Spot the Difference

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Do you see what's changed?  The second photo has grown by a million-some won.  You can't tell from the picture, but I've also added 4 pairs of shoes, 3 purses, and a mini pack.  

And add to that all the won that my liver has processed. Eeek!  Igo!

I did manage to transfer some money home, but I have seriously left the realm of millionaire.  

Next paycheck I will be good and budget.  I will send money home straightaway, walk past the shop windows instead of going in, and attempt to spend more weekends out sober…. This I pledge, promise… well, I will give it my "best" attempt! :)

A retraction MAY be needed

I'm so back and forth about volleyball.  I'm not sure where I stand on it, or if I'm still sticking to my previous claim of wanting to sit on the bench….

Daepyung has had: several practices - some good, some decent, some miserable; a couple of scrimmages - all for the most part uneventful; and now we have had two tournament games.

Our record stands at 1-1.  Despite the fact that we lost our first game, it was a really good game.  There were a lot of good (surprising) plays, a general hustle, and contagious excitement.  But we still lost, and that part wasn't too fun.

We had our second game yesterday (5/16), which went very, very well.  

Part of the improvement was due to the presence of the VP and Principal.  They were unable to attend the first game, their (mainly VP's) absence was not beneficial to our cause.  However, with them back we managed to play well together - as well as an un-oiled machine operates!  

I played setter during the men's game, and although I know how to set, most sets were always a bit off their mark, but I was able to get the job done.  For the women, I played strong-side hitter again, and did nothing of note to make me look good in front of my entire school - because they all showed up! All of the teachers came out to support.  

**A highlight of that game would be when I stood on the sideline watching a ball go "out" and then seeing it fall right on the line directly in front me.  All I would have had to do was stick my arms out!  But I just stood there, confident I was reading its flight correctly.  Thankfully, I know how to say 'oops' in Korean.  So after this awesome play, I said 'igo' and tucked my head in my shirt.  I'm thinking it is not a move regularly done in Korea - hiding one's head in shame because during our scrimmage today (5/17) I made another mistake, said 'igo', but did not tuck my head, and several teachers said my name and gestured for me to hide my face!  It wasn't that bad of a play… :-/   What was bad was the entire scrimmage.  Awful!!!!  Left me desiring the bench again!!  

But despite today's mediocre performance, I don't think I'll bench myself (nor would my team allow it, even if I am just standing on the court), we need to play well!  Daepyung has now advanced to the semi-semi finals, and our next, and maybe last game, is tomorrow.  I am really hoping for a win!  I might whinge a lot about playing for my school, but for the most part it is a great activity to be involved in, especially since I have a matching polyester jersey I get to wear along with the rest of my team!

Woot, Woot! Go Daepyung!

Missing Seoul

I don't feel compelled to talk about Seoul.  I'm really not sure why.  

It was a great trip, one that definitely needs to be repeated on several more occasions, but to try to describe what we did, saw, yadda yadda… I don't know, I just can't (don't want to) write it out.  

It felt like we did a lot, but then looking back I feel like I did so little.  The city is huge, the history is immense! There is more to do there than 2 days could allow… probably more to do there than a week would allow, but it was a great trip, made additionally nice due to the celebration of big Buddha's birthday!

I will say the DMZ was very neat (completely inappropriate adjective to use here, please feel free to add in another when reading).  I learned a lot, but it is a bit overwhelming - all of the history, the pain, the on-going struggle between sides - it is a lot to wrap your head around.  Although it had a high price tag, I will definitely be doing another tour of the DMZ in future visits to Seoul.

 

For more on the trip, chech out the photos on my facebook.

Can I just sit on the bench?

Today is the first game of tournament play for the inter-school volleyball competition...

and I want to spend the game on the bench!

I know that makes me sound like an anti-team player, but maybe in this situation I am.  

When I play with the women I stand (physically just stand, there is no show of athletics, or even a need!) in left front (strong side hitter, for those who don't know) and hit down balls all game.  I'm constantly told to jump, but if I jump, I'll jump over your below-regulation-height net!  

When I play with the men I stand (this time I stand because no balls come to the front right corner and my own team doesn't pass/set/anything in that direction).  I have gone to every practice, even played once in my socks, and yet I get moved to front right so a male teacher, who showed up to ~4 practices, can hit into the net?!?!?  I know it's the boys game, but I play better than the boys!

I asked if I could be moved to the back line (the 3rd row in Korean volleyball!! We also play with 9 people on the court... it boggles my mind!  How do you even play with that many people on the court!?  Oh right, you have them just stand there, so the people who do know how to functionally play - me! - can't do anything except stand there as well!!  

But I will play today, I will fake a smile, bend my knees and stand there on the court.  Perhaps I'll even give an energetic clap when someone manages to do something remotely close enough to be called volleyball.

Go team.  Woot.  Woot :-/

No News is Good News

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There really isn't much to report over the last two weeks.  I know you following at home (dad!) are hoping for more regular post, but things in Busan are settling into a life for me - a routine is developing.

But in an attempt to make up for the radio silence, here's a few highlights:

• Went to dinner with my co-teacher, her children, and Andrew on Friday (4/22).  We had raw fish (four of them actually), a mountain of side dishes, and a freshly cropped up mini squid/octopus-fish-thing.  It was insane!  They say people have died from eating it!  They choke to death, because it still twist, and turns, and the suckers still work!  But people here love it!!  I wasn't too impressed, but I tried it.  I tried the smallest piece in the dish. 
  

  
  

  
  


• After dinner, they brought out a jjigae made from the left over fish bits and veggies.  Despite its appearance, it was really good.
  
  
  
  
  


• We went to the Gwangalli Eobang Festival (4/23). I had the stongest desires to attempt to catch a fish with my bare hands, but instead I ended up hanging out on the beach the whole day with my friends watching things go by (I mean to be more cultural, I really do!  We're going to Seoul this weekend, so I will have a full report of all things Seoul-ful in a week's time - or with the pace I'm setting - 3weeks)
  
  
  
  

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• Have taken to wearing a lot of dresses, which are really more like long shirts on me, since Asian ladies are a little shorter than I am; but leggings go a long way, and getting over your ass flashing to every 7th stranger really helps too!


• Had a Jedi mind trick pulled on me.


• Recorded my voice for my students' English midterm (4/26).


• Got struck down by a migraine (4/26), was out for 3 days, saw a Korean doctor (he was very nice) who prescribed some meds that took their time to work, made me very nauseous when mixed in correctly, but eventually all was recovered.


• Went out in the middle of a rain storm to celebrate a friend's birthday (4/30)


• Have become a pirate.  I will say no more.  If the government asks - I know nothing.  I did nothing.  I plead the 5th.

 

In other business:

- A friend and I are planning a trip to China for our summer vacation.  If anyone has been and has any tips, advice, stories, I would love to hear.

-Also, I can't find magnets in Korea.  My fridge is naked.  If anyone would be up for sending me a little gem for my apartment, I'd really appreciate it!