Changes

Bulamsam in Her Fall Colors

Whoa! Stepping outside this morning I was greeted by a blast of cold air, the likes of which I had almost managed to forget about living in Louisiana for the past four years!

While this past weekend I played a soccer game in shorts and short sleeves, today I piled on a hooded sweat shirt and fleece over a long sleeve shirt before making the short trek to the post office down the street. Unless global warming brings a welcome heat wave through the area it seems like winter has arrived at last, in fact, the first snow fall is predicted for tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I figure as long as it's cold out, we might as well have snow. . .especially when I live a mere two minute walk from work!

To further demonstrate just how quickly the cold set in take a look at the picture below that I took out my window just yesterday. Waking up this morning I was surprised to see not single leaf remaining on what was, only yesterday, a brilliantly beautiful yellow tree! Alas, at least the devastation was being thoroughly enjoyed as I noticed a small boy kicking her fallen leaves into a small pile at the bottom of a slide to provide an all natural landing pad!

Wait, 'how is it,' you might ask, 'that you are able to see out your windows? Aren't they covered in hideous blue contact paper?' Well not anymore! I took a couple hours this past weekend to remove this eyesore from the bottom row of windows in my room which not only brightened the place but opened up a much larger and picturesque view than the one I had peeking out my thin sliding side windows!

While the majority of windows in Junggye, if not in Seoul, look out only to another high rise building with a not-so-distant neighbor staring back, I am lucky to have a bit more to look at. Luckily, out my window is a long boulevard that runs between two apartment buildings, neither of which obscures my distant view of a beautiful mountain with real live sky above it!

Now you must surely be asking yourself, 'well, if the view's so great, why didn't you ever get around to taking off the blue crap earlier?' Well if you'll remember, I used to sleep directly under these large picture windows and, as ugly as the contact paper was, it allowed me to sleep in a bit past sunrise each morning without being blinded in bed!

'Well why don't you sleep there anymore? You move in to the bathroom or something?' No silly, I finally moved my bed, with Nate's help (thanks), up to my loft, or 'bedroom.' While I was apprehensive about the move at first, I have grown quite accustomed to it already for a number of reasons.

First of all, now that winter has set in, my room is far from cozy at all times. However, as we all know, or at least were once aware of, heat rises, thus making my loft a much warmer place then my window side sleep station. Additionally, in my new bedroom I have two gentile incandescent lights next to my bed that are manipulable from both up- and down-stairs! This is good news for my reading in bed at night habit that had dwindled under a high florescent light that required leaving bed to turn off!

The low, low, ceiling on the loft isn't great but really why do you need to stand up in your bedroom anyways? I have more than enough head room to sit on my bed at least. . .so long as I don't bounce! I've whacked my dome against the bottom of the neighbors floor a couple of times already but I'm sure I'll grow out of it. . .hopefully! The only other issue is the steep and narrow staircase that I must tackle going to and fro my new bedroom! Luckily, I am not one that usually wakes up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night as I don't trust myself handling the stairs in the daytime, let alone while I'm sleepy in the dark!

'Okay, okay, so you moved, big deal, now you have a big open room downstairs that's just as depressing as it was before except now you don't even have a bed to lie on.' Ah ha, now this is where you are wrong you Negative Nancy you! All these minor changes in my living arrangements were not coincidental but part of a well calculated grand scheme known as. . .getting a couch! Though I had thought about it since moving in, only last week did I actually take the big step and buy one for myself! Not sure why it took this long, might be commitment issues. . .I have had very tragic partings with every couch that I have ever bought or had given to me at this point!

Anyways, after continued inquiry as to how and where I go about getting one, I was consistently directed to a fantastic internet shopping haven known, electronically, as Gmarket.co.kr. From here I was able to select for myself a wonderful little seating apparatus that Cleo graciously ordered for me using her Gmarket account. I even gave her a small commission for helping me with the order! The delivery man was also happy to accept cash as he arrived only three days later at my door ready to drop off, set up and haul out the trash from my new, beautiful, couch!

I have wasted no time breaking it in and have already watched a couple partial movies on it while examining the prime location. Furthermore, I have tested it's sleepability by conking out for a pair of half hour naps on both Monday and Tuesday before heading off to school. Never have I felt so refreshed! I've yet to fold it out flat and really take it for a whirl but, why would I when I have a fantastic single bed upstairs that I always manage to partially roll out of! Oh yeah. . .maybe I will try sleeping on the new furniture some night!

Alas, my room is finally 'coming together' and is almost acceptable for actual living. I still need some sort of coffee table to kick my feet up on, eat off of (if I ever were to cook for myself, and prop up guitar books so I stop straining my neck looking at the floor. Who knows, I'll keep my eye out, worst comes to worse there's always Gmarket!

Oh yeah, I also managed to snag a little additional piece of furniture for my room from the hallway. 'Oh great, so now you're in to stealing other peoples' things, fantastic, just the way to show the world how gracious American's are.' Ugh, no, will you let me finish! A few weeks ago a family down the hall moved out, at first all their stuff was moved in to the hallway where it stayed for a day or two before the magic moving fairy came and collected it all. Since that day there have remained three articles of the move that seem to be either forgotten or discarded: a long plate of glass, a wooden board of equal size, and a small cabinet.

