Last saturday saw evidence of something not very pleasant in Korean sociaety, namely the refusal to let non-Koreans get on a tour. This kind of thing has reared it's ugly head again. I signed up for some Korean website which allows you to post photos and leave messages on. The reason I want it is so thatr I can put my student's photos on and comment on them. I have been trying all summer to get my on page. I have done everything they have asked which includes sending the company a copy of my passport. I have done that 4 times and yet, I'm still waiting. That's since june. It's the end of August now. Although, if I was Korean, I would be able to sign up and get my page in 5 minutes flat.
And then there is the small matter of mobile phones. At present, my phone is registered in my Korean friends name. So, I think that it's about time to register it in my name since I'm using and paying for it. For Korean's it's simply a case of going to one of the phone companies, signing a form and showing some ID. Easy. Clearly, though that isn't the case for 'us'. Not only do it need my passport and ID but I need to pay 200,ooo Won /about 100 quid/ for the privilege. I'm not having that and I told them. I asked for the guys boss - his office number and address but he refused to give it too me.That wil not be the end of this, that's for sure.
Where is all this coming from.All this red-tape. All this complete bollocks. All these blatant attempts to discriminate. It seems that i'm getting told 'you can't' everywhere I turn and honestly, I'm tired of it. Do you want to know what Mr. Kim, I fucking can. Get your ass out of that room salon, stop trying to knob your secretary and take your discrimation and choke on it.
This country trusts me to teach it's University student's yet it doesn't trust me to pay my mobile bill's or correctly use a webpage or even sit on a bus.
I guess everything comes in 3's and that's my 3. Who else is going to tell me 'you can't'. I dare them. Go ahead mate...i dare you.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Circus
Music is my radar as a certain Essex boy once sang. And it is...without it, life would be dull in the extreme but it's fluid and everchanging. I like bands now that I didn't like before. Conversely, there are bands that I liked but don't particularly like now. Evolution iguess. And within that, there are albums that I like better than others.
tAKE someone like R.E.M. Essentially, they invented the alt. scene in the 80's with their whimsicial southern musical style coupled with Stipes, at times, undecipherable lyrics which were never printed on the album.
Then it all went universal after the launch of Green with was their 1st for Warner. The next pushed them to U2-esque proportions. Out of Time was a big seller. Automatic for the People took it further. Their 'classic'. However, it was very introspective and I'm not that fond of it. It's got great songs Drive, Man on the Moon and the cutting politicalness of Ignoreland but the others were, slow and meandering. Heartfelt yes but..then there was Monster. A rock album. One for the World Tour. But, it's New Adventures in Hi-Fi that does it for me. An album made on the road and during soundchecks. Critically, it took abit of a mauling and commerially it don't do as well as the previous 3 albums but I feel that that is somewhat unfair as it isn't as plodding and slow as Automatic but it's not quite the loud and brash Monster. It's almost as if it should have come after Autimatic and before Monster. The 1st single - Ebow the Letter was vague and perhaps not a single but that shouldn't detract from it. The haunting vocals of Ms. Faithfull make the song and offset Stipe's almost spoken vocals.
The 1st song 'How the west was won'...doesn't particularly have that 'R.E.M.' feel to it. It's piano lead and all the better for it. It's a slow builder which gives way to the epic 'Wake Up Bomb' with it's glam rock tendencies and it's Oasis baiting 'Supersonic...what a joke'. It's brash and egotistical 'I had to teach the world to sing by the age of 21'. The folky New Test Leper gives way to Undertow - one that was played live in Edinburgh on THAT tour. Listening to Stipe singing about drowning is strange but Mill's bass feedback makes it all worthwhile.
