That morning, I woke up and went about my regular routine. I made cereal, sat down, and checked the internet: It was a pretty average internet day. As I got ready to go to work, I jacked in Nano and put in my ear buds. On second thought, I thought that I’d leave my Nano behind. I had a lot of things to carry and concern with that day. As I unjacked the Nano, it slipped from my hand and hit the floor. I checked it, and it was giving me a blank white screen. It was still playing music, but I couldn’t get it to display a menu or anything: just a bright screen. It wouldn’t respond to any clicks.

When I arrived at school, no more than 30 minutes later, a coworker came into my office. He said, “Did you see the news? Your friend just died.” I inquired, “Who might that be?” And he said, “Steve Jobs” I declared bullshit, because I had checked the internet just before leaving work. There had been nothing in my RSS reader or the blogosphere about his death. But sure enough, I checked the latest news and it was loud and clear. Steve Jobs had past away.

Was his life somehow intertwined with my iPod Nano? I can only wonder…

All the teachers are told to issue grades on a curve. Each class, no matter, if they are high or low level students, should have A to C students. (Ds and Fs are at the teachers discretion.) One of the problems that arises is that if you have a class of high level students, who try hard and speak English well, it’s difficult to give Cs to some of those students. And one teacher, apparently, can’t do it.

The first semester, SK told me that XXX teacher gave As to ALL his students. Every class, every student got an A. WTF? We were told not to do this! What grading scale on tests, quizzes, debates, presentations, etc did XXX use that every student could get an A. XXX teacher was told to go back to his grades and give some Bs. He did, but only a few.

He created grade inflation, and all the students learned about it. Students not in his class complained. They said it was unfair to have a “harsh grading teacher.” Since, students knew that XXX teacher graded lightly, they sought out his classes. This semester, when we changed teachers, YYY teacher had a difficult time giving grades to students, because they said, “Ahh, but XXX gave me an ‘A’ last semester. How can I get a C this semester?” And even in my classes, I had some low students talk about XXX teacher and how they could have got an ‘A’ in his class. It was annoying.

From the beginning of this semester, the Head of the English Department stressed that all of teachers should be grading on a curve. As, Bs, and Cs. She said this numerous times. She talked about how students were talking. In the beginning, because SK had told me, I was the only teacher who knew what XXX teacher had done. I kept my mouth shut, but later, the other teachers slowly asked questions and had to find out from students what XXX had done with grades. In the last meeting of the semester, the Head of the English Department stressed this again. This time, I could see her staring directly at XXX teacher. I wondered, “Holy Cow. Is she calling him out? She’s looking directly at him. How awkward.”

After the final exams, when it was time to figure out grades, the 4 “good” teachers came to school. We got our curves and paper work finished. The other 3 teachers … were … not around. They didn’t have to be around, but where were they? What were they doing? Around the deadline to turn in grades, SK told me that XXX came in and turned in grades. She said it was all As and Bs. There were no Cs. I was just dumbfounded like “WTF?” What is wrong with you that you couldn’t give a single C to any of your students? What were you doing on quizzes and tests? SK notified the Head of the Department, and she said that XXX was going to get a personal email from the Director. Seriously, just WTF?!?

The other 2 teachers, apparently didn’t finish all that was required from them. Therefore, SK said she had to go back and fix their mistakes. If these teachers had been around and got their work done with the rest of us after the final exams, it is hard to imagine that they would have made these mistakes.

An interesting lecture by Susan Engel. It’s long, but very thought provoking in my mind.

- hapkido, yoga, pilates, dance, or general physical activity
- spend less time dicking around on the internet
- read more books
- cook more meat
- make $10,000 trading
- complete Sogang Korean 3B textbook
- Theory of Literature Theory
- Death with Shelly Kagan
- Hobbit Lectures

Some of these, I have not met or I’ve come close to completing. I have been going to the gym very regularly which has been great. That, in itself, has helped me to decrease the time that I dicked around on the internet. I have been reading more books. I finished ‘Tom Sawyer’ today. Breaking my iPod Nano and using the Kindle app has been a huge factor in this. Recently, I’ve finished the Steve Jobs book, Tony Hsieh book, and I read ‘Alice in Wonderland’ before that. So, when I have long or short commutes, I whip out the iPhone and read.

