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Starting tonight, GQ Bar in Jongno has some promotions for the weekend. For 10,000 won, you can have unlimited cocktails for an hour. 100,000 won will get you a bottle of Jaggermeister, six cans of red bull, and nachos. On Friday, the 17th, there is a dart tournament with prizes and on Saturday you can play Bingo and win prizes.

Also tonight, is Circuit's oddly named Wanted Running Man Party.

Friday is Uniq's Touch My Body party.


As well as a Coming of Age party at Circuit.

Saturday looks like it will have the best party: Gation's Nirvana. Gation hosted a great party at Monster last month (I still have the hard hat in my bedroom), so I imagine their party at Circuit should be pretty fun.  Plus, they made quite a poster.

Oh, and if you want something more theatrical, Drag Queen is still playing in Daehangno.

My favorite coffee shop in Cheonan, South Korea is Dream in the Sky (하늘그림). It’s such a relaxed atmosphere to study or chat in. It’s perfect for groups up to four people. Around once a month they have a jazz night with live musicians. They’re open 11:00 am - 12:00 am, Monday to Saturday. Between Lotte Mart and Nazarene University in Ssangyong-dong.

I remember when I was younger and it was Mother's Day or Father's Day, I would always moan to my mum that it was unfair that parents each had a day, but children didn't get one. She answered that the reason was because every day is children's day, which cut that argument short. But here in Korea, everyone's celebrated on their own particular day.

There's Parents Day, Children's Day and this year I discovered the wonder of Teacher's Day on May 15th. Teacher's Day is the day when students give thanks to the ones that teach them. Apparently lots of middle schools and high schools close after lunch time, so students can go back to their old schools to see the teachers that made an impact on them when they were only a couple of feet high with their hair in pigtails.

It was nice to see all of my old 6th graders around school yesterday, as they ran up to their old homerooms.

To make things even better, our current students showered us with gifts, including a basket of grapes and cherries, apple juice, sun cream, Lancome make up and chocolates!

One of the gifts from the 1st graders had a little hand written note calling me sir, then thanking me for my 'well-taught'. So cute!

Last year I didn't receive anything, and I was told by my co-teacher that the higher grades tend to only give things to their homeroom teachers, so it was really nice to receive a letter from one of my 6th graders this year. It's nice to know on days when you feel like you're talking to yourself while the rest of the class get on with their own business, that someone appreciates it!

I'm off on my travels tomorrow morning, so I hope that everyone in Korea has a great long weekend!





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This week’s episode was slightly late because Noelle had to gain access to a new mic to replace one that was misplaced. I somehow managed to call 2NE1 4minute in this episode, in probably what is one of my greater brainfarts, so in points its a comedy of errors. I’m sorry.

 

Download Episode 68 – Once More With Fire

 

News:
A Pink member leaves.
SPICA is pretty awesome on Immortal Song 2

Jay Park involved with Will & Jaden Smith’s Film After Earth
Jaden & Will meet up with YG & the younger promises to work with G-Dragon
Oh yeah, T-ARA made a subgroup, for some reason, and now Chris Brown wants it.
Sex Assault charges dropped against Park Shi Hoo.
When did all of these things happen to Park Jung Ah?

Comebacks/Debuts/New Releases
G-Dragon – MichiGO

Cho Young Pil – Hello ft. Verbal Jint

Lyn – Breakable Heart ft. Junhyung

Shinee – Why so serious?

4minute – What’s your name?

N-Train – Come Back to me

History – Dreamer

Ladies Code – Won’t cry

T-ARA N4 – Jeongwon Diary

Jay Park – Welcome

Lee Hyori – Miss Korea

Geeks – Wash Away

2PM – Come Back When You Hear this Song

2PM – ADTOY the name is like Killer Mike’s ADIDAS but lame.

uBeat – Should’ve Treated you Better

Younha – The Real Reason We Broke Up

B1A4 – What’s Happening?

Freetalk: Yesung Does Blackface (and here without the makeup) to play Nick Fury & I am tired of this happening. If you got the opportunity to run a seminar for Hallyu artists on international cultural sensitivity what would you include?
Notes:

Examples of Blackface


The post discussed was Three Decades of Blackface in Korea
Link to The Grand Narrative
Sam Jackson’s reaction to Eve acting alongside him in XXX

Opening Song: 4minute – What’s Your Name?
Insert Song: Younha – Just Listen ft. Skul1
Ending Song: Geeks – Wash Away ft. Ailee

You can email us at TheAlwaysRationalKpopPodcast@gmail.com pop us a line on Twitter@ARKpopPodcast and Like us on Facebook. You can also hook up with us on the official forum for theSSAANetwork.