Clearly, I have been eyeing the cabinet ever since moving day and have not yet noticed it recognized by anyone else. After discussing the mater, briefly, with Nate yesterday, I decided to try out Korean squatter's rights. On my way back home I dragged my finger over the top of the cabinet simply inspecting it's finish. What I was greeted with was a handful of dust and grime! That sealed the deal for me! If no one cared enough to clean up the poor little cabinet then I would! I hauled it down the hall and in to my apartment, where, two blackened washcloths later, I shoved it under my existing flat plank desk! Though in doing so I lose the nice surface area on top of the cabinet, it's really pretty convenient to have a set of drawers next to my desk where I previously had nothing!

So, I will continue to fuss around rearranging until I'm comfortable, which, may never come. For example, I rearranged my room in New Orleans, what, a week or so before I check out for good?! Sometimes I just feel like shaking things up a bit! Not sure if there are any issues involved in that but I'd guess you could deduce something. . .anything to add Aunt Toni!?

Oh, and before I forget, as while we're on the topic of changes, I just thought it would be interesting to note that for the Level 3 Speaking lesson last week, the kids had to read a passage and answer questions about Tupac Shakur. Having an interest in the topic at hand, I managed to expand the passage into a brief lecture about the development of hip-hop and Tupac's role as an American icon. This of course I supplemented with relevant material. . .notably, a recording of the highly acclaimed Tupac song "Changes," which discusses a wide range of social, political, racial and economical issues. The kids didn't exactly get it, and no one really liked the song. . .but I sure had a fun time teaching it to them!

-It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes.
Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live,
and let's change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn't working
so it's on us to do what we gotta do, to survive.
And still I see no changes
Can't a brother get a little peace?
It's war on the streets & the war in the Middle East.
Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me-

Tupac Shakur-"Changes"

You may now. . . take pictures with the bride!?

What an (un)interesting wedding that was! Nate and I just returned from Elle's wedding and reception, the whole of which lasted no longer than an hour and a half.

We rose early (Korean time) this morning to meet outside of Dootaville where Anna had arranged to pick us up. She arrived exactly at 10:00am as she had promised and we only had to wait a few minute for Julie to show up; Punctual Princess, obviously. . .

We barrled down Dongbu Expressway 61 towards Seoul for the first time ever in daylight hours. The drive was surprisingly scenic as fall in Seoul appears to be the time for wildflowers to bloom. Both sides of the canal we drove along teemed with bright reds, oranges and yellows, none of which I recall seeing during our initial commutes from Daechi. Even with such a wonderful view I managed to catch a few minutes of shut eye while Julie and Anna chatted it up Korean style in the front seat.

The wedding took place in a large hall, apparently owned by the electric company for which the groom's father works. After parking the car, which Anna managed to do surprisingly well, the four of us headed towards a large group of Korean's congregated on the patio of this enormous building. The majority of the women appeared to be dressed 'business casual' (what they would go to work in, while all, and I do mean all, of the men were in suits and ties; Korean style of course meaning suits of shiny silver and ties with glistening rhinestones! This was a bit awkward at first as Nate and I had both dressed neatly, but were certainly not in a suit nor wearing an awesome Korean power tie (as I can't seem to locate the one tie that I swore I brought in my 200 square foot apartment).

Inside we gave our DYB envelop, Elle's present, to a man standing behind a long folding table. Anna then ushered us to sign our name in a book open on the table. Everyone before us had written their name neatly, and apparently vertically, in perfect block Korean letters (possibly to ensure the receipt of a thank you?). I felt bad destroying the aesthetics of the page with 'Adam Saper' scrawled out horizontally. . .how American of me!

After signing in we went searing for Elle who Anna had wanted to meet with before the ceremony began. No time no however! We arrived only minutes before the wedding was to begin (despite Anna assuring us that we were ten minutes early). Elle went rushing by us with only time to wave hello, so we took our seats in the main theater. Of note here is that this ceremony was held in a concert hall type arena, not a Church, and was seemingly devoid of any and all religious symbols. . .unless I just totally missed them!

Nate and I made up about one percent of the wedding's total attendance and two thirds of the foreigner count! As we waited (no more than five minutes) for the ceremony to begin, Anna explained to us that it is very boring and usually she skips the ceremony to attend only the lunch following, which is apparently, 'the best part.'

Elle and her soon-to-be husband waited off to the wing while the two mothers approached the stage, in traditional Korean garb, lit two candles and embraced before taking their seats aside their husbands; with the extended family of each sitting behind their respective parents. A trio of violin, cello and piano played the entry music (a Koreanized 'here comes the bride') as Elle and her husband strolled into view.

Waiting in the Wings

Meeting of the Mothers

The two took the stage, backs facing the audience, where they stood for the next 15 minutes or so. During this time, the master of ceremonies (for lack of a better term) stood on a podium in front of the two, reading something to the audience that was all but understandable to us. We clapped when others did and manged to blend in perfectly. Again, while I do not understand Korean, the service itself seemed to be devoid of any religious practices of symbols which seemed very interesting, mostly because many Koreans are now devout Christians.