My biggest regret is that I haven’t finished that Sogang Korean 3B textbook. My Korean proficiency just hasn’t been improving as well as I would like it to have been. Every Saturday, I’ve been going to my Korean classes. However, I dont think that they help me that much. We use a different book in this class. There is too much grammar comprehension rather than practical usage and conversation. The Sogang textbooks are wonderful for conversation and critical thinking.

This year, I was delighted to get rid of one mutual fund. I bought it in 2007. It went down in the stock market. That wasn’t a bad think, but it never gave consistent dividends. Year by year, I expected some kind of return, but it never happened. Luckily, it did go over my initial purchase price and I sold at a small profit. But I got out of it at a good time. Over 4 years, it gave me next to nothing.

I haven’t been cooking much meat, but I have still been eating it. Every time I make a pilgrimage to Costco, I buy some meat and cheese. (You joke CJ, but Korea is lacking in deli meats and real cheese) I try to eat a little bit of meat and cheese each day.

For 2012, I’m probably going to keep the same goals. I think there is room for improvement for each of these goals. And these are the most fundamental for me.

YTN reports that Seoul plans to gradually sack all native English speaking instructors teaching English at elementary, middle and high schools throughout the city by 2014.

A Seoul Metropolitan Council official said according to a poll, students and parents preferred Korean instructors fluent in English over native speakers, and that the council plans to slash Seoul Office of Education’s budget for personnel costs for native speakers.

In the next fiscal year, the city plans to reduce the 30 billion won budget for native speakers by 4.9 billion won; it appears 707 native speakers—57% of the 1,245 total—will leave their schools.

I saw this in the news today. Of course, I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Nonetheless, I do have a Cafe Bene stamp card. And if I go there, I might as well rack up my coffee points for that free coffee.

Today, SK and I were in Seoul and we were looking to kill time. There were many coffee shops around, but I thought “Let’s find a Cafe Bene over these other places. If we’re gonna drink coffee in a place that we don’t usually frequent, we might as well rack up some free coffee points.” And, we walk 15 minutes out of our way to a Cafe Bene.

I hand SK my coffee card. She buys the drinks and I find an open table. When she returns with the drinks, she sets them down and goes to the bathroom. As I’m looking at the tray, I see 2 Cafe Bene cards. I look at them and think, “Why did she get another card? She must have forgot about it. Oh well.” SK returns and we talk for a bit. As she is taking items off the try, she points at the card and the fine print at the bottom. The bottom of the card has the location printed at the bottom.

“Mother F%&$!!!” I was pissed.

We walked 15 minutes to go to this overpriced coffee shop so that I could get my card stamped, and they deny me because it’s not the same Cafe Bene location. And I got a new card to this location, which I’ll likely never come to again.

“Gosh Darnnit”

On top of that, the wi-fi was slow as molasses. The chair seat couldn’t fit between the table legs. I was trying to write in my notebook, and I had to sit on the edge of my seat, because the chair wouldn’t go in any further.

I hate you, Cafe Bene! The entire time I was there, I was pissed. Just stamp the f%&$ing card!

A week ago, I went to the gym on a Saturday morning. I saw many of the old guys. They said “hello” and caught up with me, and then I went to my warm-up routine on the elliptical machine. As I’m working out, a new guy jumps on the elliptical machine next to me and starts talking to me. His English is much better than the older dudes. I thought he was one of them, so I introduced myself and what I do.

He said that he worked for the city government office and wanted to meet with me later for lunch. I thought that was ok, so I gave him my phone number. As we were talking, I couldn’t help being a little annoyed by how quietly he was speaking and the music in the gym. I couldn’t hear the guy! At one point, I stopped exercising to speak and listen to him. But I still couldn’t hear him. Meanwhile, he was on the elliptical chugging away. Then, I grabbed his exercise machine in a gesture of “stop exercising, I can’t hear a word you are saying.” But he still didn’t raise his voice, even after I told him a couple times that I can’t hear you. Anyway… after I gave him my number, he stopped exercising next to me and left. And, I thought to myself, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

