"Sports Day", Choreographed to Music

A few weeks back my elementary school had what every Korean elementary school has, a Sports Day. I was really looking forward to seeing the kids run around and sit, essentially, in complete silence as I can't speak with anyone.

For those of you wondering why Mindy and I can't speak conversational Korean yet, it is a combination of many variables including: 1) Motivation is low when you are a couple and can get by just fine with miming stuff 2) Laziness. Self-explanatory.

I assumed Sports Day would involve, you guessed it, sports. What I learned was that sports were a very small part of the entire day. In reality it was more of an opportunity to bring honor to the school by showcasing the school's ability to manipulate boys into wearing insanely effeminate (yes, these are pictures of boys) clothes; march students around in a fashion that was only a tier below goose-stepping; and their ability perform choreographed sports.

[By the way, if you want to see the pictures of my extremely cute students just click here or under "Picture Albums".]

The day started with me showing up, much to my own behest as all other English teachers I knew didn't have to attend theirs. Honestly, I was, as usual, happy that I didn't listen to whining. The kids were so happy to see me and excited for me to assume the position of photographer.

Thirty minutes later the "sports" began.

Side note: I'm listening to Barry Manilow's Coppa Cabana. "...the hottest spot north of Havana...music and passion were always the fashion...have a banana".

It started out with all the kids lining up by grade (six grades, 120 students. A very small school), measured two arms length apart, all wearing white t-shirts.

Not too bad yet.

The administrators introduced the "VIP" guests, which included the town's mayor, a local school's principal, some provincial administrators, and a very wealthy financier. These individuals sat in the shade of a tent and where served tea, juice, and snacks.

Ok, this is getting a little aristocratic and Roman Coliseum on me.

What happened next was something out of McCarthy's Red Scare tactic films. The administrative dignitaries stood on the raised podium, about 10 feet above the field, and started to talk to the students with great vigor. After a brief speech I heard the popping of the speakers. Soon after, emanating from them was the indistinguishable sound of a trainer giving brief instructions then counting in Korean (something I can do). Something to the effect of

"1 and 2. 1 and 2. 1 and 2...."

The students counted in unison; stretching, squatting, twisting and turning. What topped it off was scratchy record like sound. It was a scene: Kids in matching shirts, doing choreographed stretches, on a dusty field, with flags flapping in the wind, and dignitaries looking on nodding their heads in satisfaction. I was trying to keep an open mind. I thought, hey when they get to the sports this will be more of an actual sports day then a presentation.

Side Note: I'm now listening to the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive. "You can tell by the way I use my walk I am ladies man..."

Following the stretches, the classes filed out to the blowing of whistles that was timed to their marching steps. They were moving to their next designated destinations and doing so in an orderly fashion. The youngest classes where brought to the starting line where they raced, while the most Baroqu-esque of music was playing, in groups of 3 to 4. A teacher motioned and they took off down the dusty lanes of the race track. Once crossing the finish line the 1st-3rd place finishers where grabbed, literally, and directed to stand behind the posts marked either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Every student raced and was lined up like cattle behind the previous race's placer.

After that event was finished the students were marched off the field, via direction of a choreographed flag waver, to prepare for a dance routine. Within 15 minutes the students participating in the dance were back on the field in the appropriate matching attire.

To keep this post from being redundant and too long, the day continued like this. Dance, sport, dance, dance, dance, sport. I had no idea the spontaneity and visceral nature of sport could be stripped away so quickly. Did the kids have fun? Of course they did.

You know, some Koreans may question my musical taste. Well, I question some of their passion and spontaneity.

....Where it began. I can't begin to knowing. But than I know its growing strong. Was in the spring and spring became the summer. Who'd a believed you came along. Hand touches hand! Reaches out touches me touches you...!

The Coming Reign of Ninja

Mindy and I wanted to thank all of you who voted in the "Name the Kitty" poll. The winning name was Marley and was even our favorite name of the bunch. Unfortunately for you, Mindy and I do not run a democratic blogsite nor do we advocate democracy as an acceptable rule of law for polling. About the same time the poll was ending "Marley" started to exhibit signs that did not reflect his name.

