The Ramblings of Loren Christopher

A special treat arrived in the mail for me last weekend, a right angle lens.  It can be also referred to as a “spy lens”, but that sounds creepy and slightly perverse, so I prefer the term “right angle lens”.  So, I bought one of these because I’ve always been interested in street photography, and capturing the candid shots of people I see as I travel.  Unfortunately for me, I don’t have the courage to just ask them if I can take their picture.  And I’ve tried sneaking pictures of interesting looking people, but it never quite turns out the way I want.

So, I was pleased when I heard about this lens attachment….and last weekend I went out around Jongro (central Seoul) to test it out.  Jongro is a pretty happening area, particularly on the weekends.  There’s Insadong street which has loads of touristy stuff and shops, at night there are neon lights everywhere you look, bars, game rooms, all kinds of street food, and people everywhere.

I went in the late afternoon….the weather was perfect and I visited Tagpol Park.  This place is FILLED with old Korean men.  They all come here and play a traditional game called “Go“.  I have no idea how to play it myself, but it is comparable to our chess or checkers…..in that there is a board and there are pieces and you take turns playing.  I’m sure it’s more complicated obviously.

The point, however, is that this park is flooded with old Korean men who bring their games and they just sit around playing.  Some men will crowd around and watch particular games (I guess if they know it’s a good game).  Also there were some REALLY old men talking who had crowds gathered around listening to them.  I wish I had gone with one of my K-friends so I could have gotten a translation.

I like old people, especially of other ethnicities.  Old Koreans in particular amaze me because I cannot imagine how much change they have seen in their lifetime.  Just 50 years ago the entire country was ripped apart and starving….they had nothing.  Now you walk down the street and people are in designer clothing, using the latest technology phones, there are multinational corporations everywhere you look.  It’s amazing to think about.

That’s one of the reasons this country fascinates me so much.  There is an interesting juxtaposition of ancient (and somewhat archaic) societal hierarchies, customs, and traditions mixed with the ultra-modern and image conscious people of today.  Last Saturday, as I was walking around creepily taking pictures of strangers….lol, I tried to capture an essence of the people and why it is that I like this place so much.  For more photos you can check out my flickr page.

Moving into a nicer apartment, although tedious and stressful, has really made me enjoy my life in Korea even more.  When I lived in Prague I rented a room from an old flat, the location was incredible (just a block from the Vltava River), I lived with one of my best friends and an sweet older Czech woman who was full of life.  But the place was old and I put little to no effort into making it my own.

When I came to Korea, one of my priorities in getting settled in was to decorate my place and make it feel like “me”.  I did a decent job of that in my last apartment, but my new place really does feel like my home.  It’s important to invest in some decor I think, even for those people who come to Korea only for a year…..because your home should be your haven, right?

Ok anyway, the house-warming party was lots of fun.  I made Mexican food, tacos complete with guacamole, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo and Mexican rice (thanks Molly for bringing that!).  It was sooo delicious I couldn’t believe it, haha.  So we just hung out and laughed, listened to music, etc. until evening came and then we went to the busy area Cheonho and had a couple beers.  It was perfect.

My building was made in 2003 I believe….so it’s fairly new.  I think I’ve said before that my location is a bit farther away from work, but there are so many more things to do and see here in Gangdong.  I’m anxious for it to warm up a bit so I can go exploring more.  All in all, I’m very pleased with the new place and will be staying here again if I decide to renew my contract after another year (wow, that’s a long ways down the rode though), one thing at a time.

If you’d prefer to watch a video tour of me showing the apartment, you can click here.  Be warned I had just woken up and am in my PJs, haha.  Also here are a few thumbnail pics below:

So my Valentine’s weekend was pretty eventful and fulfilling to say the least.  It all began early in the morning Saturday.  It was gray, not too cold.  I was meeting Molly at the fabric market in Dongdaemun because she had never been, and I also needed to get some fabric for my new place (which by the way is completely finished and I will post about next time).

I used to enjoy cruising down the aisles of Joann’s or Hancock Fabrics back in the states.  Inspiration was something you searched for in the textiles, and hopefully you found it on sale or in the new arrivals.  Shopping for fabric at this place is an entirely different experience though.

Little did I know, that in the 1970’s this building was the largest market in all of Asia.  You can believe it though when you’re walking around the place.  It has about 7 or 8 floors, each consisting of different textiles like bedding, traditional Korean prints for hanboks, two floors of just fabric, a level of only beads, buttons and ribbons.

The building is huge, small pathways with different fabric spilling over, vendors eating lunch, people who look like they’re in the fashion industry buying and collecting samples.  Creativity and inspiration is everywhere at this place.

I found my favorite booth (D-247 if I remember correctly) and ended up buying some pinstriped corduroy and a dark navy blue that go really well together.  You’ll see soon enough.

Molly and I were troopers though, we shopped around that building for a while but eventually surrendered to how hot we were getting (still wearing our winter jackets and all) and decided to call it done.  She threw a fondue and wine party at her apartment later that night, which was absolutely spectacular.

