Korean Doldrums

Transfer rounds opened this week. Teachers throughout the building are scurrying to submit to transfer to Europe. Everyone wants to go where Kristie and I want to go: Italy. Being the new kids, we can’t apply for a transfer until next year at this time. Another year in Korea for us. February and March are the doldrums months in teaching; Christmas break is over; Spring Break is forever away. On top of that, add living in cold, cold, cold, Korea. Here are a few snapshots:

1. Before school, I had a dehydrated oatmeal package that required hot water. I went downstairs to the Korean lunch ladies to ask for help. She motioned that she would put water on for me and to “come back five minute.” I returned as told, but it still wasn’t ready. I returned again, and she told me that it was almost there. I said the obvious line, “This is like waiting for water to boil.” She looked confused, said “Yes, one minute,” and I realized at that moment that Koreans do not find me funny. I should cancel the comedy tour.

2. There is a foolish rule about walking on-base with headphones in your ears. I have a difficult time obeying it with my nifty iPod. I have been yelled at three times by security police. The odd thing is that many of the gate guard police are young airmen, so I’m getting scolded by nineteen-year-olds. I want to tell them that I was in the Air Force when they were born, but I doubt that would help matters any.

3. Korea is called the “Land of the Morning Calm.” That may be, but all of that calmness is a backdrop for the most frequent sound we hear: spitting. It is by far the most disgusting aspect about living in Korea. Everyone spits. It’s not just spitting, it is the sound of producing the spit, then the sound of spitting. All ages, both genders, all classes. In the mornings, I walk to work sometimes. I get to look at little frozen mounds all the way there. Disgusting. Italians don’t spit, do they?

Here are the positive sides of things:

1. I am going to Tokyo again next week for a training on the new SAT. I’ll leave on Monday and return on Friday.

2. I began my new class, Humanities. I think I’m going to love it.

3. Kristie and I are making Spring Break plans. At this time, it will be Vietnam or Bali.

4. A new subway station was just built near our house. We can jump on there and easily go to Seoul for under $2.00. There is a closer town, Suwon, that has modern shopping. It even has a Starbucks.

5. Kristie was able to get on a military flight to Seattle last week. It’s a great deal, only $25 each way. She arrived there on Thursday, and will be heading to Portland for a short trip. She’ll return about the same time I return from Tokyo.

6. She may have already mentioned this to some of you, but she has a part-time job tutoring a woman in English and American culture. She goes twice a week, and it sounds like a good situation.


I recently started a blog at http://coia.blogspot.com , in case you are interested.

Until next time,

Ron