Nope, but wanna see what it might look like if my wife and I have 26 year old son?
How about a 26 year old girl?
I've been thinking a lot about Michelle Obama's excellent speech at the convention. She delivered it fantatically and I know that it really spoke to millions of Americans. She certainly spoke to me.
Four years ago this speech wouldn't have been that big of a deal to me. Two years ago it wouldn't have made a difference either. It wasn't until May 4th, the greatest day of my life -my wedding, that this speech had the potential to effect me. It wasn't until I married my wonderful wife that I could start to understand this kind of speech. When you hear about love and marriage when you are not married, it is all the same to you. It doesn't leave an imprint. But today, as I watched and listened to her speech, I was overcome with emotions that I had never felt before or had even known exsisted.
I listened to her as a husband. I listened to her knowing that my beautiful wife, 고운, is going to have our children in the next few years and I, too, will be like Barack and know the feeling of looking in that tiny rear-view mirror and seeing my entire world. Seeing those adorable little girls talking to their father and asking "What city are you in, Daddy?" was the cutest and most priceless moment that I have seen Obama in.
This speech was not political for me. In fact, this speech made one thing very clear: this election doesn't matter as much I think it does. What matters is my wife and future family.
What the Obama Family showed me today was that they don't care about this election as much as they care about each other. They love each other and win or lose, they will still have each other. It's nice to see this type of love in public.
Great speech.
My wife just called me from the office. She has started a new job and has been busy orienting herself to the new gig, office and coworkers. She is very social and has an inviting personality, but when it was time to go to lunch, the workers split into their respective clicks and went to lunch. It was at that time when I received a text message from 고운.
"Damn! The people went 4 lunch N I don't have a group yet, nor do I know where to eat! I'm so hungry!"
It's times like these when I realize how lucky I am. Here's a tune that perks me up and makes me even more enthusiatic about our love.
That's what people need in their relationship: enthusiasm.
Natalie Cole This Will Be
***Is it me, or does she look like Whoopi Goldberg? You know, if Natalie Cole wasn't black, no one would have heard of her (I had to).***
Last week 고 came to me with an idea that we should get total physicals and see where we stand with our health. I, being a man, did not want to do this at all. Not only does my gender prefer to ignore health issues, but I have not led a healthy led at all. I smoked cigarettes* for about eight solid years and kept a pretty healthy binge drinking regiment up for the last six, so I prefer to stay away from the doc. Nonetheless, she convinced me to get it done. So, we did not eat or drink anything after 5pm on Friday and went to bed early.
The next morning we woke up and braved the windy morning in the name of health. I was a little uneasy about the whole thing still, but once we walked in I felt better. They gave me a little locker key and I changed into my super cool martial-art looking scrubs. Since I can not speak the necessary Korean for this situation, 고 and I got to team up. I liked this and she did too.
First, we went to the consultatory doctor and expressed our medical shortcomings. 고 was worried about breast cancer (no family history)and I, of course, was worried about cancer (skin, colon and prostate). She asked me if I had an family history and I replied with a very firm and confident, "YES!" She then preceded to check every box and shooed me out the door to start the assembly line check up.
1) I got my retina's checked. In comparison to my body as a whole, I believe that my eyes might be in the best shape.
2) I got my weight and height taken next. 66kg and 174cm. Perfect in theory, but I'm sure I could change my muscle v. fat proportions.
3) Then it was blood time. 고 went first. I could tell they were having trouble finding her vein. They weren't poking everywhere, but when they finally did, her body had already used up the adrenaline and her blood pressure dropped to the point where she needed to lay down. She was okay, so I went and got stuck. No problem. I have blood. (고 did not finish her blood test. She went back today. No problem this time!)
4) I was then escorted into the next room where they took my hearing. I never heard anything, so I'm not sure if they actually tested me. Kidding, but hearing is not my strong point. I am becoming hard-of-hearing. In fact, I can't understand a word from one of my fellow teachers from England. I think the pitch of his voice and my hearing don't get along. I can understand the other Brits though.
