A large part of my Korean saga has been my various abortive attempts at getting myself in shape - be they short-lived, infrequently used gym memberships, misguided promises to do calisthenics at home, or the more serious contracts with personal trainers. The latest (and probably final, as I've found a routine that seems to be working) addition to this lengthy list began today with my first ever experience with yoga.
It. Hurt.
Let me back up a bit. I was first appraised of the fact that my gym offers free yoga classes with membership about a month ago, when I re-signed with the gym for my final three-month contract. I didn't think much of it. However, last week I saw my friend and gym buddy Bek in there, flopping around on the floor with the best of them. I talked to him afterwards, and he said it was not only an intense workout, but it had helped him with his back problems, too. Now, ever since switching to my new bed last summer, I have had a kink in my back that just never got worked out. I also have noticed a seriously decreased flexibility in recent months, probably due to the rigid mostly lifting-based nature of my workout. So I decided to give it a shot.
The instructor got caught up in traffic and was thus an hour late. I passed the time by running for a little bit, then lifting muscle groups I didn't think I'd be using for yoga (Fact: you use ALL THE FRIGGIN MUSCLE GROUPS for yoga). When the instructor arrived, the yoga group had diminished significantly. There were only six of us: Bek, one woman, three other Korean dudes, and your humble writer, the only white person in the room. Probably also the only person in my weight class (by a couple classes).
The instructor was a pretty 30-something who looked like she enjoyed others' pain. We started with some deep breathing, then moved on to leg stretches and torso rotations and that sort of thing. So far, so good, although I couldn't really get the timing right because everything was said in Korean and I had to either have Bek translate or just try to imitate what was going on around me. What I could pick up from Korean alone still took me a few extra seconds to assimilate.
I found it quite impossible to properly do the stretches that involved sitting on my feet. It felt like I was breaking my ankles, but I guess that will come with practice. I am also pretty sure the instructor was making fun of me the whole time. Things really got intense with these things where we laid on our stomachs and lifted all four limbs into the air at the same time, grabbing left foot with right hand and so on. I was sweating about twice as much as I would have during a 5k, plus I had to lower my face into it every count of ten.
I redeemed myself at the end, I think, and surprised myself, by pulling off and holding a full-extension back bridge, shoving my stomach upwards while supporting myself with my arms and legs fully extended. I haven't been able to do that since I was ten.
In other news, two of my favorite things musical have come together in one lovely little package that surprises and delights: BEN FOLDS HAS CURATED A GREATEST HITS ALBUM. A GREATEST HITS ALBUM OF HIS SONGS COVERED BY COLLEGIATE A CAPPELLA GROUPS. It is fantastic and, while some of the arrangements disappointed me a little (I liked Con Brio's covers of "Army" and "Brick" better, although the soloist on the latter was amazing), the vast majority of them were amazing.
Bonus Jealousy Point: The A Cappella groups that were chosen for the final album got to meet and work with the man Himself for the recording sessions. AND SOME OF THEM GET TO GO ON TOUR WITH HIM. AASGIASAEWGASNHG.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Day 87: Wave of Nostalgia
Other than studying for the LSAT last night, I had a pretty relaxed, nostalgia-inducing weekend. John and Kalisha were over, and we busted out Super Mario Brothers 3, incredibly old-school style. After they left I even watched a little Star Trek: The Next Generation. It's amazing how certain media can take you back to a specific time in your childhood or adolescence immediately and almost palpably. Had I made grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner, the illusion would have been complete.
On that note, I'm beginning to wonder what specific types of media will remind me that strongly of my time here in Korea. Obviously, the Korean music I've become familiar with will factor in strongly, which is why I've begun composing a list of songs I need to make sure I have before I leave the country, even if I don't like them that much, just because it scares me that I might never ever hear them again. Ah, the joys of K-Pop.
More difficult to ferret out are the non-Korean media that I will forever for some reason or another associate with my time here. Once, for example, is a movie that I saw during my time here, and although it has nothing to do with Korea, or is even in any way directly relevant to anything I've seen or done here, it will probably still be linked. Memory is a strange thing.
On that note, I'm beginning to wonder what specific types of media will remind me that strongly of my time here in Korea. Obviously, the Korean music I've become familiar with will factor in strongly, which is why I've begun composing a list of songs I need to make sure I have before I leave the country, even if I don't like them that much, just because it scares me that I might never ever hear them again. Ah, the joys of K-Pop.
