Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Incognito


It's been a while since I last posted. I guess quite a lot of things have happened. I got sick last week from the children not covering there mouths when they sneeze or cough. Out here you see quite a few people wear those medical masks. Originally, I thought maybe they were still geeked out about SARS. Appartently my assumption is totally incorrect. People wear them when they're sick. I appreciate the jesture but just cover your mouth and you won't look like you 're an extra in Outbreak. They don't cover they're mouth when launching saliva projectiles through the air. When eating in a group every one picks at the same dish with they're used chopsticks. It just seems unsanitary. Somethings (many things) I just don't get here. But that's all part of the experience.
My cold caused me to take it easy the latter part of last week. Plus I needed to save all my energy for my big birthday bash on Saturday night. Man, I have some good friends out here. They showed up with gifts, not that I'm all about presents, but it was just nice they went that extra step to for me. Good peole out here. My closest friends, Ken, Brad and Mikey threw a birthday party at their house for me. We bought an excessive amount of food; 30 hot dogs, 3 pork loins, 8 chicken wings, 4 chicken breast and the fixins for hamburgers. Well, the snow started to dump and evidently taxis were few and far between. To make a long story short, no one except us ate the food and consequencely the boys have a fridge full of hot dogs, chicken (we ate the pork loins the next night) and vegies that were for the salad that was never made. Regardless, the party was great. A lot a awesome people came out. The place was packed with every person who could've possibly attended. After a few drinks (wink, wink), a speech, countless hugs, and an apartment illuminated by expat smiles we zig-zagged to the neighborhood bar. By this time most people were pretty saucy. Some went home in taxis, others, included myself went to the nori bong (private kariokee rooms where you can be David Bowie, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz all in one night). The night was perfect. I had more fun than I could've expected. Not that I had low expectations but it was just a great night.
The next evening I went over to Chelsea's house for an early Christmas dinner. It was tasty. The Yeosu veteran and resident holiday extrodanaire can cook. We relaxed and began talking about plans for Christmas weekend. We also spent a vast majority of the time rehashing the faded memories from the night before.
Monday morning, my real birthday, was kicked off by talking with my folks. There isn't a better way to start a week. Although I slept in quite a bit due to my lively weekend, we were still able to converse for a short but sweet amount of time. As soon as I stepped foot into work little Arnold came running up to me and wished me a happy birthday. These kids are so cute! For snack the Korean teachers made pancakes cause they know I like them. By the end of the day, two mothers had each bought me cakes, and one of them bought two pizzas as well. Needless to say the gym is calling my name. Work was amazing. I felt so greatful, and at the sametime so undeserving. I give the credit to my folks. They're the ones who raised me. Thanks mom and dad. I love you.
In this post I've left out quite a few details but somethings are better kept off the internet. Oh yeah, one more thing. I'm going to Japan for a qucik three day trip coming up. I'm excited. I'm taking a hydrofoil across the Korean Strait and once landing in Japan I'm gonna take the train down to Nagasaki. The place has serious history. It was the first port that opened to foreign trade in Japan. The Portuguese, Dutch and to a smaller extent the Chinese. It's obviously most notorious for being the site of the second atomic bomb attack. There's supposed to be a cool monument and a park titled Peace Park. It should be a nice trip. I'll definitely keep you guys updated.
Well if you got to the end of this I thank you for taking time out of your day to read a few words that just another young man in Yeosu wrote. For those back home, I miss you and those here, I'm stoked I have you as friends.
peace and love,
Tyler James.
ps. I don't care how bad the Niners are. I love 'em just the same.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

All We Are Saying


Well it's 25 years since John Lennon was sadly taken from a world that I had yet to know. Lennon's death on December 8th, 1980 proceeded my birth by 1 year and 11 days, yet I feel as though the man has been a part of me since I first listened to my mother play John's greatest hits when I was still in single digit youth. When originally confused about girls, later young ladies, and now women I listen to "Jealous Guy" or "I'm So Tired." After Bush sent U.S. kids to Iraq I entered repeat song on my Ipod and let "Imagine" marinate my brain with thoughts that are so basic yet still so hard for those in power to exercise. If I've slept past my alarm and I'm still tired there's no better song to put on than "I'm Only Sleeping." Try this, roll one up, put on your headphones and listen to "Tomorrow Never Knows," your mind will be a canvas where only the most vibrant colors are used to paint "tangerine trees and marmalade skys." My life seems to change everytime I think about "A Day in the Life."
Originally I thought about how so much has changed since Lennon's life was taken in front of the Dakota. But after some thought I realized that not much has changed. At the time of John's death, Carter was a lame duck president soon to be replaced by a big spending Republican, who encouraged nationalism and used military might to interfer in messes on foreign soil (Lebannon, Grenada, and El Salvador, amongst others.) Although I'd like to "Imagine all the people living life in peace," after some observations, John, I would say "you're a dreamer." I wish I could list John's causes with check marks next to them and not big red X's. But the bottom line is we haven't learned from the past. Shit, I'm 23 years old but I know that. Nixon to Bush. Vietnam to Iraq. 10,000s of nukes to 100,000s of nukes. Does anyone else notice we're going down the wrong path? In the most miniscual way I'm glad John is gone. He'd be so dissapointed in our progress...or lack there of.
Find the a person you love. If it's a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife and play "Oh, Yoko" (Yeah I know she's crazy but that's beside the point. He was truly in love and no matter how geeked she is true love is a beautiful thing). The song contains lyrics that encapsulate the warmth only the sun radiates. Try "God." The man tells you what he believes but not in a manner of preaching. He's manifesting that we have the chance, no the right, to believe what we want. These songs are just one man's suggestions, in which only a few people may see, but thanks to John Lennon I've learned that one man can accomplish so much.
While at school, work, your house, or a hotel hot tub with a Swedish snow bunny, put on some Johnny L. and enjoy.
In Rememberance of John Winston Lennon.
Peace and Love,
Tyler James

