Robots, Mountains, Beaches, Goesong trip

We took two days to visit Everland Park in Yongin, and drive all the way to the East Sea of Korea (Sokcho). We spent an unforgettable night in a public bathhouse/sauna (Jim-Jil-Bang) and drove north on the asian highway #7 to Goesong, and to the meeting place just south of Geumgangsan Mountain in North Korea. The further northeast that we continued to drive, the cleaner the air quality became. Having polarized sunglasses on the overcast day was an eye-opener! The smog (brown tint as seen through these glasses) was noticeable inland, then disappeared on the northeastern coast. We saw a water spout cascading off the tip of a mountain, a tank from the Korean war era, and funky Robots made from recycled engine parts, in front of a roadside cafe built inside train cars. Driving there was equally exciting, since most of us don't own a car in Korea, it was nice to be able to move around small towns, and up the coast without buying a ticket or waiting in lines. We missed Min Jae, but the trip was definitely worth it. I'm home from our journey, of course I had to see a doctor to determine I still have a bad case of bronchitis! Well, the yellow dust is 'almost' gone, but I still have loads of it trapped deep inside my lungs. It's a dangerous mixture of fine dust and hundreds of heavy metals and pollutants which originated in China. Now they are inside my lungs, hopefully, I survive with only minimal side-effects, though the "Hwangsa" (Yellow Dust) is known to cause scarring to lung tissues and other potentially hazardous long-term side effects. It's best to wear a mask while cycling outdoors during the spring season in Korea, otherwise, you end up like me visiting the local doctor's office a third time in two months! Not good, but you know it could be worse!!! ^^++ We're having a great summer so far...it's almost CANADA DAY, JULY 1ST ~SO I WILL SEND OUT THE LOVE! Blessings friends & family from the far east. Be safe & Keep in touch!

It's June 15th, 2008 - MIN JAE IS 100 DAYS!!!

Celebrations & photos have been going for about 4 days now. Min Jae is 100 days old, which is a really important milestone in Korean culture. We've taken a bunch of photos of him wearing his $1000 gold rings and bracelet, their really soft and read on the back 9999 which is the equivalent to 24K. Unbelievable, I couldn't imagine receiving this back home, especially at such as young age. So, I've met Mi Sung's grandmother and grandfather on both her mother's and father's side of the family. I've also met her father's sister (Como=father's sister/aunt) and mother's sister (EMO=mother's sister/aunt). It's interesting how long it takes to break into Korean family culture. It took me 7 years to meet a few members of her extended family, while, Mi Sung met my entire family at a wedding in Pennsylvania and the rest of my relatives still in Windsor. Hard to imagine, but this is it. Life's been interesting with this new addition to our family. Matthew James (officially) but to everyone in Korea he is Min Jae. The summer is here! Summer vacation begins in two weeks!!! Blessings & Peace & Love go out to all our friends (Windsor, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Korea, USA, UAE, Hungary, UK, etc..& Have a Safe & Happy Summer 2008!!!

Mommy & Min Jae ^^++

I took some recent shots of Mi Sung and Min Jae/Matthew. They must have had fun! Matthew is a cutie pie! We can't wait for sunny weather, I think that day we had a bunch of bright sun coming through our windows. ^^ Now, it's rainy season! Monsoons are coming soon. We're really going to use our umbrellas then. Oh! I can't buy Rain-x in South Korea...it's an incredible product to clear your windshield in rainy/highway conditions, exceptionally clear, sometimes there is no need to use wipers!!! Try it, if you haven't already...I'm trying to have it shipped from Canada via my lovely sister Christie, hope so anyways! ~Blesings from the east. Brian.

