Wayguk

The secret to making new friends when you are a Korean American is hang out with other foreigners. The problem is first finding other foreigners to hang out with. When I got to Korea, I found I physically fit in to the Korean category. Culturally, I’m white bread. So when I meet Koreans, they were puzzled by my lack of Korean. Some will continue to speak Korean to me in hope that a secret switch will turn on and I will speak Korean like I’m supposed too. Hanging out with Jasmine’s Korean friends is something I avoid due to the fact it puts her in a weird position of either translating or juggling conversations. While with foreigners, I look Korean, thus I’m just one more person they can’t talk too. Actually I kind of freaked out a wayguk this morning by say “thank you.” So most days, I tend to end up in no man’s land, neither here nor there. (Actually it’s kind of been that way most of my life, you’d think I would be used to it.) By hanging out with other foreigners it’s translates to, “Oh, we can talk to her. She’s with other English speakers so she must speak English.” Finding other foreigners that I didn’t work with was the trick. Also in Korea, it’s kind of odd but you end up with a lot of single use friends. The kind from Fight Club, except instead of being stuck on a plane, you’re stuck in Korea. Everyone is trying to get somewhere. And everyone is in the same plane(or country). So, sometimes you meet someone, hang out for a day and then you never see the person again, no big deal. Singe use friend. I’m starting to make non-single use friends which is good. It’s nice to get out of no man’s land. I’m really enjoying meeting new people from all over the world. It’s really interesting. I’ve never been the best at making friends, due to some trust issues(which I’m getting over). So, I’m glad I’m opening up in that way. Friends always seemed like a dangerous proposition in many ways, it means letting people in. Letting people in means they can hurt you, betray you. And does it hurt, but at the same time, I’m starting to think the risk of the hurt is worth it in the long run. Plus, I’ve got some friends that have shown me again and again that they will be there for me when I need them. So, here’s to friends. Even single use friends. Thanks people.

King Kong

I finally watched King Kong.
This is what I think of it.
Adrian Brody is sexy. Sexy for me isn't really based on physical appearance but more on personality. And I'm a sucker for heroics and writers. Oh, and men that actually act on their feelings even if it's some what tardly. Naomi Watts answers the question,"What did people do before GPS?" Peter Jackson reinterates that the tastest morsel in the animal kingdom is a size four, screaming blond. I don't know why? But, hmmm, large lizard or screaming, scrawny blond. And they go for the blond, which proves most of the animals were males. Have you ever read Neil Gaiman's story,"Wholesale"(I think that is what is called)? Well, same story goes for the T-rexs. Why have one when we can get them by bulk? Also, in Korea "kong" means "bean", thus King Bean. Bean is what you call the small shrimp of a kid(ref. Full Metal Alchemist), thus the title is ironic in Korea. Yes, Jack Black can play a cockroach. I liked the captian and the first mate. And, the movie closes with a heavy handed, trite line. "Beauty killed the Beast." Overall I enjoyed it, but I also wasn't expecting much.

Blame Canada.

I blame Canada. My first experiences with Canadians haven't been, well, the most cheerful of experiences. It's not that I hold Canada to blame for one individuals folliables, but it didn't really leave a favorable impression. Luckily, and sadly this has changed. Two of my co-teachers are Canadians. (There are a large number of Canucks in Korea. I occasionally frequent a Canadian bar in Itaewon. They have a great truck stop breakfast.) T and A are really nice and to be quite honest great to work with. They've made the work situation much more enjoyable as well as being very helpful. It makes work much more enjoyable when you know some one shares your pain and your opinion of the work situation. We will often sit and quip back and forth about things during break time. I've learned a lot about Canada in the last few months. At other times we will just sit and talk about everything from world events to geek things(Penny Arcade. Red Vs. Blue, Fark). It's nice to be able to relax a bit at work. Soon this will all end. T and A are leaving for a trip to Europe at the end of March. I don't know who will replace them, but I will probably be a sad monkey when they leave. The office won't be as fun as it's been. Why? Well, sarcasms isn't everyone cup of tea, nor is quick and lively wit. Ah, who knows? Hopefully, they will hire some one who knows the value of a laugh.

2046

I didn’t enjoy 2046, as much as I enjoyed In the Mood For Love, but who doesn’t prefer falling in love to coming back from love. Coming back from love. What is coming back from love? How does one come back from love? Does one come back from love? Either way, both are beautiful movies, In the Mood for Love more so.

I love music. Music has become my obsession of late. I didn’t really start buying music until last fall. I couldn’t afford music when I was growing up, or while I was in college. I would usually just listen to what was around. It wasn’t until I got back from Boston did I really begin to take an avid interest in music. Marty burned me a random mix cd, and it was off from there. I burn some stuff he had, but then I began to start exploring Reckless Records on weekends. God, I miss Reckless Records. I would wander in there on a saturday or sunday and flip through cds, narrowing it down to three cds to listen to and then belaboring which ones I should buy for the week. Alison helped, I copied quite a few cds from her while I was in New York, as well as imported some of my stuff on to her computer. Last year my cd player became a requirement on exiting my apartment. My bag usually was stuffed with my wallet, lip balm, cell phone, a notebook, pen, book, cd player, and cds. These days it’s wallet, lip balm, cell phone, notebook, pen, book, camera, and I-pod. I love my ipod. It’s great to have all my music at my finger tips. It’s all about music and cats(as my bro. Jeremy puts it). Now, instead of a few cds it’s 15 GB of music. And I’m always looking for more music.