5) 고 recovered and we went to the next room: lung capacity. I was worried. This could be it. All of my years of thoughtless smoking will get me here. I put the device in my mouth and blew. I did great! I beat 고 and the doctor seemed to be pleased. I guess I have more lung capacity that anyone else...ever.
5) The next room was testing my balance and involuntary muscle response. I responded.
Those first few rooms were basics. Now, we got to the back rooms. This is where it got serious.
6) 고 went first. She entered the ultrasonography room. She was in there for awhile. I didn't like the wait. Then it was my turn. I was nervous about this too. I don't want to see what I looked like in there. The doctor put the goo on the thing and looked at my neck. She periodically would see a black dot and click it and measure it. Great. Then she went to my stomach. Nothing. Then she looked at my prostate. She saw something and clicked and measured again. I was a little worried about this, but 고 told me that the doctor was measuring normal things and that I should not be worried. Hmmmm...
7) At this point, 고 was one room ahead of me. I was just following my clipboard from room to room, not knowing what to expect when I walk in the door. They called my name, "Choejie Hokeon". I walked in and the doctors laughed. This happened a lot. They were not used to seeing foreigners and my fancy-free attitude also caught them off gaurd. They told me to "Open" and then they listened to my heart on a machine. It's in there and pumping blood.
8) Chest X-Ray was next. This was my first male doctor. He spoke clear English. Of course, his test took less than 30 seconds.
9) This one was my favorite. The doctor called 고, but she was in the mammary(?) exam room. I was next. She asked me in Korean if I spoke Korean. I told her and she continued in English. This test was why we could not eat or drink. She gave me a couple awful drinks that kind-of made my empty stomach fizz. I climbed on this huge machine and the abdominal X-Rays started. Her directions were great though. "To the left. Little more. To the right. Little more. Good. Take a breath. Hold a breath. Good." I was having a great time.
10) Finally, I took my urine test and that was that.
It was a fun three hours and 200 bucks. I'm glad we got it all done and it's nice to know where I stand in this department. The whole process was really quite interesting. There were a lot of people there and it was a flat rate. I get the results back in about a week and a half. I applaud Korea's medical system and how affordable they make everything. Good for Korea and good for us!
My ankle is getting a little better, but my toes look like they are suffering from frostbite. I have made the switch from two crutches to one. I think this makes me look a lot cooler. I had to wash my foot again yesterday, so I decided that another video update would be worth it.
고 is really a good sport about doing all that stuff. When she's at work, she'll call to check on me and see if I need anything. She's so sweet!
You know, and I've said it before, but 고 has so much drive and dedication. She continually gets up before dawn, studies, showers, goes to Chinese class, goes to work all day, gets home late and then does it all again. She does it with a smile on her face. She does it while always making sure I'm happy and satisfied. She does it while all the elements of life weigh down and she remains focused.
She does it for herself. She does it for us. She does it to improve herself. And this is a quality that very few people possess.
Here she is walking to class in the early morning hours on a cold and snowy Seoul morning. 
While it's hard to see, she's holding an umbrella. She's looking back at me and waving with the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. She does this everyday and I love it more each time I see it!
That's her way up there on the right. She right below the light. You can see her footprints. There is only one set. No one else has gotten up yet. She never complains. She never frets. She is always positive. I love her so much.
The grim images haunted me all last night. I would wake up in a cold sweat and flashes of green stripes were all I could see. 고운 would wake up too and try to calm me, but it was no use.
Every time I think I'm gonna wake up back in that classroom. When I was home after my first battle, I didn't think it would be worse, but I'd wake up and there'd be nothing. I hardly said a word to my afternoon students, until I said "yes" to recess. When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the classroom. I'm here writing now, getting softer; every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Green Stripes doesn't wash his shirts, he gets stronger. Each time I looked around, the walls moved in a little tighter.
It was a long night to say the least.
I knew that there was a good chance that I would see Jerry today. I was doing push-ups this morning before the sun came up. I was preparing for the battle. Meditation took my mind off it, but how can I forget what I saw yesterday. It was pure evil. Look away if you must. 
