasion to participate in it. In Korea their version of karaoke is called noraebang (노래방), which means "song room." It's literally a room where a group can hang out and sing karaoke songs, and I've been wanting to try it ever since I got here.
I still haven't been to one of those, but a friend of mine showed me an arcade where they have a long row of booths along the wall. It turns out that these are just small boxes that are big enough for only a few people. However, there's a karaoke machine in each one, and you can stay as long as you want. I've made it my weekend ritual to visit this arcade and sing some songs. It's quite addictive. Some people might be surprised that I manage to have so much fun by myself, but when you're a social misfit you learn how, and it's not really a big deal. I made my first song "Daydream Believer" in honor of Davy Jones, and I've performed it every time I've been there. The only other song I've done each time is "이젠 그랬으면 좋겠네." Jo Yong Pil (조용필) is such a great artist.
Work is stressful as always, but it's still something I love and take pride in. I was disappointed at first when I learned that my school didn't want to keep me, but now I'm looking forward to the new town and new teaching experience that awaits me. If this new job is better for me than my current one is, I have nothing to be sad about, except the fact that it'll be hard for me to say goodbye to the kids and co-workers I love so much.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Ballgame #2
Several years back I read a thread on a baseball message board where the members were talking about going to baseball games alone. Ever since then, I wondered what it would be like. Since I didn't have to go to work yesterday, I decided that the time was right for me to try it.
If you recall, last time I went I took three of my students with me. This time I didn't have to keep an eye on any kids, so I was able to do whatever I wanted. Quite frankly, it was freeing. I was able to take in the entire experience and pay close attention to the game. I also got a good seat because I arrived at the ballpark an hour before game time. I was in the seats above the home dugout, which is where all the cheers are led from. It was fun being part of a big, mad mass of KIA Tiger rooters.
I think the baseball experience in Korea is reminiscent of the early days of MLB. The fans are really into the game, and they even sing songs and do special cheers for every starter (though they do seem to have some generic cheers that can be appropriated for more obscure players). Many of the cheer songs use the melodies to other songs, such as "Smoke on the Water," "Mamma Mia," "Pretty Woman," "Saturday Night" (at least I think that's what it was. The Bay City Rollers classic has a very popular melody) and "La Bamba." Their second baseman's cheer is even done over the main synth riff to Jang Yoon-Jeong's "사랑아," which I recognized instantly.
Here's a video so you can get a feel for it yourself:
If you have a sharp ear you might catch my comments, including an imitation of the umpire from Ken Griffey Junior Presents Major League Baseball: "Foul!" The Tigers' first baseman was actually a former Cub, Choe Hui-Seop (as I prefer to romanize it), better known as Hee Seop Choi to America. You can see him get an RBI groundout in the above video (he's #23).
Both starting pitchers were actually American. The Tigers' starter was Anthony Lerew, formerly of the Braves and Royals, while the Lotte Giants' starter was a former San Francisco Giant, Ryan Sadowski. Neither one was particularly good, though the same could be said for pretty much any pitcher in yesterday's game.
Check out the final scoreboard:
Perhaps it's difficult to read, but the Giants scored 11 runs on 16 hits, one error and 7 walks. The Tigers scored 7 runs on 11 hits, one error and 16 walks. Besides poor run prevention, the thing that killed the Tigers was stranded baserunners. How do you get on base 25 times and only score 7 runs?
Some memorable moments? There were several in this slugfest:
Tigers' starting right fielder Shin Jong-Gil misplaying the first batter of the game's drive into a leadoff triple. He would be removed after striking out in his first at-bat.
Choe Hui-Seop getting casually tagged out by the catcher when trying to score from second on a bases-loaded single.
Back-to-back homers from Giants Bak Jong-Yoon and Gang Min-Ho.
Two middle-aged men sitting near me starting chants when a certain Giant player came up to bat (I'm not sure if I was hearing them correctly, as my understanding and comprehension of Korean is obviously limited, but I believe these chants were insulting in nature), eventually stopping when another man came over and hit them with one of his Thunderstix. It was all in good fun, but it seemed like things were getting nasty when the Giant player got hit with a pitch during their chant.
A Tiger batter coming up with the bases loaded and hitting a long drive to the right field corner that just barely landed foul. Everyone around me was cheering as if it had been fair, but I was confused, because it looked foul to me the second it hit the ground. I was wondering if my eyes had deceived me until everyone settled down and realized it had been called foul.
Every time it seemed like the Tigers were getting close, the Giants would open up the gap again. During the seventh and eight innings, a lot of people left. Being a true baseball fan though, I stuck it out to the end, along with many other diehards, and we were nearly rewarded.
As you can see by the line score above, the Tigers lost by four, but they scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs they actually had the bases loaded, meaning a home run would tie it. The Tigers sent up pinch-hitter Jeong Sang-Gyo, who hit a deep warning-track drive that looked like it was going to go for a few seconds before landing in the left-fielder's glove. Ah well. It was fun while it lasted.
Earlier today I watched highlights of the game on TV. I kept going "yeah, I remember that," except I was seeing it from a different angle. I have to say that watching baseball on TV is much different than watching it live. On TV everything seems to happen so quickly, but at the ballpark every time the bat makes contact with the ball is a moment of tension. Will it fall for a hit? Will it get through the infield? You just don't know. It's more exciting that way.
Even though my team lost, it was one of the best days at the ballpark I've ever had. It was fun to have a baseball outing all to myself. Maybe if I get the chance I'll do it again sometime.
If you recall, last time I went I took three of my students with me. This time I didn't have to keep an eye on any kids, so I was able to do whatever I wanted. Quite frankly, it was freeing. I was able to take in the entire experience and pay close attention to the game. I also got a good seat because I arrived at the ballpark an hour before game time. I was in the seats above the home dugout, which is where all the cheers are led from. It was fun being part of a big, mad mass of KIA Tiger rooters.