At 1 o’clock, I met him for lunch. As we sat and talked, I kept thinking, “OK, … why exactly did you want to meet with me.” Our meeting didn’t seem to have any real purpose other than he just wanted someone to sit and talk to. I would ask him a question, he’d give a really long drawn out answer and I was like “…uh huh.” And all this time, he was speaking too fucking quiet. We were now away from the gym music in a quiet restaurant. He was sitting across from me, and I could not hear him. I was furrowing my brow, moving closer to the table, and asking him to repeat himself. And he didn’t get it. I can’t hear you! When he said that he wanted me to introduce him to the other University teachers, I realized “Yup, you are nuts.” I proceeded to explain to him how busy I am. I’m busy teaching, I’m busy studying Korean, reading books, and exercising. And when I’m not doing that I’m meeting my girlfriend. I tried to let him know that I dont have time for new friends. Especially, crazy friends. After we finished eating, I kinda kept an eye on him just to be sure that he wouldn’t follow me home.

The next day, he called me. He said, “I remember you will meet your girlfriend in XYZ city. If you have time, call me and we can have a beer.” I was like “No.” After that, I changed the settings on my phone. I switched him to the “block call” list.

Monday, I didn’t hear from him. Tuesday, he texted me “Mers?” I wrote back “I’m sorry. I don’t have time to talk. I’m busy.” Wednesday, he texted me again. “In gym?” Why do you want to know if I’m in the gym? Seriously, that is creepy and none of your business for someone who I met 4 days ago. I didn’t respond. Thursday, he texted me again. “What is ur plan. A rest of day?” Again! You are fucking creeping. I texted him back, “I dont have time to meet again. I’m busy with my hobbies and own life. Goodbye.” But I dont think he gets it. You are a crazy fucking loon. He responded with 5 BACK TO BACK messages!

“Don’ worry. About that. I just want know. Ur regards!” “And. Do u go to gym. Today?” “I. Should go to XYZ city” “My wife” “What is ur hobbies?”

Seriously. Piss the fuck off, creepy dude. I didn’t respond. Hopefully, we will stop messaging me! But I don’t think he will. He doesn’t get it. Crazy people don’t know that they are crazy.

I frequently run into ESL teachers who are only here in Korea teaching English for the money or travel. They say that their boss or institution is dysfunctional, or that the students they teach are incapable of learning. Others say “just do the job, take the money, and screw Korea.”

I want to get rid of those people or make them understand that you just have to go out there and ‘teach’. Be a role model, be a leader, be a “teacher” to these students. This is what they need, and the students will appreciate you for it. You can’t make any difference, if you go around with a negative attitude.

…27th is also when I actually do get paid.

This Korean song wasn’t very popular on the charts, but I like it.

I don’t drink beer or Korean rice wine nearly as much as I used to.

From COSTO’s I bought some muscle mass gainer. On days when I go to the gym, I plan to use it as a meal replacer. I don’t want to be a muscle man, but I want to stay lean. Last semester, I don’t think I was getting enough protein in my diet. There’s hardly any meat entrees at the University cafeteria, where I eat lunch every day. And my dinners were spotty.

All my Korean studies are on hold until I finish these last 2 grad classes. However, I signed up for Saturday Korean classes starting September. I’m going to return to the old Academy that I attended in 2009. I’ll attend morning classes for 3 hours each Saturday.

These last 2 grad classes demand a lot of writing assignments on the syllabus. I’m trying to do as much before hand, but writing lengthy reflections is annoying.

At the University job, the oldest English teacher consequently is the worst. During the semester, my running joke was “What does he do in class?”, because … well … (I should write more about that later). He got piss poor reviews from all of his classes. My insider birdy has informed that I will be teaching all of his former classes next semester. He will be teaching all of my former classes. And, that has me worried. It’s like handing my children to a bad nanny. I’m worried for those students I taught.

Saturday, I ate at a restaurant called Dinosaur Meat. It was a $15 meat buffet and it was tit-a-lating. Expensive, but tit-a-lating.

I don’t listen to as much rap/hip hop as I used to. Usually, there are 3-4 good songs on an album and the rest is garbage. Why do rappers add intros, interludes, skits, and so much trash between songs? Anyways, this Ghost Funk album, the Mos Dub, and Dub Kweli albums from Max Tannone have pulled me back in. It’s liek the best vocal tracks over the freshest African, dub, reggae beats.