I had to trash my blood-soaked clothes from yesterday and clean our entire apartment with ammonia. If Green Stripes catches even a whiff, then he'd be all over me again and I'm not sure I can take another encounter.
On the way to school I bumped into some elementary school students who were wearing Tae Kwon Do gi's. I asked them to show me some moves. They showed me this.
After I regained consciousness, I decided not to use that move since I only knew how to get kicked in the face. The familiar taste of blood was in my mouth, but I was already too close to school to turn back and the bell was about to ring. I pressed on.
The school was cold. I could see my breathe coming from my nose and mouth. This worried me. Could Green Stripes have gotten to the heater and turned it off? No. He couldn't have. I decided to take the elevator instead of the steps. The steps leaves me too open for ambush and I had a feeling that an early morning surprise attack might be what he was planning.
I pushed the button for the elevator. The light did not illuminate. I pushed it again and again and harder and faster each time. Nothing. Finally, it lit up and after surveying the empty elevator, I got on.
The one-floor ride couldn't have gone any slower. I thought about 고 and how this morning might have been the last time I saw her. I reached down to my pocket and felt for my phone. I only felt the cold steel on a gun barrel. I pulled it out, cocked it and put it in my belt and then retrieved the phone from the now empty pocket. I pushed the button for 고.
It rang.
"Hello." she said in a normal voice.
"고, it's me. I... I just..." my voice cracked. I took a deep breath and continued.
"I just wanted to let you know how much I love you and if I don't make it out of this alive, make sure our kids know I died for a just cause."
"Honey, we don't have kids yet AND I'll talk to you on MSN in a few minutes." she replied in a surprising calm and normal voice.
She just didn't seem to understand that I'm doing this for mankind. She thought it was all a joke or just something to write on a mediocre blog.
I had no time to sulk. The doors opened. No one was there. I edged forwards slowly and when I was out and in the open I heard the call of the great beast! The sound was awful. It was a blood-curdling shriek that I would not wish upon anybody.
I was not sure why he screamed, but just as I thought that, a sun beam pierced through the clouds and laid on the floor in front of me. It was feeding time. Usually, Green Stripes feeds alone and in the depths of a classroom, but something was different this time.
I peeked my head around the corner and looked down the long empty hallway. It was clear. I tightened my new bright white slip-on Keds, tight rolled my jeans and started the perilous journey.
I felt confident today. Maybe it was the Keds and jeans, but something was going to be different. I made it to the first classroom. I looked in and it was empty. So was the next one and the next one! They were all empty, so I decided that my time and energy would be better spent moving forwards rather than making useless stops. I let my guard down as I picked up the pace. I wanted to end this today, but Green Stripes knew I was coming. He knew it and planned for it.
All of a sudden the door in front of me swung open and I was again facing a charging enemy, but this time holding what looked like pitchfork only twenty-times the size! Look at it!
I felt a sharp poke on my arm and then piercing pain shot all around my body. I was paralyzed with fear. In the panic, I couldn't find my gun and just tried swinging. I couldn't see well, but the creature kept advancing and getting closer.
I fell to the ground and put my hand up to protect me from the blows, but he kept coming. 
I could see him now. The beast before me was not the Green Stripes, but an evil spawn. I was losing ground. The advance was too fast and strong. I closed my eyes and waited for the end. Then, I heard that shriek again and the spawn retreated into a distant classroom.
I survived another attack, but could I live and function with all that had happened in the last two days? Could I forge on and fight again?
These are the questions that keep me up at night. These are the questions that haunt my dreams.
As Churchill said, "So long as there are Green Stripes there will be wars."
He was right and I will continue to rid the world of Green Stripes one day at a time.
I made sure to bring my camera today to see if Jerry was wearing a green striped shirt. It was a wild story.
I walked in the door and looked for him, but he was not to be found. I thought he might be sick or something, but the school had not been notified. That meant he was wondering the halls, trying to turn other kids on to the dark world of green stripes.
I called a quick teachers meeting to discuss the threat, but it was too late. The bell had already rang and, like the students, we have to go to class.
