tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147318962024-03-24T02:47:23.506+09:00marc hogi's blog.Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-85054464126884077762012-05-09T01:50:00.003+09:002012-05-09T01:55:00.692+09:00Bikram. Days 26-30 and beyond.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAokcYDIrpeKYyF-KJBWKaASonlYCJ4vCBvcaQpY1d5EMx_PcRilxYoHLdAZYLIq2TyuGK9AUkKf2qLgcEyJH5diLSKZ4jGxE70OZdGD5zWB1yEB3kQqE5sujmrY6rr65dgUwaQ/s1600/401631_449343268413413_393198494027891_1900514_1537355275_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAokcYDIrpeKYyF-KJBWKaASonlYCJ4vCBvcaQpY1d5EMx_PcRilxYoHLdAZYLIq2TyuGK9AUkKf2qLgcEyJH5diLSKZ4jGxE70OZdGD5zWB1yEB3kQqE5sujmrY6rr65dgUwaQ/s400/401631_449343268413413_393198494027891_1900514_1537355275_n.jpg" width="275" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 26.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blah!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 27.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonight was marginally better than last night (I only sat
out three or four sets), but it seemed like no matter what I did my heart would
not stop racing. After class ended I lay on the floor for a long time. I didn’t
want to get up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend the hot room was quite crowded; I think there
were at least 15 people in both classes. The room didn’t necessarily feel
hotter than usual to me, but definitely the usual energy was not there. Walking
out of the room during a class is never an option for me but man, I couldn’t
wait to finish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 28.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today was the last official day of the spring challenge.
Because I missed the first day, originally I had planned to do one more double.
However, Ball told me it was okay for me to complete my challenge the following
day. After that, there was the question of whether or not I would do the double
just to get it over with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going into class tonight I really had no idea what to
expect. Honestly the last couple of classes were awful. Earlier today I sat
outside in the gorgeous spring weather, thinking about how much I didn’t want
to go to Bikram class tonight. I still debated whether or not to attempt a
double and just be done with the 30-day thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa was leading class (always a plus for me) and 10 minutes
in, I knew I was going to have a good class. But I also knew at this point that
I was not going to attempt a double. This determination actually freed me up to
genuinely enjoy the class and to push myself on almost every posture. For me,
doing Bikram has almost been more about consistency than an event per se. A few
folks had encouraged me to do the double and I do want to do a double again
soon, but for tonight I needed to listen to my body and not overdo it. It felt
great to enjoy my class and not feel pressured to do something I wasn’t ready
for, especially after such a difficult weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Afterward I went by the <span lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "맑은 고딕"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">운동장</span> for
some stretching. Unexpectedly, I performed the deepest backbend I’ve ever done.
Also practiced a supported standing bow posture while chatting with a couple of
ajummas. Later that night, my good friend R.W. crashed at my place. I
demonstrated a couple of Bikram postures. It was humorous to watch him attempt
half tortoise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 29 (30).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My final day. The class was quite small; it seemed as if everyone
took off after finishing the challenge. However, it was a very low-key class
with no outstanding difficulties. A great way to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Random thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 30-day was the most I’ve ever exercised at any one time
in my life. After finishing it, I found myself experiencing a couple of
unexpected things. The first was that I was actually tired of Bikram yoga in
general, and I needed to take some time off. I deliberately stayed away for at
least one week, instead cycling outdoors as much as I could. And also beginning
to catch up on a backlog of work. The second is that after resuming cycling, I
noticed that I was hardly breaking a sweat. I would ride my bike at the Han
River for three or four hours and not sweat nearly as much as I did in the hot
room. It was disorienting. It almost felt as if I hadn’t exercised at all. It
didn’t take long for me to start missing the hot room.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Returning to Bikram class after that week off, I didn’t know
what to expect. Normally if I miss three or more straight days of Bikram, I
find myself struggling to get back into the groove. It ended up being one of
the best classes I’ve ever had. I felt strong on nearly every pose, especially
locust and spinal twist (of all things). I didn’t hit anything or anybody. By
the end I wasn’t even that tired. But just as significant was the fact that I
didn’t feel any pressure. There was no sense of “OK, day 7, day 19, day 24,
gotta maintain the momentum, gotta push myself to the end, etc.” It was a very
normal Bikram class. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m extremely nearsighted, but the hot room gets so sweaty I
always have to take off my glasses. As a result, I can never see myself clearly
in the mirror; even when I’m in the front row, my vision of myself is still
blurry. I’m used to it, and sometimes I’d rather not see myself so clearly
anyway. It also forces me to listen more carefully to the instructor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few people have asked me about my goals. I’ve talked about
being consistent and trying to keep myself in good shape. Recently several
people have commented that I’ve lost weight and all of my pants definitely feel
looser, but I haven’t weighed myself for the last two months. I rarely weigh
myself; it’s not something I think about a lot. I didn’t set any goal for
losing a certain amount of kilos or pounds. I tried to approach the 30-day very
practically. Like, “I pay a ton of money for my membership, doing a class every
day will help me get my money’s worth, I should finish what I started, I should
try to get beyond the usual struggles with postures, the weather is still cold
outside, etc.” The instructor says “namaste,” I think “dinner.” There’s nothing
mystical about my practice of Bikram.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several of my friends have said to me, “You must be good at
yoga because you’re flexible.” A few other friends have joked about me sticking
my foot behind my head. (Which I can’t do, by the way.) Strangely enough, since
I’ve done Bikram regularly I’ve found myself caring less about my flexibility.
Which is not to say that I don’t care about it all or that I shouldn’t improve
it, but in the middle of a class I’m not thinking about how I’d like to be
doing splits or other advanced poses. I’m sure the increased flexibility will
come eventually, but I’m more worried about getting to the end of the 90
minutes without passing out or guzzling all of my water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized that I am a control freak when it comes to
certain poses. Sometimes in class I notice other students become visibly
exasperated when they’re unable to perform a pose correctly. Some people groan
out loud. I try to avoid showing anything outwardly (I’m already the tallest
person in the room, I don’t need to draw any more attention to myself), but I
discovered that with certain poses I don’t push myself because I’m afraid of
falling over. Everyone falls over. Even experienced students fall over. But for
me falling over is something I just try to avoid as much as possible. It’s not
so much that it’s embarrassing or inelegant. It’s more about trying to maintain
a sense of control over the posture. As soon as I lose my balance, I feel like
I’m losing control. It’s easier to just not go all the way. This may not be big
news to anyone besides myself, but honestly I’ve had this tendency for months
and I didn’t become aware of it until two or three weeks ago. I haven’t
completely overcome it, but slowly I’m learning to let myself go, especially with
poses like standing head to knee. Toe stand will be the final frontier for me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw a comment on the Facebook page about doing a mini challenge,
like 10 days in a row. Which actually sounds like a good idea. Doing 30 days in
a row has been really inconvenient for me, but practicing regularly (more than
three times a week) does have some benefits. I don’t want to see my jeans become
tight again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">8</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favorite poses: Full locust, standing separate leg, standing
bow, wind removing, rabbit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most disliked poses: Locust, spinal twist, bow, standing
separate leg head to knee (mainly because it comes right after triangle).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most unpredictable poses: Fixed firm, camel, standing head
to knee, half moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most embarrassing pose in front of the mirror: Spinal twist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poses I practice at home or the outdoor exercise area: Half moon
(mainly backward and forward), standing bow, wind removing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poses with which I’ve seen the most improvement: Half moon, awkward,
standing bow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pose I’ve never performed completely: Toe stand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBo5lSuTm0MddprXoTxMOpzsCq9tCAQsSNIwKu8mdwFdw_5vSDFni8f3INRAKOz-UwXQjEnzeP4fdL67AQysDOPHZQ7A1QLclp1OT9MqUSD4-nDPWxRuO4GOzEg342BsA5vVArQ/s1600/36567_455102004504206_393198494027891_1917314_1212950719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBo5lSuTm0MddprXoTxMOpzsCq9tCAQsSNIwKu8mdwFdw_5vSDFni8f3INRAKOz-UwXQjEnzeP4fdL67AQysDOPHZQ7A1QLclp1OT9MqUSD4-nDPWxRuO4GOzEg342BsA5vVArQ/s400/36567_455102004504206_393198494027891_1917314_1212950719_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-58655117765722267482012-04-27T15:56:00.001+09:002012-04-27T15:59:53.469+09:00Bikram. Days 17-25.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsyXwzGcCATKGvdRbkYOeS1y0igN_ZHQidskdSxn3SKHojd49PZdrvsUdd8QdvTqsJrKJrqfyefwrF1lPQcUca9J8eaPBXkWF5gyMtK3uUrCTTZmJtz8xKCT9PS09YGYCeIEzDQ/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsyXwzGcCATKGvdRbkYOeS1y0igN_ZHQidskdSxn3SKHojd49PZdrvsUdd8QdvTqsJrKJrqfyefwrF1lPQcUca9J8eaPBXkWF5gyMtK3uUrCTTZmJtz8xKCT9PS09YGYCeIEzDQ/s400/013.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 17.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The classes are beginning to blur together. Bluuuuuur.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 18.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another walkout in class tonight. It was a surprise because
I’ve seen that person here several times. Later, the poor young lady next to me
is exhausted. She sits outs several sets, and skips a couple of poses
altogether. I’m tempted to join her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nice stretch later at the neighborhood <span lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "맑은 고딕"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">운동장</span>. The
Korean guy at the other end of the parallel bars looks like he’s trying to
compete with me. Doing the same stretch as me while pretending not to notice me
looking at him. This happens to me occasionally. Ha ha. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 19.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Standing separate leg, triangle, full locust, head to
knee/stretching and camel were all strong. Especially triangle. I became
slightly emotional coming out of the second set. Although on blowing in firm
pose, it was all I can do not to gasp out loud for air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something interesting is happening with half moon. Despite
being a consistently difficult posture, I did always find the back and front
bends easier than the side bends; perhaps because I practice back and front
bends pretty regularly. However, unexpectedly the side bends have become
progressively easier and the back bend is actually becoming more challenging.
The front bend is more or less the same, although with that I’m trying to learn
to put more weight on the balls of my feet than the heels. Tonight I almost
fell forward trying to do that. Yikes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 20.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s Saturday and I tentatively planned to do a double
today, but I was just so tired this morning. The rainy weather didn’t help. But
class was okay and I didn’t sit out anything. Although during standing series I
was really hungry and I kept thinking about food. I could see hamburgers
floating around my head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visible progress on standing bow; feeling freer to extend my
upper body further and “kick” a little higher. Also, keeping my knees further
apart seems to make fixed firm more bearable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 21.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 22.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Possibly the best class so far. The only real bump
(other than continuing to substitute tree for toe stand) was fixed firm. Also
after the first set of locust, in my head I said to myself, “I’m going
to sit out second set. I am so tired. I need a break.” Ball clapped his hands
for the sit-up and I found myself doing the second set. It was a painfully long
15 seconds. Full locust was strong however, which made me feel better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 23.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decent class tonight (the second set of half moon actually
felt good), although the last 20 minutes I ran out of steam. Part of this may
have been because I didn’t sleep very well last night. Although I had a good
day at work, after the first half of Bikram class in the evening my tiredness
seemed to kick in. I sat out a few sets, including the second set of rabbit
pose (which I rarely sit out, but after two sets of camel I was back to the
exploding head syndrome).I didn’t even want to deal with spinal twist. I was
also distracted because I was thinking about my plans to meet a friend for
dinner near Olympic Park. After class my friend cancelled, to my annoyance.
Although with the nicer weather I was able to take a slow walk on the way home.
Later I returned to the <span lang="KO" style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "맑은 고딕"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">운동장</span> for some extended stretching. I’ve been relatively
stiff the last few days (especially in my right leg), and I just wanted to take
some time to work out some kinks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Planning my first double tomorrow night. Honestly I’m not
very excited about it, but I just need to get it over with.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve tried to maintain a very practical approach to this
entire 30-day thing. As tired as I've been, I’ve never once thought about quitting.
And even in my worst classes, walking out of the room has never been an option
for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 24.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The double (5 and 7 p.m.) went much better than I expected.
Not to say that it was easy. I went light during the first, although by
standing bow I was ready to go all-out. I ended up going strong on my easier
poses and lighter on the more difficult stuff. Interestingly, going lighter
than normal actually helped me to focus more on performing the poses correctly.
