Friday, April 29, 2011
Dunkin' Donuts, Korean style
Carrot donuts, spinach donuts, glazed tofu, and broccoli. Boston, are you ready for all that??
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Engagement rings
Our engagement rings are in! We ordered them a little while ago, and they just came in. Perfect.
So, how did I pop the big question to Hanna? Here's what happened. Ages ago when I was visiting this beautiful girl on Jeju Island, I was just hanging out for the summer but Hanna was working hard hours at an after-school academy (학원). On a particularly rough day, we went out for a drink afterwards, and I happened to tie a napkin around her finger to cheer her up. She loved her napkin ring so much that she ended up saving it, I think she even has it in a box somewhere back in Jeju.
So April 10th was her birthday, the day I had been waiting weeks for - I'd made the decision to ask her quite some time before, but I was nervous as all hell, of course. It was a Sunday, but I woke up at 5 AM and and couldn't fall asleep, I read a book in bed and watched the skyline slowly brighten. Around 6 I got out of the little napkin I had stolen from the university dining hall, and tied it around Hanna's finger as she slept. I had meant for her to keep sleeping and for her to ask me about it when she awoke, but I guess she could sense something, and she sat up and looked at me. It was now or never. I got on one knee, asked her, and ... well you know the rest. She said yes. :)
That night we went into the city and picked out rings together - Korean style. I wanted to get her one with a stone, and I didn't want a stone in mine, though all of the Korean "couple rings" were bejeweled even for the men. Finally found a little shop with a couple of real nice ladies who gave us a discount for the two we ended up with. This will be my wedding ring, and Hanna's is an engagement ring (I'm sure she'll get a wedding ring as well too^^). I think Hanna has pictures of the napkin ring on her phone, I'll ask her to upload them when she gets a chance. The band-aid has no romantic story attached, just the unfortunate consequence of early morning veggie chopping.
So, how did I pop the big question to Hanna? Here's what happened. Ages ago when I was visiting this beautiful girl on Jeju Island, I was just hanging out for the summer but Hanna was working hard hours at an after-school academy (학원). On a particularly rough day, we went out for a drink afterwards, and I happened to tie a napkin around her finger to cheer her up. She loved her napkin ring so much that she ended up saving it, I think she even has it in a box somewhere back in Jeju.
So April 10th was her birthday, the day I had been waiting weeks for - I'd made the decision to ask her quite some time before, but I was nervous as all hell, of course. It was a Sunday, but I woke up at 5 AM and and couldn't fall asleep, I read a book in bed and watched the skyline slowly brighten. Around 6 I got out of the little napkin I had stolen from the university dining hall, and tied it around Hanna's finger as she slept. I had meant for her to keep sleeping and for her to ask me about it when she awoke, but I guess she could sense something, and she sat up and looked at me. It was now or never. I got on one knee, asked her, and ... well you know the rest. She said yes. :)
That night we went into the city and picked out rings together - Korean style. I wanted to get her one with a stone, and I didn't want a stone in mine, though all of the Korean "couple rings" were bejeweled even for the men. Finally found a little shop with a couple of real nice ladies who gave us a discount for the two we ended up with. This will be my wedding ring, and Hanna's is an engagement ring (I'm sure she'll get a wedding ring as well too^^). I think Hanna has pictures of the napkin ring on her phone, I'll ask her to upload them when she gets a chance. The band-aid has no romantic story attached, just the unfortunate consequence of early morning veggie chopping.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Spring days
Today Hanna asked me, where in the world is the weather like this all year long? I said maybe southern China? Ahh to live in a land of eternal spring!
An unexpected hike
Last week, I went on a run toward a spot on Google Maps where a road disappeared into the foothills of Mudeung Mountain. My plan: go for a quick hike after the run, and if I was too tired to run back to take a taxi.
Here's the very edge of the paved road, disappearing into meadows with burial mounds in the valley.
Since I was planning on running for only about an hour, I didn't think I'd need any water, and I had my wallet just in case. But there were no convenience stores out here, only farms. I almost turned back when I stumbled upon this 약수 (literally medicine water, basically fresh stream water) at a tiny temple, which was just a shack on the side of the road.
Close-up picture of the shrine outside the temple, the red ladle is what you use to drink the water, I just scooped it with my hands right out of the stone bowl. The mat is for your knees as you do the traditional 108 bows.
