update

Since we moved to the new campus, we have found out that Internet access is not available here. However, a few internet cafes exist nearby so I will try to visit them and update this blog whenever I can. No guarantees on when that will be. Thank you for your patience!

Friday

No more news from the new campus and the plans for moving are still on schedule, so I guess that is good news.

On to some lighter news, when I was in Taiwan a few years ago, an elderly lady in the church there gave me the name of Bi Duh Eh which means "Freely Receives Grace." To this day, whenever someone asks me if I have a Chinese name, this is what I use. However, I've been messing it up saying Bi Duh En, which means "Freely Receives Goose." Now, a chinese staff girl won't stop quacking when she walks by.

Emergency Situation

Attitude Makes the Difference

In the morning, I usually teach all the students a quick motivational theme in order to get their day rolling. The stories come from Chicken Soup for the Soul or Motivated to Succeed or some other touchy-feely feel good substance. Yesterday, I shared one called Attitude Makes the Difference about a man, who no matter what happened, always said "if I was doing any better, I would be twins!" So sugary sweet, I thought I would get a cavity, and truth be told, I was a little embarrassed by the sheer corniness of it. I finished the lesson and went about my day. Around four o'clock I got a phone call from one of the Chinese administrative assistants. AA's are usually former students who excelled and decided to come back and volunteer their time and services to help future classes. Well, this AA told me that a student named Michael broke his leg playing basketball. I have handled student medical problems in the past, so they usually call me, no big deal. I get to the basketball court to find a group of students and staff huddled around Michael who is laying on the steaming hot blacktop. "He broke his leg" was a slight understatement. His leg was laid out in a completely unnatural position and slightly below the knee there was a bulge in his pants leg, which I believed to the bone protuding. I took this all in and then making sure he wasn't going into shock, I asked "How are you doing, Michael?" He replied "If I were any better, I would be twins!" Amazing. I made sure an ambulance was called for him, and then called my superior Julia to inform her.
"How bad is it?"
"Let's just say...the leg bone isn't connected to the knee bone..."
The ambulance arrived a few minutes later and the paramedics quickly asked him in Chinese if he was allergic to any medication and other health questions. Michael, despite the searing pain from a detached fibula and fractured tibia, answered in English. The staff was quick to remind him that he was allowed to speak Chinese, but he steadfastly refused citing the agreement he signed at the beginning of the session. This agreement tells students that for 20 days they are to speak, read, and write only in English, but most students slip out a quick phone call or something in Chinese. Michael however, stuck to this. We found out later, that even in the hospital, he still refused to speak Chinese, resulting in a translator needed for him. He could understand the doctors and nurses, but he spoke his replies back to them in English, who relayed it in Chinese. This must have been very frustrating for the medical healthcare officals there.
Today, we found out that he will need an operation to fix these two bones that will cost 30,000 RMB (about 4300 US). His workplace will pay for half of it, but the other half he is on his own for, so the students as well as the staff here have started a collection fund for him. When an AA went to visit him to bring him Get Well cards from his class, he made a short video using his digital camera that was to be played to the students here. The video was very short, and it was easy to see that he was very tired and clearly drugged up on painkillers, but he was determined to say that "You have a choice in every event. You can have a good attitude or a bad attitude. I choose to have a good attitude with this and if I were doing any better, I would be twins" Now that's a motivational topic.

Freedom

Isolation was lifted this morning.

probably the most carefully worded paper I've ever written

Recently, I was asked if I could write an article on an American's perspective on North Korean armament. This request came from a police department here in China and the reason why is unknown to me. I had so many factors to keep in mind, how to express the situation not only as an American, but keeping true to my conservative roots, while also carefully monitoring myself being only to aware of the audience of this article. Needless to say, moderation was key. It will be interesting to see where this ends up.

Lesson Plans

So since I have been in Isolation, among playing 337 Solitaire games (winning 281 of them) and rereading the Twilight series and Memoirs of a Geisha, I have actually been trying to do something constructive. The Admin here are forming a Summer TIP for children and wanted to know if I would like to put some meat on the curriculum skeleton they made. So basically, I have to prepare for lesson plans for 7 days, including skits and activities for an unknown amount of kids. The kids range in age from 9-16 and some will be there some days, some will be there other days. So basically any activity I come up with will not be liked by some of them because 9 to 16 is such a vast range. Their English levels range from non-existent to proficient. I've been working all morning on trying to come up with this, but basically....
This is the VBS from hell!

Some Daylight!