More difficult to ferret out are the non-Korean media that I will forever for some reason or another associate with my time here. Once, for example, is a movie that I saw during my time here, and although it has nothing to do with Korea, or is even in any way directly relevant to anything I've seen or done here, it will probably still be linked. Memory is a strange thing.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Day 88: On the Packing of a Box, Singular
Well, I've begun that lengthy and arduous process - packing.
Now I don't mean the final pack, that bittersweet, exhausting, leaving-the-apartment-so-empty-feeling pack. Rather, this is a preliminary pack.
One box. Taking the slow boat back to America. Leaving early next week.
What do I put in this box? Some things are obvious - Winter clothes, books I've already read but want to keep, souvenirs and things I purchased explicitly for use in America. But what else gets included?
Some less obvious, but certainly simple additions were things that could cut down on my bulk when I finally head home without diminishing my capabilities for enjoyment here. This mainly came in the form of removing xbox games from their cases and packing the cases, which I intend to save, in the box. Similar reductions will eventually come in the form of my ps2 games and dvds that I've bought here, whose cases I do not intend to save.
Still, though, there are questions that remain. Do I pack up my guitar hero controller now, or do I hold out for some rockin' summer sessions? Do I pack the scrolls decorating my apartment, or do I wait and pull those down last?
Questions, questions with difficult answers!
Also, today I came across this music video artifact from the '90s. Man, Roy Orbison was such a badass!
Currently Listening: "Not Alone" ~The Traveling Wilburys
Now I don't mean the final pack, that bittersweet, exhausting, leaving-the-apartment-so-empty-feeling pack. Rather, this is a preliminary pack.
One box. Taking the slow boat back to America. Leaving early next week.
What do I put in this box? Some things are obvious - Winter clothes, books I've already read but want to keep, souvenirs and things I purchased explicitly for use in America. But what else gets included?
Some less obvious, but certainly simple additions were things that could cut down on my bulk when I finally head home without diminishing my capabilities for enjoyment here. This mainly came in the form of removing xbox games from their cases and packing the cases, which I intend to save, in the box. Similar reductions will eventually come in the form of my ps2 games and dvds that I've bought here, whose cases I do not intend to save.
Still, though, there are questions that remain. Do I pack up my guitar hero controller now, or do I hold out for some rockin' summer sessions? Do I pack the scrolls decorating my apartment, or do I wait and pull those down last?
Questions, questions with difficult answers!
Also, today I came across this music video artifact from the '90s. Man, Roy Orbison was such a badass!
Currently Listening: "Not Alone" ~The Traveling Wilburys
Monday, April 27, 2009
Day 89: Delayed Appreciation
Today was a fairly uneventful day at work, busy but nothing noteworthy. However, when I finished work and pulled up a chair in my favorite Japanese restaurant, a charming little scene unfolded.
I should start by introducing Midarae - I've seen a number of these little Japanese restaurants throughout the greater Seoul area (and I've eaten at two) but the one in Suji remains my favorite for a couple reasons. First, it is literally located right next door to my school, which makes it the perfect place to sneak out for a lunch away from the students, or to grab a good bite right after finishing work. I usually chow down on sushi (nigiri, to be more specific, or as it's known here, 초밥) or maybe some cheese donkatsu (japanese-style fried pork with cheese). Also, I am on pretty friendly terms with the owner, who speaks decent English and can usually be found smoking a cigarette outside whenever I come to or leave work.
I've got a couple of stories involving Midarae. One, for example, involves my mother, previously the most Asian food-savvy member of the Stokes household, being given a fork by the proprietor because she couldn't get her chopsticks working right (sorry Mom). Another, slightly more recent story, involves the previously mentioned owner being shouted at quite violently by a 20-something-year-old amidst a circle of gawkers on the sidewalk, when eventually the dude runs over to the building, picks up a friggin' cinder block, and tries to hurl it at the Midarae guy. Never quite figured out what was going on there.
