Joaquin Del Mundo

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.

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.

Indian Water Tower (インド水塔)

At the waterfront, I came across this little building called Indian Water Tower, which they wrote as インド水塔 (pronounced INDO-SUITOU).  The explanation of it was in Japanese and at night, with the glare off the plaque, couldn't quite make out its purpose. However, it is a rather pretty structure.

Yokohama Waterfront

I went out with my friend to the waterfront.  It is so beautiful.  We walked around the waterfront and looked at the various illuminated areas.  I got a chance to take a few night photos, that came out at best blurry. 

 

We walked by this place called Jack's Cafe.  I  wanted to go there, but the prices were a tad too high for our tastes.

Peaceful Respite in Yokohama Area

I needed to get out of Korea, namely Shinchon and Korea.  The area of drunk Koreans and trash everywhere in the streets combined with buildings that are an eye soar to bear is just not a tranquil place to relax or even focus for that matter.  The Yonsei campus at least is pleasant looking, but the combination of the student life there as a foreigner (waegugin) combined with the less than appealing Shinchon was just not a combination that went well.

Here in this area, it is so peaceful.  You can feel the cool breeze, look out into the hills or creek, and just feel the nature.  I know many spots in the world can offer this, but in Japan there’s some magic in the nature, the environment, I don’t know how to explain.  Also, Japanese here are so clean, no one throws trash on the ground, and I have the distinct feeling that if someone did, another would pick it up and throw it away. 

I might start jogging along the river once my health gets back, I've been so sick since the finals, and I am slowly recovering. 

Wonder Girls Makes Me Happy

I woke up from a flu yesterday, and I had that song going through my head, "I want nobody, nobody, but you".  It has a nice zing to it, and they play it over and over and over on the streets.  I was watching the video, and I don't know what it is, but they just make me happy.  They're bouncing around to a stylish and silly choreography; it is just weird, but still enthralling at the same time.  Their smile is so perfect and charming, and between their look, style, music, and choreography, both bizarre and intriguing at the same time, I am glued.  I feel like a cat in front of a fish tank.

Aftwards, I was just energetic and happy.  It is weird.  I'm a little concerned that Meari hasn't been responded to me (she's probably sick), and that I did not have much to do, restless after sleeping.  But no matter, the song gives me energy to make it through the day without the need for extra sugar from ice creams or donuts, or caffeine from coffee, which I have become addicted to lately.

Here's some videos of Wonder Girls:

The ATM Under the Stairs

I went into the Shinchon station (신촌역) to use the ATM, the only one in Korea that I know will work with US Bank cards.  I insert my card, instruct the machine to withdraw money.  Then suddenly the whole system goes dark.  The ATM machine is powered off.  And my bank card, the only access to cash I have in Korea, is swallowed up by this ATM.

I was in dire straits.  I suddenly had morbid dread consume me, as I will be stranded in Korea, with no means to pay for shelter or food.  Always, in the back of my mind, I lived here with the insecurity that I something like this could happen, stuck here without any support (either back home or in Korea). 

I looked the machine and saw a support number, where I am confident they won't be able to speak English.  I called, and got a generic message and realized that they are open at 8 am.  I didn't want to leave this machine until I got my card back, even if I had to rip it out of the machine.

Now all the sudden, all the things I have to do today raced through my mind:  I have a final that I have to take, and the professor wouldn't accept any story as bizarre as this.  Then the girl, the dream girl of hope, is going to visit me if I can help her get here.  Further away are rent, bills, and flight to Japan in a few days.

I got up, gave the ATM some Fonzie treatment.  Then I give it some Tae Kwon Do for good measure.  The system started back up, with what looked like a BIOS prompt.  Then it started to bootstrap Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.  Lovely.

After several minutes in what seemed like an eternity, the system started, and gave me back my ATM card.  I gingerly tried it, and it dispensed the money.

New Hope

It is amazing how hope for a lady can change ones whole life and direction.  I hope someday I can have my own momentum and strength, so that I can share with others and uplift other people, but in the mean time, I will take whatever tool helps me along through this roller-coaster of emotions in Korea.

When I first came to Korea, I went out and partied at night, in hopes to find friends here before college starts.  I met this couple that was really amazing.  One athletic guy that is warm and caring, a theater director, and generous.  His girlfriend is absolutely gorgeous and is bi-lingual.  I was friends to them both, but because his girlfriend, who now calls herself Tyra, is bi-lingual in Korean and English, I became closer to her overtime.

She seemed really excited to talk with me, almost girlfriend-like, and I enjoyed chatting with her.  When I had no one, it was nice to hear the higher pitched cute Korean voice, which distracted me from some feelings of loneliness.  She had problems with her boyfriend, and I counseled her and wished her well, told her to hold on and try to work it out.  I figured the guy was worth it, as he seems pretty outstanding.  But little did I know he cheated on her...

Eventually, they separated, and she was tearful.  I talked with her, and told her that love is beautiful and to never give up hope.  She told me later that she is feeling ok, as there are other nice guys out there, like myself.  Well, reality totally shifted for me, and now tomorrow, I may just go down to Pusan to see what she is about.  Who knows where life will lead.

Foulness From of a Gyopo (American Born Korean)

Today in my Korean Pre-Modern history class, I started asking some of my nerdy questions regarding history.  I have been doing some intense studies over the weekend to make sense of all this Chinese, Japanese, Russian involvement as they fight for influence and control over Korea, and the various factions inside Korea that side with varying members to different degrees.  Some of this material can be very sensitive in Korean society, so undoubtedly I felt clarification was in order.

However, a few of the students didn't really appreciate these types of questions, or rather they were annoyed.  One of them was this jaemi-gyopo (American-born Korean) that had the sense to tell me "Shut up" and "I didn't come here and pay to hear you talk".  The professor was just shocked, as he wanted to really discuss the material I asked about (spoke to him later about the incident to make sure).

Well, I think between American religious zealots that snub me, already existent racist or otherwise intolerant ABK (American-born Korean) or gyopo as they call it in Korea, and the segregated nature of Korean college life (which amounts to foreigner discrimination), I just didn't want to hear it.  My abuse-o-meter was on overload.  I didn't want to take foulness anymore, especially from some spoiled stuck up snob in the class, so I lost it.  I told her what she can do to her self if she likes to be rude to people and made some related hand gestures in case there was a further problem in communication.

I couldn't believe I did that, she well, shut up real fast.  I'm sure she's not accustomed to the response dished out at her in her prissy little Hello-Kitty world.  For the rest of the day, I was a bit more assertive in general.  I continued along my Korean history, trying to make sense of this complex history book, as I race to gather material for my essay due at the end of the week.

Quiet Before the Storm

Recently these days, I have been quite peaceful.  My studies are coming along.  I am behind on a paper for Korean history.  I have been playing my Warcraft game, and even geared my new shaman Stormstryka, but it has been getting sort of boring.  Hopefully, I can ease off the game as I meet my friend flying in from Japan to see me.  I have to figure out just how to get to the airport to pick her up...

I joined this character to a guild called Kinetic.  They seem super serious raid only, but I have been emphasizing casual, casual.  I don't want to be required to show up and play all the time, when I may have other interests involved in life.  Right now I am worried that this new expansion called Wrath of the Lich King might take me away from life, take me away from exploring Korean culture, and take me away from advancing in life.

Korea can be both beautiful and painful, as there are many hurtful people that play games and gossip, but then there are many beautiful people that are sincere and compassionate.  You have to get out there and explore many different venues, groups, locations, people, to find your place, and find good people.  I guess this is pretty much like anywhere else in the world.