What A Difference A Day Makes

I went by Iho Beach again this week to see how the park/marina project is progressing. It appears the crew is not wasting any time. I wonder if they are union?I took the above photograph on Monday.

This was taken today (Weds.). The first section is complete and they have already started to backfill the enclosed area. Heck, at this rate they might even make their completion target date of November 2008.

Jumpstarting Korean With A CD

I really need to get back to studying Korean. My skills (or lack thereof) have been deteriorating rapidly. For some reason, some months ago, I lost the desire to study and seemed to adopt the mentality of “Well, the whole world outta speak English, dammit!” Not too bright considering where I live. So, I decided I needed to jumpstart my study of Korean. No ifs, ands, or buts about it, studying on your own, without the aid of a formal class is tough – but not impossible. So, as part of my new program I decided to spend time listening to Korean music CD’s.

I have discovered that there is a “plethora” (I decided to study the dictionary, also) of Korean music out there. But, it seemed to me at least to come in two main varieties. The two types are the “old” singers that are the favorites of older Koreans and the K-Pop that is fancied by the younger generation.

I went to a local CD store to look around. Looking at the choices I began to hope that the K-Pop groups are NOT considered the pinnacle of Korean masculinity. Sheesh! The phrase “girlie man” (insert “Hans and Frans,” from Saturday Night Live, German accent here) kept running through my mind as I looked at the CD covers.

Now, my musical tastes include old southern rock bands like “Lynyrd Skynyrd.” I consider their song “Free Bird” as one of the best songs ever written. Although, I just know if I tried to translate it into Korean it would come out as “Paroled Chicken” or something like that. I also consider myself a fan of CCR (“Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” etc.), Bob Seger (“Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Turn the Page,” “Like a Rock,” etc.), etc.

I have always been attracted to songs that tell a story that I can relate to in some way. I do like some “Country” music. The storytelling in Country songs is much better than other types I think. My favorite Country singer is Brad Paisley. His song “He Didn’t Have to Be” turns me into emotional oatmeal whenever I listen to it.

As an aside, I consider “Rap” music in any form to be yet another sign of the approaching apocalypse.

I thought my search was going to be in vain until I found a CD by Kang San Ae (강산에). Apparently, Kang is/was popular in the late ‘90’s early 2000 time frame. From his music he seems to fancy himself as a sort of “Poet-Rocker.” I asked Mrs. LOJ about the CD and she knew of Kang and his music. She looked at the song titles and suggested I get the CD and give it a listen. So I bought Kang San Ae “The Essence.” Surprisingly, I found that I like it.

As with any album/CD there are good songs and songs that suck, quite frankly. This CD is no different. My favorite songs on the CD are “하라버지와 수박” - “Grandpa and Watermelon” (No, I’m not kidding) and “라구요” – Mrs. LOJ tells me it is a grammar term of some sort with no easy direct word-for-word translation into English. Her in-depth explanation when combined with the rock I call a brain made it difficult for me to understand. There are some other nice songs on the CD, as well as, songs that should be used as examples of why too much soju and karaoke machines don’t mix.

Anyways, as a Japanese student of English once told me, listening to music to study a language is useless if you don’t like the type of songs you’re listening to. I hope I will like Mr. Kang’s music enough for it to help kick-start my interest in studying Korean.

Pass the Tylenol

Often you will see groups marching and dancing around, wearing traditional Korean costumes, while playing a variety of instruments. When I first arrived I thought the music sounded like the combination of a car wreck and the clanging of pots in a large restaurant kitchen back home. However, I guess I've been here too long because now I actually like to listen to the performances. Although, I think I'm a few years away from buying a recording of the music.

Anyways, Mrs, LOJ has joined one such group. She has started to learn how to play a "Janggo." A "Janggo" is a traditional Korean drum. The body of Janggo is made of wood in an hour glass shape. Both drum heads are made of horse skin. The left side is thicker than the right side creating two different pitches. The left side is stuck with a beater made of bamboo or wood, and the right side is struck with a thin bamboo stick. The leather clasps along the cords are used to control tension of the drum heads.

I really like the fact that Mrs. LOJ is involved with the group. They all seem like real nice people. However, there is a problem......