I nervously ascended the stairs; gun in one hand and camera in the other. I saw some stripes in the corner of my eye and shot wildly, but when I gained control of my senses, I saw that it was only blue stripes. Phew!
The sweat was pouring down my forehead. My heart was beating fast. I stopped and tried to calm down. Green stripes can sense fear and I knew that if I was too close to him that that would be the end of me. I turned the corner and there he was. He was too far away to identify what kind of stripes he was wearing, but I could tell by the stench that there was a good chance of green. I cocked the trigger under my shirt in an attempt to muffle it and turned the camera flash on.
I stayed low so he couldn't see me. Green stripes are known for their vision. I had to stay low. He paced back and forth outside of the classroom. I looked away for only a moment and then, just like that, he was gone.
I looked around me and frantically starting checking my body as if there was a spider on me. I was clean and safe, but not for long. I approached a door. The smell was putrid, so I knew that this must be his classroom. I sat there for a moment pondering if this was worth it. After twenty minutes or so of crying and trying to win votes (Oh, how did that get in there?), I decided that if I didn't do this then 고's and my kids would be living in fear of green stripes or even worse, they might even cross-over and wear green stripes themselves. I had a duty to stop this. At least I had to try.
I backed up a few steps and took one last look at the door.
"This is for you, 고!!!" I screamed as I ran towards the door.
My life was flashing before my eyes, but it was not my past, but my future. This confused me because popular mythology suggests that my past is supposed to flash before me. I stopped and decided to give the flash one more try.
I changed my war charge this time.
"This is for 고 and our kids!!!
I hit the door with such power that the door flew right of the hinges. The power from my thrust made me loose grip on the gun and it fell into the darkness that surrounded me. It was quiet expect for the echoed drip of water in the distance. I fumbled around looking for the gun, but it was no good. I couldn't see a thing. I knew that my camera was my only chance. If I couldn't kill the great beast, then at least I could show the world its face.
I could smell stripes. I walked towards where I thought a wall was, but I tripped on what I hoped was an animal carcass, but I knew what it was. Finally, I found a wall. I clawed at it hoping to find a light and maybe even locate my gun.
Although I couldn't see it, I knew I was bleeding. The dampness was heavy and think on my abdomen. The cracking of my fingernails on the wall slowed me down, but I continued clawing for the switch.
Then, I found it. My adrenaline was so high at that point that I flipped on the switch without giving any thought.
Right before my eyes was the great beast. He hair was black as night. He peered at me with his empty, black eyes. I couldn't see his shirt. The mist was too thick, but those eyes I'll never forget. It was like looking into a sharks eyes. Black as death.
He didn't attack me though. He just sat there. Staring. Waiting. This gave me time to take a picture and, if I was lucky, escape with my life. I cautiously raised my camera.
*click*
I got the shot. He still didn't move; not even an inch. I couldn't figure it out. Then, I looked at the picture. 
It was hideous. It was something out of a nightmare. His eyes pierced my soul and I found myself struggling to catch my breath. I looked closer. The beast before me was not wearing green. He was in purple!
I lunged at him in attack, but it was deflected. He grabbed me as if he was trying to choke me. I was surprised. Purple stripes shouldn't be this strong! As he was tossing me around like I was a pool toy, he paused. Then I saw it. 
]
His collar was green! He had discovered that I was trying to study his habits and camouflaged himself. He started to tire and without any notice, I dropped me from his grip and faded into the mist.
I made it to the door, turned to handle and was out. I sat there crouching with my back against the wall and my head drooped between my legs. My blood-soaked shirt was ripped and smelled of the green striped beast. The bell rang and I stood up and limped down the hall.
I hurried because I had to check the New Hampshire totals.
Some people love the thrill of the big city subway. The millions of different people with different backgrounds all coming together to use the same mode of transportation. Maybe people will talk to a stranger and make a new friend. Maybe they'll sleep or at least close their eyes in order to avoid eye contact with an older person who they should relinquish their seat to without a fuss. I'm not one of those people. I do not like the subway, but sadly with Seoul traffic it's the fastest way to get around. No matter what your train-riding style is, people are all on it and, in my opinion, we're all equally unhappy about being on it.