But my most recent story just happened tonight. I was at Midarae, sitting down with my latest set of LSAT Logic Games practice questions, with an eye for some serious brain food (aka sushi with plenty of wasabi). I was halfway through my large, large plate of 해바라기. This most wonderous of sushi combo plates has 4 pieces of shrimp, 4 pieces of eel, 4 pieces of octopus, 4 pieces of white fish, 4 pieces of salmon (easily the best) and 4 pieces of some kinda mussel or something, for a total of 24 pieces of nigiri-shaped heaven. As I finished the problem set, and was about halfway through the platter of sushi, I looked up and saw one of my older students, David, eating dinner with his mother (whom I had met once before). I waved and they waved back. I continued eating my meal, sipping the miso soup and reading the other book I had brought with me. As I finished and got up to pay, I noticed that David's mother had gotten up as well, and was already paying for her meal. When I passed her on the way back I nodded and smiled, and she told me (in nearly pitch-perfect English, no less) that she had already "treated me" for the meal. Despite my look of shock and protestation, she told me that David had been talking about how I always buy pizza or ice cream or other food for his class, and she wanted to repay me.
Funny, that David should never thank me for any food I buy him, but as soon as his mom hears about it, I get a not-so-cheap meal of Japanese food comped. Call it delayed appreciation.
Currently Reading: "Lolita" ~Vladimir Nabokov
PS:
My alma mater is so damn cool you guys. This video is the winning entry for Grinnell College's annual short film contest, Titular Head. You might not get why it's so cool without knowing the places and personage involved, but trust me, for those of us who were there, it's pretty nifty. It's still a good watch even if you've never set foot in Iowa.
I should start by introducing Midarae - I've seen a number of these little Japanese restaurants throughout the greater Seoul area (and I've eaten at two) but the one in Suji remains my favorite for a couple reasons. First, it is literally located right next door to my school, which makes it the perfect place to sneak out for a lunch away from the students, or to grab a good bite right after finishing work. I usually chow down on sushi (nigiri, to be more specific, or as it's known here, 초밥) or maybe some cheese donkatsu (japanese-style fried pork with cheese). Also, I am on pretty friendly terms with the owner, who speaks decent English and can usually be found smoking a cigarette outside whenever I come to or leave work.
I've got a couple of stories involving Midarae. One, for example, involves my mother, previously the most Asian food-savvy member of the Stokes household, being given a fork by the proprietor because she couldn't get her chopsticks working right (sorry Mom). Another, slightly more recent story, involves the previously mentioned owner being shouted at quite violently by a 20-something-year-old amidst a circle of gawkers on the sidewalk, when eventually the dude runs over to the building, picks up a friggin' cinder block, and tries to hurl it at the Midarae guy. Never quite figured out what was going on there.
But my most recent story just happened tonight. I was at Midarae, sitting down with my latest set of LSAT Logic Games practice questions, with an eye for some serious brain food (aka sushi with plenty of wasabi). I was halfway through my large, large plate of 해바라기. This most wonderous of sushi combo plates has 4 pieces of shrimp, 4 pieces of eel, 4 pieces of octopus, 4 pieces of white fish, 4 pieces of salmon (easily the best) and 4 pieces of some kinda mussel or something, for a total of 24 pieces of nigiri-shaped heaven. As I finished the problem set, and was about halfway through the platter of sushi, I looked up and saw one of my older students, David, eating dinner with his mother (whom I had met once before). I waved and they waved back. I continued eating my meal, sipping the miso soup and reading the other book I had brought with me. As I finished and got up to pay, I noticed that David's mother had gotten up as well, and was already paying for her meal. When I passed her on the way back I nodded and smiled, and she told me (in nearly pitch-perfect English, no less) that she had already "treated me" for the meal. Despite my look of shock and protestation, she told me that David had been talking about how I always buy pizza or ice cream or other food for his class, and she wanted to repay me.
Funny, that David should never thank me for any food I buy him, but as soon as his mom hears about it, I get a not-so-cheap meal of Japanese food comped. Call it delayed appreciation.
Currently Reading: "Lolita" ~Vladimir Nabokov
PS:
My alma mater is so damn cool you guys. This video is the winning entry for Grinnell College's annual short film contest, Titular Head. You might not get why it's so cool without knowing the places and personage involved, but trust me, for those of us who were there, it's pretty nifty. It's still a good watch even if you've never set foot in Iowa.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Day 90: Inauspicious Beginnings
So here we have it, the first entry! Today's (or more accurately, yesterday's) date is Sunday, April 26th, 2009, and I here officially begin my ninety-day countdown to the end of my tenure in South Korea.
