Lately

I haven't been incredibly regular with posting this year, for which I apologize again. In general, there have been a lot of ups and downs this year. Sometimes it seems like things are going along swimmingly, but every month or two something terrible happens, usually related to my job and my incompetent boss, for whose mistakes we all (Korean teacher and Westerners alike) pay the price. As some of you are no doubt aware, my salary has been reduced numerous times, as have my (and the Korean teachers') hours. In any case, there is less than 6 months in my contract, so my intention remains to stick it out. Michelle, who I was sort of seeing for several months, ended up being pretty unreliable and flakey, so that's not really such an item anymore. There are always other women, though, millions of them really. Recently, I've been seeing a little bit of a waitress who lived in Los Angeles for several years, and she seems pretty great. I've paid nearly $1,000 in student loans back in the past 3 or 4 months, starting with a $500 initial payment to get the ball rolling again. This was a good and necessary step, although with the instability at my job, it has been harder than I anticipated, but remains doable as of writing. It was one of my two New Years Resolutions this year, so it feels good to get cracking at it. Last year, I didn't feel it was a possibility, but maybe it would have been. But a lot of things were uncertain last year, and I definately would have had to suspend payment for 3-6 months when I went back to America and then tried starting over at a new job here in Korea again, and the creditors wouldn't much have liked that, I don't imagine.

These days I am only working 3 days a week. So, lots of free time, but relatively little expendable income. Still, I eat good food. I exercise pretty much everyday (100 jumping jacks/25 push-ups is the bare minimum.) I haven't been sick at all really since last spring when the yellow dust blew over from China's industrial region and played havoc with my (and most Seoulites') respiratory systems. There was one case of Swine Flu at our school, for which it was closed for a day, but then in the past several weeks, dozens of kids have been missing classes: any time they so much as have a temperature, they are sent home from school. Several more of them actually have developed Swine Flu. All have recovered, fortunately. I should probably try to get the vaccine for it or whatever, being around kids all the time I'm sure to be exposed to it again and again.

And now, for some new photographs.

My friend, Rick, about to eat chrysalis. Pretty strange taste, smell.

Albert Einstein at the wax museum in the 63 Building.

Halloween. I'm Lee Myoung-bak, the current right-wing Korean president, and my friend "Joseph" Cha Seung-ho is, of course, Darth Vader.
Just a couple of dark lords of the Sith chillin', you know...!

A mocha from my favorite local coffee joint, "Smileman Cafe." The owner, a woman named Choi Bom, is awesome and a great source of friendliness and unwavoring optimistic support. She calls me "Dark Circles" because, invariably when I drag myself into her establishment in the morning to get my first coffee before work, I still look dead to the world (still not a morning person.) When I'm having fights with my boss, her words (or, actually, word) of encouragement is always rousing and inspirational: It's that traditional Korean-Konglish word given in the face of adversity of any type: "Figh-ting!"
It's short and sweet, but as a vague, obstinate, and optimistic challange to the adversarial part of the world, it goes without compare, I think!

An advertisement for a handphone, plus Napolean on a horse!

Jja-Jjang-myun, Korean-Chinese hybrid style black bean sauce noodles. Pretty much one of my weekly staples over here!

These were the chemical guns or whatever that the government brought to our school when we had our first confirmed case of Swine Flu!

Riding in a friend's convertible on the mountain behind the Korean President's "Blue House."

Took 15 of my kids to Seoul Grand Park Zoo. Without any other teacher present, let me just say...that was quite the 9 hour field trip. Never again (without help!)