So now I am 25 years old. Why 25? Well it seems like a nice round number, and I was born 25 years ago back in 1983 when people who were born in 1958 were only 25, and people born in 1933 were 50. Ofcourse people who were born in 1908 were 75 then, and people born in 1983 around the time Abilene was founded, would have been a hundred.
Anyhow, I celebrated by investing in the making of some quite delicious bacon cheese burgers, and onion rings, as well as a heavy cake even though I had to make it myself. I also made some onion dip, and bought five small bags of potato chips to go with it. I then invited my fellow English teachers to partake of it which we did. James actually made the hamburgers which were fantastic. Karen, a Korean English teacher who came over, was convinced we would all have heart attacks and die at any moment it was that good.
I also called the family on skype which was fortuitous because Katie and Oree were just about to leave to go work at a Outdoor Camp in North Carolina.
All in all it was a good birthday for being thousands of miles away from the family!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Well, the big news is that I got some (over two hundred pictures) up on the web from the last couple of months. They are from three or four trips to Seoul, and one to Cheongju. I only have comments on 100 of them so far. Here are some highlights... In no particular order...
Two of the four jugglers at the juggling club, juggling clubs.
The Semi-Annual Volley ball tournament. Our team, the Wesley School people, had a surprising victory, beating the Old mans team and the Married peoples team. This is the Youth team and the Married peoples team. The Married peoples team one this one.
This is the Church Service and raffle after the tournament. The people in front in chairs blocking everyone elses view are the old people.
I won 24 rolls of toilet paper in the raffle. They almost gave me a shovel, but I think they really asked themselves. "What would he use a shovel for?" and thought better of it.
Teaching my students some juggling after a hard day of English worksheet.
This is the coolest section of children's books in a used book store ever. I found "Dr. Seuss' ABCs" and "Where the Wild things Are." here.
Mike looking at a part of the 4.1 km wall of a Fortress we went to in Cheongju.
A nice view from the Museum at Cheongju.
Some pinwheels in anticipation of Childrens day at one of the Palaces in Seoul.
The Sign really says it all.
This is Seoul (and korea) to me. It is looking out from another Palace in Seoul.
This is the Goblin flea Market. I almost had a heart attack when I walked in.
The view up the hill I climbed over and back again twice looking for the Juggling shop.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Two of the four jugglers at the juggling club, juggling clubs.
The Semi-Annual Volley ball tournament. Our team, the Wesley School people, had a surprising victory, beating the Old mans team and the Married peoples team. This is the Youth team and the Married peoples team. The Married peoples team one this one.
This is the Church Service and raffle after the tournament. The people in front in chairs blocking everyone elses view are the old people.
I won 24 rolls of toilet paper in the raffle. They almost gave me a shovel, but I think they really asked themselves. "What would he use a shovel for?" and thought better of it.
Teaching my students some juggling after a hard day of English worksheet.
This is the coolest section of children's books in a used book store ever. I found "Dr. Seuss' ABCs" and "Where the Wild things Are." here.
Mike looking at a part of the 4.1 km wall of a Fortress we went to in Cheongju.
A nice view from the Museum at Cheongju.
Some pinwheels in anticipation of Childrens day at one of the Palaces in Seoul.
The Sign really says it all.
This is Seoul (and korea) to me. It is looking out from another Palace in Seoul.
This is the Goblin flea Market. I almost had a heart attack when I walked in.
The view up the hill I climbed over and back again twice looking for the Juggling shop.Hope you enjoyed it.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
For my Courlophobic Comrades
As most all of you have realized by now, one of my greater ambitions in life is to become a professional Clown. When I have told people this there are two... no three basic reactions:
1) "Cool!"
2) "What? are you serious?"
3) "I am scared of clowns."
Sometimes there is a mixture of them, but mostly it will be one. It is to those with the last reaction this post is dedicated. (especially to Mad4books daughter)
To me the whole "scared of clowns" and "Coulrophobia" (the official word) thing is weird. I like clowns, and have always liked clowns. I think they are funny and interesting and touching to watch. I think they tell us much about ourselves on a level we shoved in the closet along time ago.