I'm just complaining about the idea of the subway. That makes me agitated enough. However, in Seoul, there is a small, but highly visible group of older woman and sometimes men, who have been riding the rails for so long, that they're either hostile or the greatest crowd navigators ever. I'll go with the latter...maybe.
고 and I are walking to the station. We have decided to save the two dollars that we sometimes pay for the three minute cab ride to the station. As we walk through our little neighborhood, a passerby probably hears me moaning about my distaste for the crowded and oftentimes insanely hot subway ride that awaits us. I can't do anything about it and that makes me furious as well. Luckily 고 and I were having a good discussion about how great Obama is and the walk went by quickly. So, we get to the station, swipe our cards and wait in line for the doors to open on the next train.
Finally, the bell rings, the Korean and then English translation tells us where it's going and we get on. It's hot. The guy in front of me and behind me happen to be wearing leather jackets and their body heat is being transferred right to me and this only increases my potential to get quietly angry and complain yet again to 고 about how much I hate the train. The voice again comes over the PA and tell us where we are. The train starts to slow. I reach for the handle so I'm not the guy who falls over and then BAM!
I feel a huge force behind me that's relentlessly pushing its way towards the door. I turn around expecting to find a twenty-something male or maybe an older guy who is in a hurry, but certainly a man. To my surprise, it was a tiny little Korean lady with a sweet face and that trademark old woman hair. I was stunned. This woman could probably beat me up. She made it past the great wall that I am and continued in her pursuit for the door. She made it out and ripped a phone book in two. Seriously.
This was not the first time that this happened. It seems very common and in fact happens to me and everyone all the time. I would assume that an "Excuse me" would be appropriate even if it was in Korean. I'd understand and even if I didn't I would know what is needed of me.
This is an example of a culture that is more hands on. The general idea in America is that we are all expected to respect the idea of privacy and what's mine is mine. I think that ideology probably leads to more problems than it prevents though. Public transportation is just a quick example, but the facets of privateless space extends deeper into the core of Korean memes and mores. I think it's quite fascinating.
The dinner table is representative of this as well. As you might recall from a previous post, that I described eating dinner at 고's moms house. Her mom is a GREAT cook and I really enjoy our time there and if you look at the picture or read the post, I mention that there was one bowl of soup and most of the food is served on individual communal plates, dishes or bowls and we all eat directly from there. I really enjoy this way of eating. I think it increases conversation and overall appreciation for the dinner and brings people closer together. There are also some little rules governing how to eat and take food. There is a wonderful history that delves into the niceties and quirks of eating and how to eat with certain types of people.
Here's another aspect:
It was getting late, so 고 and I decided we needed to go home for the night. We were in one of the bustling business districts of Gangnam and surrounded by hofs, clubs and other bars. We grabbed our bill and make our way through the sea of suits and tables full of salary-men with that one boss who always positions himself at the head of the table. The were having a great time; laughing and carrying on like anybody would expect them to do. We stepped into the frigid air. It was cold. As we usually do, 고 and I began our walk with a kiss and the seemingly automatic motion towards the hand-hold. It seems normal to us and to everyone else. We were walking, but our stride was interrupted by two middle-aged Korean men. After a few drinks, they weren't really paying close attention and didn't see us. However, 고 and I did see them. We slowed our pace and the two men were directly in front of us were laughing, holding hands and having a great time. That's right. They hand-hold was just like the one 고 and I were sporting. And it wasn't what someone could call casual. It was the full blown lock. I was taken back, but 고 didn't think twice. 
Being from a highly homophobic nation, this strikes me as... well... gay. It's not, but you know it's pretty gay. And it's obvious that these two men were nowhere close to being gay. They're just buddies. Girls can do this and it is a bit more tolerable, if not normal, but this particular man-hold situation is very foreign.
Since this, I've seen old men to young boys holding hands for fun. I will add that homosexuality is not really thought of here. Sure, there are homosexuals somewhere in Korea, but it's not very common and if it is present, I doubt that one would notice it because it would be masked or hidden.