Lisa gave me some helpful feedback on several points. I put them into practice
immediately on the second class, partially because I wanted to do them well but
partially because I was so tired. The first 30 minutes my arms felt like jelly,
and I barely got through balancing stick. My towel was soaked from the first class and my foot slipped on the set-up for standing separate leg, almost turning that pose into a split. It was difficult for me not to laugh out loud. After that I felt more or less
normal, although while I conserved my water in the first class, this time I
guzzled it. By the end I thought I would be wiped out and in a way I was, but
not in an exhausted way. By the time I got to the restaurant with Lukas
afterward, I actually didn’t feel tired anymore.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 25.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still feeling the momentum from last night. I may start
doing doubles more often. The tall guy was back, and we were next to each other
in the front. Sometimes it kind of annoys me to have to make major adjustments
in my posture to avoid hitting another person (especially with full locust), but this time
around I was glad to defer to him. </span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-43196008996446490772012-04-18T14:33:00.002+09:002012-04-27T15:36:54.199+09:00Bikram. Days 10-16.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxBlnB9PopTl1WIcQbPcJ_0VYozueNwCcOHJrVd9gY5MRrwtehdmy8NkKJbuZKMl5lYyiSmjaHGQVjrHjd9fOdnEvTf8EyF37uRAWf2vJfrVI6uEXqygfEthS6sQxc-fqZEh-Gg/s1600/4629269898_61325104d9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFxBlnB9PopTl1WIcQbPcJ_0VYozueNwCcOHJrVd9gY5MRrwtehdmy8NkKJbuZKMl5lYyiSmjaHGQVjrHjd9fOdnEvTf8EyF37uRAWf2vJfrVI6uEXqygfEthS6sQxc-fqZEh-Gg/s400/4629269898_61325104d9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 10.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">I arrived a little later than usual and ended up taking a spot away from the center. Right after the start of class, I looked up to discover I was directly beneath the low-hanging light fixture. Gaaaaah.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Tight legs on half moon pose. I’m amazed at the difference. I really used to dread this pose, particularly the right and left bend. Much more manageable now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">After class, Lisa asked me if I was breathing through my throat (instead of my throat) on my savasanas. My immediate answer was no, because I was taking long breaths and my mouth was closed. But she thought that I might be breathing through my throat. Afterward in the locker room I took a few deep breaths and surprise, I was breathing through my throat. That explains why I would make such a loud hissing sound. I honestly had no idea; usually after doing the standing and spine strengthening poses I’m desperate to take a gasp of air. Since we’re supposed to keep our mouths closed, the throat was apparently my way to compensate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Breathing issues aside, tonight was an unexpectedly good class. Balancing stick in particular felt much more balanced and my extended leg felt much lighter. Balancing stick is normally my best balancing posture in the standing series, but for the last few days my extended leg has felt a little heavy. Not tonight. This may have been because out of the corner of my eye I noticed a couple of ladies watching us from outside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Although I like the room really hot during class, I’ve noticed that the heat actually drains me if I arrive too early and spend, say, 40 minutes stretching beforehand. So I’ve relegated the majority of my stretching to home and, with the weather being a little nicer, the local exercise area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 11.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The new breathing (all nose, no throat) was a little bit of an adjustment, but it made a huge amount of difference. Throughout the class I was not nearly as tired as I usually am. I didn’t sit out anything, and I actually didn’t want to sit out anything. Before this, I used to breathe and breathe on savasana and still be tired with my heart racing. Now I know why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Tight legs, not only on half moon, but also sit ups. What a difference; no longer feeling like I'm carrying all 100-plus kilos of myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Final breathing: First time I didn’t collapse headfirst onto the mat. I wanted to pump my fists in the air. Can you pump your fists in a Bikram class?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 12.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Not quite as strong as last night, but still a very good class. Half moon is the make-or-break pose for me. How well I get through this determines the rest of the class for me. Slightly more strained, but kept my legs tight and survived it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Holy cow. Three people walked out of the class tonight, one of them within the first 20 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Overall, quite hot tonight but not very tiring. It felt great not to walk out of the room exhausted.The most significant thing is that I didn’t dread any poses. At this point, the only pose I seem unable to perform is toe stand. I usually substitute tree pose. Toe stand may take some time, and I’m not in a rush to make it happen; I think it will come in its own time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 13.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Jessica led the class tonight and it felt like a marathon. Jessica may have become my new favorite instructor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 14.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The gym was closed today for maintenance and I really, really enjoyed the day off. After church I went to Olympic Park, one of my favorite hangouts. Later Heesung and I ate dinner at Outback and took a nice walk around the park. As we sat outside and looked at the night sky, I was genuinely glad not to be in the hot room. I’m torn between enjoying the 30-day challenge and wanting to have more time to myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">I generally don’t exercise for the purpose of losing weight. However, since starting this challenge a few friends have told me that I look different. Although I never deliberately diet, my eating habits have changed somewhat; I don’t eat as much as I normally do because it just doesn’t seem necessary. My cravings for junk food and fried stuff haven’t completely disappeared, but they seem to have dimished significantly. While obviously I care about maintaining my health, exercising for the sake of enjoyment is more very important to me. Last year while cycling with a friend at the Han River, I made a passing comment about how overweight I was. She warned me not to fall into the trap of holding myself to Korean standards of body shape, and I’ve never forgotten her advice. I find that obsessing over my weight or my body shape leads to stress and exercising loses its enjoyment; it becomes work. While I do draw inspiration from certain people with regard to body shape, endurance and flexibility, I try to avoid comparing myself too much with others. I’ve been a big, heavy guy for most of my life and I’m actually okay with that. I’m also not a 20-something dude. I like to push my limits, but I also have to be realistic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 15.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">I felt a little thrown off after missing a day. The class was so-so for me, although I don’t blame Suah, who was excellent. Suah gave use a very helpful tip with balancing stick; look at your knee if the mirror. Although balancing stick tends to be my best balancing pose, I always look straight ahead at my face in the mirror; for some reason I feel like I’ll fall over if I look down. However, lately my extended leg has felt heavier than usual, and looking at my knee in the mirror (combined with extending my upper body more, something I’ve previously avoided because of my height) seems to have stabilized that pose for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">I wasn’t overwhelmingly tired tonight, although the last 20 minutes I got really dizzy and seemed to lose track of exactly which posture and which set we were on. I just felt a little bit blah. After leaving the gym I went to the convenience and reached for a Blue bolt Gatorade. When I went to the counter to pay, I looked down and realized I was holding a Nestea. Later that night, I did some stretching at home for the first time in a few days. (I haven't felt like doing any stretching lately.) My body reminded me constantly of the fact that I hadn't done this in a while, and it made me feel like an old man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Day 16.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Tonight’s class was a surprise. I wasn’t very tired. This was unexpected because I was tired all day. I went into class thinking to myself, “I’ll just go light tonight.” But I actually didn’t need to go so light. Half moon didn’t feel very tiring, and I didn’t have to tighten my legs quite as much as I have been the last few days. Of course I went into half moon very slowly as I always do, but my body just seemed to bend sideways without the usual amount of discomfort. I still substituted toe stand with tree pose, but even that wasn’t very tiring. Normally I’m very tired by the time we get to toe stand, and it’s very hard for me not to sit that pose out. Tonight that was not an issue. Also I got through both sets of camel pose without the usual drama. By the end of class my water bottle was only half empty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">The only genuinely difficult pose tonight was fixed firm. When the second set went a few seconds longer than usual, I was ready to scream. Fixed firm has become a very unpredictable posture for me as of late. Some days it’s been relatively easy, and other days I just want to groan as I go down. It just seems so random, and it doesn’t seem to depend on whether or not I’m having a good day or a good class. Fortunately I’ve gotten to a point where I never sit it out and I always cross my arms above my head, although depending on the day I may be breathing my way a lot more heavily through it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At home, stretching felt a little better than last night. I think consistency is the thing. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m going to have to do a double soon, and possibly this weekend by the latest. I feel like it might not be so much fun if I put it off until the very end. </span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-29324537461952253732012-04-11T00:17:00.007+09:002012-04-11T00:37:32.852+09:00Bikram. Days 5-9.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt_lQj6r41KHCMkPut-ddsfNfmbV1LjwLn_SO7DYkyCWSx7468WauGOmwtxGD1Ddkst0WLOrKnNF91ERcwowX7cVO81X_exHoXvUJp93jbet_4P9YOHzPvXfsAjGEFzL9chbOXQ/s1600/544870_432063756808031_393198494027891_1846123_237483983_n.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 400px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729791661601732082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt_lQj6r41KHCMkPut-ddsfNfmbV1LjwLn_SO7DYkyCWSx7468WauGOmwtxGD1Ddkst0WLOrKnNF91ERcwowX7cVO81X_exHoXvUJp93jbet_4P9YOHzPvXfsAjGEFzL9chbOXQ/s400/544870_432063756808031_393198494027891_1846123_237483983_n.jpg" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Day 5.<br />I always enjoy a Bikram class more when it's with people that I know. Lisa, back after being out sick a few days, led tonight. She was spot-on with her detailed corrections and explanations of poses. Also Kat, whom I haven't seen in months, and Lukas were there and we all practiced in a row. A few random observations:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I noticed a new guy at the end of the room who appeared to be my height. He was in the back row (where I rarely sit, because the ceiling is lower) and I was a little concerned for him. With some of the standing postures I noticed him having to maneuver his arms the same way that I sometimes do. We chatted in the locker room afterward, and the dude is only a couple of inches shorter than me. So happy to meet another tall person. If I see him again I'll be sure to save him a spot next to me near the center.<br /><br />The room felt hotter than usual. This doesn't bother me. If I'm not sweating by the second set of standing separate leg stretching pose, I begin to worry. No slipping on the towel at all tonight, which is always a good sign. Triangle pose felt lighter.<br /><br />I went to a later class than usual because of my Friday work schedule, which resulted in me having much less time for stretching. But to my surprise, my body was unusually flexible. My joints almost felt like rubber with the butterfly stretch (which rarely happens), and there was signifcantly less resistance with the straddle stretch. Part of the surprise was because yesterday I was quite stiff. There's a definite ebb and flow. Just have to roll with it.<br /><br />The class was crowded tonight, and Kat and Lucas and I all ended up in a row. Which was nice, except in the back of my head I was concerned about the moment when we would all spread our arms for full locust pose. Thankfully, none of us collided (Lukas graciously spread his arm at an angle), although I had to bring my body about 10 inches above the towel to make room for my arms. As I lay my head on the warm floor, I began having flashbacks of an electric blanket my family owned when I was a child. I remember it had three settings, with these brightly colored buttons...and all of a sudden I was homesick. Hahaha.<br /><br />The class was a good mix of new and old students. Overall one of the best classes I've ever had. I pulled off two sets of everything, which doesn't happen often. My head felt like it was going to explode by the second set of camel pose, but I stuck it out and didn't go too deep. Very energetic tonight. I'm kind of waiting for everything to suddenly fall apart. Ha ha.<br /><br />Day 6.<br />Ughh. Tired. Not as flexible or energetic as last night. Before class, straddle stretch (normally one of my favorites) was just a drag. Fortunately, the room was quite hot and Suah was leading. This was only my second or third time with Suah, but I've noticed that she takes more time than the other instructors between postures, maybe 10 seconds more. I was grateful for the recovery time tonight. I went way too deep on the second set of half moon, which did me in for the rest of the class. Less than 10 minutes in, I was already thinking about sleeping. My brand new blue water bottle was suddenly so slippery I couldn't open it during party time.<br /><br />After 15 or 20 minutes, a bright spot finally: The first set of standing separate leg stretching pose, my towel was wet enough that I didn't slip at all, freeing me to focus on the posture and go deep. But I was still anxious to finish the class as soon as possible. I was in a slight panic about the water bottle, but I finally got it open while sitting out toe stand. Spine strengthening series was not so bad. Arms much more comfortable on locust pose, almost flat. But by the end of class I was wiped out. 15 minutes on the final savasana and I was still exhausted. The cleaning ajossi kicked me and another young lady out of the room. I came pretty close to telling him off in Korean. I briefly considered going downstairs and complaining to Mike before finally deciding it wasn't worth it.<br /><br />The Facebook pics of this morning's class look fun. And CROWDED. Lisa said it was good that I wasn't there, and I agree. I definitely would have been knocking some people over during standing series.<br /><br />Tomorrow will be better.<br /><br />Day 7.<br />Tonight was significantly better than last night, but still tired. Although there was some noticeable progress on a few poses. A slight posture adjustment made standing bow a little more comfortable and a little less shaky. Several students seem unusually tired. By tree pose I really, really wanted to sit down. However, by this point a couple of ladies had actually left the room, with one of them taking her towel and not returning. I decided if I sat down, it might create a chain reaction with the rest of the students.<br /><br />Halfway into class I finally sat out a couple of sets, but only because I was so dizzy. Fortunately I could open the water bottle this time around. (Apparently last time I closed it too tightly before I really started sweating.) Although I ended up drinking a lot more than usual, and suddenly it was almost empty with 20 minutes to go. I noticed another young lady run out of water completely and hand her bottle to Juwon, who stepped outside for a moment to refill it for her. I considered handing her my bottle as well, before deciding to stick it out. At the end of class, I cut my final savasana (usually 10 minutes) short to go refill the bottle and guzzle it.<br /><br />Day 8.<br />I was in the room early, but I didn't feel like stretching. At all. Juwon leading again. There were only four people practicing, including myself and Ball next to me. I tend to dislike really small classes, but an advantage is that they seem to force me to focus a little more. (Although having Ball--or any of the instructors--next to me also makes me focus more.) I also appreciated not having to worry about hitting anyone directly behind me. Surprisingly, I didn't sit out any poses. I also saw some unexpected development with spinal twist; I didn't need to grab the edge of the mat while twisting.<br /><br />Later in the evening, after taking a long walk around my neighborhood, I hit a local 운동장 (exercise area) for 30 or 40 minutes of stretching. The weather was beautiful, and several people were out. Very relaxing evening, and I ended up chatting in Korean with a couple of folks, including a guy about my age who was also stretching and appeared to be really flexible. (Of course we ended up talking about tae kwon do and yoga. He didn't do either.) Afterward, no longer dreading tomorrow's class.<br /><br />Day 9.