Things I Love About Korea: #1 Love Motels

There are a lot of things I love about Korea. Brenton's posts tend to be on the negative side (he said "I can't write something interesting without it being negative"), so I decided to write a post about things I love about Korea. One of the things I love most about Korea are love motels. They might sound a little sleazy and really they are, but you get so much for such a cheap price.

Love Motels can be rented by the hour or overnight. In Korea people tend to live with their parents until they are married, so privacy is pretty difficult to come by. When I have stayed in Love Motels most other people there seem to be young couples. Although, I am sure they are also used by people having affairs and people paying for girls and the room by the hour. There are lots of dodgy Love Motels in Korea, but in my experience if you choose one that looks new and has lots of neon you are going to get a great room (Although, a more expensive room than the dodgier ones).

Love Motel's in Gyeongju

In mine and Brenton's experience really nice Love Motels cost between 50,000 and 120,000 Won ($43-$105) per night depending on location. For that price you can expect a room that averages between 2 and 3 times the size of our entire apartment here. You will also get a spa in the bathroom, a bigger than king size bed, 130cm+ flatscreen TV (with multiple channels that show English shows), free mini-bar (no alcohol), all the bathroom products you need, and 2 computers with internet.

Love Motel in Chuncheon:

Love Motel in Pohang:

A couch! A luxury we don't have in our apartment.

Free wine! It was pretty gross wine, but most wine is in Korea.
 It was re-stocked every day too.

Our Love Motel was right on the beach (the 2nd tallest building).
We had great views from our  room.

So basically Love Motels have better facilities than most "nice" hotels (like the Novotel or Rydges) for a fraction of the price. So if you can get past the renting by the hour and the tackiness of Love Motels they are the perfect accommodation in Korea. I am really going to miss them when we are slumming it in hostels around Europe for a similar price!.

Skipping class while attending class

by: brentbuzz86

Korean temperature Part 2 of 2

A short time ago, the temperature was about 25-30 degrees everyday. The sun was out, the birds were singing, it felt good to be alive. I opened the windows to my classroom so I could enjoy some of the great weather while I was at work. Sadly, my windows were closed shortly after they were opened as most of my class were complaining that it was to cold. I could not get my head around this. When it is above 30 degrees it is too hot, but 25 degrees is too cold? WHAT? WHEN ARE YOU HAPPY???

Lately, I have been enjoying the nice Autumn temperatures. It has been between 20 and 25 during the day, which in my mind is perfect. I am walking around in jeans and a t-shirt, sun glasses on and a big smile on my face. The rest of Korea is wearing 3 layers of clothing including a coat with the option of a beanie
or scarf. Once again, this gets me thinking. WHAT? WHEN ARE YOU HAPPY???

Me enjoying the sun...while we are trying to discreetly 

take a photo of the couple behind me in matching outfits. 

The temperatures outside are good. However, if you go inside anywhere where a Korean is controlling the temperature you will get hot. This includes everything like supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, buses, taxis and the subway. So the temperature is back up to about 30 degrees. Logically, you'd think if you had a big coat on outside and you got onto a bus that is 10 degrees warmer, you would take off the coat. Right? WRONG! You would leave the coat on and stare at the waygook (foreigner) who is in just a t-shirt.

Speaking Tests (Round 2)

This week my students had their semester speaking tests. Instead of normal classes they would each come talk to me in my office for up to one minute. I would then ask them a question and give them a score.

Most of my students did very well and told me some interesting stories. However, some students didn't go so well. Here are some of the funny things that I was told this week:

Student: .....and that's why my brother is my role model.
Me: Good. How many brothers do you have? 
Student: 26
Me: (Big family)

Student: My favourite book is Harry Potter and the order of Penis. 

Student: My weakness is that I have small eyes. So I do eye exercises everyday to help make my eyes big and wide. 
(This was followed by the student performing a demonstration of this by looking all around the room)

Student: Hello Mr Parry. My name is Dum Bit Cher. 
(This was funny last speaking tests and was funny again this time.)

Student: Books are good and are very impotent. I like to read books because they are impotent. 

8:20 - Walking into school
Student: Teacher I have a speaking test today.
Me: Oh ok. Good luck.
Student: You are very handsome.
Me: (Smile)
Student: Do I get a 10 out of 10 now?

Student: My favourite movie is Narnia. I don't like that movie.
Me: (Make up your mind...)

Student walks into my office for the test
Student:  I'm sorry Mr. Parry but I do not speak English very well. 
(Note: This sentence was spoken in perfect English)
Me: So you didn't prepare anything?
Student: No, I am sorry. 
Me: Ok...thanks. 
Student leaves my office
(Unfortunately this happened maybe 2-5 times per class)

Student: My main worry in my life is my face.

Korean temperature Part 1 of 2

Summer has come and gone and I am beginning to feel winter's icy hand effecting the neighbourhood. The trees have all gone from green to orange and the mornings are now very chilly. In a few weeks my walk to school may require ice skates.

Put on your warmest clothes. Winter gets well below zero degrees in Korea.
It is funny, Korean people are always bragging about how they have "4 unique seasons". After asking, they will give you a big speal about Korea being special because they have Summer, Autumn (Fall), Winter and Spring. My reply to this is usually "Yeah, so what. So does half of the rest of the world". But this bragging is silly for more reasons than just that. In Korea the winters and summers are very long. It seems that Autumn and Spring only last for about a month each. Just as winter ends you will only get a good month of Spring before summer starts. This has got me thinking that maybe they should stop bragging until all seasons are similar lengths. At the moment it seems more like 2 seasons with a short "half time show" in between.

Some drinks on a hot summers night.

The little things

It is the little things that make teaching in Korea so great. The funny things the students say (like "shit down"), students yelling things (like "Oh, hi Loren Teacher. I love you") from across the road and the nice presents they give you. Here is just a couple of things that our students have given us since we have been here:

A letter one of my 3rd grade girls (Che Won) gave me today.
 Nuri is the name of the after school program  I teacher her in.

The second half of the letter, written by Kyung Jun

A present I got for Chuseok

A portrait Brenton's students drew for him.

A weekend in Taipei

I am too lazy this week to blog about my weekend trip to Tapei, so I am just going to link to Amy's instead! We had a wonderful 1 1/2 days in Taipei and it was totally worth the time spent getting there!

Good times. Great taste.