After being in complete Isolation for 3 days 20 hours and 4 minutes, I am told I have been upgraded to partial isolation. This is a good thing. i can step out of my room. even take a few steps out between the hours of midnight and 6am. Still cant teach yet and I must stay at least 2 meters away from everyone as well as stay inside the dorm, so no sunshine yet but this is a vast improvement!

and the award for completley overreacting goes to...

Due to N1H1 (known and loved by millions as "swine flu") the Chinese government has taken strict, almost draconian measures to prevent an epidemic here. The latest such one is that anyone, and they mean anyone who came from any country must be held in isolation for seven days. I just got back from Korea. That means me.
No, nevermind the fact that I had a full medical physical there, as well as jumped through all the hoops at the Korean airport followed by three separate temperature checks at the Chinese airport, according to the government, I could still be a carrier. As such, myself and another American from San Fransisco are banished to our rooms for one full week. It could be worse though, I mean i have internet access here as well as my own personal bathroom, including shower, but it will be interesting. That is for sure. Pray for the school that we can get everything done that we need to with the loss of two facilitators.

Back in Beijing

After going through many measures, including advance swine flu protection tactics (God help you if you have to clear your throat on a plane headed to China!) I have finally made it back to Beijing. I am looking forward to a nice shower and a good nights sleep before hitting the ground running again tomorrow. Thank you all for your prayer and support during this time.

Victory!

So I went to the travel agency today and actually got my passport back with my Z Visa and work permits! I will be leaving for Beijing tomorrow afternoon. I hope that all goes smooth with that. I went down to Gangnam to Jubilee Church as well as Ecclesia Cafe to celebrate. The past couple days, I've sort of been working at Ecclesia as they need the help and I wanted to say Thank You. In return, I get a discount on food there. That's right. I've been in Korea a little more than a week, can't speak the language, have documentation problems, but already have a job. It's almost like being back in America. :D

Goodbye, Seoul.

It's been real.

It's been fun.

But it's not been real fun.

What I Learned Today (South Korean Version)

-According to the South Korean Ministry of Transportation, approximately 20% of all South Koreans are using some form of mass transportation at any given time.
-Usually, all 20 % are on the same subway car as me.
-I have the innate ability to clear a subway car with a cough or a sneeze. They look at me and flee in terror because it's common knowledge that all Americans have swine flu.
-The subway system can take you literally anywhere. Anywhere. They're planning a Jupiter and all points beyond route to be in operation by Spring 2011.

-If you like gambling, forget Vegas. Try a street vendor selling Something-on-a-Stick™
-That wasn't chicken.

-The Koreans are a very clean people and produce very little waste of any kind. Perhaps this is why I can never find a trash can or bathroom when I need one.

-Not many tourist attractions around here unless you're into palaces. Which pretty much all look the same and all tours are pretty much the same.
Tour Guide: Here's where King Unprounceable held court in the Dynasty of Tongue Twisting Names. His son, Prince Hard-to-Pronounce took over the throne in blah blah blah...Sacred and Royal Objects of the Nation on display here, blah blah blah, the King's most valued and prized posession, for a non royal family member to look upon it meant instant death penalty for over 400 years held in the highest sacred regard. We sell replicas in the gift shop, Visa and MasterCard accepted....we're walking, we're walking, we're walking, and ooh the Queen's Private Most Intimate Meditation Garden, where Her Royal Highness spent countless hours by herself to ponder delicate situations of state. Very hallowed ground. You can see it between the Stand of Cheap Tourist Crap and Starbucks.

-Just because it's an American chain, does not guarantee the staff inside speak English.
-Even if there is a sign that says they DO speak English, it does not guarantee they speak understandable English.
-Contrary to Korean popular belief, repeating a phrase in Korean slowly and loudly multiple times does not enable the listener to understand.
-Cash speaks all languages.

-I have never found a more hospitable, more inviting, more warm-hearted or generous person than the average Korean citizen who opened up their hearts and wallets to help out a clueless foreigner who couldn't even speak their language or understand their culture. God bless 'em.

Twilight

Since I had only planned on being in Korea a few days, I only brought the barest of necessities, including a book, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. It's a pretty popular book which developed into a series and now a movie. Maybe you've heard of it. Anyway, a few friends were raving about it, so I started it several months ago, but never got to finish it, so I figured I'd use the down time here to finally finish it. Well I did. And it was actually pretty good. Of course, it had to end on a cliffhanger, and just playing around on Amazon.com, I noticed that there was an online bookseller who had a physical store in Seoul that specialized in English language books and was only a few subway stops over. So, having nothing better to do, I went over to check it out and to my happy surprise, found out that it was run by American ex-pats and they had the sequel to Twilight at a pretty decent price. New Moon was 588 pages and I figured it should last me till Tuesday.