I think the baseball experience in Korea is reminiscent of the early days of MLB. The fans are really into the game, and they even sing songs and do special cheers for every starter (though they do seem to have some generic cheers that can be appropriated for more obscure players). Many of the cheer songs use the melodies to other songs, such as "Smoke on the Water," "Mamma Mia," "Pretty Woman," "Saturday Night" (at least I think that's what it was. The Bay City Rollers classic has a very popular melody) and "La Bamba." Their second baseman's cheer is even done over the main synth riff to Jang Yoon-Jeong's "사랑아," which I recognized instantly.
Here's a video so you can get a feel for it yourself:
If you have a sharp ear you might catch my comments, including an imitation of the umpire from Ken Griffey Junior Presents Major League Baseball: "Foul!" The Tigers' first baseman was actually a former Cub, Choe Hui-Seop (as I prefer to romanize it), better known as Hee Seop Choi to America. You can see him get an RBI groundout in the above video (he's #23).
Both starting pitchers were actually American. The Tigers' starter was Anthony Lerew, formerly of the Braves and Royals, while the Lotte Giants' starter was a former San Francisco Giant, Ryan Sadowski. Neither one was particularly good, though the same could be said for pretty much any pitcher in yesterday's game.
Check out the final scoreboard:
Perhaps it's difficult to read, but the Giants scored 11 runs on 16 hits, one error and 7 walks. The Tigers scored 7 runs on 11 hits, one error and 16 walks. Besides poor run prevention, the thing that killed the Tigers was stranded baserunners. How do you get on base 25 times and only score 7 runs?
Some memorable moments? There were several in this slugfest:
Tigers' starting right fielder Shin Jong-Gil misplaying the first batter of the game's drive into a leadoff triple. He would be removed after striking out in his first at-bat.
Choe Hui-Seop getting casually tagged out by the catcher when trying to score from second on a bases-loaded single.
Back-to-back homers from Giants Bak Jong-Yoon and Gang Min-Ho.
Two middle-aged men sitting near me starting chants when a certain Giant player came up to bat (I'm not sure if I was hearing them correctly, as my understanding and comprehension of Korean is obviously limited, but I believe these chants were insulting in nature), eventually stopping when another man came over and hit them with one of his Thunderstix. It was all in good fun, but it seemed like things were getting nasty when the Giant player got hit with a pitch during their chant.
A Tiger batter coming up with the bases loaded and hitting a long drive to the right field corner that just barely landed foul. Everyone around me was cheering as if it had been fair, but I was confused, because it looked foul to me the second it hit the ground. I was wondering if my eyes had deceived me until everyone settled down and realized it had been called foul.
Every time it seemed like the Tigers were getting close, the Giants would open up the gap again. During the seventh and eight innings, a lot of people left. Being a true baseball fan though, I stuck it out to the end, along with many other diehards, and we were nearly rewarded.
As you can see by the line score above, the Tigers lost by four, but they scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs they actually had the bases loaded, meaning a home run would tie it. The Tigers sent up pinch-hitter Jeong Sang-Gyo, who hit a deep warning-track drive that looked like it was going to go for a few seconds before landing in the left-fielder's glove. Ah well. It was fun while it lasted.
Earlier today I watched highlights of the game on TV. I kept going "yeah, I remember that," except I was seeing it from a different angle. I have to say that watching baseball on TV is much different than watching it live. On TV everything seems to happen so quickly, but at the ballpark every time the bat makes contact with the ball is a moment of tension. Will it fall for a hit? Will it get through the infield? You just don't know. It's more exciting that way.
Even though my team lost, it was one of the best days at the ballpark I've ever had. It was fun to have a baseball outing all to myself. Maybe if I get the chance I'll do it again sometime.
Monday, April 16, 2012
My Day as Ron Santo
This Saturday I did a little traveling, and I also got to live out some athletic fantasies as well. All in all, it was one of the most eventful days I've had in Korea. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning...
A few weeks ago I talked to this guy at church who told me he and some of his friends get together about once a month to play baseball in the city where he used to work. I told him I'd never been much of an athlete, and that my last several experiences playing sports had been bad, so I'd quit trying to pretend I belonged on a field. He in turn told me that their games were friendly and informal, and that no one cared if you weren't good. Second base was a beer cooler, and the ball was a tennis ball, so it was far from meeting any sort of official regulations. I told him if that was the case, then I'd be willing to announce my unretirement from all athletic endeavors.
Last week I talked to him again, and he told me that they were planning to play this weekend, so I told him I was in. I went for coffee with another friend of mine after church that same day, and he'd been asking me to play catch with him for some time. I went out and bought an inexpensive mitt so we could play catch, and it worked out well, because I was able to use it for the game on Saturday.
I had to wake up early on Saturday so that we could catch an 8:30 bus. It was my first trip to the bus terminal since I first arrived in town. I had no idea the terminal was right by a big shopping mart I frequently visit. Shows you how much I get around this city.
It turned out that my friends (the guy and his wife) had some friends whose young son was in the hospital, and we were going to have to make a detour to visit him first. I was cool with that, because after all, some things are more important than baseball. The boy is apparently doing better since he's been in the hospital, but his situation is still unpredictable. I hope the little guy gets back to full health. He seemed like a nice kid.
We thought we would miss the beginning of the game due to the detour we took, but fortunately, we didn't. After we got off the bus we ran into some other people who were on their way to the game, and about nine of us walked up the mountain together to the field, where they hadn't begun playing yet.
This field was actually a sand lot soccer field next to a school, and it had tons of wide open space for us to play on. As my friend told me, the ball was a tennis ball, and second base was a beer cooler. We had more than nine players per side, and the pitcher was actually a member of the batting team (who would let someone else pitch when his turn in the order came up).
You want to talk about a loose game? I'll give you loose. Some of the conditions we played under were as follows:
Yes, this game would've made an umpire cry. How did I do? Surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly, as I was one of the few not consuming alcohol), I played pretty well on both sides of the ball. My memories might be boring to those who weren't there or don't care about baseball, but doggone it, I had a great time, and I want to brag just a little.