But I know not everyone feels this way. I get told so on a pretty regular basis, by friends, co-workers, and strangers (even when I was in Clown at Art Walk people would come up to me just to tell me!). The problem is that they often still laugh at me anyways when I act the clown. You might say "But Robert, how is that a problem? Isn't that good?" It is, but it is still a problem. Because shows there is a gap between Clowns and the Idea of Clowns.
What is a clown? That is a huge debate. I have six or seven books on clowning and none of them quite agree. My favorite is "Clowning is a credible idiot playing for a audience." Which is John Wright's definition in Why is that So Funny?. That is how I think of clowning.
Unfortunetley as hinted at, the popular idea of clowns is quite different. It has been tied into the trickster archetype which is quite a different kettle of fish, altogether. For starters, the trickster is smarter than his audience. He is a con-man, the opposite of a clown. He will play stupid and be revealed as clever, where as a clown will play smart and be revealed a idiot. There are tricks both ways, but with one the joke is on the audience, and the other the joke is on the performer. The fool and trickster can be thought of two sides of the same coin, but they can never be the same thing.
Even more damning, Clowning has become its symbols rather than the symbols pointing to it. In other words, if you have a big red nose, and a white painted face, you must be a clown. This is as... as... well as foolish, as saying "if you have a white lab coat, and a stethoscope, around your neck, you must be a medical doctor." This is a HUGE problem. Why should be pretty obvious. Once the thing is its symbols, people only pay attention to the symbols and not what they signify. It is probably one the reasons that one of the Ten Commandments bans, graven images. For clowns it means you have to contend with everything people have seen done in a big red nose and white face which is a pretty outrageous and unfair demand. You might say "Why don't you get rid of all that make up and the red nose?" which is where some of the clown world has moved. But, again, the make up and nose is a part of the heritage of the art. It is a symbol of it, and it is practical, since it brings attention to the clowns facial expressions.
Finally we have that ubiquitous authoritative entity known as "The media." The Media, are very a kin to clowns. They are story tellers. Stories are driven by conflict. Clown performances make terrible stories... unless something goes wrong.
"CLOWN BRINGS LAUGHTER AT COMEDY CLOWN SHOW" Boring.
"NO ONE LAUGHS AT COMEDY CLOWN SHOW" Interesting!
So all you hear is the second. Clown characters in movies, TV shows and books are often as not, not clowns, but tricksters or con-men disguised as clowns. But their actions tell all. They are not credible idiots.
Last but not least there is the problem of bad clowns. Not as in evil or un-moral, but as in simply not funny.
Myself included more than I want to admit.
Which brings us back full circle. Never forget that clowns are people. Idiots, dressed up with makeup and unnatural noses yes, but still people. The root cause of fear of clowns is the fact that most people don't actually know any clowns personally. Clowns are something other, not your college buddy, or your co-worker, or sibling or cousin. The ultimate solution is naturally, knowing someone who is a clown. The great thing is, if you are reading this, you do!
One of my favorite things to hear, and I have heard it a couple of times is "Clowns usually freak me out, but not you Robert, I think because I actually know you."
I hope to hear it a lot more in the future.
1) "Cool!"
2) "What? are you serious?"
3) "I am scared of clowns."
Sometimes there is a mixture of them, but mostly it will be one. It is to those with the last reaction this post is dedicated. (especially to Mad4books daughter)
To me the whole "scared of clowns" and "Coulrophobia" (the official word) thing is weird. I like clowns, and have always liked clowns. I think they are funny and interesting and touching to watch. I think they tell us much about ourselves on a level we shoved in the closet along time ago.
