No turkey this year, but we did hit our favorite local restaurant for a “holiday” meal after work. We took some quick videos and posted them on YouTube–check out our video gallery to see them (it may take a few hours before they’re cleared for viewing).
We wish we could see all your faces as you stuff them. Think of us when you’re eating the pie!
We love you,
Heather and Joel
Joel’s back does not hurt all that bad, but we were intrigued with the idea of seeing a chiropractor/acupuncturist for $3. We’ve met people who go regularly, and they say it’s the best–Dr. Yoon speaks great English, and they use new, sealed, disposable needles for the prickly part. Can you imagine–$3? We were excited!
We got up at noon–early for us. Then took a cab to the university’s back entrance, where our friend’s hand-written instructions said we should start. We looked and looked for the street name. No luck. Street names are a new idea here, so most of the directions you get from westerners include things like “turn left at the Dunkin’ Donuts” or “keep walking until you see huge apartments and a restaurant with a dancing pig.” Ads for foreigner hangouts include what to tell the cabbie; my favorite: “Il-san Beachie Apartuh.”
We did not find Dr. Yoon, despite hours of searching. We went on the university campus, discovered there were several back entrances, and took a gamble on one. When that didn’t pan out and we realized we were in the vicinity of the elusive Aqua Sauna–the supercool jimjillbang we’ve only heard about–we thought we’d renew our search for that place, too. After more walking and more trying, we gave up and did the only thing we could do to make the morning worthwhile: Stocked up on the $3 Spanish wine at one of the two stores in town that sells it.
We’re going to the jimjillbang tonight after work, so Joel’s back will feel better soon. He’s not really in pain–just a little stiff from our weird bed. Neither of us has any room to whine, though. That jimjillbang is SO luxurious…
I have a classroom full of preteens awaiting my arrival–gotta run! Take care, everybody!
Heather
Just like my birthday is Children’s Day and sometimes Buddha’s birthday in Korea, my Mom’s (November 11) is Pepetto Day. They don’t celebrate war veterans on this day; instead, they give each other long chocolate-covered sticks to represent the number “1″–November 11 is 11/11. All the little Korean children were high on sugar and glee on your birthday, Mom! Aren’t you glad you’re in the states?
We commissioned a special video shoot in honor of the occasion. Actually, we just handed our friend the camera when we were out on the town last night. But the way the locals looked at us, you’d have thought we were movie stars shooting an important scene.
Click the “Video Gallery” link on this blog to visit our new YouTube page, where we put this fine piece of cinema and will add more later. One note for the uninitiated: Our videos will always be on the main page that you access through the link. When you’re done watching each video, YouTube will let you view other people’s videos with similar key words (lots of moms and birthdays on this last one, for example). Look at these if you want, but they have nothing to do with us. Just FYI…
Have a great week, everyone!
Heather
It has been awhile since we’ve posted. Everything’s great and we’re definitely settling into the Korean life! It really feels like home. We finally seem to have convinced our boss that we really aren’t interested in much overtime; he hasn’t asked in at least a week! Both Heather and I really like most of our students. Most of my classes are now with middle school and high school age kids. They’re usually very curious and attentive at this age, but are also usually exhausted by the time their 10 pm classes come around!
We work from 5 to 11 pm on most days, come home, eat a bite, and then work on our projects till around 5 am. It’s a strange schedule, but I’ve always worked well at night anyway. One of my college professors, Tom Monteith, told me that working at night is like working in “dream time.” Maybe you can use more of your subconscious at night even when you’re awake. I don’t know if its true, but I like the idea.
I’ve read some good books since I’ve arrived here in Korea. Before we left, we went to a little used book store in Lodi to fill a suitcase (shout out to The Book Lady). This bookstore has an impressive collection organized in the “Pile System.” You never know what you might find, but it will take some time. So far I’ve read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. Right now I’m halfway through The Nude by Kenneth Clark; it’s a fine piece of art criticism that I wished I’d read a long time ago. I wonder what everyone else is reading right now! Email me and let me know; I can get books from Amazon!
“Bang” is the Korean word for “room.” In Korea, the room business is big business. They have DVD rooms, singing rooms (karaoke), PC rooms (networked video games), CD rooms, board game rooms (my mom would love these), and many others. The mother of all bangs seems to be the Zzim-zil-bang. They are public baths - Roman style! When I was in Paris, I got to see the ruins of the Roman baths near the Sorbonne — I imagine these are very similar. There are many Zzim-zil-bangs, so it’s just a matter of finding one that suits you’re personality! Of course, if your personality does not permit you to spend alot of time hanging out in the nude with your friends, family, and lots of strangers, you may want to try the Board Game Bang! The baths we like are huge: three levels of a 7 story building. Men on one floor, women on another, and sleeping on the third. For the equivalent of 5 dollars you can spend as long as like enjoying the most amazing array of spa facilities I’ve ever seen. Large pools of water at various temperatures, salt bath, sulfer bath (that one’s crazy), wet and dry saunas! Try them in any order you like, the only rule is take a shower before you go in.
Before going, I’d formed a vague impression of Korean prudishness, but I really hadn’t understood it very fully. On the street, everyone seemed a little pinned down, especially after Paris. Women always wearing nylons, few lowcut blouses, not a lot of skin even on the nice days. Now I understand that this has alot to do with the public space being shared by both sexes. In the bathhouses where the sexes bath separately, everything’s different! Now its the Westerners that are the prudes. When the clothes come off in the men’s section (and Heather tells me in the women’s section as well) its a grand festival of same-sex bonding. Fathers, sons, friends all chatting, showering, sleeping, soaking. Very liberating! I got my first back scrub-down from a dude! Kamsumnida very much. When you’re done soaking, put on the pajamas they give you, head to the 3rd floor and meet your girl for some sleeping on a beautiful marble floor in whatever sleeping climate you like (they have ice-cold rooms, humid rooms, German kiln rooms, etc.). Don’t forget to grab a brick for your pillow! You can stay the night here instead of getting a hotel room. Koreans crash anywhere when they’re ready to sleep. Seeing people fast asleep on the street or in dance clubs isn’t strange on a Saturday night. For just 5 dollars you can sleep in a room designed like a traditional Korean hut (called the mud room for some reason). I’m told that Zzim-zil-bangs are big for first dates… its chaperoned, but you still get to sleep next to each other.
It’s my birthday weekend so Heather says I get to do whatever I want; I want to soak at the bathhouse at least twice and have a big “dak attack” (very spicy chicken). I hope you’re all doing well wherever you are. Sleep well and remember not to drool on your brick! Anyong-hee-keseyo!
Joel