Perhaps, the highlight and most unexpected song is Leave. It starts slow and orchestral and would fit nicely on Automatic yet at 1minute, 1 second a drum kicks as does a constant siren weaving in and out of the song for the duration of it's 7 minute entirety. It's this that makes it start out. They are not afraid to experiment. It's very un-R.E.M. but it works beautifully. Departure showcases a shouting Stipe in almost conversational style akin to the later Bad Day which appeared on the Best of. Binky the Doormat represents the best song title ever. I'm not even sure if Binky even gets named.
Low Desert is American all they way even the hey, hey's whilst it closes with Electrolite. a definite Automatic song with it's piano sensibilities.
Why is it criticised? Because it's a road album? Or because it not very R.E.M.esque. It is. And it isn't. But that's what bands do. Change with each album. If they stay the same, they fade away.
Anyway, i'moff to practice my T-rex moves and make a scene.
tAKE someone like R.E.M. Essentially, they invented the alt. scene in the 80's with their whimsicial southern musical style coupled with Stipes, at times, undecipherable lyrics which were never printed on the album.
Then it all went universal after the launch of Green with was their 1st for Warner. The next pushed them to U2-esque proportions. Out of Time was a big seller. Automatic for the People took it further. Their 'classic'. However, it was very introspective and I'm not that fond of it. It's got great songs Drive, Man on the Moon and the cutting politicalness of Ignoreland but the others were, slow and meandering. Heartfelt yes but..then there was Monster. A rock album. One for the World Tour. But, it's New Adventures in Hi-Fi that does it for me. An album made on the road and during soundchecks. Critically, it took abit of a mauling and commerially it don't do as well as the previous 3 albums but I feel that that is somewhat unfair as it isn't as plodding and slow as Automatic but it's not quite the loud and brash Monster. It's almost as if it should have come after Autimatic and before Monster. The 1st single - Ebow the Letter was vague and perhaps not a single but that shouldn't detract from it. The haunting vocals of Ms. Faithfull make the song and offset Stipe's almost spoken vocals.
The 1st song 'How the west was won'...doesn't particularly have that 'R.E.M.' feel to it. It's piano lead and all the better for it. It's a slow builder which gives way to the epic 'Wake Up Bomb' with it's glam rock tendencies and it's Oasis baiting 'Supersonic...what a joke'. It's brash and egotistical 'I had to teach the world to sing by the age of 21'. The folky New Test Leper gives way to Undertow - one that was played live in Edinburgh on THAT tour. Listening to Stipe singing about drowning is strange but Mill's bass feedback makes it all worthwhile.
Perhaps, the highlight and most unexpected song is Leave. It starts slow and orchestral and would fit nicely on Automatic yet at 1minute, 1 second a drum kicks as does a constant siren weaving in and out of the song for the duration of it's 7 minute entirety. It's this that makes it start out. They are not afraid to experiment. It's very un-R.E.M. but it works beautifully. Departure showcases a shouting Stipe in almost conversational style akin to the later Bad Day which appeared on the Best of. Binky the Doormat represents the best song title ever. I'm not even sure if Binky even gets named.
Low Desert is American all they way even the hey, hey's whilst it closes with Electrolite. a definite Automatic song with it's piano sensibilities.
Why is it criticised? Because it's a road album? Or because it not very R.E.M.esque. It is. And it isn't. But that's what bands do. Change with each album. If they stay the same, they fade away.
Anyway, i'moff to practice my T-rex moves and make a scene.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Pick
I'm frustrated. It's muggy and getting cloudy but i'm enclosed in my air-conditioned bubble in my office. It's definitely been the best investment that i've made. These days, the majority of the University also has air-conditioning - the classrooms, the admin. offices...although there is 1 room that hasn't yet it is a room with every single person uses at some point. The bog. The bathroom.
The reason I noticed this was because I had a call of nature. There I was sitting there trying to eject a depthcharge big enough to sink the Belgrano, when all this sweat started dribbling down my forehead. If the room was air-conditioned, I could drop my load without breaking sweat however without it, it makes things decidedly uncomfortable. More uncomfortable than it needs to be. If I was running up 10 flights of stairs, I could understand but sitting there pushing should not make me sweat. Period.