But I know not everyone feels this way. I get told so on a pretty regular basis, by friends, co-workers, and strangers (even when I was in Clown at Art Walk people would come up to me just to tell me!). The problem is that they often still laugh at me anyways when I act the clown. You might say "But Robert, how is that a problem? Isn't that good?" It is, but it is still a problem. Because shows there is a gap between Clowns and the Idea of Clowns.
What is a clown? That is a huge debate. I have six or seven books on clowning and none of them quite agree. My favorite is "Clowning is a credible idiot playing for a audience." Which is John Wright's definition in Why is that So Funny?. That is how I think of clowning.
Unfortunetley as hinted at, the popular idea of clowns is quite different. It has been tied into the trickster archetype which is quite a different kettle of fish, altogether. For starters, the trickster is smarter than his audience. He is a con-man, the opposite of a clown. He will play stupid and be revealed as clever, where as a clown will play smart and be revealed a idiot. There are tricks both ways, but with one the joke is on the audience, and the other the joke is on the performer. The fool and trickster can be thought of two sides of the same coin, but they can never be the same thing.
Even more damning, Clowning has become its symbols rather than the symbols pointing to it. In other words, if you have a big red nose, and a white painted face, you must be a clown. This is as... as... well as foolish, as saying "if you have a white lab coat, and a stethoscope, around your neck, you must be a medical doctor." This is a HUGE problem. Why should be pretty obvious. Once the thing is its symbols, people only pay attention to the symbols and not what they signify. It is probably one the reasons that one of the Ten Commandments bans, graven images. For clowns it means you have to contend with everything people have seen done in a big red nose and white face which is a pretty outrageous and unfair demand. You might say "Why don't you get rid of all that make up and the red nose?" which is where some of the clown world has moved. But, again, the make up and nose is a part of the heritage of the art. It is a symbol of it, and it is practical, since it brings attention to the clowns facial expressions.
Finally we have that ubiquitous authoritative entity known as "The media." The Media, are very a kin to clowns. They are story tellers. Stories are driven by conflict. Clown performances make terrible stories... unless something goes wrong.
"CLOWN BRINGS LAUGHTER AT COMEDY CLOWN SHOW" Boring.
"NO ONE LAUGHS AT COMEDY CLOWN SHOW" Interesting!
So all you hear is the second. Clown characters in movies, TV shows and books are often as not, not clowns, but tricksters or con-men disguised as clowns. But their actions tell all. They are not credible idiots.
Last but not least there is the problem of bad clowns. Not as in evil or un-moral, but as in simply not funny.
Myself included more than I want to admit.
Which brings us back full circle. Never forget that clowns are people. Idiots, dressed up with makeup and unnatural noses yes, but still people. The root cause of fear of clowns is the fact that most people don't actually know any clowns personally. Clowns are something other, not your college buddy, or your co-worker, or sibling or cousin. The ultimate solution is naturally, knowing someone who is a clown. The great thing is, if you are reading this, you do!
One of my favorite things to hear, and I have heard it a couple of times is "Clowns usually freak me out, but not you Robert, I think because I actually know you."
I hope to hear it a lot more in the future.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
New Post, New Pastor
So, we have a new pastor at the Church. He has been here for about three weeks I believe and we all really like him. The English teachers and his family (wife, and two sons 18&19) had dinner at a local restaurant and it was delicious. His sons it turns out are getting ready to go to University in the Philippines where the family just moved from, but in the mean time they have been sitting at the house bored out their minds for the last three weeks. Since their English is good, and like playing guitar and Sudden Attack, they are quickly becoming Mike's and mine best friends.
In other news, I have instituted a new curriculum for my seven year olds using Dr Seusses ABCs. It has been a hit so far.
In other other news, I think I seriously want to get into the San Fransisco Clown Conservatory when I get back in the States. I want to clown, and I want to be good at it. I have been practicing mime when I can working through the book on it I brought with me. I also continue to juggle, and walk into obvious pranks by my kids.
We clean out the fridge a couple of nights ago. Yay! for that.
I still haven't up loaded pictures.
I need to I know.
This weekend Mike and I go adventuring to Cheongju, to museums, a fortress and a Zoo.