Hitting:
I got several hits, and being a switch-hitter, I batted whichever way I felt like at the time. It was actually cool to realize I was one of the few people there who could bat reasonably well from both sides. Being a natural righty, I have a smoother swing from that side, but I was able to do OK lefty. I'm pretty sure my official batting record would've been 3-for-5, with one time reaching base on an error (there were tons of errors in this game, more on that later). For that error I actually made it to second on a dropped infield popup and later scored. I think the out I made was a flyout.
I batted lefty the first two times up, and I got singles both times. The second was actually a weak roller down the first base line that I beat out, but I was willing to get on base any way I could. The third time up I batted righty and hit a line drive through the infield for a single. Unfortunately, I was the only member of my team to reach base that inning.
While I would've liked to get some extra-base hits, I didn't embarrass myself, so I'm happy. After the game ended we all hung around the field for a while. Some of the guys had an informal soccer match, and some of us other guys took batting practice. I practiced hitting from both sides, and I drilled them a lot farther than I did in the game. Perhaps next time I'll send 'em deeper.
Fielding:
Honestly, I had more fun fielding than I did batting. I wasn't needed at catcher, as there were plenty of girls who were more suited for it, and I didn't want to play the outfield due to the fact that I've always found it boring. The truth was, I'd always wanted to be...a third baseman! I told them that in tribute to Ron Santo I wanted to play the hot corner (though I was wearing my Expos cap, so perhaps I was more like Tim Wallach).
As I came to find out, third base is one of the most important positions on the field under the rules we use. Most of the players batted righty, and double plays were practically unheard of, so the second baseman (or more accurately, the people playing in the vicinity of the second base cooler) didn't carry a heavy defensive burden. All the first baseman had to do usually was catch throws from the right side of the infield.
I should get it out of the way that I made more errors than I could count, but errors were so frequent in this game that it was no big deal. The other fielders made errors just as frequently as I did, so no one was pointing the finger at me. Tennis balls are actually pretty hard to field properly. A regular hardball is heavy, so you can feel it hitting your glove and grip it just the right way. The tennis ball, on the other hand, is so light that you can't always be sure it's in your glove. There was one play where I could've sworn I'd fielded the ball cleanly, but when I went to throw it I found my glove empty.
The first batter of the game hit the ball right through my legs, but I shook it off and kept playing. I believe it was later in the inning when another grounder came my way, and I threw out the runner at first base. I remembered what my father told me about focusing on the throw, not the runner, and I can honestly say it helped me not to botch the play. There was also a runner rounding third that I threw out at home on a relay from the outfield, which was pretty exciting. Some people called it the play of the game, though in a regular game it would've been pretty routine.
I also caught several pop-ups, including one where I had to go into foul territory to make it. Seemingly inconsequential, perhaps, but given how many pop-ups were dropped in this game, it made me useful. I made an unassisted double play too, because there was a girl on third who didn't understand the rule about tagging up, so I caught a pop-up and stepped on third to end the inning.
That "no-force-at-third" rule was another reason I had to be on my toes. I was in the middle of several controversies because the rule was so bizarre as to be alien to the average baseball thinker. When there were two men who'd stopped at third, I assumed that because running from second was optional, and you could have as many people on second as you wanted, that the same rule applied to third. Nope, it turned out they were messing with me. Since I'd assumed they were both safe, I didn't bother to tag either one, so when one of them broke for home (and no one was covering the plate,) there was nothing I could do but let him score.
On another play there was a girl who reached third safely, though they weren't sure if I'd tagged her before she reached the base (I'm nearly certain she was safe). Not paying attention though, she stepped off the bag when I still had the ball and I tagged her out. We settled it through rock-paper-scissors, which I won. It's nice to know I was credited with a putout for throwing paper.
My fielding went down the drain in the second half, probably because I was getting tired and my muscles were starting to ache, but like I said, everyone else was just as bad. Our team took a two-run lead in the top half of what we declared would be the last inning, but we blew it. We actually had the lead with two outs but were unable to hold it. There was a point in the inning where I caught the ball and tagged a guy, but he successfully knocked it out of my glove, which allowed him to score. It just wasn't our day, but hey, we all had fun.
The original plan was to take the bus home that evening, but my friends convinced me to spend the night, as one of their friends allowed them to crash at his apartment. We bought toothbrushes at a nearby convenience store for our dental needs. I didn't have a change of clothes though, so it didn't feel very nice to wear the same dirty clothes two days in a row. At least I was able to shower and change once I got back the next morning, right before heading out to church. Man, was I tired though. After church I spent the remainder of Sunday resting.
Overall, it was a great experience, and I hope I'll be able to do it again.
A few weeks ago I talked to this guy at church who told me he and some of his friends get together about once a month to play baseball in the city where he used to work. I told him I'd never been much of an athlete, and that my last several experiences playing sports had been bad, so I'd quit trying to pretend I belonged on a field. He in turn told me that their games were friendly and informal, and that no one cared if you weren't good. Second base was a beer cooler, and the ball was a tennis ball, so it was far from meeting any sort of official regulations. I told him if that was the case, then I'd be willing to announce my unretirement from all athletic endeavors.
Last week I talked to him again, and he told me that they were planning to play this weekend, so I told him I was in. I went for coffee with another friend of mine after church that same day, and he'd been asking me to play catch with him for some time. I went out and bought an inexpensive mitt so we could play catch, and it worked out well, because I was able to use it for the game on Saturday.
I had to wake up early on Saturday so that we could catch an 8:30 bus. It was my first trip to the bus terminal since I first arrived in town. I had no idea the terminal was right by a big shopping mart I frequently visit. Shows you how much I get around this city.
It turned out that my friends (the guy and his wife) had some friends whose young son was in the hospital, and we were going to have to make a detour to visit him first. I was cool with that, because after all, some things are more important than baseball. The boy is apparently doing better since he's been in the hospital, but his situation is still unpredictable. I hope the little guy gets back to full health. He seemed like a nice kid.
We thought we would miss the beginning of the game due to the detour we took, but fortunately, we didn't. After we got off the bus we ran into some other people who were on their way to the game, and about nine of us walked up the mountain together to the field, where they hadn't begun playing yet.
