Archive for February, 2010
We have overcome arguably the toughest and most daunting drinking examination of our lives. February, as I knew it would be right from the outset of my sojourn in Korea, was going to hell. Birthday celebrations and goodbye parties dominated the social calendar, and some in our company even celebrate a random Tuesday night vigorously. Last [ READ MORE ]
When you decide to move to Korea, Japan, or wherever the spinning of a globe may take you, just think about the consequences of your departure! Are there any? Yeah, you’ll probably wave goodbye to your family and friends, maybe even to a steady job and a long-time partner, but its not like being put [ READ MORE ]
Tomorrow will be the last class of the school year at our kindergarten. Children I have been teaching for the last year (and some for a year and a half — since they were as young as four in real age) have reached a new stage in life — it’s time to graduate to elementary [ READ MORE ]
Ten years ago, the Asia and the Pacific region accounted for 44% of the world’s road fatalities, topping an unwanted global first. Probably even more worrying though is the fact that only 16% of road crashes were ever reported or found. You have to think that a disproportionately high number of motorists are driving without [ READ MORE ]
Last night, some friends and I attended an apartment-warming dinner hosted by one of our Korean co-workers. It was a fantastic time that became slightly tarnished in the end. It seems we were a bit rude without knowing it. The situation at hand was an innocent one, from my perspective. But then again dear reader, [ READ MORE ]
Happy New Year to you and yours. The weekend celebrations are over and it was warming to see speakingkorea.com’s authoritarian ruler, Stuart, contributing a measly two posts despite four days off school. Word on the street is Stu was seen frequenting Gwangju’s most notorious watering holes for ninety-six hours straight. Rumours are also spreading that [ READ MORE ]
I was having a chat with my mom this morning about various topics including the Olympics, when she asked me if I had heard of Korean figure skating great (and Olympic gold medal heiress) Kim Yu-Na. On my end it was kind of funny for two reasons. The first being that she is impossible to avoid [ READ MORE ]
Woo Yeong Yang never thought much about international couples before he met his Canadian girlfriend. Prior to his trip to the army a few years ago he didn’t even notice them around. “I couldn’t see any at all,” he says. “Now there are so many.” And now he is in one. Woo Yeong is leaving Korea soon [ READ MORE ]
In June 2005, I graduated from University with a Degree in History and Geography. I always enjoyed the latter more than the former, but the topic of Irish soldiers fighting abroad has forever been close to my heart. None more so than in, of all places, Latin America. Later this month, I will travel to [ READ MORE ]
Upon accepting the contract offer to move to Korea, I immediately thought about learning the language. This urge lasted for about a day as I hunted for some tapes, CDs and books to help me understand the essentials. After checking numerous stores and libraries, the relative lack of any historical links between Ireland and Korea [ READ MORE ]