Last Saturday I went to the National Museum in Seoul. I saw some great art, and some neat history stuff there. Going in, I passed about ten school groups, to said "Hello! How are you, nice to meet you." Standing in line for the tickets, I was asked where I was from, and what I was doing in Seoul. I am sure their English teachers would be proud. Also there is a fantastic park at the national museum. There is even a out door gym complete with bench press weights. I have pictures of all this. I do need to get it them up.
Also I want to plug my brother Mikes blog "Hike With Mike." He is trying to get funds together to come to Japan to volunteer for ARI. A group that teaches sustainable agriculture and urban agriculture to leaders in third world communities.
In other news, I have instituted a new curriculum for my seven year olds using Dr Seusses ABCs. It has been a hit so far.
In other other news, I think I seriously want to get into the San Fransisco Clown Conservatory when I get back in the States. I want to clown, and I want to be good at it. I have been practicing mime when I can working through the book on it I brought with me. I also continue to juggle, and walk into obvious pranks by my kids.
We clean out the fridge a couple of nights ago. Yay! for that.
I still haven't up loaded pictures.
I need to I know.
This weekend Mike and I go adventuring to Cheongju, to museums, a fortress and a Zoo.
Last Saturday I went to the National Museum in Seoul. I saw some great art, and some neat history stuff there. Going in, I passed about ten school groups, to said "Hello! How are you, nice to meet you." Standing in line for the tickets, I was asked where I was from, and what I was doing in Seoul. I am sure their English teachers would be proud. Also there is a fantastic park at the national museum. There is even a out door gym complete with bench press weights. I have pictures of all this. I do need to get it them up.
Also I want to plug my brother Mikes blog "Hike With Mike." He is trying to get funds together to come to Japan to volunteer for ARI. A group that teaches sustainable agriculture and urban agriculture to leaders in third world communities.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Okay, you asked for it!
Well, I am still alive and well. I know it doesn't seem like it since I haven't updated here, but the rumors that I was kidnapped by Korean kangaroo pirates and taken to Indonesia in order to teach island giraffs how to tap dance the polka were greatly exagerated.
It is saturday here, and I am in Yesan at a PC bong. I was trying to play "Sudden Attack" but the compter doesnt like me, so I decided not to waste a buck, and type on my blog.
I am in Yesan on a whim. I wasn't planning to go anywhere to day, but as I was walking to the fried chicken place, the bus for Yesan pulled up, to the bus stop I was passing and I got on it. So I came and had lunch at the "Burger" place in town, and then came to the PC bong. I think I will go to the good Icecream/coffee place here, and get a mocha and read here in a little bit.
So what's been up? Alot really. I don't know why I don't post more here. But I think I will stick to just three points:
1) I made a bunch of bean bags out of socks, and some kind of grain, and I have been teaching my students to juggle. I have been doing this between classes, and in fact in classes, but only after the students have gotten some work done. It has helped with my most troublesome class a bit, and is ofcourse alot of fun.
2) James, Beth, Abby, and I went to a english speaking church last sunday. It was the International Lutheran Church, and it felt so good to go to a liturgical service in english again, with traditional hymns and a pipe organ. I almost cried. We had communion! I thanked the Pastor afterwards and he nodded and said pretty much "thats what we are here for." He was from Iowa, and here for two years. The post rotates between three Lutheran sub-denonminations which is neat. It is kind of like Uncle Ray's cruise ship ministry.
3) After church last sunday, I went and got some books from the bookstore in Itaewon, and then went to the goblin market and got a electric guitar for about 45 bucks! It was cheaper than putting in a pickup on my acoustic guitar. It is naturally not the greatest guitar in the world, but then again it is nice and mythic getting a guitar from a Goblin market. It is a well used guitar too. Someone really played it alot, hard. It does work though and that is the important thing. Now I might be able to hear what I am doing in the prasie band.