So, finally when it passed, I had to mop my brow and rush back to my office just to re-acclimatise myself. I'm not impressed and do not want to experience this for the remainder of the summer but what can I do...hold it un until I get home where I could enjoy the pleasure of a non-sweat inducing call of nature.
Thinking of contacting the President of the University re: this. I bet he has air-conditioning in his private bog. I bet he doesn't get all hot and sweaty. Actually, I bet he gets someone else to do it all for him 'cos he's minted and 'cos he's the President and everyone is up his ass anyway but then that's a completely different story.
The reason I noticed this was because I had a call of nature. There I was sitting there trying to eject a depthcharge big enough to sink the Belgrano, when all this sweat started dribbling down my forehead. If the room was air-conditioned, I could drop my load without breaking sweat however without it, it makes things decidedly uncomfortable. More uncomfortable than it needs to be. If I was running up 10 flights of stairs, I could understand but sitting there pushing should not make me sweat. Period.
So, finally when it passed, I had to mop my brow and rush back to my office just to re-acclimatise myself. I'm not impressed and do not want to experience this for the remainder of the summer but what can I do...hold it un until I get home where I could enjoy the pleasure of a non-sweat inducing call of nature.
Thinking of contacting the President of the University re: this. I bet he has air-conditioning in his private bog. I bet he doesn't get all hot and sweaty. Actually, I bet he gets someone else to do it all for him 'cos he's minted and 'cos he's the President and everyone is up his ass anyway but then that's a completely different story.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Open
Word of the week: 'Back'
Back at University. Back in class and back in the groove. Well, almost. It might take a week or so. Thankfully, not all students came to class which gave the week a very relaxed feel. Next week though. No messing about. Getinthere.
Phrase of the week: 'No foreigners'
Well, it's official that part of this country are in fact less than tolerant with non-Koreans. It's sad to hear that this is the case in this day and age. It is though symbiotic of this country. I would love to slate it but actually, I feel quite sorry for all these bigots because in many ways they don't know any better. They have never met many 'foreigners' and have little experience in dealing with us. This coupled with the fact that many people have never even left the country to experience other culutres and people have left a whole generation unable to cope with non-Koreans and as a consequence they are openly hostile to us. Perhaps it's fear of the unkown. It's a clique but if they got to know us, they would find that actually we're all pretty damn similiar. It's just disappointing that they are so closed...
Sight of the week: 'Shirts and Ties'
They are back also. I don't particularly like wearing them in this heat but it's got to be done. When in Rome and all that. I would much rather be in my shorts and t-shirt.
Song of the week: nosong.
Back at University. Back in class and back in the groove. Well, almost. It might take a week or so. Thankfully, not all students came to class which gave the week a very relaxed feel. Next week though. No messing about. Getinthere.
Phrase of the week: 'No foreigners'
Well, it's official that part of this country are in fact less than tolerant with non-Koreans. It's sad to hear that this is the case in this day and age. It is though symbiotic of this country. I would love to slate it but actually, I feel quite sorry for all these bigots because in many ways they don't know any better. They have never met many 'foreigners' and have little experience in dealing with us. This coupled with the fact that many people have never even left the country to experience other culutres and people have left a whole generation unable to cope with non-Koreans and as a consequence they are openly hostile to us. Perhaps it's fear of the unkown. It's a clique but if they got to know us, they would find that actually we're all pretty damn similiar. It's just disappointing that they are so closed...
Sight of the week: 'Shirts and Ties'
They are back also. I don't particularly like wearing them in this heat but it's got to be done. When in Rome and all that. I would much rather be in my shorts and t-shirt.
