The Nam Tasa Newsreal

Live From Osaka Update

2010-02-15T14:50:00.003+09:00

Ever since I got here on January 17, 2010 it has been a wild ride. I spent 2 weeks at the Capsule Hotel, then friends helped me get an apartment on a monthly basis. I no sooner move in and acquire all the furnishings from the other tenants that moved out and meet a Japanese woman at a foreigners bar ("Club Zero" as it's called), The next night I get clubbed and mugged for USD$500 (by some are

In Osaka, Japan now!

2010-01-18T11:30:00.003+09:00

I made it to Osaka, Japan last night at 9:30 PM. First order of business was to collect my luggage, go through customs, and eat some tuna sushi! I'm glad I did as it hit the spot. I unsuccessfully managed to walk to Exit 31 at Namba Station, which seemed like a mile, lugging four bags equaling well over 70 lbs, only to discover that Exit 7 would put me a two minute walk from my current location,

Vanuatu Mints US President Barack Obama on a 50 Vatu Coin

2009-06-28T03:09:00.005+09:00

Well this is definitely significant news. It appears that a company located in Rosemount, MN has decided to mint a 50 Vatu collectors coin for the Republic of Vanuatu with US President Barack Obama's face on it! I have to admit I am bemused by this and honestly wonder if they have government authorization to do so?Given the slang use of the word "fifty" in Bislama it really begs to question the

Nothing new.

2009-06-21T06:43:00.002+09:00

Sorry folks. Nothing really new to report. Twitter seems to be the new method of micro-blogging so I have kind of migrated between FB and Twitter. If anything interesting happens in the next few weeks I will be sure to update.

The Repatriation Journey

2009-01-01T01:59:00.005+09:00

Those of you that follow me on Facebook know that I flew my mother to Korea to assist in repatriating me because the three screws that attached my femur to the femoral head of my right leg managed to unwind, creating a gap where the original fracture is. I can't begin to explain how excruciatingly painful the unwinding process was, but when it did happen it seemed like almost daily, over a period

The Visa Run Part 2

2008-10-03T10:20:00.002+09:00

I made it to Busan via the KTX high speed rail from Seoul. I did a red eye, left my house at 11PM on the bus and loitered at Seoul Station until 5:10AM. I got her in Busan at 8:25AM on Friday. In two more hours (12:30PM) I will get on the hydrophoil boat for a three hour ride to Fukuoka (which I want to say sounds like F#%k-u OK?), but it really is pronounced "Foococa." So this trip looks like a

2008-10-03T01:43:00.000+09:00

The Visa Run - Part 1 So I go to work today and get a phone call from my recruiter... "Nam Tasa, guess what? Your tourist visa is going to expire on October 12th and because immigration is still processing your working visa you need to leave the country. We suggest you go to Japan for the weekend via the ferry from Busan. this way when you come back your tourist visa will be good for another 30

Greetings from the South Pacific

2008-08-17T15:31:00.002+09:00

Yes it is true. I made the 36 hour journey here from South Korea. I think that the journey in and of itself was one in which I needed to reflect on my time spent. One cannot integrate into a society in one year (maybe one can, but it is pretty difficult). On my departure I knew I would be back, it is just a matter of time. For me, I needed to break away and come back here, but even in coming back

Google Transit Rocks!

2008-07-22T22:35:00.002+09:00

With Gas prices over USD$4.00 per gallon, and over USD$8.00 per gallon in other parts of the world, Google is once again providing a valuable service to people rethinking the value of public transportation. The new site is called Google Transit. It is currently offered in 11 countries. I have checked out routes to places my aging parents can't afford to pick me up from and it's pretty good.I like

Saved by the bell...

