focus your mind, you must

I read an article earlier, saying that gamers have a better chance at controlling their dreams. Read the original here.

It basically states that people who play games have a better chance at entering "game mode" when in a dream and thus be able to control what happens. It's more prominent for people that have nightmares, since nightmares/night terrors are what cause insomnia and/or other sleeping disorders. Playing a game before sleeping can give your brain a better chance at seeing the nightmare as a game, and thus treat it like one, giving you the control.

Now, here's what I think, this is just me and what I have noticed about myself. I agree with this article. I'm not promoting gaming or saying that I am a die hard gamer, far from it. But I do enjoy the occasional God of War slaughter fest. What I agree with is that the subconscious is a place of flux, constantly sending signals around the brain and picking up on the smallest memory to blow up into a dream. Now how the dream turns out is never predetermined. It's a dream; and dreams are not real.

I have been able to do this far before gaming was cool. Not because of my gaming but because of my discipline. Through my training in karate, yoga, meditation and exercise I have not only gotten my body to be strong, but my mind is fully aware. I've gotten all senses working together and I can isolate when one is needed more than the other. This comes in handy when I'm dreaming as well because no matter how "real" the dream is, I can always find something off about it and thus get control of it.

Dreams are an important part of our nights rest, if its interrupted then our whole day is thrown off. So, we have to do what we can to get control so we can have our full nights rest. Be it games, discipline or just being so bad ass that your dreams know better than to bother you.

When Koreans are angry

Disclaimer: This post contains foul language. If you have never heard/read the word fuck before. You have now.

Recently, I have enjoyed riding my bike to and from work. It's been a great way to enjoy the night and see Gwangju. As well as challenge your reflexes to keep up with Korean traffic. Every now and then you have to be the one paying attention because people on the sidewalk/street aren't. I am usually pretty aware and can dodge and weave my way through traffic easily. But every now and then a car or a person decides to cut across traffic without warning. Which usually incurs me to yell "Watch the fuck out!!" or "Pay attention, ass hat!!" And this is usually over as quickly as it happened; I ride on and they stand around looking confused.

The other night I was riding back from work, annoyed with myself that I didn't foresee the rain coming, and there is nothing worse than riding your bike in the rain. So I was already in a "leave me the fuck alone" attitude. So, as my luck would have it, or at least Murphy, as I am riding up near Chosun University I happened across two lovers completely oblivious to the world around them.

So there I am, cruising toward them ringing my bell frantically and they weren't budging. Finally I slammed on the breaks just in time to avoid hitting them and because of which, I said my usual phrase, "Get the fuck out of the way!" thinking that it would be the normal case of them looking surprised, moving aside and the affair being over. But nope, this guy understood me. So as I pushed past him, he started shouting, "HEY!" and trying to grab me. He missed (Luckily for him) I just kept riding with him in the background yelling "HEY!!" And since I didn't respond or whatever he wanted, he threw his umbrella at me.

First, it's hilarious, because what the hell could an umbrella do? Especially since it was one of those dinky ones.
Second, who throws an umbrella?
Third, big mistake on his part because his umbrella quickly became my umbrella. I happend to look back and saw the umbrella sailing toward me, so I yanked it out of mid air. As I rode off, I heard him yelling even more, so I just yelled back, "Thanks for the umbrella!" I didn't keep it though, it wasn't worth it, so I tossed it back.

I'll admit it was probably not the best way to handle the situation, but hey, when the moment happens, I just kinda act.

Attending a Korean Wedding

This past weekend I was lucky enough to visit a Korean Wedding. It was awesome! Quick, but awesome!

My Korean co-teacher Christy got married! Something very exciting since it's a time of celebration and pure, white joy!

Prior to the wedding I was full of questions about it. Trying to compare a Western wedding to a Korean is like comparing a crotch rocket to a moped. Western weddings being the moped. The most surprising thing about Korean weddings are how quick they are.

It was literally, in and out.

Here's a break down of how it went:

Arrival, take some photos and talk to the Bride and Groom.

The wedding.

More posing and photos.

Huge buffet.

2 hours later, finished.

That's it. Cut and print.

Having been in attendance to a number of wedding back in the states, I was kind of expecting the elaborateness. But I got ahead of myself and was surprised and impressed by the promptness. The only thing that I disliked, was that they were clearing the chairs while the ceremony was still going on.

But, can't hold that against an amazing day for an amazing event.

It literally was the perfect day/setting for a wedding. Set amongst and within the grand Mt. Muedung - what more can you ask for?

Seriously though, could you ask for a better backdrop than this?

A beach maybe, but then you have to worry about seagulls. And seagulls poop on you, and who wants that at a wedding?

If you ever get a chance to check out a wedding here in Korea, do so. You'll enjoy it. It's a magical time AND free booze! How can you go wrong?

