It's Been Awhile....

Since we last linked up. A lot has happened in my life as well as yours. Too much to chronicle but after keeping up with this blog you shouldn't expect much from me. Ha. Well, I've joined a Korean language class at a University (so that takes up a good portion of my time) and my family visited last week (for 10 days) and if I had to choose one word to sum up that experience: spliffsplandifferous (to quote the big homie Flanders).

It was truly beautiful to be in the presence of such great people, my mother, grandmother, Aunt Gwynne, and my cousin Atiya. Them coming helped me realize what great people I have in my life, in America and Korea. My Korean friends, teachers, and homestay family did everything they could to make my family feel welcomed and my family not only paid for the trip to come see me but they were willing to try and assimilate into the culture by eating bugs, welcoming cultural nuances, and practicing cultural relativism. Not to mention, seeing my grandmother do the Moonwalk (3 times!!!) in the karaoke room was the equivlaent to being Filipino and seeing that Filipino dude win the fight (I forget his name. Word to Pat, oh wait Paquio). I love you guys and sincerley appreciate you coming to see me. It let me know how special I am to some people and every now and then I need that reminder.

Lastly, the motivation to write this post came from the fact that my next door neighbor (literally) has died. My homestay grandmother passed away at age 83 and leaves behing her 88 year old husband and 2 children. She was a sweet lady and, even though the language barrier between us was enormous, I always felt comfortable in her presence. I remember when I came back from my trip to Southeast Asia and she welcomed me with biggest grin and grabbed my hand... This past month has been hard for my homestay mother and hearing her sing songs to her mother while she lay immobile was quite arduous for me also. Tonight, however, was bitter sweet for I got to sit with the grandfather and talk (with the mother as a makeshift translator). He repeatedly reminded me how to say different salutations in Japanese and Korean and kept telling me to eat. But it was the first time we had a substantive sit-down. The mother told me how his partner for over 50 years was gone and how alone he feels. I'm his new buddy. But threw all this he uttered two words I never expected to hear: Chop Chop (he was advising me to eat more...). It was quite funny and for a brief 30 minutes we sat, laughed, and reminisced (and ate many grapes). I'm going to miss her seeing me off in the morning and greeting me as I walk in, but not as much as he will miss his love or as she will miss her mother. So, if you have time, say a short prayer for them. Thanks.

Fresh in China, Beijing Style

So a few days ago I finally touched down in China just in time for the Lunar New Year and it was on and poppin`. Me and my boy Luke were at the airport and, conviently, he could not take any money out of the atm so your boy had to create his own bail-out plan and help Luke who was in his own personal recession. After the highly debated stimulus package was passed we proceeded to go to downtown Beijing. Luckily, there are two Fulbright grantees renting an apartment here and they had a extra bedroom with a set of beds. To top it off, one of the girls speaks Chinese and they are both really chill people. So after we met them we went to where the Olympics went down, saw the Bird's Nest, different stadiums and what-not. We proceeded to eat some hot pot then went back to their apartment. On the way there there were fireworks blasting off like crazy, I mean everywhere, every size, every few seconds. It was non-stop Chuck Norris karate chops and car alarms were going off. Perfect time to shoot someone and steal their car. So, in the spirit of loud noises, we decided to buy some fireworks and have our own parade. Then we watched a Hebrew movie with nonsensical English subtitles. It was hilarious because the subtitles just straight up confused everyone. After a while we had to turn it off because it was supposed to be a serious movie but we just kept laughing.

The next day we woke up for the early bird special: watching the flag raising at Teinamen Square. The play a song every day dyring sunrise as they raise the Chinese flag. It was aight, cold as a polar bear's toenails though.

