real life video game

i have mentioned that driving here is like a video game. what i didnt mention is how much i enjoy it. i run red lights constantly, squeeze through tight alleys, honk my horn at peds, and drive on the wrong side of the road. the only thing i dont do is speed since that's the only thing they ticket for. you dont believe me, come visit. we will go for a drive :)

Jjimjilbahng...

... is a korean onsen. i wish i could compare the japanese onsen to the korean style one but i can not. never did go to the japanese one. it was a little odd to be naked in front of my new friends and many korean strangers but when everyone is undressed the same it makes it much easier to deal with. if you dont know what an onsen is, it's sorta like a public bathhouse, except much fancier. water massage, steam rooms, hot pools with wogwort, charcoal, or other alternative medicine stuff. the odder things were upstairs where they had rooms where you relax - this is where you are wearing clothes the facility gives you. there was the hot salt room. tons of rock salt covered the floor and you lie down on it. it was hot but you get used to it after couple minutes. and of course you sweat like crazy. then there was the warm pebble room. just like the salt room except you lie in pebbles. then the hot jade room. you see the pattern? except the jade retained the heat much more so it was a temperature that i couldnt get used to; they have linen for the sensitive girly types to sit on. it gets more odd. they have a 'fire' room. it's a room where it's just freakin hot. a room where if you stood up, the heat just roasts your face that you immediately duck. it was much hotter than being trapped in a car (windows rolled up) in the AZ summer. we were guessing 140-160F. we were sweating intensely after just a couple minutes. after torturing ourselves for 5-10 min, we hopped into the ice room. they kept that room somewhere between -2 to 2 C. it was actually very relaxing after a week of working real long hours. my favorite was the pebble room. it was warm and very comfortable sleeping on pebbles. the best was that it only cost me 7,000 won. and they also have sleeping areas there too. why would anyone stay at a hotel. family and friends that visit me will make a trip to one of the jjimjilbahngs. and to make things a bit more comfortable, i will not be in the public bath part with them. but we will hop around the odd rooms. i'm sure juggler will love it. oh, the bath house is no co-ed. when you're clothed, then it's co-ed.

still no phone

so i do have a cell phone now. so people can call me on the phone but i cant send out calls. but the guy i got the phone from used all the minutes. so i bought a phone card. but the phone is crumbling in my hands. so i didnt put the phone card account on the phone. so i have to buy a working phone. but i dont want to spend more money because phones are expensive here. but i think i'll be buying a phone from a new friend. so i'll use the phone card on that phone. but it's going to take another couple weeks to transfer accounts. so dont ask for my number yet. so, so, but, so, but, so, so, but, but, so, but, so.

i forgot

i forgot to add that at this "stong penis" drink place, they have all you can eat shashimi. and dont expect rice and fish rolled up in seaweed. it's just a big tray of cut fish and other side items. it was actually really good. i ate all the blue fin tuna my tummy can handle. swordfish was great. tuna belly too. and some part of tuna that also gives "strong penis." the chef motioned it and said it as he put it on our tray. all this for a price of 17,000 won. i ate at another sushi place and i ended up paying 25,000 won for less food. now, i must find the all you can eat beef place that only charges 8,500 won. what a great country.

"it's good for... how you say?"

had a drink that contained soju, fish eyes, gold flakes, and seamen. we forgot to ask where the seamen is from. then again, i'd like to know where the gold is from so i can pay off my school loans. so he pours out the drink in shot glasses. then he proceeds to explain what it's for.
"it's good for... how you say? verility?" we smile cause we know what he means.
he continues to go on to explain "uh for... strong penis" as he motions a uppercut fist pump.
the four korean guys sitting to the left turns to us, raise their glass of seamen and does the exact same thing except they yell "strong penis," uppercut fist pump and downs their shot. we look at each other and what else can we do but to do the same. "strong penis!"

lost in translation

i've been told several times that i am pretty. pretty? this is because i'm ravishingly handsome and they just don't know a better word to describe the rugged good looks? no. unfortunately that is not the case no matter how much i want it to be or how much money i pay my friends to say it. they tell me i'm pretty because i'm an american that speaks korean. not a word i'd use but complimented nonetheless.

best country in the world?

on the list of yoohoo's best country ever, korea has entered that competition. korea's mcdonald's has 300 won ice cream cones (that's roughly 30cents). i've stopped counting the number of cones i've eaten already. i think the cones balance out the negative things about this country like it's horrible aggressive drivers. the mass transit system is great, but not fantastic like japan's. and a ton better than america.

more korea

traffic signs are optional when you drive here. it reminds me of grand theft auto the way i have to drive here, minus all the killing, drug dealing, and the x-rated stuff. well, maybe just a little less x-rated stuff. the x-ratedness isn't as bad as japan.

Sobering feeling when i drive around base and see the anti-missile defense system. 3 minutes to defend myself if a missile is launched from the north. God bless the family members who came along and now are in harms way.

USA, this is the ROK

Yoohoo has arrived in the ROK. It's more modern and busier than I remember but that was quite a few years ago. Most people I am meeting are leaving so it does me no good to try to memorize their names. And when the new ones come, I'll be the old man on base. Very high turnover here at this base, but good to see old faces from my previous assignments... especially the Voodoo family.

I have yet to go to a restaurant. I say 'restaurant' because if I say Korean restaurant, it's redundant. After all, I am in the ROK. I've been to two Thai and one Japanese place. Only one place served kimchee, and it was good. Plenty of shopping outside the gates so I will be sending some things back home, hopefully soon. And soon really means within the year if you really know me.

Adjusting to a new place has been pretty easy, especially this country. I hope to learn a lot more of the language and travel a ton. And to all the guys who read this, consider this an open invitation to visit me any time you want. Just give me couple months prior notice.