After drinking I walked up the dirt path you can see in the above pictures to find a hidden lake in the meadow with a bold "NO SWIMMING" sign. I was hot enough that I almost disobeyed, but I ran into some fishermen there so I decided not to. I ended up chatting with them for a little while after asking them how the day's catch was going (not well). One of the fisherman's daughters is a student at Gwangju University where I teach. Drank some beer and ate some snacks with them, and then, properly refreshed, continued on the path up to higher ground.
I could see on my GPS that if I walked for about 30 min or so and cleared the next ridge, I'd be at a bigger lake with another temple and a road back to civilization, so I decided to follow the mountain paths in that direction. As I reached the top of the ridge, caught a glimpse of Mudeung Mountain with some wild flowers.
The white spots in this picture are wild cherry blossom trees in the hillside.
As I came down the other side of the ridge I could see a large lake, dammed on one side. On the bottom left of the picture you can see a cliff, this was a stunning vantage point and a great view of Mudeung Mountain, and the valley below. Wonder why more people don't hike this way? Probably because of the "산입금지" (don't enter the mountain) sign posted near the dam in this valley. In my defense there wasn't a sign on the valley where I came in! ^^
As I hiked back toward the road in the second valley, came across this female Buddha statue at a small temple. Hanna looked at this picture and said 무섭다 - scary!! By this time I really needed another drink of water, but had to walk another 30 minutes on a lonely village road until I found - huzzah! - a tiny convenience store, and a main road where I could flag down a taxi. An hour's run turned into a 3 hour adventure, totally worth it.
Here's the very edge of the paved road, disappearing into meadows with burial mounds in the valley.
Since I was planning on running for only about an hour, I didn't think I'd need any water, and I had my wallet just in case. But there were no convenience stores out here, only farms. I almost turned back when I stumbled upon this 약수 (literally medicine water, basically fresh stream water) at a tiny temple, which was just a shack on the side of the road.
Close-up picture of the shrine outside the temple, the red ladle is what you use to drink the water, I just scooped it with my hands right out of the stone bowl. The mat is for your knees as you do the traditional 108 bows.
After drinking I walked up the dirt path you can see in the above pictures to find a hidden lake in the meadow with a bold "NO SWIMMING" sign. I was hot enough that I almost disobeyed, but I ran into some fishermen there so I decided not to. I ended up chatting with them for a little while after asking them how the day's catch was going (not well). One of the fisherman's daughters is a student at Gwangju University where I teach. Drank some beer and ate some snacks with them, and then, properly refreshed, continued on the path up to higher ground.
I could see on my GPS that if I walked for about 30 min or so and cleared the next ridge, I'd be at a bigger lake with another temple and a road back to civilization, so I decided to follow the mountain paths in that direction. As I reached the top of the ridge, caught a glimpse of Mudeung Mountain with some wild flowers.
The white spots in this picture are wild cherry blossom trees in the hillside.
As I came down the other side of the ridge I could see a large lake, dammed on one side. On the bottom left of the picture you can see a cliff, this was a stunning vantage point and a great view of Mudeung Mountain, and the valley below. Wonder why more people don't hike this way? Probably because of the "산입금지" (don't enter the mountain) sign posted near the dam in this valley. In my defense there wasn't a sign on the valley where I came in! ^^
As I hiked back toward the road in the second valley, came across this female Buddha statue at a small temple. Hanna looked at this picture and said 무섭다 - scary!! By this time I really needed another drink of water, but had to walk another 30 minutes on a lonely village road until I found - huzzah! - a tiny convenience store, and a main road where I could flag down a taxi. An hour's run turned into a 3 hour adventure, totally worth it.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Sunday, April 03, 2011
The Road
Hanna kickin off her boOts with joy in the middle of the road! Or, maybe she had a pebble problem.
hiking a mountain in our backyard
This Saturday Hanna and I hiked 금당산 (Gemdang mtn), one of the local giants that watches over our campus.
We used the GPS on my phone to find a path behind an elementary school leading up into the hills. There's something about encountering a trail with no signs, just a path leading into the forest - exhilarating.
Beautiful, tall purple flowers mingled with the trees.
The view from a bench on the path of part of 남구 (the south section) of Gwangju city, my neighborhood.
When we reached the top we could see right down to Gwangju University campus. The tallest building there toward the center of the picture, with the white towers on the roof, is the classroom building. My office is on the 17th floor, facing this side. With good enough 'nocs, you could see all the papers on my messy desk from where I stood to take that shot.