<br />Unexectedly good class tonight. Small class again, but this time around I didn't care. I was worried in the beginning because the first set of half moon was just tiring. I could barely hold it together, and wondered if the rest of the class. After the first set, Ball told us to tighten our legs. I'm sure I've heard this several times before, but somehow it clicked tonight, like I was hearing it for the first time. Or maybe it was because I was freaking out over having to do a second set of this pose. I tightened my legs more than I ever had before and holy cow, the difference was like night and day. I had momentum for the rest of the class after that.<br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-73945541886475930602012-04-05T21:14:00.006+09:002012-04-11T00:14:18.226+09:00Bikram. Days 1-4.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBf9l35oCsOkE6t-HWf7jJb3mRhnTUgMWca6aMbiuPN_Mvfr-x-YHbb_RSZPsATOZ1_HxH1E8w4hnI7PNzWs_1lxb4VxR7InBmYPxzEClgPKYaa5z52G4ELo_i_-XmgaGAZm0KQ/s1600/4629269170_c6ceeb1f46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729790542623381954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBf9l35oCsOkE6t-HWf7jJb3mRhnTUgMWca6aMbiuPN_Mvfr-x-YHbb_RSZPsATOZ1_HxH1E8w4hnI7PNzWs_1lxb4VxR7InBmYPxzEClgPKYaa5z52G4ELo_i_-XmgaGAZm0KQ/s400/4629269170_c6ceeb1f46.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">This blog has been out of commission for a couple of years now. I've toyed around with several ideas of exactly what to do with it. I've removed some older (and slightly embarrassing or irrelevant) posts. This week, I've decided to reboot it with an ongoing journal of my experience doing a 30-day Bikram yoga challenge, which I started this week. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Day 0. About 20 are participating in the "spring challenge," and I missed the first official day. I don't usually go to the health club on on Sundays, and I didn't double-check the schedule. Ironically, after church in the afternoon I waited around Kangnam for a couple of hours before heading it. Walked upstairs and Ball and the class were already into standing deep breathing. Aargh. I'll have to a double later to compensate.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Day 1. My first official day of the challenge. Juwon leading. I'm feeling unusually energetic, maybe from the anticipation of finally doing a 30-day. Actually it feels like one of my best classes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Day 2. I've decided to start arriving earlier to stretch and work on my splits (partly to improve standing bow pose) and forward bends. I've always tended to have a little more leg flexibility than most guys, and especially guys my age and height. However, the tradeoff is that it also tends to take me a while to warm up into certain stretches...sometimes 5 to 10 minutes. I've been doing splits for a while, but most of the time it involves a lot of warming up and still some difficulty. I want to eventually get to a point where it feels a little more natural and less forced. At my age (almost 40) there's no telling how long that may take. I don't have any kind of timetable and I'm not trying to outdo anyone else, I just intend to be more consistent than I have in the past. I've also been doing more regular stretching at home and in the office (when no one is around). As a result I've felt more flexible overall. Even bending over to pick up stuff at home feels different. And it seems to take me less time to warm up into certain stretches. Locust pose actually felt good tonight. I think for the first time ever.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Day 3. I once read an article in the New York Times about the narcissism of yoga and how some people always grab certain spots in the yoga room. It was a humorous read. I always go for a certain spot, but that's due mainly to my height. I actually don't like being too close to the mirror and sometimes I worry about blocking other people's view of themselves. However, I need to be in a spot where my hands won't hit a heater or light fixture during standing series, which has happened several times (including today, while coming out of standing bow pose), usually to humorous effect. Ball once said that he felt like the hobbit when standing next to me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Some progress with standing head to knee pose. I've spent the last few months focusing on locking my knee and grabbing my foot as slowly as possible, however I've always stopped short of extending my leg out because I just always seem to lose control. However, today I decided to step out of my comfort zone and I actually performed the leg extension, albeit for 10 seconds. Now that I know I can actually do it, I have a little more motivation. Also, half-moon felt much tighter; eliminating the gap between my arms and ears just kills me every time, but lately it's felt a little more manageable. Going easy on the first set and going deep on the second set seems to help. I remember how much I used to struggle with half moon in the beginning, and it feels good to have made some tangible progress. And triangle pose didn't feel as tiring as it usually does. That's a breakthrough for me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After class I was really hungry, but lately I've started to lose my appetite for fried foods, which I tend to eat a lot. I didn't feel like going to the restaurants I usually go to; actually I started to crave fruit. Which rarely happens. I've read a few different blog accounts of people doing 30-day challenges, and a common description among most of them seems to be hitting a wall about a third of the way into it. My first three days have felt great, and I wonder if at some point it's just going to get tiring. And at some point I'm going to have to have to do a double, which honestly I'm not really looking forward to. But one day at a time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Day 4. I've always been a big and heavy dude with flat feet, so balancing has never come very naturally to me. But this week my balancing has been a lot better. In the locker room, when putting on my socks I can do it slowly, with my knee raised up, and without falling over or having to sit down. My standing leg literally feels like a "lamppost." Pretty cool.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Arrived early again for stretching today. My body was a little bit stiffer. I was also physically tired. Between that and the stiffness, I was a little worried about class, but class was better than expected. Although once we started pranayama breathing I realized I was standing directly underneath a low-hanging light fixture. Throughout the standing series I had do a little maneuvering to avoid hitting it and causing it to swing back and forth. Despite this I still ended up hitting it a couple of times, but not hard, and no one seemed to notice this time. I still sat out toe stand and the first set of camel (every time I do camel pose I feel like I'm going to implode), as I often do...probably too much. That goes back to the comfort zone thing. Although other poses have unexpectedly become easier, particularly fixed firm (not as painful as a few months ago) and locust pose. Generally, locust pose always wins for my most disliked posture, but tonight it almost felt a little bit comfortable, or less tortuous. I didn't even mind having to do two sets. Am I going crazy?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Back at home eating tuna kimbap (the nice kind, from Sinsegae's food court) and oat clusters for dinner. I wanted to laugh as I just typed the previous sentence.</span></div>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-16395791716298627902010-05-31T00:09:00.002+09:002010-05-31T00:16:23.099+09:00Recent photos. May 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh009VvjVHidM8NvV9kY1n3VXSvaEEhe8jj3yCxibjgooeRZyAxRqm3TI0jcIVp9Qj6h7T0sTqRXJuL0zlWnY0Ize7hdiolFkE1pnAPIkWdW4KYoMRr-epVZTKs2XVSdgxpcxzfrA/s1600/4628667219_72a15a4a1d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh009VvjVHidM8NvV9kY1n3VXSvaEEhe8jj3yCxibjgooeRZyAxRqm3TI0jcIVp9Qj6h7T0sTqRXJuL0zlWnY0Ize7hdiolFkE1pnAPIkWdW4KYoMRr-epVZTKs2XVSdgxpcxzfrA/s400/4628667219_72a15a4a1d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477082112011994258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvJ0ZGhWGhZWDTEV4DWcQ5HMqfJY1iIgp3LUA0XSNAml1c1jHnS2IU1Jgz8LbuAyMzWaBzBoQ1qNDssY7LcEUn7pBmqj8L55tU9VIQwoQFlZnEHImpEdX27bIOlCytX9gmYABJg/s1600/4629269170_c6ceeb1f46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvJ0ZGhWGhZWDTEV4DWcQ5HMqfJY1iIgp3LUA0XSNAml1c1jHnS2IU1Jgz8LbuAyMzWaBzBoQ1qNDssY7LcEUn7pBmqj8L55tU9VIQwoQFlZnEHImpEdX27bIOlCytX9gmYABJg/s400/4629269170_c6ceeb1f46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477082101398324850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvNib10ZzkXka8bLkyZUBJVRy3c8RXx7ardRtUzNBpNiZI198YnPl5ZhJr-WBy45JXp3rJu0ldVnj_samgY_q4PuiCmYE_yHhWRL0dcHGOe4d8fvg8AoWJ804EoCuChIBeajG6w/s1600/4628668153_4d2bb2a3b9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvNib10ZzkXka8bLkyZUBJVRy3c8RXx7ardRtUzNBpNiZI198YnPl5ZhJr-WBy45JXp3rJu0ldVnj_samgY_q4PuiCmYE_yHhWRL0dcHGOe4d8fvg8AoWJ804EoCuChIBeajG6w/s400/4628668153_4d2bb2a3b9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477082098830837474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k1WylduWO9fk7wFa-Nx_vrOy3EZ1-YU91OSXC2XLaFl5wWP6hYdtpLcOQuytU5oWs4e9gUKCBuNedgL8fQmZshKGuHgrR80OjLMK9FdISY6cI9D6CbybVPMvVn2yfm-0TyTnsQ/s1600/4628667787_ee966bb01b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k1WylduWO9fk7wFa-Nx_vrOy3EZ1-YU91OSXC2XLaFl5wWP6hYdtpLcOQuytU5oWs4e9gUKCBuNedgL8fQmZshKGuHgrR80OjLMK9FdISY6cI9D6CbybVPMvVn2yfm-0TyTnsQ/s400/4628667787_ee966bb01b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477081530357951074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu3HyObOUmt-3jIGMdfbFFAfaPBFCS5M-ZdoWOtcWEhYjfLLuLhVCiHbsLMcgi_-3kaHM5ZQG4AISpTGGZ6lXIU7KWsLEAU9bT-UxTNc-zbBAvpkHymr4E_TpQrFaCQ92LTedjQ/s1600/4628668537_97ddf18492.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu3HyObOUmt-3jIGMdfbFFAfaPBFCS5M-ZdoWOtcWEhYjfLLuLhVCiHbsLMcgi_-3kaHM5ZQG4AISpTGGZ6lXIU7KWsLEAU9bT-UxTNc-zbBAvpkHymr4E_TpQrFaCQ92LTedjQ/s400/4628668537_97ddf18492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477081524114524610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LpA8XD6rW4n10Yky5UTRtw1gvFjMm-sMa79U5tjve0ebe19HMtQ4CCabqY1s_CFE2s86ISdlsLMSVd13GDNlkqeQvGsGF0s9ri7X5L6zobVfDyoL3SjR9V-V7nVnaQaznmMQCw/s1600/4629269824_c0b841f8a8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LpA8XD6rW4n10Yky5UTRtw1gvFjMm-sMa79U5tjve0ebe19HMtQ4CCabqY1s_CFE2s86ISdlsLMSVd13GDNlkqeQvGsGF0s9ri7X5L6zobVfDyoL3SjR9V-V7nVnaQaznmMQCw/s400/4629269824_c0b841f8a8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477081517714530930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwcGVD63R2zYgaRJWR4KG-uI7YpZ6yUcehlMNPEJziNUXN-td5m2tGnZrd3va6JmHG4NmkvkdJ4GdMWitwZUZ2AbTMrHTF0MJvvPZA2H6pKIv6hGBWnPoGbIGdo2amPztD5Cg4g/s1600/4629269772_308b77eec1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwcGVD63R2zYgaRJWR4KG-uI7YpZ6yUcehlMNPEJziNUXN-td5m2tGnZrd3va6JmHG4NmkvkdJ4GdMWitwZUZ2AbTMrHTF0MJvvPZA2H6pKIv6hGBWnPoGbIGdo2amPztD5Cg4g/s400/4629269772_308b77eec1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477081511123680818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm43rpWcKT49OYVVBQZpYvibrPdG3G3R-1ef6cDeRHq0i3faJGVWDfgHux0meo18gasVM6Pz2sNLaAEx90f3IhEvqixn4pnfsbcDW5-FaJrEZ0nJG3mWuluURq0cbJCiuFu8i2nQ/s1600/4629269898_61325104d9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm43rpWcKT49OYVVBQZpYvibrPdG3G3R-1ef6cDeRHq0i3faJGVWDfgHux0meo18gasVM6Pz2sNLaAEx90f3IhEvqixn4pnfsbcDW5-FaJrEZ0nJG3mWuluURq0cbJCiuFu8i2nQ/s400/4629269898_61325104d9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477081507508537346" border="0" /></a>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-61340450479983240412010-05-30T23:48:00.003+09:002010-05-30T23:53:12.246+09:00Strange to see<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_HljgBSSGSXg8KXvu5lXS7eU3Il97TVjjCj6K05iuV5fdyDSEs6r7KgWBwfCg3iFhJERIYo9XDYTYIrpoHC2dg-KlzrgBeEvqUXt1Lb7xBfv7_VqYy0qGhKnTuByJAJd6h61DQ/s1600/4335790705_8048098f53.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_HljgBSSGSXg8KXvu5lXS7eU3Il97TVjjCj6K05iuV5fdyDSEs6r7KgWBwfCg3iFhJERIYo9XDYTYIrpoHC2dg-KlzrgBeEvqUXt1Lb7xBfv7_VqYy0qGhKnTuByJAJd6h61DQ/s400/4335790705_8048098f53.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477075600238923762" border="0" /></a>I gave a quiz to some Korean students asking about their impressions of foreigners. Here are some of their responses:<br /><br />So big!</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />Big eyes<br />When I saw a foreigner, first I had a horror as I looked the ghost.<br />Foreigner is very nice. Because they are kind and smart. Specially, American is Christian!<br />When I was meet the foreigner I think 신기하게 (new, amazing)<br />I scared, help me<br />Foreigner is very good, they are no different<br />두려움 (fear)<br />mysterious<br />Big and long and nice smile<br />handsome<br />I think good. Because speak English very well<br />Very big. Good face<br />When I see the foreigner, I'm envy foreigner, I think they are all "handsome," "beauty"<br />I saw a foreigner is very very scare, and surprised<br />Strange, get near hard<br />gentle!<br />Good handsome very very zzang (짱, stylish)!<br />I think and see foreigner novelty<br />Pretty and handsome. Big eye<br />wonderfulness, surprise<br />I'm scare. because I don't know about their language<br />Wow...big eyes and handsome and we are friend not special<br />Very handsome, beautiful...very...tall!! Wow--but now so so... :)<br />I have some foreigner friend so I feel exciting when I see the foreigner<br />Something strange for us<br />Foreigner is very handsome and tall and small face<br />Just men and where are foreigner from?<br />I'm want talking with foreigner. Because interesting<br />Scared cause strange to see<br />My sister's husband is foreigner. His name Daniel. Daniel's first impression is very handsome. But I think "Don't talk to me!"<br />I thought that foreigners are scared (scary) people first time, but now I think they are very good people because they respect the will of the individual<br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-73675505497771936872010-04-21T23:58:00.003+09:002010-04-22T00:02:20.113+09:00Throwback.3 + Jay's wedding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5mq8vsr39rjVlB1bVcVbrTuK_cDI1eOe5MYDAgKG13VEbn-wzT_AFUqkvCoRrazt_fDUmlhcB6ve2pv1Ntl5948K0Rxqr3p5Bz6BSYM9nwp68tALmCef2U5c7bBfYUq3hDEpWQ/s1600/-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5mq8vsr39rjVlB1bVcVbrTuK_cDI1eOe5MYDAgKG13VEbn-wzT_AFUqkvCoRrazt_fDUmlhcB6ve2pv1Ntl5948K0Rxqr3p5Bz6BSYM9nwp68tALmCef2U5c7bBfYUq3hDEpWQ/s400/-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462606001624769698" border="0" /></a>From 2008, probably late summer or early fall. Jay (a former student of mine from my previous job) invited me to his "wedding" at a hotel near Express Bus Terminal. Actually it was more of a reception, as Jay and his wife were legally married before this event. I did an acoustic cover "Love Me (The Way You Do)," a little-known ballad originally performed by gospel group Anointed from their album "Spiritual Love Affair." A third of the way into the song, the microphone fell over and hit my guitar. Someone nearby immediately adjusted it and I only had to stop for a few seconds. Strangely, it didn't seem to be much of a distraction to anyone. I didn't know anyone there and it was overall a slightly awkward experience, but worth it for Jay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D3AEcELJwelAkb7Cq0GiMyMeSp03U8iDYc5OEOpiUEEW-cu5H_3SJ3R7l6ZSHfN9DzHguJodN9cyfg82rn4vtYikbRphFIqf_MXezmNnsPa11YFvr97px94Ysw-3-fGEjLW2XA/s1600/-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D3AEcELJwelAkb7Cq0GiMyMeSp03U8iDYc5OEOpiUEEW-cu5H_3SJ3R7l6ZSHfN9DzHguJodN9cyfg82rn4vtYikbRphFIqf_MXezmNnsPa11YFvr97px94Ysw-3-fGEjLW2XA/s400/-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462605743952042594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZyepOmiVTvUsCy7RCTtytv_vZua97VLHe3H0MIl8zvq4JA_XvWCnhYivJeAbcj0CqCleLMBmBQ4UWG1iQdd01cN0hcXJNyf_TqdASD4eFIDL_29KqrVwVl9s1c_ahfMDB0812g/s1600/-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZyepOmiVTvUsCy7RCTtytv_vZua97VLHe3H0MIl8zvq4JA_XvWCnhYivJeAbcj0CqCleLMBmBQ4UWG1iQdd01cN0hcXJNyf_TqdASD4eFIDL_29KqrVwVl9s1c_ahfMDB0812g/s400/-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462605735618791522" border="0" /></a>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-7462186533627841312010-04-17T08:15:00.005+09:002010-04-17T08:31:46.243+09:00Throwback.2 + Cycling in Jeollabuk-Do<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm_Vqz7D6YAju5N09i8Vnw7tiBgKqpHiKxzXgLPN09oMePZ_BT3Wkca2UGruAI3rCpDNYoGDtb_h3T01O86go-id4R9d-rZB_mywuxaOAUt2mB0VFCRyBLCZQB1Rsq_NLnBIdCg/s1600/4347746510_ae0949e36d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm_Vqz7D6YAju5N09i8Vnw7tiBgKqpHiKxzXgLPN09oMePZ_BT3Wkca2UGruAI3rCpDNYoGDtb_h3T01O86go-id4R9d-rZB_mywuxaOAUt2mB0VFCRyBLCZQB1Rsq_NLnBIdCg/s400/4347746510_ae0949e36d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460880214457283778" border="0" /></a><br />In February I joined Il-Hoon and Professor Yoo on a two-day cycling trip in Jeollabuk-Do. We put our bikes on a bus and rode from Seoul to Buan. Once arriving in Buan and eating lunch, we biked from Buan to Kyeokpo. We ended up taking a dirt road through the mountains. Not a big deal, except that it was wet and overcast for the whole trip, which meant a lot of mud. At one point my bike was completely covered with mud, which for the first hour or so was fun, but quickly became really irritating. Upon arriving in Kyeokpo, we took a ferry to Wido (Wi Island), about an hour off the coast. As far as I know, Wido is a tourist trap but at this time it was almost deserted. The weather was overcast, which was a little disappointing but made for some cool photos. After riding around the island for a little while, that evening we crashed at a minbak, which is a kind of homestay for travelers, similar to a bed-and-breakfast in the West. We ate a delicious duck dinner. It was so good I still remember it two months after the fact.