2008-07-20T16:36:00.002+09:00

This is going to be one of the most unique tales I have ever experienced, and privileged to retell. It is the story of a middle school bully that was saved from the wrath of Nam Tasa by the school bell. Sometime over last weekend I was surfing an alumni website and posted a "Hello from Korea" message to the forum because some of my former classmates have changed email addresses and we lost

The Reemergence of Alex

2008-07-10T20:04:00.002+09:00

Just when I thought that even my Korean friends had moved on, I bump into Alex in a military uniform at a Hof (drinking establishment that serves snacks). The establishment was located right next to where his Tandori Chicken restaurant was. He was sitting in the outdoor seating section as I was walking home from work. Both of our jaws dropped in surprise, he flagged me over and introduced me to

30 Days and counting

2008-07-08T22:55:00.003+09:00

I know, I know. I have not been a very active blogger lately. But, as I see it, the stress of some more unforeseen circumstances that I cannot control, and the loss of intelligent conversation (in a language and cultural context I can understand) for several months, have reduced my brain to mush. I need some human interaction other than "May I go to the bathroom please?" just to get out of being

Flatulation!

2008-05-04T21:55:00.003+09:00

Yes, it is true. Just when I think the random phrases that I have to teach my students becomes really bad, it just gets worse! So this week I learned that the new curriculum has some new action phrases that I will most likely, at some point, teach the kindergarten children.The new books have this charades like game in it that has a picture that instructs the kids to do something and say the

Parrots!

2008-04-28T23:45:00.002+09:00

I think I have come to believe that some of my students are not attending my classes to learn. Yeah, sure I have to take responsibility and manage the classroom, but if they don't understand what I am teaching or what they are saying then what is the difference? I guess I would not feel this way if the grading policies were based on performance of the students rather than on what the parents want

My New Business Project

2008-03-16T23:42:00.002+09:00

I am not sure if I stated before that My Korean friend Alex (Chung Won) introduced me to one of his friends Park who went to university in Utah. He really is a nice bloke that has better English abilities than Alex and is becoming a very good friend. When I arrived on Thursday from the US he called me in a panic to assist him in translating some documents for a work presentation he had on Friday.

AFN i finis nao

2008-03-14T21:34:00.002+09:00

Yes it is true. Armed Forces Network is no longer being showed on cable networks here in Korea. This is actually good news since the people that I know that have served in the US military and have been subjected to the propaganda all agree that life without "No Go Joe" is a plus!

Home Again Via Japan

2008-03-14T15:42:00.001+09:00

Today is Friday, March 14, 2008. I have returned home to Korea. It was a long trip; I had an 18+ hour layover in Japan. The journey home itself began at 6:00AM Pacific time and had me back home about 43 hours later. However, I decided to get a hotel room in Tokyo as the trip there was so rough and long that I could not hang in the airport the whole time. Even walking around the airport I realized

Family Emergency PT 2

2008-03-14T14:42:00.001+09:00

Well, on Thursday, March 6, 2008 we did get the results I was hoping for. They switched my Grandmother to Oxyfast (generic name Oxycodone) and that did just the trick. OK, she was much more comfortable, but when we went to see her she was unconscious; she remained this way until her death on Friday, March 7, 2008 at 3:16AM. This was the first time I have ever seen a loved one die over a period of

Family Emergency PT 1

2008-03-05T20:29:00.004+09:00

Well, I arrived. It has been a sucky trip, my grandma is dying and I am here to help make sure she is comfortable before she goes because I was her favorite, and also because taking care of her needs to be a family affair and I am the only one that can bring the family together and lead the effort to look after her health. It would be unfair of me to say that I am the one doing all the work and

I AM IN TOKYO

2008-03-02T15:35:00.002+09:00

I AM IN TOKYO ON MY WAY TO THE US FOR A FAMILY EMERGENCY. WILL POST ONCE STATESIDE. I LAND AT LAX SUNDAY AT 0930. SEE YOU SOON.