Whenever I gaze out my window at all these gently rolling hills, I get the urge to pack a couple rolls of kimbap and some makkoli in my backpack and just start walking ...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The official school picture
Posing outside the 호심관 (ho shim gwan) classroom building, standing on the astroturf soccer field that separates the dorm from the classrooms. My office is on the 17th floor, classrooms on the 8th and 16th. Hanna bought me that bag, with it I am without a doubt the coolest prof in school.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Hanna's happy moments
Hanna had a tough day at work, it was raining, and all she wanted was a beer. One Hoegarden left in the fridge! Beer tastes better at the end of a long day. So does a cute baby - thats my friend Lucas's baby San.
만만치않았던 하루! 비도오고해서 맥주로 마무리~ㅋㅋ그래,인생 뭐 있어?이렇게 잊는거지뭐♥산이도 나를 행복하게해~^^
Sunday, January 03, 2010
19 hours in New York City
Back in December, I thought it might be fun to spend New Year's with Hanna in New York City, watch the ball drop in Times Square, all that great stuff. But the one thing we didn't want to do was pay New Year's Eve prices at a hotel. The solution? Bolt Bus early in the morning on the 31st, and back to Boston at 7 AM on New Year's Day. Total roundtrip cost each: $30. Good idea? Well, let's see how it all played out.
The fated e-tickets. Don't have a working printer, so I just showed the guy my camera. Hooray for technology.
That bus was sweet. Even had outlets for charging our iPods and wifi ~ lap of luxury!
The bus dropped us off near Penn Station in Manhattan. Hanna was impressed with the size of all the buildings ...
... then we walked up to Central Park.
We didn't know that they had an ice rink in Central Park - nice surprise! We rented skates and Hanna tried skating for the first time (she's really good).
We made it back to the Times Square area around 7:30 and stood for about a half hour at 54th and 7th streets with this mass of people. Those lights down the hill is Times Square, 12 blocks away (42nd street).
Realizing we still had 4 hours to go, we decided the rules of standing and waiting didn't apply to us, and ducked into a bar across the street "for one drink". 3 hours and 45 minutes later, we came out and rejoined the cold and bored masses, and during the last couple of minutes jumped over the police barrier and saw the ball drop. Huzzah for cheating!
The zoom couldn't zoom 12 blocks, but believe me, we saw it.
After the ball drop, we went to a nightclub, hung out and slept in cafes, hunted for Koreatown and finally found it at 5 AM, slept in hotel lobbies, and made it finally to our bus at 7 AM. Tragically, we took no pictures, so these 7 hours will remain a mystery.
Oh and somewhere along the line we saw the Statue of Liberty. Twice!
Thanks Boltbus !!
The fated e-tickets. Don't have a working printer, so I just showed the guy my camera. Hooray for technology.
That bus was sweet. Even had outlets for charging our iPods and wifi ~ lap of luxury!
The bus dropped us off near Penn Station in Manhattan. Hanna was impressed with the size of all the buildings ...
... then we walked up to Central Park.
We didn't know that they had an ice rink in Central Park - nice surprise! We rented skates and Hanna tried skating for the first time (she's really good).
We made it back to the Times Square area around 7:30 and stood for about a half hour at 54th and 7th streets with this mass of people. Those lights down the hill is Times Square, 12 blocks away (42nd street).
Realizing we still had 4 hours to go, we decided the rules of standing and waiting didn't apply to us, and ducked into a bar across the street "for one drink". 3 hours and 45 minutes later, we came out and rejoined the cold and bored masses, and during the last couple of minutes jumped over the police barrier and saw the ball drop. Huzzah for cheating!
The zoom couldn't zoom 12 blocks, but believe me, we saw it.
After the ball drop, we went to a nightclub, hung out and slept in cafes, hunted for Koreatown and finally found it at 5 AM, slept in hotel lobbies, and made it finally to our bus at 7 AM. Tragically, we took no pictures, so these 7 hours will remain a mystery.
Oh and somewhere along the line we saw the Statue of Liberty. Twice!
Thanks Boltbus !!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
uke envy
I saw these guys a couple years ago in Boston, they were brilliant. Who's for me growing a mustache?? ^^
Sunday, November 15, 2009
grad schoool.