I don’t really have a distinctive or selective taste in music. I have an eclectic mix of music. I don’t know anything about good or bad music, I just know what I like. I like what moves me. It needs to have momentum, energy, life. I saw the Kaiser Chiefs this summer and after I saw them in person, I went and bought their cd, “Employment.” Why? Because there was an undeniable passion, energy and joy in their performance and thus in their music I couldn’t deny. So, I’m happy they did so well this year. I love people with passion. I have a huge amount of respect for people who go after their dreams, who are passionate about living out their dreams, working for them. So it’s only natural I love music with passion, energy, momentum.

Yes, I'm babbling.

Post V-day.

Well, I finally got around to posting links to other people.
I hope people are having a good Valentine's day.
Nothing to say.

If V-day wasn't nauseating enough

I've heard of Koreans being dubbed "plastic beauties", but this tops that hands down. The link leads to an article on BBC World about Chinese couples in Shanghai getting matching noses. Yes, yes. Matching noses. You know, I would just settle for some flowers, a nice dinner, maybe some tasteful jewlery, but matching nose jobs would never be on my V-day wish list. So, if you didn't think V-day could get any more fucked up, well you thought wrong. Although in Korea on V-day women don't get anything, they have to give men chocolate. On March 14th, women are given hard candy by men, because you know women just love . . . hard candy. Can we say short end of the stick.

Well, I guess Happy Valentine's Day. Or, big bro. Happy Birthday.
Seriously, girls I hope you go out and treat yourself. Sorry, there are no witty cards this year. Koreans don't do funny cards, let alone cards saying,"Life is too short to dance with ugly men." or the such.

Happy V-day People.

There is something wrong with my head . . .

but why am I laughing?
I find . . . well alot of things funny that probably shouldn't be.
I like it that way, at least this way I'm amused.
I find that if you can't laugh at all the weird shit, fuck ups, and Irony pissing on what you call a life, well then you should roll over and stop using up all the oxygen.

Today was a good day, but kind of a fucked up day.
Aren't they always(statement, not a question).
Nothing is ever simple.
Waiting, it's definately the year of waiting.
I hate waiting. I like action, not inaction.
Oh, well. Que Sera Sera(Did I spell that right?).

Torino

I really like the Olympics. I'm not an athletic person by any means, but I enjoy watching both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Currently it's Saturday morning and I'm watching the opening ceremonies. It' s always fun to hear the running commentary about the athletes and about the countries. Like the best nickname has to be the "fast white sausage", probably a play on his name. Bermuda's one athlete actually lives in Japan and is a financial reporter. Grandma Luge, from the Virgin Islands is the oldest female athlete being 52. Korea matched for the first time in the Winter Olympics under the unification flag. Dot, is back representing Kenya, who took twice as long as the winner Dali, who greeted Dot when he finished. Dali is the name of Dot's son. I'm looking forward to being able to watch the events in the morning. It is not just seeing who wins, but also how people compete. Stories like Dali and Dot are some of the great jems of the Winter Olympics. Coming from Kenya, so determined to do ones best even if it takes twice as long as the winner. Some of these athletes are so dedicated to getting to the games to represent their country. They are determined to do their best, for themselves and for their country. I love it, that and the parade of nations soundtrack is all eighties pop songs, it's great.

Hope people are good.

I love you Russ Feingold

"'What the administration has said is that when it comes to national security, the problem is that the Democrats have a pre-9/11 view of the world,' Feingold said. ' . . . The real problem is that the president seems to have a pre-1776 view of the world. That's the problem here.'

Russ Feingold
-Washington Post

"We all also had our own initial reactions, and my first and most powerful emotion was a solemn resolve to stop these terrorists. And that remains my principal reaction to these events. But I also quickly realized that two cautions were necessary, and I raised them on the Senate floor the day after the attacks.

The first caution was that we must continue to respect our Constitution and protect our civil liberties in the wake of the attacks. As the chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, I recognize that this is a different world with different technologies, different issues, and different threats. Yet we must examine every item that is proposed in response to these events to be sure we are not rewarding these terrorists and weakening ourselves by giving up the cherished freedoms that they seek to destroy.

The second caution I issued was a warning against the mistreatment of Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asians, or others in this country. Already, one day after the attacks, we were hearing news reports that misguided anger against people of these backgrounds had led to harassment, violence, and even death.

I suppose I was reacting instinctively to the unfolding events in the spirit of the Irish statesman John Philpot Curran, who said: "The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance." "

-From his speech Oct. 25th 2001.
He voted against the Patriot Act.

I need to get more political.
This may mean more political rants than personal ones, I'm sure you won't mind.

