3 Animated Holiday Advertisements (Short)

Watch these 3 ads:

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/news/3-animated-holiday-ads-to-melt-your-heart/

Parking in Gunpo

Perhaps this driver ran out of gas, had a mechanical break-down, or decided to take a stroll, but parking in the middle of the street in a cross-walk zone should come with a hefty fine.

Alas, pictures like this are all too common.

Trump

I try to stay out of politics on this blog, but sometimes things need to be said:

Trump is a divisive, sexist, xenophobic 'person' who does not deserve to even be in the qualifying race for President of the United States.

But that is just my opinion.

Class Shopping

Last week I took 6 students from a young class (3rd grade) outside the academy to buy some snacks/candy.

It was a surprise.

First I told them that every student needed ten coins from my coin cup.

(We have played money games before, so they thought they knew what was coming.)

Then I went went out of the classroom, returned with my jacket, and said, "Let's go!"

The students looked at me as if I were demented.  "Go where?"

"Go shopping!" I replied.  "Your book says 'go shopping', so let's go."

They continued to stare a me.

Now, to be fair, we have never, ever ventured outside of the academy before, and I knew that I was going to be vastly entertained by their reactions to my plan.

"Grab your jackets and line up!" I told them.

"Really?" (Repeated 5+ times.)

"Teacher, really?"

"Yes," I said, laughing. I started walking toward the elevators.

I think it wasn't until we got into the elevator that they actually believed me, that we were going outside.

However, I told them, "This is still English class, so you need to speak English outside, ok?"

One girl looked at me and asked, "Even to Korean people?"

"Yes!" I replied, chuckling.

So we went to the candy store and had a great time, and, of course, when we got back, one of the students asked, "Teacher, can we go next time too?"

Sanbon Department Store + New Pics

It appears that Sanbon (Gunpo-si) will be getting its first department store (Lotte) sometime next year.

Work on the site has been progressing for a year and a half, about 8 months of which was spent digging (and blowing up rocks) for 3 basement levels (probably parking).

(The site is across from the train tracks, on the western side of Sanbon station; as the train leaves Sanbon station, headed toward Surisan, you can look out the right side windows and see it (for a second or two)).

This week the workers started attaching siding to the top floor (presumably a cinema).

Here are a few pics, from two different sides:

New pics:

The Doctor

I went to the doctor yesterday.

I have been sick for about a week--sneezing, a runny nose, a bit of sinus stuffiness, etc.

Usually, especially when the seasons change, I get a mix of allergies that inevitably lead to a sinus infection.

That time seemed to have come, especially since I had an additional sore throat Sunday night.

So I went to see the doctor.

The ear, nose, and throat guy (E.N.T.).

His office is in my building, as is a pharmacy, and, since with South Korea's good health care I don't have to pay more than $5 for a visit to the doctor or $5 for medicine, it is a good opportunity to heal.

However, and I think that I have written about this before, there is the issue of the nasal camera.

This doctor has a slender metal stick, atop which is a camera.

While you sit in the (fortunately high-topped) chair, he brings out this little wand and says, "Don't move or you might have some discomfort."

Based on past experience I freeze.

I tense my body ad my head.

He says, "Relax," but I can't, because I know that one little movement will hurt.

The metal stick-camera is about 3 inches in length, and it always surprises me how far he can move it up my nasal cavity.

There is a video camera next to my head and I can see into my nose and view my mucus membranes--it isn't a pretty picture, especially when you are sick.

The doctor prescribes 3 days worth of antibiotics, which sets off another round of foreboding, as I know the camera will be used again.

"Come back again in 3 days," he says.

I am thinking about appealing to him on my next visit:

"Doctor, I am still sick. I know it.  Please give me 4 more days of medicine and no camera this time.  OK?"