On my actual birthday, I worked and ended up with no dinner plans because everyone was working or lived to far away, so I did nothing.
On Saturday, I invited some friends to dinner. Only four people could make it for dinner, but it was the perfect size party for me. I took them to a Brazilian BBQ place where they bring unlimited beef, chicken, lamb, ham, and grilled pineapple to the table on extra long skewers. Dinner was wonderful. Afterwards, we went drinking and a few other people showed up.
On Sunday, my mom invited me over for dinner. She made a variety of Korean foods. My Korean grandmother and aunt from Atlanta happen to be making a visit, so they were also there. It was almost 1 year ago that I met them for a brief 3 day trip to Atlanta, so grandma was very happy to see me again. My mom gave me money for my birthday since she didn't know what I wanted as a gift.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Teaching
I don't know how often I will continue blogging. Yeah, it has been awhile. Yes, I have time to write, but not too interesting when I have to teach writing this semester. After a day of teaching, I don't feel all that enthusiastic to write.
So far, teaching is going well. I have 5 classes of writing and one speaking class. Students are students no matter where in the world you are. They will have the best, usually worst excuses, for why something was late or why they couldn't make it to class. The university setting is a lot better environment for teaching than at my previous job. Students want to or have to study here, where as the old job students went for prestige/status, company requirements/parents, etc.
I am working out, but haven't shown a lot of change. Weight is still about the same, maybe a few kilograms lost. Clothing fits a little better, but only significant change is in neck size. I will continue working out, but I hope to lose weight quicker in the summer, which seems to be easier for me than in the winter.
Another birthday is coming up, so starting to feel older (31, or 32 Korean age). Since I share a birthday with my mom and twin brother, I am used to buying gifts for someone else on my birthday. However, the birthday boy/girl in Korea buys dinner for his/her friends, so I will spending a "pretty penny" two weeks from now.
So far, teaching is going well. I have 5 classes of writing and one speaking class. Students are students no matter where in the world you are. They will have the best, usually worst excuses, for why something was late or why they couldn't make it to class. The university setting is a lot better environment for teaching than at my previous job. Students want to or have to study here, where as the old job students went for prestige/status, company requirements/parents, etc.
I am working out, but haven't shown a lot of change. Weight is still about the same, maybe a few kilograms lost. Clothing fits a little better, but only significant change is in neck size. I will continue working out, but I hope to lose weight quicker in the summer, which seems to be easier for me than in the winter.
Another birthday is coming up, so starting to feel older (31, or 32 Korean age). Since I share a birthday with my mom and twin brother, I am used to buying gifts for someone else on my birthday. However, the birthday boy/girl in Korea buys dinner for his/her friends, so I will spending a "pretty penny" two weeks from now.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Cousin's son/KTX
Last week, I decided on a day trip to visit my cousin's wife (Yuna) and son (Hanmin) in Daejeon, which is about 90 miles away. Since I hadn't rode it yet, I bought a ticket for the KTX (a high speed train) that has a top speed of about 180 MPH. It is similar to TGV in France. Recently, Korea has built it's own KTX, but initially purchased trains from TGV. The KTX is more expensive, but it is the fastest and also comfortable way to travel. It only takes 50 minutes to Daejeon when a bus would take at least 90 minutes. A one-way ticket was 20,000 Won ($13 dollars approx.).
My cousin is actually in New York City studying at a university, but his wife and son live in Daejeon, her hometown. I wrote about their wedding last summer, which was the last time that I saw them. Hanmin (son) has grown a lot and is speaking a lot more. He knows that I am "Daniel samchon 삼촌", which means Uncle Daniel. In Korea, everyone is called older brother/ sister/ uncle/ aunt even if they aren't "officially" related due to Confucius hierarchy and respecting elders. 
I didn't take many photos and he isn't very patient when someone wants to take a photo. Since it is still winter, we went to an indoor playground, so he could play while Yuna and I talked. Even though there many things to do, he was more interested in the toy display at the playground. But, he was very happy when I gave him a toy car from "Cars", the movie.
I didn't take many photos and he isn't very patient when someone wants to take a photo. Since it is still winter, we went to an indoor playground, so he could play while Yuna and I talked. Even though there many things to do, he was more interested in the toy display at the playground. But, he was very happy when I gave him a toy car from "Cars", the movie.
Surprisingly, while I was in Daejeon, it started snowing. It was also snowing in Seoul, but there have been only a few days where it is has snowed this year.
Next week:
I will start my new job at SKKU, so maybe I will some interesting stories about what my students do in class or in their writing.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Laptop PC/Health
Well, my laptop hard drive died for the 2nd time. This time it wasn't good. Data is supposedly irretrievable. So, I lost a bunch of data since I didn't back-up my HD lately. Oops. Once again, it will be expensive to replace, but cheaper than buying a new one. Still waiting to get it back and reload my data and programs, so not exactly sure how much I lost. Fortunately, I am not in school or doing any serious business work on it. I probably only lost some photos.
