Ruminations in Korea

Here’s a shot from my home in Logan, Utah taken yesterday by my "Legend’s Of The Fall" / Grizzly Adams brother. This is what I am not missing in Pusan.

Said "Legend’s Of The Fall" / Grizzly Adams brother:

Goodbye Summer!

Come Back soon!

Hello Winter

The best way to tell if it’s winter in Pusan is not to look for birds flying south or leaves falling from trees.  You know winter has arrived in Pusan when the city rips out the flowers along Kwangbok-ro and replaces them with purple and white cabbages.

Scat-egories of drinks

At the "Hollywood Star," a bar in Pusan frequented by GIs and cheap English teachers, they have a few odd drinks on their menu.  My first visit to that hell hole was my last.  If you’re looking for some crappy drinks, try their "SHATS" or their "ONE SHAT COCTAILS".  If you’re not into fermented feces, then you could try one of their "NON ALDNOL" drinks.

I have been absolutely hammered with vast amounts of work for the past couple of weeks. It looks like things are easing up a bit and I have a bit more time these days.

At the urging of many people, and one person in particular, I have put together this brief little "about me" post:

I was born in the rather unassuming community of Logan, Utah, tucked away in the top of the Rocky Mountains. I spent most of his formative years just outside of Logan in the even smaller town of Nibley, where cows outnumbered people.

My mother started me on the piano when I was 5 years old. Although I learned to play the piano very well over the next several years, playing became a living hell. I really enjoyed playing the piano, but I hated practicing. I hated practicing because I was forced to do it. Mom forced me to do at least 30 minutes of piano before doing anything else. No playing, no reading, no TV, nothing until practice was done. So, instead of learning to love practicing, I learned to hate it and wanted to get out of it. My parents wouldn’t let me quit, which only made the situation worse as I got older.

I didn’t want to play the piano. I wanted to spend all of my time doing what I enjoyed most, which was reading. I realized at a very young age that my hometown was small and provided very few opportunities for adventure and culture. I would escape the confines of my rural, one gas-station, no stoplight, cow town by fleeing into the pages of books.

I could open the pages of any book and have a completely new world opened to the eyes of my imagination. I could explore anywhere, and meet new and fantastical people and creatures. I am forever grateful to my older brother for encouraging me to read and sparking my interest in fantasy literature. The first fantasy book I remember reading was "A Wrinkle In Time" when I was in third or fourth grade. By eight years old I began reading The Lord of the Rings. From there, Terry Brooks, Michael Moorcock, Piers Anthony, Robert Asprin, Christopher Stasheff, feed my imagination.

At eight years old, I was allowed to join the RCA Record club. My first albums for one penny were: ACDC Back in Black, Rush 2112 (still the best album ever made), Foreigner Head Games, Foreigner Double Vision, Nazareth Hair of the Dog, Queen Live Killers. My father was horrified.

Entering junior high school provided me with the escape from the piano that I needed. Guitar. A guitar class was offered. I used guitar as an excuse to get away from the piano. Was it a mistake? Yes. I completely abandoned the piano and have gone from playing Chopin and Prokofiev to now being unable to play a single song.

However, I became enamored with playing classical guitar. I became quite good. At 16 years old I placed third in the Utah Freestyle Guitar Compentition.

I was always a disappointment to my father. He was "Mr. Sports guy." Having done everything including football, basketball, track, and golf and been captain of most of those teams. I have always been soft-bodied and big. At 8 years of age, during my brief foray into the world of soccer, the couch decided that a great self-esteem building nickname for me would be "Chunk." Thanks Alan Baker! That didn’t stick with me for very long and still doesn’t traumatize me very much. Needless to say, I had no interest in sports, particularly contact sports. My father was horrified.

Eventually, just to make him stop bothering me, I joined the junior high wrestling team. My 7th grade 136 pounds and the 9th grade jocks’ 136 pounds were constructed of different material and I routinely got my face pounded into the mat.

Somehow, probably due to the 9th grade 136-pound weight class varsity wrestlers 9th grade alcohol problem, I found myself in the varsity position. As I was warming up for my first varsity wrestling match I was involved in a bizarre warm up accident with one of the junior varsity guys and ended up snapping my left wrist at the growth plate. The doctor ordered me out of wrestling forever. My sports career was over. I was happy. Father was horrified.

The horror deepened for father as I turned to singing, the theater and debate in high school. I was in numerous plays and musicals. Our show choir took the national sweepstakes award at the national competitions in 1987. I was chosen to sing in the all-state choir. I came one slot away from making the national debate tournament. I was in the first group of three students to earn a high school "letter" in Debate in the school’s history. Father wouldn’t buy me a letterman’s jacket for a debate letter. It was too embarrassing for him.

During high school and my first year of college, I was a radio DJ at top radio stations in Northern Utah.

Father nearly had a coronary when I declared my university major to be philosophy. After one year of university I went off to Korean to do volunteer work for a couple of years. I began my Korean adventure in 1988 and I have lived in Korea for the vast majority of the time since then. I speak, read, and write Korean. My going to Korea meant and end to the time I could spend playing guitar.

