Joaquin Del Mundo

Hasuk From Hell, Part I: The Bathroom

I was trying fathom why I became so stressed out last semester.  I am was going nuts.  A new person moved into the hasuk recently, and he is starting to get really sick, just like I was sick before last semester. 

I started to evaluate the situation to a video game, where various elements give stress points. Once you accumulate 10 stress points, you are officially like stress-crazy. In this state, you can get very sick and become depressed.  

Here's a summary of the stress points I accumulated just living here, when things were going good:

• Filthy Streets of Shinchon (1 stress points) - studies have found that ambient surroundings can significantly elevate stress levels or help relax and reduce stress.  I found before in natural settings, or clean areas with attractive architecture, helped me relax.
• Hasuk Jib Food (.5 stress point) - most hasuk jib food is known to be sub-standard quality.  I do love the kimchee, but many times I found myself having to search the streets for supplementary nutrients to increase fiber and other minerals, or just to have a good meal.  Solution is to alternatively treat oneself to good meals and scout out affordable places to eat (takes organization and preparation), but I took the lazy man's approach: fast food and worsening mineral nutrients.  
• Decrepit Bathroom and Rooms (2 stress points) - the bathroom has old cracked tiles, sawed off exposed pipes, mold stains permanently meshed into the ceiling, mold in the tiles, partially melted plastic cabinet with broken glass, stained walls and door.
• Dysfunctional Water System (1 stress points) - the water sometimes takes up to 15 minutes to heat up, and when you take a shower, it jumps from freezing cold to searing hot at any moment.  Normally, one can deal with this, but holding the shower over your head, you get increased anxiety anticipating whether you'll be burned or get a blast of cold freezing water.  
• Lack of Shower Head (.5 stress points) - you have to hold the shower head with one hand, and soap and wash yourself with the other.   One student uses a bucket, and pours the water from some large scooper over his head like in the ancient medieval days.  
• Lack of Sink (1 stress point) - having no sink makes it hard to manually shave for some people, or to brush ones teeth easily.  I simply didn't brush my teeth and used mouth wash, and sometimes I brushed teeth at a bathroom sink at the college.
• Internet Problems (1 stress point) - Internet is a tool for communication with loved ones abroad, access to news from home countries, college resources, is required for classes (getting homework assignments), access to funds, organization, and entertainment.  At a time with most things seem stressful, a game or some entertainment is good to help relax and detox on stress.  Without Internet, you have to find some environment in the streets to use the Internet, which can have mixed results.
• Unkempt Surroundings (0-3 stress points) - this is up to the individual: Are you a messy slob or a neat freak.

When I tally up the points, I get to 7 - 9 points.  I am a breath away from going looney from stress.  Some of these are residual, in that they are not realized right away, but take time for them to sink in.  I found trips to the coffee shop to get out of the home helps, as well as nature hikes and to nice wealthier districts like Samchon-Dong district, which is sort of like Piedmont or Los Gatos for those familiar with the S.F. Bay Area.

 

 

  

The Smart Choice

For $3.55 (exchange to USD from 4900 won menu price tag) you can get this 2 piece Chicken meal at KFC.  They call this the Smart Choice (pronounced "Sehmateh Choiseh").

Excellent Wine from Chile

I met a new friend through one of my buddy's here.  And we got to discussing the importance of wine.  I remember that I brought this wine as a gift to my friend Maeri's mother in Pusan.  I had this wine at a restaurant in Shinchon.  I managed to convince them to sell me a bottle.

Korea has a free trade agreement right now with Chile, so wine is becoming more and more popular lately.  As I grew up partially in California, in San Francisco Bay Area, I was exposed to a lot of Napa Valley Wine.  My favorite being wine from Ravenswood.

This wine,  Santa Helena Siglo de Oro Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, is just awesome.  Everyone that has tried it, even non-wine drinkers, has loved it.

On one website adegga, this poster commented in Portuguese on a 2004 bottle as follows:

Cor ruby com reflexos violáceos, aromas de frutos vermelhos, pouco de vegetal e uma vaga lembrança de madeira. corpo médio, vinho equilibrado, acidez moderada, taninos macios, álcool bem integrado ao conjunto. Retrogosto suave, final curto, pequeno amargor.

 

Traditional Korean Lunar New Years

There's a mass exodus of Koreans, about 20 million leaving Seoul going to other cities and towns to stay with their families.  All the trains, buses, freeways, planes are jam packed with travelers.  I was barely able to grab a ticket to Pusan.  I needed to visit a very important friend Meari (메아리) as it is her birthday on January 26th, the same day of Lunar New Year. 

When I was down there, her mother allowed me to stay at their place, and I was able to enjoy a traditional Korean meal.  It was so great.  Maeri's parents are so nice and kind.  Her mother was curious about me; I felt like an adopted family member.  Maeri started calling me Obba (elder brother).

Later I wanted to leave Pusan in a hurry, I wanted to leave, because well, I found let's just say my heart was a little broken as Maeri said she wasn't ready for a relationship.  My hopes were dashed.  All the trains were booked for the week because many people were returning back to Seoul.  I managed to get a bus back to Seoul, and take the metro back to my abysmal hasuk.

Gwang-an Bridge In Busan (釜山는廣安大橋에이다)

I arrived in Busan, and Maeri wanted to show me this famous bridge in Busan (Hanja: 釜山; Hanguel:  부산) and then get something to eat in the area.  I took a few pictures of the bridge called Gwang-an Bridge (Hanja: 廣安大橋; Hanguel: 광안대교) with lights that shift colors as well as a shot of some buildings nearby.

