Another weekend is here concluding another week in Korea. During my usual week I found myself walking home following the same old route, looking at the same old things, hearing the same sounds and smelling the same smells. I usually walk through the Sasang subway station, 5 minutes from my apartment, to avoid having to cross the busy street which provides shelter from the chilly breeze.
Last week I felt like I was going in circles not really heading in any specific direction. I found myself arriving at the same point, over and over again until I stopped and asked myself, am I trapped in a lifetime of monotonous routine? Is there any way out of this daily cycle? I get up every morning, take a shower, eat a bowl of cereal, get dressed, walk to school, turn on my computer, reset my computer, turn on my computer, (it's a crappy computer) open my text book, plan a quick lesson, teach. Noon arrives, I eat lunch, go up to the fourth floor and sit in the office for 3 hours. 4:30 arrives, I pack my things and I head home via the subway station. Sounds pretty redundant, I know. At the end of the day I asked myself, how do I eradicate the redundancies of life? Is it possible to reboot my life to a new start, like my computer?
On my way home I came to a crossroad. The subway station. Do I go through the station and follow the same old route or should I break the routine and take the long way home? I thought, menh... life's short. Live life dangerously. So I turned away from the entrance to the subway and started walking. During my walk I noticed so many beautiful things. I stopped a few times to smell the blooming flowers. I looked up and saw a beautiful canopy of cherry blossoms providing a moments relief from the sun. No longer did I hear cars and horns in the streets, but birds singing in the trees. Obviously it is difficult to tune out the noise of the city, but if you take a moment to listen, you'll hear things that you didn't hear before. I wouldn't have seen any of these things if I decided to go through the subway.
Life doesn't need to be redundant or monotonous. We weren’t born just to do the same things every day when we wake up. We weren’t born even just to eat, sleep, work and die. We were born to do more and to bring more good things to the world. Doing so will allow us to see that there is an abundance of life and beauty in the world.
In the words of Felicia Hemans, “There’s beauty all around our paths, if but our watchful eyes can trace it midst familiar things, and through their lowly guise.”
Saturday, April 11
Friday, April 10
Lately I've been trying to get out of the school as much as possible so that I can soak in and enjoy the sunshine. Today I took a walk during lunch hour. It is absolutely gorgeous outside. During my walk I noticed that there are a lot of independently owned industrial parts manufacturing stations surrounding my school. Every other building had a man working on some sort of gear or machine that made different tools, cranks, molds and an endless variety of gadgets and gizmos. I noticed a faint smell of oil in the air that wasn't there before. Fortunately the lingering smell doesn't bother me but anyone with a keen sense of smell might find it bothersome.
It's getting hot outside. Everyday it is getting steadily warmer but it is usually around the same temperature. Unlike Winnipeg where we can experience drastic changes in the weather in a single day, Korea's temperature is fairly constant, changing only a few degrees. On my walk I stopped at a 7-Eleven where I picked up a Banana popsicle. It was deeeeelicious. I made sure to finish it before returning to the school to avoid getting mobbed by the kids. No doubt if they saw me with a banana popsicle I would have had to run away with my tail between my legs. Recently the students have developed the classic "if you got one, I want one" tendency. I've gotten myself into trouble a few times rewarding prizes to students that work hard in class. Sometimes I get attacked by a group of kids after class who want the same thing. The language barrier obviously doesn't help here so I usually cross my arms or my fingers in the form of an X and firmly say "NO". They understand this so it's quite useful.
In a few hours I get to teach my parents class!!! It's so refreshing working with them because the teaching atmosphere is obviously less chaotic. Lately I've been teaching them classic songs by some of their favourite Western artists like the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and John Denver. Today we're going to learn "Sunshine on my shoulders" upon their request. Quite appropriate now that it's Spring.
It's getting hot outside. Everyday it is getting steadily warmer but it is usually around the same temperature. Unlike Winnipeg where we can experience drastic changes in the weather in a single day, Korea's temperature is fairly constant, changing only a few degrees. On my walk I stopped at a 7-Eleven where I picked up a Banana popsicle. It was deeeeelicious. I made sure to finish it before returning to the school to avoid getting mobbed by the kids. No doubt if they saw me with a banana popsicle I would have had to run away with my tail between my legs. Recently the students have developed the classic "if you got one, I want one" tendency. I've gotten myself into trouble a few times rewarding prizes to students that work hard in class. Sometimes I get attacked by a group of kids after class who want the same thing. The language barrier obviously doesn't help here so I usually cross my arms or my fingers in the form of an X and firmly say "NO". They understand this so it's quite useful.
