Buddha's Birthday [5/24/2007]

Fred, Sharon, and I decided to go visit 석모도, a little island near 강화 because we wanted to get out of Seoul, get some fresh air, and see the country. There were four things on the agenda: go bike-riding on the island, see the house from 시월애, see 보문사, a Buddhist temple, and visit 민모루 해수욕장, the only beach on the island. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain the entire time we were there and the 시월애 house washed away after a typhoon, so we were only able to see the temple.

Afterwards we watched Fred get a haircut, ate 삼계탕 and 닭칼국수, ate Red Mango, and went to a 보드게임방, where I played Monopoly for the third time in my life.

Highlights:
-Sharon's misplaced cell phone. "야! 여기 다리 어디써?"
-The 5 minute ferry boat ride and watching Fred throw crackers at the seagulls.
-Sharon slipping and falling down a flight of stairs.
-Climbing a million flight of stairs to see Buddha engraved on the side of the mountain.
-Sharon and I getting completely drenched and Fred merely getting splashed.
-Countryside 막걸리.
-Walking in the rain and breathing fresh air.
-Listening to old school hiphop with Sharon.
-Watching narcoleptic Fred conk out within seconds of sitting in a moving vehicle.
-Using a hole-in-the-ground toilet for the first time in fifteen years.
-Wigs and hammers.
-Monopoly bringing out the worst in everyone.
-Speed Scrabble.
-Fred and Sharon.

어버이날

It's 어버이날 next Tuesday so we're having the kids write letters to their parents in English, correcting it, and then having them make cards for their parents.

This is what my Level 4, 9 year old Heather wrote:

"To my dad:

Thanks you father. My teaching and good school in the study. I love you and good dress and good crown. I love very you. And you love me yes or no? Father very very thanks and I love mom and dad"

She's so cute in her posh little princess clothes and her Harry Potter glasses. I'll have to post a picture of her sometime.

Coughing.

My junior year at Berkeley something happened, so now I have this recurring cough that pops up whenever I get really cold. It's been about a week now and I'm sick of coughing. I think sleeping on the floor with only a sheet may have possibly caused this. Korea's weather, its dust and air pollution, and my trekking up hills everyday is not helping the situation.

Rain.

I love it when it rains and was especially ecstatic the day it rained in Korea. To commemorate the occasion, I decided to purposely leave my umbrella at home so I could thoroughly enjoy walking in the rain. Imagine my dismay when my co-workers told me that the rain in Korea is so polluted that it is more like acidic rain and it could actually harm me to go about without an umbrella.

English.

My English abilities are slowly fading and I find it increasingly difficult to articulate myself in English. During my breaks, I've been assigned to edit textbooks and the simplicity of the grammatical errors have me racking my brain in frustration.

Church.

I went to Jubilee on Sunday with Fred and Sharon and literally forgot that I was in Korea for the entire service. I was a little taken aback by the number of 교포s and foreigners speaking English without a Korean accent, but it was nevertheless a welcome relief.

Work.

My 학원 must be the worst 학원 in the history of all the 학원들 in Korea. It's just my rotten luck that I didn't even know how bad I had it until I spoke with Fred and Sharon and we compared our working conditions. It's funny how bad they feel for me, but it's not funny when I realize that I'm stuck with this place for at least the next few months. It has been exactly thirteen days since I began working here, and I knew I hated it from day two. It's amazing to see how with each passing day, something new happens here to warrant an even greater feeling of animosity.


Anyway, here's something fobby:

Teacher: "Bad times."
Student: "침대 시간?"
Teacher: "Bad, not bed. 나쁜 시간."

Korea...

...has been thus far a crazy experience, stretching me emotionally, physically, and definitely financially. I believe these past 11 days have been some of the hardest in my life. I have moved three different times, have heard more people having sex than I ever want to hear again, and have some of the world’s craziest bosses.

Anyway, I am slowly adjusting and things are better. I met Fred for lunch today and was unbelievably glad to see someone familiar who I didn’t have to front with. His 학원 and mine are so different it’s not even funny.

It’s crazy to be in Korea while the Virginia Tech thing is going on… it’s been interesting to hear the responses of my Korean co-workers but at times like this, I feel an even larger cultural disparity and I wish I was back in Los Angeles witnessing firsthand what Korean-Americans are going through. Maybe it’s just my co-workers, but all I’ve been hearing are very superficial comments about how “싸이코” the guy was and how his picture makes him look like a “변태.” But again, the co-workers who are making these comments are the abovementioned crazy people. I’ve also noticed that most pictures and interviews being portrayed are Caucasian people… something that’s been sort of bothering me because I feel like there is probably a significant number of equally distraught Korean-American students affected by this. But maybe I’m being biased.

My weekend plans will be shopping at the famous 동대문, working, going to Costco (I’m very excited about this one), and possibly checking out a church with Fred and Sharon. It’s nice to have plans.

The Chronicles of Compton
Today a defendant waiting to be arraigned attacked the bailiff and escaped, wearing only a sheet.


Word of the week
sporting pass: snitching to police as you drive around with them pointing out crimes and criminals



Spicy tuna handrolls, yellowtail sushi, and vanilla/red bean/green tea ice cream make me so happy. =D

It's only natural that when someone smiles or waves at you, you automatically respond by smiling or waving back to the friendly gesture.


Maybe that's why it took two hours of 400 leering Hispanic and African-American half-naked, tatted criminals to realize I should not respond.


Anyway, I hope no one I know goes to jail. And if you do, I'll teach you how to make nunchucks out of plastic sandwich wrappers and what to do if the Mexican Mafia tags you as a "green light." And how to make your own foul Pruno.