Wrong.

Did I mention Stephanie Meyer is a genius at suspense? Once I started reading, I had to put it down every few dozen pages because I was angry at how the story was progressing, not as I thought it should, but the suspense became unbearable to keep away for long. I bought it yesterday and finished it this afternoon. The store doesn't have the third book in the series, Eclipse, so I don't know where, if, or how I'm ever going to find out what happens to the danger prone heroine Bella, or her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen.

Saturday

I went back to Itaewon today via subway. It's scary almost how at ease I am with finding my way around Seoul. I really like Itaewon, there is an abundance of western food places, both fast food and sit-down restaurants and several American or European brand clothing stores. As a result, Koreans are almost the minority there. Today I met a Belgian South African who took me to an Austrian butcher shop and deli. Really good sandwiches there and I have now used my German in every country I have ever visited. Everyone in Seoul seems really laid back and easy going, but even more so in Itaewon. I saw an older lady setting Abercrombie & Fitch clothes next to Nike shoes on the sidewalk, all fake of course, but cleverly done so and you can buy them for a tiny fraction of what the real thing costs. Technically, it's illegal for her to do so and there are even signs all around boldly stating that this is a "Special Retail Zone. Selling items without a business license is strictly forbidden and is violaters will be severely punished to the full extent of Korean law" in English, Korean and Japanese. However, I saw three cops picking up some of the fake A&F shirts and looking at them, feeling them, talkign with the old lady about them, and one even tried one on. Just put it on, right on top of his armored vest and police uniform while his buddies and the old lady had a good laugh. So either the cops don't care, or the lady was bribing them. I figure the former is the more true option as a little later down the sidewalk a man in his twenties was carefully laying out over 100 dvd cases of pirated American movies, some still playing in American theatres. This was done right underneath one of the DO NOT SELL ANYTHING HERE! signs and less than 20 yards from a police station. I saw several Americans looking over them and so I struck up a conversation with them reminding them to make sure they are smuggled but good when they go back to America, if they're caught it is a $100 fine for each one and if the RCAA feels like it, they can sue you for possessing pirated material. Thats how its supposed to be, in theory. In reality however, the major airports are too swamped with more pressing issues (illegal immigration, terrorism, mounds of paperwork) than to harrass returning American tourists over a few DVD's.

I am addicted to this stuff...

It's a Gatorade like drink that is made in Japan but is popular all throughout Asia, especially Korea. I know it doesn't exactly have the best name and all, but it is really good. It's not as watery as Gatorade, and a little sweeter. Almost like Mountain Dew meets Gatorade.

Embassy visit

Today, out of boredom and curiosity, I went to the U.S. Embassy here in Seoul. The whole thing is controlled chaos. There were protestors outside (aren't there always?) protesting everything from the Iraq war to the American/Israel alliance to just daring to build an embassy in Korea in the first place. Many humanitarian groups had posters and information outside with volunteers competing with street vendors for attention. Leading to the Embassy itself was a line, I estimated at about slighty under a quarter mile long. These were the people trying to get visas to enter the US. Most were turned away because of various reasons, mostly missing paperwork. Even the lucky few that were able to get in, still had to navigate the bereaucratic maze of the embassy. Take a look down at the ground you are standing on, millions of people around the world would (and are) paying a heavy price to be able to stand on that ground.

Special Thanks

Once again, I would really like to give special thanks to Jubilee Church for their eager support of me in my dire situation. Last night, I received from them an envelope with enough money to cover my hostel with some left over. However, this morning, I found out that the church had wired about 86,000 won (around 80 US) to the hostel and I got an email saying that the envelope last night was for food. I am very grateful.
The Senior Pastor, Pastor Hwang, told me that "while we do not know you, or what church you attend, it does not matter. We are a missions church, looking to support the Church throughout all the world, and so we extend the right hand of fellowship to you."