The albums are free to download and easy to listen to.

I saw one of these on the road and it had me turning my head. They’re also in Korean showrooms.

By 2014, all of South Korea’s elementary-level educational materials will be digitized, and by 2015, the entire school-age curriculum will be delivered on an array of computers, smart phones and tablets. While the country’s education ministry is yet to announce the make or model of the devices it will purchase, it has revealed it will spend $2.4 billion buying the requisite tablets and digitizing material for them.

~ MIT Review

This is a story I’ll have to follow. Personally, I’ve NEVER seen anyone with an e-reader or Kindle in Korea. NEVER. People are still reading paper books. Of course, I think there is no eco-system for e-books, like Amazon has achieved for the Kindle. When there is an eco-system or market place for e-books, maybe a reading device will follow.

I’ve seen very few university students and subway-goers with iPads. The 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab is more prominent. More students and people have them. However, they’re not using them for educational purposes.

I’m sure there are a plethora of educational apps from 3rd party companies trying to peddle their services for big money. Their product will “raise your child’s IQ” or “improve his English ability without the expensive price tag of a private tutor”! That stuff will always be pushed in people’s faces.

I’ll have to wait and see and how this unfolds. If the Korean government wants to make this happen, it WILL happen. But, currently, there is no e-book base. The next time in Kyobo bookstore (the largest bookstore), I’ll check out what they are pushing. Personally, I’d still like to study Korean from a paper book. But, I might be an old fuddy-duddy.

Dutch coffee (so-called “Tears of coffee”) is a method of brewing coffee in Java Island, a former colony of the Netherlands, and it is also known as water drip coffee. It is brewed for 8-12 hours with cold water. It has almost no caffeine and has a unique and deep taste like a wine.

Nevertheless, it tasted … phenomenal!

It was like bitter dark 80% cacao chocolate. I felt really buzzed after drinking it, so I don’t understand how it couldn’t have any caffeine. I’ve now searched the internet for about 2 hours and can’t find any decent blogs or articles about it. WTF is it?

I’m in awe. Truly amazing work.

I thought about buying a pair of those “barefoot” Nike shoes: Free Run. I’d like to go to the gym, exercise, and not put back on or carry around sweaty socks. I thought exercising with these shoes might be the answer. I exercised with my Asics, not wearing socks, and it didn’t feel good. It was abrasive and squishy. Would these Nikes be any different? My Asics are still in good condition. I just don’t want to have sweaty socks.

The 3 books for my next Grad classes arrived. Time to start reading again.

UPDATE: I started reading one book: English Syntax. Wow. This book makes me hate reading. Hate English. And hate life. There are only 5 Chapters: sentence structure, nouns, verbs, modifications, and clauses. If there was a gun around me, do not keep it loaded.

E3 is happening. I think I want to punch Nintendo in the face for that new controller they introduced. They should be promoting the new hardware in their console. Why do they have to constantly introduce some new “gimmick”. How many new Nintendo DSs have they made? 5 or 6? Terrible…. take a lap, Nintendo.

I’ve been watching ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ again. I have to confess that I’m really jealous of those skinny muscular dudes. I like the ballet or contemporary pieces.

When I’m at the gym, I like to use the exercise bike. In front of me are the treadmills. I will unabashedly stare at peoples shoes or bodies. I like watching them move. Hell, if I’m next to a mirror, I’ll look at myself. The movement of the body is miraculous.

A few days ago, I began to ponder what it would be like to be a monk. Suppose I lived in a temple for a year. Away from the city. Away from society. No internet. No TV. Possibly no books. Possibly no talking.

I used to subscribe to this magazine called ‘Seoul’. It’s published by Korean tourism and their are a lot of Korean promotional stuff. It was useful when I was making plans every weekend, but I’m not a subscriber any more. I do, however, continue receiving weekly newsletters by email. One of the newsletters had a survey with an incentive. I put off the survey for a few weeks, but I remembered to come back to it. I sent it in. This week, they told me that I had ‘won’ 2 tickets to “NANTA”. It’s like a Korean cooking… musical? It’s like ‘Stomp’ or dance troupe things. Anyways, it was free. You can’t win unless you play.

Regardless, I need a beer or some alcohol, right now.