Umm for the sake of time and not writing an essay I will just name the highlights:
1.) The Bird's Nest where the Olympics were held.
2.) Forbidden City. This is where the Emperor stayed and only a few people were allowed to come into contact with him. It was great.
3.) Easting these egg things from the street vendors. Cheap and diarrhea-less.
4.) Eating dinner with some Chinese girls.
5.) Going to a live bar where I met some Chinese duded that hailed from Australia and Phoenix. Also, the bar played live Spanish music.
6.) Going to the Summer Palace which was massive and beautiful.
7.) Staying with some really cool Fulbright girls that let us chill in their apartment. They treated us really well.
8) The Great Wall. Need I say more.
9.) Being able to see another side of Asian culture.
10.) Going to a Thai restaurant where all the workers were Filipino. The food was great and there were singers and dancers that went around to every table and sand songs (in all languages). For our table they sang "We Is The Love" by the Black Eyed Peas.
11.) Going to the Silk Market and trying to get hustled.
12.) Having my first massage ever in CHINA!!!! It was legit and none of that shady business.

Pictures will go up when I get back to Korea. And if you have any questions just let me know. I'm too excited to truly blog.
Now I'm off to Shanghai. HOLLA!!!

Hey Mr. Athy, Tell Me Where will You Be??

Hello world. How's it going? Last week I finished up the teacher's classes up at some college and it was a very enjoyable time. We used this teacher's workbook which was ok, had some nice exercises but it was the impromptu conversations with the teachers that was truly great. I met a lot of characters and even though I wished that I had never signed up for that two week job, I'm happy I did. It was a nice time.

The Eagles lost, Barack is now officially the President. You win some, you lose some. lol.

Well, I'm a bit tired for I've been handling a lot of business today but I'm just writing to let you know that your boy will be heading to China tomorrow, and from China to Vietnam, from 'Nam to Cambodia, and from the 'Bodia to Thailand. These are things I never even imagined a year ago. Leaving the country was never an option to me and now I'm blessed enough to have these opportunities. Sometimes it baffles me. Thanks to everyone that helped me get to this point. Really. Also, thanks to my friends that adopted a little Korean pen pal. I hoped you liked your letters. They (almost all Tracey, lol) put their full effort into them. Well, I'm off to continue this great journey. Hopefully I'll be able to blog during this trip. Peace ya'll. Thanks.

Vibing with the Oldheads

Last week I finished my winter class with the 2nd and 3rd grade students. It was cool for the most part, and I think the students enjoyed the class. To begin they all chose they names out of a hat which I purposely made ridiculous (we had Abe Lincoln, Smeagles, Bob, Obama, Snoopy...) The highlight of the winter camp was having the students write some of my friends and family from America. They were very excited and I could tell that this experience was one they would take with them for a long time (hopefully for a lifetime). Also, my friends were very willing and also excited to have a Korean pen pal. Its what's hot right now in the streets. I enjoyed having a smaller class (20 heads) where that understood much of what I said. It was straight. Good times, good times.

Now I am at a college teaching teachers. At first I was a bit apprehensive for I didn't know what to expect. Would me being young matter to them? Was I ready to teach teachers? Would what I teach be too easy for such advanced students? In addition, the lady running the program gave me little to no information on the program (and I learn something new everyday). However, the first two days have been very fun. Having a class that understands almost everything is a nice change of pace and I have many characters in the bunch. I had them do an activity where they could only take one thing on an island and there responses were quite funny. The list included: a fishing rod (the man also said he would talk to the fish), a pen (so the wife could write her husband because she found a new boyfriend on the island), 6 Bibles (5 in the same class, imagine the fun we had....), a computer (that is solar-powered, water-proof, and has unlimited energy that, coincidentally, has the Bible on it), a knife, 4 Mp3 players, and 2 moms. I forget the rest. It was quite funny and interesting to see what people would bring, but their reasons were the real delight. One class is very quiet though, but that's ok.

Tonight, I played some ping pong with the teachers and this lady that claims she had never played before (yea ok...everyone has played ping pong in this country) straight up played like Uncle Phil in the pool hall with Will. "Jeffery, bring out Luicille!!" She def. knew how to thrown down but kept denying she had ever played before. Characters, characters. Well, I'm singing off, already past last months quota (and video posts do count as posts Nick). Peace ya'll.