Wednesday

Wednesday was one of the busiest days I have had in a good long time. I'm still sore from all the walking and standing I did. The benefit is that I am learning the Seoul subway system pretty good. If you want, you can follow along on the subway map I included. My hostel is located about 400 yards away from the Chungmoro station, near the middle of the map, so I use Chungmoro as the base. I went down to Seoul National University of Education stop to transfer lines to the Gangnam station and walked a few hundred yards from there to Jubilee Church. Jubilee is a great church, so alive and so dedicated with zeal and fervor. It's made up mostly of ex-pats (Koreans who were born in Korea but lived in America most their lives and are now coming back) or long term visiting Korean-Americans, so the service is in English. Plus, their coffee shop, Ecclesia, makes a great BLT. I had a meeting with a deacon there who said the church would more than like to help me out. He told me to come back to their 8pm church service and I said I would, but I needed to be across town to pick up my physical report and try to make it to the travel agency on time before it closed to get the paperwork started today. So I transferred subway lines at Gangnam again and basically took the orange line all the way up to Jongno(3) sam-ga and then transferred and took the purple line to the hospital near Hoegi. Don't ask me what the names mean, because when it comes to Korean, I am more like a parrot that can recite words taught to it, but has no idea what it is saying.
By the time, I got to Hoegi it was around 430, and the beginning of rush hour, so after cutting across 8 lanes of traffic and a million side streets and alleys, I make it back to the hospital to pick up the report.
I am there maybe 30 seconds.
It took about an hour and a half to get there.
No matter. I was just glad to have the forms with no problems and quickly headed over to the travel agency, deep in the heart of the city. Everything went well there and the agent said that I may actually have the visa as early as Tuesday! Let's hope so! After this bit of good news, I walked back to my hostel only to find the place had been invaded by Japanese schoolchildren on holiday. Hundreds of them. Cute, staring, shy, giggling school children. On my way up to my room, I must have heard hello a hundred times and one little girl quietly asked her friend "how do you say 御元気ですか in English?" her friend whispered something and she squeaked "how are you?"
I answered and since the kids saw I wasn't evil or anything, they asked a million more so I spent the next several minutes answering the same questions over and over.

Japanese kid: How are you?
Me: Fine. Thank you. How are you?
Every Japanese Kid: *giggling*
Japanese Kid: Where is your home?
Me: I come from America.
Every Japanese Kid: Ooooooh and Ahhhh
Japanese kid: How are you?
Me: *Sigh*

So after resting for a bit, I went back down to Gangnam and went to the midweek Jubilee service. It was pretty good and I got introduced all around afterwards. One of the deacons asked how much money I had, and since I had just paid for my visa, I was running a little low but still had enough to get around, I thought. The people around me kinda chuckled when I told them and one of them left for a minute and brought back the financial deacon (apparently there is such a thing, she handles the church finances) who asked the same thing and did the same chuckle when i told her. So Jubilee is not only paying for the rest of my hostel stay, but they also gave me a nice bit of cash to last until I leave for food. Not bad for a foreign visitor who only went to their church twice so far. :-) So Praise God for these bits of good news!

Click on the image to see the map.

and I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time (before I can leave Korea)

So the decision has been made to stay in South Korea and get all the necessary paperwork done here for several reasons. One, all the paperwork from SAFEA says that I can only get the visa work done in Korea, to forward it anywhere else would take extra time and knowing SAFEA, it would probably get lost in transit. Two, SAFEA seeems to think that I went to Korea on my own to do this, rather than listening to their instructions, and so they refuse to finance airfare to America. Jessie, our liason between ESEC and SAFEA, is in the middle of negotiations with them to figure out just what they should pay for. Seems to me, if you send someone to another country and because of your faulty information they're stuck, I think more than a simple "oops" is in order. Three, because I am already here and have initiated the process. Yesterday, I went to a clinic for the physical thats required for the visa, (another thing SAFEA forgot or didnt know about) and do you know what's more fun than a physical for work?
a physical for work in another country for another country!

Nurse: 인턴쉽과정할인,주까지 학생비자로 가능.
Me: ???
Frustrated Nurse:인턴쉽과정할인,주까지 학생비자로 가능!!!!
Me: ???


So I go back today for the results and that, I'm told, is the last piece to the puzzle. After I get that, I can go to the travel agent/pet shop/black market I found and apply for the paperwork I need from the Korean government to show the Chinese government I was actually in Korea to get the visa. This takes 10-15 days. (Note to both governments: This is why we have those nifty little things called "passports." You have people who stand there all day and stamp them. For real. Check it out!)

As for my housing options, I am meeting with a church deacon today for an English speaking congregation here in Seoul. So I'm really praying that works out well. Right now, I am basically trusting God for everything. I'll keep you updated.