11 years ago
21 April 2009
my students
Today at the beginning of one of my classes, one student yelled, to no one in particular it seemed, "I love boobies!" Gotta' love junior high ESL!
14 April 2009
Korean health care
Yesterday I took a sick day from school (today too) and went to see a doctor. I went to the hospital twice back in late January for a bad sinus infection so this was my third trip. The students are killing my immune system! Luckily I have health insurance through my school. With each trip I've been amazed with Korean health care.
At the hospital there is a foreign visitors desk where at least one person speaks English pretty well. Yesterday, a woman signed me in then walked upstairs with me so I would know where to go. She stayed to help ask questions for the doctor and took my temperature. I had a fever so she walked with me to have some blood drawn and to get a chest x-ray. She stayed with me until I was almost done and was very nice about it.
Within just ONE HOUR I did all of the following: 1) I saw the doctor, 2) had a vial of blood drawn, 3) received a chest x-ray, 4) saw the doctor again after my x-ray films were developed and blood analyzed, 5) paid my very cheap copay of 15,000 won (~$12), and 6) walked across the street to the pharmacy to get my prescription!! I had my prescription and was on my way home by the time an hour was up. I'd be amazed if all of that could be done in 2 hours time back home. I don't think I sat anywhere for more than 5 minutes yesterday, and that was without an appointment.
My chest x-ray was clear but my white blood cell count was high. The one thing I saw the doctor click in English on his computer was acute bronchitis. The rest was in Korean.
The pharmacy has a unique way of distributing medicine. Each time I've received a liquid and pills. Last time the liquid was a cough syrup in a clear unmarked bottle. The pharmacist wrote on the bottle the quantity and doses per day. This time I received the liquid in these shampoo sample-type packets with the frog on the front. I'm guessing that's the antibiotic. I was on different pills last time but received them in the same packaging, so the pharmacy counts out each patient's medicine, puts each dose in its individual packet, then vacuum seals the whole thing.
Way less packaging than giving each patient four or five different bottles of medicine! One of the pills is Tylenol because it's written on the pill, but I have no idea what the others are. It's a little disconcerting not knowing what I'm taking, but I got better quickly last time so I guess they know what they're doing.
At the hospital there is a foreign visitors desk where at least one person speaks English pretty well. Yesterday, a woman signed me in then walked upstairs with me so I would know where to go. She stayed to help ask questions for the doctor and took my temperature. I had a fever so she walked with me to have some blood drawn and to get a chest x-ray. She stayed with me until I was almost done and was very nice about it.
Within just ONE HOUR I did all of the following: 1) I saw the doctor, 2) had a vial of blood drawn, 3) received a chest x-ray, 4) saw the doctor again after my x-ray films were developed and blood analyzed, 5) paid my very cheap copay of 15,000 won (~$12), and 6) walked across the street to the pharmacy to get my prescription!! I had my prescription and was on my way home by the time an hour was up. I'd be amazed if all of that could be done in 2 hours time back home. I don't think I sat anywhere for more than 5 minutes yesterday, and that was without an appointment.
My chest x-ray was clear but my white blood cell count was high. The one thing I saw the doctor click in English on his computer was acute bronchitis. The rest was in Korean.
The pharmacy has a unique way of distributing medicine. Each time I've received a liquid and pills. Last time the liquid was a cough syrup in a clear unmarked bottle. The pharmacist wrote on the bottle the quantity and doses per day. This time I received the liquid in these shampoo sample-type packets with the frog on the front. I'm guessing that's the antibiotic. I was on different pills last time but received them in the same packaging, so the pharmacy counts out each patient's medicine, puts each dose in its individual packet, then vacuum seals the whole thing.
Way less packaging than giving each patient four or five different bottles of medicine! One of the pills is Tylenol because it's written on the pill, but I have no idea what the others are. It's a little disconcerting not knowing what I'm taking, but I got better quickly last time so I guess they know what they're doing.
13 April 2009
cherry blossom festival
There are now a lot of new photos in my Picasa web albums for April. They include a trip to Seoul last weekend, a couple of rides with William, and another trip to Seoul this weekend for the Cherry Blossom Festival with two friends.
It wasn't a festival like we were expecting. It mainly involved hundreds of people walking along the road under the cherry trees and taking pictures. It didn't matter though, the pink cherry blossoms were beautiful! The cherry trees have only been blooming for about a week, but they're already starting to lose their flowers. At times it looked like it was snowing flower petals.
By the end of next week they'll probably be completely green, like some of the other trees. I love the green and pink together in the photo above.
There were no games for kids, vendors selling toys or artwork, or any of the normal things usually seen at a festival, but there were some cool flower and photo displays from a contest. I thought this jeans one was pretty original....
...but I thought the bull was by far the best. All the placards were in Korean so I don't know which displays won something in the contest. Maybe it wasn't even a contest, but it seemed like it probably was.
In addition to the blooming cherry blossoms, there were also lots of flower pots with a wide variety of flowers.
And more magnolia trees, this time of the pink variety.
I have to include a few parting "ick" shots. A food vendor was selling silkworms and some sort of shelled animal that I haven't seen anywhere else. The silkworms are very common.
It wasn't a festival like we were expecting. It mainly involved hundreds of people walking along the road under the cherry trees and taking pictures. It didn't matter though, the pink cherry blossoms were beautiful! The cherry trees have only been blooming for about a week, but they're already starting to lose their flowers. At times it looked like it was snowing flower petals.
By the end of next week they'll probably be completely green, like some of the other trees. I love the green and pink together in the photo above.
