Recap: The Korea Series

It was game 7, bottom of the 9th. The Kia Tigers had been trailing the whole game, but we didn't lose faith. In our hearts we knew that the mighty Nah Chi Won would come through in the clutch, hitting the game-winning, walk-off home run to give the Kia Tigers their 10th national championship! You can see the highlights here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOGFJ7ONJh4&feature=player_embedded

I'm beginning to think I'm good luck. The year I moved to center city Philadelphia, the Phillies won the world series. Then, a year later I move to Gwangju, and the Kia Tigers win. Coincidence? I don't think so..

Spittin Fire

The restaurant manager decided to show us how he could breathe fire behind the bar. He literally took a shot of gasoline, struck a match to it and torched that wooden sign.

A Word on Awkward Dinners

Going to social functions with my school really stresses me out. I normally don't get stressed out, and I ususally thrive in a social setting. However, things are different when you're a white person in Korea who doesn't speak Korean. Things get awkward. Last night I went out to dinner with my school's staff. The following is a list of the most memorable awkward moments of the night:

1) While timidly pouring a drink for my vice-principal (it's a custom), i accidently spilled red wine all over her shirt.

2) At the same moment, the Vice Principal was motioning her hand. It looked like she wanted me to pour more, so I continued to pour until the man next to me tapped me on the shoulder sternly and said, "Maybe that's enough."

3) All night, I constantly kept hearing my name surrounded by hushed of sentences of Korean. It's bad enough when someone's talking about you while you're right in front of them. It's not even fair if you can't understand what they're saying!!

4) Slices of processed meat arrived in front of me. I asked my co-teacher what it was, and she simply said, "Pork." I figured it was safe enough, so I took a bite. It had the strangest texture and taste of anything I'd ever eaten. It was crunchy and smooth at the same time, extremely chewy, and the flavor was something nightmares are made out of. Grimacing, I asked her how it was prepared. She replied, "It's pressed pig's head."

Jeju Island

So I've had a few recent adventures that I have yet to write about. Two months in Korea and still no internet really hinders one's blogging capabilities.

First off, last weekend we had a day off for the Korean national Holiday known as Chuseok (pronounced Chew-sock). Chuseok is Korea's Thanksgiving, and it involves feasting, family bonding, drinking and traffic jams. My friends and I decided to travel to Jeju Island, a rugged oasis south of mainland Korea.

We booked our accomodations through a travel agent, and recieved a round trip boat ticket, a condo for two nights, and a private tour bus complete with a driver for a mere $200 a person. The boat took almost five hours, but it was very luxurious. There was a restaurant/bar, massage chairs, a sauna, an arcade, and even a karaoke room! When we got to the island, our driver was waiting for us holding a sign that said, "Kenny"!

Over the weekend we saw a waterfall, went to a field of green tea, explored rustic beaches, ate exotic foods, and even went to a Chuseok mass at the Buddhist Temple (although I doubt Buddhists refer to it as mass). Either way, it made me glad I'm not a Buddhist. I thought church on Palm Sunday was bad, with all the standing and whatnot. At the Buddhist Mass, it was non-stop bowing, kneeling, and standing, over and over again!

Our condo was next door to a mandarin farm, and across the street from a beach. The beach, however, was not your average beach. For one, it had no sand. It had no rocks either. Rather, it's surface was black lava rock, complete with little craters. Furthermore, there were wild crabs EVERYWHERE. They were small, black, and extremely fast. They all looked like they were up to no good.

Our view from the Condo

On the boat back, I met a few other Westerners who have been living in Korea for awhile. They told me that they had spent the weekend without any formal plans. They just roughed it for a few nights and had adventures. I think that's what I'll do next time I visit Jeju Island, probably in the spring.