Song of the week: nosong.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Leper
So,got up early...it was still dark. Took a shower, got dressed and myself ready for the say ahead which was meant to be a trip to some island near Incheon. Apparantly, in the 1970's the Korean government set up some covert military operation in which a bunch of criminals were given the option of remaining in prison or joining this elite military team whose sole aim was to take out the North Korean leader. If they succeded they would be set free, however the chances of success were limited. In essence it was a suicide mission. Anyway, the government then changed it's mind about the mission and as a consequence the 'criminals' revolted and killed 18 out of 24 of their senior officers and tries to make it back to the mainland. It has subsequently been made into a movie.
So, that's where we were going...
But, we were about to jump on the bus when the bus driver informs us that the trip was not 'for foreigners' clearly, one was not impressed.
Now, that kind of behaviour in unacceptable in the UK with laws outlawing such thinking. This though is Korea and this is the sort of attitudes that we are up against on a daily basis. Had I been more fully awake I would have got on the bus anyway and took my seat. I mean, what could the bus driver really do?
If he had said anything, I would simply have said 'come on mate, you're late...we have a ferry to catch'.
And if he wanted to kick up a fuss, I would have requested that he get in touch with the Boss. Not his boss but the Boss of the entire company. I would have got him out of his bed and asked exactly why I couldn't get on this bus. Isn't my money the same colour as the others. Are my legs not the same. dO I not have 2 arms and 2 ears and 2 eyes. I even have a knob. I am 100% human. Why can't I get on this bus. Clearly, the only thing he could possibly say is 'You're not Korean'. What else could he say? Not a thing.
An it is this that should be outlawed. People like this who have these kind of views. Tony Blair wants to deport or send to prison people who hold these views. I suspect that perhaps half of this country may get deport if such laws were introduced here.
If I can get the website address for the company, I will post it and ask that you either make it crash or else bombard it with messages asking exactly why they have this policy. My plan is simply to send a email politely asking for an explanation. I will continue to do this everyday until I'm either blocked or I get an answer. I've got time.
We need arevolution. It needs to start somewhere. I can only do my part.
This country.
So, that's where we were going...
But, we were about to jump on the bus when the bus driver informs us that the trip was not 'for foreigners' clearly, one was not impressed.
Now, that kind of behaviour in unacceptable in the UK with laws outlawing such thinking. This though is Korea and this is the sort of attitudes that we are up against on a daily basis. Had I been more fully awake I would have got on the bus anyway and took my seat. I mean, what could the bus driver really do?
If he had said anything, I would simply have said 'come on mate, you're late...we have a ferry to catch'.
And if he wanted to kick up a fuss, I would have requested that he get in touch with the Boss. Not his boss but the Boss of the entire company. I would have got him out of his bed and asked exactly why I couldn't get on this bus. Isn't my money the same colour as the others. Are my legs not the same. dO I not have 2 arms and 2 ears and 2 eyes. I even have a knob. I am 100% human. Why can't I get on this bus. Clearly, the only thing he could possibly say is 'You're not Korean'. What else could he say? Not a thing.
An it is this that should be outlawed. People like this who have these kind of views. Tony Blair wants to deport or send to prison people who hold these views. I suspect that perhaps half of this country may get deport if such laws were introduced here.
If I can get the website address for the company, I will post it and ask that you either make it crash or else bombard it with messages asking exactly why they have this policy. My plan is simply to send a email politely asking for an explanation. I will continue to do this everyday until I'm either blocked or I get an answer. I've got time.
We need arevolution. It needs to start somewhere. I can only do my part.
This country.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Reno
Dundee Utd.
Idiots.
Scottish football at it's best. In past years Scottish teams have been relatively successful in European competition with provincial teams claiming the scalps of big teams. These days though, it's the crap teams from crap countries that claim the scalps of our teams. Dundee Utd. 2 up and cruising through to the next round against the mighty Fins, MyPa 47. Then all of a sudden they are out having conceded 2 late goals. It's not the 1st time. Dunfermline did the exact thing against some unknown Icelandish team last season. Of course, crashed to the unkown Artmedians, a team that sound like a production company. It's a common occurance by Scottish teams and it's terrible. It's like out teams get themselves into a good position and then suddenly get a nose bleed and cock it all up.
cAN'T We learn. We shouldn't be getting knOcked out by these teams. It's that simple. Only Hibs and Rangers remain in Europe and Hibs have only managed that because they haven't played a game yet. Come on - get this co-efficient up before we have to pre-qualify for the pre-qualifying rounds.