A look back - 2 years in Korea

It's hard to comprehend really, even though I'm at the end of my second year in Korea, I still kind of feel like i just got here. It's isn't until I look back at old photos or really think about it; do I realize how much has happened and how much I have changed. It's amazing really, to think that two years ago I didn't know how to cook - and now I make breakfast, lunch and dinner for myself every day and night. I have even gone as far as making a Turkey dinner and a king crab (Thanks extend to my lovely girlfriend for all her help). As well as hosting numerous other dinner parties. A look into what I make: Cajun Green Beans - pan fried beans with a blackened cajun seasoning. Cajun Salmon - salmon steak with cajun seasoning. Mac&Cheese - pasta varies, but I grade cheddar cheese onto a plate and then crush garlic into it and mix, then when the pasta is cooked I stir in the garlic cheese. Stir fried rice - Cook rice in a rice cooker (or boil in a pot) and then in a bigger, bowl shaped pan, add some butter and then the cooked rice; stir for five minutes. Cajun chicken - same as the salmon, just with chicken. Cheeseburgers, eggs and various other delicious dishes.

I have also discovered a talent in photography. Something that I have always enjoyed - but in these past two years I have gained two really good cameras and have thus found that I really do have an eye for it. Now I have my own photo blog: atravelingriverrat.tumblr.com and am an expat photographer for a friend's online newsletter: http://saykimchirecruiting.com/newsletter/
Photography for me has become a great way to capture moments that normally would go unappreciated. Also its an amazing way to show what artistry I do have. I can't draw to save my life, but give me a camera and I'll capture a moment for you.

I have also seen a difference in my body. After two years of going to the gym - I have never been in this great of shape. I look and feel strong. The biggest and greatest reminder is when I try on clothes. Usually and for the longest time, I have been a "small", now I don't fit into Korean clothes because my shoulders are too broad and I am finding myself buying mediums or larges in Western clothing.

But the greatest achievement that I can see from all of this is my teaching. Looking back to when I started and then at what I am doing now - I can't help but realize that it's no wonder why my students have grown so much. I have put a stop to their Konglish (English - Korean words). Gotten them to understand the difference of scared/scary, excited/exciting, dead/die/death, and the most important, sick/hurt (all words that in Korean, are the same so students would use the wrong word in their sentences). I have even started lessons of my own; Mythological, metaphorical and even lectures (dictation). I think one of the other things that I have been able to do, albeit very minimal in the grand scheme of things but still is an accomplishment for my school, is to wash away some of the attitude that foreign teacher time is "play time". Because of myself and the other foreign teachers, we have established that even though we don't give as much homework as the Korean teachers, it's important to pay attention to us, because we are native and we know what the hell we are talking about.

So all in all, it's been a great two years! And as much as I am excited for my short sabbatical back home, I'm equally excited for my future adventures when I return!!

Con Artist

One random morning I was sitting at the bus stop by myself, minding my own business and enjoying the warm weather. As I was relaxing and spacing out I saw a man walking towards me. He was obviously not Korean, but I couldn't place exactly where he was from. He was also donning the appearance of a traveler. Being the observer that I am, I saw this guy coming and could tell that he was up to something, I think it was his eyes.

Turned out that he was Mongolian. Usually that isn't anything out of the ordinary but the oddity continued. As he and I were exchanging small talk, he came to the crux of our chat. He was selling socks. Socks that would help him pay for this college tuition at the local public university. The odd thing that caught my attention was this: he was a college student going around selling socks to pay for his tuition, the socks he was selling were still in the packaging that they come in from the store! He was buying them and reselling them for a higher profit. CON!!

He came on strong and impressive with his strong English accent, but I saw though it. After his pitch, I asked "If you don't have money to pay for college, how are you affording socks?" I could tell that he didn't expect this, so his immediate reaction was shock and embarrassment, which turned to aggression. He actually tried to force me to buy his socks, by yelling. As he continued to press or beg, I just kept saying "Give it up, your bluff is called. Move along." After a quick stare down, he grabbed three pairs out of his bag and politely handed them to me with a bow and walked off.

You can meet the most random person at the most random times. Just be sure that if they are Con Artists, you have your wits ready so that you can see through the con.

The magic of cooking

Food has been something that we all strive for and cannot live without. I'll admit that for many years I took the process and preparation of food for granted. I didn't really consider the work or effort that needs to be put into it and when I did, it confused me so I went for the easier options. It was lazy, I know, but I didn't really know what I was doing and when I looked at a kitchen..I just didn't know where to begin.

Even through college, I got by on the main idea that I could just go to a restaurant and get what I wanted and be done with it. But the lesson learned there came after college, when I was graduated and thus in the working market, that little thing called money. Where does it come from? How do I get it? What do I do with it? These questions ran through my head once I was out in the world and needing to provide for myself. I finally learned how to fry an egg and low and behold the doors opened. I quickly realized that frying anything else is just as easy as the egg; and for the easiest thing to make in the world, all I needed was boiling water. Gaining these two things in my cooking experience, gave me the slow confidence I needed to expand my cooking trials.