This field was actually a sand lot soccer field next to a school, and it had tons of wide open space for us to play on. As my friend told me, the ball was a tennis ball, and second base was a beer cooler. We had more than nine players per side, and the pitcher was actually a member of the batting team (who would let someone else pitch when his turn in the order came up).
You want to talk about a loose game? I'll give you loose. Some of the conditions we played under were as follows:
- Most of the people there were drinking, so their alertness and coordination weren't at 100%.
- Several of the players were girls or foreigners from non-baseball-playing countries, and they had only a basic knowledge of the rules.
- Running from second base was optional, and hence, there was no force at third. Yes, it was patently ridiculous.
- We frequently forgot the batting order, so for simplicity's sake we'd just decide who was batting right then and there.
- On many plays there was no catcher (because there were concrete steps right behind home plate to serve as a backstop, and the catchers would frequently take breaks), so runs would score because there was no one covering home.
- Breaks between side changes often lasted 10 minutes or so (which was kind of frustrating for a gamer like me, but I was a good sport about it, because it was only semi-competitive).
- A few players on each side wouldn't have gloves when their team was fielding.
- There were no pitches called for balls (since there was no umpire), so you couldn't draw a walk. You either hit the ball or struck out. A pitch could only be called a strike if you swung and missed.
- A ball hit off the school wall was an automatic homer.
- The ball had to be hit past the pitcher or it was basically counted the same as a foul ball. Of course, since the pitcher would be a member of the batting team, he wouldn't actually field his position.
Yes, this game would've made an umpire cry. How did I do? Surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly, as I was one of the few not consuming alcohol), I played pretty well on both sides of the ball. My memories might be boring to those who weren't there or don't care about baseball, but doggone it, I had a great time, and I want to brag just a little.
Hitting:
I got several hits, and being a switch-hitter, I batted whichever way I felt like at the time. It was actually cool to realize I was one of the few people there who could bat reasonably well from both sides. Being a natural righty, I have a smoother swing from that side, but I was able to do OK lefty. I'm pretty sure my official batting record would've been 3-for-5, with one time reaching base on an error (there were tons of errors in this game, more on that later). For that error I actually made it to second on a dropped infield popup and later scored. I think the out I made was a flyout.
I batted lefty the first two times up, and I got singles both times. The second was actually a weak roller down the first base line that I beat out, but I was willing to get on base any way I could. The third time up I batted righty and hit a line drive through the infield for a single. Unfortunately, I was the only member of my team to reach base that inning.
While I would've liked to get some extra-base hits, I didn't embarrass myself, so I'm happy. After the game ended we all hung around the field for a while. Some of the guys had an informal soccer match, and some of us other guys took batting practice. I practiced hitting from both sides, and I drilled them a lot farther than I did in the game. Perhaps next time I'll send 'em deeper.
Fielding:
Honestly, I had more fun fielding than I did batting. I wasn't needed at catcher, as there were plenty of girls who were more suited for it, and I didn't want to play the outfield due to the fact that I've always found it boring. The truth was, I'd always wanted to be...a third baseman! I told them that in tribute to Ron Santo I wanted to play the hot corner (though I was wearing my Expos cap, so perhaps I was more like Tim Wallach).
As I came to find out, third base is one of the most important positions on the field under the rules we use. Most of the players batted righty, and double plays were practically unheard of, so the second baseman (or more accurately, the people playing in the vicinity of the second base cooler) didn't carry a heavy defensive burden. All the first baseman had to do usually was catch throws from the right side of the infield.
I should get it out of the way that I made more errors than I could count, but errors were so frequent in this game that it was no big deal. The other fielders made errors just as frequently as I did, so no one was pointing the finger at me. Tennis balls are actually pretty hard to field properly. A regular hardball is heavy, so you can feel it hitting your glove and grip it just the right way. The tennis ball, on the other hand, is so light that you can't always be sure it's in your glove. There was one play where I could've sworn I'd fielded the ball cleanly, but when I went to throw it I found my glove empty.
The first batter of the game hit the ball right through my legs, but I shook it off and kept playing. I believe it was later in the inning when another grounder came my way, and I threw out the runner at first base. I remembered what my father told me about focusing on the throw, not the runner, and I can honestly say it helped me not to botch the play. There was also a runner rounding third that I threw out at home on a relay from the outfield, which was pretty exciting. Some people called it the play of the game, though in a regular game it would've been pretty routine.
I also caught several pop-ups, including one where I had to go into foul territory to make it. Seemingly inconsequential, perhaps, but given how many pop-ups were dropped in this game, it made me useful. I made an unassisted double play too, because there was a girl on third who didn't understand the rule about tagging up, so I caught a pop-up and stepped on third to end the inning.
That "no-force-at-third" rule was another reason I had to be on my toes. I was in the middle of several controversies because the rule was so bizarre as to be alien to the average baseball thinker. When there were two men who'd stopped at third, I assumed that because running from second was optional, and you could have as many people on second as you wanted, that the same rule applied to third. Nope, it turned out they were messing with me. Since I'd assumed they were both safe, I didn't bother to tag either one, so when one of them broke for home (and no one was covering the plate,) there was nothing I could do but let him score.
On another play there was a girl who reached third safely, though they weren't sure if I'd tagged her before she reached the base (I'm nearly certain she was safe). Not paying attention though, she stepped off the bag when I still had the ball and I tagged her out. We settled it through rock-paper-scissors, which I won. It's nice to know I was credited with a putout for throwing paper.
My fielding went down the drain in the second half, probably because I was getting tired and my muscles were starting to ache, but like I said, everyone else was just as bad. Our team took a two-run lead in the top half of what we declared would be the last inning, but we blew it. We actually had the lead with two outs but were unable to hold it. There was a point in the inning where I caught the ball and tagged a guy, but he successfully knocked it out of my glove, which allowed him to score. It just wasn't our day, but hey, we all had fun.
The original plan was to take the bus home that evening, but my friends convinced me to spend the night, as one of their friends allowed them to crash at his apartment. We bought toothbrushes at a nearby convenience store for our dental needs. I didn't have a change of clothes though, so it didn't feel very nice to wear the same dirty clothes two days in a row. At least I was able to shower and change once I got back the next morning, right before heading out to church. Man, was I tired though. After church I spent the remainder of Sunday resting.