It's all getting too depressing and with a Scotland double header that could finally convince us that we aren't going to the World Cup next week, to come. It could be painful.
Idiots.
Scottish football at it's best. In past years Scottish teams have been relatively successful in European competition with provincial teams claiming the scalps of big teams. These days though, it's the crap teams from crap countries that claim the scalps of our teams. Dundee Utd. 2 up and cruising through to the next round against the mighty Fins, MyPa 47. Then all of a sudden they are out having conceded 2 late goals. It's not the 1st time. Dunfermline did the exact thing against some unknown Icelandish team last season. Of course, crashed to the unkown Artmedians, a team that sound like a production company. It's a common occurance by Scottish teams and it's terrible. It's like out teams get themselves into a good position and then suddenly get a nose bleed and cock it all up.
cAN'T We learn. We shouldn't be getting knOcked out by these teams. It's that simple. Only Hibs and Rangers remain in Europe and Hibs have only managed that because they haven't played a game yet. Come on - get this co-efficient up before we have to pre-qualify for the pre-qualifying rounds.
It's all getting too depressing and with a Scotland double header that could finally convince us that we aren't going to the World Cup next week, to come. It could be painful.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Horse
Payrisepayrisepayrisepayrisepayrise...
A surprise but one that is more than welcome. It's not much but at 6% you can't really complain too much. Although, it actually went into effect in March yet were are just getting the amounts now. My pay was much bigger than I thought it would be this month because of it.
Of course, we are still not paid anything like the amount that our Korean colleagues are getting. Conservative estimates suggest that we are on less than half what they are making. In fact, the University is in the top 5 in Korea for pay...but only to Korean's. We're still making less than teachers working in private language schools. So much for the prestige of working at a University. Will that change?of course not. We are dispensable. I'd heard than many don't get jobs because of their ability but rather because of the amount of money that they give to the University. That's wrong. If you're not upto the job, then you shouldn't be doing it. It's that simple. I mean, your not going to hire a punter who can drive a car, to pilot an airplane. Also, it has been said that our Korean colleagues could publish an article a month for which they could make 2 million Won per article on top of their monthly salary. The article money is more than we make in a month!
I wonder where my colleagues priorities lie. WIth their student's or their articles?
When I'm head of Department, there will be some changes. No question about it but then the chances of a English speaker being the head of the English Department. Zero. Welcome to Korea.
A surprise but one that is more than welcome. It's not much but at 6% you can't really complain too much. Although, it actually went into effect in March yet were are just getting the amounts now. My pay was much bigger than I thought it would be this month because of it.
Of course, we are still not paid anything like the amount that our Korean colleagues are getting. Conservative estimates suggest that we are on less than half what they are making. In fact, the University is in the top 5 in Korea for pay...but only to Korean's. We're still making less than teachers working in private language schools. So much for the prestige of working at a University. Will that change?of course not. We are dispensable. I'd heard than many don't get jobs because of their ability but rather because of the amount of money that they give to the University. That's wrong. If you're not upto the job, then you shouldn't be doing it. It's that simple. I mean, your not going to hire a punter who can drive a car, to pilot an airplane. Also, it has been said that our Korean colleagues could publish an article a month for which they could make 2 million Won per article on top of their monthly salary. The article money is more than we make in a month!
I wonder where my colleagues priorities lie. WIth their student's or their articles?
When I'm head of Department, there will be some changes. No question about it but then the chances of a English speaker being the head of the English Department. Zero. Welcome to Korea.
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