In other news the Cherry trees are blosoming. I still have a lot of pictures to put up. Maybe tonight.
It is saturday here, and I am in Yesan at a PC bong. I was trying to play "Sudden Attack" but the compter doesnt like me, so I decided not to waste a buck, and type on my blog.
I am in Yesan on a whim. I wasn't planning to go anywhere to day, but as I was walking to the fried chicken place, the bus for Yesan pulled up, to the bus stop I was passing and I got on it. So I came and had lunch at the "Burger" place in town, and then came to the PC bong. I think I will go to the good Icecream/coffee place here, and get a mocha and read here in a little bit.
So what's been up? Alot really. I don't know why I don't post more here. But I think I will stick to just three points:
1) I made a bunch of bean bags out of socks, and some kind of grain, and I have been teaching my students to juggle. I have been doing this between classes, and in fact in classes, but only after the students have gotten some work done. It has helped with my most troublesome class a bit, and is ofcourse alot of fun.
2) James, Beth, Abby, and I went to a english speaking church last sunday. It was the International Lutheran Church, and it felt so good to go to a liturgical service in english again, with traditional hymns and a pipe organ. I almost cried. We had communion! I thanked the Pastor afterwards and he nodded and said pretty much "thats what we are here for." He was from Iowa, and here for two years. The post rotates between three Lutheran sub-denonminations which is neat. It is kind of like Uncle Ray's cruise ship ministry.
3) After church last sunday, I went and got some books from the bookstore in Itaewon, and then went to the goblin market and got a electric guitar for about 45 bucks! It was cheaper than putting in a pickup on my acoustic guitar. It is naturally not the greatest guitar in the world, but then again it is nice and mythic getting a guitar from a Goblin market. It is a well used guitar too. Someone really played it alot, hard. It does work though and that is the important thing. Now I might be able to hear what I am doing in the prasie band.
In other news the Cherry trees are blosoming. I still have a lot of pictures to put up. Maybe tonight.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
and now the news... (always a weird word to me "News" - plural "new...")
Er... so I seem to have lost my blogging discipline and have been getting calls of concern.
So lets see...
My desk chair in my bedroom is breaking. I have to balance the seat on the pole. It is pretty amusing right now in a annoying sort of way, but I think I will have to aquire a new one from the school soon before I hurt myself.
I did go back to the juggling shop last Saturday, and I did find the "goblin market." In fact I didn't get really good look at the market because by the time I found it (right where it was supposed to be of course) It was time to go to the juggling club. The cool thing is though I can now pass juggle. That is, stand in front of another person and we both juggle three balls and pass them between us. I also learned a couple of other tricks I need to work on. Particularly juggling behind my back.
What's really funny about the flea market, was that I saw about five Autoharps. I saw the first one and I said "Hey cool, a Autoharp." After the fifth one, and without seeing any banjos I was thinking "What? Of all the instruments, why Autoharp?" I think it is a tootsie roll pop question.
In other random news I have been giving tests to my students with mixed results. The best are my youngest class "backpack starter" class. I am giving a test to my backpack 6 students tomorrow. I am not sure what will happen. I don't expect much but maybe they will surprise me. They sure didn't want to study for it today.
Pictures... I am working on it... thinking about working on it... I am on a new computer whose USB ports claim to be working but aren't. The only way I can get pictures up is to set up my laptop again. I can do it, I just haven't sorry!
I will try to post more here so everyone knows I am alive and well.
Peace!
So lets see...
My desk chair in my bedroom is breaking. I have to balance the seat on the pole. It is pretty amusing right now in a annoying sort of way, but I think I will have to aquire a new one from the school soon before I hurt myself.
I did go back to the juggling shop last Saturday, and I did find the "goblin market." In fact I didn't get really good look at the market because by the time I found it (right where it was supposed to be of course) It was time to go to the juggling club. The cool thing is though I can now pass juggle. That is, stand in front of another person and we both juggle three balls and pass them between us. I also learned a couple of other tricks I need to work on. Particularly juggling behind my back.
