Korea: 1 degree of separation?

  Being home for 2 months gave me the opportunity, as it does for everyone, to reflect further on my understanding of ye ol’ SK Pen.  I tried to make a conscience effort to speak not only honestly but also also leaning more to the “positive objective” side of things.  After seeing so many people, some that I hadn’t seen for more than half my life, let me tell you, I’m freaking tired of spouting the virtues of Seoul and what else I know of Korea.

  When we were in Great Falls, Idaho, we stayed at this Inn that had a restaurant and bar in it.  (One wonderful thing about that state is that you can take your drink up to your hotel room if you want.)  While sitting at said bar, my dad and I were chatting to the bar tender and it turns out he was in the US military and stayed in Korea.  Of course later it turns out that he was only here for like 44 days, but the experience made an obvious positive impression on him.  Then when I popped out for a smoke – shh! – I was talking to a kid that worked at the hotel and he was born in Korea (Korean mom and African American military dad) but then went to the US when he was 1.

  When friends of my dad’s would hear about me living in Seoul they would share tales of so and so’s kid living in X nation doing X,Y and Z.  Which got me thinking about how I’ve heard many people tell Koreans “You know, lots of people don’t even know where Korea is on a map”.   While that may be true, you can be sure that those who have 20-30 somethings in their circle of trust, at the very least, have heard of it.  

  The other thing that I noticed is that the level of English, in Seoul at least, really is improving and not just with the kids (and by kids I mean university students since I have no idea about actual kids and assume that they had better be at higher levels of both accuracy and fluency by the time they get to uni).  I was walking down the street looking for a government office, I can’t remember which one, maybe the tax office (?) and couldn’t find it, so like I would do in Canada, I went up to some people on the street and asked… in English… and they responded… without hesitation… and clearly understood what I wanted… were completely comprehensible…. Only later did I realize, holy shit, look at that!

  The thing that I’m disappointed in is that I’m already getting bored with my job and being in Seoul – I think that having spent the last 2 months touting the joyous wonderment of it all left me burnt, and out of new things to appreciate (minus all the lovely dinners, drinks, Costco outings, and general socializing that I’ve been doing as of late but you can do that anywhere, not very representative of being here).  

  The main thing is my job.  Yes it’s great (yikes here I go again) but the content is BoRiNg!  No matter how much you jazz it up, it’s still ESL.  I’m tired of teaching it and am in fear that I’ll be trapped in it FoReVeR.  I’m sure it’s just an off day and since my first class today are lazy bones, and I’m feeling unappreciated for the 4 hours I put in to create a 2 hour lesson plan to make a reading and grammar class bearable.  Rant over.

  Ooo.  One thing that still is fabulous about Seoul is all the great international stuff here (how hick am I?)  I went to see the Rubens, Baroque Masterpieces on Friday (the last day) and although know nothing about art did enjoy it.  I went with a non-arty friend and I had fun pointing out creepy children in portraits and scary eyed men that “follow you” as you walk past them.  I can only assume I would be a complete embarrassment to any true art lovers and so won’t be hurt if you don’t want to go with me!  (Read as – full on cackle attack about my own jokes insulting 400+ year old masterpieces).

  And, so?  What about you?