  Bridge shifting to green color. Bridge in blue color mode.Close-up of bridge
City Lights left of the bridge.

Lunar New Year, Snow, and Kyobo Bookstore

I woke up late today to the silent sound of no construction.  Yes.  There is no construction today, and I got a lot of sleep.  I feel great!  Amazing what sleep can do... (yes that is sarcasm)

They probably stopped construction because this weekend is approaching the Lunar New Years on Jan 26th where everyone will go see their families.  I managed to get a train ticket to go down to Pusan where I will meet my special friend there.

I looked outside today, and it snowed.  Crazy.  Yeah snow is cool, but oh my, it is so cold!!  すごい寒い!! 전짜 추워 요!!

I will take off to this large book store called Kyobo, and bring my books for study.  I need to purchase a text book for one online course I am taking at Foothill College.  I hope that they carry the book in their English section.  I am guessing they will not.  What I love about books sold in Korea is that they are a fraction of the cost than USA, and way cheaper than in Japan.  In Japan, magazines from US or abroad were double the price, with European magazines almost $30, and Linux Journal costing about $18.  I couldn't pay that price, even if I was rich.

Found a new pad...

My friend Yeong-Jae and I went browsing for a new place to live.  We first encountered a room available towards the West Gate of Yonsei University.  Ironically, it was offered by the business manager that manages the place that I live currently.  Um, this was most awkward, and the manager was none too pleased as I tipped him off that I am looking for a new place to live. 

I later understood why the manager may get concerned.  They pay rent for the whole complex, and then sub-lease it to students, offering services like providing food and cleaning, bundling Internet and electricity for one flat fee.  If he looses tenants, he looses quite a bit of money.  But then, hey, what can I do?  Live next to constant hammering, pounding, drilling, sawing, etc. while my nerves get shot and I suffer physically and mentally due to stress and lack of sleep?

Yeah, I think not.  We shopped some more, and found that many Koreans do not rent to foreigners, while others want perspective tenants to stay at least one whole year.  Without much luck, we traveled to the East Gate of Yonsei and found many other areas.  Some of the places would rent only to female students, which makes sense as they are closer to a women's university E-Hwa.  Other places had rooms that were too small, I couldn't even fit my clothes in there, let alone computer and music equipment.  Then I found one place, in a run-down older building that reminded me of places in poor suburbs of Mexico, which ironically helped me have a good feeling about it (I have fond memories of Mexico). 

I saw the room, it was larger, had a guest bed, refrigerator, sink (Oh my, a freakin' sink), shower with shower head holder, large television, and small portable gas stove.  This is a great bonus, as this means I can cook a little and avoid being malnourished, while saving money from eating out all the time.

Bart Police Shooting Follow-up

The BART officer that killed the father during New Years day has been arrested on murder charges without bail.  I have mentioned before in conversation that we shouldn't stop here, and we need to further demilitarize parts of our policing force in California, and make sure notorious cops do not get back into the system. 

The whole system in California needs to be reformed before companies profiting off the criminal system bankrupt the state (Prisons are owned by public companies whose interests are to keep and retain more prisoners, and unionized guards have bilked the state out of untold millions).  There should also be programs that actually rehabilitate criminals, like some of the successful programs in England.

I'm Going Slightly Mad...

This morning I woke up to the sound of sawing and pounding from the two adjacent buildings.  They have ongoing construction, and because of that I am losing a lot of sleep. I cannot focus, and I am constantly negative.  I am able to catch my mind drifting into the negative realm, and then I snap out of it, and think positive happy thoughts.

I really have to move immediately, as my lifestyle is gone to pieces without regular sleep.  I am able to cope with the situation because I have the tranquil experience from Japan, so I am relaxed.  However, if I don't move, I'll be trapped and have little ability to change, due to being constantly sick and with lack of energy and sleep.  Both my friends Ethin and Maeri say "action", so today I meet my friend Yeong-Jae who will help me shop around for a new living situation.  I plan to move as soon as permitted.

When I was in Japan, I had to resolve a lot of turmoil I endured from Silicon Valley in the San Jose, California vicinity (more on that later).  I originally came to study in Korea to get away from that Silicon Valley life and reflect upon life, but instead I was catapulted into uncertain stress and depression.  I was like a zombie barely able to stay awake, always sick, and seldom able to enjoy the enriching life that Korea could possibly offer.  Later in the vacation to Japan, I was able to reflect and resolve past anguish experienced in Silicon Valley, and calm my nerves from the experience in Korea. 

Now relaxed and energized, it is time for action.

Refuge in Cafe Trois Amis

I had the fortune to study at this cafe called Cafe Trois Amis, a cafe that was literally opened by three friends, hence the name.  This is a relaxing place with good interior and exterior design, decent music, and free wireless Internet access for patrons.

This is a strong contrast to the many buildings in Shinchon that seem rather seem decrepit and run down, with trash and debris often piled in front of the shops. 

Most of the coffee shops from the chain stores like Star Bucks, Hollys Coffee, A Twosome Place, etc. do not have wireless Internet access that is free.  The one that does offer free Internet is Tom N Toms Coffee.  Unfortunately, wireless Internet connectivity from the one store in Shinchon is always down, and the employees seem none too concerned about it.

Trois Amis is the one small store that is different, and it seems the Japanese students in the area have taken notice as well.  There's often many Japanese there.