Overall, it was a great experience, and I hope I'll be able to do it again.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Life in My 30's
As my readers know, I had a birthday in the past week. If there's anyone who sent me a birthday wish that I didn't acknowledge, I'm thanking you now. I'm glad you had me on your mind on the day I turned 30. The question on everyone's mind now, I'm sure, is "did you have a good birthday?" I'm just going to be honest and say that my birthday wasn't anything special.
March 1 is a national holiday in Korea, so I didn't have to teach any classes. However, March 1 also marks the beginning of the new school year in Korea, so there was a special orientation for the small kids entering kindergarten. We foreign teachers were expected to come in at 3:00 just so that the parents could see us and we could briefly introduce ourselves. Since there was no need to wake up early though, I stayed up a little late the night before.
My decision to forgo my usual attempted bedtime sent me to my slumber with some sad news: Davy Jones was dead. Davy Jones! More than 45 years after they were put together, one of the Monkees had finally left this earth! I suppose it's more a testament to the band's good fortune than a tragedy, but still! This guy was a member of one of my all-time favorite music groups, and there's no reason he couldn't have given us many more good years! Though the odds of it ever happening were slim, the possibility of me ever meeting him were now zero. It's just a shame. The time has officially passed when all four Monkees are capable of appearing together. All the more reason we should reflect on the joy they gave us. Davy's talent and cheerful spirit will never be forgotten as long as we, his fans, are around to remember it.
On an interesting note, I had been watching some Monkee videos on YouTube just a few days earlier and had almost left a comment about how great it was that all four Monkees were still alive. That would've ended up as one of the most ill-timed comments in the history of the popular website.
Though this isn't related to my birthday, it's along the same lines as Davy Jones' death: In the middle of February I found out that Jani Lane, the lead singer of Warrant, had died in August. I'd missed the news completely, since I hadn't really been keeping up with his career in the last several years. I wasn't completely shocked, as I knew he'd battled drug and alcohol problems, but there's always a part of you that hopes the person's getting his life cleaned up, since you can't personally attest to it. I read a few retrospectives about notable people who'd died in the year 2011, and none of them mentioned Jani Lane. Anyone who knows his work well though (that is, beyond familiarity with the singles), knows he was an immensely talented singer and songwriter, and the only reason he never gets his due among the rock 'n roll "establishment" is because he's seen as some disposable '80s hair band guy. I don't know if he ever knew that his music touched people born a generation too late to be his target audience, but the fact remains that a kid like me, whose age wasn't yet in double digits when his fame peaked, was an admirer of his work. I even played one of his songs on the jukebox at the bowling alley the day before my brother's wedding.
I guess what I'm saying is, it's sad to learn that two of your musical heroes are dead within a month's time.
Anyway, back to my birthday. After we foreign teachers had introduced ourselves at the orientation, we were free to go. Because the next day's schedule hadn't been determined yet though, I felt a sense of duty to my job to stay and see if Mrs. Kim could tell me what I'd be teaching the next day. I ended up staying until the evening, and the schedule didn't get completely determined, but even so, I didn't feel bitter. Even though I was at the office, I didn't have to teach any classes, which is the hardest part of the job. I was able to get a little bit of work done too, so it wasn't a total loss.
Another downer for my birthday was that MLB officially announced that it was expanding the playoffs to 10 teams this year (as opposed to next year). I figured it would happen this year, since MLB is desperate to push through any changes as quickly as possible (shades of Obamacare), but as I've opposed playoff expansion from the beginning, it wasn't exactly something I wanted to think about.
Lest you think otherwise, the idea had entered my mind of doing something special for my birthday. I had mentioned to a girl I knew that my birthday was on March 1, and I was looking for people who might want to do something to celebrate. She didn't seem especially interested, and she said there was a possibility that she might be busy, so I didn't pursue it any further. So much for that plan. It might have been for the best anyway, as I had a slight cold last week, and the rest was probably good for me. I did treat myself to some chicken though.
After writing all this it must sound like I had a disappointing birthday. Don't worry about it. I wasn't really that disappointed. While it might've been fun to do something a little more recreational, I've grown accustomed to being alone, and it would've felt truly odd to spend some quality time with another person at my own initiation. There's always the future, and hopefully then I won't miss out on opportunities to enjoy myself with others.
It's still hard to believe I'm 30. I feel like I'm slowly losing the right to be considered a young person. I think back on how I've changed over the years, and how some of the changes I envisioned in my younger days haven't come to pass. While past versions of myself were vastly different in some ways, I suspect there are as many similarities as there are differences. After 30 years, I guess it's inevitable that I have some sense of who I am, and what qualities I possess that are all but set in stone. I'd like to think that every day I'm getting a little better at living life as myself.
March 1 is a national holiday in Korea, so I didn't have to teach any classes. However, March 1 also marks the beginning of the new school year in Korea, so there was a special orientation for the small kids entering kindergarten. We foreign teachers were expected to come in at 3:00 just so that the parents could see us and we could briefly introduce ourselves. Since there was no need to wake up early though, I stayed up a little late the night before.
My decision to forgo my usual attempted bedtime sent me to my slumber with some sad news: Davy Jones was dead. Davy Jones! More than 45 years after they were put together, one of the Monkees had finally left this earth! I suppose it's more a testament to the band's good fortune than a tragedy, but still! This guy was a member of one of my all-time favorite music groups, and there's no reason he couldn't have given us many more good years! Though the odds of it ever happening were slim, the possibility of me ever meeting him were now zero. It's just a shame. The time has officially passed when all four Monkees are capable of appearing together. All the more reason we should reflect on the joy they gave us. Davy's talent and cheerful spirit will never be forgotten as long as we, his fans, are around to remember it.
On an interesting note, I had been watching some Monkee videos on YouTube just a few days earlier and had almost left a comment about how great it was that all four Monkees were still alive. That would've ended up as one of the most ill-timed comments in the history of the popular website.