After two years, I went back to the US and did another year of university. I then became a guinea pig for an exchange program with Pusan National University, which I attended for a little over one year. Then, it was back to the US for a final few months of university. I went straight to law school for the next three years. I visited Korea during summer vacations.

I joined my current firm in 1996. I’m a frequent seminar speaker, radio talk show guest, and a popular guest lecturer at universities. I spent one a year on the faculty of the Korea Maritime University as an adjunct professor where I taught classes on the WTO and WTO trade dispute resolution. Given my unique position as a Korean-speaking, long-term foreign lawyer in Pusan, I’b also a frequent subject for newspaper and other media stories.

My latest undertaking it to pick up the guitar again. I have abandoned the restrictions of playing classical music for the gritty world of the blues. It is very cathartic.

Basically, I am avid reader, erstwhile writer, movie buff, and music lover, My interests are too diverse to really get into. A glance at my CD rack will show Alice Cooper next to Chopin next to Johnny Cash. I enjoy playing electric and acoustic blues guitar. Tattered science-fiction and fantasy share bookshelf space with leather-bound copies of Dickens, Tolstoy, and other great books. I have more DVDs than I know what to do with. I also am somewhat of an accomplished martial artist, holding black belts in Hapkido and Kuk Sool Won. In 2000 I placed third in my weight class in the Korea Kuk Sool Won competition.

65 year old Sgt. Charles R. Jenkins, who deserted the Army and defected to North Korea was court-marshaled for desertion, soliciting other service members to desert, aiding the enemy, and encouraging disloyalty. He pled guilty to the charged stemming from his desertion 39 years ago. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, demotion to private, and a dishonorable discharge.

According to the AP report, Jenkins issued a statement during his court-marshal where he explained himself thusly:

He said he began thinking of fleeing because he was afraid he would be transferred to dangerous daytime “hunt and kill” patrols in the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas, and feared he could not lead a squad into fighting.

“I started drinking alcohol,” he said, bursting into tears. “I never drank so much before.”

Jenkins said he was also convinced he would be sent to Vietnam.

“I knew Vietnam was combat, and jungle warfare,” he told the court. “I’d never been in the jungle in my life. How could I lead soldiers there?”

After 10 days of planning, he headed for North Korea with a white T-shirt tied to his rifle as a flag of surrender.

“I walked slowly and arrived in the early morning because it was dark and mines were everywhere,” he said. “It was a no man’s land.”

Jenkins said he intended to ask the North Koreans to send him to the Soviet Union, and thought he would then be returned to the United States.

Instead, he said, he was treated harshly in North Korea and forced to teach English to military cadets from 1981 until 1985, adding that refusing to do so would have brought “hardship to me and my family that would never end.”

“I refused to teach for three days once,” he said. “They came to my house, tied me up and beat the hell out of me.”

My personal feeling is that it was a really, really stupid act by a really, really ignorant guy. He clearly had no idea what he was getting himself into and clearly got much more than he bargained for. The Far Eastern Economic Review has a very good article about what Jenkins said he experienced in North Korea.

At his sentencing, his defense lawyer, Capt. James Culp, said four decades in North Korea was punishment enough. I would have to agree with the defense lawyer. However, he could not just be let off with a “time heals all wounds” type of sentence. I think 30 days in jail is a fair and reasonable sentence as it show leniency to someone who has suffered a great deal, but also serves the needs of justice. Justice tempered with a healthy does of mercy is a good thing in appropriate circumstances, and I believe this is just such a circumstance.

BREAKING NEWS: BUSH WINS!!!!!!!!!!!! Kerry must win EVERY remaining state to tie the electoral vote at 269:269, in which case, the vote will go to the Republican-controlled congress and Bush will win. George Bush is re-elected!

ELECTION BLOG

For other election blogs in Korea check out Flying Yangban on the right and Cathartidae on the left.

THIS SITE WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Indications from Florida’s early voting returns are the Bush has an 8% advantage over Kerry.

UPDATE 1: Guam goes to Bush by a nearly 2 to 1 margin.

UPDATE 2: Earliest exit polls in battleground states show:
Ohio Tied
Florida Kerry +2
Penn. Kerry+2-4
Wisconsin Kerry+4
Michigan Kerry+2
New Hampsire Bush +7

UPDATE 3: Early results being “tracked” by CNN.com are just stupid. Only five million votes have been counted and CNN already has Bush winning 6 southern states and Kerry winning 9 states(New England States and Illlinois).

Bush 2,830,229 66 (electoral vote)
Kerry 2,154,936 77 (electoral vote)
Nader 15,721 0

Wouldn’t it be weird or perhaps weird karmic justice if Bush were to win the popular vote but lose the Electoral vote?

Early Florida results are 1,000,000 for Bush and 800,000. That’s 55% to Bush.

UPDATE 4:

Bush took North Carolina, John Edwards’ home state. That is 15 more electoral votes. Bringing the total to 81 electoral votes for Bush and 77 for Kerry.
South Carolina is leaning Bush, which would give 8 more votes to Bush and an 89 to 77 electoral vote in Bush’s favor.
Bush also expected to take Virginia, which would give 13 electoral votes to Bush and a 102 to 77 electoral in favor of Bush.

