Karaoke With The Monks, Dog Soup and Beyond (2 of 2)
A couple of weeks later we found ourselves at a sacred Korean holiday, one where they celebrate their liberty from Japan and essentially use it as an excuse to take the day off work and play ping-pong. I envy countries that have myths and heroes and all, but when Canada has a national holida
The Other Side of the World
Arriving in Pusan, Korea was an experience I’ll never forget. It seems like yesterday when I think about it. After a nice flight and smooth connections from Halifax, Nova Scotia, I was met by Mr. Yoon. He was looking for foreign passengers in the airport. Foreigners stick out like sore
One Week in South Korea
After being delayed at departure in Oslo (which is not unusual with this brand new airport), I landed in Paris about the same time as my connecting flight to Seoul should leave. Fortunately, it was at Charles De Gaulle airport that the problem started in the first place, so the connecting plan
Karaoke With The Monks, Dog Soup and Beyond (1 of 2)
It’s no secret that most university graduates are scared senseless of the possibilities, or lack thereof, they are faced with after they shed their caps and gowns. Most of my friends accepted their fate willingly, as evidenced by moving from domestic beer to imported as soon as they re
Paul Kan’s Asia Journal #16: June 22-26, Seoul, Korea – South Korea
June 22-26Seoul, Korea
A Korean food stall in Itaewon.
In this story:
Arrival
Seoul with Sam
Final Thoughts
Arrival
Although a direct flight from Tokyo to Seoul would have only been 2.5 hours, it virtually took me all day to get there. Being on an all-Asia pass with Cathay Paci
The Korean DMZ: A Propaganda Playground – South Korea, North Korea
The Korean DMZ: A Propaganda Playground
Korea
Embittered taxi drivers honking their horns and the distinct waft of kimchi seeping under my door had become my alarm clock every morning while teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. Today was no different as I slowly got up and made my way to th
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #1: Korea and the World Cup – South Korea
Korea and the World Cup
August 2002
Walking around the many impressive Korean stadiums purpose built for the World Cup is a rather eerie experience. While all the trappings of Asia’s first World Cup are there (the bunting, the flags) there is a ghost town quality to these immense structu
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #2: Korean Logic – South Korea
Korean Logic
August 2002
February 11th 2002 is probably not a date that means anything to you or me, but it is etched in the memory of the average Korean. For it is on that Thursday afternoon that the American speed skater Anton Ohno collided with his Korean counterpart, knocking him to the ic
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #3: The Nightlife – South Korea
The Nightlife
September 2002
While it mightn’t rival the Patpong district of Bangkok or downtown Amsterdam, there is no doubt that Itaewon is the epicentre of sleaze in Korea. Situated beside the Yongsan US military base just south of central Seoul, Itaewon has long had a reputation for
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #4: The Business of Knowledge – South Korea
The Business of Knowledge
September 2002
2pm. Oedae Hagwon. Sosa Dong. Bucheon city. Korea.
On the fourth floor, 15 crying, moaning, bleeding, shouting, laughing students are crammed into a tiny room, all there to learn a language most will never use. All forced to recite English expressions
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #5: How to Survive Korea – South Korea
How to Survive Korea
November 2002
Sweating, bleary-eyed and far from attractive, Chris, a Canadian English
teacher rolls into work on Monday morning with the weight of the world on
his shoulders. The weekend just past was a sorry affair, only deepening the
depression that took hold months ago
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #6: Dynamic Korea? – South Korea
Dynamic Korea?
November 2002
When you come to Korea to be an English teacher there are many things you should expect. You should expect to make some money. To see some of the country. To enjoy the nightlife. To find teaching relatively easy. To make friends. To want to leave at least twice dur
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #8: Provincialism – South Korea
Provincialism
January 2003
Riots. Nuclear War. Death. Destruction. Holocaust. If you rely on the western media for information, you would be forgiven for thinking that South Korea is about to implode in on itself. Daily anti-American riots, military installations being fire bombed, US citizens
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #9: Last Exit to Bucheon – South Korea
Last Exit to Bucheon
April 2003
The end was as swift as it was unexpected. Two days after returning from Thailand, I was informed that due to ‘downsizing’ I was to be let go. Apparently my hagwon wanted female teachers for kindergarten. I had 6 weeks left in the ‘school’
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #10: Anarchy in the R.O.K – South Korea
Anarchy in the R.O.K
May 2003
There are thousands of legal foreign English teachers currently working in Korea. Most only last the first year and move on, either back home or to another destination in Asia. For those that decide a second year is in order, a visa run is required, almost always
A Hike in Korea – Bukansan National Park, Korea
A Hike in Korea
Ilsan & Bukansan National Park, Korea
It had been more than a month since I first landed at Incheon International Airport in Korea and moved to my new home in the city of Ilsan. Suffering from a mild case of culture shock I made a concerted effort to cope with the ever-prese
The Other Korea – Ulsan, South Korea
Perfect bodies – diamante-trimmed thongs – contortionist-like moves. This was the initial visual picture that my mind generated when I heard about the 7 Club in Korea – a Russian strip club. Strip clubs are very popular all over Korea due to the closeness of South Korea to oth
Seoul Man: 12 Months in Korea – #11: Office Space – South Korea
Office Space
September 2003
In August the Hyundai executive, Chung Mong-Hun, jumped from the window of
his 12th floor office and fell to his death. His suicide illustrated some of
the main problems with Korea today. Corruption and the desire to save face at
all costs. Before his death, Chung M
My Bike is Broken: Losing it in Gyeongju – Gyeongju, South Korea
My Bike is Broken: Losing it in Gyeongju
Gyeongju, South Korea
The warm days of summer were becoming less frequent as mid-September approached. Life for me and my small group of close friends in Ilsan, South Korea was becoming somewhat mundane. Our weekends had become relaxed, routine and rathe
The Last Line – South Korea, North Korea
The Last Line
DMZ, South Korea
Imagine if I was to draw a line, somewhat arbitrarily, across a map of your country. From tomorrow there will be just North and South. All ties, emotional, financial and spiritual will cease to exist. What existed yesterday will be no more and, perhaps, will neve
