Korean TV

I feel the issue of Korean television must be addressed. I have mentioned in passing that it is generally variety shows but that isn't a totally fair synopsis. I think you need the run down.

At the moment I am watching Twilight (um...) but there is a far amount of other english language TV, even The Simpsons and Americas Next Top Model which both make me very happy.

There are about 5 different shopping channels and if you flick through you are bound to find some karaoke that ranges from the very professional to me on saturday night. There's lots of manga and loads of sport esp the Premier League (they all bum Manchester United cause one of the players in Korean. I have tried to explain that they embody all that is wrong in football (NOT soccer) but they don't buy it).

They also have some very peculiar ideas about what constitutes entertainment. There are a couple of English learning channels (as if the kids haven't had enough learning in one day). They have 2 channels that show computer games being played (seriously? bunch of fucking nerds), there is even a channel showing people playing board games.

The censorship is also a little weird. It seems that asian boobies are absolutely fine anytime of the day, in fact when I turned my TV on this morning the first thing I saw was a naked asian woman getting taped in a historical drama. Caucasian bodies get heavily censured even in the 1990s soft light Emanuelle type soft porn that is on all the time. Violence is fine so long as it is kung-fu style but blood is a no-no.

The most popular show in recent years has been Boys Over Flowers. It is basically about a poor girl that goes to a rich school, gets picked on by the 4 boys below but in the end her optimistic and bubbly personality wins them over and the one with the perm falls in love with her (bollocks to that in real life she'd probably kill herself). Seriously though he permed his hair three times to get that look. What a twat. But I must admit that I really want to see it.

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My Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday and too much soju was drank.
We all headed down to the foreigners dinner which involves lots of english teachers getting together and going for dinner.
I was looking bloody fabulous with my new bag that was my present to myself. And the dinner was really nice, a korean BBQ thing that you cook at the table. They thanked everyone for coming and then bloody Kelsey shouted that it was my birthday so I had to stand up whilst they all sang happy birthday. I unashamedly love a bit of attention but I nearly died. 40 people who you have only just met singing to you to the bemusement of the korean diners. I went so red you could have BBQed on my face.
We then went to Soultrain (a bar) that did some very cool cocktail making things and I drank to my hearts content. Then another bar, followed by a Nore (sp?) bang. Basically a room where you do karaoke. We were also drinking a fruit Soju thing that I lived to regret. Soju is basically like a watered down vodka that you think you can drink loads of until you realise that you are absolutely wankered and about to throw up. We gave up around 4 am and crawled to bed.
I had a brilliant night and thank you to everyone who made it.
However, this morning/ afternoon I felt like hell. I was dry retching for hours and my neighbour actually came over to see if I was okay cause she could hear me. I lay in bed until about 7 uncontrollebly shaking. Worst, most brutal hangover I have ever had.
And what is the real kick the teeth is that I am 25 in korea not 24. Annoying.
xoxoxo

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My bike vs Korean drivers

I have a bike. Yay!!!!!

It is a bit odd really. I wimped out of cycling in London because I thought that I would be mowed down by a bendy bus but I have no problem cycling in a country where nearly all cars have a TV in the dash board. Seriously, they do. And the courts has just rejected the idea of fining taxi drivers who watch them whilst driving because of a law created in 1961. I would suggest that this law is of little relevance as korea still getting over the war and people didn't have much food, let alone a bloody TV in their car.

They drive along watching these ridiculous programs that all seem to be a 1970 like variety show that mocks the old, fat and mentally disabled. No-one seems to pay much attention to the road and it is very much each man for himself. I guess that the argument is that the TVs help people to reverse park as they show the rear view however I have already seen two cars merrily reverse into parked cars. It may be judgemental (and hypocritical) but Koreans are pretty crap drivers.
I love my new bike as it is all down hill on the way to work and it now only takes me about 5 mins. But what goes down must go up and that ride on the way back is a killer. I am sooooo unfit. I have to stop and have a little rest on the way back. Hopefully I'll have the arse of a god by the end of the year without the Chris Hoy (sp?) thighs.

