September 30, 2007

I'm going going, back to back, to CALI CALI!

Actually, I already went and just came back to Seoul. Here's a brief summary of what I did:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


I was very fortunate to be able to finally finish reading all seven books of The Chronicles of Narnia while I was back home. I really liked the last part in the last book when they finally arrive in Aslan's country...

It was the Unicorn who summed up what everyone was feeling. He stamped his right fore-hoof on the ground and neighed, and then cried:

“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this. Bree-hee-hee! Come further up, come further in!”

It was very wonderful to see family and friends again. It was amazing how much love I got from youth group kids to working young adults. I don't think I've ever hugged that many people in one day in my life! But of course, with every hello there must be a goodbye. As I was walking back to my Hongdae villa with all of my luggage, I actually felt sad that I was back in Korea. That's never happened before. If going back to California and seeing beloved people again was that sweet, then surely it must be nothing but a glimpse of what it will be like to go to our real and final home that will have no goodbyes. Thanks for the great week, everyone! Thank you, Lord, for giving me a real home.

Thought of the Day: Crush.
Song of the Day: Yangpa-그대를 알고

September 17, 2007


"You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you," said the Lion.

Snugs got me the Chronicles of Narnia (all seven books compiled into one) as a Christmas gift about two years ago. I've been using it for my bathroom reading for almost a year now, and I just recently started The Silver Chair. Since it's such a fat book, I choose not to carry it around in my backpack to read on the subway or bus. Plus, people always stare at me for reading such a big English book. Anyways, I really like how C.S. Lewis describes Aslan who is supposed to be the Christ-like figure in the story. We usually tend to think of the gentleness, patience, and humility of Christ. But I'm always struck by the fear and awe of the people (and animals) who encounter Aslan. I think there is definitely a sense of majesty and beauty in Christ that we often forget. Our Lord is indeed powerful and worthy of our fear.


I have to get this off my chest. Sometimes, you can really annoy me. I don't understand you fully well no matter how hard I try. Everyone agrees that you're dirty and smell bad. People want to get away from you because you suck the life out of them. I'll admit that there are times when I want to run away from you. You change every season, don't you? But God has His reasons for allowing me to meet you. I've learned a lot from you and cannot help but love you. I'm committing at least another year to you. Happy Anniversary, Seoul.

Thought of the Day: Sunday.

September 9, 2007


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
I was hanging out with Enoch today, and he was telling me how there was a new iPod Nano that can play videos now, too. Well, as I was updating my itunes on my computer, I also learned that the iPod Touch will be coming out soon (supposedly 9/28). I just finished watching the Guided Tour for it, and it looks pretty crazy. I remember reading about it in an article about a year and a half ago before I even got my iPod Video. I remember thinking that I didn't want to get the iPod yet because it would become obsolete after the new(er) iPod comes out. Well, it's finally come out, and I want it just like I wanted my iPod last year. Freakin' technology and consumerism.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
I had a pretty crazy day yesterday. Since I'm becoming the head teacher at Elite, my boss gave me the lovely assignment of making curricula for future TOEFL and SSAT programs. The best part is that she needs it done by Tuesday after informing me about it on Friday. Can anyone guess how I spent my Saturday? Like I said, I had a pretty crazy day yesterday. English conversation from 10:30-4, unexpected dinner plans from 6-8:30, and curriculum from 8:40-4. That's right. 4 A.M. That's 7 hours behind the computer. You see why I always gotta bail, Jaepil?

But anyways, I've also got some news. During one of my English conversation sessions, I was sharing about how my church life is still pretty rough. Most people just tell me to hang in there or feel sorry for me. But my friend actually challenged me to leave the church and find a right place for worship. I acknowledged her concern and that was that. But this morning, my dad randomly told me to think about talking to the pastor regarding any more future teaching responsibilities. Perhaps, it would be a good idea to think about the importance of my church life. When I woke up this morning, I had no intention of leaving my church. Well, guess what? I'm going to be leaving my church. Pastor Cho was very understanding, and I thank God for allowing me to meet the people that I met. Thank you, friends and family, if you've been praying for me. Now I gotta find me a good church. I REALLY hate visiting churches, right Enoch?

For you losers who've been reading my blog for many years now, do you remember my private Irvine students, Jordan and Dillon, from a looong time ago? Well, they just registered at my hakwon last week. It is absolutely such a small world. Naturally, Jordan asked me, "What are you doing here?" On Thursday, they both got caught for copying each other's homework. Although they're bigger and uglier, some habits just don't break. 진짜 반갑다.

Finally, my private student, David, was listening to Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," and he thought the song was saying, "So darling, darling, ZIM...BA...BWE! Oooooh ZIM...BA...BWE! Oh ZIM...ZIMBABWE. ZIMBABWE." Goofy Koreans.

Thought of the Day: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Song of the Day: The Melody-Good Bye

September 2, 2007

September is upon us, which means that I'm done with summer intensives. Only Janet Chong would know how intense this summer program is cause she was going through it a year ago. 9am-6pm, prep work before and after work, week after week. Anyways, the hardest part of the year is over, and Elite always celebrates by having a biannual speech contest. While students are stressing over their presentations, it's a pretty awesome time for the teachers cause we judge these impressive performances and get pizza for lunch. Of course, the best part is that there's no classes!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
The next best thing about Speech Contest is that you get a 1 week vacation after it's all over. I've been planning and planning to go to Jejudo, but I had to switch plans due to my dad's business project that didn't even go down. Anyways, my dad and I resorted to Plan B and borrowed my cousin's car to raise havoc throughout the outskirts of Korea.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
I hadn't driven in months, but my dad made sure I did plenty in Korea. All I gotta say is that it is a true comfort to drive in American streets with logical street signs and drivers. Did you know that you can make left turns on certain reds when there's no cars?