<br /><br />I'm an amateur cyclist and this trip definitely pushed me to my limits, but ultimately it was a good experience. I remember doing a long, challenging ride with Il-Hoon and the professor about a year ago. That experience was actually a little traumatic for me. A lot of that trip involved me seething and the two of them laughing at me. However, when it was all over I missed the experience and longed to do it again; so this time around, I resolved not to grumble or complain. It was hard. The weather, while not freezing, remained a little colder than I would have liked. I wore heavy clothes, but the weather made it difficult to dry off. The slippery roads were a challenge as well. I really hate this kind of weather. I wanted so badly for the sun to come out. After arriving back in Buan, I was surprised to find out that overall we covered more than 100 kilometers. After getting back on the bus, we stopped off in Cheonju to visit a pastor friend of Professor Yoo's. It was a good night. Since then my cycling has improved significantly; I don't get tired as quickly as I used to. So I'm grateful for the opportunity, even though next time I may wait until spring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xfJatd8U4QiUxTxE7AkAYPdUhQNRHhRgovBgr-08dzlWM7yK7vF5AcKMnRYHUPiAU-ALJh64h0PDMnw1zC5nOc2IEIe2vvY7S1X6xO1toev4ZNDUix3ku2J-moD6GUkpy1yhJQ/s1600/4347744776_559285e2fd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xfJatd8U4QiUxTxE7AkAYPdUhQNRHhRgovBgr-08dzlWM7yK7vF5AcKMnRYHUPiAU-ALJh64h0PDMnw1zC5nOc2IEIe2vvY7S1X6xO1toev4ZNDUix3ku2J-moD6GUkpy1yhJQ/s400/4347744776_559285e2fd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460879396414183938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVtJkS7r6aygnZlkm7MkGIz_3e31SVVOMquRcG_lCsJ5s5OPv2hy04zyVpouMUnPaz9CMhBN5h1S82VMb51fmR_bDnm1kFdeYiA8rGPp32MchlCk_obtYg3XO3m7yljr4WVXa2A/s1600/4347746100_3ec895bf88.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVtJkS7r6aygnZlkm7MkGIz_3e31SVVOMquRcG_lCsJ5s5OPv2hy04zyVpouMUnPaz9CMhBN5h1S82VMb51fmR_bDnm1kFdeYiA8rGPp32MchlCk_obtYg3XO3m7yljr4WVXa2A/s400/4347746100_3ec895bf88.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460879411773711474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1HrkPpZjCzJcxl1GYsk1WxaQjvkhCbpH-jztvhf6OHZ2a3YsZaOSm3bwceuBv4yvPwOwJva5egRl8cQl3R6s_85MyUqGJ3Xk79rdX4mGKtiPAI0uU2sm1QolnU1FwEYYDBj6OQ/s1600/4347745800_92002ebce0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1HrkPpZjCzJcxl1GYsk1WxaQjvkhCbpH-jztvhf6OHZ2a3YsZaOSm3bwceuBv4yvPwOwJva5egRl8cQl3R6s_85MyUqGJ3Xk79rdX4mGKtiPAI0uU2sm1QolnU1FwEYYDBj6OQ/s400/4347745800_92002ebce0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460879408007721618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HXCgtvHG0Zy_M3Tkt5ZI7_H2hVjvlsDO37plFPq8as2TMQxzYY5uJyIZIm8hs-Vn3FIhf7hJBlA3ahzrA4TNx1xmdksJa0f_4ujKuusNrwXUJ2YpgE0Q74RLhgLxz-x55Z8DJA/s1600/4347745734_715c55ca38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HXCgtvHG0Zy_M3Tkt5ZI7_H2hVjvlsDO37plFPq8as2TMQxzYY5uJyIZIm8hs-Vn3FIhf7hJBlA3ahzrA4TNx1xmdksJa0f_4ujKuusNrwXUJ2YpgE0Q74RLhgLxz-x55Z8DJA/s400/4347745734_715c55ca38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460879400780366050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4MSt6H4iEhD3AE7c68VfjMliyDtH01xq5mss-TZeIdh0jD-bZ89CGLxSbhe6AKzukYLMPJwJLSRgdsRMyB7fBguQC8pFDcennDmjhCxfq7KZq-bpYkQetsNYAltr7lXSkLP1Xg/s1600/4346999875_df4eeddd96.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4MSt6H4iEhD3AE7c68VfjMliyDtH01xq5mss-TZeIdh0jD-bZ89CGLxSbhe6AKzukYLMPJwJLSRgdsRMyB7fBguQC8pFDcennDmjhCxfq7KZq-bpYkQetsNYAltr7lXSkLP1Xg/s400/4346999875_df4eeddd96.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460878607559362818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gDAb4YKJZc5rnai-JzBcNLbVSMh7Bl2_DpVxJsQYErJFNeWcYWzODZYH64OXu0qpDGwYfWlNBi0w4y2l7mMbv9xCio58MOaIKJJi4arDi5SZJj6dk32OZHjufsWPzBTC8mo2tA/s1600/4346999725_9555855453.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gDAb4YKJZc5rnai-JzBcNLbVSMh7Bl2_DpVxJsQYErJFNeWcYWzODZYH64OXu0qpDGwYfWlNBi0w4y2l7mMbv9xCio58MOaIKJJi4arDi5SZJj6dk32OZHjufsWPzBTC8mo2tA/s400/4346999725_9555855453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460878605433455314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKNeYjqRJMZLkLO2JDFxwftBguVmxaIG62OjcLeVgNiAHB-0oCiD5TO6reuIYAHrmDRxRPfiWODRO92JWvfPSG9yw9VF-zTDEkjnxhUmyxWBCqKzJjS0d3QplxXxtFBH78oSUsw/s1600/4346999437_d04bc76343.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKNeYjqRJMZLkLO2JDFxwftBguVmxaIG62OjcLeVgNiAHB-0oCiD5TO6reuIYAHrmDRxRPfiWODRO92JWvfPSG9yw9VF-zTDEkjnxhUmyxWBCqKzJjS0d3QplxXxtFBH78oSUsw/s400/4346999437_d04bc76343.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460878598208727234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYPzfw9N7nXF-IfH4QqHtdYM5jFMMP0hTOpCzyKUnRAAzV9esl4utF2Gan_LAGvqzL7Tk2Zt_-IcEZQa82BfUxtAhu2sneUKOcy9MkfJwzhfPXdiaOixXBVlmtBbPt7mgnHHJqg/s1600/4346998899_c51e513257.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYPzfw9N7nXF-IfH4QqHtdYM5jFMMP0hTOpCzyKUnRAAzV9esl4utF2Gan_LAGvqzL7Tk2Zt_-IcEZQa82BfUxtAhu2sneUKOcy9MkfJwzhfPXdiaOixXBVlmtBbPt7mgnHHJqg/s400/4346998899_c51e513257.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460878590390534130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NTa86c9NsWTHDSqztZJCGWybpKk-37XpF60aAY-6LmTG-qeAOC8V1GPDvQHJU5IQRTIm4UwP9W-NrxSRPPmkVLz0Mfj19f-o3O9EhHTq7mgXgZbZqFb1D_5clZ_KdwV6xB-KUQ/s1600/4346998451_b22e8f93d4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NTa86c9NsWTHDSqztZJCGWybpKk-37XpF60aAY-6LmTG-qeAOC8V1GPDvQHJU5IQRTIm4UwP9W-NrxSRPPmkVLz0Mfj19f-o3O9EhHTq7mgXgZbZqFb1D_5clZ_KdwV6xB-KUQ/s400/4346998451_b22e8f93d4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460878588252885714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YXZW-x5ocAdD0S57iIRIEBr3_ZNcgU4-7NOGESJG2JpMnnGuR7w8uwWczss2oTaDxGAn6w1CsB0pIAClDALds6XEslSFrCQWpnMHej4XUs_XqZM6XL3_PWFzanlKrTdKxV2LLQ/s1600/4347747018_b8357ebe31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YXZW-x5ocAdD0S57iIRIEBr3_ZNcgU4-7NOGESJG2JpMnnGuR7w8uwWczss2oTaDxGAn6w1CsB0pIAClDALds6XEslSFrCQWpnMHej4XUs_XqZM6XL3_PWFzanlKrTdKxV2LLQ/s400/4347747018_b8357ebe31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460880221317055170" border="0" /></a><br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-68145466791233861052010-04-11T20:45:00.003+09:002010-04-11T20:49:23.926+09:00Almost the same<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8H8RqDQEcHnDPr3V4wrFVVKZqE4k-hQSCLazgkrXO0ioJJk5obJw3hKzY83ilRfSHQpGLSHqOBru-BA7hORuDEvqTw_jymJK1OYC7e3zOb-cMLiMGixynhFq22gjGJWrrMGGjw/s1600/4229478935_7590ccbcb2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8H8RqDQEcHnDPr3V4wrFVVKZqE4k-hQSCLazgkrXO0ioJJk5obJw3hKzY83ilRfSHQpGLSHqOBru-BA7hORuDEvqTw_jymJK1OYC7e3zOb-cMLiMGixynhFq22gjGJWrrMGGjw/s400/4229478935_7590ccbcb2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458845195677342114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I went back and looked at my first blog entry from November 2005. It's interesting to compare stuff.<br /><br />In 2005 I wrote: "If you already know me, you’ll know that I sometimes live a kind of interesting and unpredictable life."<br />2010: This hasn't changed so much.<br /><br />2005: "Some potential employers may be looking at this blog, so I’ll try to keep it coherent. Can’t promise, but I’ll try."<br />2010: "My current employer may be looking at this blog, so I’ll try to keep it coherent. Can’t promise, but I’ll try."<br /><br />2005: "I do a lot of different things, but the main thing I do for a living is working as a freelance proofreader and copy editor in the metro New York-New Jersey area. When there’s a lot of work, this can be a cool gig. However, when it’s slow, it’s really slow."<br />2010: I teach English as a foreign language, as a university lecturer in Seoul. "Cool gig" still applies, "slow" not so much.<br /><br />2005: "I was also able to get in some Spanish practice. On days like this, much of my practice involves walking around Manhattan with an AM/FM walkman and listening to WADO 1280, the local Spanish station. At least the one that’s talk radio. It’s a curious discipline, sometimes entertaining, sometimes frustrating. Some programs are easier for me to understand than others. Whether or not this is the most effective way to improve my listening comprehension remains to be seen, but I’ve seen some progress and that has encouraged me to press on until something better comes along."<br />2010: Almost the same. Replace "Spanish" with "Korean," "Manhattan" with "Seoul" and "walkman" with "iRiver."<br /><br />2005: "(I have to) finish my application for a recruitment organization so I can pursue teaching ESL in Asia."<br />2010: Done.<br /><br />2005: "(I have to) query the school in Medellin, Colombia that a friend recommended about ESL teaching opportunities. Even though now it’s uncertain whether I’ll be able to travel to Medellin this winter."<br />2010: Still uncertain. Ha ha.<br /><br />2005: And now I’ve got some work to do. After I take another walk around midtown before it gets really cold.<br />2010: I’ve got some work to do. And I have a cold.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-82378213271850552592010-04-10T21:06:00.005+09:002010-04-10T21:12:10.331+09:00Throwback<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So as part of my attempt to do something more with this blog, I'm initiating something called "throwback." I got the idea for the name from the title of a Boyz II Men album with the same title. It's a recording of old Motown covers, hence the word "throwback." What that means for this blog is that I'll start posting older pictures; mostly from my time in Korea, though I may also include a few from my hometown in the U.S. and trips elsewhere.<br /><br />Basically Korea has been pretty good to me and I'd like to share some of that with the world. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">I started this blog mainly for family and friends. Honestly I don't expect a huge amount of traffic, although new faces are always cool. If you're reading this right now, chances are I asked you to check out my blog or I stuck a link on my Facebook page. That said, I really desire to make this blog something useful that's actually worth looking at from time to time. I get annoyed by Web sites that are rarely updated.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">With that out of the way, I'll begin the first installment of "Throwback":<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLa1MevqsjNh7SNeOKqwpLJGZxSPw5-RpqdzYEkD-TrwdoWXBSWFWX33FWCwEs8xFR7Qi8Vc67_nnM-pP18DUNlxvGwHW14LOr8KV_eXNYWPFUOyEZ2FMjnho7g-Zhz86Bbmknw/s1600/467918460_9a434368ed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLa1MevqsjNh7SNeOKqwpLJGZxSPw5-RpqdzYEkD-TrwdoWXBSWFWX33FWCwEs8xFR7Qi8Vc67_nnM-pP18DUNlxvGwHW14LOr8KV_eXNYWPFUOyEZ2FMjnho7g-Zhz86Bbmknw/s400/467918460_9a434368ed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458480152406940082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-family:arial;">Sinchon Starbucks, August 2006, shortly after arriving in Seoul. At the end of every month at my hagwon, teachers and students often went out for drinks, coffee or dinner. This class was a lot of fun to teach, and introduced me to some important aspects of Korean culture. I remember specifically the group asking me to sing. Kind of a cute moment. Jeong-Hwan (the guy on the right) remains a good friend, and we've hung out several times. Jeong-Hwan has also served as an informal consultant to me when dealing with certain challenges related to this culture and to teaching, for which I'm quite grateful. We were supposed to go cycling at the Han River tonight, but I cancelled because of some unexpectedly chilly weather and also catching a cold...aargh. </span> </span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-3766679150631879102009-12-26T00:45:00.006+09:002009-12-26T01:04:28.785+09:00The year in pictures. Kind of<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_ZIMNHSn6Ofi-n1h9cgLaeVUJIVBJuDLfms2OoQkZfMXAzA3GR2CaMT2IWo-KBzdkxfasEW3DsxlMaBNHvLhUsaqjamCT-EG2GpkFV82BJk_-aDT4VJ_IN86zAk3s2o5BYlSfw/s1600-h/4132589540_f0fcae234b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_ZIMNHSn6Ofi-n1h9cgLaeVUJIVBJuDLfms2OoQkZfMXAzA3GR2CaMT2IWo-KBzdkxfasEW3DsxlMaBNHvLhUsaqjamCT-EG2GpkFV82BJk_-aDT4VJ_IN86zAk3s2o5BYlSfw/s320/4132589540_f0fcae234b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419202026859950722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">OK, this is not exhaustive...these photos only cover the last three or four months, but I like them a lot. Locations include Chuncheon, Palbongsan, the Banpo Bridge, Namhansanseong, Guri and Sahara Coffee Shop near Soongsil University. (Although not in that order.) Activities include cycling, hiking, a September church retreat and hanging out. More to come later.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLZHFJeOFhTbTyarbyV8Gye4TgG1VYAndW08hfnFpHdOH4SLO9yqi0k0eytxSczHbF88bRAfBVVV5B3ZP3U3Ek6CR27R2dpZiFF7LVykSKjlVd66LnJREzdE_NAh5MU1z_a8i1A/s1600-h/3903053723_71162b1aac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLZHFJeOFhTbTyarbyV8Gye4TgG1VYAndW08hfnFpHdOH4SLO9yqi0k0eytxSczHbF88bRAfBVVV5B3ZP3U3Ek6CR27R2dpZiFF7LVykSKjlVd66LnJREzdE_NAh5MU1z_a8i1A/s320/3903053723_71162b1aac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419201182760138338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOFgA5cyJJD2XbmDJQNAwtihJqfzm8QyEIqu9zjjGs6SIc83ClJ79HupJicx5O1XZqaLuncBF6DL-H_EFHwf-nZfR91VCaHMyndXxzfQpYFE3iz15YWyXe3t4dLFJP1YX9OHIQ/s1600-h/3903835234_e09a79f84f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR9V2f1l02i-kJXH2IMTMCBy0IbN19y_RnaXah19ZFEA-fVPadWhLKJhO9iRqBE39Nk4S2F27Hcmd5IhG2DowlwnlCT6OKbk6m2D71RLH5uj20gZDdxVx5Ed9Z7MjgeCLQsUAGg/s320/3903061937_0d553aa2b1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419201204022122642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0i_fYE5JEJ4jSWqQ_2nQnEwJlPjWxz-9pQbpD4oaKib9RqyZtoW6DIKl5JzkHpNESoL0HsgBZUKb1bK6xPJlSfD_fdtmVwUogZcKpmYtYJnlK0fDLzRuW0HJiggy1vp5PiE9Gnw/s1600-h/3903060033_0c81f73fb5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0i_fYE5JEJ4jSWqQ_2nQnEwJlPjWxz-9pQbpD4oaKib9RqyZtoW6DIKl5JzkHpNESoL0HsgBZUKb1bK6xPJlSfD_fdtmVwUogZcKpmYtYJnlK0fDLzRuW0HJiggy1vp5PiE9Gnw/s320/3903060033_0c81f73fb5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419201196359262578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTSzmbAzqix0gYOHUsQtpWZI6bxzrdTxFPSE7eFkCeM2G3_1rVbp9kK32E8npAzcR_xEuT2B_OTP9yAwH40mKTy3pKUzf3lcHC77f60hzBowivLXqH9ps1hAffMeWLrIb-WSUcg/s1600-h/3903058463_d049360f9c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTSzmbAzqix0gYOHUsQtpWZI6bxzrdTxFPSE7eFkCeM2G3_1rVbp9kK32E8npAzcR_xEuT2B_OTP9yAwH40mKTy3pKUzf3lcHC77f60hzBowivLXqH9ps1hAffMeWLrIb-WSUcg/s320/3903058463_d049360f9c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419201190485106178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUDR779rZpQFcN7rU6aI5VpLM_ohQmYV9K8AQfxqbNRQb2sFJ3Z1MxgJraGFT2QZtER1PDthb-Bwo3iKgxquSNfbbVaSbpYRnqxdxvrNTJYwq09pqm0QoDMJ8gXDdDzAmZzKLeg/s1600-h/3903057035_788111e5f9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUDR779rZpQFcN7rU6aI5VpLM_ohQmYV9K8AQfxqbNRQb2sFJ3Z1MxgJraGFT2QZtER1PDthb-Bwo3iKgxquSNfbbVaSbpYRnqxdxvrNTJYwq09pqm0QoDMJ8gXDdDzAmZzKLeg/s320/3903057035_788111e5f9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419201187482996434" border="0" /></a>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-23922834265834355662009-12-13T00:45:00.004+09:002009-12-13T01:22:47.569+09:00Hello, my name is Marc, I'm an English teacher, etc.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VngiUcm_KjrpF-7dAyCdisDpYhGmQiXW4Q3zk0m2r7R-XtL98OatxeiFYtkim_22rrJlUphcUTDi2iSNyZadJr86LbLbI17nq7rz1lyqWgWqheLK1hVIwpvK9XTaDkKrUwUWHg/s1600-h/4132588160_1757593db9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VngiUcm_KjrpF-7dAyCdisDpYhGmQiXW4Q3zk0m2r7R-XtL98OatxeiFYtkim_22rrJlUphcUTDi2iSNyZadJr86LbLbI17nq7rz1lyqWgWqheLK1hVIwpvK9XTaDkKrUwUWHg/s320/4132588160_1757593db9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414385054436657218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I haven't updated this blog for some time...although you probably haven't noticed. If you're reading this post right now, chances are it's because I told you that I've resumed blogging and I asked you to stop by and increase the traffic so this thing doesn't languish in cyberspace. At least I've been active with Facebook and my photo page on Flickr. Anyway, instead of trying to recount all of the events of the last few months, I'll give you some current stuff and maybe work my way backward if I get inspired.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />The semester has finally ended. Difficult to believe that I'm halfway into my third year of lecturing at the university. I gave final exams this week and, unlike previous semesters, I've actually started grading early. I have two weeks to turn in all of my paperwork to the university and enter the final scores. This time around I'm not doing the mad dash where I try to tackle everything in a few hours. I'm spacing it out over a period of time. It's a little less stressful and less tedious than the previous semester.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">This semester has been more challenging because the overall workload has been heavier. It's nice that I've developed a good reputation around campus and more students are registering for my classes, but the downside of that is more work for me. I've never had as many students as I did this time around. Many students still struggle with motivation. There were some definite highs and lows. I feel much more comfortable in the classroom. Studying Korean and spending time with students have gone a long way toward affecting my teaching style and trying to understand students' needs (and wants). I lecture mainly in English, but incorporate Korean where necessary. Recently the head teacher observed one of my classes and gave me some useful suggestions but also some good feedback. I'm very aware of my weaknesses as a teacher, but I also know my strengths and I feel more confident in them than I ever have before.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />This afternoon I attended a teachers' workshop on teaching multilevel classes, which I will be doing next semester as my department is eliminating most of its levels for the English classes. The expected turnout was about 20 teachers, but three times that number showed up. Many of them were working in public schools, although universities were also well represented. Most of the teachers were foreigners. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">It's always fun (and sometimes entertaining) to meet with other foreign teachers to talk about our common experiences in Korea as well as to trade suggestions and teaching methods. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">There was a good amount of spontaneous discussion, more so than the presenter expected. It became quite emotional and, at a couple of points, borderline nasty. There was also one teacher who got into a laughing fit, perhaps causing the rest of us to wonder if his work had gotten to him.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />After the workshop I sent a text message to invite Jin-Young to dinner and coffee, but accidentally sent it to Jong-Min. Jin-Young turned out to be busy and Jong-Min, who was on his way to meet some friends for dinner and coffee in Pyeongchon, invited me to join him. Although I visited Pyeongchon briefly when buying my bicycle earlier this year, tonight was the first time I walked around it. Although there were several stores and franchises, the area was unusually quiet for a Saturday night, with very few people. Jong-Min explained that many people preferred to go to Seoul, which boasts a more active nightlife than some of the surrounding smaller cities.<br /><br />Jong-Min is going to help me with Korean study during the vacation. Actually last night we met to discuss some of my goals and current study methods and also to chat in Korean for the first time for him to get a feel for my level, which I would consider low intermediate. Anyway, I wasn't planning to meet with him the following night, but the timing turned out to be pretty good. We spent the entire evening chatting in Korean with the occasional break into English for words or expressions that I couldn't figure out. Many Koreans default into English when talking to me and although he did the same, he would always catch himself and switch back to Korean. Which I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> appreciated. After samkyeopsal for dinner, we went to a charming cafe where one his friend Kwang-Eun served as the barista. The cafe's interior design and quietness of Pyeongchon made for a comfortable, intimate atmosphere.<br /><br />As some of Jong-Min's other friends showed up, it was fun to watch their reactions to me. The common reaction of many Koreans to foreigners ranges from shyness to irrational fear. The most common reason (as Korean friends have explained it to me) is self-consciousness over their English ability or lack thereof. Besides English, some Koreans have had little to no interaction with non-Koreans. In some situations, a few people deal with this by complete avoidance of the non-Korean. In this situation however, with me being there by invitation of one of the Koreans, no one had that option. While my Korean is not fluent, I've seen a definite improvement in my ability to have a conversation. It's amazing to watch people's mental walls slowly come down when they realize that I can say more than just "Hello, my name is Marc, I'm an English teacher, etc."</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"> One of my goals for winter vacation is to try to have at least one conversation in Korean each day. In a normal day, probably 75 percent of my conversation with people is in English. Realistically I may not be able to completely reverse this (not in my profession, anyway), but I have been seeking out Korean conversation opportunities more aggressively. This is in addition to increased daily input of the language through listening and reading. I've always enjoyed the discovery process involved with learning a foreign language, and I'm thankful to have met several people to help me along.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />I have developed a reputation in some circles for being the foreigner who studies Korean hard. "He studies hardly," as some Koreans put it. Studying is a hobby for me, much like sports or video games for someone else, and I don't really consider it as <span style="font-style: italic;">hard study</span> per se. To be honest, I would much rather be known for my Korean ability than my study habits. Although if I can be an encouragement to a Korean studying English, it's all good.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlJGUUXWr0PDOShfPtWqLCCRP3SeBrSsBOs4sVPE1p0mJ1ErCCmem3e9O7OMZ_wFo-mp3tXOHhk6QCIZhUoJ1-jmKkmzrVYVDsgMoiToE30ChQUap8J9380b3aZLu8vRWiLSqUA/s1600-h/4131824675_6e6c0cbc06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlJGUUXWr0PDOShfPtWqLCCRP3SeBrSsBOs4sVPE1p0mJ1ErCCmem3e9O7OMZ_wFo-mp3tXOHhk6QCIZhUoJ1-jmKkmzrVYVDsgMoiToE30ChQUap8J9380b3aZLu8vRWiLSqUA/s320/4131824675_6e6c0cbc06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414385513540700930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Sunday morning I'll meet Juhee at Caffe Benne near Samkakji (which has become one of my favorite hangouts as of late). Juhee's English is excellent, but she seems to prefer Korean conversation most of the time. Unlike many people, she doesn't simplify her speech for me, which is a little difficult but then again it's nice to see that she believes in me enough to understand her despite several "Huh?" moments. Afterward it's off to church in the afternoon. I've been avoiding any serious ministry involvement for a long time, but recently I've felt a stirring to do a little more. I've been considering joining the worship (music) team for some time, and I may finally give in next month. After church I'll head to Sangdo for another get-together, hopefully in Korean, with Hong-Woo and some of his church buddies. From Monday I'll be meeting various Korean friends, as well as doing my grading at Caffe Benne and a couple of other cool places. Life is good.</span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-57253903690338116452009-04-24T00:31:00.003+09:002009-04-24T00:45:16.769+09:00Draw me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjvoEinenCOpLdEcoDqR2lFgbmtyhiFYuhB915M5PwhWztlnqFF1nVFf0r2CFurPFHBZMtEFPu51H8gZ3O9f5KihDh6iYDCSHNmjVulysD4yB3kP5U0HuPVL1MHU7ZfJkHpIbgA/s1600-h/blog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjvoEinenCOpLdEcoDqR2lFgbmtyhiFYuhB915M5PwhWztlnqFF1nVFf0r2CFurPFHBZMtEFPu51H8gZ3O9f5KihDh6iYDCSHNmjVulysD4yB3kP5U0HuPVL1MHU7ZfJkHpIbgA/s320/blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327913367311835810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Recently I was asked to write my Christian testimony for a ministry application. Thought I'd also put it up (slightly edited) for those of who may be wondering if I'm still alive. If you have comments or questions, hit me up at marchogi@yahoo.com.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />Although I had a fairly religious upbringing and I didn't live a blatantly immoral life (at least not compared to my friends), Church and Christianity were relatively boring to me </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >and I had no assurance of salvation</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >. However, my father was a strong Christian and because of this I was constantly exposed to the Word of God through church and Christian radio. Although this was not by my choice--my father made me listen to it--I can look back and see how it served as a good foundation for me. When I graduated high school and left home for college, I was not yet a Christian but there were certain truths related to the gospel which I knew and believed. I didn't need to be convinced of them.<br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">At my university in 1993, I became friends with another student who, after an extended conversation in a restaurant, introduced me to Jesus. Up until this point I believed in the trinity, the second coming of Christ, the need for repentance of sins and several important doctrines, but this time the gospel became personal to me in a way that I hadn't known before. I believe the evidence of my conversion was that things in my lifestyle and behavior began to change without me having to force anything. Also, God no longer seemed to be a distant, cosmic force; He became a real person with whom I could communicate whenever I wanted.<br /></span> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Since that time my walk has involved various forms of ministry and outreach, especially in the area of music. I've also been introduced, in various ways, to worship and the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. I was also blessed to be discipled by several pastors, leaders and lay people who were sensitive to my needs. I'd like to say that I've been passionately devoted to God all the way, but honestly I've gone through some extreme highs and lows. I've experienced a crisis of faith on more than one occasion. I've also made decisions for which I am still paying the consequences. However, I'm always discovering more about how the Lord calls people into intimate fellowship with Him, and also their our lives should reflect the example set by His Son Jesus.<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">More recently as an English teacher in Korea, I view myself as a kind of cultural and spiritual ambassador. Although I currently teach at a Christian university, previously I taught at a secular institute where I interacted regularly with non-Christians. I remain in touch with several of those people. I view such relationships as opportunities to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. Recently I've been seeking more ways to "rediscover" my faith and further reflect that character.<br /></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >My life verse is Song of Solomon 1.4, which says: "Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice in you and be glad; We will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you." My constant prayer is that the Lord would lead me into the place He's called me to be and to make me into the man He's called me to be. I also understand that He has to do it and that there's nothing in myself.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-11334168176913856962009-01-19T01:00:00.007+09:002009-01-19T01:21:50.159+09:00Recently<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgnSZBTH7howU-I9Q6j6Sqe5ah1AjaELN3ru3h8MWsiP5QTNRlX8qhz6Z_DwhKkVzJaQHDRhvTY2gNiZDTSPbeqyxEwsh73Tfx9yKt70AhuVf5D-W6m-lIdlQfLIG9hXUkyjbpQ/s1600-h/3200363065_098d5e8f0c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgnSZBTH7howU-I9Q6j6Sqe5ah1AjaELN3ru3h8MWsiP5QTNRlX8qhz6Z_DwhKkVzJaQHDRhvTY2gNiZDTSPbeqyxEwsh73Tfx9yKt70AhuVf5D-W6m-lIdlQfLIG9hXUkyjbpQ/s320/3200363065_098d5e8f0c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292664727876886466" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Recently I've gotten in touch with several friends whom I haven't spoken to in a really long time. So for those of you who fall into that category, here's a history of me since 1996.<br /><br />I graduated the University of Alabama in 1996 and moved back to my hometown of New York. My career has taken a strange path. Highlights include a yearlong stint as a production assistant at Fox News Channel and three years as a copy editor in the American Kennel Club's editorial department. After my layoff from the AKC in 2001, I also went through several temp and freelance gigs, not all of them editorial. Some were awful, but there were a few bright spots. Those include working as a press officer in the United Nations' press department, copy editing a children's reading/math currculum for The Princeton Review, and proofreading for some cool ad firms around New York. I also did a lot of work for American Lawyer Media.<br /><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIOx2e7ACbItzDzLzFivXUmBLD56De1R2r9FB4zHAvyyfOdx_ZiDCG9pCY3wpVwKQg3piCAbEYi4AGXCcHc4j-1UFxnUFI1yUTfaBLX00UELNr9uQt4daf71-IX6HA28NT8zQyg/s1600-h/3201208384_3a2f2a2486.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIOx2e7ACbItzDzLzFivXUmBLD56De1R2r9FB4zHAvyyfOdx_ZiDCG9pCY3wpVwKQg3piCAbEYi4AGXCcHc4j-1UFxnUFI1yUTfaBLX00UELNr9uQt4daf71-IX6HA28NT8zQyg/s320/3201208384_3a2f2a2486.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292665384090998418" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Work aside, I also spent about 10 years heavily involved with ministry stuff at Times Square Church in New York and even worked as a part-time staff member for about a year and a half. Lots of ups and downs. I had the privilege of visiting several foreign countries on ministry trips, which did a lot to shape the way I am now. I did a lot of stuff, most of it music-related. The highlights were trips to Guatemala and Argentina, where God graciously allowed me to fulfill long-held dreams of leading worship in Spanish. In particular, doing a live music showcase and TV interview in Spanish in Rosario, Argentina. Everything lasted for almost 45 minutes. I have a DVD of the show and it's really embarrassing for me to watch, but it remains an experience I'll never forget. I've described some of those experiences in Argentina in earlier blog entries.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBUBBVJ-tk35NcZ5zhCxHANIjNWRj1BNlrrK7LbbWpK60NEkVESHNzQZn50ag7KzeUXdBKzbkD_N5jnHJ_8uXfxlVjdNJt5WnB4yjjpyaodfbHQgFs1fqbRtD0SlTiYicAGfh4Q/s1600-h/3200361685_019825b419.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBUBBVJ-tk35NcZ5zhCxHANIjNWRj1BNlrrK7LbbWpK60NEkVESHNzQZn50ag7KzeUXdBKzbkD_N5jnHJ_8uXfxlVjdNJt5WnB4yjjpyaodfbHQgFs1fqbRtD0SlTiYicAGfh4Q/s320/3200361685_019825b419.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292664362338001330" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >As some of you have just discovered, I've been in Seoul, South Korea for the last two and a half years teaching EFL (English as a foreign language). Basically I got sick of everything back home. My career was in a rut and, high points notwithstanding, I was burnt out on ministry stuff. I was unhappier than probably many people at church knew, and actually quite angry. Although to my closest friends this stuff wasn't much of a secret. Ha ha. Add in personal struggles and failures and you could say a lot was going on in my life. The common wisdom is that one shouldn't move to another city or country to escape one's problems, but in a way that's exactly what I did. However, upon arriving in Korea the Lord surprised me with a relatively fulfilling career and several good relationships. My problems have followed me here--it seems as if they arrived early and waited for me at the hotel--but I'm in a situation where I'm surrounded by several needy people and every day I have an opportunity to try to meet those needs. Ostensibly many of those needs are physical, intellectual or, in the case of many Koreans, linguistic. But closer examination reveals some profound spiritual needs. I don't consider myself a missionary per se (ministry was definitely not my goal in coming to Korea), but maybe a kind of cultural/spiritual ambassador. Being a Western foreigner and speaking a little Korean have given me a lot of open doors into people's lives. And so I have to care for other people and forget about myself for a while.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYsLBSMmbR3-BzmzdzzqypX_ch0ZEXWykMHKbOuopPsh4_U5xgE6X8KZJpXtGiqYf1_Vo0hOfiEvaRkye7Hl3wBYpvzutCnUb5EJR6lgVa4JGTl2h8YnRFA3RMaVi9Ngi5SbARQ/s1600-h/3200364371_39f4667acf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYsLBSMmbR3-BzmzdzzqypX_ch0ZEXWykMHKbOuopPsh4_U5xgE6X8KZJpXtGiqYf1_Vo0hOfiEvaRkye7Hl3wBYpvzutCnUb5EJR6lgVa4JGTl2h8YnRFA3RMaVi9Ngi5SbARQ/s320/3200364371_39f4667acf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292665387504497106" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >My current hobbies include listening to music. Especially gospel, indie, jazz, alternative and metal. I'm also a ballad/slow jam freak although I avoid the sexually explicit stuff. Exercising, studying Korean and reading...mostly articles on the Internet. My Spanish has been on hold indefinitely. I study Korean quite obsessively. Don't know far I'll go with it, we'll see what happens over the next few months. Korean aside, other recently developed interests include Western pop culture and contemporary Korean culture. Amateur photography. I also like politics and current affairs, although you'll hear more about those from me in person than on the Internet. During my college years I was really hung up on racial issues. I really wore that stuff on my sleeve. Racial issues are still important to me, but not like before.<br /><br />Occasionally I get asked about cartooning, which I actively did until about 1993 or 1994. Since then I've done a couple of projects but nothing serious since 2003, when I worked on an in-house children's curriculum for Times Square Church. I miss drawing and I hope to return to it someday, but so far other hobbies have taken priority. I've discussed the possibility of doing some cartooning for my curriculum where I teach and my head teacher loves the idea, but so far I haven't done anything. Although recently I befriended a coffee shop owner is also an artist and interior designer. Last week he asked me to do a drawing for him. Having a black writing pen in my mind (which I always used for drawing, I rarely used artist pens) and using it to do a cartoon sketch awakened a long-dormant feeling that nearly brought me to tears. I haven't yet decided if and how I'll pursue that further. Several people are encouraging me with that, so we'll see.<br /><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qsZIO5KeorKRtekBrrwzpINeDEg8tkZRpesj_OqYdyzKn8Qlx6C6iCcBzHC023fToLfLxlfKZhHVHcd-c19d3wwAYIkPltXLrraPY4vh63uxYF4ha69s4pj8iqOeSfscFVq7lg/s1600-h/3200362135_79258ae396.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qsZIO5KeorKRtekBrrwzpINeDEg8tkZRpesj_OqYdyzKn8Qlx6C6iCcBzHC023fToLfLxlfKZhHVHcd-c19d3wwAYIkPltXLrraPY4vh63uxYF4ha69s4pj8iqOeSfscFVq7lg/s320/3200362135_79258ae396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292664545207656690" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >My Christian faith has gone through several phases since 1993. In the current phase I try to show a lot more patience and understanding with people I don't understand or agree with. I don't mean an ecumenical type of understanding that says "all roads lead to heaven, Jesus is just one way." I mean a practical, day-to-day way of trying to relate to people. Some of my non-religious friends may not understand this or even be put off by my remarks. All I can do is ask you to hear me out even if you don't agree with it. I don't think "fundamentalist," in its proper context, should be a bad word. Hopefully I can be focused on heavenly things but not with my head too high in the clouds to be ignorant of people's needs. I've rubbed shoulders with hundreds of Christians in several different kinds of environments. I've seen things that have inspired, encouraged, discouraged and repulsed me. I've made some good decisions as well as decisions that have hurt not only me but the people closest to me. Lately, the most important things for me are that in my life I'm becoming more like Jesus and that my witness is one that makes him seem approachable and accessible. All of which may seem obvious, but for a long time I didn't really care that much.