Mrs. LOJ's group has a performance in February. Since she has just joined the group she has to practice..... a lot. It is amazing how loud that friggin' drum is when she practices. I keep thinking someone told her it is better to be loud than good. When she beats that thing it feels like the vibrations are going right through me - and the walls - and out into the street - and into our neighbors homes - and into the aircraft flying overhead - and - .... well you get the idea. Sometimes I feel like my brain is turning to mush. And I thought that was Jack Daniel's job!!!

Anyways, she is enjoying it. Anyone know where I can buy some airport taxi-way strength earmuffs and bulk supplies of Tylenol?

I Don't Get It.

Recently, I was given a DVD as a gift. So the gift giver decided to present me with my own copy of the classic musical "Jesus Christ Superstar." I finally got around to watching the DVD this week. As I was opening the cover I noticed the little red movie rating star at the bottom of the DVD case. According to the Korean movie ratings board, Jesus Christ Superstar deserved an "18" rating (Adults). Say what!!?? A movie about Jesus gets the same rating as "Min Soo Does Mokpo" or the ever popular "Slutty Seoul Soo Jee?" I'm clueless as to what possible reason they could dream up to justify an "18" rating for "Jesus Christ Superstar." Maybe it had something to do with the shocking sight of a bunch of bare chested hippies, singing off-key, and running around the desert. Maybe it is a Buddhist conspiracy. Maybe the actor who plays Jesus looks like the evil foreigner who is dating the daughter of the ratings board chairman. Who knows. To put it in perspective, the same movie received "G" (General Audience) ratings in the U.S., Canada and Australia. Heck, even uber-conservative Singapore gave the movie only a "PG" rating! (Click on the photo to see the red "18" on the case.)

Some Welcome Advice

Alex sent me the following in response to my post about not “clicking” with my adult class. It seems like a good activity so I thought I would make a post out of it to share with anyone else seeking ideas. Thanks Alex!

I don't know the level of your class, or the aims of your lesson plans, or what your students are looking for in a lesson.

But, I do know that adults love to talk about themselves. We all have anecdotes, and we want to share them. What I've found to work is to play that old drinking game where you say an experience you have never had, and the people who have had the experience have to drink. Of course, you wouldn't be drinking in class. (Or would you?)

My variation is this: Everyone stands, and you have some interesting experiences already prepared on a sheet of paper. You start of by saying the first one, and instructing everyone who has also not had the experience to sit. The students who remain standing tell their story. And, a rule I added at the end - If some students have never had the experience, then they have to stand at the end of the game and the other students field questions at them about why they have never had any interesting experiences.

So, for example:
Teacher: "I have never broken a bone."
*some students will sit, some might stand*
Teacher: "Joe, what happened?"
Joe: "When I was in middle school..."

and continue from there.

You might be able to pull this off with a low-intermediate class if you can help them along with their stories, but it's really a lot of fun from a solid-intermediate class and up. But, for all I know you are teaching them the ABCs and my advice is worthless.

My class is, unfortunately, typical of many others. It has students who are false beginners and others who are advanced – and everything in between. I have doctors, housewives, taxi drivers, students etc., etc. I have students who have traveled extensively and others who have never left Jeju Island.

The last class I had them do some group work, making sure each group had beginners, intermediate and advanced students in its makeup. This seemed to help a little.

I asked one student, while we were alone in the classroom, what the problem is and I got an interesting reply. She said the class was advertised by the school as an intermediate class (news to me!). The student said because of this some students expected a class where the teacher lectures from a textbook and the students just study vocabulary, structure, etc. She added that some of the other students really don’t really know how to handle a class without a textbook (I use handouts every class.). Plus, she added, "It's winter."(?)

Anyways, thanks again Alex. I may just give this activity a shot and see what happens!

