Support Ruth
Last year, 7/7, a close friend of my sister (whom I have known since she was 7 years old) was taking the London subway, when a bomb exploded on the train she was riding. She has consequently been suffering from deafness and emotional trauma. Despite this, she is running in the London Marathon this year, hoping to raise money for the RNID, a UK-based charity for people with hearing problems.
If you wish to support her and this charity, please make a donation to
her site.
Japan
This week, I went on a trip to Japan. Unfortunately we did not get to see much, but I have taken some photographs of anything I found interesting.
Kimchi Chocolate
Kimchi Chocolate
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.I always said, that Koreans love Kimchi so much, so Kimchi-flavoured chocolate must exist. However, in Gunsan, I never saw any. At the airport, lo-and-behold, was an expensive box of Kimchi chocolate, the evidence presented here for all to witness.
Choochoo
Choochoo
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.The actual train we took from the airport to Namba/Osaka. Actually we initially stumbled exhausted on to the slowest, stop-at-every-stop-and-wait-10-minutes train. At one of the stops, a faster train pulled up on the other side of the platform. We took the opportunity and ran across the platform to the other train, arriving at least half an hour earlier at our desination.
Rapit Transit
Rapit Transit
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.The Rapit Transit service which runs directly from the airport to Namba. This is the train we should have got, but too stupid to notice it.
Korean Embassy
Korean Embassy
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.Not nearly as fancy or exciting as I expected.
Shopping Street
Shopping Street
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.This was outdoors but indoors, with a cover rather than a proper roof. The shops were so expensive, and I whined that I was not able to buy anything I wanted, as I dragged the boys around with me. However, I bought myself a pair of posh chopsticks and a calligraphy brush...which made nice souvenirs.
Lotteria in Japan
Lotteria in Japan
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.I was amazed when I saw this. I thought that Lotte/Lotteria was exclusively Korean...turns out I was wrong.
Apparently, the story is the owner's parents are both Korean, but the owner himself was born and raised in Japan.
Hotel we stayed in
Hotel we stayed in
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.After visiting the embassy, we walked around for 3/4 hour looking for an affordable place to stay. No such luck. In the end, all 3 of us slept in the same room at $150 per night...the boys in one bed, and me in the other. Not the ideal situation, but we had no choice.
Osaka by Day
Osaka by Day
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.Reminded me very much of London.
Osaka by night
Osaka by night
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.
The Lads on the Town
The Lads on the Town
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.Tim and Mike...
Bicycles
Bicycles
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.Every now and then we would see a cluster of bicycles huddled together at the side of the street. Both during the day and at night, they were rarely locked...such is the trust and low crime rate in Japan. What has happened to Western society, where we cannot leave so much as a old bicycle unchained without fear of it getting stolen?
Pig Hip
Pig Hip
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.The first bar we went to. The boys came back here after I went to bed.
Jenga
Jenga
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.The girls had lots of games behind th bar, which kept the boys amused for a while.
Some time later...
Some time later...
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.
Hey, Mr DJ
Hey, Mr DJ
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.After 15 or so minutes of wandering we were drawn to the groovy sound of reggae. Taking the lift, we found ourselves in an empty Reggae bar, though the staff seem to be having a good time anyway. The DJ was getting in the swing of things, while the bar tender grooved around the bar.
Person-Lampost
Person-Lampost
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.This lamp-post was in the shape of a person, though this photograph did not turn out very well. For one reason or another, it was not lit up.
Mike and Bar Tender
Mike and Bar Tender
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Mike proudly clutching his bottle of Guinness as they groove to the mellow sounds of Reggae.
When we arrived in Japan,(upon looking at his passport and realising that he is an Irishman, was questioned by immigration if he was carrying excess quantities of alcohol. The reputation goes before him...
Gettin' Down
Gettin' Down
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Bar tender was obviously enjoying himself...
Coke in a Bottle?
Coke in a Bottle?
Originally uploaded by LouiseL.Mike got this from a shop at the airport. It looks like a bottle but is metal, so is also a can. Or just a metal bottle...