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8umNReYf9BLHtSh0I6ZOFdPSunNNxIF9iA19thBwKyPHvlTcMpfexB6hRmaLdWlrWOLUoxhSkYCrZp2lOSzeNC1fy4YsaQPZbmEz7qU1x0AGL-zsV2doRF-ahbTTb_UPA_UROg/s1600-h/3201208736_0d881c26d2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8umNReYf9BLHtSh0I6ZOFdPSunNNxIF9iA19thBwKyPHvlTcMpfexB6hRmaLdWlrWOLUoxhSkYCrZp2lOSzeNC1fy4YsaQPZbmEz7qU1x0AGL-zsV2doRF-ahbTTb_UPA_UROg/s320/3201208736_0d881c26d2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292665392946578066" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I'm in the middle of a two-month long vacation between semesters. Sleeping late notwithstanding, I've kept myself busy with several activities. Those include working out on a more regular basis, a Monday night Bible study, studying Korean and practicing "free talking" with several Korean friends, getting ready for the spring semester, and socializing more than I probably have in my entire life. Recently I spent a few days at my friend Byung-Jin's home in Busan, a port city in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. It was a quiet, relaxing weekend although it was freezing and I mostly stayed indoors. I enjoyed spending time with Byung-Jin and his wife. Lots of laughter, gorgeous scenery and good food. And jokes about my height and eating habits and so on. It was also interesting to observe his life as one of the pastors of a small church down the street. Much of our conversation was in Korean, which was a much a surprise to me as anybody else. The night before returning to Seoul, I stayed up all night on Bying-Jin's computer surfing the net and catching up with friends. I listened repeatedly to the Mississippi Mass Choir's "Having You There" on YouTube. I first discovered this song while DJing at a small radio station in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1993. I remember that time vividly, but this night in Korea of all places, it was incredible to see where the Lord had brought me 16 years later. Having more free time and reconnecting with many older friends has caused me to reflect more on my life beyond my usual navel-gazing process. And I'm good at navel gazing. Having Him there has truly made the difference in my life.<br /><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIEOwYhjW2o92sqf90aH0ofx2pFZT-_z63MbocRFb_wQGK6cWYu-3dsYWK-4dGEsLvI20yeHLuv84ikraU6zchEFAnZfQ-JZvy_4UuwiYpKSWeHyKg4cw8tVVIoAj9PhLCkU4jA/s1600-h/3200363473_6d489d5d11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIEOwYhjW2o92sqf90aH0ofx2pFZT-_z63MbocRFb_wQGK6cWYu-3dsYWK-4dGEsLvI20yeHLuv84ikraU6zchEFAnZfQ-JZvy_4UuwiYpKSWeHyKg4cw8tVVIoAj9PhLCkU4jA/s320/3200363473_6d489d5d11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292665375089017410" border="0" /></a><br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-6956250815872941202009-01-05T11:20:00.003+09:002009-01-05T11:22:13.310+09:00Happy Christmas.<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjoTyS81ge7ND9I5OU0-df_GIR4s9PEZc9JlnB1bgkHPSFMN7K-LmZ-fHw0wBQwHk_aZTEPs-b0bWHV7rtPwWBGIPeJjoa9ZYkGDMxp8Q9aB1x2TlQ-TfaiAAwbtlfu-JHRj7ag/s1600-h/Christmas1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjoTyS81ge7ND9I5OU0-df_GIR4s9PEZc9JlnB1bgkHPSFMN7K-LmZ-fHw0wBQwHk_aZTEPs-b0bWHV7rtPwWBGIPeJjoa9ZYkGDMxp8Q9aB1x2TlQ-TfaiAAwbtlfu-JHRj7ag/s320/Christmas1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287628983692154514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm a little late. Ha ha.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Expect my New Year's greeting near the end of February. Ha ha.</span><br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-11408069722542500832008-11-13T23:01:00.004+09:002008-11-13T23:07:26.407+09:00How do you feel?<span style="font-family:arial;">Many people, mostly Koreans, have asked me about the U.S. presidential election. Although I do enjoy discussing politics--usually more in person than on this blog--as a rule I never tell people who I vote for. I mailed my absentee ballot and I followed the election closely through online news. I'm relieved that it's over.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Last week I read a column in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Economist</span> that said a vote for either candidate would be a gamble. I agree with this. I had concerns about both candidates, and now I feel optimism and caution at the same time. I think the financial crisis was a good test for both of the candidates.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">I vote because I can. Years ago my mother reminded me that we (black people) didn't always have that right. For me it's more of a civic responsibility than really expecting the candidate to change everything. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The race issue has come up several times. I like how this election has forced people to talk more about race.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A column by Albert R. Hunt for Bloomberg News says: "With Obama's presidency, racism and racial inequities won't disappear. Today, blacks earn less than two-thirds the income of whites; the black jobless rate was 11 percent last month, almost double that of whites, and 7 in 10 black babies are born to a single mother. Under the best-case scenario, that will improve only on the margins over the next four years. Nonetheless, the election of a black man facilitates discussions of these issues for people of all races." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I've been amazed at how closely Koreans in Seoul have followed this election as far back as the Clinton-Obama battle for the Democratic nomination. Even more amazing is how many people have favored Obama. Earlier this year several people were asking me: "Do you like Hillary or Obama?" (No one called her "Clinton.") After Obama won the nomination, the question became "What do you think of Obama?" As if John McCain was not a serious option. I had a very surreal experience two months ago when I was chatting in Korean with a taxi driver. He asked me who I was planning to vote for. After politely telling him it was a secret, he went on to tell me how much he hoped Obama would win the election. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And It wasn't until I got out of the taxi that it hit me: I'm in South Korea. I just had a conversation in Korean with a taxi driver who spoke no English. And he shared with me how much he wanted Barack Obama, a black man, to win the election. It was freaky.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The election has received so much media coverage here that the day Obama won I felt as if I was home. Several Koreans, including a couple of total strangers, have congratulated me on his election. I've gotten a few well-meaning (albeit laughably ignorant) comments. A kind Korean professor at my university said to me: "Now you can become a governor." A couple of students have asked me if I was from Africa and seemed a little surprised when I told them I was born in America.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I think all of this is significant if only for the reason that stereotypes of black people have captivated Korea. The election of a black man has made a strong impression on some of my Korean peers. I don't have an insecure need to prove my blackness to people here. But Obama's election has definitely freed up several people to discuss race issues much more comfortably. Race has been kind of a taboo subject for me over the last few years (at least since my more radical high school and college days) and even now I don't want everything to be about race. However, in some conversations I don't even have to bring it up; the other person will do it for me. Yesterday I met my good friends Sang-Yoon and Bong-Seong for lunch and the race issue came up although it wasn't what I planned to talk about. We ended up talking about the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, but it wasn't strange or uncomfortable.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In a strange sort of way race is sometimes a prominent topic of discussion here because of Koreans' own experiences with racism outside of Korea and oppression by other nations, as well as their own ethnic consciousness. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In a recent <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> column, Maureen Dowd humorously explored the new phenomenon of whites asking blacks: "How do you feel?" To that end, I've become a kind of spokesperson. It's a little strange and I don't feel vindicated, but it's kind of fun.</span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-79484649500499972902008-10-15T22:32:00.013+09:002008-10-15T22:56:59.894+09:00Some recent pics<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhib-_R_UGT18sihfNqxA6tv8IbeOFkZPjvBLqTpvX0JHvvQdmNB57jNuosgb67OgCnZTFJv4bh5IT3bsFTNIShxwkbe9OUR4gb9qAlS0MA_iHMz9XRKxp4RoHBBMB0LYvYNo6-ew/s1600-h/2619636279_4bc1807e74.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhib-_R_UGT18sihfNqxA6tv8IbeOFkZPjvBLqTpvX0JHvvQdmNB57jNuosgb67OgCnZTFJv4bh5IT3bsFTNIShxwkbe9OUR4gb9qAlS0MA_iHMz9XRKxp4RoHBBMB0LYvYNo6-ew/s320/2619636279_4bc1807e74.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257376316293182178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt_GLIsslwqScgo36TenuxmW_iVb7LAQTmsJbel1tFC2p5o2Sys2rPfkn4_Czi-bfFyQs_EWaNYFkeHaBDUP7CtGgwTIJ5rEi_zc2K6Qkk1oGhiOoK_Suk3kTchVlrdHCP3XslA/s1600-h/2726891995_88f9303853.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt_GLIsslwqScgo36TenuxmW_iVb7LAQTmsJbel1tFC2p5o2Sys2rPfkn4_Czi-bfFyQs_EWaNYFkeHaBDUP7CtGgwTIJ5rEi_zc2K6Qkk1oGhiOoK_Suk3kTchVlrdHCP3XslA/s320/2726891995_88f9303853.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257376019556900498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv55JT0gjDxZgXWm0fnTroNM3mQM3GXvYyZtWQmVAihE2KbdP1dC4AHxLnknXZedKirzW8FlZPT5uL7sNjkJiLlXzKC4gQBjGsvlrRzyOWP4BQvbPV9B_eSx0vOR8WuHv9KOYXQ/s1600-h/2865227860_a5cda86c8c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv55JT0gjDxZgXWm0fnTroNM3mQM3GXvYyZtWQmVAihE2KbdP1dC4AHxLnknXZedKirzW8FlZPT5uL7sNjkJiLlXzKC4gQBjGsvlrRzyOWP4BQvbPV9B_eSx0vOR8WuHv9KOYXQ/s320/2865227860_a5cda86c8c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257376530714384722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VGeuwDn1y5RR9EQ47YfSNjB9Ta4wu37kaYO8lDVhDlSHH91-xJR-er9Vz_cf8CQ4EISHR7QOlD_cIJWREsO3ufSPPYUw4B5K6ID43boYfR1g3Wt3rIPTuYt8Z0NZN7h7itp9Yg/s1600-h/2783833692_6fb17eb012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VGeuwDn1y5RR9EQ47YfSNjB9Ta4wu37kaYO8lDVhDlSHH91-xJR-er9Vz_cf8CQ4EISHR7QOlD_cIJWREsO3ufSPPYUw4B5K6ID43boYfR1g3Wt3rIPTuYt8Z0NZN7h7itp9Yg/s320/2783833692_6fb17eb012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257376904337162738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwjPsXfFVh3Goe2j5IeomJhqqs1u6a2PrVbDcGqU7sz1ibSNMq7fv6Rt9ltgy6bn3r9p9m3bX9qFxGevKyUSFJLJmwk8o4ospl7qGTBeueLOTqEBsWIf3hJzqYIQ7scBcUStBnA/s1600-h/2620459262_795b29b1b7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwjPsXfFVh3Goe2j5IeomJhqqs1u6a2PrVbDcGqU7sz1ibSNMq7fv6Rt9ltgy6bn3r9p9m3bX9qFxGevKyUSFJLJmwk8o4ospl7qGTBeueLOTqEBsWIf3hJzqYIQ7scBcUStBnA/s320/2620459262_795b29b1b7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257379156773516498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqkFHJVh717H8vHdhMB0tBB9WRSdoUJeUjm98de-jT3uON3lb4TeT3i1cN8Y1WKh7lehtl33kqTPLyOu4kynnQlHPVFidkM0o4qtL4l2o7wk0if4fTlxe8VM8vh68VNsVzPppsQ/s1600-h/2782980913_c5810959e4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqkFHJVh717H8vHdhMB0tBB9WRSdoUJeUjm98de-jT3uON3lb4TeT3i1cN8Y1WKh7lehtl33kqTPLyOu4kynnQlHPVFidkM0o4qtL4l2o7wk0if4fTlxe8VM8vh68VNsVzPppsQ/s320/2782980913_c5810959e4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257377549683484594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8XSDPnAfCUVZEVoQBvfL2o0nFrc0kighbNLEFe2C3d4ESItuXNWzX-phC9iGtS-8JfYwWKDZusf35WGeI8C_rFz_gVURgRzBZvUcP-_QyhadWPkm5VFU3A6xRaO9mH8dUg-uCQ/s1600-h/2865226762_832bc38685.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8XSDPnAfCUVZEVoQBvfL2o0nFrc0kighbNLEFe2C3d4ESItuXNWzX-phC9iGtS-8JfYwWKDZusf35WGeI8C_rFz_gVURgRzBZvUcP-_QyhadWPkm5VFU3A6xRaO9mH8dUg-uCQ/s320/2865226762_832bc38685.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257377272956078914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbRE9Idr0F4-XHPNA9Utf67khBfLB4FgpJmssfgO_Vyi6CctGne9bTzEFD9OoPaFtnAxnw9x7Nwq_XDkvJvmt5_GXA90mcFnZo8Li7jEpOaKp-q_d1kebU_R-F5haNu8IgJZTjg/s1600-h/2782979383_d0005971d5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbRE9Idr0F4-XHPNA9Utf67khBfLB4FgpJmssfgO_Vyi6CctGne9bTzEFD9OoPaFtnAxnw9x7Nwq_XDkvJvmt5_GXA90mcFnZo8Li7jEpOaKp-q_d1kebU_R-F5haNu8IgJZTjg/s320/2782979383_d0005971d5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257378507745398386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10mPP3rJUGdTzpXF1Pp028GaxxFJekLiEZ9E-sfQXRQXPDGwpxoFMbG1uXcibPJ6W-XpxSP9m7b0w9xYc_4xiDma_M8z11MRhKXgN5RBMNB1AvEEDB6bVIz5DpXe2V7zKqnG5dQ/s1600-h/2783832166_40811a698c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10mPP3rJUGdTzpXF1Pp028GaxxFJekLiEZ9E-sfQXRQXPDGwpxoFMbG1uXcibPJ6W-XpxSP9m7b0w9xYc_4xiDma_M8z11MRhKXgN5RBMNB1AvEEDB6bVIz5DpXe2V7zKqnG5dQ/s320/2783832166_40811a698c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257377400883176082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfHsEn9oXhV50lIVd1JDOptPwPJepfybnZba8lJ-a8tM3GbDSv9-PmXxZM9YnPP8DuI8qpPKFFsJpgObLHJFJBNnAnnfxR7GDDznN1zDqVqJRMzjni4OUfwg02Te-n7y3d28mAQ/s1600-h/2865227420_8e38fcdc58.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfHsEn9oXhV50lIVd1JDOptPwPJepfybnZba8lJ-a8tM3GbDSv9-PmXxZM9YnPP8DuI8qpPKFFsJpgObLHJFJBNnAnnfxR7GDDznN1zDqVqJRMzjni4OUfwg02Te-n7y3d28mAQ/s320/2865227420_8e38fcdc58.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257377115486547778" border="0" /></a>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-21210373120890574762008-06-12T22:28:00.002+09:002008-06-12T22:31:55.527+09:00완전한 문장 + Complete sentences<span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrITYv1CWjRF8mScK-EbFdwN_n-9Q7phyphenhyphenTdOsLjYVz0eILwsdEU2FhABku5jVnLvTkg-IdAGElmH6xmWODzOw5Sq1kStQwVMZzCFKKLNdRw7VtSJV43geSapIa0nlUBYqzh2PIag/s1600-h/%EC%A7%84%EB%B2%94.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrITYv1CWjRF8mScK-EbFdwN_n-9Q7phyphenhyphenTdOsLjYVz0eILwsdEU2FhABku5jVnLvTkg-IdAGElmH6xmWODzOw5Sq1kStQwVMZzCFKKLNdRw7VtSJV43geSapIa0nlUBYqzh2PIag/s320/%EC%A7%84%EB%B2%94.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210986635452400194" border="0" /></a>The following is taken from an online chat with my friend Jin-Bum. I've included some translations in parentheses.<br /><br />Me: I have a Korean question...which is the best word for "phrase"? 숙어 or 성구?<br />Jin: What kind of phrase do you mean? Give me some examples.<br />Me: Well, just "phrase." For my 초급 (beginner level) class, I've been trying to teach the importance of speaking in 완전한 문장, or complete sentences. So I've been giving them phrases to turn into complete sentences...for example, the phrase "where from" should become "Where are you from?" When I introduced the idea of "phrases" in the last class, some of the students didn't seem to understand. I know the word "expression" is translated 표현, but that's not what I want to give them. There's a difference between a correct 표현 (expression) and an incomplete 문장 (sentences).<br />Jin: What's 성구? You just wrote this and I don't think it's a right word.<br />Me: I got it from Naver's online dictionary, along with 숙어...흔하지 않는 것 같아요. (I think it may not be common.)<br />(A couple of minutes pass by)<br />Jin: Wow. It exists<br />Me: Yes...I guess what I'm trying to express is an INCOMPLETE phrase...they need to understand this.<br />Jin: But you know...Do not use 숙어 to explain this.<br />Me: Yes...How would you express "incomplete phrase" in Korean? Maybe the word "phrase" by itself can't be implied to be incomplete in Korean.<br />Jin: 숙어 is a set of 단어 (words).<br />Me: I think 숙어 is best translated "idiom"<br />Jin: In this case a lot of Korean grammar teachers are using 절...so like noun phrases are 명사절 and adjective phrases are 부사절, but you need to use 불완전한 문장 (incomplete sentence) to explain things you mentioned.<br />Me: 아...So 불완전한 is "incomplete"...that's perfect.<br />Jin: was that what you were trying to figure out? 불 means "in" or "un" in front of some adjectives or adverbs.<br />Me: 맞아요 (correct)...Many English words have implied meanings, but that's less common in Korean. In Korean it needs to be very specific. In English the word "phrase" is OK to describe an incomplete phrase, but in Korean I have to specify that it's incomplete. I think that's why sometimes there's confusion with my students...I recognize the 불 from 불규칙 (irregular), which I had to learn a few weeks ago to explain irregular verbs to another class.<br />Jin: But "what from" is not a phrase.<br />Me: In English it is.<br />Jin: Isn't it just an incomplete sentence?<br />Me: "Incomplete sentence" is correct, but "phrase" is also OK in this context. If you showed me a Korean verb and subject without the proper markers--for example, 저 수업 계획 짜다 (literally "me class plan put together")--I would understand this as a phrase. It's an incomplete sentence, but I still understand it as a phrase that needs proper markers and conjugation--so the 저 수업 계획 짜다 becomes 저는 수업 계획을 짭니다 ("I'm putting together my class/lesson plan"). So if I give some Koreans something like "where from," I usually introduce it as a phrase that needs to become a complete sentence like "Where are you from?"<br />Jin: Oh...then here is a point. Most Koreans understand "phrase" as a piece of sentence...so like a subordinated concept of sentence. What you just explained is a phrase can developed to a sentence. So it's just not a set or series of words. So when I saw "where from," I didn't see that as an arrangement of words--a sentence missing something it needs.