One of my previous posts titled, "A Friendly Face", discusses a man that owns a nearby 711. He was very guilty of being very friendly and affection. While some of us went along with it to be nice, others joined in on the man-love. Of course, I think foreigners joining in on it intentionally, might actually make it gay.
So, in the end, a couple questions and thoughts: Would two Korean men see two Western men holding hands and assume they are friends or that they are gay? And furthermore, would the two hand-holding Korean men see two Western male friends drinking, but not holding hands, as odd?
I think the Western idea of the right to property trickled down a little too far. We see this type of resistance with taxes and social programs, but for some reason not with Women's Rights. (Hmmm... another post!) Maybe that fact that I see two men holding hands and immediately assume that they are gay is a little insane. I think personal space is an issue that too many people take way too seriously. I'm okay with a nudge or two as long as it's in jest or accidental. I have friends (Coug) that will physically freak out if they feel that their space has been "invaded". This seems odd to me hence the quotes, but it's how some people are wired.
I've been here for a year and half and still discover little quirks that I love: A communal bowl of soup that makes perfect sense; a pushy old woman who knows the ropes of subway navigation; and two men that are such good friends that they feel locking hands is the best way to publicy express it.
The best part is that 고운 is always by my side and helping me steer through the culture on this fascinating Asian peninsula.
Here's to those happy people who love holding hands...
By the way, the title "More Touching" is a quote from the great TV show Arrested Development...
I sit down on the heated floor and position my legs so my knees are just slightly under the low wooden square table. I'm not great at sitting cross-legged for a long period of time, but I usually start this way. The rest of the family gathers around and picks up their chopsticks. 
There isn't any space on the table top as it is filled with rice, meat, fish eggs, kimchi, vegetables and one big bowl of soup. The communal feast is a facet of Korean eating culture. The usually banter and dinner chat begins and, these days, the family has been studying English a lot, so much of the conversation inlcudes me.
The food is always so delicious, but as I sit there, I notice that so few meals I have eaten in Korea exlude a soup or stew. There is always rice, kimchi and soup. Asian cultures consume a ton of rice and Korea is no different. Kimchi is my favorite side-dish and everytime I open the refrigerator at home the strong and intoxicating smell bellows out and our place will smell of it for some time. However, the soup is a little more perplexing to me for some reason. I know that many clutures eat stews and soups, but it's not as common and the few cultures that do eat as much soup cannot claim the same heartiness as Korea soups.
This soup and stew culture is interesting, so after some unsuccessful sleuthing, I came up with an idea. I'm not sure that this is accurate because I'm not sure what Korean cuisine included pre-occupation.
Due to the general scarcity of food and the severe social stratification that exsisted on the peninsula, food was taken very seriously. There were and still are many rules dictating food consumption in regards to speed, quantity and demonstrative appreciation. With this in mind, it seems the best way to maximize a small ration of food, is to make a hot stew out of it.* Not too interesting really, but if the stew culture grew out of the Japanese occupation then it becomes a little more interesting because stew is so prevalent here now.
So I challenge myself to discover pre-occupation cuisine and compare the two.
* Carl Weathers discusses his appreciation for a good stew in Arrested Development.
In Korea, there exists a connection to the past. It's a harmonious bond that holds on to the past while allowing the pace of modernity to remain constant. 
Amidst the backdrop of fashion, people, buildings and globalization, stands an older Korean Buddhist monk. He's clad in the traditional Korean Buddhist red and grey robe. Calmly he walks past old movie posters that are on display in the subway station. He has not seen nor heard of any of the movies. It's a world that he has chosen not to be a part of. 
He reaches into his robe and reveals a card which he then proceeds to swipe as he slowly walks through the subway turnstile. He has a clean shaven head, thick glasses and a grin that speaks without words.
He is one of the millions of observing Buddhists in Korea and here he is, riding the backed subway amongst the millions of businessmen, teachers, students, artists, and doctors. The subway doors open and he waits his turn to board. A seat opens, but he just stands there watching the vacant seat. He does not sit. He does not move.
