Fan Death!

Another awesome bit of the South Korean culture.  Ladies and Gentlemen - I give you "Fan Death."  This is not just some urban myth people.  Fan Death is an official government acknowledged cause of death that shows up on dozens of death certificates each year...DOZENS!  Fan Death occurs when one leaves a fan on in the same room they are sleeping.  The fan sucks all the air away from the bottom half of the room and pushes is to the ceiling; thereby, suffocating the person in their sleep.  I know what your thinking.  You're saying to yourselves, "Adam, couldn't it just be a couple people who drink themselves to death?"  But let me tell you, just because South Koreans have a tendency of drinking far too much on the weekends to the point where it looks like a form of national alcoholism doesn't mean we can afford to ignore the real killer - the fans.  

As for other news...I have officially made it to my 1 month anniversary.  Things are going great.  I got my first paycheck yesterday, and since I don't have a bank account yet, I got payed in cash.  Nothing like getting an envelope filled to the brim with cash to make yourself feel good...or like a drug dealer.  And yes, I am officially a millionaire - first year out of college!  My classes have been going great, and my kids are amazing.  We even went on my first field trip (enjoy the pics).  I even made it up to Seoul to hang out with Courtney for her birthday.  Danced the night away.

On a more frustrating note, the exchange rate on money isn't the best at the moment; therefore, sending money home for school loans is pretty painful.  Not only will I vote for, but I will personally run a campaign for, and with every bit of my time and energy try to get into office the next person to run for President that promises free/cheap education.  Anyone want to pick up a loan payment for my Christmas present?  

Well I got to go get some Korean Bar-B-Q...I guess it's just Bar-B-Q here.  Laters.

This special "Song of the Post" goes out to the American government - "You Never Give Me Your Money" by The Beatles

The Small Things

Everyone notices the big things...but what about the little things that make life so grand.  It's easy to see the differences between South Korean and American culture, but here are a few of the not-so-obvious things I've noticed that made me grin.  

1) Elevators are not synced.  So when you push the button to get an elevator it only goes after the one in front of you...not the ones next to it.  So no guessing game at which elevator will show up first.  Unless you push all the buttons!

2) Computer paper is not standard 8 1/2 by 11.  We got A4...which is about a half inch longer.

3) Sometimes they have American movies on television that are dubbed in Chinese and have Korean subtitles.  

4) Egg shells are thicker here.

5) One of my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants has a huge Leonardo DiCaprio poster on the wall.  It's from his "Growing Pain" years.  

6) Men wear purses.

7) Crosswalks are at random points on the street around busy intersections.  

8) You don't wear shoes indoors cause the house is heated through the floor.

9) Lots of lighting is motion activated.

10) There were more Sarah Palin costumes for Halloween than any other costume.

11) It is popular for couples to wear matching outfits.  

12) Tomatoes are stupid expensive because they are considered a fruit here.

SOTP - "Have Love Will Travel" by The Black Keys

The Way to Church

So I figured out my surroundings a little bit, and turns out my apartment is in the hip part of town.  I am in the middle of about 4 universities, 2 sweet beaches, and a mess of shopping malls.  Apparently people from all over the area come to my neighborhood to hang out, get food, and party.  It's pretty sweet...it makes everything that is important really easy to find.  Even the church that I researched before I came was within walking distance, and that is where my story begins.  

Now I realized going into it that I probably wasn't going to find a church that viewed everything the same way I do (like a place like that exists for anyone); therefore, I decided to enter the situation with an open heart.  So I walk in, and everything goes great.  People are introducing themselves, and I begin to try and remember names.  The place itself reminds me of when Reunion met at Sandberg High School...probably because both places are schools.  The worship begins, followed by a sermon and a final worship song - you know, the final high praise song that gets people pumped before they leave...yeah, that one.  At the end I am invited to join people for lunch...in my neighborhood of course, and the wonderful happenings of community begins to form.

The meal starts out great.  Good food, pleasant small talk, but then all of a sudden one of my new friends says a word that stops the food half way to my mouth...END TIMES, and before I knew it, everyone was nodding their heads in agreement and discussing the worlds social conditions.  Now of course at this point my heart is screaming at me to say something, but my brain is saying, "keep cool man...you just met these people.  No need to cause a wave just yet."  But as the conversation swung around the table there came a moment when it was either time for me to say something, or just go with an awkward silence until someone else at the table wanted to talk about something else.  So I spoke up...and the dam broke open.  There isn't really need to mention what the specifics were in my explanations, but needless to say, everyone's attention was on me for the rest of the time.  It reminded me when I tried to talk theology with some people down at Lee...wide eyed stares.  Fortunately, nothing bad happened where we couldn't even hang out with each other and enjoy a meal (they were quite open in the discussing things, and I look forward to hanging out with these people much more in the future), but there were some things I found humorous.  For example, every time I brought up a point they would says something like, "yes, but that is the LIBERAL perspective, CONSERVATIVES say...," or use the word "emergent" in a not so flattering way.  OH, the discussions we will have later...epic.  

So I guess everything turned out great.  Met some cool people who are sincere in their faith, would want to join me in watching a game of slinged football, and got to talk about one of my favorite subjects.  Let the community begin.