Though this isn't related to my birthday, it's along the same lines as Davy Jones' death: In the middle of February I found out that Jani Lane, the lead singer of Warrant, had died in August. I'd missed the news completely, since I hadn't really been keeping up with his career in the last several years. I wasn't completely shocked, as I knew he'd battled drug and alcohol problems, but there's always a part of you that hopes the person's getting his life cleaned up, since you can't personally attest to it. I read a few retrospectives about notable people who'd died in the year 2011, and none of them mentioned Jani Lane. Anyone who knows his work well though (that is, beyond familiarity with the singles), knows he was an immensely talented singer and songwriter, and the only reason he never gets his due among the rock 'n roll "establishment" is because he's seen as some disposable '80s hair band guy. I don't know if he ever knew that his music touched people born a generation too late to be his target audience, but the fact remains that a kid like me, whose age wasn't yet in double digits when his fame peaked, was an admirer of his work. I even played one of his songs on the jukebox at the bowling alley the day before my brother's wedding.
I guess what I'm saying is, it's sad to learn that two of your musical heroes are dead within a month's time.
Anyway, back to my birthday. After we foreign teachers had introduced ourselves at the orientation, we were free to go. Because the next day's schedule hadn't been determined yet though, I felt a sense of duty to my job to stay and see if Mrs. Kim could tell me what I'd be teaching the next day. I ended up staying until the evening, and the schedule didn't get completely determined, but even so, I didn't feel bitter. Even though I was at the office, I didn't have to teach any classes, which is the hardest part of the job. I was able to get a little bit of work done too, so it wasn't a total loss.
Another downer for my birthday was that MLB officially announced that it was expanding the playoffs to 10 teams this year (as opposed to next year). I figured it would happen this year, since MLB is desperate to push through any changes as quickly as possible (shades of Obamacare), but as I've opposed playoff expansion from the beginning, it wasn't exactly something I wanted to think about.
Lest you think otherwise, the idea had entered my mind of doing something special for my birthday. I had mentioned to a girl I knew that my birthday was on March 1, and I was looking for people who might want to do something to celebrate. She didn't seem especially interested, and she said there was a possibility that she might be busy, so I didn't pursue it any further. So much for that plan. It might have been for the best anyway, as I had a slight cold last week, and the rest was probably good for me. I did treat myself to some chicken though.
After writing all this it must sound like I had a disappointing birthday. Don't worry about it. I wasn't really that disappointed. While it might've been fun to do something a little more recreational, I've grown accustomed to being alone, and it would've felt truly odd to spend some quality time with another person at my own initiation. There's always the future, and hopefully then I won't miss out on opportunities to enjoy myself with others.
It's still hard to believe I'm 30. I feel like I'm slowly losing the right to be considered a young person. I think back on how I've changed over the years, and how some of the changes I envisioned in my younger days haven't come to pass. While past versions of myself were vastly different in some ways, I suspect there are as many similarities as there are differences. After 30 years, I guess it's inevitable that I have some sense of who I am, and what qualities I possess that are all but set in stone. I'd like to think that every day I'm getting a little better at living life as myself.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Happy 32nd Birthday, Jang Yoon-Jeong!
If I'm not your biggest non-Asian fan, I'm probably at least somewhere in the top 100. Your music has enriched my life in more ways than you could probably imagine, not the least of which is my better knowledge of random Korean phrases.
Happy birthday, Noona. I hope the next year is a great one, and that it includes a new album!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Mission Accomplished (Sort of)
As some may know, I've quit following the NFL. I've realized it's no longer worth the emotional investment, and I enjoy living in a country where the sport of football is virtually non-existent (I wasn't able to be disappointed about the lockout ending until a few days after it happened, because I wasn't following the whole mess). I made a point this season of not paying any attention to the NFL, and even avoiding it to the best of my ability. Was such a thing possible, given that I'm still plugged into American media through the internet?
Surprisingly, it was easier to isolate myself from the NFL than I realized. If I saw a football-related post in my blog subscriptions, I just skipped it, and I diverted my eyes if I came across football headlines. I actually managed to make it to Super Bowl Sunday without being certain of who was playing in the big game, though I had a hunch based on things that had slipped past my imperfect barrier.
It turns out my hunch was correct, as I found out this evening. The Super Bowl was Giants vs. Patriots, and as I learned from an accidental headline reading, the Giants won. Such an outcome only confirms my decision not to follow the NFL, as the Giants are a team I can't stand (as are the Patriots, meaning I would've had nobody to root for).
I'll save you the trouble of following the NFL for the rest of history. There are a few teams I truly hate, namely the Packers, Giants, Patriots, Cowboys, and Steelers. One of those teams will win the Super Bowl every year, even if none of them looks like a particularly strong contender going into the season. Take it to the bank. Heartwarming stories just don't happen in the NFL (OK, I guess the Saints two years ago could be an exception, but we'll just say they're the exception that proves the rule).
It's hard to believe that I used to follow football pretty closely, and now I haven't watched four of the last five Super Bowls. Suits me just fine, frankly. Baseball, for all the disappointment it gives me, is the only one beautiful enough to get heartbroken over. I'm sure I've gone off on that subject more times than anyone cares to hear though, so I'll stop.
One last thing I'll say: I thought it was interesting that this matchup was a repeat of the Super Bowl matchup four years ago. Similarly, the 2011 NBA Finals was a rematch of the 2006 matchup, and in baseball we nearly saw a rematch of the 2006 World Series, but the Tigers fell short. Crazy, huh? Everything felt like it was part of a big cycle, or something.
Here's hoping that 2012 will be a more interesting year for sports, and that this one ends with the Texas Rangers finally winning the World Series. Here's also to another year of being NFL-free!
Surprisingly, it was easier to isolate myself from the NFL than I realized. If I saw a football-related post in my blog subscriptions, I just skipped it, and I diverted my eyes if I came across football headlines. I actually managed to make it to Super Bowl Sunday without being certain of who was playing in the big game, though I had a hunch based on things that had slipped past my imperfect barrier.
It turns out my hunch was correct, as I found out this evening. The Super Bowl was Giants vs. Patriots, and as I learned from an accidental headline reading, the Giants won. Such an outcome only confirms my decision not to follow the NFL, as the Giants are a team I can't stand (as are the Patriots, meaning I would've had nobody to root for).