In a few hours I get to teach my parents class!!! It's so refreshing working with them because the teaching atmosphere is obviously less chaotic. Lately I've been teaching them classic songs by some of their favourite Western artists like the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and John Denver. Today we're going to learn "Sunshine on my shoulders" upon their request. Quite appropriate now that it's Spring.
Friday Podcast
It's been a while since I posted a podcast. Lately I haven't heard anything particularly stimulating, but this one definitely struck a chord with me. It's called Survival of the Kindest. (55 mins)
Anyone who thinks that nice guys finish last, think again. Listen to this interview with Dacher Keltner, professor of Psychology at the University of California.
"Professor Keltner’s studies of human emotion seem to turn the Hobbesian view of human nature - that life is nasty, brutish, and short - on its head. We only need to look at emotions such as compassion, awe, and embarrassment, to see that humans are wired to be good."
Anyone who thinks that nice guys finish last, think again. Listen to this interview with Dacher Keltner, professor of Psychology at the University of California.
"Professor Keltner’s studies of human emotion seem to turn the Hobbesian view of human nature - that life is nasty, brutish, and short - on its head. We only need to look at emotions such as compassion, awe, and embarrassment, to see that humans are wired to be good."
Thursday, April 9
Ode to Spring
Spring is in the air, flowers are popping, birds are singing, buds are budding and creativity is blooming. Here's a little ode that I wrote to Spring.
Haste springtime clear,
Leave winter drear,
Save eternal air,
Place with fragrance here.
Song of blissful night,
Play within my sight,
Call with truthful sound,
Peace come to me bound.
Here at last presents a bud,
Between my toes covered in mud,
This wondrous sight is hard to miss,
Life creeps again, a spring of bliss.
Melt away white winter's grasp,
Be present now, away the past.
____________________
South Korea's national flower - 무궁화
In Korean it's pronounced mugunghwa, which means 'immortality'.
In english we call this flower the Hibiscus syriacus.
I love Spring.
Haste springtime clear,
Leave winter drear,
Save eternal air,
Place with fragrance here.
Song of blissful night,
Play within my sight,
Call with truthful sound,
Peace come to me bound.
Here at last presents a bud,
Between my toes covered in mud,
This wondrous sight is hard to miss,
Life creeps again, a spring of bliss.
Melt away white winter's grasp,
Be present now, away the past.
____________________
South Korea's national flower - 무궁화
In Korean it's pronounced mugunghwa, which means 'immortality'.
In english we call this flower the Hibiscus syriacus.
I love Spring.
Wonderful Winnipeg
I never thought that I would ever say this, but I miss Winnipeg.
If the video isn't working on my blog just click on the video itself and it will take you to youtube. You should be able to watch it there.
If the video isn't working on my blog just click on the video itself and it will take you to youtube. You should be able to watch it there.
Wednesday, April 8
Languages are challenging
English is a tough language to master. I've been teaching a parents class for the past couple of weeks and after running into this blog entry, I now understand how frustrating it can be for people trying to learn English as a second language.
1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
12. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
13. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
14. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
15. They were too close to the door to close it.
16. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
17. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
18. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
19. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
20. After a number of injections my jaw got number.
21. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
Consider the following words:
1) though
2) through
3) cough
4) rough
5) plough
6) ought
7) borough
8) hiccough.
It's amazing that most of these words, although they have a common ending -ough, sound different. None of them are pronounced the same way. But how do we, as anglophones, know which is which?
For those who took french immerson, I am sure you can relate to the saying "If it ends with an e, then it is feminin". Unfortunately, this is wrong and is simply a generalization. There are many feminin words that don't end with e, like la maison and la natation. And how about for masculin words like, le singe and le livre. They are exceptions to the "rule". There is no exact way, there is no absolute pattern, there are always exceptions, it is just a memorization game.
Languages can be annoying but they are amazing tools created by people over thousands of years constantly changing and evolving.
All I have to say is that Engrish is tough.
1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4. We must polish the Polish furniture.
5. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10. I did not object to the object.
11. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
12. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
13. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
14. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
15. They were too close to the door to close it.
16. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
17. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
18. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
19. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
20. After a number of injections my jaw got number.
21. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
Consider the following words:
1) though
2) through
3) cough
4) rough
5) plough
6) ought
7) borough
8) hiccough.
It's amazing that most of these words, although they have a common ending -ough, sound different. None of them are pronounced the same way. But how do we, as anglophones, know which is which?