Well, it's been a while since I posted here, it's been an adjustment settling into life in America but since I moved into my new place in sunny ALLSTON!, it's been nice to walk instead of commute in the mornings. Amidst frantic reading, papers, and general learning-about-linguistics-ness (which has been brilliant!), I've managed to get out into the world a little bit and catch up with old friends.
Stu, Dawn-Marie and I at King Richard's Faire.
A normal day at work, socializing with students before class starts.
Students show their (Halloween) school spirit.
Me and my buddy Suzanne wait for the Public Library to open in Copley. Love that place.
The trees on my street in Allston are gorgeous.
It's been hard work, but I really love my program at UMass Boston, the readings are all things that I would have loved to explore on my own, but let's face it - didn't have the self-motivation to ever do so. Life is busy but fulfilling. Honestly, my biggest fear in coming back to Boston and diving back into a more normal (less travel-centered) life is that I'll lose sight of the little things in life that make me smile - changing seasons, a quiet cup of tea, blue skies - I don't want to become one of those busy busy people who's so buried in a schedule that he can't see the world around him. I ever get like that, you've all got permission to kick me in the shins till I wake up. :)
Stu, Dawn-Marie and I at King Richard's Faire.
A normal day at work, socializing with students before class starts.
Students show their (Halloween) school spirit.
Me and my buddy Suzanne wait for the Public Library to open in Copley. Love that place.
The trees on my street in Allston are gorgeous.
It's been hard work, but I really love my program at UMass Boston, the readings are all things that I would have loved to explore on my own, but let's face it - didn't have the self-motivation to ever do so. Life is busy but fulfilling. Honestly, my biggest fear in coming back to Boston and diving back into a more normal (less travel-centered) life is that I'll lose sight of the little things in life that make me smile - changing seasons, a quiet cup of tea, blue skies - I don't want to become one of those busy busy people who's so buried in a schedule that he can't see the world around him. I ever get like that, you've all got permission to kick me in the shins till I wake up. :)
Sunday, September 06, 2009
SNSD!
소녀시대, "Girl's Generation" ~
Tell me your wish
Tell me that small dream you have inside of your heart
Draw that ideal person you have inside of your head
I'm your genie,
I'm your dream,
I'm your genie
Let's go, riding in the dream car
Sit next to me
Throw everything into my guidance
Even if your heart beat explodes
Even if you fly away with the wind
Right now, this moment, the world is yours
Yes, I love you
Always believe in me
My dreams,
My passion
I want to give them all
I want to answer your wishes
I'm the goddess of your fortunes
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for you boy)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your wish)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your dream)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your dream)
Tell me your wish
Don't the boring days bother you?
Have you become buried by your ordinary life?
Now stop and wake up
You are my superstar, shining star, super star
Release your body into the trembling beating of your heart like a Harley
Now this world is simply your stage
The waves of cheers
In my heart, your body temperature is my path
Forever your Biggest Fan
Yes, I love you
Always believe in me
My dreams,
My passion I want to give them all
I want to answer your wishes
I'm the goddess of your fortunes
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for you boy)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your wish)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your dream)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your dream)
DJ Put it back on
Yes, I love you
Always believe in me
My dreams,
My passion I want to give them all
I want to answer your wishes
I'm the goddess of your fortunes
Tell me your wish!
Yes, I love you
You are my Music
I love you
You are my joy
I love you
I want to be your fortune
(Tell me your fantasy, without holding back
I'll show you the genie's path
Tell me your wish, without holding back
Your genie, I will grant them)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for you boy)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your wish)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your dream)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your dream)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for you boy)
Tell me your wish (I'm genie for your wish)
Saturday, September 05, 2009
the highest good
The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.
Tao Te Ching
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.
Tao Te Ching
Friday, September 04, 2009
what is enlightenment?
I've been thinking about this question for a few years now, and whenever I'm struck by something I read or experience, I try to somehow add it to my own unwieldy definition. I know others have said it more simply, but I see the journey to enlightenment more as an unfolding mental process, and I've liked developing this more lengthy version which works for me whenever I find myself heading off track. Wondering what you guys think, here's what I've landed on so far:
Enlightenment begins with the sharp perception and experience of present moment awareness and thankfulness and the wonder of being human, builds with education and the broadening and refining of a sense of culture and the world and the good life, an unattachment to results, the realization that everyone (including ourselves) is Buddha/Jesus/insert_deity_here (perfect, just as we are), the nonjudgmental acceptance of and celebration of everything, the oneness/nonduality of everything - and ends with effortless compassionate actions to empower others.