I'll save you the trouble of following the NFL for the rest of history. There are a few teams I truly hate, namely the Packers, Giants, Patriots, Cowboys, and Steelers. One of those teams will win the Super Bowl every year, even if none of them looks like a particularly strong contender going into the season. Take it to the bank. Heartwarming stories just don't happen in the NFL (OK, I guess the Saints two years ago could be an exception, but we'll just say they're the exception that proves the rule).
It's hard to believe that I used to follow football pretty closely, and now I haven't watched four of the last five Super Bowls. Suits me just fine, frankly. Baseball, for all the disappointment it gives me, is the only one beautiful enough to get heartbroken over. I'm sure I've gone off on that subject more times than anyone cares to hear though, so I'll stop.
One last thing I'll say: I thought it was interesting that this matchup was a repeat of the Super Bowl matchup four years ago. Similarly, the 2011 NBA Finals was a rematch of the 2006 matchup, and in baseball we nearly saw a rematch of the 2006 World Series, but the Tigers fell short. Crazy, huh? Everything felt like it was part of a big cycle, or something.
Here's hoping that 2012 will be a more interesting year for sports, and that this one ends with the Texas Rangers finally winning the World Series. Here's also to another year of being NFL-free!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Life as a Minority
As I was walking around the subway station mall last month, I noticed a small girl. She couldn't have been more than pre-school age. She was with her family, though they weren't paying attention to her at the moment. Suddenly, she made eye contact with me, and her face lit up with awe. She began pointing at me, and turned her head to her family, trying to get them to look at the strange person in front of her. I walked right past without any attempt to communicate, but this brief encounter stayed in my memory.
Some people might have been offended by such a thing, but I thought it was cute. After all, a child so young couldn't have had any ill intent. She was merely showing curiosity about someone different than her. I imagine most of us have similar curiosities about others, but our outward expressions of such curiosity don't manifest themselves so blatantly once we pass a certain age. Still, it was strange to me to think that something as unremarkable as my face could spark such a reaction.
As an American, there are many things I take for granted. I often wonder who I'd be if I were from a country that didn't offer the vastness of information and experience that America does. Foreign cultures often have a sense of mystery surrounding them, and I'm sure many people mistake these intriguing qualities for some form of enlightenment one is not privy to. What we in America can forget, however, is that our own modes of thought are unique to us too, and that our ways might seem just as incomprehensible to some outsiders. These differences occurred to me recently in two exchanges I had with my students.
In one case I was talking with a girl about noses. I'm not sure exactly how we got on that subject, but she was telling me that the "American nose" looks like Pinocchio (referring to my comparably pointy nose, of course), while the Korean nose is round and flat. I tried to explain to her that there's no such thing as an "American nose," because American is a nationality, not an ethnicity. I quickly abandoned the attempt though, because it was either above her English level, her level of cultural consciousness or both.
In another case, I was talking about Michael Jackson to one of my students. He asked me, "Michael Jackson, he was once African, then he became American like you?" My student, of course, was referring to the lightening of the King of Pop's pigmentation over the course of his life. I told him no, Michael Jackson was born in America, therefore he was always American. My student seemed to understand on some level what I was saying, but his original choice of words was telling about his thought processes. When he thinks of an "American," he thinks of a Caucasian person, because we Caucasians make up the majority of the population.
Some might find these comments sad, or representing a cultural problem with Korea, but frankly, I find them completely understandable. "Korean," unlike "American," is both a nationality and an ethnicity. My students are ethnically Korean, but I'm not "ethnically American," because America was settled by people who weren't indigenous to the land, and has since welcomed people from all over the world as citizens. Koreans can afford to define members of their nation by the way they look, because there are very few to whom their standards do not apply. These children simply used the same rubric for discussing my country's people that they would use for theirs, because they're not old or experienced enough to know any different.
There are lots of expat Korean blogs out there that seem to spend most of their time complaining about Korea, and the subject of racial discrimination often comes up. I haven't experienced that too much, but there are times when I wonder if certain people here are acting unfavorably toward me because I'm not one of them. I'm not going to get on some soapbox about it though, because a) I knew about Korea's reputation toward foreigners before I came here, b) I can't prove what anyone's internal motivations are and c) I don't know why anyone would walk into a situation where he knows he's going to be a minority and expect any different.
The other day I was talking to a Korean friend of mine. He told me that at church he had gotten into an argument with another member. This member is a Caucasian Canadian man who's engaged to a Korean woman. The man was passing out invitations to his wedding, and my Korean friend refused to accept it, saying he didn't approve of the marriage. He feels it's a bad idea for non-Koreans to be marrying Koreans in this country, and he told this man so to his face. I wasn't there, but I can imagine it didn't go over well.
I'm sure the first thought of many Western readers is that my friend is a horrific racist who I should kick to the curb. After all, mixed couples are quite common in our countries, and we scoff at the idea that any respectable person these days could possibly oppose them. When I discussed it with him though, I came away from it respecting his viewpoint. After all, my friend is Korean, and he's more in tune with the minds of Korean people than any foreigner could be. I got the impression that he isn't opposed to interracial marriage in principle, it's just that he thinks there are many cultural dangers to it. His main concern is for any children these people might have, because mixed-race children are often treated poorly in Korea. He said sure, it's all well and good if two people love each other, but marriage is a commitment that affects others as well. It involves taking responsibility that supersedes one's emotions.
I'd be lying if I said I never had such concerns myself. There are many attractive women in Korea, and sometimes I wonder if one of them wouldn't make a good wife. There's another part of me that wonders though, if the negatives to such a relationship wouldn't outweigh the positives. In my country, people of any origin can become part of mainstream society, but Korea's a different animal. Even if I immigrated here, my ethnic difference would make me an eternal outsider. Those who could accept me as a person still wouldn't see me as a true Korean, even if I could claim it as my nationality. There have been more Westerners settling in Korea recently, but most of them are in the first generation, and one hopes that their descendants will be able to assimilate in spite of the obvious heritage barrier.