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Snow Flakes and a Pet Hamster


As the charcoal smoldered and the pork tenderloins browned a star-filled night become a not-so-distant memory. At first, the frozen moisture sprinkling from the sky was exciting because it officially maked the first snowfall I've experienced in the place I reside. Eventually, after 20 minutes or so, the nostalgia wore off. But by no means did the greatness of the night decrease. While the snow began to conceal the ground my friends and I burnt our pork tenderloins, talked of good times and had an improptu snowball fight(are they ever planned?). Sunday, December 4th, 2005 will go down as a very memorable date for many a year to come.
The other big happening of the last few days was my aquisition of a pet hamster. I picked him up off waivers. One of my students had it in a paper cup and it was shaking from the cold. I don't know what came over me but I really felt for this little critter. The student's mom wouldn't let her keep it so I decided that I would take it home and see what I could do for it's health. It looked like it was on the verge of stepping into the white hampter light. Muchangi is his name. It means handsome in Korean. He's about 3 inches, has light grey hair, with the exception of a dark streak running down the center of his back. I hope I can keep him alive. I've never had a rodent as a pet...come to think about it I've never had a pet.
I'll keep Muchangi's condition updated as more happenings occur.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

First Post


Hello. Well this is my first shot at blogging. Honestly, I'm pretty excited. I've heard about blogging from shmoes like Arianna Huffington and I've had some inclination to further explore this new arena but I never got my act together. Now thanks to my boy S. Nilson (what up kid) I'm gonna start destroying cyberspace. I'm hoping this will be a good way for my friends and family to see what is going on out here in Korealand (it's similar to Disneyland minus the mouse ears). I'm gonna try and keep this updated as much as possible though I know that I'll be incognito at times. It's just my style.
Well I guess I should do some updating of my life out here. I'm living in a city named Yeosu which is located in southern South Korea. In this coastal, picturesque municipality I'm teaching children English. God, if only I was just teaching English. I've been doing a lot of wiping snot from kids nosies, cleaning up puke (Have you ever seen the puke of a kid that just eats rice? It ain't pretty), and constantly attempting to convince a 3 year old not to cry because the shrill that emanates from his mouth is similar to an infintile Bornean monkey that has gone a week from his mothers suckle. Other than the few minor issues stated above everything else is dandy.
My place of residence is a small studio. It's quite cozy. The room is big enough to make look like a desaster area at times but generally I'm keeping it clean (that's for you mom). The neighborhood that I live in is awesome. Across the street from my place is work, up the street is my local convience store, that stocks cheap beer and unrefrigerated eggs. One can find these items once navigating passed the shelves of dried fish and sausage shaped and flavored cheese sticks. There are many 24 hour gimbop restaurants within a 2 minute walk out my door (gimbop is like a sushi roll minus the tasty filling. The Koreans put ham, egg, radish, some green vegetable and a processed fish product in the center. But sometimes I order the chumchi (tuna, not fresh but outta the can) and this is quite tasty). It's a pretty happening area, throughout the night I hear soju influenced Koreans arguing about things that seem important.
I've been doing many things to keep busy. I picked up a guitar and have been playing a lot. I'm reading Dracula by Bram Stoker and getting excited about spending time in Transylvania next fall. I download shows from back home. The Apprentice and Lost are my two fave's. Sometimes I'll download a football game, pick up a Budweiser, play "God Bless America", and eat a hot dog, all while skimming through the lastest "Nascar Monthly" that I have shipped out here. It's fun. When not at home I'm usually with friends. I have buddies that live a short taxi ride away. They're all Canucks. Needless to say I recieve my fair share of anti-Americanism. But that's fine, I'm doing my best to uphold the reputation of California, not Kentucky, Nevada or Florida. Speaking of Florida currently I'm in negociations with the Canadians about trading the entire state for the city of Vancouver, BC. They could have a piece of land in the Caribbean, sunshine, freshly squeezed orange juice, Disneyworld, Jeb Bush, Tallahasse, Elian Gonzales' aunt, and Katherine Harris. Maybe I should leave those last four outta the pitch.
Anyway how bout those Niners? And now on to more uplifting topics. Is it just me or is the internet the most amazing thing invented in my 23+ years on this revolving rock? I think that unless Magic Johnson shares his cure of AIDS with the rest of the world, the internet will go down as being the greatest invention/discovery of my life. Thank you Al Gore.
Well, it's Satuday night and a friend of mine is spending his last night in town before heading off to Thailand and the Phillipines and eventually relocating to Taiwan. Speaking of Taiwan I think I'm gonna refer to them as the Democratic Republic of China for now on. I'm over the Lenin loving, Mao idolising, bird flu spreading, river polluting, Uighur oppressing, Tibet conquering, red flag waving, protester silencing, People's Republic of China.
Man the internet is cool. I'm out.
Peace and Love,
Tyler James