I want to emphasize again that this countdown is not, in most ways, really anticipatory, although there are quite a few things about being home I'm looking forward to. On the contrary, this countdown is more about celebrating the remaining time I have in this wonderful country. Kaja! (Let's go!)
This weekend was a busy one, but busy in fairly typical ways - had a good old drink with the crew on Friday night, complete with a nearly three-hour noraebang singstravaganza, and went to my Korean lesson on Saturday, followed by the usual English class + dinner.
Wait a minute. This dinner was a little different.
Usually we stay close to Gangnam, the region where the English classes are held, and, coincidentally, my favorite part of Seoul. Perhaps next weekend when I'm not already backlogged and I have a bit more free time I'll post some pictures I took there/took of the usual weekly festivities there. For whatever reason, however, this weekend our most gracious host and part-time boss Young-bin (or "Bin" as he goes by, or "Bean" as his Korean friends call him, or "Kong" which is Korean for bean, or...") decided to take us to Garak Market (가락시장).
After traipsing through a deserted series of warehouse after warehouse, many of them betraying their day's activities through an empty fruit crate or watermelon rind, we crossed an internal street to the other side of the market, where night became virtual, crowded, sloppy, fetid, sopping, fish-filled day.
The Garak fish market was truly something to behold. Shark, squid, ray, sea cucumber, eel, crab, lobster, shrimp and all manner of cephalopod were on display, dead and alive and ready for sale. We waded (and I mean this quite literally) through the market to the far end, past tanks and tanks of crusty crustaceans and salacious shellfish, until we turned in at a seemingly random fishtank with one fish who just couldn't seem to figure out how to swim upright (I would later use this confused fellow as something of a landmark).
Once past the vendors lining the main thoroghfare of the market, we found ourselves in a curious series of wooden islands populated by tables, seating pads and mountainous plates of seafood. We shucked our shoes in the traditional Korean fashion and sat down to an epic feast of sashimi (raw fish), squid, fish intestines, crab, cockle, sea cucumber and other things I didn't even recognize. All, of course, washed down with plenty of Soju, Korea's own strong, sweet rice wine (tastes a bit like sweetened, weakened vodka).
All in all, quite the dining experience, and definitely something I wouldn't have been able to enjoy if I hadn't made such a group of Korean friends via the class I teach on Saturdays. I can't really think of any way I'd rather spend my day off. I guess I will have to, though, since the class isn't meeting next week on account of it being Buddha's Birthday. I will probalby take that opportunity to recount a few of the more memorable experiences I've shared with Ian, Bin, and all the rest of the Bean's English Club gang.
Currently Listening: "Incredibad" ~The Lonely Island
Currently Reading: "Switch Bitch" ~Roald Dahl
Currently Playing: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
I want to emphasize again that this countdown is not, in most ways, really anticipatory, although there are quite a few things about being home I'm looking forward to. On the contrary, this countdown is more about celebrating the remaining time I have in this wonderful country. Kaja! (Let's go!)
This weekend was a busy one, but busy in fairly typical ways - had a good old drink with the crew on Friday night, complete with a nearly three-hour noraebang singstravaganza, and went to my Korean lesson on Saturday, followed by the usual English class + dinner.
Wait a minute. This dinner was a little different.
Usually we stay close to Gangnam, the region where the English classes are held, and, coincidentally, my favorite part of Seoul. Perhaps next weekend when I'm not already backlogged and I have a bit more free time I'll post some pictures I took there/took of the usual weekly festivities there. For whatever reason, however, this weekend our most gracious host and part-time boss Young-bin (or "Bin" as he goes by, or "Bean" as his Korean friends call him, or "Kong" which is Korean for bean, or...") decided to take us to Garak Market (가락시장).
After traipsing through a deserted series of warehouse after warehouse, many of them betraying their day's activities through an empty fruit crate or watermelon rind, we crossed an internal street to the other side of the market, where night became virtual, crowded, sloppy, fetid, sopping, fish-filled day.
The Garak fish market was truly something to behold. Shark, squid, ray, sea cucumber, eel, crab, lobster, shrimp and all manner of cephalopod were on display, dead and alive and ready for sale. We waded (and I mean this quite literally) through the market to the far end, past tanks and tanks of crusty crustaceans and salacious shellfish, until we turned in at a seemingly random fishtank with one fish who just couldn't seem to figure out how to swim upright (I would later use this confused fellow as something of a landmark).