UPDATE 5: Don’t tell me the media isn’t biased. On NBC, Tom Brokaw interviewed John Dean then went right into an interview with Kerry’s oldest daughter. He has gone into the past five commercial breaks with shots of crowds chanting “KERRY! KERRY! KERRY!” No sign of Bush supporters or Bush campaign people.

UPDATE 6: Huge boost for Bush who is projected to take Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. Kerry is projected to pick up New York and Rhode Island.
This would bring the electoral count to 156 for Bush and 112 for Kerry.

UPDATE 7 (11:31am): Mississippi and Louisiana go to Bush bringing the electoral total to 171 to Bush and 112 to Kerry.

Current popular vote:
George W. Bush (REP)* 12,884,813 53%
John F. Kerry (DEM) 11,178,038 46%
Ralph Nader (IND) 53,718 0%

UPDATE 8 (12:04pm): Utah has gone to Bush. There was never any doubt about that. They day Utah votes to put a Democrat in the Whitehouse, is the day that Hell freezes over (the traditionally born-again fiery Hell…not Dante’s already frozen Hell). It is odd because Utah routinely puts Democrats in governor slots and a mayor slots, but never even close in presidential elections. Anyway, it is 5 votes for Bush.

Arkansas also went to Bush for 6 more votes. Thus, the current electoral total is 182 to Bush and 112 to Kerry.

UPDATE 9 (12:18pm):

Missouri goes to Bush. Bush picks up the 11 electoral votes to bring the total to 193 Bush and 112 Kerry.

UPDATE 10 (12:53pm): Big score for Kerry as NBC projects Penn. for Kerry and Arizona to Bush. The electoral vote now sits at Bush 203 to Kerry’s 133.

UPDATE 11 (1:30pm): Another big score for Kerry with California and Hawaii. The electoral votes have narrowed to 207 for Bush and 199 for Kerry. It should be noted that Bush has not yet lost a state that he won in 2000, and Kerry has not lost a state that Gore won. So far, it is an exact repeat of the 2000 election.

UPDATE 12 (2:00pm): Oregon has been called for Kerry. This brings the race to a dead head with 207 electoral votes to Bush and 206 to Kerry. Still no change from the 2000 election.

UPDATE 13 (2:15pm): Montana (3 votes) and Florida (27 votes have been called for Bush). This opens up Bush’s lead to 237 over Kerry’s 206.

UPDATE 14 (2:24pm): NBC is calling Colorado for Bush. Colorado’s 9 electoral votes raises Bush’s total to 246 over Kerry’s total of 206. Again, this is still the same as in the 2000 election. Howevet, at this point, Kerry MUST win Ohio in order to take the presidency.

UPDATE 15 (2:24pm): NBC CALLS OHIO FOR BUSH! Bust takes 20 more votes and the election is all but re-elected. Add three more for Alaska and that brings the total to 269 votes for Bush and 216 to Kerry after adding Minn.

DEATH

Former Major League MVP Ken Caminiti died on the same day as Christopher Reeve. Medical examiners have determined that Caminiti’s heart attack was caused by a drug overdose. The official cause of death was “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and opiates with contributing factors that included coronary artery disease and … an enlarged heart.” From 1996 Major League MVP to coffin in 8 years.

JUICY FASHION

“Casual fashion” in Pusan these days consists of wearing sweatpants with various words and/or pictures plastered across the backside. Union Jack flags, country names (Italy seems to be popular for some reason), brand names, etc. I am the first to admit that I am certainly not in any position to be commenting on people, their fashion sense, and their judgment in displaying their fashion sense. However, I just somehow feel that THIS is wrong:

THE BLUES

Amidst complaints that the content of my blog is lacking the bite it used to have, I offer the explanation that with an increased work burden this past summer and fall, I have been spending more time involved in cathartic, relaxing, stress-releaving activities such as hammering out the Workin’ In Korea Blues:

NEW PHONE

I have a new phone and a new service provider. I stuck with the useless and sub-part LG Telecom for nearly 9 years. But I quit. Their utter lack of benefits, poor reception, inability to roam internationally with the same phone and number, and crappy model selection finally became too much to bear. I am now armed with my sleek Samsung SPH-E3200 and KTF’s service. I’m eagerly awaiting my KTF card. If you don’t have my new number and think you need it or want it, send me an email.

One year ago today, on November 1, 2003, I started this blog. In one year, just over 94,000 people have stopped in for a read. I would estimate that about 10 people have come to ready my writing and about 93,990 have come here looking for porn and gone away disappointed.

Anyway. Thanks to all of you readers for your support and comments. I tip my hat to Kevin, formerly of Incestuous Amplifications, for being my inspiration for starting this thing. My blog’s content has changed quite a bit over the past year, and will continue to change in the future.

As the election draws near and the holiday season comes upon us, we must not forget that there are people who wont be home for the holidays and are fighting because our elected leaders put them there and will keep them there, regardless of who wins the election.

I leave you today with a video of an interview conducted with a handful of Iraqi insurgents.