This one kind of hit me by surprise. As many readers know, I expected to take on two new classes from next week. I currently teach from 13:00-17:40 for my hagwon, then tutor my boss’ son and his friends for an additional half hour Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. All in all, this lets me...
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This blog begins with no plan, no structure, not even a general idea of what I want to say. I read a friend’s blog regarding her first impressions teaching five-year-old Korean kids in Seoul, and I couldn’t help but realize how I was making the same observations she was, but somehow unable to find...
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When I first stepped off the bus that Saturday afternoon last August, I found myself in a small little Korean town, one that I could see from end to end. Nothing too complicated, no big surprises. The biggest noises were from protestors’ loudspeakers outside the nuclear power plant… but they haven’t showed themselves in...
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Nothing could be simpler than a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread for a comforting lunch, yet finding all the pieces to this American staple food is one of the first challenges I undertake when living abroad. My dinners can be anything from Japanese blowfish to Ethiopian sponge bread, but when it comes to...
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Before I begin this evening, I’d like to tell you a little about my background. I’m definitely a science guy. I majored in engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, I used to read science fiction stories, Michael Crichton in particular, and I fancied myself knowing a little about a variety of scientific...
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Naturally, for one who has spent a great deal of time abroad, I have many recurring fears involving being thrown into unfamiliar potentially dangerous situations. But perhaps my most prevalent worry is being dependent on others, especially my family. Although I generally enjoy spending time with friends and crashing at home on occasion to...
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Now that rescue efforts are underway, some people who were trapped on rooftops and the hills in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures have been able to get access to food, water, and Internet. As a result, new witness videos have been pouring on to YouTube and the news: I had a rather disturbing moment...
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I feel like such a spoiled brat writing this, wondering which of life’s opportunities, those many don’t have, I should accept and which I should pass over. I guess I’m just a little nervous about finishing up in August and returning to a country with a very poor job market, and me with few...
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There’s very little I can add to this story. Best to check my Twitter account for updates, as more video and stories are uncovered. The only thing I can say for uncertain is South Korea is completely unaffected; I’m on the east coast and we didn’t see so much as a centimeter rise in...
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I’ve been pretty sick the last two days. Fortunately, I have a very accommodating boss here in Korea. I’ve covered for him at school when he had family emergencies or needed to take a few hours to rest himself. I’ve just been fascinated by the different ways cultures approach minor illnesses (major ones too,...
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