As for my health, I have been trying to be healthier by working out and watching my diet. So far, I have been working out for 3 months and in January, I have been working out 5 or 6 days a week. But, I have been stuck at a plateau, aka the same weight I was when I started working out. So, the scales are getting any relief.
Last week, I managed to sprain my ankle, which is quite normal. I don't know exactly how it happened, by my knee started hurting. Being a stubborn and afraid of Korean doctors, I have delayed visiting one until today. I got the address from a Korean colleague. I arrive and as usual, I get the oh-no, he can't speak Korean look. I managed to tell them what hurts.
I wait a few minutes and then see the doctor. He doesn't speak much English either, but he asks some questions and does a posture and knee check. Next, I wait to get an x-ray taken. The x-ray tech had some fun trying to get me into the right spots for the x-rays of my knee and spine. She seemed to take more x-rays than usual. The x-rays are digital so probably not that big of a deal.
After that, I go the doctor again. He says nothing is wrong with my knee, but many problems with my spine. The cervical part has no curve, the thoracic area is irregular and the lumbar/sacral doesn't have big enough gaps. Basically, I think that my back is totally screwed up. After telling me that, he gets me on a chiropractic table and cracks my neck and back. Then, he has an assistant come in to do more stuff. I think he studies some Chinese medicine because he has better luck speaking in Mandarin to me than in English or Korean. My Mandarin is really rusty and bad, but I managed to understand some of the things he said. He had me raise my knee and extend my leg, while he poked his hands into my stomach in different spots. I am not exactly sure what it was supposed to do, but it was pretty painful.
Then, the doctor came back and curled me up in a ball on my side and tried to do something, but it seemed like it only stretched me out of shape. Again, I go back to the assistant for more chiropractic stuff.
Next, I was told that I will need to take some medicine, do some physical therapy, and get a shot in the a$$. So, I went into another room and a nurse told me to lower my pants a little so she can give me a shot. YEP, my first shot in my bum (Korea still likes to give shots in the hip/buttock area).
Finally, I get sent to the physically therapy room. First, they have me put a hot pack on my knee and back. Next, they do some electro-stimulation therapy. Last, they do some air-compression sock-type thing to relax my lower leg muscles.
At the end, all of this cost me 62,000 Won (approx. $40) and took about 2 hours. Medicine is cheap compared to the US, where I would guess my day's treatment would be hundreds of dollars.
When I was finished, I went to a pharmacy to get my medicine. It was pills for 2 days to be taken 3 times a day. The pills were 1,800 Won ($1.20).
I will go back tomorrow for re-check. Results to be determined.
Hopefully, my health will improve and I can start losing some weight. For now, I just live with bad allergies, back, shoulder, ankle, knee, and hip pain on my left side. My right side seems to have far less problems.
Oh, a month or so ago, I got my 2nd wisdom tooth pulled. Unfortunately this time, I had to schedule it before work. I go to the dentist, she pulls it, but this time it wasn't so simple. She said that this one was more difficult and took some bone out. Unlike last time, she gives me a prescription for some pills. I go to work and take the medication, but it wasn't much fun when my mouth hurts and it is my job to speak to my students. I survived, but still unsure if I really want to go back to get the other 2 removed, which will be worse since they are on the bottom.
As for my health, I have been trying to be healthier by working out and watching my diet. So far, I have been working out for 3 months and in January, I have been working out 5 or 6 days a week. But, I have been stuck at a plateau, aka the same weight I was when I started working out. So, the scales are getting any relief.
Last week, I managed to sprain my ankle, which is quite normal. I don't know exactly how it happened, by my knee started hurting. Being a stubborn and afraid of Korean doctors, I have delayed visiting one until today. I got the address from a Korean colleague. I arrive and as usual, I get the oh-no, he can't speak Korean look. I managed to tell them what hurts.
I wait a few minutes and then see the doctor. He doesn't speak much English either, but he asks some questions and does a posture and knee check. Next, I wait to get an x-ray taken. The x-ray tech had some fun trying to get me into the right spots for the x-rays of my knee and spine. She seemed to take more x-rays than usual. The x-rays are digital so probably not that big of a deal.
After that, I go the doctor again. He says nothing is wrong with my knee, but many problems with my spine. The cervical part has no curve, the thoracic area is irregular and the lumbar/sacral doesn't have big enough gaps. Basically, I think that my back is totally screwed up. After telling me that, he gets me on a chiropractic table and cracks my neck and back. Then, he has an assistant come in to do more stuff. I think he studies some Chinese medicine because he has better luck speaking in Mandarin to me than in English or Korean. My Mandarin is really rusty and bad, but I managed to understand some of the things he said. He had me raise my knee and extend my leg, while he poked his hands into my stomach in different spots. I am not exactly sure what it was supposed to do, but it was pretty painful.