TV on Mobile Phones
Before I left for Korea, I watched a gadget/technology programme with my family. It featured Korean technology giant Samsung releasing a mobile phone into the domestic market that can tune into TV. Last week I hopped into a taxi after arriving in Gunsan on the bus. The taxi driver, after a short conversation about his family, immediately began to show off his
TV-cum-mobile phone. He invited me to watch TV as he drove me to the opposite side of the city.
As I suspected back in England, watching TV from a screen that is the size of two UK postage stamps is difficult, and needless to say, a complete waste of time, in my opinion. Some people may enjoy this sort of thing, but it certainly is not for me.
I remember the days when a mobile phone was exactly that: a mobile phone. No fancy gadgetory or add-ons. Call me old-fashioned, but it seems that these days the mobile phone is merely a low-key feature on a hand-held multi-media device. Why bother calling it a mobile phone?
Nowadays I get frustrated when buying a mobile phone. They have all this extra stuff that I neither want nor need (a camera is now standard in Korea)...and I end up paying extra for it. I just want a mobile phone!!!
"It has an MP3 player!" declared the salesman.
"I already have an MP3 player that does a better job. Why would I need another one?" I wanted to say.
My father told me that he had heard that Japan are bringing out a revolutionary new mobile phone...a mobile phone that is simply a mobile phone (with text function). It will be interesting to see if it hits off.
EunHui
EunHui
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Last weekend I took a trip to Gunsan, where I used to teach. There I met up with Claire, Dana and Eun-jeong, whom I had not seen in quite a long time. Eun-jeong introduced me to Eun-hui, a close friend of hers who lives in Seoul. After meeting each other, Eun-hui realised that we were on the same bus together on the Friday night, travelling from Seoul to Gunsan.
The hat matches her personality so well, so I had to take this photograph.
The Gang
The Gang
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.The Joongnang SLP teachers. Left to right: Rachel, Mike (from Ireland), Tim (from Canada) and Hye-Jin (aka Erin).
It is Hye-Jin's 25th birthday this sunday, so we went to a kablichip to celebrate.
Soju Yeoja
Soju Yeoja
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Me, giggling through a mouthful of Soju.
Masks
Masks
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.On a few subway stations I have seen glass cabinets containing 'emergency masks', plus accompanying instructions. From my (limited) experience of the over-crowded Seoul subway system, it seems that there is not nearly enough masks for everyone.
I wonder, in an emergency situation, to get at the masks do we just slide open the doors, or smash the glass?
Mask Instructions
Mask Instructions
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.1) Open in manner of a condom packet
2) roll out and play peek-a-boo though the yellow plastic
3)Place bag over head (NOT in manner of condom)
4)Pull chords till you choke, thus defeating the object.
청계천
청게천
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Cheongkye-cheon is a steam (cheong=stream) that flows into the Han river...the river that runs through the middle of Seoul. This photograph was taken in Jungro.
Jungro
Jungro
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Jungro is an area in Seoul which has a high concentration of restaurants, bars, noraebangs, DVD bangs, shops and the like. Along the main street there is a long 'piano' on the ground (not shown here), thus the street is aptly named 'Piano Street'.
Yeah...I know this photograph is terrible.
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.The nearby subway station has an enormous bookshop that also sell books in English...even Molecular Biology text books in English! I took the opportunity to do some research for my hagwon by browsing through the children's book section, and came away with a few ideas. It was nice to see some of the books from my childhood eg Roal Dahl, Anne of Green Gables series, plus a book with a wonderful title (scroll below).
My Biography
My Biography
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.A story about Lulu who likes to paint, and in so doing make a mess everywhere.
Lulu is my nickname which I have had since childhood. In England I rarely tell anyone about it because of the likelyhood of toilet-related jokes. Here in Korea, LooLoo is the name of a type of Korean super-toilet, thus they don't know about it either. These days I have come to accept my destiny as being associated with toilets, so I have no qualms about posting the fact all over the internet.
Studying Hard...
Studying Hard...