When I think of a "Marley" (ala Bob Marley) I think of reggae music, relaxation, heavy and red eye lids from using illicit fun drugs, eating alot, getting that great buddha like fat belly, and basic laziness. Marley was definitely turning out NOT to be this. Yes, he is a kitten and they do have a great deal of energy, but this kitty was just different; right down to his little side-stepping-hair-and-tail-poofed-arched back-ears-back manuever that we have yet to catch on tape. It is priceless. Marley started to attack everything, run all over the house, bouncing off walls, grabbing onto ankles, scratching, and meowing. More specifically, he would come out of nowhere performing amazing acrobatics by jumping in the air and turning upside down in mid-flight...

...oh here is now!...

Once during a certain stealthy attack I yelled out, "Geese, he is like a little Ninja!" Mindy hollered out in mid-epiphany, "That is it!!"

As usual, I was totally lost.

After careful reconstruction of her thought process coupled with me concentrating on something for a time frame greater than 20 seconds, Mindy relayed that she was saying that the cat's name should be Ninja.

I responded with furrowed brow and great disinterest, "Sounds like something a 4 year old would name his stuffed animal..."

Well, the name has stuck around and grown on me. Since then Mindy has made a great little toy for Ninja that.....

...Get off me you f$%k#ing little....

...oh, sorry. What is even cuter is that calling him Ninja is, at times, quite ironic as he can be incredibly stupid, loud, and very un-Ninja like and...

.....AHHH!...

..as you can see...

...For the love of all things decent will you please.....MINDY!!..get him off me!

...the name is sticking.

Shit, I need another band-aid.

Please Vote This November!

A few months ago I contacted my local election office...in Bellingham, WA to ensure that I received my oversea ballot. Because this election is sooo important - and the fact Mindy suggested it - I felt it necessary to do my little part for those that may be considering not voting this coming November. Folks, do us, your community, state, and country all a favor and get up off your apathetic bums and partake in democracy. If I can take the time to vote from over 5,000 miles away I am sure you can take the time to make your way to the local election office in November and do the same. If you have never registered to vote it takes minutes to do so. PLEASE, do it!

From time to time, I will be posting periodical election news on the site as a sidebar.

To be perfectly partisan, Mindy and I are hoping to come back to a "blue" America that is ready to take some incredible steps forward by putting a stop to the massive steps we have been taking backward. This is an exciting time to be apart of the American political scene. Learn the issues, become involved, engage in discussions, get riled up - do something meaningful, vote!

To follow the election, the polls, and to watch shifts in the electoral maps use this non-partisan site: Real Clear Politics.

-Scott

A Brief "Marley" and Us Update

As you can see the name Marley is in quotations. This is to denote that we have, unfortunately, not decided on his name as of yet. Marley ended up winning by a mere one vote, which might reflect some of our difficulty in deciding his name.  This is a special cat and his name is very important!   We keep waffling between Marley, Darwin (my choice), and Ninja (Mindy's choice). "Ninja" is quite fitting as he is very quick, occasionally quiet, and he is a product of Asia.  Where it doesn't fit is that he is a goofy bumbling fool at times - getting himself tangled up every which way. "Darwin" is, well, I like the name for obvious reasons *click here* and we both think its a cute name.  We have seen a little personality change in the kitten and we wonder if this is really a good name for a cat that is extremely hyper-active and at times aggressive.  Still cuter than a button, the kitten has become a bit of a hell-raiser, leg attacker, biter, and scamperer.  We are in quite the quandary.

He and we are doing quite well.  He has gained a lot of weight in the 12 days we have had him. Actually, since we weighed him the first time he gained over 50% of his body weight in a week, going from 800kg to 1.7 kg.  He even has a little pot belly now!

The Korean Thanksgiving starts on Friday so we will have until next Wednesday to roam around with our friends in Seoul.  The weekend will start with our traditional rugby game at Scrooge's Pub in Itaewon.  Then Sunday we are all meeting up at Seoul Central Park for some soccer and a BBQ/Braai/Barbie (there will be Americans, South Africans and Aussie's represented.  Hence, the many names for BBQ).  After that, we may hit up the Korean War Memorial Museum for a more cultural experience.

Life here has been treating us well lately.  We even managed to make a Mexican Feast (burritos) with all the goodies Marcee sent us (thanks)!  It was a long awaited respite from Korean food! We've also been keeping up on our Scrabble playing.  You can imagine with a new kitten this might have been a disaster.  Fortunately, Barb (Mindy's mom) recently sent us Travel Scrabble. Now are letters are safe.  