Once again I found myself encircled with people whom I love, laughing and having a great time.  Not a bad Valentine’s Day at all.  On a separate and random note, I was being ambitious Saturday morning and wanted to take 20 pictures throughout the day to feature in a blog entry.  I didn’t quite make it to 20, I’ll do that some other time.

I DID want to share this random tid-bit about the sidewalks and all pedestrian walkways in Korea:  they have raised lines which lead blind people all around….sometimes they’re circled or striped or rectangular depending on whether there are steps coming up, etc.  

So…you can feel the pattern under your feet and it will guide you, with instructions!  It’s a pretty cool system that I’d never seen anywhere else so I thought I’d share it.

For me, there’s nothing like this time of year.  It is hands down, my favorite.  When things get colder, the leaves fall and you can see your breathe at night, the first snowfall, the holidays getting closer….there is just so much change in the air.  I’ve been busy this past month, but all has been well and I find that I’ve been enjoying my home here more than I ever have before.

Dani came to visit me a little over a week ago.  We were roommates together in Prague and have become best friends ever since.  She is one of those people who has a never-ending desire to travel the globe, and I think that’s why we hit it off so well.  This was her first time in Asia though, so I felt like I really needed to show her a good time.  According to her, mission accomplished.

We did all the big touristy things, temples, Insadong (touristy souvenir street), the Korea House where you can see a traditional dance and music show.  We visited Namsan tower at night, which is always beautiful to look out over the city and see all the lights.  Took a trip to Dr. Fish, went ice-skating at Lotte World….yeah, we did a lot.

I always love having visitors.  For one, it’s just nice to have visitors and to see friends again, but also I love watching their reactions when it’s their first time in Asia.  Dani seemed a little culture-shocked (understandably) when she first arrived.  I realized I was just plowing on through the subway connections, carrying her baggage….for me this is a normal trip.  She on the other hand, was wide-eyed and taking in the sites and feeling of being surrounded by a sea of Korean people.  Haha.  It was great!

Soon the shock wore off, but it was fun remembering how almost a year ago I was going through the exact same feelings.  I’ll never forget walking around the subway station of the Express Bus Terminal after arriving in the city center from the airport.  So many people, some looking at me, others not.  

I thought to myself, “Oh my god.  I am going to live here and have to get used to this.”

“Wait, are they staring?  Well some are….ok what are they thinking?  Is it a bad stare?”

“Woah there are SO many people here!!!”

Of course, it all turned out ok for me.  One of the main reasons I like having visitors is so that I can show them what a cool country Korea actually is, and what it’s all about.  Most people don’t know much about this place, and understandably so (it’s relatively new).  When they think Asia they think of China or Japan.  Korea has a lot to offer too though, and the culture and people have a distinct nature of their own that sets them apart from their neighbors.  Most people here do not eat dog meat, they don’t eat live octopus everywhere, etc etc etc.  Those stereotypes annoy me more and more the longer I live here.

So her trip was a success, and that’s one more person sent back to the states to educate others on the positive aspects of Korea.  *pats himself on the back*  

I’m taking a trip this weekend with my friend Ashley (my good friend who is now my neighbor and co-worker!).  We’re going to visit the Sharing House, which is home to Korean “comfort women” who were used as sex slaves to the Japanese during WWII.  It looks like it will be quite a sobering and sad experience.  I’ve been reading a book about comfort women, so I’m not going into it blindly.  Well, that’s for another blog entry.

On a lighter note, Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Ashley, Molly and I are going to the foreigner district (Itaewon) to have a traditional turkey dinner.  Yummy!

Hey everyone!  Well, I was sick these past few days so I haven’t been up to anything too exciting lately.  The air is so dry here that I think that’s partly what did it.  I had a TERRIBLE cough…kept me up all night and I lost my voice, but it’s coming back finally.  A couple of my Korean friends went to the pharmacy for me and got me some Chinese medicine that really helped (although it tasted horrible!).  So I’m back in the full swing of things, as of yesterday.  I’m trying to get my own system worked out with my classes.  It’s a little overwhelming with all my classes…I started work so suddenly and they kind of just threw me into it all….so I’ve been trying to get things organized and squared away.  My best friend Aubrey is coming to visit me in a couple of weeks!!  I can’t wait!  It’ll be fun to do some sightseeing with her and introduce her to my friends here, etc.  Also, I’m heading to Japan for a weekend coming up pretty soon.  Oh and it snowed yesterday!  This was the first time it has snowed since I’ve been here….it was so nice watching it from inside my bedroom.  Although walking home from work last night (a two-minute walk by the way) I fell on my butt TWICE!  It didn’t go unnoticed by all the strangers walking along the street with me either, haha.  Oh well, I just had to laugh at myself and get back up.  I’m just know they were thinking something like, “Awwe, look at the silly/cute foreigner!”  

I always like to post some media with each entry, so here are a couple recent pictures of yours truly: 

 I’m enjoying some Korean BBQ here, which by the way if you have never tried, you are missing out!!

 Hope you’re all doing well.  I’m feeling 100% better now so no worries!

Much love!