Annoyingly I feel like I'm just about to get a cold. Bummer and just before my birthday (saturday in case you had forgotten). I have also come to realise that Korea is my enabler - drinking, smoking, shopping (amongst other things) are all too easy here. With the realisation of thsi fact I will celebrate by getting a little pissed.

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Pepero Day and High School exams

Today (the 12th) was the college entrance for high school students all across Korea. It is a BIG deal. A Levels exams cannot possibly compete as these exams quite literally determine ones future. As I've mentioned before, these kids study damn hard and this is what it is all for. Once they get into the highest ranked college or university they can they chill. It is all about the name and ranking not the course and once they get there they can do nothing for 4 years before they have to join the job world.

Outside the schools were hundreds of parents cheering on the kids. Nearly all buisnesses opened an hour late to relieve the traffic so the kids weren't late and police escorts were given to kids who were for some reason running late.

Swine flu hasn't stopped them either. The kids with it or suspected of having it are simply isolated. They still have to take it. God even thinking about it makes me anxious!!!!

Parents cheering the kids on outside a school in Gwangju

For most in England 11th November is a pretty somber day but in Korea it is Pepero Day. A day created by Lotte (a supermarket) to boost sales of the chocolate dipped candy.

This stuff

It's meant to be similar to valentines day, in that young people and couples exchange chocolate and sweets. Specifically these Pepero sticks because they look like 11/11 (the date yesterday). It's so contrived and really reminds me of the Simpsons episode when Hallmark creates 'Love Day' to fill the gap in the market between holidays. Or maybe I'm just bitter cause my pile of Pepero sticks from the students didn't come anywhere near one of my fellow teachers. Mines right, hers is left.

We decided to celebrate Pepero day by drinking far to much beer on an empty stomach. Oh wait I lie, they did give us some grilled squid. Looks gross but I love it!

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Weather

P.S The weather is back to being beautiful. I find it fascinating!

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Nature

We weekend me and three of the girls went on an adventure to the countryside to see the leaves for the autumn festival.
I dragged my weary body out of bed at 7.30am on saturday and started off on my long journey. First a taxi, then a train, then a bus, then another bus and finally a cable car. But I'm skipping ahead.
After over breakfast of dunkin donuts (I resisted the kimchi donut - as tempting as it sounded) we boarded the train for our merry adventure. The bus was packed full of Koreans all in matching North Face walking gear. It's like the offical countryside uniform or something. When we got off the bus I britishness in me was delighted to find a queue (or a line for americans) and regardless of the fact that I had no idea what it was for I insisted we join it. It really pleases me that the Koreans appreciate a good queue.
It turned out to be a queue for another bus that took us further into the national park. This was like the Vengabus come to life. Hard-core techno music accompanying a traditional ballad.
The park was beautiful. Fantastically colourful but to be honest no more so than home.
I have never seen so many people out for a good stroll together. The koreans really bum nature.
As we were walking we also played the couple look game. Basically some korean couples wear matching outfits and when you spot them you punch the person you are with on the arm.
So after encountering the worlds ugliest drag queen and joining another queue we went up the cable car. At the top we made a child cry then celerated by drinking beer and loosing my return ticket.
Koreans also insist on feeding us. At the end of the day a group came over to us and tried to speak to us but with our limited korean and their even more limited english they quickly gave up and started to insist we eat their very odd food and dance with them outside 7-11. More food was given to us on the way to the train and also a random little old lady knocked on my door this evening to give me what I think is bean paste cake. They are such generous people, it is so lovely. I'm not really sure why they do it and even if the food turns out to be a bit odd the gesture is greatly appreciated.
Bed time I think. Getting my nails done tomorrow morning.
xoxoxo

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Shopping!!!

This week I have indulged in my favourite hobby - shopping!!!!


I mau struggle to fit in any clothes here but I can damn well buy shoes, bags and accessories.


Check out these sexy bitches -

Are they not the most amazing shoes you have ever seen?! Only £15!!!