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.The boys are teaching themselves Korean. Of course, the first thing you should start with is the alphabet. Listening to k-k-k-k....a-a-a-a-a d-d-d-d from two grown men was so amusing that I asked my supervisor to take this photograph. She later added the thought bubble:
How can I read this? Korean is difficult :( Michael is studying really well...I must study harder!
My supervisor wrote this in baby-talk, seeing as all the women think they are both so cute!
A New Year
I am nearing the end of my first week teaching at Jungnan SLP. So far no-one has a full time-table. We only have classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (the same classes on each day), but there is so much paperwork to do on Tuesday and Thursday (because it is a new branch) that we are kept busy regardless. We are assigned classes in pairs, one foreign teacher and one Korean teacher...so much better than my last place where it was just me and 5 Korean teachers to liase with! I slowly settingly into my new apartment, so far having raided the chon-won markets for bits and pieces that I might need.
Next Monday I am going to Japan to get my visa. I will not leave to go to the airport until all our classes are finished at 6pm. The other two foreign teachers are coming with me to get theirs, which makes me feel more safe than the notion of going alone. After visiting the Korean embassy we will fly back to Korea the next day.Last weekend was spent at Sokcho, a small but bussling town in the neighbouring province east of Seoul. Unwittingly I had chosen a very popular destination for New Year. It seemed that every Korean and his dog had flocked to the mountains and the piers to celebrate the coming new year....to watch the first sun of the new year appear over the mountains and sea.
Tomorrow night I am travelling to Gunsan to catch up with a couple of friends. It has been almost 5 months, and so I am really looking forward to seeing them again.
Father Christmas comes to Gwanak SLP
Father Christmas comes to Gwanak SLP
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Father Christmas found time in his busy schedule to visit the Kindergarden (international age 4-6 year olds) of Gwanak SLP. One of the foreign teachers found a willing volunteer amoungst his friends to pose as Santa...and he did it so well! All the children answered the usual kind of questions "what's your name? what is your favourite colour? Do you like snow?" with a shy awe that was adorable. I wish I was that age again.
Ripping open the presents
Ripping open the presents
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Kindergarden kids tearing open the presents that Father Christmas gave them (on behalf of their parents).
Seoraksan
Seoraksan
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.The entrance to the national park, that houses hundreds of peaks and a few temples and ruined fortresses. I noticed that there were some red leaves still attached stubbornly to the trees. Not sure on the significance of the bear.
We came here to visit Gwongeumseong, which according to legend was built overnight by a Mr Gwon and a Mr Gim, to fend off enemies. In 1254 it was used as a refuge when the Mongols invaded.
Icy Valley
Icy Valley
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.I took this about half way through the cable car journey. I was suprised at how little snow there was on the mountains, I expected alot more. Perhaps we just came on the wrong day. Is that a frozen river in the valley?
Flying off Seoraksan Mountain
Flying off Seoraksan Mountain
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Super Songsu, showing us how it is meant to be done. None of the slip-sliding malarky. Just fly!
The summit
The summit
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.This is the summit of Seoraksan, and what is left of the fortress that once stood here. Most people only got as far as were the people are in the picture. All the way along the path from the cable car to the summit the snow had been worn (by thousands of pairs of feet)to a thin sheet of ice, making it dangerous to walk.
There was no view at the top, which was disappointing, but it was fun being out in the fresh air, and sliding around on our backsides.
Mountain King
Mountain King
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.Songsu near the summit, feeling proud he made it without causing himself any grievous injuries.
Lights on the Horizon
Lights on the Horizon
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.7.15am, lights from fishing nets, pehaps.
Mountains from Sokcho Pier
Mountains from Sokcho Pier
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.7.30am....
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by Eleruen.I would like to say that the light beyond the lighthouse is the sunrise, and that it was breath-takingly beautiful, but that would be lie. That is just the lights from the fishing nets. It was far too cloudy to see the sun come up over the sea; it just went from pitch black, to grey, to a lighter shade of grey (ie daylight). Songsu and I compensated for this by marking the begining of the new year with a hot drink from a market stall.