During their time on the podium, Elle and her husband was constantly illuminated by photographers flashes. A pair of photographers buzzed around the couple continually, as neither the wedding party (which consisted only of the two to be wed) nor the MC seemed to notice or care. One women, seemingly in charge of just the bride, kept close tabs on Elle making sure that her dress was splayed out just so, continually readjusting it as Elle shifted. Also moving around the stage were at least to cinematographers(?) filming the couple and the audience. On more than one occasion did Nate and I look over to find a video camera pointed directly at us, certainly one of the more interesting facets of the audience!

Photographers and Dress Lady

Karaoke is so popular even the groom can't resist an opportunity to sing!

Newlyweds!

Eventually Elle and the groom walked together back down the 'aisle' (more like, down the steps of the stage) where the paused with their respective families for more photo opportunities. From here, both families were ushered together by the photographer who lined everybody up on stage for one big photograph.

The Whole Fam. . .actually both of 'em

By this point, the wedding seemed to be over, but, we weren't quite sure how, or when! We asked Anna if that was in fact the case and she told us that we were correct. Well, where was the kiss, we inquired? Oh that comes later, said Anna, pictures first!

So, we waited patiently as group after groups took pictures with Elle and Hubby until it was finally time for friends! Anna and the other Korean teachers in attendance beckoned us to join them as they headed towards the stage. Towering over the majority of Koreans, especially Korean women, Nate and I made our way towards the back of the picture where we were eventually told to stand on the topmost step. The photographer snapped away at this large group of Koreans surrounding their recently married friends, tilted just out of balance by three enormous Caucasians (the other foreigner, a relatively plump gay man from San Fransisco) standing awkwardly in the background, smiles just beaming outwards!

Finally, after a few adjustments, the photographer called for Elle and Hubby to step forwards. As he counted down for the picture, they were told to embrace and eventually kiss, though the majority of the audience at this point had already retired to the dining hall! We too moved outwards towards lunch, following Razer who reassured us that this was the best part of the wedding.

On the way out of the main hall, Nate and I paused at a wedding photo to admire the recently wed couple: Awwwwww. Razer quickly corrected us, informing us that the pictures was just random and not of Elly and Co. . . .oops!! Our bad!! I mean, they kind of looked the same?!

Downstairs we entered an enormous congregating hall, lined with tables already filled with people and food. We wasted no time getting to the food as we followed Razer and the other Korean Teachers who literally dove for the buffet. I quickly stuffed my plate full of salad (the first I've had since being in Korea), deep fried shrimp, dirty rice, mussels on the half shell, Chinese-ish glass noodles and a chunk of beef rib meat.

We wandered for a moment, following Razer and literally had to wait for someone to get up before sitting down, as the hall was the full! Small cans, ice cold thankfully, of Pepsi and Cider (ginger ale) were placed across the table and more were brought while we ate. We quickly worked our way through our first plate and followed Razer's advice to have 'one more.' My second time around I stocked up on more of the same, adding a few pieces of sashimi, tuna and salmon, to the mix along with some sliced hot dogs in mustard!

During our second course, I commented on the small, whole, octopus sitting on Razer's plate. . .which he then quickly dipped in some red sauce and handed over to me. Well, I can't use Nate's excuse that I'm allergic and I'm not gonna offend anyone at a wedding. . .plus, when else would I pop a whole, seemingly still alive (but thankfully not) octopus in to my mouth! So did. . . .I chewed for a good half minute before deciding that I had perhaps just swallow whatever was left in my mouth, simply because I was beggining to be aware of the fact that I had eaten all, literally every single part, of this poor creature. . . .ugh!

Nate and The Octopusettes

Cutting the Cake!

Luckily, I was able to chase down the octopus with a decent helping of chocolate ice cream that Razer located for us! Elle and Hubby (now dressed in traditional garb as well) came around to say hello and thank you! Nate and I quickly jumped up to take a picture with our teacher and recent bride which you can find below!

Us and the Newlyweds

Razer suggested we come with him instead of Anna, perhaps because he does not get much male company as the only male teacher in DYB. . .or perhaps to discuss the recent dismissal of Harry, our favorite New Yorker-Korean All American Badass (which will be discussed in a subsequent post)! Either was, the drive back up to Junggye was much quicker and I was more awake having gotten something in my stomach. Oh, and to top it all off, we got to listen to an awesome demo of a Westlife (some English boy band?) cover that Razer recorded with a woman from church whom he described as either 'repelling' or 'repulsive,' I can't quite remember!

Which reminds me, we have our first band practice next week. . .though I still don't have an amp. . .hmm. So far we have me on guitar, Cleo (I believe on bass), a keyboardist, David on drums, Razer singing, and of course, Nate and Sunny rapping while dancing! Now doesn't this sound fantastic! I'll do my best to try and record the actual performance if it occurs some day!

But for now, Happy Saturday!