Update from South Korea

I just haven't been blogging these days, I'm living in the fast-lanes of East Asia. In Korea people say, "Bali Bali!" This expression means, "Hurry Hurry!" Of course, this is how we live. There is no general description of South Korea that could accurately portray life here. It is an up at dawn, shower and shave and jump into the car to commute to work sort of environment. Well, that summation reflects about every developed country in the world, doesn't it. It's also industrialized and so is China to the West, Northwest, and Southwest. Therefore, we must consider the prevailing westerly winds that blow, and with that comes the Great Yellow Dust from Inner Mongolia (The Gobi Desert) mixed with the fine dust and particles of Chinese origin. This cloud of brown sand tints the entire sky and leaves a trail smooth surfaces (painted surfaces/cars) and it's distinguishable during the entire daylight hours. Could this be a serious environmental problem one should consider, I believe the answer lies in living through this season in South Korea. It's inevitable. It comes after every spring and resurrects it's pollutant-punch just after the Cherry Blossoms and Fresh Spring air come to the region. There is usually an intermittent rainfall, and then the dust settles in on warm, dry westerlies. It's a shame it doesn't rain everyday, hence, the air would be void of the silicants, toxins, and other biohazardous materials that can hitch in the dusty breeze. It isn't too bad this year, when compared with the spoofage that blew over the peninsula in the winter of 2001 when I first came to Korea. There were piles of brown dust along the streets, the sky glowed brown in the haze of the afternoon sun. If the apartment window was left slightly ajar, the dust would fill the window sill and eventually accumulate on the floors, tables and chairs. It was a visit to the Gobi Desert via 1000's of Kilometers of distance afar. It's the strong westerlies in the East that take the sand so far from it's point of origin. I will wear a mask and continue to enjoy the bike rides across Kyunggi Province, anything is feasible, you learn this by living in South Korea. Mi Sung and Min Jae and all her extended family are fine, we're all doing well and enjoying our freetimes together. Thank God for Life! ^^++ Blessings and thanks for visiting our blog from asia, not always up-to-date, but better than nothing at all...Peace, Warm Wishes ~^^~ Brian ^^++

Wonju/Chiaksan - Buddha's Birthday Weekend

First Speeding Ticket in S. Korea ~Nice Job!~

I was send a lovely gift in the mail, a speeding ticket for 18 km/h over the limit. Nice one!!! Total debt 40,000 Won ($40 USD). I've been getting around on four wheels lately, what a change from riding the subways and buses for 1.5 years. Today was "voting day" for provincial/municipal elections, a national holiday for universities too! Hooraah! I spend the holiday on a bike ride around town, getting a set of ball joints replaced at a BOSCH service center (great service, complete replacement, parts and labor was only $30 bucks!). I've learned that you can service an old beater inexpensively, because these service centers are competing with new car sales, in Korea, everyone wants to drive something NEW. I prefer the late 96' Kia Sephia to slam the pavement, weave the traffic, and shake down traffic tickets. I will never have to worry about getting a scratch or a dent either, this one's full of them. But I take pride in my first KIA, and wax her up (even the dented and scratched surfaces) perhaps so she can bask in her final glory. Teaching is a chore. Day off was a chore too. Changed diapers about 20 times today, they are in the wash now, should be coming close to "hang'em up" inside. Mi Sung and Matthew are wiped out, they're both sleeping. Today is officially spring, have you noticed all the Cherry blossoms in full-bloom? These days, I wonder if anyone still reads this blog...and who reads this blog?? Oh, I was accepted into both a MA program and B.Ed at WESTERN, in London, Ontario. Excited? Yes. Nothing else to report, Korea is still forever a home I never quite got used to, and still live there. Blessings to all friends & family ~Brian,Mi,Min ^^

Trip to a Korean University Mecca - MT Training

Many of my current freshmen EFL students attended a campout in the mountains bordering Kangwon and Gyunggi Provinces. We had excellent weather and the schools were out in full-force, most minbaks and yeogwons that host the MT (membership training) were booked solid for this weekend. It was another ice-breaker with students, and there was time for introductions of student administration and our professorial staff made short mentions and bowed out for much of the night. The festivities were exciting, students who normally have 0 energy in my classes, were running at maximum potential to get blitzed in the Korean drinking games. It was safe, secure, and the students were responsible while being unsupervised. They cooked fantastic food, including the pork, Sam-gap-sal...loads of it, and other dished were shared and prepared throughout the course of the evening. Finally, Prof. Lee and Prof. Robert and Alex and I stepped out, while students went on their prowling until reportedly 4am. Good for them, I was glad to get back to the motel for some sleep!!!