Ben Vs. Korea: Round 2!: November 2005

Subway disaster averted, Part 2?!?!?!

Ok, this is not good. I mean, *really* - two subway disasters averted in such a short period of time??? Safety is never really a big concern in Korea... take note that in Japan, there are barriers that prevent you from crossing over into the "get killed" zone. Just as a precaution (and y'know, since there are unmonitored korean children running around), wouldn't it be a good idea to maybe start making things a little bit safer? The article is in Korean, and so, I can't even really say if the disaster was in fact averted... I imagine it was... notice how there is one man who jumps down to help, while the THOUSANDS of others just rush to the edge and gawk... the rest of the news story is probably about the disaster that WASN'T averted last year in Daegu, when several hundred people were trapped on a burning subway set ablaze by a mentally ill man, and the subway officials decided that the best course of action would be to lock it down so no smoke, flames or fumes could make it out to the next station... meanwhile, over 100 people died inside the burning subway car that would not open... (http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/02/23/skorea.subway.charges.reut/)

Here's the link to the newest story (I don't know how long it will be up). For those of us who don't speak Korea, click on the red TV icon below the picture:

http://tvnews.media.daum.net/part/societytv/200512/01/sbsi/v10958809.html

Oh, and I will be posting pictures of my trip to Japan in the next while. In case I hadn't told anyone (because I'm so insanely busy), I'd like to say that I'm insanely busy these days... I recently went to Japan to acquire my work visa. Japan is a cool place, but I'll talk about that later. Other noteworthy things as of late:

1. I got my shoes fixed at a roadside shoe repair. It cost me $1 (1000 won). Oh my chicken, it was cheap!

2. New month, new students. Looks as though this month may be more slack, as I might not have classes ridiculously early in the morning. This past month, I have been working at 6:40, and having to get up at 5:30. Yay! (We shall see if I do in fact get to sleep in... I'm guessing that I'll be diverted to another task at 6:40 instead of getting the time at home)

3. Had a very interesting one-on-one free-talking class with a great guy nicknamed Cloudwave. He and I discussed a lot of very interesting things about meditation, Truth, and the like.

4. I'm itching to start writing... if only I had the time though... right now, I figure that I'm working about 43 hours per week... and getting maybe 5-6 hours of sleep per night. Weekends are truly a lush, shimmering oasis in the desert of work. "Everybody's working for the weekend!"

Subway disaster averted

Check out this link! It's a video of a woman in Seoul who's baby carriage was caught in the subway's doors right before the train took off. Scary! Luckily, everyone was unharmed in the end.

http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_315102629.html

Ben

Korean fried rice flour and potato / squid / onion pancake. It's called cheon, and it's yummy.

While waiting for the subway near Myeong-dong, I noticed a large, laminated placard explaining with pictures how to use emergency breathing masks in case the subway fills with smoke... just as a side note, there aren't really enough masks for a subway full of people. Anyway, here's how they went:

Step 2: Unroll...and... what the heck? If there ever is a time to feel self-conscious about your size, now is it.

Step 3: Goof around. Put the condom on your head. Sing "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes".

Step 4: Realize what you're doing, and decide instead to end your life by cutting off your air supply.

A kam tree. Kams are persimmons. Colourful.

This is just about the most alien plant I had ever seen. I had to take a picture. Isn't it bizarre? Strangely, I had a compulsion to eat it...

Seoul Tower.

This guy was working hard pounding his ddok.

Jo and I went to a park to meet her sister. There happened to be theme mascots for Korea there. I am in a suit and tie because we had just come from Sophia's wedding. I'm getting so used to wearing a tie and shirt... I wear them 4 days a week now...

I dunno what this is. If someone knows, please let me know. The stems of this plant looked like razor wire. I had never before seem stems that did that...

This strange structure is the sweeping walls of a trench that leads to a memorial plaque laid by the mayor of Seoul several years ago to celebrate the 500th anniverary of Seoul (I think - it could have been longer).