What's really funny about the flea market, was that I saw about five Autoharps. I saw the first one and I said "Hey cool, a Autoharp." After the fifth one, and without seeing any banjos I was thinking "What? Of all the instruments, why Autoharp?" I think it is a tootsie roll pop question.
In other random news I have been giving tests to my students with mixed results. The best are my youngest class "backpack starter" class. I am giving a test to my backpack 6 students tomorrow. I am not sure what will happen. I don't expect much but maybe they will surprise me. They sure didn't want to study for it today.
Pictures... I am working on it... thinking about working on it... I am on a new computer whose USB ports claim to be working but aren't. The only way I can get pictures up is to set up my laptop again. I can do it, I just haven't sorry!
I will try to post more here so everyone knows I am alive and well.
Peace!
Monday, March 24, 2008
How was Seoul? eh... wait a minute... again?
So I went to Seoul.
Again.
Hey it is a big city. A huge city. There is a lot to do and see there. I got a book, a visual tourist atlas of Korea that told me so, and I have to admit it was right.
But I am a head of myself. I went to Seoul with a plan. I was going to get some stuff. I even made a list: Computer RAM, USB port, TKD Book, Guitar Pickup, and Korean Dictionary. Then I was going to go to the Juggling shop for the Juggling club meeting.
Well, so here is how it went. James, Beth, two of my co-teachers Abby their daughter and I got on the train at 7:13ish am. After about thirty minutes James and I hung out in the Snack car, and got on the internet just for the fun of it. We talked for most of the trip, and Beth and Abby joined us and Abby got to play arcade tetris for the first time, and for a three year old she wasn't half bad.
In Seoul James and I got off a stop before our usual stop there and went to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. The doughnuts were the first fresh ones I have ever had at a Krispy Kreme, and I have now learned that the hype around them is quite justified. After a couple of doughnuts each
and getting a dozen more for later, we took the Subway to Yongsan station where Beth and Abby were. We got train tickets home, and then visted a booth in the Electronics mart that James knew for the RAM, and USB port. I got the port (I just got a "old" desktop from the school last week and I am fixing it up just a bit) but ofcourse I forgot to write down what kind of ram it takes, so James is going to get it for me on Wednesday when he goes to Seoul to do something or another. We also visited the Book store at Yongson station and I found that Visual Atlas I mentioned earlier.
From there we parted company, and I got on the Subway on a quest for a foreign music store I heard about near Itaewon, where the American army base is. I found it, but it was closed. So I walked back to the main street of Itaewon, and went to the Foreigners Used Book store and picked up a TaeKwonDo book, and a English to Korean dictionary. Then I walked some more, and ran into James, Beth, and Abby. We walked some more together, but we all had things to do so they went to a watch shop, and I went on the Subway on a quest for American Pizza.
The best I could manage was Pizza Hut. A very nice Pizza Hut at Seoul Station that James had told me about. So I had a good nine inch American style Pepperoni Pizza sans corn.
While I was waiting for my Pizza, I took a look at the Atlas, which has a very large illustrated section on Seoul. I found some cool festivals... and a Flea Market. If you have known me at all he last few years, you know I am a sucker for Flea Markets, and the book said there was a Huge flea market (sometimes called "The Goblin Market" how cool is that?) in a soccer stadium. So I resolved that if I had anytime after juggling, I would check this place out.
But first things first, I took the train down to Sadang Station where the Juggling shop was. I went there, and found out that the meeting of the club was a maybe today, but stay and see. So I did and had a wonderful time talking to the owner So Sang Man or "George" and his wife, the lady who had broke her foot mountain unicycling. I also got to meet their one year old daughter. One other kid did show up for the juggling club, but didn't stay too long. I learned some basic Diablo, which is the yoyo thing controlled by a string attached to two sticks. George also showed me how to juggle four balls in preparation for juggling five balls. All in all it was a great time, and I promised to help him with the English on the English version of the website, which actually isn't that bad. Both of them speak English fairly well.
