What a powerful documentary!

Thought of the Day: Speech Contest!
Song of the Day: Lee Ki Chan-관심 밖의 나 (그래도 널)

Every time I meet up with Jaepil, I feel like we always end up talking about money and how life is so tough without it. But at the end of the day, poverty and struggle is all relative. I remember when my hiphop teacher (originally from Virginia) told our class that she couldn't find "the ghetto" when she first visited Compton, LA. Apparently, the west coast slums didn't even compare to what she had seen or experienced. I wonder what Haitians would think if they visited California. I really like watching movies like City of God, Blood Diamond, and most recently, Ghosts of Cite Soleil to remind me that there's millions out there who have it so much worse than I do. Not only do they lack food, justice, or love; they lack our Lord and Savior.


Happy 26,000th birthday to this sheki who's too busy to ever email me.

Thought of the Day: Smell good.
Song of the Day: OPPA-애정만세

Have you guys ever read a book called "Joey Pigza Loses Control"? Well, I never read it when I was in elementary school, but I'm reading it now for one of my classes. I was reading on the bus earlier tonight, and I came upon this one passage:

"Come on," Grandma said. "Enough of this love fest. You have to get me to the corner store 'cause they won't sell you cigs on account of your age."

LOVE FEST! Just in case you guys have forgotten about his mission support letter, make sure you keep my partner in crime in prayer, too. It ain't easy being abroad. Just in case I forget, Happy Early Birthday, Dago.

Thought of the Day: Renewal.
Song of the Day: Utada Hikaru-Beautiful World

It's been a while since I've seen a decent black movie. If you have an interest in social and racial awareness, I'd recommend SLAM. Here's a cool freestyle scene that I really liked from the movie (with strong language and profanity).


For Terrance:






Thought of the Day: "for God's sake."
Song of the Day: Utada Hikaru-Beautiful World

I've probably been deceiving many people about my life in Korea with so many "fun" pictures. Well, it's more like not telling the whole story. It would only make sense to post up pictures of the happy and interesting events of my life. I mean, who would want to see pictures of my OTL moments, right? Well, maybe some of you mean bastards out there.

Anyways, it was really good having my brother in Korea. He was here for a lil over a month, so he got a pretty good idea of what my lifestyle is like. It was really interesting for me to see someone go through so much culture shock firsthand. Any time my brother was frustrated with this or that, I could totally empathize cause I've been there (many times), too. But I also realized how much I've come to learn and understand Korea and its people. Whenever people from back home come to visit and see me, they all say that I'm still the same ol' Phil...or as my brother likes to say, "You're still the same gay brother." But you know what? I'm not the same because my perspective on many things has changed. I have come to appreciate many things that I've taken for granted like church, friends, English, and leisure. I have come to understand why Koreans drink so much, love American culture, and stay so pale and skinny. I'm learning what only life itself can teach. I am so not the same person.

One big thing that's been on my mind lately is where I'll be after my contract ends in September. Will I be at another hakwon or school? Will I be renewing my contract for another roller coaster ride at Elite? But one thing's for sure: I'm staying in Korea. So many people ask me how long I'm going to be in Korea. The safest response I give to them is "FOREVER." My plans for grad school seem so distant and unrealistic as my life is currently put on hold. Whenever people ask me what I'm eventually going to do after Korea, my junior high math teacher response sounds weaker and less confident. It's so far away, it's like a dream. Once again, I just don't know.

Church continues to be super dry. I've been in this spiritual drought for so long that it feels so normal to me now. It's gotten to the point where I can even imagine why my nonchristians relatives wouldn't want to come out to church. I mean, frankly speaking, I don't want to go to church on Sundays. I mean, what's so hard about making Christ the center of your preaching? I hear more "Amen"s than "Jesus" or "Christ." At the very least, they have relieved me and Priscilla from our teaching duties for a little bit. Anyways, if you've forgotten me in your prayers, lemme kindly ask you to remember me again.

Let's see, what else is going on in my life? Well, I've been gaining some weight ever since my brother came to Korea. I was actually doing really well with my workouts for a couple of months, but as soon as the unhealthy American sibling came in, I threw my health out the window again. I don't even bother to flatter myself in front of the mirror with my pathetic flexing. Now I just take a quick glance at my belly and rebuke myself for being heinously out of shape. I cannot wait til I'm done with summer intensives.

Speaking of summer intensives, as soon as those are over, I get the whole last week of August off. I'm going on vacation, baby! My dad and I have been talking about going to Jejudo for a while now, so I think we're going to take advantage of my break by going there. When I think about how I only have two weeks of vacation in one year, I get pretty encouraged by the thought of having several months off when I become a school teacher. Seriously, dude, the working life is tough. Vacations, holidays, and even weekends are SWEET!

Of course an update from me wouldn't be a proper update without a few pictures.


These two nightmares drive me up the wall. Of all the girls at our hakwon, they're notorious for draining and discouraging you. It's amazing what kids are capable of. I made the one on the right cry for the first time earlier this week. I was really happy and proud of myself.

Although this one looks like a nightmare, too, she's actually quite wonderful. She totally loves the camera and especially loves making ugly faces.

Simon, don't you miss your favorite niece? I love it when she calls us 삼촌.

This is one of my private students that left for Hong Kong on Thursday. Instead of punishing him for not doing any of his homework, I showed him grace by buying him some cheap pasta and beating him in Monopoly twice in less than an hour. I truly love this game...because I am the best at it. HAHA! Snugs can testify.

Here's me and Terrance celebrating our 10 year anniversary at the world famous Samgyupsal place that I take everyone to. It's terribly good to see him again and terribly good to eat there again.

Today, one of my students confessed that he really disliked Samgyupsal. Immediately, the student sitting next to him scowled and disgustedly exclaimed, "Are you Korean?!"

In the next class, I have this really annoying student who gets on everyone's nerves (especially mine). Today, he was repeatedly doing this ugly face and making high pitched noises to try to make another student laugh. After exerting so much effort to no avail, another annoyed student simply asked him, "Can I kick you in the face?"

Yesterday, in the same class, Shiljangneem came in to take one of the students who had to leave early. On his way out, he said, "Bye bye, Samurai," to the class. As Shiljangneem was closing the door, we all heard her ask him, "Who's that?" We all laughed pretty hard at that, too.

Until next time, you kids be good now.

Thought of the Day: Wish You The Best
Song of the Day: Aya Kamiki-Believin' Your Heart