It seems like time to update this blog, but not much has really happened. We just started a new semester at work, so that means things have been pretty crazy. I have almost all-new classes, but I got to keep my favourite one (the most advanced one at the school). I'm actually teaching them college-level English, and some of the subject matter is... suspect at best. However, I do get to practice my french; one of my students lived in Paris for eight years.
Enough about the job, two weekends ago I went and saw an Andy Warhol exhibit in a really cool part of Seoul I'd never been to before. Allegedly the CEO of Samsung lives somewhere nearby. I also visited Africa that day; Bora, Peter and I accidentally ventured onto the grounds of the Angolan embassy on the way home from the gallery... any embassy of a country that has a machete on its flag is not a place I want to trespass. But the big news came after the moderately interesting Warhol exhibit; I bought a Nikon D-40! I got a fairly good deal on it, and have been very impressed with it so far. After a couple celebratory pints at the local BeerHunter Peter and I walked back to his place. This took about 30min. and led us through some of the most derelict apartment blocks I've ever seen. How they are still standing is beyond me; I certainly feel sorry for whoever lives on the 8th floor of a building with no elevator!
Last weekend Bora and I checked out Gyeongbukgung; probably the most famous palace in Korea. Back in its heyday it was easily the equal of the Forbidden City in Beijing (and the layout is very similar), but the Japanese destroyed 300 of the 330 buildings in the 16th century.
Perhaps that, and thirty-five years of occupation (1910-45) have something to do with the continuing animosity between Korea and Japan. Regardless, it was a truly beautiful place and a great test subject for my new camera. After that Bora and I met Peter and we ate blowfish, or according to that restaurant "swellfish", and no one died of fugu poisoning.
Tomorrow is wednesday, and my regular day off. This week it also happens to be a national holiday: Memorial Day. The holiday honours soldiers that died in the Korean War, but also oddly falls on the anniversary of D-Day. To celebrate I plan on having a nice glass of wine. For some reason, wine has gone super-cheap in Seoul. I'm not sure why, but as of last weekend most of the big stores have started selling good wines for cheap; and I mean $5 for a bottle that lists online for USD$25. I'm not sure why this is, but I'm going to stock up; so if you're in Seoul check out the local Lotte, E-mart, Shinsegae, etc. And in July I'm going to get to see some world-class soccer! There's a big tournament coming to Korea (peacecup.com/eng) and I plan on attending the Bolton Wanderers (England) vs. Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) game and the tournament final. The tournament also includes top teams from Italy, France, Argentina and Japan. Lucky for me the most expensive tickets are only $100! And that's for VIP all-access stuff! Look forward to some great field level photos of English, French and Mexican international players!