The weather is changing, the heat has subsided, the humidity is all but gone.  I can see fall in Korea being just as beautiful as any back home.  The hills here are dense with a mix of pines and deciduous, so they should be changing color in the coming months. We have been here going on 5 months now - and 6 months away from home.  It has been a big learning experience for us both and things are only getting better.  6 months of traveling and over 1 year of dating.  We can confidently say that we are both flourishing in traveling and living together. We do good!

Hope all is well and let us know how you are doing.  What do you think of those cat names?

Eating Dog in Mass Conspiracy

Seriously, if you like dogs, don't read this.

My Headmaster walked into the room (a very wonderful guy, by the way) and in extremely broken english said, "Deener.... to...night? Wel...come Sec'nd Head...maser?" It was a dinner to welcome our new vice principal. Like usual I was told at the very last minute, expected to say yes, and to cancel all my other plans. At first I said "No" because I had a private english lesson with a friend of my co-teacher. I could not tell my principal this because, technically, private lessons are illegal (every english teacher I have met has one). My principal responded with a disappointed look on his face and the room got quiet. Thirty minutes later I get a text message from my private telling me he was "sick and would see me next time". Two minutes after the text message my co-teacher walked into the room and basically told me -not asked me- that there was a dinner "tonight at 5". She smiled and left the room. I was coming whether I wanted to or not. Even if I hadn't had plans I wouldn't want to go. Don't get me wrong, I am sure that these people are great, I like my Headmaster, but I can barely talk to them, but for a few words. So I guess these people are great, but only in theory. Essentially, school dinners involve me sitting there in silence with a big smile on my face and acting interested. I do get a huge dinner out of it though.

In Korea, work and your co-workers come first. Your life, concerns, opinion, and individualism comes a very distant last.

A friend of ours told us of an instance where a Korean worker requested time off for either a pregnancy or a close family member's wedding, I forget (obviously, these are very different circumstances, but the point can still be made). In a fit of rage the principal yelled at her in front of all her co-workers, berating her for not thinking of her job first. He refused her the time off and she could not do what she was supposed to do.

All I wanted to do was not go out to eat. Within 32 minutes my life was changed so that I would be made to go out to eat. No doubt Headmaster expressed his disappointment to my co-teacher (my babysitter) and she suspected what was going on. She called my private lesson and told them the situation. He texted me and so on. So there I was pissed at Korea, again. Regardless, at 4:30 I hopped in a teacher's car and we made our way to restaurant named Yaksu. I asked, "So what is for dinner?!"

I was hoping for galbi *click here to see a galbi dinner*, which is a delicious Korean bbq meal that includes a litany of side dishes and delicious toppings (it is one thing I am going to miss in Korea). Eating galbi is great because it is not just the food, but it is an eating experience as you get to cook your own food right in front of you; cut it up and season it - very social.

The answer to my query was a very non-chalant, "Dog."

"............Dog? Like 'bow, wow'?" I know the look on my face must have been a little weird, but I wanted to try to embrace this as it was going to be something I may never do again.

She laughs and nods. I try to remember that there really is no difference between eating a dog and a cow, other than a variation in species and that I grew up with a few dogs. I used to eat steak like it was going out of style and I love hamburgers. What's the difference? If I were in India and asked for a hamburger I would probably get smacked as cows are holy to many Hindus. But I couldn't shake the idea, Old Yeller's leg on a plate in front of me. What was I going to do?

I walked into the restaurant and took off my shoes as I processed this. "Well, I am going to do this", I decided.

As all 15 of us sat cross legged, the table only 6 inches off the floor, they started to bring out the main dishes: three huge pots, set on burners, with big chunks of meat in each one. There was what looked like a chicken leg, but this would have been a HUGE chicken. The meat was sitting in a broth of, no doubt, chili pepper paste, and a bivy of other ingredients. I thought about it once more and I dug in.

My first bite was very dainty and hesitant. Then I took bigger ones. I ate a lot of meat and right off the bone. Guys, sorry to say, but dog meat is good. Very flavorful, rich, and quite tasty. I would do it again. There is no difference between eating a cow and a dog; other than the fact that you are more familiar with a dog and you have had one sit on your lap, grew up with one, etc. It is totally psychological. Plus, it is just good meat.

I have come more than full circle: omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, briefly a raw foodist, back to omnivore, dog eater.