Hating Seoul?

Thanks to The Looks for posting this on Facebook. It looks like Seoul made a lonely planet survey as a "most-hated city," coming it at a high-ranking (low-ranking?) number 3.

The quote they used to describe it?

'According to one comment, ‘It’s an appallingly repetitive sprawl of freeways and Soviet-style concrete apartment buildings, horribly polluted, with no heart or spirit to it. So oppressively bland that the populace is driven to alcoholism.’'

While the alcoholism is very evident, I really don't mind Seoul too much. Of course, I don't go in more than maybe once or twice a month at the most. I'll take Incheon any day.

Heaviest Snowfall in 70 Years!

If this isn't justification for keeping students off the dangerous streets, then I don't know what is. According to this AP article, this is Seoul's worst snowfall in 70 years. Yes. 70 YEARS!

From the story:

'Three people were killed in a traffic accident believed caused by icy roads in southern South Korea earlier Monday, according to Yonhap news agency. Yonhap reported the snowfall caused many other traffic accidents throughout South Korea, but officials said no deaths or serious property damages directly related to the snowfall were immediately reported.'

Now, I was out there today and saw all the accidents and almost accidents taking place. I realize no more than three deaths were "immediately" reported, but I would be shocked to find out no more people died, or there wasn't any serious property damage. That's just from what I witnessed, but it looked pretty bad to me.


The point is, I know the government really cares about education, but dead children can't take the tests. Think about that one. Wonder Womaned.

Insane Snow!!!

Just a few days into the new year, and I'm already seeing something I didn't see last year. That something is an insane amount of snowfall for Korea.

When I walked out of my house this morning, the ground was already covered and it was difficult to even see through the flurry that was coming down.

Add terrible snow to a country of terrible drivers and it's just a disaster. Drivers were just gunning it and spinning out of control like maniacs. To make matters worse, Geoff and I didn't see any plow or salt trucks going until 4:45 p.m., when we were coming home from school.

Less than half of our students came in the morning for winter camp, so we canceled our afternoon classes. That was the only smart move of the day. Telling the students that we had morning class was both dangerous and stupid.

We made the best of the time we had with the few winter camp students who showed up. We did some orientation in the first hour, then one lesson and then we took them outside to try to build a snowman. Unfortunately, between the snow not packing and the craziness of kids, it just turned into a big snow fight. But that's better than class any day of the week. 

People weren't walking on the sidewalks, because the snow was too deep. But drivers weren't about to slow down for pedestrians, because they were afraid they'd get stuck. And everyone who lives here knows that drivers DO NOT CARE about pedestrians.

It was just insanity on the roads. The word right now is that more snow is coming. If that's true, tomorrow will be even worse. We only have the two morning classes scheduled, but these winter camps are free. If it's this bad, the administration would once again prove their stupidity if they don't cancel class.

I don't even care if I have to go in. I have preparation work I can do. That's fine. Just don't force the kids to go anywhere near these awful, selfish drivers.

Check out more pics here.

Endangering students' lives ...

Good 2010 Start For North Korean Soccer

The North Korean soccer team, which has qualified for the 2010 World Cup, has started off on a good note after winning the International Friendship Tournament Sunday in Doha, Qatar.

Even though they lost their final game of the tourney to Iran, their two previous wins gave them enough points for the championship.

That's good news for the boys from the North, because their group in the World Cup -- including Portugal, Brazil and Ivory Coast -- will not be so successful for them.

Love That Propaganda

The holiday season can often bring surprises, and none more eye opening than the rush of shoppers at the department store -- in Pyongyang.

That's right. After an apparent currency reform, shoppers are storming the department store.

According to a pro-North Korean newspaper based out of Tokyo:

'“At 10 o’clock in the morning, as soon as the door of the West Pyongyang Department Store was opened, a slew of shoppers stormed the building to buy stuff,” it said.'

I guess holiday miracles can happen, huh? Check out the story here.

Korean Boxer Taking On All Challengers

Here's an interesting story about a South Korean, who defected from the North about 5 years ago. She recently defended her championship boxing title for the second time and is recovering from an appendectomy.

While she's upset that some people are more interested in her background than her fighting, she seems to be taking it all in stride as she continues her title defenses.

Happy New Year!!!

Me and Park Kyeol. Beautiful, right?

From left -- Geoff, The Looks, The Brains, The Wildcard

Josh, Barry, Park Kyeol, Geoff and I went to Go Bar at InHa University to celebrate the new year.

The night involved drinking, dancing, markers on faces and arrival at home at about 8 a.m. Yikes! It was a really good time and I'm glad I got to celebrate the new year with a great group of friends.

Nicknames have been established for the trio of Josh, Barry and I. Josh is The Looks. I am The Brains. Barry is The Wildcard. It's all pretty appropriate if you know us all.

It was a pretty typical new year party, so there isn't much to say. Just enjoy the pictures!

See how we celebrated the end of 2009 here.