For those who took french immerson, I am sure you can relate to the saying "If it ends with an e, then it is feminin". Unfortunately, this is wrong and is simply a generalization. There are many feminin words that don't end with e, like la maison and la natation. And how about for masculin words like, le singe and le livre. They are exceptions to the "rule". There is no exact way, there is no absolute pattern, there are always exceptions, it is just a memorization game.
Languages can be annoying but they are amazing tools created by people over thousands of years constantly changing and evolving.
All I have to say is that Engrish is tough.
Tips on singing
If you are interested in voice lessons, look no further. You've come to the right place.
Monday, April 6
Tuesday, March 31
The Italian Symphony
I can't get enough of this piece. I've listened to it 5 times already. Absolutely beautiful.
Tuesday, March 24
Friday, March 20
Friday Podcast
Deschooling Society(55 mins)
This interview originally aired as part of the Education Debates in 1998. Very interesting.
You'll hear a recording of Paul Goodman, and an interview with Ivan Illich, the writer of the essay "Deschooling Society".
David Culp writes "Ivan Illich's book will change the way you see the world and yourself. It's difficult for us who were "successful" in government schools to look back at the process objectively, to remember the cartoonish simplification of everything, and the process' lack of applicability to our lives. You may need this book to help you reconsider that which has become so large a part of your own feeling of self-worth. You will then see why it is almost impossible to discuss true school reform with people - they still have their blinders on."
This interview originally aired as part of the Education Debates in 1998. Very interesting.
You'll hear a recording of Paul Goodman, and an interview with Ivan Illich, the writer of the essay "Deschooling Society".
David Culp writes "Ivan Illich's book will change the way you see the world and yourself. It's difficult for us who were "successful" in government schools to look back at the process objectively, to remember the cartoonish simplification of everything, and the process' lack of applicability to our lives. You may need this book to help you reconsider that which has become so large a part of your own feeling of self-worth. You will then see why it is almost impossible to discuss true school reform with people - they still have their blinders on."
Thursday, March 19
Wednesday, March 18
He can't even throw a punch!
This is the funniest video I've seen all day!
And people want to nominate this guy for Head of State? Say it ain't so...
And people want to nominate this guy for Head of State? Say it ain't so...
Scratchy throat
It turns out the dust storm wasn't as bad as I thought. Yesterday the sky was a little hazy from the dust but it didn't look like anything serious. As for it's immediate effect on my health, I had a hint of a scratchy throat. That's basically it. I didn't have any trouble breathing. I heard that the dust storm was much worse in Seoul. The prevailing winds usually go up and around Korea rather then below it. Nothing to worry about.
Monday, March 16
The dust phenomenon
For all of you meteorology nerds out there, I've taken the liberty on blogging about the Asian Dust storm that is heading toward Korea and Japan. This phenomenon occurs in Korea every year in March. The yellow dust originates in China and floats up to Korea passing over Japan and sometimes going as far as the United States!
Dust clouds leaving mainland China and traveling toward Korea and Japan
Here's some info I found on Wikipedia:
Asian Dust (also yellow dust, yellow sand, yellow wind, or China dust storms) is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia sporadically during the springtime months. The dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia and northern China and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China, North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air quality as far east as the United States.
In the last decade or so, it has become a serious problem due to the increase of industrial pollutants contained in the dust and intensified desertification in China causing longer and more frequent occurrences, as well as in the last few decades when the Aral Sea of Kazakhstan started drying up due to a failed Soviet agricultural scheme.
EFFECTS:
Areas affected by the dust experience decreased visibility and the dust is known to cause a variety of health problems, not limited to sore throat and asthma in otherwise healthy people. Often, people are advised to avoid or minimize outdoor activities, depending on severity of storms. For those already with asthma or respiratory infections, it can be fatal. The dust has been shown to increase the daily mortality rate in one affected region by 1.7%.
SEVERITY:
Shanghai on April 3, 2007 recorded an air quality index of 500, in the US, a 300 is considered "Hazardous" and anything over 200 is "Unhealthful". 2007 so far seems to be the worst on record.
Desertification has intensified in China, as 1,740,000 km² of land are "dry", it disrupts the lives of 400 million people and causes direct economic losses of 54 billion yuan ($7 billion) a year, SFA figures show. These figures probably vastly underestimate, as they just take into account direct effects, without including medical, pollution, and other secondary effects, as well as effects to neighboring nations.
Global warming as well as El Nino play a role in Asian dust storms, because ice sheets that form in winter can keep dust from sweeping off the land.