Once past the vendors lining the main thoroghfare of the market, we found ourselves in a curious series of wooden islands populated by tables, seating pads and mountainous plates of seafood. We shucked our shoes in the traditional Korean fashion and sat down to an epic feast of sashimi (raw fish), squid, fish intestines, crab, cockle, sea cucumber and other things I didn't even recognize. All, of course, washed down with plenty of Soju, Korea's own strong, sweet rice wine (tastes a bit like sweetened, weakened vodka).
All in all, quite the dining experience, and definitely something I wouldn't have been able to enjoy if I hadn't made such a group of Korean friends via the class I teach on Saturdays. I can't really think of any way I'd rather spend my day off. I guess I will have to, though, since the class isn't meeting next week on account of it being Buddha's Birthday. I will probalby take that opportunity to recount a few of the more memorable experiences I've shared with Ian, Bin, and all the rest of the Bean's English Club gang.
Currently Listening: "Incredibad" ~The Lonely Island
Currently Reading: "Switch Bitch" ~Roald Dahl
Currently Playing: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Announcing: The 90 Days Project
Goodness gracious, world, it has been a while.
Without making too many excuses for my absence, suffice it to say that this blog has fallen by the wayside in the shuffle of my life here in Korea. I haven't posted anything in over 10 months! Obviously, this has not been entirely because I didn't have anything to say but rather because I got too busy and picked up too many projects and had to drop something to make room for everything, and this blog drew the short straw.
But that doesn't mean I don't have stories I want to share with you all. In fact, I have many, and as I approach the end of my time in Korea (just over three months now, eek!), I have realized that I would be doing myself a great disservice in not recording these, and my current thoughts about life in Korea, in some manner.
Thus, friends, allow me to introduce The 90 Days Project.
The 90 Days Project is, put simply, my attempt to chronicle my extended departure from Korea by writing, at least once a day, on this blog.
In more detail, I've devised this project (it's been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now) to accomplish several goals:
1. I want to have and share a record of what it feels like to gradually extract myself from the life I've built here - the country I've come to love, the attitudes I love to hate, the city I hate to love, and the job that pays for it all. I will attempt to fairly regularly chronicle my day-to-day life, especially where my reactions to Korea and my feelings about leaving are concerned.
2. I want to share some of the stories I've accumulated over the past two years in Korea, many of which have occurred since I last updated the blog, so as I write I will attempt to interweave past stories that haven't been written down here before.
3. Finally, my writing skills have been quietly rusting for a while now. Hopefully this will help.
So, with no further adieu, I conclude this preface to The 90 Days Project. The project will begin this Sunday, April 26th. Wish me luck!
Without making too many excuses for my absence, suffice it to say that this blog has fallen by the wayside in the shuffle of my life here in Korea. I haven't posted anything in over 10 months! Obviously, this has not been entirely because I didn't have anything to say but rather because I got too busy and picked up too many projects and had to drop something to make room for everything, and this blog drew the short straw.
But that doesn't mean I don't have stories I want to share with you all. In fact, I have many, and as I approach the end of my time in Korea (just over three months now, eek!), I have realized that I would be doing myself a great disservice in not recording these, and my current thoughts about life in Korea, in some manner.
Thus, friends, allow me to introduce The 90 Days Project.
The 90 Days Project is, put simply, my attempt to chronicle my extended departure from Korea by writing, at least once a day, on this blog.
In more detail, I've devised this project (it's been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now) to accomplish several goals:
1. I want to have and share a record of what it feels like to gradually extract myself from the life I've built here - the country I've come to love, the attitudes I love to hate, the city I hate to love, and the job that pays for it all. I will attempt to fairly regularly chronicle my day-to-day life, especially where my reactions to Korea and my feelings about leaving are concerned.
2. I want to share some of the stories I've accumulated over the past two years in Korea, many of which have occurred since I last updated the blog, so as I write I will attempt to interweave past stories that haven't been written down here before.
3. Finally, my writing skills have been quietly rusting for a while now. Hopefully this will help.
So, with no further adieu, I conclude this preface to The 90 Days Project. The project will begin this Sunday, April 26th. Wish me luck!
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