Iho Beach Face Lift

Mrs. LOJ and I went by Iho Beach today. After seeing another outstanding photograph on "gdimension," I decided to take a look at how the work was progressing on the project. It was definitely a bee hive of activity. I guess they wanted to take advantage of the break in the weather to get some work done.This is a map of the project which is scheduled to be completed in 2008. The project includes a marina and a park. The thick portion purple line is the location where gdimension took his photograph.
This is a view of the project area from the Dodu-dong side of the beach. The pipes on the ground are being installed to run electricity into the marina/park. This is the "purple line" side of the project.
When we were there , there were 4 large dump trucks running back and forth dumping their loads of rock. Iho Beach is located on the other side of the road ahead.Dump truck unloading while another waits for its turn.
The information board for the project along with a man that directs/counts the trucks as they come and go.A view of the project area from an area near the top of Iho Beach.The gazebo(?) at Iho Beach is also getting a face lift
You can't really get a good look in this "photocrap" (zoom LOJ, zoom, dammit!) but the two men on the left are surveying the beach and staking out what appears to be a road of some sort on the beach.

At the entrance of the beach I came across this sign outlining the fines assessed for all sorts of heinous crimes that mess up the beach.

The activity on the beach was in high gear today. If you go by the beach on a nice day, I would suggest watching out for the dump truck cowboys. Today, they seemed to come and go by using a small road near the rear of the bathrooms. On other days they plow through Dodu-dong. Keep an eye out!

Just Not Clicking - and Hooters

I am currently teaching an adult English conversation class in Jeju City. The class is only going to run for 5 weeks, two nights a week. Now, I usually have a good time teaching. I have been fortunate, I guess, in that I have been able to "click" with every adult class I have taught. Anyone who has experience teaching EFL can relate to the fun a class can be once you "click" with the class. It can become a case where the class almost teaches itself. However, for some reason I have been unable to "click" with this class. I have no idea why. But I feel like I am pulling teeth most of the time in class. I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out if there is something wrong with me, or, is there some dynamic in the class that I have not identified and factored into my teaching. I just don't know. It is only the second week into the session and I find myself losing sleep trying to figure out what the heck to do about the situation. Aaaaaiiiisssshhhhh. I guess I'll figure it out. I just hope it is not too late to salvage the class.

On a more interesting note, I saw in the Korean Times where "Hooters" is opening a restaurant in Seoul. I am a Hooters fan. I have spent many an afternoon back home enjoying the wings and beer. I went there for the buffalo wings and beer - really I did! It had nothing to do with the waitresses - I swear! OK, Mrs. LOJ didn't/doesn't believe me either. I guess the fact that I can't say it with a straight face makes her doubt my honesty. Heck, I don't even believe me. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anyways, as I was looking at the photograph below it became obvious that "Hooters" had apparently decided to lower some of their standards. I guess it has to do with the lack of local resources.

The food portions seem a little skimpy. What the heck did you think I was talking about? Pervert! Just kidding.

I Am Soooo Bored!!

The weather cleared for a day and I finally got to see Mt. Halla. This is one of the few days that I have been able to see the top of the mountain since the beginning of December. Here I am - so bored I am reduced to taking pictures of Mt. Halla.


The other day I was so bored I was reduced to taking a picture of an Asiana aircraft landing at the airport. Notice the new paint job. Oooooohhhhh! Aaaahhhhhhh! God, I am sooo bored..

A view of a sunset from the roof of our apartment building. It would have been nice to grab a chair, pop the top on a Bud and contemplate useless philosophical questions. The only problem was it was so friggin' cold all I could think of was to take the damn picture and run back inside our apartment. Yep, I'm a tough guy!!

Introducing the newest member of the LOJ family, Foo Foo the wonder dog! I told my wife it was OK to get a dog. After all, it is a form of protection against.....well, I dunno, but against something dammit! Notice Foo Foo's steally glare as she checks out the surroundings looking for any danger!! Rrrrrrrrrrr!

Oh, she spied danger!! Foo foo getting ready to pounce in order to protect Lil' Miss LOJ's big toe. Actually, after this picture was taken Foo Foo took a dump.

Foo Foo (not her real name) asked that I don't publish her real name as she is afraid of being cyberstalked by a horny doberman or a perverted pomeranian.

God, I am soooooo bored.

Lack of Updates

Mrs. LOJ is in the process of starting her own business. Consequently, being the thoughtful, caring, supportive husband (slave) that I am, I have been helping her get the business off the ground. This has not left a whole lot of time to update LOJ. I hope to get back to it in the next couple of days.

Oh yes, and before I forget....... MICROSOFT SUCKS!!!!! I'll explain later.