MITIGATION:
In recent years, South Korea and the People's Republic of China have participated in reforestation efforts in the source region. However, this has not affected the problem in any significant way. In April 2006, South Korean meteorologists reported the worst yellow dust storm in four years. Japan has donated money, equipment, and knowhow to install sulfur filters on coal plants in China. Despite this, a very low percentage of plants have sulfur filters installed.
China also has taken steps, with international support, to plant trees in desert areas, including a claim of 12 billion trees planted. However, the winds are so strong in some places that the trees simply topple or are buried in sand.
In 2007, South Korea sent several thousand trees to help block the migration of the yellow dust. These trees, however, were planted only by highways, because the People's Republic of China stated to South Korea that they could receive the trees but that they would decide where the trees would be planted.
_______________________
The dust storm will be passing over Korea in the next few days. It's advised that you wear a mask when you go outside. Make sure you keep your windows and doors closed.
I hope this information was useful.
Dust clouds leaving mainland China and traveling toward Korea and Japan
Here's some info I found on Wikipedia:
Asian Dust (also yellow dust, yellow sand, yellow wind, or China dust storms) is a seasonal meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia sporadically during the springtime months. The dust originates in the deserts of Mongolia and northern China and Kazakhstan where high-speed surface winds and intense dust storms kick up dense clouds of fine, dry soil particles. These clouds are then carried eastward by prevailing winds and pass over China, North and South Korea, and Japan, as well as parts of the Russian Far East. Sometimes, the airborne particulates are carried much further, in significant concentrations which affect air quality as far east as the United States.
In the last decade or so, it has become a serious problem due to the increase of industrial pollutants contained in the dust and intensified desertification in China causing longer and more frequent occurrences, as well as in the last few decades when the Aral Sea of Kazakhstan started drying up due to a failed Soviet agricultural scheme.
EFFECTS:
Areas affected by the dust experience decreased visibility and the dust is known to cause a variety of health problems, not limited to sore throat and asthma in otherwise healthy people. Often, people are advised to avoid or minimize outdoor activities, depending on severity of storms. For those already with asthma or respiratory infections, it can be fatal. The dust has been shown to increase the daily mortality rate in one affected region by 1.7%.
SEVERITY:
Shanghai on April 3, 2007 recorded an air quality index of 500, in the US, a 300 is considered "Hazardous" and anything over 200 is "Unhealthful". 2007 so far seems to be the worst on record.
Desertification has intensified in China, as 1,740,000 km² of land are "dry", it disrupts the lives of 400 million people and causes direct economic losses of 54 billion yuan ($7 billion) a year, SFA figures show. These figures probably vastly underestimate, as they just take into account direct effects, without including medical, pollution, and other secondary effects, as well as effects to neighboring nations.
Global warming as well as El Nino play a role in Asian dust storms, because ice sheets that form in winter can keep dust from sweeping off the land.
MITIGATION:
In recent years, South Korea and the People's Republic of China have participated in reforestation efforts in the source region. However, this has not affected the problem in any significant way. In April 2006, South Korean meteorologists reported the worst yellow dust storm in four years. Japan has donated money, equipment, and knowhow to install sulfur filters on coal plants in China. Despite this, a very low percentage of plants have sulfur filters installed.
China also has taken steps, with international support, to plant trees in desert areas, including a claim of 12 billion trees planted. However, the winds are so strong in some places that the trees simply topple or are buried in sand.
In 2007, South Korea sent several thousand trees to help block the migration of the yellow dust. These trees, however, were planted only by highways, because the People's Republic of China stated to South Korea that they could receive the trees but that they would decide where the trees would be planted.
_______________________
The dust storm will be passing over Korea in the next few days. It's advised that you wear a mask when you go outside. Make sure you keep your windows and doors closed.
I hope this information was useful.
Friday, March 13
Friday podcast
Lister Sinclair's Radio Special - The Year 1905(55 mins)
This is the best podcast I have ever heard. It's all about 1905, the year the 20th Century began. Sinclair takes us on a journey in 1905 discussing Arts, Sciences, Music and Politics. Take a listen. I nearly cried at the end.
Thursday, March 12
Destiny no... plan no... commitment and love - yes
So many people spend their entire lives searching for a purpose. They go about their daily lives searching for their destiny or some kind of "divine" plan that has been layed out for them. Before we know it, it's too late and then we realize it is up to us to make this "divine" plan. We are the ones who have to take action, we are the ones who have to make our own destinies. There is no time to wait for someone to show us the way. It is up to us to find a direction be it the path of least resistance or not, that is up to you. All we have to do is commit and learn to love the decision that we made.