Austrailian PM - "Sorry Speech"

2008-02-14T19:05:00.002+09:00

In honor of the Aussie PM's "Sorry Speech," I thought it appropriate to highlight some excerpts here. It really is a big deal that has prompted emotional celebrations all across Australia. I am really proud of PM Rudd for beginning the healing process for the nation. Without any further adieu, here it is:February 13, 2008I move: That today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the

Australia Humbled

2008-02-13T20:46:00.002+09:00

Finally, Australia apologizes for over 60 years of abuse, racism, and arrogance. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appears to be good for that nation! See the video of the apology here. Way to go Australia for figuring it out! After I watched the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence" I could not help but feel for the aboriginals for their abuse by a bunch of convicts that infected their country like a disease only

Happy Korean New Year!

2008-02-04T23:35:00.000+09:00

Tomorrow evening begins the Lunar Holiday, which basically means it is time for the Korean Traditional New Years Celebrations. I am off to Busan after work with two foreigners. I will be back on Sunday... Happy Korean New New Year!

Political Temptation

2008-02-03T14:38:00.000+09:00

A friend and I have been having this discussion on the separation of church and state and the USA as a Christian Nation. There is a nationally syndicated radio talk show that has a podcast on the net called "The White Horse Inn." [http://www.whitehorseinn.org/]I found it amazing that Michael Horton, Rod Rosenbladt, Kim Riddlebarger and Ken Jones made some pretty good jabs at the church for

Korean Traditional Gas Delivery

2008-01-13T21:01:00.000+09:00

Yep, it's a crazy idea, but when one lives in a country that is quite compact, this becomes quite common. I took this photo in Insadong close to Seoul Backpackers hostel, where my friend and I stayed. No, it's not an Al-qaeda bike bomb, it is a gas delivery bike. To me the concept seems crazy, considering the large number of bikes that ignore rules and drive on sidewalks, but I guess that is

Dream Theater in Seoul

2008-01-13T19:41:00.000+09:00

Well, this weekend my friend that I met in Australia that is teaching south of me invited and paid for my ticket to see Dream Theater, a progressive metal band from New York.I think the reason why this band got such a warm welcome from Koreans is because of the bands bassist; he was born in America to Korean parents. The thing that I am confused about is that their music is so angry, yet

I AM AT A

2008-01-12T20:22:00.001+09:00

I AM AT A CONCERT IN SEOUL, A BAND CALLED DREAM THEATRE. IT'S MORE LIKE A NIGHTMARE THEATRE. THEY SUCK BIGWAN, WITH A CAPITAL "B." MORE ON THIS LATER.

Seoul's Best 100

2008-01-05T19:43:00.000+09:00

Many of you probably have seen this tag on some of my posts so I thought I'd explain what it is all about. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (see link here) publishes every year a guide of the best 100 things to see, do, eat[/drink), and buy while visiting Seoul (or Korea). I got a copy of this small book from my counterpart and decided to take on the challenge of partaking in as many of these

Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-01T18:05:00.000+09:00

Happy new near everyone. This submission is a bit belated, but such is the story of life. This year was probably one of the most amazing new year celebrations I have had in my life (maybe). Since I had most of the week off I decided that the best thing to do was to go into Seoul and find a party. In all honesty, I decided that I'd be in Seoul for New Years back in September.With the plan set in

Possible!

2007-12-06T18:55:00.000+09:00

I have come to realize that Korean people are very persistent; even when dialing a wrong phone number. This morning my Canadian co-worker got several calls from a Korean man that had the wrong number. He started calling her at 8:00AM and kept calling her and speaking in Korean in spite of the fact that she told him ten times that she does not know Korean. She gets to the office and he calls again

Picture Day!