<br />Me: That's a good point. Although I wouldn't explain it that way to a group of beginner-level students. But then again, I've noticed that many Koreans seem to understand English grammar rules better than native English speakers.<br />Jin: Hahaha<br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-32725306282305468522008-05-11T09:02:00.006+09:002008-05-11T09:08:05.986+09:00Turnover<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qQlhDgLbBEYHDPqestSAOssGJuaAbX1Fg426_ynbaBgB7dXOtZXQYeO4nggFmnDneo2LFUGN8s1B0TPNsffd7mXYJ6RmI0cUNgsV_x6LdAQGDYgCSslZX0EiRup9ieqmBaCPiA/s1600-h/WanRyeol2.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198904422083517586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qQlhDgLbBEYHDPqestSAOssGJuaAbX1Fg426_ynbaBgB7dXOtZXQYeO4nggFmnDneo2LFUGN8s1B0TPNsffd7mXYJ6RmI0cUNgsV_x6LdAQGDYgCSslZX0EiRup9ieqmBaCPiA/s320/WanRyeol2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">A challenge I've faced for most of my life is cherishing my relationships but at the same time holding them lightly enough that so it isn't so traumatic if they change; for example, a friend may move away and so we can't communicate as easily. In some cases, the person may just disappear or just become unreachable for no reason, which has happened to me a few times.<br /><br />As a teacher of English as a foreign language to adults in Korea, particularly young adults, I've had several opportunities to meet and get to know people. As a foreigner who sometimes lives in a state of perpetual culture shock, this is a good thing. However, many of those people are university students, which results in a lot of turnover. Some of those people are already working and they stay put, but others graduate and move away for work or study abroad. I've experienced this at home in the U.S. as well as Korea, although it's probably a little more common here. Most of the time I'm OK with this, although in a few cases the separation is difficult. Last Friday I said goodbye to my good friend Son Wan-Ryeol. Wan-Ryeol, who just graduated from Hongik University, is off to the Philippines for a few months to work on his English. After that he will study in Europe. As far as I know, that will be an indefinite venture. Wan-Ryeol was one of my students in February 2007 at my previous job. That month I had an unusual schedule in which I only had two classes in the morning and all of the others were in the evening. After my second class I began going to a cafe for breakfast and I would invite students to come with me. Wan-Ryeol, who was in my second class, joined me and we began eating almost every morning that month. Sometimes a couple of other students would join us as well. Most of the time we went to A Twosome Place in Shinchon Rotary and we usually spent a couple of hours there. Most of the time the guys tutored me in Korean and taught me some key expressions.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTnVBQiOG1x4JrwQJAFCwRfNRCI00lwJJmHvXx_bGb6FMvvvfQwDFg2PNxuFGb-MPHgdX56sw6F46x6kvX9OcGggc7CHjNCOdHDZfQv3YWj8hMcMJ2WK3JPdFXZrtR883tjgefA/s1600-h/WanRyeol1.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198904254579793026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTnVBQiOG1x4JrwQJAFCwRfNRCI00lwJJmHvXx_bGb6FMvvvfQwDFg2PNxuFGb-MPHgdX56sw6F46x6kvX9OcGggc7CHjNCOdHDZfQv3YWj8hMcMJ2WK3JPdFXZrtR883tjgefA/s320/WanRyeol1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">After that month, Wan-Ryeol and I remained friends and met several times in the Hongdae area where he lived (and only a 15-minute walk from where I lived). We often went to cafes and did language exchange. Later I discovered he liked jogging and so we began to run regularly at the Han River. After I left Shinchon, we continued to meet for dinner, Korean study and sometimes jogging. I often return to Hongdae to work or study in a cafe, and I would often call him up and say "Hey, let's hang out." Over the last year, he's become one of the closer Korean friends I've had.When he informed me a month ago that he was leaving, I decided to try to meet him a few more times to go jogging. So we got together for the last three or four Fridays (cancelling once because of rain). Actually I didn't realize that he was leaving the first Sunday of May; I thought he was leaving in the middle of May. So two Fridays ago we jogged along our usual route to Mangwon, stretched for 15 minutes or so and returned. We met a little earlier than usual, around 5:30, and it was unusually beautiful spring evening. Afterward we ate dinner at a Korean fried chicken place we often went after running. I didn't realize until the end of the evening that in two days he was moving back to his hometown down south. It was probably good that I didn't know this until the last minute, otherwise I think our time could have been melancholy and emotional for me. Of course, I was melancholy and emotional afterward. I almost cried on the way to the subway.<br /></span><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaWGU159mXMjTdL6DkBnIehcKazh9qGopfFChsStKIISzLImcbgMupmDzV5HzZwABre3aZeu976U5wAWjlEcOdn2mvGOHdAWaJ0Qdwb2EERyihdzBgHuj4bqstitk7w0g3QApVA/s1600-h/WanRyeol1.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Monday I met Ho-Jun and another friend in the Hongdae area. We went to Sangsabyeon Cafe, which is almost around the corner from Wan-Ryeol's old place and where we often hung out. It felt a little strange to walk around the area and realize he wasn't there anymore. We plan to stay in touch through e-mail, but it's not the same as having him here.I know other people to whom I'm going to have to say goodbye at some point because they're going to move away or I'm going to move away. Some of the people I've befriended at the university are going to graduate and move on. Several people have asked me how long I'm planning to stay here and I really have no idea. If I married a Korean, that might provide me more incentive to stay. If the university offered to renew my contract next year, that would definitely provide me some incentive to stay another two years or so. But it's also possible that I may just get tired of everything and decide I want to go home. Actually turnover has been the theme of my life. My living and work situations have changed constantly ever since I graduated college. A few of those situations I chose to walk away from, however in most cases I was pushed out. All of this causes me to wonder if my long-term life purpose is to be a missionary.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTsC8-kMp5XH0vQd0C4FIjcIcOXMRTZ4Nk9yEvnJRLmtQX6IsvVepijmnEmpGmSNTsJthg5jvHqpLJJrmiHwC1nA7rqXNtZgD4r8Am0ezfGhVSeyBDN7oarWKdwZKWGXiMn2xgw/s1600-h/MeandWanRyeol.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198903988291820642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTsC8-kMp5XH0vQd0C4FIjcIcOXMRTZ4Nk9yEvnJRLmtQX6IsvVepijmnEmpGmSNTsJthg5jvHqpLJJrmiHwC1nA7rqXNtZgD4r8Am0ezfGhVSeyBDN7oarWKdwZKWGXiMn2xgw/s320/MeandWanRyeol.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div></div>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-65189340537960747552008-05-07T17:27:00.010+09:002008-05-11T09:43:50.240+09:00Hi.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUehKQziGcMTr4urwJ_lLP0Q7BeEdaVtNpHY1gSAcOy5tw3x5I5IHc5vR-Ry5GIiNSGAThGtIfSyhPbysBmiyH10h1daRzHDDaeHLtWTwxdVGdKnSMyI1aX2GGOJWncPRZF05Dg/s1600-h/JeongHwan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198914180249214178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUehKQziGcMTr4urwJ_lLP0Q7BeEdaVtNpHY1gSAcOy5tw3x5I5IHc5vR-Ry5GIiNSGAThGtIfSyhPbysBmiyH10h1daRzHDDaeHLtWTwxdVGdKnSMyI1aX2GGOJWncPRZF05Dg/s320/JeongHwan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IgabQeYBUy3yClLRXLI4XPhUocnZ0svjLcus6c1oS26KhYPlJ6z18J7Ygix6qw4RcPY0wptgG4eh9hJ_zNxuvv1Hit01b1q80rc_QYlh0wED0C1tPuGkJPJlKjRcwAZ3WkFrTA/s1600-h/FromGwanak.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198914064285097170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IgabQeYBUy3yClLRXLI4XPhUocnZ0svjLcus6c1oS26KhYPlJ6z18J7Ygix6qw4RcPY0wptgG4eh9hJ_zNxuvv1Hit01b1q80rc_QYlh0wED0C1tPuGkJPJlKjRcwAZ3WkFrTA/s320/FromGwanak.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHPMTaFaKuF5z9rjRZf9SrxRZ-fyYyfXf3EuDvIf3I35K7UdpEty7qJOyrAw5q4wTjfO-Ad3h5VmpY4GHYZ1rwxaWzGLZoKYUj4dkTEAj1CDhDEYx-mDiQpBq497Mj_JNGIhy-g/s1600-h/MeAtGwanak.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198913952615947458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHPMTaFaKuF5z9rjRZf9SrxRZ-fyYyfXf3EuDvIf3I35K7UdpEty7qJOyrAw5q4wTjfO-Ad3h5VmpY4GHYZ1rwxaWzGLZoKYUj4dkTEAj1CDhDEYx-mDiQpBq497Mj_JNGIhy-g/s320/MeAtGwanak.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB9fCG4nrtI3Qty3ZSxkUZMMsbgic4rTHXv3f_RmrAwNp_sQvHcrXeZExBIgQYOLUQDnXZtPNK1r8r1sDRZiFe8N1vTpj7QJFilLOlya_Z2M5nJWfgZyz95VFBsCFgqnWk5lYeQ/s1600-h/CafeT.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198913810882026674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB9fCG4nrtI3Qty3ZSxkUZMMsbgic4rTHXv3f_RmrAwNp_sQvHcrXeZExBIgQYOLUQDnXZtPNK1r8r1sDRZiFe8N1vTpj7QJFilLOlya_Z2M5nJWfgZyz95VFBsCFgqnWk5lYeQ/s320/CafeT.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTU6Tk5wNbCrodPkPNd-GCp33g5h0vUv0UDflSj3k19xP6TE-rQg67voM1jh26MtI8yu7LyY_VfLt-WB331FXFVtcBykSYnnKbysV7zOEhNlrvGcz8XF3XxlT5e8DX2R-CH8Q-Q/s1600-h/Bottle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198913686327975074" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWORAbKobBS7Qk1ciuH_0Ufsjkgvg-Y8LwUokQJUtrpRo8UOH72-3cjMrR6xt1RQQckBpj_RbMmF0hf1Iz8mQIeaEUDC77gCR_je6Yq5_7M3ebPrdaMaLrN7ts2ORY8QTs1kJDg/s320/blossoms.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibG57AS38g-_abxvCO12CAzUKHGmC9E4PDOYoxgcygQCHZU0yoV7HJ6D4DKucpZaI2reIKGa0QvXDjFQbGJNm1hrBt8ub3z9HVCd4jV7oTPPwWwnh8MPh6infgXEiCp35HjNoiBQ/s1600-h/cemetary.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550766038315602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibG57AS38g-_abxvCO12CAzUKHGmC9E4PDOYoxgcygQCHZU0yoV7HJ6D4DKucpZaI2reIKGa0QvXDjFQbGJNm1hrBt8ub3z9HVCd4jV7oTPPwWwnh8MPh6infgXEiCp35HjNoiBQ/s320/cemetary.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij74WVbYEzRO6JqYbYiNBBc6leXZQwCPBmayx-Y3vNo97i7dd1_DtXg7zfwUVNvPyjtKC1Ph45lusVyJONJSCrqvs-OMbGNvl9e_JHFbg_iA8-ReTYJKxQgBXw2Ef0Ll8ri-Dldg/s1600-h/Kyoung-Ha.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550650074198594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij74WVbYEzRO6JqYbYiNBBc6leXZQwCPBmayx-Y3vNo97i7dd1_DtXg7zfwUVNvPyjtKC1Ph45lusVyJONJSCrqvs-OMbGNvl9e_JHFbg_iA8-ReTYJKxQgBXw2Ef0Ll8ri-Dldg/s320/Kyoung-Ha.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKgjQ4T3jZOJxi1VhWVeRL65W69ySrgubuzTgUYJdOaJDcbpxlltvUi79LyTpvV_TP8s5JL1WlgrDs5Wxw_OApYmuzhfYFA2FuD-2tBft6umlx_3B5TCHMo0yXxYTItoP57NkBw/s1600-h/Mangwon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550551289950770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKgjQ4T3jZOJxi1VhWVeRL65W69ySrgubuzTgUYJdOaJDcbpxlltvUi79LyTpvV_TP8s5JL1WlgrDs5Wxw_OApYmuzhfYFA2FuD-2tBft6umlx_3B5TCHMo0yXxYTItoP57NkBw/s320/Mangwon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlAo-EqJXaBH1J2eOUeR0zyj0tAYEVhGAYF4bmjqlL85HZYW9RwnJbTXhyLTJHt-VWIZ5ABSrXGyjwM2tK8dyN2Ks_XqitsnvxYmixvZuxNnxWFyoq3pIPAjt-2iaDQGY7JCoPQ/s1600-h/me.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550461095637538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlAo-EqJXaBH1J2eOUeR0zyj0tAYEVhGAYF4bmjqlL85HZYW9RwnJbTXhyLTJHt-VWIZ5ABSrXGyjwM2tK8dyN2Ks_XqitsnvxYmixvZuxNnxWFyoq3pIPAjt-2iaDQGY7JCoPQ/s320/me.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFatVso0twGOKp6pPmlQr6opHvG6K-KnbLNipDOIm-zFUJpat3TJZK4AA6bTeYKDsY8NGkTsdIZHvcoiaRsumES8iXPqdP5opdG-UNy-jMquHyQqsSZ9TwCj4EZgbPN1Zdn_kUVw/s1600-h/meAgain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550297886880274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFatVso0twGOKp6pPmlQr6opHvG6K-KnbLNipDOIm-zFUJpat3TJZK4AA6bTeYKDsY8NGkTsdIZHvcoiaRsumES8iXPqdP5opdG-UNy-jMquHyQqsSZ9TwCj4EZgbPN1Zdn_kUVw/s320/meAgain.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4b1xcSjlQKmlE4mIIDLjVMFd9rDbzR1upjILiV412gmw2cMEVWFcT2i-bowWMF2ZEW9wpT6YyMEw3lrNQ6N_bxCkBmfpkLTxL6mw-V3EVfshfDZ25K1v4RchaPy4wfOG5RQfjg/s1600-h/Myeongdong.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550164742894082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4b1xcSjlQKmlE4mIIDLjVMFd9rDbzR1upjILiV412gmw2cMEVWFcT2i-bowWMF2ZEW9wpT6YyMEw3lrNQ6N_bxCkBmfpkLTxL6mw-V3EVfshfDZ25K1v4RchaPy4wfOG5RQfjg/s320/Myeongdong.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZroMZNcIpkOH3ybjBUcose8qLuaWWwLOjSwEzEAijbSuZFuTbTrqWPYlts5wm_q03gbFCO3S1V2pYkASxrP0a03V2Wm1TQjKkpqF-VVTjIS5PgJfUeucSagqUjMvxLmbrhyLWhQ/s1600-h/nearSangsu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197550053073744370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZroMZNcIpkOH3ybjBUcose8qLuaWWwLOjSwEzEAijbSuZFuTbTrqWPYlts5wm_q03gbFCO3S1V2pYkASxrP0a03V2Wm1TQjKkpqF-VVTjIS5PgJfUeucSagqUjMvxLmbrhyLWhQ/s320/nearSangsu.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-17124286270047772992008-02-25T04:27:00.010+09:002008-02-25T05:01:36.671+09:00Homesick<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvjlE92tJNcFRT394tbHiXz25uI1rPc0KhHah9BeJ0kJwz7yGosacP271fwIRfWvoTldB2XP67eGTUDP5paEK5xRl5GsYvJQjf2o4KBeSzScG-POTiKg6wSypxW3_nvCOGb08Zw/s1600-h/2288450875_0639678fcc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvjlE92tJNcFRT394tbHiXz25uI1rPc0KhHah9BeJ0kJwz7yGosacP271fwIRfWvoTldB2XP67eGTUDP5paEK5xRl5GsYvJQjf2o4KBeSzScG-POTiKg6wSypxW3_nvCOGb08Zw/s320/2288450875_0639678fcc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170631076655585394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Jet lag has caused me to go bed around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m. (which I almost never do) and wake up at 2:30 a.m. (which is normally the time I go to sleep). Friday night I returned to Seoul from a three-week vacation in my beloved hometown of New York City. I don't get homesick often, and when I do get homesick I don't like to admit it to people. However last Christmas in Korea, as wonderful as it was, I began to ache to walk the streets of New York and to eat in its restaurants, among many other things. So when I discovered that Chang-Woo was planning to travel to New York in February to study English for six months, I decided it would be a good idea for us to travel together. It was three of the shortest weeks of my life. Thursday I left Chang-Woo to stay at my mother's place and explore New York.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WZmimM_CzZL7EK230aTQcuGawIhez32-MKx8WNZhp8uTlbhwluxhJ4yoSV2igc6UQrQ6t9Pvh2X4iRHYl2xNCqrC7FmQwo5Aqet4KI6xm9rF2Hbaj3CYSYRe0PX8JE5l0-Rmng/s1600-h/2273770804_8aaf1e29ec.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WZmimM_CzZL7EK230aTQcuGawIhez32-MKx8WNZhp8uTlbhwluxhJ4yoSV2igc6UQrQ6t9Pvh2X4iRHYl2xNCqrC7FmQwo5Aqet4KI6xm9rF2Hbaj3CYSYRe0PX8JE5l0-Rmng/s320/2273770804_8aaf1e29ec.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170631914174208130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Much of my vacation consisted of hitting my favorite restaurants and cafes around town. I also walked around downtown and snapped pictures like a tourist. New York's architecture has taken on a new significance for me after months of looking at identical, nondescript apartment buildings and ultra-modern office towers around Seoul. (I generally don't like either.) I took advantage of the opportunity to buy clothes I can't buy in Korea, as well as several books, CDs and DVDs. Actually I spent way too much money on shopping. My consolation is that some of the stuff I bought I intend to use as resources for my students. I visited my church as well as a couple of the discipleship groups I was once involved with. I greatly miss all of these, even though I know it was time for me to move on. I also visited a few of the offices where I used to work or freelance to say hi to former editors, managers and co-workers. Everyone I spoke to seemed very happy for me. I'm quite happy for myself. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">A few weeks ago in Korea I went with Chang-Woo to his hometown of Daegu and spent some time with his parents. It was a lot of fun to have him in my hometown, introduce him to my family and take him to some of my hangouts downtown.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMM4pUHKTTmUl5nWvcG1Nef7PsXxC7BczbFnuB7Z2yp-6TgbBUpyuOz23kE50vEMDDk5iZ_YKowF7FET2iIgXPcIdt1fDr2Vg4oCfKVy9fJBJWlZ6G6khkJ5etJ_Zpjj_SdLgAA/s1600-h/2272975731_182eb6cc53.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMM4pUHKTTmUl5nWvcG1Nef7PsXxC7BczbFnuB7Z2yp-6TgbBUpyuOz23kE50vEMDDk5iZ_YKowF7FET2iIgXPcIdt1fDr2Vg4oCfKVy9fJBJWlZ6G6khkJ5etJ_Zpjj_SdLgAA/s320/2272975731_182eb6cc53.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170632833297209490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Probably the trip's funniest (or most awkward) moment came when I went to buy some music at Librería Cristiana Esperanza de Vida, a Spanish Christian bookstore I used to often go to when I lived in New York. I had to communicate in Spanish, but I found it quite difficult. Instead of saying "Estoy buscando el nuevo CD de Gadiel Espinoza" (Spanish for "I'm looking for the new CD by Gadiel Espinoza"), I wanted to say "Gadiel Espinoza CD를 찾아요" (roughly the same thing in Korean). When she didn't have it in stock, instead of "Oh, ¿no está aquí?" I wanted to say "아, 없어요?" And so on. It took every last bit of my mental energy to speak to her in Spanish and not Korean.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> I met my good friend Eric T. one night at 11 p.m. and we drove around the city until about 2:30 a.m. His mother and uncle were with us. Incredibly his uncle, who was visiting from Puerto Rico and hadn't seen me in almost 20 years, remembered me. I couldn't believe it. Eric took us around the South Bronx, Yonkers and East Harlem, where we attended high school together. It felt strange to ride down East 116 Street, where I walked countless times from the subway to the school building. Although 65 to 70 percent of my high school memories are not positive, this was a very nostalgic moment for me. I do remember my fourth year of high school being much more enjoyable than the previous three and part of me wants to relive those experiences. We stopped at a local cuchifritos place for yellow rice and grilled chicken, among other stuff. It was good to reminisce with Eric. Also, I understood much of the Spanish conversation between he and his family members, which made me feel a little better about my apparently diminished Spanish skills.