Down town in awesome. Hundreds of little boutique shops selling millions of pairs of shoes (I bought 3 - qute restrained I feel). Beautiful bags and lots of low priced hand made jewellery. Heaven!!!!! I also went to the massive John Lewis like department store. There were even people singing opera on the bottom floor.

I also bought two new pairs of glasses for only £50. They are sooooo cheap here because everyone wears them. I will put up photos of my sexy new frames later.

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Swine flu and snow

Snow, snow, snow!!!!
Last week the weather in Gwangju was beautiful. Sunshine, flip-flops and sunglasses. Yesterday however it all changed. It was bloody freezing and we had a little bit of snow (less that a half an centimeter but still very exciting!). I an perfectly happy with this kind of cold but some of the other teachers are really suffering, especially the couple from Florida. They were both wrapped up in sleeping bag like coats, huge scarves and bobble hats. Bummer for them!
Below is a pic of the snow on the mountain at the center of the city. Obviously I didn't take it but you get the point.

Problem is that I don't have a really thick winter coat so if it gets bad I'm going to have to fashion something out of my tackyrose print bed sheets and wear that. The koreans already think I'm odd, now I'll just be rose printed odd.
Also, korea seems to be having a massive poo at the moment about swine flu. Half of the people in the city walk around wearing the masks, and even the kids are wearing them in school (maybe it's actually to disguise kimchi breath). This bugs the hell out of me cause it is hard enough to understand what they are trying to mumble without this silly little thing in front of their face that will not do ANYTHING to protect them.
The kids at my school are all having their temperature checked before they enter the building and being sent home straight away if they show any signs of illness but I've heard reports of parents sending their children to school when they have confirmed swine flu. School is that important to these parents. Crazy.
I suspect at some point we will all be required to wear them (as we know all know that it is the evil foriegners that cause these diseases) and if someone tells me too I'm going to draw a picture of a mouth with a mustache and a fag hanging out of it.
So far in Korea 40 people have died. I would suggest that their biggest issue is that everyone watches TV as they drive. Yes, as they drive. Not just a TV in the back of the head rest but up on the dash board so they watch whilst they are driving. Taking a cab can be a terrifying experience. Although probably safer than a rubber ring on a river in Laos.
xoxoxoxo

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Back to the 90s

I'm having a rather english morning today. I've been listening to the Chris Moyles show, drinking a massive cup of tea, and it could all be very normal if it wasn't for the fact that I had sushi for breakfast.
So this weekend I had my first real taste of a Korean/expat night out. As nearly everyone is american halloween is a big deal and fancy dress was pretty much required. I bought a pink fluffy crown and sceptre with the intention of being the Queen of England, and (of course) left it in the taxi on the way back to the apartment. In the end I just went out looking like I had fallen out of the 1950s.
In Gwangju there are only about 250/300 expats so everyone kind of knows each other, or knows someone who knows them. It's a bit like being back in Hild and Bede. There was a girl dressed as Fan Death (suffocation by electric fan - only happens in Korea apparently) and a group dressed as the H1N1 virus (amazing!). Basically they took the piss out of the Koreans and played on their fears.
After some ludicrously cheap drinks and some very poor karoke (sp?) we then headed over to a club called Volume. It was Amazing! Like being back in the 90s. Lazers, black mirrors and smoke machines. It was a mini hound/ ministry. For the first few minutes I could not stop laughing but when we got on the stage to dance all the koreans were loving us. Hands in the air and lots of screaming etc.
No one is sat down and everyone is dancing, including the boys. All the girls are very dressed up in little skirts and huge heels and the boys all have very tight white t-shirts on. (Side note on korean men: they are hot! I really didn't expect this. I've been all over asia and never especially found asian men attractive but these korean boys are tres nice. And tall! Shame I'd squish them)
My mummy is coming to vist me on wed. I can't get rid of the bloody woman. I'm half way across the world and she finds me after only two weeks! (Joke, love you really mummy!) She's here for work and will be often.
Right off to work. Short day today. Yay!

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