Enlightenment begins with the sharp perception and experience of present moment awareness and thankfulness and the wonder of being human, builds with education and the broadening and refining of a sense of culture and the world and the good life, an unattachment to results, the realization that everyone (including ourselves) is Buddha/Jesus/insert_deity_here (perfect, just as we are), the nonjudgmental acceptance of and celebration of everything, the oneness/nonduality of everything - and ends with effortless compassionate actions to empower others.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
go down from the mountain!
Hanna taught me a fascinating Korean idiom today. 하산해 - "ha san hey" - which literally means "go down from the mountain", in common speech is used by a teacher when a student has mastered something. In ages past, it was common for the old masters to live on mountains, and the students would come up to visit and learn from them for a while. When the master had nothing left to teach, he would say "go down from the mountain, go back to society!" Such a great image, in just three syllables! It comes from:
the Chinese 下, which in Korean is 하 (ha), meaning down,
Chinese 山, Korean 산 (san), meaning mountain,
and the Korean imperative verb ending 해 (hey) meaning to go, do, etc.
the Chinese 下, which in Korean is 하 (ha), meaning down,
Chinese 山, Korean 산 (san), meaning mountain,
and the Korean imperative verb ending 해 (hey) meaning to go, do, etc.
Monday, August 31, 2009
ugly baby
A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: "That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!" The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her: "The driver just insulted me!" The man says: "You go right up there and tell him off – go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you."
Saturday, August 22, 2009
how's the tom sawyer in you? 너의 마음속 톰 소여는 잘 있니?
Hanna gave me a book in Japan called "Love and Free" - a photo/poetry diary of a Japanese couple as they traveled around the world.
"As a kid, I got a bicycle
and the entire town became my playground
As a teenage-punk, I got a motorcycle
and the entire prefecture became my playground
And now, I got time
and am trying to make the entire world my playground
I've always been really good at thinking up new ways
to play in new playgrounds
My style hasn't changed at all
The tools have changed with age
my playground just keeps expanding
"Hey, what do you wanna play?"
There aren't any words that could stimulate
my creativity more than this question does.
"Hey, what are you playing?"
"어이, 뭐하고 놀고 있어?"
- Ayumu Takahashi
Hurricane Bill is coming on Sunday, and creating some beautiful dark cloud / sun patterns in the sky.
Today I went swimming in the sun, while it rained!
"As a kid, I got a bicycle
and the entire town became my playground
As a teenage-punk, I got a motorcycle
and the entire prefecture became my playground
And now, I got time
and am trying to make the entire world my playground
I've always been really good at thinking up new ways
to play in new playgrounds
My style hasn't changed at all
The tools have changed with age
my playground just keeps expanding
"Hey, what do you wanna play?"
There aren't any words that could stimulate
my creativity more than this question does.
"Hey, what are you playing?"
"어이, 뭐하고 놀고 있어?"
- Ayumu Takahashi
Hurricane Bill is coming on Sunday, and creating some beautiful dark cloud / sun patterns in the sky.
Today I went swimming in the sun, while it rained!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
last days in jeju, 2009
I'm really going to miss it here in Jeju.
The other day Hanna and I went to a coffeeshop and played Jenga ~
We've climbed the misty mountains,
and made friends with fat fat Buddhas.
Last weekend we went to Udo Island, a small island off the east coast of Jeju. We camped right on the white coral beach, here's our tent!
We could see the sunset from the beach every night.
On the second night we climbed a small volcanic hill in one corner of the island, where they let the horses graze w/ no fences or ropes to restrict them - true island life!
... and of course ramen for breakfast on the beach!
Until we meet again, Jeju Island ... it's getting harder and harder to leave you!
The other day Hanna and I went to a coffeeshop and played Jenga ~
We've climbed the misty mountains,
and made friends with fat fat Buddhas.
Last weekend we went to Udo Island, a small island off the east coast of Jeju. We camped right on the white coral beach, here's our tent!
We could see the sunset from the beach every night.
On the second night we climbed a small volcanic hill in one corner of the island, where they let the horses graze w/ no fences or ropes to restrict them - true island life!
... and of course ramen for breakfast on the beach!
Until we meet again, Jeju Island ... it's getting harder and harder to leave you!
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"I don't believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive." ~ Joseph Campbell
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