<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2_Vzid51tTYm1ynorSVhj5wHw15C5M2HGmZOchYhzwERSJ4uAE5AZG-b3_DViydPSDHxBkIxs652P1VvSf59QBHaZzF9cIxvlYcjOhoBcR4o-JXfsnBFZVtKZbFIvM5tjRlVHQ/s1600-h/2256294031_1bb456e670.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2_Vzid51tTYm1ynorSVhj5wHw15C5M2HGmZOchYhzwERSJ4uAE5AZG-b3_DViydPSDHxBkIxs652P1VvSf59QBHaZzF9cIxvlYcjOhoBcR4o-JXfsnBFZVtKZbFIvM5tjRlVHQ/s320/2256294031_1bb456e670.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170633778190014626" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I also had a chance to eat dinner with Matthew S. downtown. Matt and I were born two days apart in the same hospital, and our mothers shared the same hospital room. It's not an exaggeration to say I've known him my entire life. Perhaps because we grew up together, it's always a little surreal for me to see him as an adult and chat about stuff like work, travel and relationships.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> I didn't study very much Korean, but I did do a little study with Chang-Woo. We spent a lot time at Think Coffee, a really cool cafe I discovered near NYU downtown. I also spent a little more time than normal memorizing vocabulary and phrases, which usually I avoid because it's not much fun. However, riding the subways in New York (which have more delays and less frequent service than Seoul subways) provided several opportunities for spontaneous study. Other than "Are you married yet?" the most common question people asked me was related to my Korean ability. I don't need to rehash where I stand with that, but I had a handful of enjoyable study times. One night I went to Think Coffee alone and studied for a couple of hours. It was one of the highlights of my trip. I showed a couple of friends at church how to write Korean script, and they actually got it. Now that I'm back in Seoul and having to use Korean more often, the relative break from Korean in New York seems to have been good for me.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPHJmvSTiO-A4HyYe-aXISBIURFkG5zGABZ61ai8TaABcCmhYpGGhSWKgjntuD-hd6ZaGkoS4CxECx3GJEz8O8M0dtnMdmlXD9GHmpvuScRadqW2VfGTvZpgIsdq_aOy7sSC-oQ/s1600-h/2273769218_f580941cef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPHJmvSTiO-A4HyYe-aXISBIURFkG5zGABZ61ai8TaABcCmhYpGGhSWKgjntuD-hd6ZaGkoS4CxECx3GJEz8O8M0dtnMdmlXD9GHmpvuScRadqW2VfGTvZpgIsdq_aOy7sSC-oQ/s320/2273769218_f580941cef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170635448932292786" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Aside from seeing family members and old friends, I also saw several friends who work as teachers or professors. It was great to compare our experiences. I also saw several people I met in Korea, including Katie R. (one of my co-workers from my first teaching job who came to New York to be with her fiancee), Yunhee (a former student from last summer, backpacking around the U.S.) and Lian (a Burmese brother who served as a lay pastor at my church in Seoul last year and is now studying at a seminary in upper Manhattan).</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWw9odb2MI2oG-Cx5AlZWIl1jsXektQD9KBlCW-y_nJY3FsXxbSqlGFyai-YhSgH-8yfEu4FfRsJjR4CZf6cRB99iG9ylgrp20v0UwltOfh4OsqN6g8bdN7uQUafkNGEUAHWAtg/s1600-h/22Katie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWw9odb2MI2oG-Cx5AlZWIl1jsXektQD9KBlCW-y_nJY3FsXxbSqlGFyai-YhSgH-8yfEu4FfRsJjR4CZf6cRB99iG9ylgrp20v0UwltOfh4OsqN6g8bdN7uQUafkNGEUAHWAtg/s320/22Katie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170636522674116818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I wasn't able to visit with everyone I wanted to, but I was able to enjoy some significant conversations with the people that I have managed to see. It will take some time for me to process everything. And now it's around 4 a.m. and I'm wide awake.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> You can see more pics here: </span><br /></span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcoasttiger/sets/72157600957035360">http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcoasttiger/sets/72157600957035360</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu37M04-Suv1gJ7zWmDJwpDwX0MYcoPtPb2RkKCTQGrj9KnU5RYx65AIK1UlSq0vGavNUN9wUQLSydms8F2Qy6RklczB-7RJTm5mE7DksWvpzFP6Cg5_9T7QmbvGULDc9l8sj8WA/s1600-h/2288446035_75b1232d5b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu37M04-Suv1gJ7zWmDJwpDwX0MYcoPtPb2RkKCTQGrj9KnU5RYx65AIK1UlSq0vGavNUN9wUQLSydms8F2Qy6RklczB-7RJTm5mE7DksWvpzFP6Cg5_9T7QmbvGULDc9l8sj8WA/s320/2288446035_75b1232d5b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170635942853531842" border="0" /></a></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-51925123326233953492008-02-18T15:37:00.003+09:002008-02-18T15:42:32.452+09:00Love Me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KPo86QVh-JjJaFXvvQImkSYmKpr9l3GCCBB21iMu7AnO-8kb0KJCnGP5ve_ongOSaa1xSpQS6WKBBOAD0eKNAocHBx8dpM3H2QRbIZu_irOBsptCBX8VDwXGGbt_IkGPkzIl-Q/s1600-h/2.17.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168205923371898978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KPo86QVh-JjJaFXvvQImkSYmKpr9l3GCCBB21iMu7AnO-8kb0KJCnGP5ve_ongOSaa1xSpQS6WKBBOAD0eKNAocHBx8dpM3H2QRbIZu_irOBsptCBX8VDwXGGbt_IkGPkzIl-Q/s320/2.17.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Here's a link to a video of a song (not mine) I did last October. A little after the fact, but better late than never. Ha ha.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://myiwe.com/iTV/?id=911"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://myiwe.com/iTV/?id=911</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />After you click on "Marc Hogi," it may take a minute to download. Unless you're on a Mac, in which case it won't download at all. Sorry.</span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-18275167326760293442008-02-11T13:49:00.001+09:002008-02-18T15:43:37.575+09:00Outside of Christ<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM8b26XhcFsWcY6TtmNYWVLyIEX2klt1kMMe3XU_p2gjli_8JuCpuDOYwJTryLGvePMcQKqbW2N5oIJrZXA344RjqhMDNdFvTdiDe37apA6zlhHt17CD_P6GZrzM7wvkUGMfITg/s1600-h/blog.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165581075583785042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM8b26XhcFsWcY6TtmNYWVLyIEX2klt1kMMe3XU_p2gjli_8JuCpuDOYwJTryLGvePMcQKqbW2N5oIJrZXA344RjqhMDNdFvTdiDe37apA6zlhHt17CD_P6GZrzM7wvkUGMfITg/s320/blog.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"Is there beauty in death? For most, somehow I doubt it. But for One, I know there was beauty—beauty in a defining three-day moment that changed everything. Outside of ancient Jerusalem’s city limits, Jesus’ horrific slaughter on the cross became the center of time and eternity. His death satisfied the demands of God’s holy justice and appeased His holy wrath by serving as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all humanity, including mine. He did what we could not and lived in flawless rhythm with God, His Father, perfectly obedient and sinless. This means that Jesus’ sacrificial blood is the red carpet leading into the relational presence of God. In God’s eyes Jesus’ perfection becomes ours … and that is beautiful...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"Death outside of Christ is never beautiful. At times this truth haunts me when I relive the heart pounding terror of looking it in the face, peering into an agonizing, fear-centered eternity without love, light, peace, comfort or hope for a better tomorrow. In eternity tomorrow never comes...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">"May all humanity see His life giving light, a light that never goes out. We will continue our work until the whole world knows."</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Drew Clark, "Crossing Oceans"</span></em><br /><a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7491"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7491</span></a>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14731896.post-47150295290131201062008-01-26T02:23:00.000+09:002008-01-26T02:35:05.227+09:00Get into it<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieR1NT6hHa1JnIV5zp4XUFTRAnE_v51upODGRH2Wm7MILlJj0qTgcLodB2x1Oiz9plh3yr3CVLjsG3SRu7Vz-hLM7jEwCRlNkNUkyu6EB90GZ-0ZpF59dLsfJyzotF7ywop_MMg/s1600-h/2129043166_0dd72c1973.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieR1NT6hHa1JnIV5zp4XUFTRAnE_v51upODGRH2Wm7MILlJj0qTgcLodB2x1Oiz9plh3yr3CVLjsG3SRu7Vz-hLM7jEwCRlNkNUkyu6EB90GZ-0ZpF59dLsfJyzotF7ywop_MMg/s320/2129043166_0dd72c1973.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159466741110752962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">For those of you curious about what I do here, the following is an edited version of an e-mail conversation I had with Myung-Ki this week. I polished up some of his grammar, although I left some of the Koreanisms because they make the conversation more authentic. I also made a couple of edits to my own writing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">My exchanges with Koreans aren't always this conversational or detailed; in Myung-Ki's case, he's a good friend and his English level is better than many of my Korean friends and students. But it's still a good example of what I do on an almost daily basis, in and out of the classroom. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The ^^ symbol is the Korean equivalent of the :) symbol that Westerners use. Koreans also use the ~ symbol instead of a hyphen (-) or dash, sometimes liberally.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I didn't plan for my response to be as long as it was, but hopefully you'll find it interesting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Myung-Ki wrote:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Hi Marc,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">How are you? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Since last December, I don't know why I have been so busy. Now it's almost 18 months that I have been in the company. I am sorry for not having time to meet you. Understand me... ^ ^</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Actually, in Korea you made lots of good friends on account of your sincere attitude and behaviour. I also like that about your character. ^ ^ I know you also want to meet me. Don't you? Hahaha~~</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, I would like to meet with you before your trip to New York. I wish you will make my dream come true. ^ ^</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">From February, I will learn Chinese at XYZ Language Academy. It could be challenging for me, but it seems that I am quite happy. ^ ^</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It is my lifelong goal, as I mentioned before, to speak four languages. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Even though it takes a long time to get this and I am in a difficult situation, I will deal with this...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">What am I saying...hahaha...too emotional...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, keep me posted regarding your news.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Keep in touch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Good day friend~</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">MK</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">I wrote:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Hey MK,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Good to hear from you...I was actually thinking about you this week.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I have a book on learning 250 common Chinese characters. I can lend that to you if you're interested in checking it out. I'd like to get into it myself, but I've been too focused on Korean and other stuff. Maybe later this year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Would you like to get together this Saturday afternoon before you go to your salsa class? My friend Kyoung-Ha and I will be hanging out Saturday morning. If he's still with me in the afternoon, we can come to Shinchon and meet you for lunch or coffee.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">If Saturday isn't good, let me know about Monday night after you finish work. I've still been spending a lot of time around Hongdae lately.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Talk to you soon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">Myung-Ki wrote:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Please lend me your book. ^ ^ I am really a beginner, I will definitely need this in roughly two months.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"I'd like to get into it myself" was one of the sentences you wrote me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Is it common? I know the meaning of all of the (individual) words, but this did not come home to my heart.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I think there are lots of meanings about that and the meaning is different (according) to the situation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Please let me know about that or explain this on Saturday. Bye~</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">I wrote:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">"Get into (something)" is a common expression.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It has different meanings, although they are similar:</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Beginning something that you've been ignoring or avoiding (usually a book)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Getting involved in an activity, sport or trend </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Becoming interested in an activity, sport or trend</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I said "I'd like to get into it myself." That means that you're going to study the book. I'm not studying the book, but I wish I was. YOUR studying makes ME want to study.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">People usually say this when a friend tells them about doing some kind of activity. For example:</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">MK: I've started taking salsa dance classes on Saturdays.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Marc: Really? I'd like to get into that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">My statement means that I'd like to learn salsa dance. Your interest in it makes me interested as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes people express some interest in an activity but do not do it. This is because they don't have the time (or the money) or because their interest isn't strong enough. For example, if my friend does a certain sport, I may say to myself "I should get into that" and never do the sport because I don't have the time or money or because other things are more interesting to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">For example, I'm interested in getting into dance, public school teaching, fashion design, sewing, graphic design and many other activities. I know I could do these things well and enjoy them. But here are the reasons I don't do them:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't have the time. As you know, I already have too many hobbies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I don't have the money. For some of these activities, such as design or dance, I would have to pay a lot of money to learn them.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Other things are more interesting to me. For example, my language study is more important to me (and my career) than learning graphic design. Tae kwon do is better for me than dance.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">If I have a chance to do these activities (in the future) I will, but right now it's not possible. But I still have a general interest in getting into them someday.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Other examples:</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">My father got me into jazz. (My father helped to get me interested in jazz music, or my father introduced me to jazz music by playing it on the radio.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I got into tae kwon do as a university student. (I started doing/got interested in tae kwon do when I was a student.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I didn't get into political cartooning until I was older. (I started doing/got interested in political cartooning when I became older.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">By the way, all the above sentences are true about me. ^^</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">You were right when you said that the meaning depends on the situation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">A similar expression is "to be into (something)." For example:</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm really into jazz. (I really like listening to jazz music. For some musicians, this statement means "I really like playing or performing jazz music.")</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been into tae kwon do for a while now. (I've been doing tae kwon do for a long time, maybe a few months.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">How long have you been into salsa? (How long have you been doing salsa dance?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Both of these expressions are a little bit informal, but very common. I use them all the time. Many English speakers, especially younger people, use them often.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">See you Saturday.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXivPM2vrOB6Czf3vaB8balQrXtxip3EiNks5JBFSdmAFN_yZteiK8UAJbSzBsFv0IB-94GB83sNTPTrd2vyoeho_4fK-Ueh2A7_BPhw2UlJnrVqO1Y_OqySNcoL8xoKcXnPbf0g/s1600-h/2129042934_1e0939d3f3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXivPM2vrOB6Czf3vaB8balQrXtxip3EiNks5JBFSdmAFN_yZteiK8UAJbSzBsFv0IB-94GB83sNTPTrd2vyoeho_4fK-Ueh2A7_BPhw2UlJnrVqO1Y_OqySNcoL8xoKcXnPbf0g/s320/2129042934_1e0939d3f3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159466556427159218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span>Marc Hogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10778867844683941083noreply@blogger.com1