So after a couple of hours and a couple of new friends later, I left the Juggling shop, and went on my third quest for the day which was to find this flea market. I had about three hours to kill before the train back to Sapgyo left. To get to this market was a straight shot on the blue line... eleven stops which is as many stops as I have ever done at one time.
When I got there, I immediately found the market. It started in the subway station and then spilled onto the street, and then went on, and on and on and on and on and on. I never did find the "flea market" I think it was closed. But it didn't matter. There were stalls, everywhere. In plazas, on the sidewalks, in the tunnels that go under the street, in tunnels that I have no idea what their origional purpose was. They were in buildings, and under them, and they just went on and on, selling all kinds of stuff, but at the part I explored it was mostly clothes of all descriptions. I also found a pet section and a book section. I even found two shops selling bags and bags of buttons. I barely explored it. For two hours of straight wandering I probably only saw a fifth of it if that much. It was overwhelming. And that was with half the places closing up because of night and drizzle. It brought to mind every vast fair, bazzar and out door market I have ever read about. I always suspected those authors of using some literary license, when they described such places... how wrong I was. I did buy a couple of umbrellas (one real one and a tiny red panda one for clowning) and a bottle of Yellow Tail Shiraz. If you have never been to such a place, you really should sometime. I am going back to Seoul next week for the juggling club, and I have resolved to explore that place further, this time in the morning, and hopefully when it is not drizzling. Maybe I will find a instrument section.
I left the market about an hour before my train was do to go, and headed back to Yongsan Station. I got some Baskin Robin's for dinner (I tried some chicken on a stick from one of the stalls at the market, but it needed some sauce which it didn't have since I didn't know how to say "sauce please but not the kid that makes ones head explode") and waited for my train. On the train I slept.
Until one of my students tapped me on the head to say hi. The one in the picture standing on her desk in a earlier blog actually. She was really excited to see me on the train, and she gave me some crackers and a ginsing mint hard candy. She had been in Seoul that day with her Mom. When we reached Sapgyo station about thirty minutes later, it was raining so I gave her mom my umbrella so she could pull up her car, and she gave me a ride back to my apartment.
And that is a full account of my day in Seoul. I know it lacked elves, dragons, pirates, or ninjas, or even insidious mob bosses. I wasn't knocked out of the way in a chase scene at the market. Heck, I never even got to "The Goblin Market." But it was pretty neat anyways.
Again.
Hey it is a big city. A huge city. There is a lot to do and see there. I got a book, a visual tourist atlas of Korea that told me so, and I have to admit it was right.
But I am a head of myself. I went to Seoul with a plan. I was going to get some stuff. I even made a list: Computer RAM, USB port, TKD Book, Guitar Pickup, and Korean Dictionary. Then I was going to go to the Juggling shop for the Juggling club meeting.
Well, so here is how it went. James, Beth, two of my co-teachers Abby their daughter and I got on the train at 7:13ish am. After about thirty minutes James and I hung out in the Snack car, and got on the internet just for the fun of it. We talked for most of the trip, and Beth and Abby joined us and Abby got to play arcade tetris for the first time, and for a three year old she wasn't half bad.
In Seoul James and I got off a stop before our usual stop there and went to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. The doughnuts were the first fresh ones I have ever had at a Krispy Kreme, and I have now learned that the hype around them is quite justified. After a couple of doughnuts each
and getting a dozen more for later, we took the Subway to Yongsan station where Beth and Abby were. We got train tickets home, and then visted a booth in the Electronics mart that James knew for the RAM, and USB port. I got the port (I just got a "old" desktop from the school last week and I am fixing it up just a bit) but ofcourse I forgot to write down what kind of ram it takes, so James is going to get it for me on Wednesday when he goes to Seoul to do something or another. We also visited the Book store at Yongson station and I found that Visual Atlas I mentioned earlier.