There were no games for kids, vendors selling toys or artwork, or any of the normal things usually seen at a festival, but there were some cool flower and photo displays from a contest. I thought this jeans one was pretty original....
...but I thought the bull was by far the best. All the placards were in Korean so I don't know which displays won something in the contest. Maybe it wasn't even a contest, but it seemed like it probably was.
In addition to the blooming cherry blossoms, there were also lots of flower pots with a wide variety of flowers.
And more magnolia trees, this time of the pink variety.
I have to include a few parting "ick" shots. A food vendor was selling silkworms and some sort of shelled animal that I haven't seen anywhere else. The silkworms are very common.
10 April 2009
bullfights and maple trees
05 April 2009
spring is here....to stay?
Today was a warmer sunny day finally, but there was still a cool, crisp breeze. When William and I went for an afternoon ride we could smell the ocean in the air at times. It was a fresh salty smell, and a nice change from the farm animal smell we often get. It makes sense since we're maybe only a 30 minute drive away from Pyeongtaek Port, but I never noticed an ocean smell when we arrived, before it got cold.
About halfway into our ride we rode up a steep climb that led to a little Buddhist temple. It's the red building in the background.
Then we rode back down and William tried to pet some cows, but they were too shy. They kept backing away but then he'd move a little bit and they'd come back. I think he finally got to pet one who was a little more brave than the rest.
The magnolias are in bloom and they're beautiful. I love magnolias. It's getting prettier here now that things are starting to flower and turn green again. 
The farmers are all plowing their fields, so soon there will be lots of green to see. I can't wait!
Tomorrow I'll try to post some photos of our weekend trip to Seoul. William did a 120 km group ride. Yes, he's nuts, but it wasn't supposed to be that long. I'd thought about riding and am so glad I did not!
About halfway into our ride we rode up a steep climb that led to a little Buddhist temple. It's the red building in the background.
Then we rode back down and William tried to pet some cows, but they were too shy. They kept backing away but then he'd move a little bit and they'd come back. I think he finally got to pet one who was a little more brave than the rest.
The magnolias are in bloom and they're beautiful. I love magnolias. It's getting prettier here now that things are starting to flower and turn green again. 
The farmers are all plowing their fields, so soon there will be lots of green to see. I can't wait!Tomorrow I'll try to post some photos of our weekend trip to Seoul. William did a 120 km group ride. Yes, he's nuts, but it wasn't supposed to be that long. I'd thought about riding and am so glad I did not!
14 March 2009
white day
Store fronts have been advertising White Day for a few weeks now and I finally know what it means. In S. Korea, the 14th day of every month is a love-related day. February 14th is known as Red Day, March 14th is White Day, and April 14th is Black Noodle Day. These are the three most important of the love-related days.
From what I understand, it is the woman's responsibility to remember Red Day and give chocolate gifts to men. Then, on White Day it is the man's turn and they're expected to give non-chocolate candy to the woman (or women) who remembered them the previous month.
On Black Noodle Day, unmarried 20-somethings, who didn’t receive any gifts on Feb. or Mar. 14th, can join other singles at Chinese restaurants around the country to eat black bean-paste noodles (jjajangmyun짜장면). I think I've had these noodles and they're pretty good, but 3 months into the year do you really need to be reminded if no one thought of you on the previous love-related day? On the other hand, if you meet the love of your life on Black Noodle Day then it's probably worth it.
I found a website that lists the other love days as:
January - Candle Day
May - Rose Day
June - Kiss Day
July - Silver Day
August - Green Day
September - Music Day
October - Wine Day
November - Movie Day
December - Hug Day
From what I understand, it is the woman's responsibility to remember Red Day and give chocolate gifts to men. Then, on White Day it is the man's turn and they're expected to give non-chocolate candy to the woman (or women) who remembered them the previous month.
On Black Noodle Day, unmarried 20-somethings, who didn’t receive any gifts on Feb. or Mar. 14th, can join other singles at Chinese restaurants around the country to eat black bean-paste noodles (jjajangmyun짜장면). I think I've had these noodles and they're pretty good, but 3 months into the year do you really need to be reminded if no one thought of you on the previous love-related day? On the other hand, if you meet the love of your life on Black Noodle Day then it's probably worth it.
I found a website that lists the other love days as:
January - Candle Day
May - Rose Day
June - Kiss Day
July - Silver Day
August - Green Day
September - Music Day
October - Wine Day
November - Movie Day
December - Hug Day
08 March 2009
Hyeonchungsa temple
Admiral Yi Sun-sin is considered a Korean military hero. William and I visited a temple compound that commemorates his military achievements against the Japanese in the late 1500's and early 1600's. 
Hyeonchungsa was originally built in Asan, Korea, in 1706.The Gubonjeon, or Old Main Hall (left photo), was reconstructed in 1932 and moved to its current location.
A new Bonjeon (Main Hall) was built in 1967-8. The painted eves photos here are part of this newer Bonjeon.
I like the intricate architectural details and the bright colors.
A portrait of Admiral Yi is kept in this newer hall. We went on a cold day and there were very few other people around. Even so, there was a pot of incense burning at the entrance to the Bonjeon. I wondered if it is always burning but don't know the answer.The area also had a museum dedicated to Admiral Yi.
There were some interesting ancient artifacts, including this model of a Geobukseon (turtle ship). Invented by Admiral Yi in 1592, the caption indicated that the turtle ship was the world's first ironclad ship. In the Picasa album are more artifact photos.Parting shots: in front of the Bonjeon. It had a nice view of the mountains.
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