Oh yea, how could I forget?
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here Are the 2 Performances in HD and Peep the All-Time Classic Post Below!!

Random Convos and introducing The Best Non-Throwing Up Person Alive (who lost his first Heavyweight bout)

Hello world,

(Disclaimer: This post is not for people that are overly disturbed by liquid bowel movements, vomit, nausea or distasteful similes and metaphors describing such things).

With a title like that, how could you not read it?

I'm back with a brief tidbit about what's going on. Ok so, last Friday the strangest thing happened. I was finished teaching my winter classes for the day and it was only me, the Vice Principal, and this teacher that sits behind me two seats to the left. This teacher has not really said anything to me the entire school year. She merely nods and smiles in my presence. I took it as she was either freakishly polite, shy, or the Dojo Yoshi mystique has just become too intimidating. Well, as I'm about to leave my desk I look at here to say "Peace Sister" and then the unthinkable happens. She started breakdancing and making mango juice with a small, portable mango juice maker. Na, but she asked me a question. I believe she asked me what I did when I go home, a common question among my teachers. The forum had been set and she had her opportunity with nobody around to judge her English. And come to find out she speaks English pretty well. We spoke for about 2 hours and it was a very in-depth convo. I learned a lot about her and vice versa. I won't tell you what we discussed because the feds are always watching. I was very thankful and appreciative that she decided to speak to me. It was a great Christmas gift.

BTW, later that day my ticket to China got dropped from 316,000 won to 200,000 won (about $180). Don't hate the player, hate the game.

So on Saturday I went to visit this girl and we had a really great time. What happened there is for another post because it was the postgame where things really got interesting. So I take that pilgrimage back to hometown and once I'm home I get the itchin' for some nutrition. Therefore, I head upstairs and luckily Homestay Momdukes is eating a late dinner. I take the invitation and get the grub on. Unfortunately, throughout the meal I felt a slight discomfort in my stomach and I know its a little serious so I decide to make that trek to the bed. Hopefully, all will subside. Well, you know the Rocky movies, where he decides to not block the punches in order to tire his opponent (I understand taking punches to make your opponent tired but why just let him punch you without blocking...), whatever I had eaten that day with that girl was doing its best Apollo Creed impression (R.I.P.). I mean, a quiet storm was brewing. You see, there are a few things I am proud of and not throwing up is one of them. In my lifetime, I believe, I have only thrown up 3 times and its been several years since the last fiasco. I'm like a heavyweight in not throwing up. You could call me the Best Non-Throwing Up Person Alive. I'm pretty sure that 3 times is some sort of record. BTW, I didn't even throw up as a baby. I just spit on people like a G. Obviously I'm not counting my throw-ups as a baby, but at that time I really had no control over the action.

When I feel like my body wants to empty itself through the noggin hole I simply sit in my bed like Halie Joel Osmond when he sees dead people and just wait for those dead people to go do whatever it is they do when they aren't with Halie. Its uncomfortable but I don't do the whole throwing up thing. Well Saturday night, it was on like popcorn. I hit the hole about 3 times (and I'm not talking about football). I'm talking all meals from the previous 3 days. You ever heard of the "Thrilla in Manilla"? Well this was the "Diarrhea in Korea", the "Throw-up in Chung-buk", the "Diarrhea in Korea II", and the United States could not hold its own against the rice fields. Needless to say, it was a very uncomfortable night and Sunday was no better. Luckily, my homestay father is a doctor so he hooked me up with some pills and an IV drip which put me almost back at 100% (I still don't feel confident in letting that gas go in fear of a liquid surprise).

Ok, I'm officially labeling this post as a top 3 post of all-time. I'm sure all my readers over 24 will disagree but that's just them being human beings. Aight peeps. Holla.