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Coed bathrooms are hard to put up with.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Can you believe those gas prices? If you do the math, that's approximately $13/gal. How do you like them apples, California?

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Our first stop was at Junju, home of our beloved Bibimbap.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
When it comes down to it, 비빔밥 is 비빔밥. However, this was probably the best one I've ever had in my life.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
We stopped by this random place to ask for directions. Country folk are the nicest people in the whole world. I'd been in Korea one month shy of a year, but I had never gone to a 찜질방...until this roadtrip. My dad and I decided to crash at one cause it was cheap and CHIIILL. I'm a super light sleeper, but I was so relaxed that I fell asleep even with the TV on and an ahjushee snoring nearby. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures of the place.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
This is 지리산, Korea's third largest mountain. It actually extends into three different provinces, but our goal was to get to the peak.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Cool clouds moving throughout the mountain.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's a crazy stack of rocks that we saw at one of the peaks. Unfortunately, we had to commit three extra hours if we wanted to get to the highest point of the mountain. We decided to call it quits and spend more time in other parts of Korea.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
We were starved after our hike so we decided to try some 손만두 and 찐 빵. We were especially attracted after seeing that it was open for 40 years (rare for any Korean business). And no wonder! It was the best mandoo I've ever had in my life...all handmade, bitesize, and...

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
CHEAP!!!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
One thing I never got sick of looking at was the ricefields. This country is seriously so full of green. Very nice.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Next, we went way down south to a city called 여수. Since it was right by the water, the streets reminded me a lot of San Francisco.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's their little Golden Gate Bridge. You might recognize it from certain movies or dramas.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
We took a little fairy around the bay since the weather was so nice.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's the fairy's cute little bathroom that I doubt anyone would use. I think you'd have to be in a sitting position to even enter the convenient thing.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
When we got off the fairy, we climbed up this heinous set of stairs to go up this hill with a nice view. When we got to the top, we were welcomed by these retarded looking dogs. Apparently, zoos call them goats.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's the nice view of the city.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's a far away picture of a nearby island called 안동도.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's a close up picture of the nearby island. It reminds me of the Dark Island from C.S. Lewis' "Dawn Treader."

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Guess what we decided to have for lunch the next day (again)?

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
This little store was actually in the middle of nowhere by the side of the road. The owners opened this place up about a year ago after having an unsuccessful business in Seoul.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Here's the view from outside the store.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
As were driving up 지리산...

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
we met this mountain man who told us that we could through this crazy off-road course (note: when I say "mountain man," I mean he straight up lives in the mountains, living off the water and whatever he can find to eat. It's like beyond homeless). Although the picture looks whatevers, it was one bumpy and rocky ride full of thrills. You never knew what would come out of those woods and always feared getting stuck in the mud or getting a flat tire. Luckily, we got through the Indiana Jones ride safely after 30 min.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
After a long night of driving and getting lost, we finally arrived at a place near another mountain called 주왕산. My dad had always wanted to come here cause he heard it was super beautiful. Unfortunately, it was pouring cats and dogs the whole day in the south, so they closed down the mountain. My dad was quite disappointed especially since we went through ALOT of trouble to get there. The previous night, I had driven for seven straight hours in the dark through thunder and rain with no streetlights or cars. Not a happy camper at all.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
As we were walking back to our car, we both laughed when we saw this ice cream. Everything is "one shot" with Koreans. My brother probably remembers the Korean guy who would always say, "ONE SHOT!" before he shot the basketball. Freakin' ridiculous.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
We decided to visit the cities that my dad used to live in as a child. He had to move around a lot since my grandfather was a principal who had to change schools every year.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
As you can see, some country folk have some unfortunate living conditions.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
We stopped by this one convenient store to get some ice cream. When we came in, there was only one light bulb on with an old lady all alone. If you look in the back, you can see her room that practically looks like a small cave. No light, no family, and probably, not too many friends.

For our last dinner, we stopped by this random restaurant near 평창. As usual, the owners were super nice and loved to make conversation. One interesting thing that he said to us was that "Seoul is the most pitiful place in the country." Isn't it ironic how so many Seoul residents pity the country people? As I was driving into Seoul and getting stuck in traffic, it just occurred to me that Seoul is a super big city. I've been to Busan and even accidentally ended up in Daegu (third biggest city in Korea), but nothing can compare to Seoul. I believe that I live in a very particular city in the whole world. The trip was tiring but quite eye-opening. I love our country!

There's this thing called Dr. Fish that's getting pretty big in Korea. You basically dip your feet into a pool full of these tiny fish that eat the bacteria off your feet. Prairie took me to the one in Shinchon.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Look how happy we look.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
But seriously, Prairie really needs to shave her legs. Just kidding. This place was packed with people so there weren't as many fish. It was still pretty cool though.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
I also spent time with my tutor student named David. He's a Mokdong junior high student who abhors studying. According to him, his "head is crazy." He wanted to take me out to watch Ratatoille. Unfortunately, it was already taken out of theatres, so we watched a random Korean movie called 사랑방 선수와 어머니 that turned out to be fun.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Finally, my dad bought 삼겹살 for Enoch and the Park sisters since he never met Enoch before and the Parks will be leaving Korea really soon. This was a pretty good dessert place that Priscilla took us to after dinner. Chocolate pancakes they had.

I go back to work tomorrow. I feel like this update took up half my vacation. Stay cool, everyone!

Thought of the Day: Mosquito.
Song of the Day: Norwegian Recycling-How 6 Songs Collide