The train comes to a stop and he calmly exits. No one noticed him. No one thought twice about what his presence meant, but he was there and he is part of this society.
A mother and her daughter get out of their new BMW. Mom, in her fashionable pant-suit, is hurrying her nine year old daughter who is typically more reluctant to practicpate in the weekly visits to the temple. It's a dreary day and the sounds and sights of the city are in the background washing away any natural sounds that might be coming from the small patch of nearby trees. She takes her daughters hand and together they walk towards one of the many Buddha statues. The closer they get, the more serious they both get. The whining has stopped and both of them have a more serene expression on their face. They stop in front of a very large white stone Buddha. I watch. 
They remove their shoes and bow. It's silent. They're silent. They stand up and walk towards a small monastery where a resident monk is chanting. Inside they bow, light incense and worship. Some time later, they open the decorated wooden doors, walk to their car and join the Seoul traffic that never seems to end and head back to their busy lives.
Korea has an interesting way of blending the new with the old. Many people like to taunt or say that Korea is only 50 plus years old and if they were discussing the political South Korea, then they would be right. South Korea was formed in 1948. However, the Korean people have been here for thousands of years. Koreans are believed to be descendants of Altaic speaking tribes, linking them with Mongolians, Tungusics, Turkics, and other Central Asians. Like most, they started as small hunter and gatherer kin groups. They developed indepently from other peoples and, from that, have an earned deep and rich sense of pride.
Prior to the introduction of Buddhism by the Chinese in the third century, Koreans were mostly Shamanistic. While Korean Buddhism initially enjoyed wide acceptance, even being supported as the state ideology during the Goryeo period, Buddhism in Korea suffered extreme repression during the Joseon dynasty, which lasted for several hundred years. During this period, Neo-Confucian ideology overcame the prior dominance of Buddhism.
The Koreans out-Confuciast the Chinese and as a result Confucianism left it's mark on Korea and is deeply rooted in all facets of Korean culture and stratum.
The pictures I have posted on here show the contrast between the fast-growing Korea and its past. 
The hotel in the background in the one that mom will be staying at in May. 
It's interesting to me to see a mother and daughter bowing and worshiping like this. Buddhism to me has always been very mysterious, solemn and for some reason, only practiced by those in the rural mountains of Asia. Seeing young people and families practicing their Buddhist faith is so contrary to what I always imagined. The monk walking through the busy subway station is the last location one would expect to see a monk, but there he was.
I think that Korea has an amazing and facinating history. There are so many elements to it and so much has happened on this small peninsula. The Korea that the world knows now really amazes me. Korea melds their history with their future and does it so well. They use the wisdom of the past to guide them through these often treacherous times.
New Years Eve has always been a fun time. From wild parties, to chalets in the mountains, from bombings in Thailand and now in the spectacularly crowded streets of Seoul, they always show me a great time.
We started the night out with wine, beer, soju and tequila. Some people came over to our place and we started watching the fight. It was an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fight and Choi Hong Man (최홍만) was fighting the world best fighter Fedor Emelianenko
in Japan at the Yarennoka tournament. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarennoka%21
He had no business fighting Fedor really. Fedor has only lost once and that was just because the doctor called it. It went like this.
After the fight, we headed to what is comparable to Times Square only there is about three times as many people here. We got off the train and walked out into the already crowded street. At this point, we were pretty loose, but needed a few more bottles of booze before the countdown. 
We came to the main street and immediately we saw the fireworks and heard the drums. 
The drums were from several groups of Koreans who were wearing traditional clothes and dancing and playing traditional music. We walked past those guys and made it to the insanely tightly packed crowd. We pushed and got pushed and got smashed and finally made it as far as we could go. Music and dancing and drinking and yelling and all the typical NYE stuff was going on.
I have a bunch of pictures to post here. Enjoy!
This is the stage where all the people were dancing and singing.
After the countdown...
My 김!!!
It was loud and wild and a lot fun! Here's a video that someone took last year.
It's been three weeks since I started my stache and let's just say it been full of ups and downs. People tend treat you differently when they see you.