2007-12-06T04:15:00.000+09:00

So yesterday was picture day for the morning Kindergarten classes. They try to arrange it so there is one Korean teacher and one foreign teacher in every picture. I got to be in two of my morning classes Oxford and MIT. Oxford, initially, was a very messy class. On my first day they pretty much chewed me up and spit me out and the Korean teacher ended the misery 10 minutes early for me as she saw

Work and Life Update

2007-11-30T20:36:00.000+09:00

It's time to give an update on things going on here. The culture shock is getting better and this is putting me in a better mood. Being in a better mood is helping things out at work too. Most of the challenges I have been having in the classroom are gradually going away. This is in part because I have lowered my expectations and am motivating the students with rewards. This has resulted in

TV who needs it?

2007-11-30T00:35:00.001+09:00

Living so close to the other country with the same name in the North you would think that the military would have a little class. Unfortunately, a friend of mine that did an internship at an embassy in the Pacific was subjected to military tv; he held the same opinion.I find it funny that the US military attempts to prove to the world that they are the best and baddest military in the world, yet

It's #@$king Cold!!!

2007-11-19T21:05:00.000+09:00

Wow! This is the first time I have lived in a place where there are a FULL four seasons and it is not fun. OK, Fall was cool and the colors were very pretty, but we got a cold snap over the weekend and it is now snowing outside. We don't like snow. Thank heavens for the ondol.There is not much to say on this end. I went to the Techno-mart in Seoul to buy a wireless router; that was cool. I

Namsan Park (#15 Seoul's Best 100)

2007-11-04T16:48:00.000+09:00

This picture was taken from the Seoul Tower on my birthday, and goes out to all of my friends from London and Paris, and my relatives from Germany. I went there with my counterpart from Canada. We had a good time, but man it was hot that day and I lost about a pound from sweating so much.To get there one must scale Mount Namsan which is 480 meters above sea level. The tower offers a panorama view

Traveling to Jeonju by Bus

2007-11-04T14:54:00.000+09:00

Jeonju is literally in the sticks. It's very close to Busan and only a 2.5 hour bus ride from Singal Station to Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Instead of getting off the bus at the Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal, I opted to get dropped off at the stadium, but that was a challenge. In fact everything was a challenge and required the help of locals and lots of charades. The trip went something like this.

I AM ON A BUS

2007-11-04T14:08:00.001+09:00

I AM ON A BUS HEADED BACK HOME FROM AN OVERNIGHT TRIP TO JEONJU. THE COUNTRYSIDE IS VERY PRETTY THIS TIME OF YEAR. I WILL SHARE MORE THOUGHTS ONCE I AM HOME.

Nothing to say

2007-11-01T20:43:00.000+09:00

I'd write more, but honestly there is nothing to write about. Things are getting better in increments. I am learning how to teach the students what respect is and they are getting it. Often though, it comes in the form of punishment which they, for the most part, are responding to. I have to be careful though because their is a delicate balance between needing students and discipline. Let's face

The Ondol...

2007-10-15T07:13:00.000+09:00

I can't believe that fall is already here. It is getting down into the 40's F at night and I have had to turn the ondol on. The "ondol" is the Korean traditional underfloor heating system and is renowned as one of Korea's greatest developments in architectural design. Although the modern ondol has been altered much from its traditional roots, current ondol's consist of a network of hot water

Seoul 2007 International Fireworks Festival

2007-10-14T18:49:00.000+09:00

Yesterday approximately 2 million people found there way to Yoido Island in Seoul to attend the 2007 International Fireworks Festival. I confess that I am not one for capturing pictures of fire- works, but I did get this one that I am fond of. There is a tree in the picture that is silhouetted by the fireworks on the other side. I met a friend in front of the worlds largest church, Yoido Full

Interesting...

2007-10-12T23:47:00.000+09:00

OK, This one appears to identify how I feel... But regardless of what it says, I'll bet it says the same thing for everyone... Your Score: A Bit Of Both You are 40% Calvin and 60% Hobbes Calvin & Hobbes, like a scruffy yin and yang, are in perfect balance within you. Like Calvin, you're weird, a bit insecure, and can be a trouble-maker. But like

Sex, Drugs, and Norebang

2007-10-12T21:55:00.000+09:00

Korea is lacking in nothing. I finally can recognize a drug store when I see one. The picture is of the hangul writing that is displayed on every pharmacy. I still don't know what it means in English, but if I need aspirin or something for my bellyache I can find it here.I came very close to going to a Norebang (karaoke) last night, but the crowd got weird so I went home early to get some sleep.