Running

Sometimes it's the little things that make you laugh.
What made me happy today:
One, that most of my kids are old enough to blow their own noses.
Except for the one who couldn't and sat with snot running down his nose.
Ah, teaching English and how to blow one's nose all in the same day.

Frankenstein

I've finally gotten around to reading Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's "Frankenstein" and am loving it.

"We rest; a dream has power to poison sleep.
We rise; one wand'ring thought pollutes the day.
We feel, conceive, or reason; laugh or weep,
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away;
It is the same; for, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free.
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but mutability"

Mutablity
-Percy Bysshe Shelley

"I am thy creature, and I will be ever mild and docile to my natural lord and king, if thou wilt also perform thy part, the which thou owest me. Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other, and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Every where I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded, I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous."

Just Looking

Weird building
Originally uploaded by punk_rock_baby.

Hi Everyone,
I am not a sad, sad geek right now. I tend to have a lot of time to think about things, acutally way too much time to reflex on things. So, as a result of living in suburbia, you will occasionally get sad monkey posts. These post are mostly me getting things out of my system and trying to sort them out by writing about them. It's kind of like a more public version of a diary. So, my blogs are often to get some fresh perspective on old soggy issues.

Actually for the most part I'm having a good time. I'm getting out alot more. I've made friends. I like Korea for the most part, but still hate suburbia. Hopefully, when spring rolls around I'll have more interesting posts about Korea.

Also, I am very grateful for the many loving people who I do have in my life(and whom I don't know what I would do with out), and for their graciousness and patience in putting up with me. : ) Especially my mother. I don't know what I would do with out you guys.

I hope everyone is doing good. Take care.

Love,
Kate

Do I look like a geek to you?

Geek:

Etymology: probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
2 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of

As for the first definition of geek, I think that only applies to people who work at White Wolf Publishing(reference: Chinese snake liquor). While the second definition applies to a wider range of people and is more accurate. Geeks, know they are geeks, in fact most of them are proud of it. Most geeks are well aware of the stereotypes that have dogged them since high school. The thing is most geeks will play off of this stereotype. The other things is they really don’t give a flying fuck what people think of them. “Oh, the Heathers don’t like me. Hey, Winona steal any good clothes lately?” For the most part geeks relish living on the fringe of society. We like it out here. It’s quite a view. The other thing is we’re going to be who we are. And if that means wearing capes and spending night sitting around a table with a couple of friends, well that is what we are going to do. We maybe the kids that didn’t quite fit in during high school, but wait, haven’t you ever felt like you didn’t quite fit in? Hasn’t everyone? So why are some people geeks, and others not?

What makes a geek, a geek? What defines being a geek? Is it a love of D&D? Is it laughing at Penny Arcade? Is it watching the Matrix? Is it reading Batman? Am I a geek? Well, yeah. I’m not an uber-geek, I’ll be honest. I’m a hobby gamer(although I haven‘t gamed in ages), but I know about leveling up, I even played a mefit once, and Degenesis is one of the prettiest RPG’s I’ve ever seen. I can talk of hours about “The Lord of the Rings.” I’m a comic book junkie, who’s jonesing for ol’ Chicago Comics. I laugh my ass off at Penny Arcade. The thing about being a geek is it isn’t just about what you like. A lot of people like things like “The Lord of the Rings” or read comics; but would I call them a geek? Not really. Here’s a secret. Geeks are elitist. Not everyone can be a geek.

Geeks “a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of”. By being disapproved of by mainstream culture frees geeks from societal norms. Because well, we’re not normal, we’re geeks and damn proud of it. But, we’re funny, anti-social, miscreants. Comedy is saying the wrong things that no one want to admit are perfectly true, and perfectly horrible. And how could you go wronger or blunter than a geek? Thus, most geeks have perfected sarcasm, razor wit, innuendo, self-deprecation, and one liners into an art form. The intellectual bent on a geek is killer, especially when combined with passion. Geeks are passionate people(never would have guessed it, would you?). Geeks passions are as varied as there are different types of geeks. With in the geek kingdom there are gamer geeks, comic geeks, sci-fi geeks, computer geeks, Tolkien geeks, Trekkies, Star Wars geeks, music geeks, movie geeks, ect. I’m not even going to touch the sub-categories of geeks. For me geeks are interesting people, who are intelligent, passionate individuals with great senses of humor who care more about what they believe in that what society tells them think and be. So hopefully you’re a geek. Yes, you. You just didn’t know it. But, it’s okay you can admit. Say, “I am a geek“. Doesn’t that feel better.

Let’s be honest it’s the nerds you have to watch out for.
Nerd: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.

I love being a geek. In fact, I love geeks. There is something beguiling about geeks. Let’s be honest, they’re like crack(as in both the hard drug and the Irish meaning of to have a good time). Once you get your first taste of geek you never go back(Sorry kids). And yes that does mean I have a love/hate relationship with myself. But, that’s okay, cause we kick ass.

Click on the title to see what started the rant. Thank goodness for people with a sense of humor.

*I’ll probably re-edit this later, when it isn’t midnight and I actually put some thought into it.

* This a picture from GenCon. so, yes, I am a geek.

*Definitions are from Webster’s On-line Dictionary.