As far as this interracial couple goes, I certainly won't criticize their marriage. They both seem like nice people, and I trust that as adults they've thought through their relationship responsibly. I hope that my friend's concerns prove to be unnecessary, and that their future together will be wonderful. I don't blame my friend for reacting the way he did though, because I believe that deep down his intentions weren't bad.
America, like many Western countries, prides itself on its opposition to prejudice, and our sensibilities probably make it hard for us to understand a homogeneous culture like Korea's. Personally, I think what we might call "racism" is nothing more than a manifestation of our natural tendencies as humans to gravitate toward the familiar and distrust the unfamiliar. I may not like it, but it's a fact of life. I try to have the attitude that if I ever experience discrimination, or even some form of objectification (like kids who find my appearance funny), I shouldn't take it personally. It's not me, it's them. Besides that, it's not really them either. It's a product of their circumstances.
Some people might have been offended by such a thing, but I thought it was cute. After all, a child so young couldn't have had any ill intent. She was merely showing curiosity about someone different than her. I imagine most of us have similar curiosities about others, but our outward expressions of such curiosity don't manifest themselves so blatantly once we pass a certain age. Still, it was strange to me to think that something as unremarkable as my face could spark such a reaction.
As an American, there are many things I take for granted. I often wonder who I'd be if I were from a country that didn't offer the vastness of information and experience that America does. Foreign cultures often have a sense of mystery surrounding them, and I'm sure many people mistake these intriguing qualities for some form of enlightenment one is not privy to. What we in America can forget, however, is that our own modes of thought are unique to us too, and that our ways might seem just as incomprehensible to some outsiders. These differences occurred to me recently in two exchanges I had with my students.
In one case I was talking with a girl about noses. I'm not sure exactly how we got on that subject, but she was telling me that the "American nose" looks like Pinocchio (referring to my comparably pointy nose, of course), while the Korean nose is round and flat. I tried to explain to her that there's no such thing as an "American nose," because American is a nationality, not an ethnicity. I quickly abandoned the attempt though, because it was either above her English level, her level of cultural consciousness or both.
In another case, I was talking about Michael Jackson to one of my students. He asked me, "Michael Jackson, he was once African, then he became American like you?" My student, of course, was referring to the lightening of the King of Pop's pigmentation over the course of his life. I told him no, Michael Jackson was born in America, therefore he was always American. My student seemed to understand on some level what I was saying, but his original choice of words was telling about his thought processes. When he thinks of an "American," he thinks of a Caucasian person, because we Caucasians make up the majority of the population.
Some might find these comments sad, or representing a cultural problem with Korea, but frankly, I find them completely understandable. "Korean," unlike "American," is both a nationality and an ethnicity. My students are ethnically Korean, but I'm not "ethnically American," because America was settled by people who weren't indigenous to the land, and has since welcomed people from all over the world as citizens. Koreans can afford to define members of their nation by the way they look, because there are very few to whom their standards do not apply. These children simply used the same rubric for discussing my country's people that they would use for theirs, because they're not old or experienced enough to know any different.
There are lots of expat Korean blogs out there that seem to spend most of their time complaining about Korea, and the subject of racial discrimination often comes up. I haven't experienced that too much, but there are times when I wonder if certain people here are acting unfavorably toward me because I'm not one of them. I'm not going to get on some soapbox about it though, because a) I knew about Korea's reputation toward foreigners before I came here, b) I can't prove what anyone's internal motivations are and c) I don't know why anyone would walk into a situation where he knows he's going to be a minority and expect any different.
The other day I was talking to a Korean friend of mine. He told me that at church he had gotten into an argument with another member. This member is a Caucasian Canadian man who's engaged to a Korean woman. The man was passing out invitations to his wedding, and my Korean friend refused to accept it, saying he didn't approve of the marriage. He feels it's a bad idea for non-Koreans to be marrying Koreans in this country, and he told this man so to his face. I wasn't there, but I can imagine it didn't go over well.
I'm sure the first thought of many Western readers is that my friend is a horrific racist who I should kick to the curb. After all, mixed couples are quite common in our countries, and we scoff at the idea that any respectable person these days could possibly oppose them. When I discussed it with him though, I came away from it respecting his viewpoint. After all, my friend is Korean, and he's more in tune with the minds of Korean people than any foreigner could be. I got the impression that he isn't opposed to interracial marriage in principle, it's just that he thinks there are many cultural dangers to it. His main concern is for any children these people might have, because mixed-race children are often treated poorly in Korea. He said sure, it's all well and good if two people love each other, but marriage is a commitment that affects others as well. It involves taking responsibility that supersedes one's emotions.
I'd be lying if I said I never had such concerns myself. There are many attractive women in Korea, and sometimes I wonder if one of them wouldn't make a good wife. There's another part of me that wonders though, if the negatives to such a relationship wouldn't outweigh the positives. In my country, people of any origin can become part of mainstream society, but Korea's a different animal. Even if I immigrated here, my ethnic difference would make me an eternal outsider. Those who could accept me as a person still wouldn't see me as a true Korean, even if I could claim it as my nationality. There have been more Westerners settling in Korea recently, but most of them are in the first generation, and one hopes that their descendants will be able to assimilate in spite of the obvious heritage barrier.
As far as this interracial couple goes, I certainly won't criticize their marriage. They both seem like nice people, and I trust that as adults they've thought through their relationship responsibly. I hope that my friend's concerns prove to be unnecessary, and that their future together will be wonderful. I don't blame my friend for reacting the way he did though, because I believe that deep down his intentions weren't bad.
America, like many Western countries, prides itself on its opposition to prejudice, and our sensibilities probably make it hard for us to understand a homogeneous culture like Korea's. Personally, I think what we might call "racism" is nothing more than a manifestation of our natural tendencies as humans to gravitate toward the familiar and distrust the unfamiliar. I may not like it, but it's a fact of life. I try to have the attitude that if I ever experience discrimination, or even some form of objectification (like kids who find my appearance funny), I shouldn't take it personally. It's not me, it's them. Besides that, it's not really them either. It's a product of their circumstances.
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