And the most fun way of contacting us is to leave a voicemail at this number 954-324-7722. Just mention before you start that you’re leaving the voicemail for the Always Rational Kpop Podcast and remember that there’s a 3 minute time limit.

It’s not much of a claim to fame, but yes, “Dubbya” and a handful of the world’s most powerful had a summit meeting in 2005 here. The website for the building says, “The name Nurimaru APEC House is created by combining the Korean words nuri (“world”) and maru (“summit”), and “APEC House,” which refers to an APEC conference hall.” What they don’t tell you is that if you go in the bathroom on the second floor, you can see where The Man scribbled “GWB was here” on the wall.

About the photo

This is one of the most iconic images and structures in Busan. Not only do you have the APEC House, but you also get the Gwangan Bridge in the background. To get to this point just go to Dongbaek Island, next to the Westin Chosun Hotel by Haeundae Beach. There is a path that leads out to the house.

Would you like a limited edition print of this photo? Click here.

 

 

May 15th is Teacher’s Day in South Korea. On this special day, students give their teachers carnations or thank-you letters. Some prefer to give cosmetics or chocolates.

 

My Korean students usually write me letters or give candies and chocolates on Teacher’s Day.

Last year, when I returned to work after taking a short leave, my youngest class surprised me with a note on the board and gave me a group hug. The little ones could not prepare any flowers or presents, but they gave me the best gift that day.

This morning, the first one to greet me “Happy teacher’s day” was my husband. (Well, he used to be my student. ^^)

Tomorrow. it’s my turn to make a teacher smile. I’m sure that my Korean language teacher will receive carnations from other students, so instead of flowers, I’m thinking of buying her Starbucks coffee or maybe getting her aStarbucks gift card. You can purchase a Teacher’s Day gift card in Starbucks or order one on-line or via smart phone. The video below will give you instructions on how to do it. (It’s in Korean though.)

I’ve worked with many Korean teachers. They are very patient and hardworking.

My first Korean language teacher is a nurse, but she volunteered to teach foreign wives and migrant workers in Namyangju (South Korea). Now she heads a multi-cultural center inDonong. She has been very helpful to me, especially when I was still adjusting to the Korean way of life. At times, she took me and my classmates on field trips. When my husband was busy with work that he barely had time to assist me with some documents I needed in thehagwon, it was my Korean teacher who helped me. She doesn’t teach me anymore, but I visit her in the center sometimes.

I’m planning to see her this week to tell her personally, 고맙습니다, 선생님! (Thank you, Teacher!)

If you have a Korean teacher you would like to greet on Teacher’s day, you can say, “스승의 날 축하해요!” which means…

Related articles

• Teacher’s Day in SK (chrissantosra.wordpress.com)
• First Things I’ve Learned from Teaching (Korean) Students (chrissantosra.wordpress.com)
• Why I’m Learning Korean Again (chrissantosra.wordpress.com)
• Don’t Mess with Ajumma (chrissantosra.wordpress.com)
• International student’s life in Korea (letshareexperiencetogether.wordpress.com)
• Embassy teaches Korean culture, language (fijitimes.com)
• The Phonology of “Baby Teacher” (greenwalledtower.wordpress.com)
• education 102: dealing with exhausting children (studentoftravel.wordpress.com)
• Korean Education – Mysteries Revealed (waygookboon.blogspot.kr)
• On the Spread of English in Korea (Blog angry my friends)(eltrantsreviewsreflections.wordpress.com)

From: http://english.busan.go.kr/07community/02_01.jsp?nSelected=&command=view&sn=1880&page=0&nowBlock=0

 

Free public rental bikes are available throughout the City of Busan. A bike repair service is also provided. 

 

The bike rental shops are located in the Nakdong River Ecological Park―Samnak Riverside Park (150 bikes), Hwamyeong Ecological Park (160 bikes), Maekdo Ecological Park (100 bikes), Daejeo Ecological Park (100 bikes), Dongnae-gu (50 bikes), Millak-dong in Suyeong-gu (100 bikes), Eulsukdo in Saha-gu (138 bikes), Sasang Light Rail Station (120 bikes), Oncheoncheon in Yeonje-gu (59 bikes), Geumjeong-gu (68 bikes), and Suyeong riverside in Haeundae-gu (50 bikes).  

