I've been here for 6 months and it occurred to me yesterday that for 6 months in a strange country I've done next to nothing.
In 6 months here I haven't even been to the DMZ. I'm starting to get worried the North and South will reunify before I get my lazy ass in gear and go and see the strip of land that separates them.
All this week school have been letting me leave at 1pm. So yesterday I decided to go and check out Busan museum and the UN cemetery. They're not far from my house but I still haven't been to see them.
Being the dozy plank that I am I got on the wrong bloody bus and ended up back at home! Then I sat there watching TV for a few hours till it was time to play footy. What a bloody waste of time!
Whilst I was sat at home watching crap movies, I found my Korea guidebook all dusty and old looking in the corner of my bookshelf. I realised I haven't looked at it for about 3-4 months, and I'd done next to none of the things that it recommends.
I vowed there and then to get this lazy bug out of my ass and instead stick a rocket up it! Over these next 6 months I will own this little peninsula. I will explore every little nook and cranny! No stone will be left unturned, no food left untasted, no alcoholic beverage left undrunk! And at the end of it, there will be a montage!
As god is my witness, this beautiful peninsula is about to get...KEVLARED!
Showing posts with label Korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korea. Show all posts
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, November 15, 2010
Vayz vs Vahz
One of the 1st weeks teaching in Korea and I'm in a Grade 4 lesson. I'm teaching them some new words, and up pops a classic word which separates British and American English...vase.
For anyone who doesn't know, Ronald McDonald would say Vayz and Queen Lizzie would say Vahz.
It's no secret that in Korea, people are more accustomed to an American accent than a British. So without wanting to confuse their 9 year old Kimchi loving minds, I said Vayz.
Since then I've adjusted the way I say many words. I say soccer instead of football, I say Mom instead of Mum, eraser instead of rubber, trash instead of rubbish. I was writing favourite on the board the other day, and I rubbed it out and wrote favorite instead.
I told some British friends about it at the weekend and they were shocked at my treachery to a language "that is ours!" How do you claim to own a language? It's like a dog saying "Well, we invented barking. So if you humans want to woof, you're going to have to pay us in scooby snacks."
As of yet, I haven't pointed out to my students that there are other pronunciations for some words. I've simply said it the American way. These kids have enough vocabulary shoved into their tiny little Kimchi loving heads without having to learn different ways of saying it. After all, I have a much better command of the English language and it's not hard for me to switch between Limey and Yanky Doodle English.
But yesterday my co-teacher gave me a ppt about Thanksgiving and asked me to read it to the kids. The last slide said "Thanksgiving is celebrated every November." I was quick in pointing out that it is celebrated in October in Canada.
I then felt like a bit of a hypocrite and like I haven't been teaching them British things for fear of sounding like a Brit with a chip on his shoulder.
How do you do it? I'm interested to know. Is Kev la a sell out? Should I speak British English and nothing else? Or would that also make me a sell out for not speaking Scouse? Or am I doing the right thing? I'm interested to know how the rest of you feel.
Kev La
For anyone who doesn't know, Ronald McDonald would say Vayz and Queen Lizzie would say Vahz.
It's no secret that in Korea, people are more accustomed to an American accent than a British. So without wanting to confuse their 9 year old Kimchi loving minds, I said Vayz.
Since then I've adjusted the way I say many words. I say soccer instead of football, I say Mom instead of Mum, eraser instead of rubber, trash instead of rubbish. I was writing favourite on the board the other day, and I rubbed it out and wrote favorite instead.
I told some British friends about it at the weekend and they were shocked at my treachery to a language "that is ours!" How do you claim to own a language? It's like a dog saying "Well, we invented barking. So if you humans want to woof, you're going to have to pay us in scooby snacks."
As of yet, I haven't pointed out to my students that there are other pronunciations for some words. I've simply said it the American way. These kids have enough vocabulary shoved into their tiny little Kimchi loving heads without having to learn different ways of saying it. After all, I have a much better command of the English language and it's not hard for me to switch between Limey and Yanky Doodle English.
But yesterday my co-teacher gave me a ppt about Thanksgiving and asked me to read it to the kids. The last slide said "Thanksgiving is celebrated every November." I was quick in pointing out that it is celebrated in October in Canada.
I then felt like a bit of a hypocrite and like I haven't been teaching them British things for fear of sounding like a Brit with a chip on his shoulder.