SOTP (A.K.A. - what is on my video section) - "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon

Chicken Holes, Pig Heads, and a Shot of Smoked Paprika: A Sweet n' Sour, Pickled Journey of Culinary Delight (A.K.A. - Mom, I'm Eating)

Having been a place or two in my life, I can say that I've seen things.  And something I really delight in is finding what makes the place I am in unique.  Uniqueness is a quality I truly adore in all parts of speech.  Something else I really delight in and adore is great food.  And when these two paths cross...it's like when Shaklak and Sizzle hit the stage...epic, to say the least.  Here are my stories.

So I'm being shown around my area by a fellow teacher, and we come across a street he has  fondly named "Chicken Street."  It was easy to see why it got this name.  A restaurant that featured chicken as its main dish was never out of my line of sight.  However, one restaurant caught my attention.  The sign in front of the restaurant had a chicken with a big "X" over its backside...unique to say the least.  My friend informed me that it was exactly what I was thinking.  They specialize in the fine culinary art of chicken butt-hole cooking.  Not my thing to say the least, but my mind couldn't help but wonder.  How are they served?  Do you get them in a six piece package like chicken nuggets from McDonalds, or is it a more formal thing and they come accompanied with wine, rice, and their own special fork?  Maybe someday I'll have the courage to find out.  

The next day I'm told to come into work early the next morning for a special ceremony to open the school.  Of course with the language barrier in the way, it came out more like, "Come early tomorrow for ceremony [pause] pig head."  At first I thought it was a figure of speech; however, as I wandered up my building the next morning I was met by a freshly butchered pig head.  The ceremony itself was cool.  They put liquor, fruit, and cake around the pig head, and offered prayers to their ancestors to bless the new business venture.  Everyone put a ten-spot in the pigs mouth, did a little bow, and then we all ate the fruit and cake.  However, that would not be the last of my new friend.  Now my school prepares a lunch for the students and teachers everyday, and what do you know it...freshly cooked pig head slices for everyone.  I hadn't worked my way up to the 6 piece chicken holes yet, but this wasn't that weird where I wouldn't try it.  Now I don't know how they cooked it, but it wasn't all that bad.  It was chewy cartilage mostly...mmm.  The kids couldn't get enough.

Later that day, the teachers noticed I was looking a bit tired (jet lag isn't completely gone yet) so they offered me an energy drink.  It looked like one of those 5 hour energy shots you can buy from any gas station in the states, except this one came accompanied with a pill.  The funny thing is, I was never bold enough to try one of those in the states; however, when hospitality is offered, it would be rude to say no.  So I open the bottle and give it a sniff...something familiar.  So I take a sip and the my memory starts to connect the dots.  Smoked Paprika!  The stuff I use in the rub for my ribs (Ha Ha...rib rub).  You might think it strange that this gave me courage, but me being of Hungarian descent...royalty apparently, and paprika being the national spice, I thought it would be foolish for me to be scared off by something paprika flavored.  So I popped the pill and drank the shot.  Yep, just like it sounds.

Well those are my stories.  Of course I have had some really fantastic food as well.  The Koreans like their food either very spicy, very sweet, very pickled, or a fine combination of the three.  I've had some amazing spicy (Korean) BBQ, sweet breads, and pickled vegetables (cabbage, onion, and radish mostly), but those stories aren't that fun to tell.  And it is amazing to see all the stuff that made it from America.  Crispy Creme, Quiznos, Papa John's (Drew coming?), and Baskin Robbins to name a few, but I'll stick to Korean for a while.  

SOTP - "L.E.S. Artistes" by Santogold

So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt

I made it to Korea!  It was quite the journey...18 hours of flight travel.  You can imagine how my body is feeling now.  I'm not as young as I used to be, and apparently I just gained a year with the whole Korean age thing.  So move on over twenty-five...hello twenty-six.  

So I had one of those moments, more like a revelation, that proves that God has a sense of humor.  Well before I left for Korea I decided to read Rob Bell's new book.  He takes us through Israel's story of exile to restoration and vice versa.  He talks about how the people of Israel get released from a terrible oppression (Egypt); however, it is not long before they forget the One who saved them, and this of course leads to complaining and yet another exile/oppressor.  

So it's four in the morning at O'Hare, and I'm just sitting there..reading my book, waiting to catch my flight to Dallas, when all of a sudden I start to recognize certain words coming from the conversation going on next to me.  Words that have become all too familiar to me over the past five years.  SHRINKAGE.  SHARES.  LOAD.  And before I could stop it, my brain started to connect the dots, and I realized it.  I was sitting next to 3 Sam's Club managers!

First thing I thought was, "just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in!"  Then I just started laughing to myself cause I'm pretty sure God gave a chuckle Him/Herself and was saying, "don't forget where you came from, or you could end right back where you started before you know it."  So count on me to be a little more thankful these days.

SOTP - "So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt" by Keith Green 

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Hello friends and family,

This is my blog so you can keep up with me and all my crazy adventures while I am in South Korea.  I don't know how this blogging thing will work out, but I'll try and update on a semi-regular basis, and if I can figure out how to post pics, I will do that too.  I'll also include a "Song of the Post" (SOTP) to enhance the experience and set the mood (play it if you got it).  I'll be leaving soon and will miss all of you dearly.  We had some good times and hopefully we will encounter each other again shortly.  Much Love.

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."  - Frederick Buechner Telling the Truth.  

SOTP - "Goodbye Babylon" by the Black Keys from Magic Potion