Sorry, no yellow machine mayhem...

2007-10-12T11:37:00.001+09:00

Just a boring dinner and sleep at home.

More yellow machine mayhem coming soon...

2007-10-11T18:55:00.001+09:00

Whew, I survived today and now it is tonight! Yeah! I have always worn my profession on my sleeve and that is a nasty habit that I had to break. I am happy to say that I am no longer a work-aholic. I love me time and can't get enough of it. I really need to make a career out of fun, maybe become a funologist, but then that would become work then I'd fall off the wagon and become a work-aholic

Sleep is a good thing and so are three hour lunches

2007-10-11T14:49:00.001+09:00

Why? Because even fretful sleep is still sleep--And when life gets in the way of a good nights sleep, any sleep at all is better than none. The challenge is fitting the other more, appropriate need in the same amount of time... Food. Time for it. I am afraid to tell as it is not exotic enough to be mentionable on this blog... I gotta eat... Later.

Silence is a timewarp and mimes are freaks

2007-10-11T07:46:00.000+09:00

I know, I am being quirky and philosophical right now, but I gotta get this out of my system. I have never been content with pregnant pauses... Ever. And even far less patient when reduced to the likeness of a mime in Paris that only knows Greek. Which just reminded me of Bastile day 2006 in Paris when my step dad walked up to a French Police officer inquiring why the bridge over the Seine river

The world is my oyster, but I like sushi. Why can't the world be my sushi?

2007-10-11T03:57:00.000+09:00

Flashback 2003. When I made the decision to move to the South Pacific to do some development work on an archipelagan paradise, and decompress from the madness of life in Southern California I thought that things would be the same when I returned. Because I was from Southern California I thought I would be able just drop back into my scene, my life as I knew it, just two years later. I never

The Trash Fairy - Revealed!

2007-10-09T08:11:00.000+09:00

Last night we had a cold snap that caused me to turn on the heater. I am still trying to get the hang of the controls and over heated my apartment and nearly burnt my feet when I got out of bed (more on the heating system later). So I decided to open a window and get some fresh air and when I did I heard the clinging of glass outside my apartment. I was relieved because I knew the Trash Fairy was

Seafood delivery truck

2007-10-07T22:07:00.000+09:00

It doesn't get any fresher than this. It is a Seafood delivery truck. The tank on the back is an aquarium and inside are fish, squid, and other shellfish that will become someones dinner tonight. I spotted this find in Seoul the day I got lost in Seoul before my first date with my new Korean girlfriend. Basically the truck comes and empties its tanks with a net into a host of tanks outside the

Mmmm... Yellow Machine Fun?

2007-10-07T19:01:00.001+09:00

When in Rome, do as the Romans... This is a testimony to the random things that I have experienced. It is funny, stupid, and one of the many random and stupid things I will do in Korea that I probably would not do elsewhere. It is a claw machine with prizes in the bottom and the players challenge is to locate the claw above the prize of their choosing and hope for the best. My average cost per

Sauna, Massage Rooms, and Beauty Shops (Seoul's Best #32)

2007-10-07T18:51:00.000+09:00

Saunas in Korea are known as public bath houses where the women and men each have their own areas and are given a key for a locker for their clothes. They cost anywheres from around USD$4.00 to USD$14.00 and most include a Jimjilbang (sleeping room) where after a shower and soak one can sleep overnight on the floor of the sleeping room on a thin mat with a block for a pillow. There really isn't a

The random things I say...