 

To rent a bike, you need to present your identification and contact number. You can rent a bike for one or two hours.  

 

More detailed information including open hours and locations is available athttp://english.busan.go.kr/04transportation/10_03.jsp .

 

Bike mechanics are also stationed at the shops for free bike repairs: changing chains, brake cables, bike tires or tubes. There is a charge for parts. 

 

For more information, please contact the Transportation Policy Division at (051) 888-3341.

One of my readers asked for some more information about the Korean Queer Culture Festival. Although the website has an English section, most of the tabs go to pages in Korean. I'll try to inform my readers about what is going on...
A musical called Drag Queen has been playing in Daehangno (Hyehwa station). On Sunday, May 26th at 2pm you can get VIP seats for 20,000 won (originally 50,000). After the performance, there will be a discussion and photo time. Oh, and the beautiful Harisu is starring!

To order a ticket, send a message to kqchqueen13@gmail.com with your name, number of people and contact information. After confirmation, send 20,000 won per ticket to Woori (우리) Bank number 1006-201-222229 (퀴어문화축제조직워원회). Of course, if you can't make it on the 26th, you can see the musical on a different day of the week but for full price. The play runs until the second of June. To buy tickets, head over to Interpark.  Here are the times for the rest of the shows (and you can see when Harisu [하리수] is performing).

Trash, Treat or Stash. The products I've discovered are better off in the bin, the ones you should treat yourself to every now and again, and the ones that are so good that you should definitely make sure you have a stash of them. This week Natasha's guest blogging about one of her findings.




I’ve agreed to help out with Maddie’s Trash, Treat or Stash feature because I think I’m the first of us to come across a rubbish product! I’d misguidedly stocked up on Daiso "Candy Pops" nail wraps. I thought I would give them another try especially for the blog, mainly because I really wanted them to look as good on as they do in the packet. Sadly I was disappointed again!

Cost: The packs are ₩1,000 to ₩2,000 from Daiso depending on the size – I’ve never splashed out on any of the other sets that cost more, but at 60p-£1.20 they are ridiculously cheap AND you get a nail file and stick included!!
Prettiness: Undeniably cutesy and Korean, I love all the patterns and there are loads to choose from. This pink kisses pattern was one of my favourites so that’s the one I decided to try for this feature.
Usability: This set was from the ₩2,000 range so there were a lot more wraps with more choice of sizes. The last ones were too skinny for my giant western hands, so there were gaps down the sides of my nails. This was not a problem with the more expensive version, and I have enough left to do all my nails at least once more. So far so good! They were easy to apply, and while it took me a while to smooth them down and cut/file them to a better fit, I was much happier with the result this time. Well…..that was before I went to bed and woke up to find them peeling back at the ends and catching on everything – just like last time! I barely made it through first period at school before I had peeled them off and binned them. Luckily Maddie managed to take a photo first!


Overall: Sadly the Candy Pops cute patterns and low prices are not enough to save this product from being firmly placed in the TRASH category. Don’t buy them – they are absolutely awful and a huge waste of time! Just because they're super cute and really cheap can't hide the fact that they were the worst thing I'd ever attempted to beautify myself with. Difficult and time-consuming to apply, and then uncomfortable and constantly catching on everything; I had ripped them off my nails in a rage before the day was out! I’ve been put off nail wraps by these and might need a few Primark £1 sets (which are brilliant!) sending my way to cheer me up……..oh go on!

See the last Trash, Treat or Stash here.

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There are a few things that frustrate me about Korean culture/language. One of them is the fact that they call non-toasted bread, toast (토스트). My mom and I have definitely quarreled over this. She’ll ask if I want toast, but she’ll put jam on my bread without toasting it.

Our conversations usually go like this:

Me: “That’s not toast! That’s bread!”

Her: “It’s 토스트!”

Sigh.

Popular Press Has Caught Onto What Readers of this Blog Already Know

I receive a fair amount of ridicule from readers that have said that my observations regarding the JPY/KRW rate was a gift to Korea.  it was a gift that certain chaebol have used to build their competitiveness on the global stage.  However, that advantage is now gone: the KRW/JPY rate has returned to its pre-financial crisis levels.

Bank of Korea Had No Other Choice

The previous posts here suggested that the BOK had to act, and fast.  And they have.  Lower interest rates was the only choice that the BOK had.  There will be limits to the amount of flexibility available to the BOK.  It appears that we will learn how much progress the Korean economy has truly made.