Then, the doctor came back and curled me up in a ball on my side and tried to do something, but it seemed like it only stretched me out of shape. Again, I go back to the assistant for more chiropractic stuff.
Next, I was told that I will need to take some medicine, do some physical therapy, and get a shot in the a$$. So, I went into another room and a nurse told me to lower my pants a little so she can give me a shot. YEP, my first shot in my bum (Korea still likes to give shots in the hip/buttock area).
Finally, I get sent to the physically therapy room. First, they have me put a hot pack on my knee and back. Next, they do some electro-stimulation therapy. Last, they do some air-compression sock-type thing to relax my lower leg muscles.
At the end, all of this cost me 62,000 Won (approx. $40) and took about 2 hours. Medicine is cheap compared to the US, where I would guess my day's treatment would be hundreds of dollars.
When I was finished, I went to a pharmacy to get my medicine. It was pills for 2 days to be taken 3 times a day. The pills were 1,800 Won ($1.20).
I will go back tomorrow for re-check. Results to be determined.
Hopefully, my health will improve and I can start losing some weight. For now, I just live with bad allergies, back, shoulder, ankle, knee, and hip pain on my left side. My right side seems to have far less problems.
Oh, a month or so ago, I got my 2nd wisdom tooth pulled. Unfortunately this time, I had to schedule it before work. I go to the dentist, she pulls it, but this time it wasn't so simple. She said that this one was more difficult and took some bone out. Unlike last time, she gives me a prescription for some pills. I go to work and take the medication, but it wasn't much fun when my mouth hurts and it is my job to speak to my students. I survived, but still unsure if I really want to go back to get the other 2 removed, which will be worse since they are on the bottom.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New Year/New Job/New ???
Another year has passed and according to Korean age, I am 32, so I am feeling a little old.
My contract ended at my last job and was not renewed for a couple reasons, so I was searching for a job while finishing my contract in December. Luckily, one of my old colleagues from my job in 2007 called me to say that a position was opening up at his university. So, he arranged for me to interview with the director of the Language Institute. I interviewed and got the job, so I will begin March 1st with a one year contract.
SungKyunKwan University (SKKU --http://www.skku.edu/eng/) is located in the northern part of Seoul and I live in the southern part. Fortunately, I live right next to the subway line that also is the closest to SKKU, so it will be about 30+ min on subway and 5 min shuttle bus to my school. Yeah, 5 minute shuttle bus ride doesn't seem far, so why not walk. Well, SKKU is located on top of a big hill and my building happens to be conveniently located at the top. So, I will stick to using the gym in the basement of my apartment that I already paid for instead of sweating at the office. (aside: I have been working out for 3 months with no change)
The guaranteed salary is better than my old job and I don't have to work as much. Universities jobs are considered the best. I will be teaching a freshman writing course for the first semester. I will have 15 hours/week of classroom time with some prep work, but lots of marking since it's a writing class. I might get an extra class for the fall semester, which would mean more money.
Korea is opposite of US system, spring is 1st semester and fall is 2nd semester. They also have a 5-week intensive course during the summer/winter breaks, which are paid extra on top of our normal salary. As for vacation, I will get a two week vacation around the end of June, three week vacation end of August, two week vacation around Christmas and three weeks end of February.
Not much else new in my life.
My contract ended at my last job and was not renewed for a couple reasons, so I was searching for a job while finishing my contract in December. Luckily, one of my old colleagues from my job in 2007 called me to say that a position was opening up at his university. So, he arranged for me to interview with the director of the Language Institute. I interviewed and got the job, so I will begin March 1st with a one year contract.
SungKyunKwan University (SKKU --http://www.skku.edu/eng/) is located in the northern part of Seoul and I live in the southern part. Fortunately, I live right next to the subway line that also is the closest to SKKU, so it will be about 30+ min on subway and 5 min shuttle bus to my school. Yeah, 5 minute shuttle bus ride doesn't seem far, so why not walk. Well, SKKU is located on top of a big hill and my building happens to be conveniently located at the top. So, I will stick to using the gym in the basement of my apartment that I already paid for instead of sweating at the office. (aside: I have been working out for 3 months with no change)
The guaranteed salary is better than my old job and I don't have to work as much. Universities jobs are considered the best. I will be teaching a freshman writing course for the first semester. I will have 15 hours/week of classroom time with some prep work, but lots of marking since it's a writing class. I might get an extra class for the fall semester, which would mean more money.
Korea is opposite of US system, spring is 1st semester and fall is 2nd semester. They also have a 5-week intensive course during the summer/winter breaks, which are paid extra on top of our normal salary. As for vacation, I will get a two week vacation around the end of June, three week vacation end of August, two week vacation around Christmas and three weeks end of February.
Not much else new in my life.
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