2007-10-07T10:12:00.000+09:00

cause people to laugh at me and I don't know why. In Vanuatu it was my clever way of explaining to my village that I needed to leave church early because the manioc laplap I ate the night before has given me gas and I was too embarrassed to pass it on a wooden pew in an echoey church. Hey, I did not know that there was a word in Bislama for flatulation. I looked all the possibilities up in the

Geek Paradise - Yongsan Electronics Mart (Seoul's Best # 94)

2007-10-06T23:41:00.000+09:00

This is the place that will make a true geek drool. It's the largest electronics market in Asia with over 7,000 shops housed in 20 buildings. I got lost wandering the 10 floors of one of the buildings, and all the choices were way too much for a guy that has been living for over three years in a small South Pacific Island nation where choices are limited to either the supplier that sells what you

"Yes" is the new "No"

2007-10-06T14:29:00.000+09:00

I recall in Vanuatu that "no" is the universal answer to almost any question or comment to avoid misunderstandings and maintain a bit of privacy. In these situations it is mostly used to stop the conversation from going further. Every question has to have an answer even when one does not want to answer very personal questions to complete strangers outside the village or on the street. When this

The Trash Fairy

2007-10-06T14:03:00.000+09:00

It took about two weeks and a pile of full trash bags near my door before I discovered the Trash Fairy. I search diligently outside to find a trash bin with no luck at all. So I decided to walk up the street and just see if my apartment building shared one with another or just figure out what to do with my trash. One thing I noticed is that outside every apartment building are three mesh bags or

Why I will never answer my door

2007-10-06T12:12:00.000+09:00

The obvious answer in the states is to avoid door-to-door sales people that pedal anything and everything from encyclopedias to religion. However, in Korea we have the door-to-door "gas sniffing lady." No, its not a joke, it is for real. Normally everyday my door is plastered with advertising stickers selling everything from food to women; I ignore them and the "Trash Fairy" comes and makes them

My head is going to explode

2007-10-05T13:18:00.000+09:00

I don't think I will ever get used to culture shock. After living close to four years over seas, it still gets the best of me. It is compounded by some very challenging stuff at work that has me reeling right now. There is one thing that everyone should know about me is if one challenges my integrity, they better be right... If you are wrong be careful in the future... The culture here was

Happy Birthday to me!

2007-09-26T00:18:00.001+09:00

I got this text message from my friend Alex tonight at midnight. I did not get it and had to call him to ask what it says... He told me that it says, "Happy Birthday!"I get it now.---------- Forwarded message ----------From:Date: Sep 26, 2007 12:13 AMSubject: ¢½ iiii ¢½To: Nam Tasa ♡ iiii ♡ 생일┏━━┓너무┏♥+*+*♡┓너무┃~☆∼★~┃추카┻━━━━┻

SMS Dating

2007-09-25T10:49:00.000+09:00

It all happened so fast. A chance meeting on a confusing bus ride resulted in a girl asking for my mobile phone number. Since then we have been sending text messages to each other everyday then yesterday this string of text messages ensues:Her: where r u? seoul or home?Me: lost. seoul i think. near singil station.Her: singal or singil. u in yongin now?Her: any tall buildings near u?Me: yes.

Saturday Night In Suwon

2007-09-24T10:08:00.001+09:00

I went to see a movie in Suwon on Saturday night and this was the scene on the street at the beginning of Soju row. We found a Karaoke Bar that was decorated like a cave. Nice place and it was very entertaining to boot. We had three hours between the movie and dinner so we went there for a few drinks and to watch Koreans do what they do best... Sing and drink. I know that statement sounds harsh

Gyeongbokgung Palace (#1 Seoul's Best 100)

2007-09-24T05:11:00.000+09:00

This is #1 on the Seoul's best 100 things to see and do list. It is also my second stop with my friend and former boss from the US that visited me within 3 weeks of my arrival in Korea.This palace was established in 1395 as the residence for the founder of the dynasty at the time. It has the best representative example of the architecture during the Joseon Dynasty, and is a culmination of the