How do you do it? I'm interested to know. Is Kev la a sell out? Should I speak British English and nothing else? Or would that also make me a sell out for not speaking Scouse? Or am I doing the right thing? I'm interested to know how the rest of you feel.
Kev La
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Kev the Superstar
I was watching this video the other day, reminiscing about the good ol' days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISaOiO7jZFA&feature=fvst
A 5th grade girl came over to my desk, saw Alonso and said "Oh! Teacher, you?!" I nodded very nonchalantly.
Next thing, she goes and gets her mates, and 3 screaming girls come running into my office saying "Teacher! Teacher! Sign here!"
So I wrote Gerrard as though it was a signature, again very cool and calm as though I'd signed a million autographs before theirs.
They leave. 5 minutes later they come back with more friends wanting autographs. Without realising it I even signed the back of a girls photograph of her and her grandmother. I feel a bit bad about that.
It's so easy to tell these kids something which makes me look super cool.
We're using this video for one of our lessons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsNubOGv_mg
I told the students that the guy with the brown hair, the first person you see on the video, that's me when I was 18.
"Wow! Kevin teacher Ga Su(Singer)!" Now they think I'm an international football star and in a British pop band! I'm cool with that. So long as they don't stick a guitar in my hand, they won't find out that all I can play is Mary Had a Little Lamb, and this little performance can happily continue.
Try it. Tell your kids something outrageous and see if you get away with it. Show them a video of Justin Timberlake and tell them he's your cousin. Or show them a video of a popstar they won't know and say it's you. It works a treat and is hilarious. And it gets you more Pepero (빼빼로).
Happy Pepero Day folks.
I was going to say Happy Remembrance Day but I'm not sure you can have a happy one.
A 5th grade girl came over to my desk, saw Alonso and said "Oh! Teacher, you?!" I nodded very nonchalantly.
Next thing, she goes and gets her mates, and 3 screaming girls come running into my office saying "Teacher! Teacher! Sign here!"
So I wrote Gerrard as though it was a signature, again very cool and calm as though I'd signed a million autographs before theirs.
They leave. 5 minutes later they come back with more friends wanting autographs. Without realising it I even signed the back of a girls photograph of her and her grandmother. I feel a bit bad about that.
It's so easy to tell these kids something which makes me look super cool.
We're using this video for one of our lessons http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsNubOGv_mg
I told the students that the guy with the brown hair, the first person you see on the video, that's me when I was 18.
"Wow! Kevin teacher Ga Su(Singer)!" Now they think I'm an international football star and in a British pop band! I'm cool with that. So long as they don't stick a guitar in my hand, they won't find out that all I can play is Mary Had a Little Lamb, and this little performance can happily continue.
Try it. Tell your kids something outrageous and see if you get away with it. Show them a video of Justin Timberlake and tell them he's your cousin. Or show them a video of a popstar they won't know and say it's you. It works a treat and is hilarious. And it gets you more Pepero (빼빼로).
Happy Pepero Day folks.
I was going to say Happy Remembrance Day but I'm not sure you can have a happy one.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween
Halloween in Korea. Everyone seems to know about it! I showed my kids a video on youtube of some cartoon characters singing Monster Mash and they loved it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxcM3nCsglA
Saturday night was the big night out here. Me and some of the lads I play footy with dressed as the 118 guys from the advert. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fdo6NupZsg
Andy went dressed as an injured 118. Mum if you're reading this, don't worry I'm not on crutches again.
Saturday night was the big night out here. Me and some of the lads I play footy with dressed as the 118 guys from the advert. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fdo6NupZsg
Andy went dressed as an injured 118. Mum if you're reading this, don't worry I'm not on crutches again.
Baz had been drinking since midday and was tanked! He's missing in the pic above because he was still in the restaurant chatting up the old lady.
We went down to Haeundae where 4 bars had Halloween events on. We had some food first in a bbq place. Baz stood outside for most of it asking people if they wanted a photo. And a few people actually came in to get a photo with us.
We met Shaz and Lena in the first bar, dressed as a gangster and a French Maid.
Some clown dressed his dog as a hot dog.
Scouse 118 got cramp from running around too much, but Gaz 118 was on hand to help!
Ross was THE MAN...
...until he passed out!
Somehow, this smile never got Kyle arrested.
There were some great costumes floating about the place. Check out this one!
I think possibly the best night out in Korea thus far. But it all got a bit much for me in the end...
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