Natural Animals [sic]

Something that was said to me about animals this weekend triggered a thought. When I was in graduate school I moved into an apartment that bordered the university campus. A tree-lined fence served as the border. One day I saw a not unfamiliar sight: a big bird was beating up on little birds. A large crow was antagonizing a bunch of little sparrows, annoying them mercilessly. Then, suddenly, in the blink of an eye, the sparrows, tiny as they were, turned on the crow and pecked it to death. It was over in a second or two. Stunned, I wondered at the viciousness of the sparrows, but quickly decided that they had only been protecting themselves. Still, it was a moment in nature that was powerful , perhaps for its spontaneity.

Microwave Rice

A few years ago some students told me that microwave rice was good, and I was quite shocked. First, I did not even know that such a food product existed in Korea, and, second, I immediately thought that no self-respecting Korean would eat such a thing. Rice cookers (simple kitchen machines that steam rice) are so ubiquitous here and fresh rice is such a standard part of meals (often 3 a day) that it seems like a crazy adventure into the "fast food" world to consume microwave rice.

So I gave it no more thought.

Until last week, when I discovered that my new apartment has a microwave, my first such machine in Korea.

Right away I remembered the past conversation, and so I bought some microwave rice to try.

Rating: damn good.

I was shocked once again, but I guess that in a rice-consuming nation if you are going to put out an "instant-rice" product then it has to be good.

I tend to think that microwaves are not natural and therefore that I should not use them much, but, dammit, they are so convenient. And rice cookers can be messy and take time to clean.

So, pop a rice package in for 1 and 1/2 minutes, toss some kimchi on top, and there is breakfast . . .

Feels Like a New Beginning

Aside from the fact that it is sunny and warm out, it feels like the beginning of a new year. I'm in a new location in South Korea, and tomorrow will begin teaching at a new academy. This time, instead of being the only foreign teacher, I will be working with two other native speakers and several Korean teachers. One of my employers is a foreigner, and both of them are committed to providing a sound educational environment. I wish I had found this place last year, though I am content to be here now.

My living environment is also very different, and some aspects of it will take some getting used to. I will post some pics later, but today just want to note feelings (as visual images often draw too much attention).

I am living in a large/tall (18 story) apartment building, in an efficiency-style apartment. It is comfortable, and is really not such a big change. What is profoundly different is the atmosphere outside. My old apartments in Korea were in smaller cities, whereas I am now living in a Seoul "satellite" city (essentially a new suburb, purposely built, connected by one of the subway lines). My old apt.s were in neighborhood areas, whereas now I step out into a metropolitan pedestrian area.

I think it will take some time to get used to the crowds of people. There are many restaurants, bars, shops, etc. in this area; I am essentially living in the center of a crowd of high-rise apartment buildings, and many of the people from those buildings come to this central area to eat, drink, and shop. One indicator is that my building has 7 (yes, seven) basement levels of parking (I'm not sure how big each level is, but still . . .).

On Vacation

I am currently in the U.S. on vacation between jobs in South Korea. I'm visiting my family and, other that some bureaucratic hassles with getting a new working visa for Korea, am enjoying myself. Had fennel and kalamata olives on my salad yesterday, with a side of extra sharp, aged cheddar cheese. Hard to do that in most of Asia.

Around the beginning of May I will begin teaching English again, but this time at a private academy (hagwon) in Seoul. I'm looking forward to it!:)

Dude, I forgot how to park my car!

As I will be leaving Korea soon, if only temporarily, I decided to take and post these pics. Normally I would just sigh in disgust and walk right past. After all, this is the standard parking practice in Korea. I have seen three parking tickets issued in the 3+ years I have been here. The people don't seem to care and the government sure as hell doesn't care, despite the millions of dollars they could gain in ticket fees. Rebranding Korea, take a look.

Interesting Ride--Well, the Middle Part, Anyway.

I was riding a highway bus today, and we were cruising along at a good clip, when I--sitting at the very back of the bus in the raised 'clear view' seats--happened to glance at the front of the bus, out the windshield--just in time to see a tire on the big dirt-hauling truck (also moving at a good clip) directly in front of us blow. Did I actually see the tire blow? No. I heard it. An explosive sound, so loud outside that it was clearly audible inside the bus. What I did see was an immediate large, gray-black cloud engulfing the space between the truck (where it had once been visible) and the bus, where, for a second, I sat thinking, "We're gonna wreck on the truck. Shit."

We did roll over the blown tire treads and roll through the cloud of smoke and debris, but fortunately the driver of the truck had his (I have never seen a female construction truck driver in Korea) wits about him, and maneuvered the truck to the side of the road as we cruised past.

I was glad then that I do choose to wear my seatbelt on highway bus rides (the city buses having no seatbelts).

10 minutes later I was asking myself, "Are we there yet?"

Signs of Spring

Some of the trees near the oceanside path where I walk in the morning are blossoming--Yeah!