For instance, I was trying to catch a cab and the driver slowed down just enough to see my stache and then, with a squeal of his tires, he drove off yelling and cursing in korean. My students are finding it harder to pay attention to me and seem to only want to talk to my mustache. They direct their questions to it, leaving me bored and helpless. And just yesterday, I caught my mustache trying to peak at my unopened Christmas presents.
It's not all bad though. In the subway, some Korean guy was trying to give 고 the eye. She alerted me, so I turned my head towards him and exposed the stache. He left. Also, I get all my drinks for free too. If you remember Teen Wolf when Michael J. Fox needed "a keg of beer" and his eyes turned red, that's pretty much what it's like for me.
So, will I shave it on January 2nd?
Every morning, 고 leaves for Chinese class very early. Sometimes I get up with her and sometimes I don't. We do live in one room, so I feel bad if she has to sneak around the apartment in the dark. She gets up and leaves before the sun sets and never makes it home before 8pm.
This limits our fun time, but I try to get as much of her as I can when I can. So, when she leaves I pop my head out the window and watch her walk up the street and fade into the dawn. Sometimes, she knows I'm watching and turns and mouths "I Love You". Othertimes, the tasks of the day are weighing in on her beautiful mind and she just walks.
I see so much grace in her when she walks. I love watching her move. I love knowing that she has so much going on and yet she still manages to turn and watch me watching her.
There's something mystical about 김고운 and have my whole life to figure out just what that might be.
고 has signed up for Chinese classes again and will start studying in the morning before work. I take Korean classes on Saturday. Funny, huh? She has no time and manages to take 5 classes a week and I have all the time and I take 1 class. Awesome!
She's getting geared up for our planned move to Singapore and really she wants to be super marketable when we move home to the US and she starts working. I figured a young, attractive, Asian woman with Chinese, Korean, English, French and a working knowledge of three others (Spanish, Russian and Japanese) on top of her experience in multiple international markets will look good.
She's working so hard and really wants to be the best around!!!
고 and I went to a Food Exhibition at COEX (a huge mall, convention center, etc...) and while we were tasting food and drink from all around Korea and the world, we stumbled upon an arm-wrestling competition. I had to watch it, so I convinced her to stay and watch it with me.
There were six guys on stage wearing tight jackets that showed off their size. They guys were huge. Kind of like this...
So, 고 and I chose which guy we thought would win. My guy had huge arms, but came in last place. 고's guy got second. The guy who won looked like a normal guy just trying to make a living as a trucker...
Or maybe that's the theme to...
고 and I went to bed early last night. We were both sleeping by 9:45. It was great. She was tired from her late nights and I'm pretty sure I can fall asleep at any moment if I try.
When it gets cold we turn the heat on like anywhere else. However, the heat comes from water pipes in the floor. This is because it is very normal to sleep on the floor in Korea (even preferred). So, 고 and I slept on the floor last night. It was very comfortable and quiet warm. We have a nice Korean-style mattress and warm blankets, so it was just like a bed. Of course, heat rises and around six this morning we got a little cold, but nothing big.
We woke up at seven to another snow. This one was better than the one before because the ground was so cold. I'm hoping that it's a cold and snowy winter, but I doubt that.
So, in my dream I was teaching, but I was not teaching english. I was teaching that Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine song, "Conga". I was teaching my 10 year old class that can speak very well. However, that did not matter really. It was so strange because I had to teach the dance moves and the lyrics. And if you recall, I can't sing and my dancing, while not horrible, is not geared towards this Cuban sound. It was amusing.
As winter closes in on Korea again (it's 16 degrees today), I felt it necessary to buy a real winter coat. I knew what I wanted, so 고 and I went out to a shopping district of Seoul and looked.
I saw some that I liked and many, many more that I was embarrassed to try on, but did only because of the over-the-top cajoling from the salesmen. I would try one on and they would say how great I looked in it, but when I saw myself in a mirror I had a different opinion.
After a couple hours, we gave up and now, I do not have a decent coat and it's cold outside!!!
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