I finally jumped on the bandwagon a million years later and created an Ebay account.


Welcome to Ebay, itsrainingjayne!

What do you do when your married friend suddenly tells you that he's been having non-platonic thoughts about your very single girl friend?

Finally getting an ID for Compton. A $30 lunch at Hama Sushi with seriously good yellowtail and spicy tuna handrolls. Japanese Village Plaza.


Daikokuya with its famous Daikoku Raumen.


A Dyson vacuuum for $266.20, originally $549.00. Now that's a slick deal. =]

John Legend is BEAUTIFUL.



I am blissfully happy. No other words.




Quick notes: sparkling eyes, deep baritone voice, BR briefs, camera awkwardly shoved in our faces, wanting to be Charisma, forgetting our crankiness and tiredness in an instant, believing he was crooning love songs directly to us, Apple Pan, our $45 dollar experience of the night.

Watched Notes on a Scandal with Susan and Liz. Walked about 1 mile up and then Hollywood Blvd looking for a freakin bacon-wrapped hotdog and Mexican corn until we finally gave up and ate at Pink's. Which is definitely overrated. We also refused to help a man sitting in his Benz who asked Susan to purchase him a hotdog. Turns out he was handicapped and apparently was so affronted he stuck around after wheeling himself to the front and asking the Asian girl in front of us if she was the one who refused to help him. Sigh.

I fully acknowledge being an obsessed movie-screening whore, so much so that most of what I've seen has become a jumbled discordant mess that I can't seem to sort through.

Children of Men, however, was an exception.

The Good Shepherd is definitely a movie I need to watch again. There are just too many white men for me to keep track of.





I came home to a pleasant surprise. It's so unbelievably comforting to know that I've gotten in somewhere, though not necessarily my first choice. I finally feel progressive in taking that next step towards my future aspirations. Thank you, God. You are good.

There is some beautiful acting in D. Aronofsky's The Fountain.

I went to my very first baseball game last night, Angels v. Boston Red Sox. It was surreal, everything was brightly lit, the players were minuscule, and I am now an erudite connoisseur of baseball. Thanks A, J, and Traydiggy. =]


Important facts about baseball that I have realized:

1. Every baseball park is designed a specific and unique way. The Angels Stadium has a waterfall. It shot fireworks into the sky every time the Angels scored.
2. The Angels were the home team because the Boston Red Sox flew over to play at the Angels Stadium. Every baseball team has their own personal stadium.
3. There is a difference between a home run and a run.
4. One inning consists of each team batting until the other team makes them get three outs. There are nine innings in baseball.
5. There are no cheerleaders nor halftime shows in baseball. But in the seventh inning, everyone sings "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." The Angels Stadium does not provide lyrics.
6. The catcher does more than flash little signs under his crotch to the pitcher.
7. There is something called a shortstop and that is an important job.
8. There is a set number of players who will continuously play throughout one game. Their names and pictures are displayed on a marquee.
9. Baseball players look a lot better with their helmets on.
10. A baseball game is always better with an ice cold beer.


And here is additional baseball terminology that A has kindly provided:

For JK.

Home Run - When a batter gets a hit that travels out of the ball park between the foul poles. Results in bringing everyone on base including the batter home.

Batting Average - Batting average. In general, an average of .300 or above is considered a good hitter.

Walk - When the pitcher throws four balls, the batter gets 1st base awarded.

Intentional Walk - When the Angels decide to play "smart" baseball, and act chicken *bleep* and walk David Ortiz in the bottom of the 9th to face Kevin Youkilis.

Ballpark Nachos - At Angels Stadium, chips and nacho cheese. Jalapeno's you must ask for at time of purchase. At Dodger Stadium, chips, nacho cheese, AND salsa. Jalapeno's all you can grab!



...





Las Brisas' Belgian waffles, fresh pineapple, hot tea, veggie wraps, and yummy salsa. Boo for the omelettes. "Hun-sater," -Dyslexic Judy. Crystal Cove Beach. Barnacles. Pretzel eating seagulls. Yoshi the leatherback turtle. Cute white babies in snorkel suits. Our wonderful future beach excursion replete with ice cold watermelon and coronas. A makeshift bikini top. Two lovely umbrellas. Great memories with my 백수건달 genius friends.

Enough with heebie jeebie middle-aged white men with Asian fetishes. And black men.


Go home and play with your wife and kids.


#1: "Do you know Drew?"
#2: "Drew? The guy who's kinda good-looking, in that sleazy way?"
#1: "I'm so glad we're able to communicate with one another."

Clearman's North Woods Inn: Cheese Bread. Red Cabbage Salad. North Woods Special Platter: scallops, chicken, steak. Whipped Butter Cheese Sauce. Blackberry Sundae.

My heart and arteries are painfully crying. I alleviated the hurt by shucking peanuts and throwing their shells onto the floor.


Walking around CPE and revisiting old memories with a lady-whore definitely has become a new favorite pastime. =]






Sometimes my parents are so freaking cute. =]

Happy 24th, Jane! =]



Mountains of salsa. Guarana. 무뚝뚝한 waiter. Beets. Hearts of palm. Ode to Drinking Song. 20 cent candle. Eager anticipation of the most perfect pearl necklace. The Gone with the Wind house. Scary streets. Castaway. Different interests. Being freaking allergic to Burbank.

sweet·bread
n.
The thymus gland or pancreas of a young animal, especially a calf or lamb, used for food.


As served at Lala's Argentine Grill:
Mollejas
Grilled, thinly cut choice beef sweetbreads


I finally found out what these are. No wonder they didn't taste like pastries.

Drinking tea really does help. Thanks, Andy. =]