I was slow at the beginning, there's no question about that. But it was through my wonderful girlfriend, that taught me many different things of how to prepare and how to cook multiple things! If it wasn't for her I would have never even thought about doing some of the things that I can now cook in the kitchen. And because of all that, the kitchen is no longer a scary place! So much so that she and I have taken on some of the more challenging culinary feats. Among some the common dishes are chicken (cooked in cajon seasoning), green beans (my speciality are the beans fried in a cajun butter), rice (cooked in a rice cooker then lightly fried in a pan and mixed with seasonings) mac&cheese (cheese is grated with garlic and then stirred into the pasta), couscous, salmon (cooked the same as the chicken), and hamburger (cooked with crushed garlic).

From those we have opened the door further and tried some of the more tasking challenges. The first one was a Turkey.

There is a foreign mart here in Gwangju and with its growing supply of food has made it easier to be able to get some of the western foods that we miss. And every year they order Turkeys, so this past year we decided to try our hand at cooking one. It was a great success! As you can see it came out golden and cut like butter! It was a real confidence booster and defined that I was no longer an amateur in the kitchen. Not to say that I'm a professional, far from it.

But cooking the turkey and having turn out as well as it did, really made the kitchen a home for me. Since then cooking everything else became seemingly easy. So we decided that we were going to try something else. Something that we've been thinking about for along time and finally had an occasion worth it. This past weekend was my girlfriend's birthday and a very good Korean friend of ours, so I decided to treat them to that something that we've been thinking about cooking; a King Crab.


Now, it was as easy as boiling water and then putting him into it. But that was just the prep work. The real task came afterwards when it was done and I had to separate the legs from the body. Not something for a weak stomach. But the end result were succulent crab legs that rival the taste of a lobster. The treats of the night did not end with the crab, we also oven roasted french fries and cocktail shrimp with homemade cocktail sauce. Amazing! As seen here:
What a table spread! haha!

It's been a great 2 years of learning and I'm looking forward to the other tests that we can try out and add to the lists of success. And on that next test, it would be great if you could all join! Cooking is really an amazing experience!
What would all like for dinner?

Why Korea is awesome

Despite the tone of my last blog, I'm not at all unhappy or enraged by my life here. It's actually amazing! That one was more of a rant inspired by perceptions of myself and my progression as a teacher and person.

Now I would like to share something pretty amazing; which is the epitome of why Korea is an awesome place.

While I was eating dinner durning my break today, I went to my normal 킴밥 (kimbab - the Korean fastfood), to get some dinner. I've been going there for a while now, off and on, depending on schedules and occasionally I talk to the owners. But today, I guess I went at the right time or it was just my lucky day, but while there a group of about 8 high school boys walked in. At first they went about their business, ordering what they wanted to eat and talking amongst themselves. As I sat eating and watching TV, I could hear the boys talking and encouraging each other to be brave enough to talk to me. Finally one boy swallowed his pride and choked out "Hi". When I responded with a kind, but strong "Hello", I washed away a nervousness that was filling the room and I was bombarded by the two stronger English speaking boys.

The first question was the one that is always on the front of the minds here, "Where are you from?" Normally, after some time here, that question gets redundant and irritating. But when used in proper context and when asked if its okay to be asked that question, its not so bad. Upon telling them "America" I was again bombarded with shouts of "OBAMA!" "NEW YORK CITY!!" "MICHAEL JACKSON!!" and so on. But it was all in good fun. We talked for a while about different things, but the majority of it was them asking if Korean companies were popular in America and how their Japanese competition compared. I let them know that Samsung was losing to Sony for electronics, at which they were sad and expressed it with elaborate hand gestures. When I told them that Korea was becoming better in the car industry, namely Hyundai and Kia, they went apeshit. It was hilarious.

One of the bigger, shyer boys brought me water three times in the midst of all this.

Turns out that they are about to head to America in a few short months time and were wanting to know about things to look for and what not to do. The "middle finger" was the main one, I told them that they wouldn't die from it, but it would draw unnecessary attention. These two boys were like the comedians that you can see here. They played off each other perfectly, making fun of each other and correcting each others sentences as we talked. Sometimes I threw in some advice for them, mostly when they neglected the verb. In the meantime of these two boys talking up a storm there was third quietly eating. At one lull in the comedy, he leans over and in perfect English asks "Are umbrella's gay in America?" When I told him that "no, they weren't", he nodded silently and went back to his meal not to say a word again. But one of the first two boys caught some of it and went on to ask about wearing pink shirts and white pants. I sadly had to leave to go back to work but they quickly jumped up and asked it was okay to take my picture, when I said "sure" they surrounded me and took multiple pictures changing between their cellphones every shot.

Whenever I spoke they would practically jump the table in order to get closer and listened with the utmost intent. I just wish that my own students cared as much as they did. They cared so much about their English that any little piece of advice that I gave them they quickly absorbed it and practically learned it right then and there. It's these little rare occasions that can make the stay here worth all the time and stress.