From there we parted company, and I got on the Subway on a quest for a foreign music store I heard about near Itaewon, where the American army base is. I found it, but it was closed. So I walked back to the main street of Itaewon, and went to the Foreigners Used Book store and picked up a TaeKwonDo book, and a English to Korean dictionary. Then I walked some more, and ran into James, Beth, and Abby. We walked some more together, but we all had things to do so they went to a watch shop, and I went on the Subway on a quest for American Pizza.
The best I could manage was Pizza Hut. A very nice Pizza Hut at Seoul Station that James had told me about. So I had a good nine inch American style Pepperoni Pizza sans corn.
While I was waiting for my Pizza, I took a look at the Atlas, which has a very large illustrated section on Seoul. I found some cool festivals... and a Flea Market. If you have known me at all he last few years, you know I am a sucker for Flea Markets, and the book said there was a Huge flea market (sometimes called "The Goblin Market" how cool is that?) in a soccer stadium. So I resolved that if I had anytime after juggling, I would check this place out.
But first things first, I took the train down to Sadang Station where the Juggling shop was. I went there, and found out that the meeting of the club was a maybe today, but stay and see. So I did and had a wonderful time talking to the owner So Sang Man or "George" and his wife, the lady who had broke her foot mountain unicycling. I also got to meet their one year old daughter. One other kid did show up for the juggling club, but didn't stay too long. I learned some basic Diablo, which is the yoyo thing controlled by a string attached to two sticks. George also showed me how to juggle four balls in preparation for juggling five balls. All in all it was a great time, and I promised to help him with the English on the English version of the website, which actually isn't that bad. Both of them speak English fairly well.
So after a couple of hours and a couple of new friends later, I left the Juggling shop, and went on my third quest for the day which was to find this flea market. I had about three hours to kill before the train back to Sapgyo left. To get to this market was a straight shot on the blue line... eleven stops which is as many stops as I have ever done at one time.
When I got there, I immediately found the market. It started in the subway station and then spilled onto the street, and then went on, and on and on and on and on and on. I never did find the "flea market" I think it was closed. But it didn't matter. There were stalls, everywhere. In plazas, on the sidewalks, in the tunnels that go under the street, in tunnels that I have no idea what their origional purpose was. They were in buildings, and under them, and they just went on and on, selling all kinds of stuff, but at the part I explored it was mostly clothes of all descriptions. I also found a pet section and a book section. I even found two shops selling bags and bags of buttons. I barely explored it. For two hours of straight wandering I probably only saw a fifth of it if that much. It was overwhelming. And that was with half the places closing up because of night and drizzle. It brought to mind every vast fair, bazzar and out door market I have ever read about. I always suspected those authors of using some literary license, when they described such places... how wrong I was. I did buy a couple of umbrellas (one real one and a tiny red panda one for clowning) and a bottle of Yellow Tail Shiraz. If you have never been to such a place, you really should sometime. I am going back to Seoul next week for the juggling club, and I have resolved to explore that place further, this time in the morning, and hopefully when it is not drizzling. Maybe I will find a instrument section.
I left the market about an hour before my train was do to go, and headed back to Yongsan Station. I got some Baskin Robin's for dinner (I tried some chicken on a stick from one of the stalls at the market, but it needed some sauce which it didn't have since I didn't know how to say "sauce please but not the kid that makes ones head explode") and waited for my train. On the train I slept.
Until one of my students tapped me on the head to say hi. The one in the picture standing on her desk in a earlier blog actually. She was really excited to see me on the train, and she gave me some crackers and a ginsing mint hard candy. She had been in Seoul that day with her Mom. When we reached Sapgyo station about thirty minutes later, it was raining so I gave her mom my umbrella so she could pull up her car, and she gave me a ride back to my apartment.
And that is a full account of my day in Seoul. I know it lacked elves, dragons, pirates, or ninjas, or even insidious mob bosses. I wasn't knocked out of the way in a chase scene at the market. Heck, I never even got to "The Goblin Market." But it was pretty neat anyways.
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