There is a Korean coffee shop that SK and I go to from time to time. It’ s called Cafe Bene. Personally, I don’t like the place. I think all the menu items are overpriced and not as delicious as they could be. Even the coffee doesn’t compare to indie coffee shops that we go to. For a chain coffee shop, the items suck. The one thing Cafe Bene has going for it is the atmosphere. It usually has wide open spaces, many chairs and tables, and free wi-fi. It’s good for sitting and relaxing with friends. But, again, it’s expensive. On two occasions, I went there alone, looked at the menu prices, and left empty handed. It wasn’t worth it.
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!
October 7, 2011 at 10:29 am · Filed under Lifestyle
In the Summer time, I went to the gym in the morning. Usually, a lot of old people go in the morning. I met about 3 old guys that frequently said “hello” and spoke a little bit of English with me. When the University semester began, I went back to the gym in the evening.
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.
September 25, 2011 at 10:49 pm · Filed under Lifestyle
This is 1 of 3 books that I purchased last Winter and never got around to finishing, Teaching as Leadership. In short, this is a book that I’ll hold onto and re-read. I think it’s inspirational and motivating. As I read, I thought of many parallels of the low income families and impoverished children that get discounted in the US educational system and teaching here in Korea.
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.
I finished both the wine bottles that the school gave me. So, I bought a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The Californian brand ‘Barefoot’ brand was on sale, and I wanted an American wine to sample. Actually, I think I’m always going to buy American wines.
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.
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