Tuesday, March 10
New school year
March 2nd was the first day of school. A lot changed that day. I met my new co-teacher, Mr. Yook (he likes to be called Bruce), I have a new TALK scholar teacher, Daniel (from Philadelphia) and I have a new teacher's assistant, Jennifer (from Busan). We all work in the same office. I have the desk closest to the window with a nice view of the mountains in the distance =) We have a brand new heater/air conditioner in the corner as well! I'm sure it will come in handy in the middle of summer. It gets very hot here. Average temperature is between 25 and 30 plus humidex! September and October felt like June and July back home! I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like here. Hot, sweaty and sticky. I definitely prefer dry heat over humid eat. My hair goes nuts in the summer as well. Add that to another reason why I should cut my hair off. That's for another blog though.
Things are pretty good here. Students are crazy as usual. My co-teacher Bruce is also the school's gym teacher. He's a nice guy and the students really like him. The only problem is that his English isn't very good. But that's ok, I'm always up for new challenges. His teaching style is very relaxed and he's very friendly towards the students. Even though I barely understand a word he says, I can tell by the kids' reaction that he's a funny guy. My only worry is that he likes to carry around a big stick about 24 inches long. Fortunately he hasn't used the stick on anyone... yet. I'm still trying to figure out whether it's just for show (intimidation) or if he plans to use it for punishment. For the sake of the students, I hope that it is the latter.
The school system is very different here. Corporal punishment is usually acceptable in Middle Schools but in Elementary it is not. Teachers have much more power here and always have the last word when it comes to what is best for the students. Of course parents have a responsibility for the well being of their own child, but they put a lot of trust in the teachers. It is important that their children get the best education that they can get so they give the teachers full reign over their kids. Thankfully, this freedom is not abused and the kids here are very well behaved so I have not witnessed any corporal punishment.
Although I still have a few questions that need answering. Why are asian kids generally better behaved then north american children? Do teachers enforce a more effective style of discipline or is their behaviour better by nature?
I believe that it is in their nature and culture that they behave this way. In my experience I've observed that Asians are extremely family oriented. Many Koreans live in a single family household surrounded by all of their family members. Father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandma and grandpa. They value the hierarchy system as well. There is a respect and humility that is taught within Asian families that isn't seen in the Western world. I found that even in city life, Asians are taught to respect and love their elders even if they are complete strangers. I've even experienced this first hand when I was with my parents. This tradition brings into the family respect, order, obedience and honour and goes back thousands of years. Asians honour people who share these qualities while Western cultures honour the rich, the powerful, the beautiful and the rude.
Things are pretty good here. Students are crazy as usual. My co-teacher Bruce is also the school's gym teacher. He's a nice guy and the students really like him. The only problem is that his English isn't very good. But that's ok, I'm always up for new challenges. His teaching style is very relaxed and he's very friendly towards the students. Even though I barely understand a word he says, I can tell by the kids' reaction that he's a funny guy. My only worry is that he likes to carry around a big stick about 24 inches long. Fortunately he hasn't used the stick on anyone... yet. I'm still trying to figure out whether it's just for show (intimidation) or if he plans to use it for punishment. For the sake of the students, I hope that it is the latter.
The school system is very different here. Corporal punishment is usually acceptable in Middle Schools but in Elementary it is not. Teachers have much more power here and always have the last word when it comes to what is best for the students. Of course parents have a responsibility for the well being of their own child, but they put a lot of trust in the teachers. It is important that their children get the best education that they can get so they give the teachers full reign over their kids. Thankfully, this freedom is not abused and the kids here are very well behaved so I have not witnessed any corporal punishment.
Although I still have a few questions that need answering. Why are asian kids generally better behaved then north american children? Do teachers enforce a more effective style of discipline or is their behaviour better by nature?
I believe that it is in their nature and culture that they behave this way. In my experience I've observed that Asians are extremely family oriented. Many Koreans live in a single family household surrounded by all of their family members. Father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandma and grandpa. They value the hierarchy system as well. There is a respect and humility that is taught within Asian families that isn't seen in the Western world. I found that even in city life, Asians are taught to respect and love their elders even if they are complete strangers. I've even experienced this first hand when I was with my parents. This tradition brings into the family respect, order, obedience and honour and goes back thousands of years. Asians honour people who share these qualities while Western cultures honour the rich, the powerful, the beautiful and the rude.
Friday, March 6
Shark Dive
Hey guys. Here's a video my friend took of me diving with nurse tiger sharks at the Busan aquarium. Don't worry, I still have all of my fingers and toes.
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