Thursday 31 December 2015

3 Animated Holiday Advertisements (Short)

Watch these 3 ads:

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/news/3-animated-holiday-ads-to-melt-your-heart/

Monday 28 December 2015

Parking in Gunpo

Perhaps this driver ran out of gas, had a mechanical break-down, or decided to take a stroll, but parking in the middle of the street in a cross-walk zone should come with a hefty fine.

Alas, pictures like this are all too common.



Saturday 19 December 2015

Trump

I try to stay out of politics on this blog, but sometimes things need to be said:

Trump is a divisive, sexist, xenophobic 'person' who does not deserve to even be in the qualifying race for President of the United States.

But that is just my opinion.

Sunday 13 December 2015

Class Shopping

Last week I took 6 students from a young class (3rd grade) outside the academy to buy some snacks/candy.

It was a surprise.

First I told them that every student needed ten coins from my coin cup.

(We have played money games before, so they thought they knew what was coming.)

Then I went went out of the classroom, returned with my jacket, and said, "Let's go!"

The students looked at me as if I were demented.  "Go where?"

"Go shopping!" I replied.  "Your book says 'go shopping', so let's go."

They continued to stare a me.

Now, to be fair, we have never, ever ventured outside of the academy before, and I knew that I was going to be vastly entertained by their reactions to my plan.

"Grab your jackets and line up!" I told them.

"Really?" (Repeated 5+ times.)

"Teacher, really?"

"Yes," I said, laughing. I started walking toward the elevators.

I think it wasn't until we got into the elevator that they actually believed me, that we were going outside.

However, I told them, "This is still English class, so you need to speak English outside, ok?"

One girl looked at me and asked, "Even to Korean people?"

"Yes!" I replied, chuckling.

So we went to the candy store and had a great time, and, of course, when we got back, one of the students asked, "Teacher, can we go next time too?"

Saturday 5 December 2015

Sanbon Department Store + New Pics

It appears that Sanbon (Gunpo-si) will be getting its first department store (Lotte) sometime next year.

Work on the site has been progressing for a year and a half, about 8 months of which was spent digging (and blowing up rocks) for 3 basement levels (probably parking).

(The site is across from the train tracks, on the western side of Sanbon station; as the train leaves Sanbon station, headed toward Surisan, you can look out the right side windows and see it (for a second or two)).

This week the workers started attaching siding to the top floor (presumably a cinema).

Here are a few pics, from two different sides:




New pics:



Wednesday 2 December 2015

The Doctor

I went to the doctor yesterday.

I have been sick for about a week--sneezing, a runny nose, a bit of sinus stuffiness, etc.

Usually, especially when the seasons change, I get a mix of allergies that inevitably lead to a sinus infection.

That time seemed to have come, especially since I had an additional sore throat Sunday night.

So I went to see the doctor.

The ear, nose, and throat guy (E.N.T.).

His office is in my building, as is a pharmacy, and, since with South Korea's good health care I don't have to pay more than $5 for a visit to the doctor or $5 for medicine, it is a good opportunity to heal.

However, and I think that I have written about this before, there is the issue of the nasal camera.

This doctor has a slender metal stick, atop which is a camera.

While you sit in the (fortunately high-topped) chair, he brings out this little wand and says, "Don't move or you might have some discomfort."

Based on past experience I freeze.

I tense my body ad my head.

He says, "Relax," but I can't, because I know that one little movement will hurt.

The metal stick-camera is about 3 inches in length, and it always surprises me how far he can move it up my nasal cavity.

There is a video camera next to my head and I can see into my nose and view my mucus membranes--it isn't a pretty picture, especially when you are sick.

The doctor prescribes 3 days worth of antibiotics, which sets off another round of foreboding, as I know the camera will be used again.

"Come back again in 3 days," he says.

I am thinking about appealing to him on my next visit:

"Doctor, I am still sick. I know it.  Please give me 4 more days of medicine and no camera this time.  OK?"