Samsung SPH-W2500 WCDMA World Phone

2007-09-24T01:25:00.001+09:00

OK, Here it is... A picture of my new Samsung SPH-W2500 WCDMA mobile phone. This baby comes with a 2.0 megapixel camera, video, 42MB internal storage, 1GB external Scandisk storage, MP3 Player, Movie Player, MS Word, MS Excel, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Operates on CDMA/HSDPA Broadband Service, and is compatible with GSM 900/1800/1900/850 SIM chips so it really is meant to be the last phone one will

Korea Wired!

2007-09-24T01:16:00.001+09:00

Korea is the world's most wired nation and to celebrate I am sending this update from my new Samsung SPH-W2500 WCDMA Global roaming mobile phone. It has everything and I like it! Pictures coming soon!

Literary Irony

2007-09-23T18:13:00.000+09:00

Several comments have made my email box to inform me that I misspelled "newsreal" in the title of this blog, and the proper spelling should be n-e-w-s-r-e-e-l. My first thought is.... Hmmmm.... I am an English Teacher so I need to be able to convey the understanding of words and paronomasia, or puns. If you know me then you know that I love puns because I think they are "punny." 8-) In all

I perhaps have a new love...

2007-09-17T21:13:00.000+09:00

Restaurant that is! This particular restaurant has been closed since I got here, but according to my sources in the last year has reopened four times. You can tell when it reopens as the street corner is a buzz with dancing beauties and bad loud music (by the beauties). I haven't eaten here yet, butit looks like another Korean BBQ restaurant. Now if the waitresses look anything like this on the

Galbi (BBQ pork ribs)

2007-09-17T21:00:00.000+09:00

The infamous Galbi (bbqed pork ribs). You get a bunch of plates of kimchi, cabbage salad, three different soups, pickled onions, lettuce, mushrooms, garlic, and some other stuff to throw on the grill and feast to your hearts desire. No need to worry about not finishing as you get more food than one person could possibly eat. Just cook at the table and enjoy. Mmmm..... Galbi!Why all of the metal

Gu Gong Tan Restaurant (Korean BBQ)

2007-09-17T20:49:00.000+09:00

Here is a picture of the infamous Gu Gong Tan Restaurant around the corner from my house. This is where I first was introduced to Korean food on my first day of landing here in Korea. Since then I have eaten here with my two Canadian co-workers, now we eat here at least 3 to 4 times a week. They know us so well that they give us freebies. We also ate the crab and spicy noodle soup for breakfast

Spicy Noodles and Crab

2007-09-17T13:59:00.001+09:00

Breakfast at 3:30AM on Saturday. The chicken was deflated and the restaurant closed so we wandered into the restaurant next door for some Spicy noodles and crab. A good breakfast, but the heartburn is killing me. The spices come from the mass amounts of red chili pepper they cook with. It goes on pretty much everything except the breaded pork cutlet, which has a sweet and sour type sauce on it.

No More Tandori Chicken

2007-09-17T13:45:00.000+09:00

This is my friend Alex. I met him by walking in his restaurant on my third day here. He was the owner of this nice little Tandoori Chicken franchise that recently shut down the entire chain putting him out of business. On Friday night I attended the after/closing party with some of his other Korean friends. We stayed until the inflatable chicken was deflated. Fun was had by all, but the place

Socks, trucks, mobile market

2007-09-17T13:34:00.001+09:00

While there are some nice outdoor market houses in Seoul, one cannot get away from the random street vendors that sell anything from tasty deep fried mandu to socks. Most have some kind of tape they play on the stereo in the vehicle, and others drive around with ice cream truck music playing loudly until they find a good corner to park on.This guy just quietly sells socks. Plain ones cost about

Korean Celadon Earthenware

2007-09-17T13:18:00.003+09:00

Korean pottery has been around for over 10,000 years, but the 12th Century is when skilled artisans developed and churned out celadon earthenware with the infamous green tint. In later years as artisans in China played with the temperatures of the kilns and the materials used they developed blue tints and colors that rapidly spread across Asia and eventually found there way to Europe.

Ìnsadong Traditional Crafts

2007-09-17T12:45:00.000+09:00

This a picture of the facinating traditional sculptures dating back hundreds of years and are now on sale in this very trendy and artsy suburb of Seoul. As I walked through the maze of street vendors and shops I found this one to be one of the most well displayed. To bring out the definition of each piece the shop owner sprays them with a water bottle. Eventhough China is well known for their

Jogyesa Temple

2007-09-17T08:40:00.001+09:00

While on my way to Insadong I found this temple just a few short blocks away. The outside was very interesting, but I had to peer on the inside to get a glimpse of what everyone else was kneeling to. If I understood a local who gave me some insight correctly, there are murals painted on the outside depicting the many different gods one can pray to; one for prosperity, one for luck, health, etc.

Tasty Goodness...

2007-09-17T07:54:00.001+09:00

One may find it hard to believe, but I do eat pretty healthy here. The day usually begins with eggs, toast, and coffee. Lunch consists of either Korean BBQ, cold noodles, or some other Korean type dish I can't spell yet. Dinner is more of the aforementioned. So on this particular Sunday I decided to take a friends advice and head into Insadong (famous for it's traditional crafts and pottery) to

I am an Alien!

2007-09-13T13:17:00.000+09:00

OK, it's official. I am a Certified Alien... In Korea that is. This really is good news as it means that I can officially get a mobile phone, use it for social networking purposes, and can even use the camera to make sure that my hair looks good!**Whilst on a subway I saw a girl using her camera phone to put make up on. Now I can have a camera phone too! All this from one simple little Certified

In Honor/Horror of Thursday's

2007-09-13T08:29:00.000+09:00

This one goes out to a friend in Vanuatu. Today is Thursday. Tomorrow is a special event at school and as a result I don't have to go to work until 4:30PM. More than likely I will find myself here with my Canadian friends. This is a picture of Samsung Plaza just above Seohyeong Station. It is a 10 minute bus ride from my house to Ori Station then a 5 minute Subway ride to Seohyeong Station. On

In Rememberance of 9/11

2007-09-12T09:05:00.000+09:00

In remembrance of September 11, 2001....The day most of the world mourned. I remember being on a business trip and woke up to this. I was scheduled to depart a few days later for Kentucky to visit the CEO of the company I worked for to receive an award for working as a volunteer to give teens life skills. I missed the flight and left when the ban on air travel was lifted a day later.I felt uneasy

The Switch...

2007-09-11T14:33:00.000+09:00

For a great parody on the annoying phone companies that call and try to get you to switch long distance phone carriers click HERE. Thanks to Ace for the heads up on this one. Personally I would have gone with the mobile....home, but then again I am in Asia and not Europe. Now if they did that here I would definitely not want the mobile home. 8-)

My First Visitor from the US

2007-09-10T09:15:00.001+09:00

While I was waiting in Sydney, Australia for the Korean Consulate to approve my visa I got a return email from a friend in that other business that I used to work in. It was my former boss. He told me that he would be in Seoul on business two weeks after my arrival in Korea and it was my job to show him a good time. Well, if memory serves him correctly, I think we did succeed in the fun

Welcome to The Nam Tasa Newsreal

2007-09-10T08:45:00.000+09:00

Welcome to my new blog. You might be wondering what is up with the name? "Nam Tasa" is the custom name that I was given by Chief Caspar of the Banks Islands in the Republic of Vanuatu. During my good-bye party Chief Casper and his clan performed a custom dance* for me and bestowed a custom name that means "man that can do anything he sets his mind to."The name I was given honestly represents many